Little Gem

The Battle of Hastings

2009-06-22T22:19:00.004+01:00

One of my Mum's posts has got me thinking...what is my favorite poem?

It definitely has to be this one...

THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS

By Marriott Edgar

I'll tell of the Battle of Hastings,
As happened in days long gone by,
When Duke William became King of England,
And 'Arold got shot in the eye.

It were this way - one day in October
The Duke, who were always a toff
Having no battles on at the moment,
Had given his lads a day off.

They'd all taken boats to go fishing,
When some chap in t' Conqueror's ear
Said 'Let's go and put breeze up the Saxons;'
Said Bill - 'By gum, that's an idea.'

Then turning around to his soldiers,
He lifted his big Norman voice,
Shouting - 'Hands up who's coming to England.'
That was swank 'cos they hadn't no choice.

They started away about tea-time -
The sea was so calm and so still,
And at quarter to ten the next morning
They arrived at a place called Bexhill.

King 'Arold came up as they landed -
His face full of venom and 'ate -
He said 'If you've come for Regatta
You've got here just six weeks too late.'

At this William rose, cool but 'aughty,
And said 'Give us none of your cheek;
You'd best have your throne re-upholstered,
I'll be wanting to use it next week.'

When 'Arold heard this 'ere defiance,
With rage he turned purple and blue,
And shouted some rude words in Saxon,
To which William answered - 'And you.'

'Twere a beautiful day for a battle;
The Normans set off with a will,
And when both sides was duly assembled,
They tossed for the top of the hill.

King 'Arold he won the advantage,
On the hill-top he took up his stand,
With his knaves and his cads all around him,
On his 'orse with his 'awk in his 'and.

The Normans had nowt in their favour,
Their chance of a victory seemed small,
For the slope of the field were against them,
And the wind in their faces an' all.

The kick-off were sharp at two-thirty,
And soon as the whistle had went
Both sides started banging each other
'Til the swineherds could hear them in Kent.

The Saxons had best line of forwards,
Well armed both with buckler and sword -
But the Normans had best combination,
And when half-time came neither had scored.

So the Duke called his cohorts together
And said - 'Let's pretend that we're beat,
Once we get Saxons down on the level
We'll cut off their means of retreat.'

So they ran - and the Saxons ran after,
Just exactly as William had planned,
Leaving 'Arold alone on the hill-top
On his 'orse with his 'awk in his 'and.

When the Conqueror saw what had happened,
A bow and an arrow he drew;
He went right up to 'Arold and shot him.
He were off-side, but what could they do?

The Normans turned round in a fury,
And gave back both parry and thrust,
Till the fight were all over bar shouting,
And you couldn't see Saxons for dust.

And after the battle were over
They found 'Arold so stately and grand,
Sitting there with an eye-full of arrow
On his 'orse with his 'awk in his 'and.

We had this on cassette performed by Fivepenny Piece, I loved listening to it, we had played it so often we ended up wearing the tape out! But even as I read it now I still hear it as Fivepenny Piece performed it.

Easily distracted

2009-06-20T22:25:00.002+01:00

Well hello there, long time no see. I'm not really doing to well on the old blogging front am I! Every now & then I find myself sat in front of the computer starting a new post but then get I find I've let myself get distracted yet again...oops.

Here's a bit of an update on what I've been doing...

Have been working quite a lot, not that I'm grumbling, I'm still enjoying the job & feel very lucky to actually have one. In May Diane(one of my colleagues) & I took four of our residents on holiday. We stayed at a lovely farm in Whitwell, & we all had a great time doing all the tourist things; like visiting Flamingo Park, the island's Steam Railway, eating ice-creams on the sea-front & much more. Definitely no complaints from me, get paid to go on holiday. Vanessa, another of my colleagues, & I have also taken three of the ladies to Porstmouth shopping, again how can I complain a day off the island & shopping!

I've now booked all of my holiday for this year;

A week off in August, Elena & I are planning to go to Southampton shopping, any one wishes to join us then the more the merrier.

A week off in September, hopefully Matt & I are going to go to the Bestival at Robin Hill with Christian & Gina, but no definite plans on that yet.

And two weeks off in October, again some plans to maybe go on a late deal holiday for the first week, depending on money of course. Then spend some time with Elena for the second week(October half term) hopefully if it's OK with Auntie Claire & she hasn't got any plans to go away or anything for that week then visit them.

Matt, Elena & I have been spending quite a lot of time together, we've been out sailing & spending time at the yacht club as well as going to Robin Hill a couple of times. The first time we all stupidly wore flip flops, if any one is ever planning to visit Robin Hill I would suggest wearing trainers, much more sensible.

Matt & I have been to Porstmouth to meet some of his family. We had a great day shopping, going up the Spinnaker Tower & having an all you can eat Chinese at Water Margin in Gunwarf Quays, we were rather full by the end of it. Matt treated me to a new Fat Face t-shirt & a lovely black & white going out dress from M&S.

I have finally got round to buying myself a new car. A blue Vauxhall Astra, & its lovely to drive something with a quiet exhaust.

We've been spending a bit of time with Christian & Gina, we've had a BBQ, spent the day at the beach, gone to the pub a few times & played golf together. Next month we are planning on having a night out in Portsmouth, where I'll be able to wear my new dress. Hopefully Lisa & Liam are going to join us as well.

1 Month Later...

2009-05-01T23:46:00.002+01:00

I've been at my job for 1 whole month now, & I'm really enjoying it. Everyone is fantastic & really easy to get on with.

So what have I been up to for an entire month without blogging once?...

Well have been working loads, which is great, am thinking of the pay cheque at the end of the month.

Mum, Dad & Elena went on holiday to the Maldives over Easter.I stayed at home with Lisa, Liam & Tillett. I get on with them really well but unfortunately I suffer with "Monica-itus", (I really really hate mess!) Lisa, Liam & Tillett on the other hand really don't seem to mind it. Good job their all lovely, & Lisa's a smashing cook. Though I only go to have a couple of meals with them due to working (& being fed at work) & the couple of days when Matt was in hospital.

Yep Matt has been for a trip to St. Mary's. One night, about a week before Mum & Dad got home, we had to go to A&E as Matt had a rash on his legs that wasn't going away & was struggling to breathe! We arrived at there at 11 pm. By 2am they had decided to admit him for more tests on his lungs & liver!?! By 4am I had to go home as I was exhausted. Matt had to stay in for 2 days. (We still haven't got any answers as to what was wrong in the first place. Oh well at least he's feeling much better now).

Elena & I have had a go on the landboard. Elena loved & wants to come down with us next time. I'm still not sure what I think yet, but will have another go to see if if I like it any more.

Other than that not a lot has happened. Mum has booked a holiday to America for 2 weeks in October 2010. Possibly thinking about going away with them in February. I'm off on my first client holiday for work soon. Am trying to convince anyone to come with me to see Simply Red at Osborne House in August. Might end up dragging Matt along, he has told me he likes them & managed about 4 words of Fairground as proof! I think going to see Simply Red would be better than watching the Disney Princess Parade, which I made him do when he took me to Disney land Paris for my 21st. LOL.

Right well I'm going to try & get some sleep, as I'm sat here at work (doing my first sleep in), feeling rather tired yet worried that I haven't done something. Oh well have to try I guess. TTFN x

The Sun Has Got His Hat On!

2009-03-24T12:00:00.003Z

Yes Mr. Sunshine has certainly had his hat on for the past week, it has been beautiful weather, I really hope it's like it this summer.

Well I still haven't heard anything about my car, other than my Dad receiving a quote from one of the garages I took it to! Over £550 so I think I'll probably get a new car if the council decide not to pay.

Matt has taken me to Ryde House to fill out a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) form, just waiting on that to come back then I can start. I'm still so excited, but feeling a little pessimistic at the same time. I keep dreaming that something happens that means I'm not allowed to work for them!

The place I went to this time was in a different part of Ryde & it was beautiful, if I hadn't of had directions I wouldn't have known it was there, it was off the main road & surrounded by trees, they had their own garden centre/nursery there & it was just so peaceful & relaxing.

Matt & I have been on a couple of walks. On Sunday, 15th March, we walked with Matt's friend Cristian (usually known by his last name Warren) & his fiancee Gina. We walked through Sandown golf course & up the cycle track to Newchurch. We did take a detour off the cycle track at one point, having been told it would be quicker, it took us right up a hill & through a farm, well the hill almost killed me yet everyone else was fine, so I think I definitely need to get some more exercise before Florida.

