Happy New Year

Well... last day of work before the New Year. Am really looking forward to it this year, although it is going to be a busy one for me. I have Mum and Dad coming tomorrow (Saturday), and they are staying until Tuesday - so I have three dinners to plan, including a special one for New Year's Eve. It's a bit tricky with Mark being a vegetarian; my parents don't mind fish (Mark will eat fish, thankfully) but I don't think they would want it three nights in a row, which means a bit of juggling the menu for me. Ah well, am sure it will all pan out! ;-)

Yesterday eve turned out quite busy in the end. Did a mercy mission (my last good deed of the year), and took a drive out to Sutton Gault to pick up a 'baby stair gate' which had kindly been donated to me via www.freecycle.org. I had posted a "Wanted" on there for one, because Doug and Angie's dog Molly has had a suspected stroke in the build up to Christmas, and the poor old girl kept falling down the stairs. Freecycle is bloody great (they have them in lots of different areas worldwide). I am in the Cambridge branch, and have found it a blessing. You can issue requests for things, which may or may not be successful, and you can get rid of things you don't want. Things that are too good for the rubbish tip, but too fiddly to sell. We have offloaded an old composting bin and a bookshelf on there, and there are even people who will remove rubble or soil, if they want it for gardening. I think it is a fabulous scheme. The couple that donated the gate were very sweet - they lived in a fairly remote farmyard near Ely, and ran a kennel there for rescue dogs (http://www.poplarfarmkennels.org.uk/). They seemed entirely committed to their cause.

After that, I cooked kedgeree and we headed off to the cinema to see Flags of Our Fathers, which was excellent. It must be difficult to find a new way of shooting war scenes - especially a landing on a beach, but this was really well done. Very sentimental, as is the way with Clint Eastwood directed movies, but excellent and thought provoking nonetheless.

Tonight I am just going to be shopping/cleaning for the grand visit. Not entirely sure where or how to entertain Mum and Dad in the next couple of days (Mark is working), but am sure I will think of something! On New Year's Day, Mark's parents are joining us for lunch, and Mark and his Dad are going to watch the football, so hopefully the weather will hold out for them (and for us - would be nice to get out for a walk and burn off the booze/good food from the night before!).

Today am refining my New Year's resolutions list... it has some firm faves there, and some new ones:

1. Lose weight! An obvious one... ALWAYS looking to lose that stone! This time there will be no fannying around.
2. More exercise... REALLY must get the running club back in order. I was doing SO well, but have been disgustingly lapse since my return from Asia. One of the guys in the office is pushing for a few of us to sign up for a 10k run in Spring, which a few weeks ago would have seemed easy... but at the moment it seems like an insurmountable challenge.
3. Go blonde and grow hair... a new twist on a firm favourite. I like the challenge of trying to turn my now red dyed hair blonde without ending up with a full on ginger hue. Growing my hair has been an aim since the first day I had it cut off, circa 1983. I might compromise and aim for a very short bob...
4. Save some money!
5. Do some voluntary work.. perhaps mentoring for the elderly?
6. No drinking alcohol in January (have done this successfully for the last two years), and maybe cut down for rest of year?! Have cut-down HUGELY since leaving Norwich, but it would be nice to take it a step further.
7. See my friends in Norwich/London/Surrey/Leeds/Bexley-on-sea... generally catch up with ALL those people I have been meaning to catch up with, but never do!

I think that's enough to be going on with for now... ;-) There are a few others we won't go into here... wish me luck!

Hope you all have a fantastic and happy and drunken New Year, and let's look forward to an exciting 2007!!

Much love,
Hayley
xxxxxx

The Egg Came First

Some more fascinating facts from BBC Magazine..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/magazinemonitor/

Thrilling Thursday

Another lovely day at work in an empty office... :-)

Last night we ended up not bothering with the cinema (we are supposed to be going tonight instead), and just ate leftovers (far too many) then walked up the local pub for a pint. Nothing very exciting! Popped to see Jamie and Adele after work, which was nice - although turns out poor Jamie had a very disappointing Christmas. He had been ill with a vomiting/squitty bug all over the festive season, although I guess he had one advantage over me; he managed to lose weight! (not that he needs to).

On with work! Big hello to Jen, who is also working over the Xmas period. I share your pain!

Much love
Hayls
xxxxxxxxx

Back to Work!