We ended up in a pub in Newchurch called the Pointers, it was lovely one of those pubs where every one feels at home, one bloke had even left his money & phone on the bar whilst he went outside! We had a couple of drinks each, outside as we were rather hot. Then walked back. Matt showed Warren & Gina the Michael McIntyre skip, he did it during one of his stand ups & said that skipping though generally frowned upon unless your a 5 year old girl, was actually an easy way of getting about quickly so long as you swung your arms together. It was certainly a sight to see the 3 of them skipping down the cycle track.Lol!

Matt & I also walked from home to Arreton on Saturday, where Mum & Dad picked us up, as there was no way we could have walked back home & got there in time to go to the Ponda Rosa.

On Sunday Matt & I were going to try & walk from Home in Sandown to Newport, but as there was a bit of wind we called in at Yaverland first (with the intention of going on a walk in bit) & ended up spending the day down there.

Warren & Matt have made a landboard. Basically a mountain board with a windsurf sail attached. Some of the islanders really make my blood boil, they complain that the kids run around causing chaos, but anything that they love doing they put a stop to, the most recent one is the youth clubs, some of the islanders are trying to close all the youth clubs on the island. Well how can they then complain that the kids are always running around making trouble! But it isn't just the kids some rather large. old lady shouted out of her car as her husband drove past (she didn't even have the nerve to come say it to our faces) that this was a car park not a sailing ground!

Matt on the landboard

Warren on the landboard

After a bit another of Matt's friends, Kim/Kym (not sure on the spelling) turned up with his homemade landboard. And we went down the revetment to Dinosaur Isle & then back again.

Matt, Kym/ Kim & Warren landboarding along the revetment

Hmm What Can I Say Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!

2009-03-12T20:38:00.005Z

Yesterday a man came from the council's insurers to inspect my car, so hopefully we will hear from them soon. Might just be me being pessimistic but I don't think he believed me over what had happened to the car, still I will keep my fingers crossed.

Mum & I nipped up to Morrison's today, for part of my birthday present Nana & GrandJack had given me a £20 Morrison's saver stamp book, so I've treated myself to a itunes gift card. Mum needed some bits so we thought we'd get it from there just in-case they said anything about buying a gift voucher with a gift voucher.

At 2 o'clock Matt picked me up to take me to Ryde for my interview at Ryde House. It's a privately owned company that provides accommodation & care for people with learning difficulties. I think the last time I was that nervous was when I took my 2nd driving test! Luckily Colin interviewed me as well as the main manager, so with him there I felt a lot calmer, even though at one point I had to sit on my hands to stop them from shaking!

Well they seemed really impressed with me, luckily everything I'd put on my application form seemed to help, like having my own department at Woolies, my interests and hobbies etc.

They told me they would let me know either way on Monday & if I was offered the job would have to have a police check done, which could take anything from2-4 weeks.

On my way to the interview

After the longest interview I've ever had (an hour!) Matt dropped me off at home, whilst he went back to his to carry on with the work in the garden, he's finished painting the fence now & has started on relaying the patio.

Around 5.30 whilst sat talking to Lisa over the internet I had a phone call, it was from Ryde House... I GOT THE JOB. OMG I was so excited as I was still on the phone I was typing to Lisa & Liam & as soon as I put the phone down I ran outside to tell Dad ( he had just pulled up in the car), then on the phone to everyone else I could think of. Including Sharon, who was really pleased for me & promised to write a glowing reference.

So now I just have to wait for my references to go through & this police check, then I'll be working again. Yay. Now to book the holiday to America.

So thank you Kerri & Colin xxx

TTFN x

Everything Happens For A Reason!?!

2009-03-09T11:07:00.005Z

Hmm what have I been up to recently well been to the job centre yet again. Almost (as Debbie says) "lamped" the women serving me when she told me yet again to visit the useless crown website (that directs you to places like the job centre website- genius) & that I had go round all hotels & businesses begging for a job... What the hell do they think we're doing? OK I'm not visiting people in their places of work, but I am sending out numerous CV's! There's just no jobs around at the moment.

Lisa & Liam have come down to celebrate Lisa's birthday, bringing with them 3 of Lisa's flatmates, Abbie, Katie & Emily. On Friday, 27th February, Mum & I nipped to Tescos's & bought the biggest chicken going (actually I thin it was a turkey pretending to be a chicken).

Then whilst Mum as at work I made a rather huge Keylime pie, using the new cook book that I've typed up, made sure everywhere was tidy & with Elena's help pumped up a couple of airbeds for the girls to sleep on.

Lisa & the gang arrived about 7.30 & after a tea of Shepperd's pie & Keylime pie Mum dropped us off at Bogeys.

Abbie, me, Liam, Emily, Elena, Katie, Lisa & Sam

We had a great night & on the way home Abbie & Katie decided to go for a paddle in the sea! It's far too cold for me in the summer when I will only venture in if accompanied by my winter wetsuit & wetsuit boots! Matt picked me up as I was staying at his.

Spent all of Saturday in bed, every time I go out I say to myself this time I won't mix. But I always manage it & regret it the next day. Thought the last time I went out I'd mixed cider & amaretto, this time thought I'd better not mix the 2 so I had cider, sambuca, tequila, sours & champagne...oops. Unfortunately it meant missing Shaun's 21st, but there was no way I could have drunk again that night.

Sunday, whilst Matt was out boarding with Christian, Elena & I went down Sandown with Lisa & co. First we visited the Rock shop, so the girls could buy some,yes you guessed it, sticks of rock, then down to the pier.

We all had a game of crazy golf, which was a laugh. Lisa's first shot bounced out of the 1st hole we were playing on & then landed on the 2nd. Abbie hit the ball so hard on one hole it ended up in a little well of water, where Lisa fished it out for her. Then on the last hole (where when I took Elena & Jake in the summer, Jake managed to hit some woman down the other end off the hole) Lisa hit her ball so hard it ended up on hole 1! Steve walked round & got the ball for her, she took another shot & it rolled all the way down to the beginning of the hole, so Abbie hit it up to us, managed to get it through a rather small hole in the wall & the ball ended up on hole 2!

Elena, Emily, me, Abbie & Katie playing golf on the pier

Dad cooked a huge roast dinner for all of us & we managed to sit 12 people around the dinning room table, it was like trying to eat your dinner on an aeroplane! There was Mum, Dad, Lisa, Liam, Elena, Sam, Steve, Abbie, Katie, Emily, Matt & me! I hope Lisa liked all her presents, I got her a hand blender & in a lovely folder had given her a copy of the Hopwood's cook book. Lisa, Liam & everyone left around 8.30 so they could go back to uni.

Have been watching Gavin & Stacey , it was 1 of the DVD's I got free from the Entertainment roadshow I went on for Woolies, I've never watched it because looking at the front cover I thought it looked rather chavy. Proving you should never judge a book, or in this case DVD, by it's cover! It's brilliant I can't believe I was considering getting rid of it!

Have done a car boot sale with some of my stuff & the stuff Mum & dad have cleared out of different places. Managed to get just under £40 & have also sold their old cooker for £65. Mum & Dad have very kindly let me keep all the money & want it to go towards fixing my car. So just got to wait to hear from the council. If the council do cough up then we're going to put it towards a big birthday meal when Lisa & Liam next come down. We're going to go to the Ponda Rosa in Ryde to celebrate Mum's birthday, Mother's Day, Sam's 21st & my birthday.

For my birthday Matt took me bowling on the Wednesday & then out for a meal at the Dairyman's Daughter. It's a really lovely pub in Arreton & is usually really busy but tonight, even thought the car park was quite full, Matt & I were the only people in there! He also bought me series 2 of Gavin & Stacey.

Mum & Dad bought me a digital camera, so now I can take decent photo's. Lisa & Liam bought me a memory card for my camera, a couple of necklace, some earrings & a pink travel adaptor. Elena got me a pink heat protective mat for my hair straighteners & a cross stitch & I got money & Morrisons stamps from Nana & GrandJack, Nana- Jean, Teresa & co, Auntie Claire & Wendy.

Wendy bought Matt & me a curry from Taj Tandoori to celebrate my birthday. So I'm managing to make the celebrations last quite a while as the meal out to Ponda Rosa is 2 weeks after my birthday! Lisa would be proud.

Went to Newport Friday with Mum & bought myself a new hoodie, highlighter blue this time, & a white top similar to the top I wore to Bogeys. We met up with Dad for dinner & on the way back to the car picked up a brochure for Disney World Florida, ad Mum & Dad want to take Elena there. And if I get a job & can save enough money then hopefully I'll go to.

Saturday night Matt dropped me off in Newport as it was Sam's birthday, we went to school together & she worked at Woolworths but left quite a while before it shut. I didn't stay long as Newport's not really that nice a place to go drinking in. Cat was there as well so it was really nice to see her.

Sunday Matt dropped me off at the King's to meet up with every one from Woolies. We had decided last time that we'd all get together to celebrate all the birthdays in February & March. This time Cat, Shaun Debbie & myself turned up, I'm beginning o wonder what the point is as no-one can ever be bothered to turn up or to tell us they aren't coming.

Matt picked me gone 6 & we went back to his to watch Heston Blumenthals Victorian Feast, it was brilliant, he even manged to make a drink that was all pink but tasted of toffee, hot buttered toast, turkey, custard & cherry tart!

Kerri's husband Colin phoned me this morning to say I have an interview on Thursday at Ryde House, where he works & He is the one who has tried to get me a job. So keep your fingers, toes eyes & anything else possible crossed for me.

Well i think I should really get up & dressed now as it's gone midday. TTFN. x

It's Official!

2009-02-19T23:28:00.002Z

Matt's boat is now over at Cowes, after a very long, slow journey there. We kept pulling over to allow cars to go past & at one point I even spotted Cat's car, so text her apologising which she found highly amusing. It took us all day as first we took the boat, then popped into Yaverland to pick up Matt's catamaran trailer so we could take the mast separately. But it's there now so all is good.

Had an email from Sharon last night asking me to see if I could get hold of as many people from work as possible to get their details for our claim against Deloitte, it's amazing how fast people email back when it's regarding them receiving money! Oh well, we've managed to get everyone so Kerry's going to help Sharon fill out the form's & get them sent off.

Southampton today. The Red Jet terminal was so busy the queue was out of the door & on to the street! We found out when we got on the boat that all the very thick fog had delayed everything.

I managed to get some new pyjama bottoms from Primark & get a few birthday presents sorted out. It was a really lovely day out with Mum, Elena & Kerry but I was definitely glad to get back, feeling rather tired now.

Matt picked me up from home & we spent a few hours together, I must have been such great company as at one point I did nod off! Just before he dropped me back off we went down Shanklin seafront for a quick drive, it was lovely watching the waves come in.

Thought I'd quickly check my emails before going to bed & found one from Shaun. It's official Sandown Woolworths is becoming a Sainsbury's local, http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/shoppingandservices/storelocator/store.htm?id=4933, think I'll be sending my C.V. off to them tomorrow along with getting a quote for the damage on my car (to complete the council claim form).

Off to bed now for some much needed sleep. TTFN

Boat, Car & Pink Dumplings

2009-02-19T01:08:00.002Z

Matt came round Wednesday morning & phoned the council for me so now I have a claim information pack on it's way.

We then went up to his to get the boat out of the garage (a lot of hard work as it fitted rather snugly in there, and was rather heavy) & gave it a good clean ready for the man from Cowes Boat-shed to come & take a few photo's for hiss website.

Matt dropped me off before the man turned up so i could get a much needed shower. I gave the under stairs cupboard it's first coat of paint before Matt picked me up again. We popped into Newport again to get the cheapest car seat covers possible form Argos, as the seats in the new car aren't that nice, but we've had worse.

Matt then dropped me back at Mum & Dad's for some tea, cauliflower & broccoli mornet, I love it it's so tasty. Lisa sent me a picture of what she had cooked for her tea steak & ale pie with pink dumplings! So after tea Mum called her up & we all had a good chat with her, I can't wait for them to come down for her birthday, I really miss her & Liam so it'll be great to see them again.

Spent a few hours with Matt after tea.

Absolutely Fabulous Darling

2009-02-17T10:55:00.002Z

Mum, Elena & I went into Newport yesterday to get them some bits for their upcoming holiday. Mum managed to find a few bits for herself, which is good as she usually struggles. And she looked absolutely fabulous (hmm really want to say darling here, lol) in everything she got, not to sure if she believed us at the time though.

The problem when shopping for clothes (and shoes) is you have not only find something that looks great on but it has to feel good as well, not only in texture it has to make you feel good. I'm exactly the same. And I love really soft materials, but I think that may have something to do with when I was younger & loved to pull a lovely sot hankie through the gaps in my fingers & toes! Well when I say younger, nothings changed as I still love it now.

Mum treated us to a McDonald's, hmmm chicken nuggets yum. I felt rather run down though, I don't know why as I hadn't really done anything.

Mum dropped me off at Matt's on the way back. We went back into Newport to buy a car, so we can tow Matt's boat over to Cowes where it's going to be sold, & just something for us to get around whilst mine is being fixed. It'll be great once the boat is sold as the money is going towards somewhere for us to live. So keep your fingers crossed for us.

Got back just into for the final installment of ITV's Whitechapel with Rupert Penry- Jones, based on the notorious Jack the Ripper. It was rather squeamish in places, but then I'm a rather squeamish person, but very good.

Matt popped round to see his friend Christian and got asked to be his best man. Christian (more popularly know as Warren, his surname) was the lad who tried to sail to France about 4 years ago know, just before I met Matt, on Matt's catamaran.

We went on another random drive ( I know you would have thought we would have learnt our lesson about random drives) it was about 11.30 and we were just coming up to Arreton, when I spotted James another of Matt's friends walking on the side of the road. It's quite a long stretch of this road has no foot path! So we turned round & offered him a lift, he was rather pleased as he had been quite worried about getting run over but had just finished work at the Dairyman's Daughter, a lovely pub further up the road.

He was really nice, I'd only met him briefly a couple of times before. Unfortunately he'd lost his bike licence due to speeding a year or 2 ago & couldn't afford to re-sit it at the moment as now you have to take bike tests on the mainland as no-one does them on the island anymore! The advanced driving instructors are also warning the council at the moment that if all of the island becomes a 40 mph or less zone then no-one will be able to sit their driving exams on the island as it would be too dangerous for them, due to faster speeds on the mainland & people not being used to it!

Matt dropped me back off at Mum & Dad's after we had dropped James off so we could both get some much needed sleep.

A Little Bit Of This & That

2009-02-15T22:47:00.007Z

OK so yet again it's been quite a while since I last blogged, well almost a week, sorry. So a quick catch up...

Tuesday, 10th February 2009

Matt & I went for a drive over to Yarmouth, popping into Sainsburys on the way. We bought some more Walkers crisps. Builders Breakfast, they were ok but got a bit too eggy towards the end, & Fish & Chips, absolutely disgusting they tasted as if they had dipped the potatoes in week old used chip shop oil...yuck! We also bought some olives... my favourite yum.

We parked in Fort Victoria, it was really nice down there, unfortunately it wasn't until we got there that I realised I'd forgot my phone, so no camera!

Wednesday, 11th February 2009

Off to the job centre again today, woop woop. OMG I really hate it their, some of the staff make you feel so rubbish, it always feels like they think they're better than you, I know some of the other girls feel the same way.

Kerry, the manager of Cowes, is always leaving just as I go in, this week we had about 30 seconds to have a quick chat before I got called up. She told me to go down the Kings tomorrow as she was meeting up with Sharon to tell her about a claim we can make against Deloitte.

I had another form to fill out, this time to claim my notice pay, so the women I saw this week helped me fill it out. I also found out that for the first 6 months of unemployment you go on to contribution based pay, this means you don't get any help towards your options fees. So had to cancel my appointment on Friday as £30 is a bit expensive when you have limited funds. I just hope the dentist will be free or even a bit cheaper.

On the way home I drove via Culver/ Yaverland. All the marshes had flooded.

Matt & I also had a drive to a few different places to have a look at a couple of cars as I am currently deciding whether I should get a new car or spend a bit of money fixing the Corolla. Still haven't made my mind up yet though.

Flooded marsh fields near Yaverland

Flooded fields near Brading

View of flooding from the down's

Thursday, 12th February 2009

My interview at Lower Hyde today. I didn't really feel that nervous, I thought I would, I've never really had a proper interview. At the Trouville hotel Pete, the restaurant manager, told me what the job would entail and asked when could I start. The Fairway I had been doing a bit of work in the reception when I approached Wayne, the manager of the club house, and asked if he had any work going, I started that night. And I had handed my C.V. into Woolworths after a couple of seasons had passed at the Fairway, Wayne had left (it wasn't the same working there after he and Adele had gone) and the season had ended. Tracy, the manager at the time, phoned me one day asking if I could pop in as a girl was supposed to be transferring from the mainland and never turned up! I started the next morning!

The man I saw, Sven, seemed really nice. He was the head of the bar. He showed me around the bar and entertainment area and also showed me the little children's shop. Other than just refreshing on my previous jobs, a quick chat about Woolworths and a general overview about the job and Park Resorts the only question he asked me was "What could I bring to the company?", so I'm not feeling to positive about getting the job.

At 12 o'clock Matt dropped me off at the Kings. Kerry told Sharon, Bren & me that we can claim up to 8 weeks pay from Deloittes, the reason being something to do with a consultation period they legally had to give all the staff. I'm not 100% sure what it means but because Woolworths employed over 100 people they had to give 90 days consultation period before making the first person unemployed, which they didn't. So hopefully we should be able to get some more money.