Boooooooooooo..... am sitting at my desk, not wanting to be here... nevermind, I guess that it is a good sign that I don't want to scrabble back to work to escape my Christmas!

Had a really really lovely weekend and Christmas and Boxing day...

Saturday
I got up nice and early (before 6am, with Mark), and drove straight over to Lowestoft to start the rounds. Managed to get the last of my food shopping from a very empty Tesco garage on arrival in Lowestoft. so was jolly glad about that! Popped to see Mum for a bit (and admired their new conservatory), and then went over to see Nanny and Grandad. They both seemed very well, and chatty as ever. Was also nice as Robert turned up too - so could give him all the bits and bobs I carried home for him, and that saved me a journey later on. I then went to see Janine and the adorable Lola in their new house in Dene road. Gorgeous place with so much potential (although most of it has been done for them). It is amazing how much more you get for your money in Lowestoft! Lola is gorgeous - standing (not *quite* walking, but almost), and chatting away. She seems a very laid back and smiley little girl, who chuckled like crazy when I threw her up in the air and caught her... have discovered that this may be a very good way to get rid of my bingo wings ;-)

Left Janine to feed Lola, and headed round to Nanny Brown's place... I always feel vaguely sad when I visit Nanny. She spends far too much time alone, and her health is not great. However, some of her isolation is self imposed (she tends to upset people)... its an odd combination of pity and regret I feel there. What makes it worse is that she is always so pleased to see me. Yet again, I departed with a promise to myself to try and make a bit more of an effort with her... although I know that for various and complicated reasons, getting too close to the woman is not a good idea. A tricky call.

Late afternoon, I finally made it to Tracy's new place... one word: GORGEOUS. The place is stunning. Yet again I am staggered at Tracy's good taste in all matters decor, and felt envious of her beautiful house, her closeness to the family, and her two beautiful blonde children... sigh. Then again, I could do without her stressful lifestyle... piggy-face turned up with Henry at dinner-time, and Tracy (somewhat rashly, I felt!) invited him to eat dinner with Me and my parents... nevermind, the slow-cooked belly of pork (done in a most delicious Chinese 5-spice rub in the aga... AGA!) made up in some way for it. Thankfully he didn't stay too late, and we continued to drink wine/baileys until fairly late. Henry is simply gorgeous these days - he has me in fits of laughter continuously... I read him "Twas the Night Before Christmas", and amid the "Whys?" you get for almost every line ("why is Santa's nose like a cherry?", "why does he smoke a pipe? mummy said it's dirty!"...), he seemed properly enchanted with it. He did announce though, apropos of nothing, that Father Christmas would not be visiting Uncle Mark as he eats children's toys... (Mark, some months ago now, pretended to eat a plastic beetle belonging to Henry, and Henry has never quite forgiven him or forgotten it!). Apparently, the only way Uncle Mark could guarantee himself a visit from the big man, was to "make sure that he didn't wee his pants on Christmas eve"... which of course, is nigh-on impossible ;-)

Tracy, Oscar and I ended up sleeping in Tracy's enormous bed for the night... I almost got the shock of my life when I was awoken by what appeared to be a hairless cat (Oscar), slapping me in the face and pulling on my nose in the night! Perhaps I had one too many Baileys... heh.

Sunday - Christmas Eve
Had lovely brekkie with Tracy and the boys (again, Henry had me in stitches... re: a discussion of "what Trolls might eat for breakfast", THE most disgusting Henry could think of, aside from "poo poo Pizza" and "mud pie" was a crab stick that had been dropped on the floor!).

Met up with Jane and Jamie in Oulton Broad for coffee in the Red Herring. Was really good to see them both! They both looked fabulously well and were on good form - Jamie has even had his goatee shaved off (which seemed to take half an hour for me to register!). They had some good news... they have won a contract to overhaul the gardens around the Art Cinema in Norwich. I am SO pleased for them. It is a gorgeous, and very historic, site. Could open many doors for them!

I drove home immediately after leaving Jane and Jamie, and managed to get home not long after Mark. I prepared all the veggies and turkey for Christmas day, and we settled down with a bottle of wine and watched Alien II - very christmassy!!! ;-)

Monday - Christmas Day
Had a lovely Christmas day with Mark and his family. We started the day with smoked salmon and bucks fizz (kindly donated by Jamie and Adele), and I managed to sort everything out in the kitchen for dinner. We also found time to make a few phone calls (Mark got through to a very jovial sounding Jez and Marta in China) and wish people Happy Christmas.