Friday, 13th February 2009

Matt & I went to Marks & Spencer's today to get their Valentine meal deal. The deal consisted of a starter, main, side dish, dessert, bottle of wine & a single rose all for £20. So we had a lovely pate for our starter. Steak & chunky chips for the main & side dish. Melt in the middle chocolate pudding. A bottle of rose. A bubblegum pink rose.

Matt then treated me to a small bag of Thornton's cappuccino chocolates, yum. And the last of the Spiderwick Chronicles books from Waterstones. Where we bumped into Mum who was trying to buy all the birthday presents for the copious amounts of birthdays in February & March.

We had our meal tonight as an early Valentine's celebration, it was all really lovely except the wine. It doesn't really help as I'm more of a cider girl.

Our Marks & Spencer's Valentine meal deal

Saturday, 14th February 2009

Didn't really do that much today as I woke up with an awful headache, not due to the wine as I only had a mouthful. I slept at Matt's last night and didn't sleep to well. He has a water bed, which is ok, but we haven't slept on it for a while so I every time I turned over I woke up.

Went home & had a quick shower then went to Morrisons with Mum & Elena to get a few bits. Then after having a bit of lunch I went back up & spent a few hours with Matt

Sunday, 15th February 2009

Well talk about kicking you when your down, who ever it is doing the kicking I want to find them & give them a taste of their own medicine! So if any ones got some steel toe caped boots I could borrow I'd be very grateful, lol.

What am I talking about I hear you say... well Matt & I went for another random drive again today. Going to Ventnor first of all. It was really busy with hardly any parking space! Then over towards Compton along the Military Road.

Whilst just coming out of a corner (doing 45 mph) I spotted a pot hole in the road, tried to swerve to miss it but no luck. No sooner as we had gone through it the car started vibrating and making a really awful noise! So hazard lights on I had to pull over straight away .

Running back to take a picture of the pot hole for evidence I found a couple of rusty cogs, not knowing if they belonged to my car or not I picked them up & took them back with me, just in case.

The pot hole

And again

Matt drove back it was so loud we could hardly hear each other talk, & you could barley see out of the rear view mirror as it was vibrating so much! It was really embarrassing going through place like Godshill, which is only a 20 mph, as it sounded as if we going a lot faster & all the old folks where staring at us looking rather annoyed.

Got back just in time to make it to the Kings for 4 o'clock. Where I met up with Sharon, Cat & Shaun. We talked about the claim & Cat's sister-in-law is an employment lawyer has said we've got a very good chance of getting it! We had a few drinks & have decided to go back down there on the 8th March to celebrate every ones birthdays that fall in February & March. Bren, Cat, Shaun & mine!

Matt & I spent a few hours at his before Mum very kindly came & picked me up.

Now off for some sleep. Bye.x

How Much Stuff?

2009-02-09T17:15:00.004Z

OK so it's been a few days again since I last blogged. Friday must have been a pretty boring day as I can't remember what I did! Other than taking a car load of my bits to Matt's Mum's so we could store them in the loft.

Saturday I spent 3 hours in the hairdresser's. Catching up with Caroline, who had a really quite day so I had her undivided attention, and having my highlights topped up. I always worry once all the dye has been washed out and I'm sat there in front of the mirror with wet hair, it always looks as if nothings happened, but then after having a lovely hair cut and a quick blast with the hair dryer it always looks fab. Caroline was great, my hair looks brill and and she's said that if Lower Hyde don't give me a job she'll got down there and sort them out for me!

Then Matt and I spent the rest of the day moving out of the flat. OMG I didn't realise how much stuff I have, all of Matt's things fitted into car loads. Mine took 3 and that's not including Fridays car load! So I have decided to go through everything to see what I want to keep or sell.

Sunday I sorted thought some more boxes. Spent a bit of time on the Wii Fit (managing to get advanced on the balance ball game) and then helped Dad tidy up the kitchen after part of the ceiling came down. After some lovely home made chicken soup for dinner I spent a few hours with Matt. We rented a film from Blockbuster. It was called Righteous Kill with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino it also stared John Leguizamo (Sid the Sloth out of Ice Age, Moulin Rouge and Romeo & Juliet) and 50 Cent. It was really good, much better than I thought it would be. I won't tell you what it's about as I really think you should watch it. All I'll say is it's a bit of a murder mystery.

Then after one of Dad's marvelous roast dinners, a bit more sorting and getting the top score on advanced ball balance game on the Wii Fit Mum started to teach Elena and me how to knit. She cast on for the both of us and we both started with 20 stitches, Elena lost a few but at one point I'd managed to gain 10! I've also ended up with a couple of button holes, lol!

Caught up on a few programmes after everyone had gone off to bed. I watched Rory Bremner's Who Do You Think You Are and the new 10 Years Younger with Myleene Klass, who is much nicer and kinder than the previous host.

Mum's picture of my knitting

I didn't get to sleep till about 3 o'clock last night (well this morning!) due to playing on my DS, so when my phone went at 10.30 this morning I was still asleep. I got up though had a quick a shower, then went down to the Spar shop down the Fairway to get some of the Walker's crisps.

I've already tried Chili and Chocolate, Cajun Squirrel and Duck in Hoi Sin, didn't like any of them. So I wanted to get Builders Breakfast, Fish and Chips and Onion Bhaji. The only one of those 3 they had in stock was the Onion Bhaji, I bought 2 packets and dropped one packet into Mum at work then went up to see Matt. We had the other packet, at first I thought they tasted of cheese and onion but the more we ate the more I could taste onion bhaji. So all I have to now is find somewhere else that sells them.

Matt dropped me back back off at home just before 12 o'clock. I did the ironing and a bit of tidying and then carried on sorting through my stuff.

Mum came back just gone 2 o'clock and we spent a bit of time on the Wii Fit. I've also carried on with a bit more knitting.

Well that's it for now, will go and do a bit more knitting and sorting.

Interview

2009-02-05T22:28:00.002Z

I'm not to sure how I managed it, I know I had a rather late night last night and didn't get to sleep till gone 1.30, but I didn't wake up till 11.30am! The only problem is that for some reason (even though there is no one in the flat above us now) we don't get a lot of hot water after 12 o'clock. So I was fine had a lovely hot bath and a really nice soak, Matt got in the bath after me (using my water of course) but there was no hot water left to top it up. The only solution I could think of was to boil the kettle and a couple of pans of water, which worked a treat.

We then popped into Maxine's, a hair dressers in Sandown, to book an appointment, I was only going to have a trim but Matt's treating me to having my roots done. Thankfully the way Caroline's going to do my roots is a lot lot cheaper than how I used to have it done.

We then dropped some plastic carrier bags into Mum, as she was saying yesterday that she was running out of them (they use them for the kitchen bin) and we have loads and loads of them.

Then off to Morrisons as they're doing an offer on Muller corner yoghurt's at the moment. A multi pack of 6 for 2 pounds. So we stocked up on them, got some fruit and cereal.

I then dropped Matt off at his Mum's, as she wanted to see him but thankfully I got to go back home. Where I carried on sorting through different bits and pieces and read some more of my book.

At just about 6.10 my phone went, I was expecting Matt to phone me to ask me to come and pick him up, but when I saw the number I didn't recognise it. It turned out to be a man from Lower Hyde, he said that he was looking through the C.V. that I'd sent in and would I like to come for an interview!!! So I'm not to sure if it's for the restaurant work or for something else but I don't care, it's definitely something to look forward to. Roll on next Thursday!

Another episode of the Hustle tonight, I love it's brilliant it's definitely in y top 10.

Well off to bed now, TTFN. x

Park Resorts

2009-02-05T22:13:00.003Z

Wednesday, 4th January 2009

At 10 o'clock this morning, after making my self look very presentable, I went to Lower Hyde. It is one of the islands 4 Park Resorts. I had sent them one of my many C.V's and in return they had sent me an application form and invited me to their open day.

Whilst waiting to speak to one of the heads of departments I spotted John, Steve's brother, I didn't say anything to him though as he looked highly immersed in his application. I spoke to the head of the restaurant, he seemed quite impressed, my previous hotel and holiday park work being an advantage, he said he would have a look through all of his application forms and give me a call next week. So fingers crossed, I really don't mind what I do it'll just be great to be working again.

I went to see Mum afterwards, she told me about the family history she's been doing and then let me borrow her laptop so I could email Elena's pictures of the snow to myself.

After a lovely cup of tea we popped into Sandown to drop her broken hard drive off at the computer shop. Then went to Morrisons, I'm sure all the terrible drivers on the island go to Morrisons Tesco's must be to far away!lol. There was one, well I'm still not to sure whether it was a woman or a man, trying to get a rather small car into an extra large disabled space and taking ages to do it!