We opened pressies when Suzy and John arrived. I got lots of lovely bits and bobs from friends and family, including a lovely silver cross and chain from Mark, and some money from Mum and Dad, Nanny and Grandad and Tracy.

I did a starter for dinner (Prawn Cocktail - classy!), followed by turkey and all the trimmings for Mark's parents and I, and a vegetarian haggis for Mark. I did Christmas pudding and custard for dessert - although managed to fluff up the fresh custard I was supposed to be making (with egg yolks, cream, sugar and vanilla pods) - somehow the double cream in it separated... Serves me right for showing off! ;-)

In the afternoon we watched The Long Engagement on DVD (fab film), and then headed to Mark's brother's place to see him (Paul), his wife Alison, and their kids (Jessica, aged 12 and Sam, 9) and some of Alison's family. Spent the evening sitting around and stuffing our faces!

Tuesday - Boxing Day
Another really nice day with Mark's family. Mark's mum cooked for all of us; Mark's sister Caroline, her partner Phil, and their two children (Katie, aged 3 and Emily, 4 months). Paul and Alison and the children also made it over. Basically we sat around watching TV, stuffing our faces with Quality Street, and watching the children run amok with their various toys...

In the evening, Mark and I just stayed in front of the fire drinking wine and whiskey and watching The Pirates of The Caribbean, and The Mummy Returns... yummm.... Johnny Depp....

Wednesday - Back to work!
I am the only one in the entire family who has to return to work today! Booo... was very hard to leave Mark tucked up in bed this morning - not made any better by the wine/whiskey fest we had last night! ;-) Ah well... no rest for the wicked, hey!

Spoke to Tracy this morning, and unfortunately she had to have the paramedics out last night - as she had a major asthma attack... not good! She seems better today though, if not a little drugged up on steroids!

Anyway... had better do some work. Lunch is over... tonight we are going to the cinema to see The Flags of Our Fathers, which looks excellent...

Speak soon. Hope you all had a good Christmas...
Hayls
xxxx

A Bonnie Grimble, One and All

Well, 'tis the season to be jolly... I guess. :-) Of course I am Miss-Joviality her very self today. Spoke to Jen this morning (always a good call) and left work mid-afternoon, as is appropriate for Monis employees. Spent later this afternoon at Mark's parents dropping off flowers for Suzy and picking up pressies for Mark.

Mark has gone to bed uber-early as I was wrapping pressies and unable to provide his dinner, so I am updating my blog as he sleeps.

Tomorrow I have a very early start - am setting off in the fog to Lowestoft and have to visit Nanny and Grandad, Aunt Alison and Aidan, Liam and Isla, Nanny Brown, Janine and Lola, Tracy and the boys, and Mum and Dad... and drop off pressies and luggage to Robert and family. Was hoping to see Marie and Ricki, but it is all looking rather tight to be honest! On Sunday am seeing Jane and Jamie, before heading home to start preps for dinner with Mark and his parents.Boxing day we are heading to his pares for dinner with his sister and her family, and possibly his brother et al. Tuesday, I am back to work! Huge shocker!!!

Anyway... hope you all have a fantastic Christmas!! I really do...
Lots of love
Hayley and Mark and Mia
xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bah Humbug!

Just got back from a lunch with some of the more sociable guys from work (those that haven't gone away for Christmas already). Had a fairly bad "Christmas" dinner at a local pub (soggy turkey roll, bad veg and... shudder.... sprouts! Watery custard... cheap Xmas pudding... moan... moan... waffle). The company was very good though, and we had a bit of a giggle (and only shandy or coke to drink! We are SO well behaved in Cambridgeshire...).

Last night I had a lovely dinner at Robert and Emma's, as Mark was having Noel and Doug over. Dinner was gorgeous (veggie curry with a beautiful dahl), although the evening was soured a little by the discovery that my debit and credit cards were both missing... I haven't seen them or used them since Saturday night, so I guess they may have been stolen in the pub after the meal in Hitchin? The bizarre thing is that a) they only took the cards and not my purse, b) the purse contained cash, which was NOT stolen, and c) they have not used the cards for any transactions... I don't think I have misplaced them, as am unlikely to have taken BOTH cards out for any reason, and haven't actually used my cards since Saturday?! Its a mystery... Anyway... should get the new ones issued pretty fast, but it's a good job I did all my shopping last week!!!