We then went over to the industrial estate to get a door curtain for the utility room, they only make them to order though so I think Mum will go to Argos.

I spent the rest of the day sorting through boxes and tidying the flat, other than that really didn't get up to much.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

2009-02-03T18:42:00.012Z

Saturday, 31st January 2009

Matt and I spoke to Fiona this morning and she's letting us have the flat for another week! I phoned Mum to tell her and to ask if I could use her washing machine again, going out tonight and everything I want to where needs washing!

When we got round there Liam, Lisa and Tillet where playing on Mum and Dad's new Wii Fit. Over Christmas we had had a conversation about addictions, Tillet saying how he hasn't got an addictive personality! He's always playing on his Xbox or playing Ge
o Challenge, a game on Facebook! Today was more proof of his addictive personality, he spent quite a lot of time trying to beat Liam's score on ski-ing!

Steve came over a bit later and we had a quick chat about tonight. When we went out for Chinese at the beginning of the month we all decided to keep in touch, Bren decided that we'd meet up on the 31st and go out for a meal. Well yesterday I heard from Sharon telling me that she wouldn't be able to make it (which isn't like Sharon at all) also Bren and Lyn couldn't make it as they both, handily, had family over! Debbie had told me earlier in the week that she wouldn't be able to make it, and Jo never let me know what she was doing.

Steve said that he was definitely coming but little Gemma would only come down for a couple of drinks.

I left Mum and Dad's just before 5 so I could get my self ready, then down to the Kings for 6. I met Catherine outside and we were soon joined by Shaun. We waited until 7.30, having a few drinks in the meantime (except Cat who was driving) I even phoned Steve twice, but no joy. No one else turned up!

So Cat, Shaun and I went down to the Caulkheads. It wasn't that busy when we got there, there were a few people in but they all had their food. They had no chicken in (which we only found out when we went to order our food) and no lasagna. Cat had chosen chicken fajitas and Shaun had chosen lasagna! So after another look at the menu we got it all sorted. Cat and Shaun to have a burger and I to have medium rare steak. We had over a 30 minute wait so by the time the food turned up we where all starving!

It wasn't the best, half my steak was medium rare and the other half was well done! Not to sure how they managed that one, but I couldn't be bothered to send it back as I was so hungry. It also came with a mushroom sauce, that tasted suspiciously of Campbell's soup!

So on the whole the night was a bit of let down, it was really great to see Cat and Shaun (who had come back from uni especially) but I was a bit disappointed that no one else could be bothered to turn up.

When I got back to the flat I spoke to Lisa or Liam on MSN where they told me Steve had waited down the Caulkheads for half an hour! I'm not so sure if I believe it though, as why didn't he answer his phone or phone one of us? Oh well.

Whilst round Mum's earlier Elena told me that the Chanel 4 show Come Dine With Me has filmed an episode on the island and that one of her teachers is taking part. When talking about it with Cat and Shaun Shaun told me that his sister would be on it as well, as they filmed a bit of her at the school, and his sister was in the class at he time. How cool is that!

Sunday, 1st February 2009

Popped round Mum and Dad's to pick up the rest of my washing, which they had very kindly dried for me as well, thank you.

We went to Morrisons to get a few bits for tea. We decided to have potato bake so got potatoes, sweet potatoes, cheese and then went to get the sauce. They only had the cheese and ham flavour which I really don't like. So on our way back to the flat I nipped into Somerfield, who don't sell potato bake sauce at all.

There was nothing else for it, I dropped Matt of at the flat to unpack the shopping we had got and then went to Tescos! Where thankfully they had my favourite flavour sauce, garlic and herb.

Back at the flat we decided to do a bit of cooking, and make some cheese scones. We measured it all mixed it all up and then realised we don't own a rolling pin, so I just flattened it out. Then realised we don't have any cutters! In the end I used one of the Ikea glasses Teresa and Nik bought us.

They turned out great, though next time I think I'll use stronger cheese.

Scones with Bero book and cutter

Monday,2nd February 2009

I've borrowed one of Elena's DS games, Viva Pinata Pocket Paradise. I spent ages playing it this morning. After finally deciding I should go and have a bath I quickly phoned Lisa to see how her driving test had gone. Unfortunately she failed again, so I said I'd go round and see her. When I stepped out the front door it was snowing!!! It wasn't setteling but I did manage to get a few photo's.

Table in back patio Car with a bit of snow on top

On my way to Mum and Dad's a stopped in Shanklin and bought Lisa a "Good Luck" Me To You Bear, she bought me one for my third driving test, which I passed, so hopefully it'll help her. I also popped into Shanklin news and got her some chocolate to cheer her up.

I had a go on the Wii Fit, the first thing you have to do is let it measure your BMI mine was in the middle of ideal, then you have to measure your centre of gravity which was ok but needs some work. I love the Wii and the Wii Fit, once I have a job I think I'll definitely start saving for one.

I stayed for tea, so when Elena and I went to Tesco's we got some broccoli and cauliflower, I hadn't got a clue as to which to buy but I think I did well, they weren't moldy so that's a start.

Tuesday, 3rd February

I was very rudely awoken at 6 o'clock this morning by a rather loud metallic bang, I think there must be some air in the radiator system. After a lying there there for a couple of minutes, letting my heart settle down, lol, I realised Matt wasn't in bed, getting up to investigate I found him at the living room window as excited as a kid who's Christmas' have all come at once, it was snowing!

We quickly got dressed (Matt was even wearing trousers- a rarity!) and went for a drive. First of all we drove down to have a look at Rylstone Gardens, it looked lovely, unfortunately as it was so dark i couldn't get a picture, it was beautiful though.

We then went down to Yaverland car park, and by this time the sun was starting to rise. There were a couple of other people down there driving around the car park and getting a feel for driving on the snow. I also had ago as the only other time I've driven in the snow it hadn't really settled properly.

A little bit dark, view from Yaverland car park of the sun rising

Then we made our way, very slowly, to Mum and Dad's. I was supposed to be going to Age Concern today and get a lift in with Dad. But I'd managed to get an earlier doctor's appointment to check my back, and I really didn't want to give it to anybody else.

The rash on my back

Matt and I took Elena down to the high school only to find, much to Elena's delight, that it was closed due to the snow. We only had about an inch of snow, if that, but nearly the whole island had come to a stand still. Matt then dropped Elena and me off at the doctors where Dr. Rivers confirmed that the rash is shingles, but as I'd had it for a few days there was nothing he could do, I'd just have to sit it out.

Back to Mum and Dad's so Elena could get changed, we had a quick go on the Wii Fit, and got Matt on it as well, then went for a drive in the snow, whilst we still had it. We went back to Luccombe and showed Elena Big Mead, where there were people making snowmen, sledging, having snowball fights, 2 lads had a big catapult which they were using to get their snowballs further than anyone else. It's lovely how a little bit of frozen water brings everyone together. We showed her Rylstone Gardens, then up into Ventnor.

Matt pulled into a car park for us, so we could get a few pictures and throw a few snowballs. it took Matt a couple of minutes to get the car out as it was in the shade and on a bit of a slope- Ventnor being mainly hills- and then on our way again. We stopped of in another layby so Elena could get a picture of the sea and then on to Ventnor botanical Gardens. We didn't take any photo's here as, due to all the trees no doubt, the snow hadn't really settled.

Matt then said he had a really could idea for a photo spot for us. So off we went again, some of the views on the way were amazing, like the snow coming down and swirling over the sea and hills, at one point Matt pulled over and was umming and ahhring as to whether we should drive really slowly down a hill or walk. In the end I told him just to drive down it, he went really slow and soon pulled into another car park. Here we got and followed Matt up a snowy path. Well he definitely didn't let us down, we had a great view of West Wight and Blackgang Chine.

OMG trying to get back the hill was, well, a bit of a laugh! We got over taken by not 1but 2 tractors! It took us a while but Matt, after much sweating, managed it in the end. the tyre tracks we left behind were brill, wiggling all over the place!

Back to Mum and Dad's again to pick Lisa and Liam up so we could drop them of at the fast cat. By the time we set off the only snow remaining was up on the downs! Everywhere else was just slush. We popped into McDonald's and got some lunch on the way, and then round the boating lake as it was partly frozen over.

Mum and Dad's back garden

Rylstone Gardens

Me throwing a snowball at Elena

People sledging in Ventnor

Matt trying to get out of Ventnor car park

Blackgang Chine

Cowboy and Indian village at Blackgang Chine

Our tyre marks trying to get up the hill

We left Elena with Mum watching House and went back to the flat. I fell asleep pretty much as soon as we got back to the flat, being up at 6 really doesn't agree with me lol. Haven't really done much for the rest of the day other than listening to Dr. No, I think it's got to be one of my favourite James Bond books.