Tonight we are hopefully meeting Paul (Mark's bro) and his wife, Alison, for drinks in le village, which should be nice. Although they live very close, we never really socialise with them, which is a shame really... I guess Mark and his siblings are not as close as Tracy and I. If Tracy lived in the village, I doubt I would go barely a day without seeing her in some shape or form! They do lead very busy lives though (children in early teens who have lots of after school activities to attend), as I guess we do too...

Anyway... back to snoozing off my bad lunch... errr... I mean, back to work!
Lots of love,
Hayley
xxxxx

Monkey See, Monkey Do

http://www.himonkey.net/holiday/xmas/wrap/index.html

(Some Christmas wrapping tips from a fluffy Monkey... this really tickled me!)

Deck the Halls

I got this gorgeous picture from Helena's blog today... apparently she was not impressed about having her picture taken on a sweltering hot day, but she looks gorgeous all the same. Love the hair Helena - am jealous of the blonde curls!!!

I had a great weekend. Friday night was a very quiet one (Mark was pooped and went to bed early). Saturday, I got up early and took Adele over to the garden centre in Coton to get some Xmas shopping. I managed to get a load of stuff for my fish tank, which inspired me to give Elvis and Priscilla's home a thorough clean and a bit of redecoration (plastic plants ahoy!). They are quite funny, as they seem to display proper human joy when they have been cleaned out - am sure it was not my imagination when Elvis gave me a big wink and a celebratory wiggle... :-)

In the afternoon, went with Mark's Dad and Bro to watch the local team play Cambridge United. Well... was all a bit embarrassing really! We beat them 5-0, which is quite frankly shameful on their part (considering they are in the league above). Our celebrations were muted for a little while as Mark's Dad and Paul are ardent supporters of Cambridge United... "there are some games you just want to forget". We were quite good, and managed to resist rubbing it in a little!

Saturday evening we headed over to Hitchin to see Kevin and Heleen, and sixteen of us went for a delicious dinner at the Regent Cottage Chinese restaurant... it was absolutely superb, but incredibly busy (as ever). I didn't drink, which was made easier by the presence of two pregnant ladies (Heleen and her sister-in-law Claire, who are both co-incidentally due on exactly the same day in April!) and a fellow driver. After the meal, we went on to a bar, which (unfortunately for sober me!) didn't seem to ever close... we ended up getting home at 2:30am on Sunday! Despite my sobriety, I had a really good night - they are such a lovely crowd. We also saw Kevin and Heleen's gorgeous little girl Kristin, who has changed so much since I last saw her! She must be about 19 months, but has gone from being a baby to a proper little girl with masses of gorgeous blonde hair! We also found out that Heleen is expecting a little boy, so their family is complete!

Sunday, Mark (unsurprisingly) didn't get up until late. We finished putting the Christmas decorations up around the house (thankyou Jen and Sofie - I now have a Danish flag and a Sydney opera house to hang on my tree!), and put lights on the tree outside the house. In the afternoon, we popped to Mark's parents for an hour, and then made our way to Robert and Emma's place for dinner. We had an amazing dinner there. Emma had made a gorgeous Pumpkin and Sage soup with garlic bread, and Robert did smoked haddock on a bed of "twice cooked" cabbage, and tiny little fried cubes of potato with pieces of bacon (for all but Mark). Dessert was a pecan tart and cream. His presentation is immaculate; just what you would expect in a very posh restaurant!

Unfortunately, I managed to over-indulge in wine (possibly due to being so good on Saturday night), and have felt rough as a badger's arse all day today :-(

Spoke to Tracy this morning. she is finally in the house, and is loving it! She said the kids slept so well, that she had to get out at four to check that little Oscar was not dead (this is only the 2nd time in his little life that he has slept all the way through!). She seems very happy, and trying to make preparations for Christmas. She is a bit run off her feet with the shop though as one of her manageresses has really really sadly been diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. A REAL shock - she only mentioned her raised glands in her neck to her doctor as an afterthought at the end of an appointment for something else. I feel SO sorry for her. She has to start chemotherapy pretty soon. We have had so much depressing news in the last couple of weeks (my half cousin's husband was also killed in a car crash last week, in addition to Noel's brother), would be nice to hear some good news!