Well TTFN

Car, Car, Car

2009-01-30T23:15:00.006Z

We went into Shanklin today to get the car tax, these things always come round so quick don't they!

Nana and GrandJack have been really helpful, everyone has, it's always nice to have a great family behind you to keep you going. Over Christmas Nana & GrandJack gave Matt and me £25 worth of Morrisons stamps as well as chocolate and money for Christmas. GrandJack had also asked Mum to spend the money she'd spend on his Christmas present on car tax stamps for me instead, how kind is that! Mum got me £20 of saver stamps, and bought GrandJack a Christmas pressie, she's so cool.

Matt went into the post office to get the car tax, armed with Mum & GrandJack's saver stamps which was a great help, and I popped into the bank. The woman I spoke to was really lovely, when she found out I had been made redundant she got really upset and suggested I make an appointment with the bank manager to see if he could suggest any thing to help us out.

We went to Mum and Dad's whilst waiting for my 3 o'clock appointment at the bank. No one was in but I wanted to be nosy and have a look at the fridge freezer and have a nice cool drink of water with ice cubes- all thanks to the fridge freezer- it looks fab.

Ice and water maker on Mum and Dad's fridge freezer

When we got there the woman next door was in the process of filling up a couple of cars with different bits and bobs, and not long after she had gone 3 removal vans turned up. I assumed they were for her, but she didn't come back, the only person I saw turn up was a lad on a push bike who looked younger than Elena! Mum came in just after 2 when a couple more blokes turned up and started unpacking the vans! They looked quite chavy, but I know you shouldn't judge book by it's cover.

About 2.40 Matt and I headed off to the bank where I spoke to the manager and he suggested a few things that might help us out.

Before going back to the flat we went to Morrisons, Matt went in and I stayed in the car as I really couldn't be bothered to move and for some reason felt in a bit of a bad mood. Matt had been gone about 5 minutes when I heard a noise, I turned round to see and old man driving an estate car, with his wife, pull into the space next to me. He seemed to just force the car into the space instead of straightening up, and scraped the side of my car in the process!

So I got out, went round to the drivers side and had a look at the damage whilst trying to keep my temper. The couple got out of the car and walked off, not even a backwards glance let alone an apology! Well that really annoyed me, I know if I had driven into his car and gone to walk off they would have gone up the wall with the usual "the youth of today".

Completely losing all self control now I phoned Matt, crying my eyes out, to tell him what had happened. He ended up having to phone Mum to see if she could get any sense out of me as I was in such a state!

It's not that I wanted to claim on the man's insurance or anything (unless he'd been really horrible about it), as nearly every panel of my car has some sort of dent in it, and not all of them due to me, (even the steering wheel looks naff. It went off for no reason whilst Matt was driving it a few weeks ago. Luckily he managed to pull over and only came out of it with a swollen lip, where he'd had his hand on the wheel, the force of the explosion made his hand fly up and punch himself, I know I shouldn't but rofpml. We took it to the Toyota garage where he said it would cost us over £300 to have a new one fitted, which is what I paid for the car in the first place, but it wasn't compulsory to do so) it was that they hadn't apologised to me.

The couple eventually came out, Matt showed them what had happened, and the man was really sorry, he hadn't notice it happen. Him apologising calmed me down a bit so we just left it.

Matt took me back to Mum's to let her know what had happened. When we got in Elena told us that the lad I'd seen come in on the push bike was in the same year as her and was the school bully!!!

Mum had a phone call from Lisa about 5.15 to say that her and Liam were on the fast cat, so her and Elena went to pick them up. Matt and I went back home to have some tea. After tea I carried on my book.

I only put my book down to watch Gorden Ramsey's British kitchen Nightmares, it was great but I really don't know how he has the patience to put up with these people, some of them really don't deserve the business, but he always cracks them and gets their business booming. His USA version starts next week I can't wait.

Anyway I'm off to bed now. night night.

Age Concern

2009-01-30T09:24:00.003Z

Off to Newport again this morning to do a few hours at Age Concern. Today I was emailing all the information about Silver Star to different schools on the island, adding any new contacts Ellen had acquired into her address book and updating their spreadsheet. I'm going back on Tuesday to sort out my application to be a volunteer, then they can start giving me petrol money.

We'd popped into Morrisons yesterday when I bumped into one of the teaching assistants from Sandown High, Mrs Lowish- she also helped out at Lake middle when I was there, then moved over to Sandown high the same time as me, she's really lovely and will always stop and have a chat- she told me that Sandown are having a mufti day for Age Concern this Friday, Elena had also told me earlier that day.

Matt picked me up at 2 o'clock and we went back home for some much needed lunch. For the rest of the day I read some more books, as I really couldn't be bothered to do anything else. I've now finished The Spiderwick Chronicles, Mum bought them for me for Christmas and I was positive there were only 4 books, had even looked it up on the internet, but now I've read them there is a 5th one, aargh! I might see if I can read it online or pop into the library perhaps. They are good and a bit different to the film, but very quick to read. I've just started The Little White Horse, which so far seems really good, but I think this one will take me a bit longer to read.

Catch Up

2009-01-26T19:24:00.016Z

Wednesday, 21st January 2009

I had a great time shopping with Mum and Elena yesterday. Mum bought me a lovely soft "highlighter pink" hoodie from New Look and I bought myself some brown boots, they go really well with my beige trousers and look fab with jeans.

After watching Big Chef takes on Little Chef I have really fancied some scrambled egg, so for tea tonight Matt made some, with a little bit of cheese and marmite on toast, yummy!

It was the final episode of the Little Chef program as well tonight. Heston came back, got the Popham branch refurbished and ready to run.I'm very happy to say it did really well, everyone loved the food and the decor was great, they even had singing toilets and urinals! The idiot at head office has said that he'll review whats happening and whether or not it'll be rolled out to all branches after 3 months!!

Mum & me in NewportElena & me in Newport

Thursday, 22nd January 2009

I spent about 6 hours at Age Concern today (wearing my new boots). I found out that all Age Concerns are registered as local charities, meaning all the money they raise in their area they get to keep, so all the money the island raises stays on the island, how cool is that. They provide 9 essential services to the islands elderly and need to raise a further £140,000 to carry on. In order to do this they have come up with the idea of "Be a silver star day", they are trying to get businesses and schools involved in some sort of mufti day where people wear something silver.So today I was helping Ellen sort out who would take part.

After having some lunch back at the flat Matt and i decided that we'd go for a walk along the beach. We went down Fisherman's steps and this time instead of turning left towards Sandown we headed right towards Luccombe. We went around the point and up and up some wooden steps where Matt showed me an amazing waterfall. We carried on up some steps made of mainly mud and a bit of wood. Through Luccombe woods and then back down to the flat, it sounds quite a short way, but it really wasn't and walking up muddy steep steps almost killed me, I thought Matt might have to carry me back, lol.

Tree trunk on the beach

Steps up to LuccombeSteps with waterfall behind them
Waterfall coming through part of the walkwayWhat looks like a castle tower in someones back gardenA gorgeous little thatched cottage in Luccombe woods
The thatched cottages gate

Friday, 23rd January 2009

Went round Mum and Dad's at for 10 o'clock today to take delivery of their new fridge/ freezer. Thought I'd have a quick shower while I was there, as its lovely and warm and powerful, which beats the cold drip at the flat hands down. Had to leave the bathroom door open though as I was really worried the delivery guys would turn up.

I waited till 1 o'clock and thought I'd make myself some lunch, managed to make it to the kitchen when they actually turned up! Sod's law or what. Lol. Well it was certainly a bit of a palaver trying to get it in the house. Eventually, after a few phone calls to Dad, we put it in the conservatory. When I opened the patio doors one of the blokes looked in and said "Hey love, I think you've got a bit of a problem... I think your bird's are dead!" In the corner Mum and Dad have got a lovely cage two pot budgies in.

After having some soup for our tea Mum, Dad, Elena and I made our way to Red Funnel in Cowes. Then made our way up to Auntie Claire's, 250 miles inn Derbyshire. We arrives there around 10.30 ish , and soon went to bed as we were all shattered.

It has been raining quite a lot on the island, this picture was taken rinning down the curb from our driveway

Mum and me in their new monster fridge freezer

Saturday, 24th January 2009

We went to see Nana-Jean in hospital today, she looked well, tiered but well. We stayed there for 2 hours and then on our way back to Auntie Claire's we popped in at Sainsburys. It was huge, they even sold clothes! Mum and Dad got Nana some books as she had finished all the ones she had with her and was rather board.

After having some pizza we went back to see Nana for an hour, well we got to stay a bit longer as one of the ladies who had kept everyone else awake the previous night had died whilst we there in the afternoon, and she was still there when we left that evening!

On our way home we picked up a Chinese for our tea.
This house is down the road from Auntie Claire, I love it, if it were on the island it would be perfect.

Sunday, 25th January 2009

Dad woke us up this morning so we could get ready to go back home. We set off at 10.30 and by 12 o'clock we were at Teresa's!

Teresa made us a lovely cup of tea and some hot cross buns, we all had a good old natter, and at 1.30 got back in the bus to travel back down to the island. When we were stood in the kitchen Max came in with my glasses on upside down, he's so cute.

I managed to forget my sunglasses, I didn't realise until about an hour later when the sun was shining in my eyes! Teresa is very kindly sending them back down to me.

We got the 6 o'clock ferry back and on our way home picked up the Indian I had ordered, banquet night at Taj Tandoori, you get a starter and main meal with either rice or naan bread all for £8.50, bargain! Matt met us back at Mum and Dad's, it was really nice to see him as I'd missed him so much. I know we only spent 2 nights apart, but it was really weird not waking up next to him.

Monday, 26th January 2009

8 o'clock this morning Matt dropped me off at Mum and Dad's so I could get a lift into Newport as I was going to spend a few hours at Age Concern again. Ellen was going to a couple of schools today- Sandown High being one of them, Elena's school- to give an assembly, so I finished around 12.30. Today I updated her spreadsheet of all the people she had contacted.

Whilst waiting for Matt to come pick me up I had a wander around the shops. Which is horrible when you have no money as your always guaranteed to find really nice things, well I thought I was very good, I only bought a book. There's a new film coming out on the 6th February, it's called The Secret of Moonacre, and it's based on a book called The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge. I think it's along the same genre as Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling is even quoted on the cover saying how she adored the book.

Didn't really do much fro the rest of the day as I felt really tiered.

Tuesday, 27th January 2009

I fancied some scrambled egg on marmite on toast this morning, but we had run out of margarine, and I've found that marmite is a real pig to spread on toast with out butter. So I thought I'd pop down the shop and get some, only when I got into Shanklin did I realise that I had forgotten my door key to the flat, and it's on one of those automatic locks! Matt was in but he hadn't slept well the last couple of nights so he was still in bed and his mobile in the other room. I don't think I've ever known anyone so difficult to wake up, but once he's asleep that's it, he's out of it! There could be an earth quake and I don't think he'd wake up. Wish I was like that, all though Mum is much worse than I am.Lol.

So I thought I'd go to Tesco's get the butter and some soup for tea tonight. I text Matt to say when he got my message to phone me and then went to Mum and Dad's. Mum was just coming up the road as I put my laptop back in the car, so I spent a bit of time with her, had a cup of tea and a chat.

Once back at the flat I read a few books. I read The Tales of Beedle the Bard and 2 and a bit books of the Spiderwick Chronicles.

Wednesday, 28th January 2009

I opened the front door this morning to find it was really foggy, I thought I'd take a leaf out of Mum's book and get some pic's of the island in all the fog. So on my way to the job centre in Ryde I drove round the boating lake, usually from Ryde you get a cracking view of the mainland, no such luck today, you could just about make out Ryde Pier!

In the job centre I bumped into Lyn P, who left Woolies in the summer to work at the job centre, Kerry and one of the Sue's from Shanklin. Kerry told me that Laura, another lady we used to work with who left last year to move to the mainland, is coming down to the island on Monday to meet up with everyone, so I might go and meet up with them.

In my wisdom I thought I'd drive up Culver on my way home to get some more picture's. Well the fog was even worse up there, I could barley see where I was going!

Popped into Mum and Dad's again today, where Nana and GrandJack were supposed to be bringing Jack and Jordanna round to see us, but for some reason they didn't, they didn't even mention it! Had a letter on the side when I got in, my last pay slip and P45 from Woolworths!

Mum and I talked a bit about her upcoming holiday to the Maldives, I hope they have a great time.

Other than that haven't really done much else today, but best get an earlyish night as I'm at Age Concern again tomorrow.

View from Ryde boating lake, where you can usually see the mainland

Very foggy road up Culver
Culver monumentSheep in one of the carparks up Culver

Snooker and Inauguration

2009-01-21T12:07:00.008Z

Ok well first of all I have to say sorry for not doing my blog for the last couple of days, but to be honest I haven't really done that much.

Ronnie O'Sullivan won his 4th snooker masters on Sunday, much to Matt's delight, it was a cracking game.

On Monday we went to Margaret's, the local snooker hall, to have a game or two, unfortunatley I am absolutley terrible! I am so bad that the only time I could make the cue ball hit any other ball (which was very rare) the other ball would shot off in completly the wrong direction, leading to me not scoring any points. I'm also vertically challenged so being able to reach some of the shots on such a big table was really hard. Matt very kindly took me home after about 45 minutes as I couldn't bring my self to carry on playing, well actually I flatly refused. When I look back now I can kind of see the funny side, but at the time I just wanted the earth to open up and swallow me!

The problem is I find things so embarrasing, evreryone tells me I shouldn't that I should just carry on and not let it affect me, which sounds easy but it really isn't. I really wish I didn't feel like this but it's just so hard. When it happens I alwys feel like I want to drop dead, melodramatic I know but thats how it makes me feel. I hate the thought of people laughing at me and Matt tells me that they aren't and to just ignore how I feel, which I know again sounds easy but honestly it isn't. I know when I look back that people aren't laughing at me it's just so hard to control at the time. I really wish I could explain it better as no one understands when I try to tell them what it feels like.

Well after that we came back to the flat and bummed around for the rest of the day. Mum emailed me Lisa's Christmas thank you letters, so I finished off mine and sent them back to her, now we can get them printed and sent off.That night we watched a program called Big Chef takes on Little Chef, it's about Heston Blumenthal taking Little Chef back to it's former glory.

Everything about the higher management screamed out Woolworths, which I think rather annoyed Matt as he was sat there trying to watch it and I kept saying Woolworths this and Woolworths that, OMG I sound like Triggy aargh (a woman we worked with who did everbody's head in). The top man of Little Chef wants to change everything completely but he's not listening to needs or wants of his customers or staff (they don't even have some sort of pan to cook scarmbled egg in they have to cook it either on a griddle or in a microwave!), to be honest he was a complete idiot, which seems to be a general job description for higher management!

The more we've watched it the more it seems Little Chef are using this as some sort of advertising ploy, but I personally don't think it's giving them the sort of publicity any company needs, as I think they are just showing their customers that their opinions dont count, but hey that's just my opinion.

On Tuesday morning I got woken up by my phone going off, which scared the living daylights out of me. It was a lady called Ellen from Age Concern, who runs the events department, phoning about the voluntary work that Amanda from Edutainment had set up for me. So I start on Thursday, I can't wait it'll be great to have something to do. I just hope I get a paid job soon as I really can't wait to be earning some money again. There's just nothing around at the moment, unless I want to be a carer, which I really couldn't do, and I have a lot of respect for those who do those jobs.

After prising myself out of gorgeously warm and comfortable bed, and then out of a beautifully warm bath, I watched a couple of films. The first one was Spiderwick Chronicles, I got it free in May when I went on an Entertainment Roadshow for Woolworths. It was quite a fun day out, no general public for one thing, it's a shame there won't be another one.

I had volunteereed to drive, as the roadshow was up in Reading. On the day I met Carrie from Newport, Emma from Shanklin, Shapla from Ryde and Kathryn from Cowes at the end of Ryde Pier, it was really nice to be able to put faces to the names and voices I had often spoken to over the phone. We took the Fast Cat over to Portsmouth and then made our way to the Portsmouth store where I had a hire car waiting, paid for by Woolworths. It was a lovely new black Vauxhall.

Once we had managed to get in the car,as there was no key hole, and then slowly negotiated my way out of the car park, I really didn't want to scratch it and who ever had parked the car in the first place had parked it right in front of a Bifa bin and someone else had parked stupidly close at the other end, we set off for Reading. The car was certainly differnt to drive, for a start it had 6 gears and the indercators were on the opposite side to my Corrola, which I didn't find out until going round a round about with my windscreen wipers going and people honking their horns at me. The stalks where also touch sensitive, so you only had to tap them to get them to work, I'm used to having to pull and push mine, so that was a bit of a problem to start with.

Now I should say that my only other experience of driving on the mainland (other than the one time I had a potter around Portsmouth with Matt), it took me half an hour to get out of Southampton. After taking the wrong route, due to talking to much and not paying enough attention, then ending up in the city center continuosly missing my turning and subsequntly leading to Mum having to get out and asks some blokes in a garage for directions.