Anyway... must get on. Have posted almost all my cards today (a few exceptions - FIONA, what is your address?!?!?!!?). Tonight I am going to do most of the food shopping for Christmas, so wish me luck!

Much love

Hayls

xxxxxx

PS. Big HAPPY birthday to Harvey, Olivia and Ruby - Sarah's triplets, who are five today! This is actually a fairly old picture (I think they are only three here). I hope they are having fun!

Christmas Spirit

Well... its been a funny old couple of days. Yesterday, I felt SO knackered all day, and Mark was tired too (I think he had worried where I was Weds night and had had a restless night), so we ended up going to bed at 8:30 after hardly saying two words to each other... I hate that!

Anyway... spoke to my sister first thing, and she told me she was extremely stressed out. The poor girl is up to her eyeballs in it... she is supposed to be moving into her house this weekend (but it still needs lots of bits and pieces sorted on it due to f*ck-ups by the builders), Henry is playing her up a bit and Oscar has a cold (we assume Henry is feeling a little unsettled by the move and his trip to hospital last week), it's UBER busy at the shop and she has staff shortages AND building work at the shop, Sam is generally perturbing her, my Dad keeps on at her about the state of some of the work that the builders have done to the house, she has Christmas to sort out for the kids, and she doesn't feel that well at the moment... I guess that kind of put my stressing over writing a few cards and wrapping a few presents into perspective! ;-)

Some other not so nice news that we heard today, is that Noel's brother died a couple of days ago in a car accident; a collision with a tractor, just near to Fakenham. Noel is one of Mark's oldest friends (they have been mates since the age of four, and Mark meets up with him weekly for a beer/curry). We can hardly believe it! He lost another brother in equally tragic circumstances a few years ago. I actually quite sick for him... I can't imagine losing Tracy. It would be my worst nightmare (again it puts my gripes about getting ready for Christmas into focus). Hopefully we (Mark at least) will be able to catch up with him in the next couple of days and see if he is ok.

On a cheerier note (?!), we have a fairly nice weekend lined up. Tonight, no real plans... in the morning am going with Adele to help her sort out some of her Christmas shopping, and at lunch time we are going to watch the local team play in a very important match (exciting!). In the evening, we are going to see Kevin and Heleen (and little Kristin) in Hitchin, along with Nigel and several other mates. We are going to a gorgeous Chinese restaurant very close to them. Bit of an ass though as the rule is that when we visit friends of Mark, I drive (and vice versa). So looks like I will be sober while they all get ratted (that's what happened last time). Mind you, I don't mind... they are such a lovely crowd, and it's nice to see Mark getting together with his friends.

Anyway... had better get some work finished, and then get home to write some of my Christmas cards! I REALLY need to get some off this weekend - I think have LONG missed the Christmas posting for some of our foreign friends/family, but I guess they may get there in time for New Year. (Jen I got yours in the post today! So don't hold your breath for it! heh).

Lots of love to you all,
Have a lovely weekend
Hayls
xxxxxxxxxxx

100 Things We Didn't Know This Time Last Year!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/4566526.stm

Christmas Canaries

Well... yesterday was fairly eventful for me. It took me a full (count 'em) THREE hours to get to work at the new office yesterday, prompting me to try and find a new route for my next visit to the Citigroup building in Canary Wharf. I took a bus to Cambridge station, a train to Liverpool street, a tube (after five attempts to get on) from Liverpool Street to Bank, and the DLR to Canary Wharf... god knows which route to take next week; there are so many variations, and I don't think any of them will shave off the hour I would like to save on my journey time!

The new offices are scarily high up (we are on the 38th floor), but I *think* I like it. It all seems quite empty and a little eerie at the moment (we are all rattling around in a frankly HUGE space), and it also made me realise what a small concern Monis actually is! We take up barely any space in the office, and are outnumbered several times over by other business units. And yet... we are one of the top earners... it is amazing really. My new "hot desk" is without any essentials (no drawer in which to put my salt and mustard, no telephone, no bin... the important stuff!), as apparently "hot deskers" (those of us who go in once or twice a week) have no rights... tsk tsk. However, it is quite nicely placed (right next to the emergency exit, a short walk to the kitchen, and well away from the window view that, quite frankly, freaks me out a bit!). Lunch was spent exploring all the new shopping opportunities... it is much better than I thought it would be, in that there are several women's clothes shops all clustered together in one mall, AND a Waitrose! Joy! :-D

In the evening we had the office Christmas party at The Marriot Hotel in Canary Wharf area. This was very pleasant (entirely well organised by Arpi); good food, a good laugh, and I actually managed to stay relatively sober. The only problem really was the journey home... having narrowly missed the 23:15 train to Cambridge, we (Tim Dodd from one of the other business units) and I had to get the 00:07 slow train home... this took an age, and seemed to stop at places I have never even heard of!! I managed to get home at 2am... schnarl schnarl. Very annoying when you have to leave just when the party is getting started, but still make it home later than most! It seems that the usual suspects from work went a leeeetle bit OTT in their celebrations, and some didn't make it home at all... tsk tsk tsk... would you credit it?! ;-)

Anyway... got a quiet day today. Have to get parcels off for friends abroad (Jen - I am SO sorry I didn't post yours sooner! I promise it will be worth it...). SO many of my friends seem to be moving house at the moment, or are waiting on moving, it will cost me a fortune in "New Home" cards in the next couple of weeks... John is moving, Nikki and Carlos, Tracy and the boys, Jamie and Adele, and Chris (who sits next to me at work). Janine and Simon managed to get their move sorted a couple of weeks back; a nice easy move across the road to a bigger house.

Much love
Hayls
xxx

PS. BIG First birthday shout to little Eloise Hart-Davies. We hope you have a lovely birthday! Can it REALLY be a year?!

Some Stories Can Make Your Day...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6178659.stm

Check out the image halfway down the page (click to enlarge it).

The Labyrinth

First things first; Henry is much recovered, thankfully! In fact, I spoke to Tracy this morning, and he was naked except for a pair of cowboy boots, and calling himself "Buffalo Henry". He apparently had a herd of pink cows that he had to save from snake attacks, which had "milk in their boobies" and were "made of pink bubble gum, so can't be eaten"??!!!

We had another nice weekend. Friday night I went over to Mark's parents, and ate chicken hotpot with his Mum and watched "Muriel's Wedding", which I have never seen before and was just great... Saturday, I got up mega-early, and did most of my Christmas shopping before 10am! Was fantastic! I then went for my massage, which was just gorgeous - although being loaded down with bags just seconds later seems to have caused some major muscle ache! heh... Saturday afternoon, Mark and Lindsey turned up... and Mark, Mark, Kurt and John (Mark's Dad) went to the football, while Lindsey and I put the world to rights in the kitchen! Saturday night, we had quite a few drinks at the local, and I had the most delicious curry I have ever had in the Indian (Rajestani Lamb? Curried lamb shank... melt-in-the-mouth-tastic!).

Sunday, we got up fairly late, I made scrambled eggs for us all, and we did a bit of work in the garden. Doug turned up for a chat and a cuppa, and then Mark and I went for a walk in the woods nearby (Mark took his hacksaw, for doing a bit of ivy clearing on the way!). In the afternoon we went to Mark's pares for a bit of tea and a chat, and in the evening we went with Doug to see Pan's Labyrinth at the cinema... this is an absolutely amazing Spanish film, and I fell in love with it! Can highly recommend! Very moving, lots of symbolism, and the most beautiful cinematography I have seen in a long time...

This week is a busy one... tonight have netball (and possibly drinks after), and tomorrow I have to schlep to Canary Wharf for the first time, and we have our Christmas "do" tomorrow night... getting home is gonna be interesting, and am actually thinking of not drinking, to facilitate my journey (particularly in light of the serial murderer in Ipswich)!

Much love
Hayls
xxxxx

My Boy

Was rudely awoken by my Mum this morning with the news that little Henry (my Nephew) was in hospital! Thankfully, he seems fine today, but what a shocker! It is REALLY frightening how what appears to be a bit of a nasty cough/cold for a child can so quickly become very serious! Yesterday afternoon, Grandad commented on Henry's nasty cough, and although Tracy said it sounded quite a harsh cough, she had no cause for deep concern. To cut a long story short, poor Henry's condition worsened quite rapidly (temperature raised, became floppy/sleepy, vomiting) - culminating in him panicking because he couldn't breathe between coughs - Tracy says it is a blessing that he likes having the baby monitor in his room for the music it plays, as she managed to hear him having breathing difficulties! Thankfully, Sam was around (as he was sposed to have Henry last night), so they managed to get him first to a walk-in medical centre locally, and then in an ambulance to James Paget Hospital. Tracy said it almost broke her heart when he still managed to squeak out that he loved her, and that he could see the Christmas lights through the window of the ambulance... Thankfully, on arrival in hospital, he responded immediately to the drugs they gave him on the Children's ward, and was reluctant to stay in bed (not through fear/illness), but because he was desperate to play with the doll's house on the ward! The weird thing that we couldn't work out, was when the ambulance arrived to say he was being taken to hospital, he went into a blind panic - although Tracy says he has no experience of hospitals, in the negative sense at least! Must have picked it up on CBBC or something! Anyway... he is home now, and looking very pale/tired with bloodshot eyes, bless him. It appears that he may have had Croup, which is a viral infection that can turn threatening for some children. It is also contagious, so she has to keep him away from little Oscar for the next couple of days - which may prove difficult! She has also been told that he has a heart murmur, which may/may not be due to the viral infection, but there will be tests for this... I am SO relieved that he has got out of this mostly unscathed though. Makes you realise how fragile we all are!

The rest of the week has been pretty uneventful really! Wednesday night, we (Mark and I, and Robert and Emma) went to see The Broken Family Band, who I have to say were pretty amazing. The band play an excellent set, interspersed with much joking and chit chat by the lead singer - made for a really good night out. This was at the end of a fairly stressy day in London - I had to pack up my desk in the St. Mary Axe office, as we are moving en masse to Canary Wharf this weekend. I am SO looking forward to adding another 45 minutes to my journey into London once a week, to go and sit at a 'hot desk' (I have no allocated desk this time) on the 38th floor of a big terrorist target next to London City Airport.... call me cynical if you like, but it doesn't fill me with joy! I guess I can't really complain, as all the others have to be there every day of the week. But, still... whinge... whine... splat.

A pretty quiet weekend planned. Tonight, Mark is out with some work friends in the Local, and I am going to his Mum's for dinner (I have the chicken stew in the slow cooker already!). Tomorrow morning, Mark will undoubtedly be sleeping off the beer, and I am going into the City for a full body massage (THANKS JEN!) and to finish my Christmas shopping... in the evening, Mark and Lindsey are coming to stay the night, so it should be good to see them. No plans for Sunday at the moment, but am hoping to spend some quality time with Mark.

The garage/workshop is going great guns at the moment - the roof is going on as I type, so that will be good! Can't wait to see the finished result - looks nice enough to live in at the moment! Speaking of which, my house is not up for rent yet... so finger's crossed for that!

Anyway..
Love to all. Have a great weekend, and I promise I will try and get some cards written this weekend!

Hayls
xxxx

Le Weekend

Well, a varied weekend....

Spent much of it in the pub really, so not *that* varied! Friday, Mark and I went to the local for a drink (or seven), and had a really good night. Saturday we just spent the day doing errands (Mark in the garden painting the garage, and me ironing), although Caroline popped in with Phil and the children, which is always nice. Late Saturday afternoon we popped to the local footie ground and watched the reserves play half a match, which was bitterly cold! In the evening we went to the pub (surprise!), and then for curry.

Sunday we went around a few shops in the morning, and did a bit of Christmas shopping. Went to Mark's pares for a lovely lunch, and I stayed there while Mark went home to spend some time with a friend of his. We had a fairly quiet evening with said friend, and are hoping things work out for him.

Am sorry to be back at work today - feeling tired, and having troubles with my email this morning! Nevermind... roll on home time!

Happy belated birthday to Nikki for last Saturday - I hear she had a lovely time in Birmingham with her Husband, Carlos (newly married, so am enjoying calling him "husband" on her behalf!).

Much love
Hayls
xxx

...Straight Up

NOT on ice, as previously thought. Darn... not sure how I get these things so muddled! Anyway... a gorgeous production of Swan Lake, and for the first time I actually found the ballet quite stirring - emotional even! I guess this is why people go back for more... (or maybe it was the sight of a firm bottomed young Adonis of a man in white tights?!). Anyway... we had a lovely night. Mark's mum seemed to thoroughly enjoy it, and Caroline had her first night away from baby Emily without too much trauma for poor Phil. He did look incredibly nervous when we left!

Speaking of babies... here are some gorgeous pictures of my friends Tesla and Nile and their new baby son, Namar. What a handsome little guy he is! I wish them all the very best.

Cheers to having no plans for the weekend...

Much love
Hayls
xxxxx