Well this time we did take the wrong route out of Portsmouth, but after asking some guys at a petrol staion, who had very strong Indian accents, for directions we found the hotel. The next problem we had was that we had to park in a car park in a shopping precinct, and we couldn't find our wait out from the shops, so we had to ask a member of staff for directions in there as well! Can you tell we don't really leave the island much, lol!

Thankfully there was still some breakfast left, the hotel had made us croissants with cheese and tomato, very yummy, and much needed coffee, as to be able to get to the meeting, which started at 9.30, we'd had to be up at 4 am!

Well it all got under way. There where Ent. Spec's. there from 3 differnt areas and one of the first thing Andy, the souths EUK rep, did was to give an award to the best Ent. Spec. from each area. Cowes won from our area. They got t-shirts and dvd's, everyone was rather jealous of the free dvd's.After a lot of boring chat we broke up for lunch, provivded again by the hotel. I had Cottage Pie, veg and olives, weird mix I know but I love olives, and a fruit cocktail for dessert.

After lunch we spoke to a rep from Nintendo, who was useless, his response to anything we asked him was "it depends upon the demand", I'm not to sure if he realised that the demand for anything Nintendo is huge.We also spoke to a rep from EA games, he was great, he could give us decent answers to all our questions and gave us a free demo of spore creature creator. Then just before we left Andy handed out a goodie bag of dvd's to each person there, well except those that had won the award for best ent.spec. as it was the same dvd's! We got 27 Dresses, Spiderwick Chronicles and Gavin and Stacey season 1.

Well the journey back was terrible. We got so lost it was unbelievable, and to make matters worse we'd had a phone call half way through the day to say the ferries had been cancelled as the weather was really bad!I still don't know how we managed to find our way back, we just kind of stummbled across differnt places we recognised and ended up in Porstmouth!We dropped the car back off at the Porstmouth store then went back to the Fast Cat, where thankfully they had resummed service. Back at work the next day when telling Cat about what happened and what we came away with well she wasn't to happy. Cat had gone to the roadshow the previous year where they didn't get any food and only came away with a catalogue!

Anyway back to Spiderwick Chronicles, I think Freddie Highmore (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Finding Neverland) is a fantastic actor. He plays Jared and Simon Grace, twin brothers, and if I hadn't looked it up on IMDb I would still think that he had a twin in real life, even Liam thought it was 2 people, which I think shows how good he is. I hope when Daniel Radcliffe can pull it off when he has to do it for Harry Potter. I also watched Penelope with James McAvoy (Chronicles of Narnia, Atonement) who I think is a great actor and very good looking.

Around 3 o'clock I made my way over to Mum's, driving down to the high school and back first just in case Elena was still walking up. When I got in however Elena was sat on the settee and had been for about 10 minutes! Mum was watching the latest episode of House, and had also just put some washing on, the previous night Dad had fitted some new shock absorbers as the old ones had had it. It was still rather load when I walked in but once it had got more into the cycle it quietened down loads.

We were supposed to go to Newport today, Mum had invited me in her last email, but I hadn't read the email, which was sent Monday night, until Tuesday morning, so I took the tomorrow in the email being Wednesday. We have now decided to go on Wednesday after Elena finishes school, just so we have a bit more time.

Elena made me some of Dad's wonderful chicken soup and homemade bread, it was so tasty. We sat and ate it whilst watching Poirot, one of my favourite tv programs. Dad came in just after 5.30 and I asked him if I could get a lift in to Newport with him on Thursday morning, as parking is quite expensive, well not as bad as on the mainland, and I have no idea about how long I'm going to be there. I had a quick look on the Cineworld website to see if we could go and watch Inkheart after Dad finsihes work on Wednesday, only to find out that it's only playing at 4 cinemas on the mainland now, I'm so gutted as I really wanted to watch it and I know Dad did too!

When I got back home Matt had made tea, chilli con carne, and we watched the next installment of Big Chef takes on Little Chef, which was even worse than the previous one. Heston has actually walked out now as Little Chef won't commit to anything he asks, furthering both his and my thoughts that it is just a marketing scheme, but we'll see on the next episode, perhaps they'll prove me wrong.

Tuesday also saw the inauguration of Barack Obama, I hope it goes really well for him, but it's not as if he can do a worse job than Bush is it!?!

Well that's it for now, I really need to go and have a bath and get ready to go shopping

Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside...

2009-01-18T16:17:00.013Z

I love living by the sea, it's great in the summer as you can go and have a lovely cool off whenever you want to and in the winter there's always some sort of cracking photo opportunity.

View of Sandown Bay from Rylstone Gardens

We went to Tescos again today to get enough food in to last the rest of the week. Pumped the cars tyres up and headed back home.

After I'd had some lunch I left Matt watching the snooker final whilst I went for a wander around Rylstone Gardens.

Entrance to Rylstone Gardens

It was lovely there, so peaceful and no-one around, all you could hear was the sea, the birds and the waterfall from Shanklin Chine.

Artwork in Rylstone Gardens

Rylstone GardensRylstone Manor HouseRylstone Manor HouseBuilding in Rylstone Gardens

After wandering around the gardens for a while I wandered up past Shanklin Chine and then into the Old Village.

Start of Shanklin Chine waterfallStart of Shanklin Chine

Shanklin Chine

View of Shanklin Chine from the Old Village

Shanklin Old Village

I made my way through the Old Village, past Big Mead and then back to the flat, where I managed to get a picture of our flat.

Big MeadOur flat-the bottom one- from bottom of drive way

After my walk I popped over to Mum and Dad's to see how everyone was and to see if Dad could take my white coat to the dry cleaners in Newport, well my "not so" white coat as it's filthy! He said he would, which is brill I'm so grateful, it's always horrible going into Newport when you don't have a lot of money, as this is where all the best shops are!

I received an email from one of my friends from collage asking if I wanted to go horse riding on Wednesday so hopefully we will meet up and have a good old chat, weather depending on the horse riding though.

Now I'm off to have some popcorn, I love popcorn it's great, although I think I might soon be addicted, lol!

What to do?

2009-01-17T16:46:00.006Z

OMG woke up with such an awful headache this morning, my own fault I know, all from pigging out on the chocolate last night, I knew I shouldn't have eaten so much.

After having a nice long soak in the bath, I didn't want to get out of it, I turned on my laptop to see if anyone had heard any more about Nana- Jean. Dad had spoken to Auntie Claire again last night after I had left, and was told that the hospital were going to carry out some tests but had to wait a few hours first. Poor Dad doesn't really know what to do with himself.

Elena spoke to me as soon as I had logged in, saying that Dad was contemplating on going up north to see her but was waiting for more news first. So Matt and I went round to Mum and Dad's to see if there was anything we could do. Mum had very kindly said I could use their washing machine as all the ones in the flats laundry room were in use, Mum's is definitely better though as my whites always come out a lot whiter when I use hers! Before we left the flat though I took this photo, it's the view out of our front door down the drive way.

Just as we got in the phone went and it was Auntie Claire again, Dad also got to speak to Nana- Jean, who she said that she was feeling better and for him not to come up as it was too long a journey. Well we've decided that we won't go up this week as both Mum and Dad have got loads on at work, we'll go next Friday, after their fridge/freezer has been delivered and then come back on Sunday, in time for everyone to be back at work and school. It's oing to be so cold, will have to pack loads of jumpers.

Matt went back to flat just after lunch, he said he wasn't feeling 100% but I think he wanted to get back and watch the snooker. After we had washed the pots and had a cup of tea Mum, Elena and I decided we'd go for a walk along Sandown seafront. We thought we'd park near Bogeys-the local night club, and walk from there.

As we were driving past the Caulkheads we spotted Nana and GrandJack, so we pulled over to see what they were doing and it turned out they had decided to go for a walk along the seafront as well. We went off and parked the car and waited for them to catch us up and then all headed off towards Yaverland.

We talked bout how Nana- Jean was in hospital and asked how Auntie Mal was doing, GrandJacks youngest sister who lives in France and who has also just been admitted to hospital. She's just got Guillen Barre Syndrome. Which is a rare disorder that makes your immune system attack your nervous system, and she is now paralysed below the waist!

It was very windy and cold along the seafront, we popped into the yacht club to see if we could get a coffee at the bar but unfortunately it wasn't open, so we headed back to Sandown and popped into the Jolly Sailor where GrandJack bought us all a nice hot drink.

After warming we said goodbye to Nana and GrandJack and headed back home where Dad was making one of his gorgeous roast dinners for us. It was lovely. Thanks Dad xxx

After tea Matt came and picked me up and we went back to the flat so we could pay the rent and check when we need to get out of the flat. Fiona told us that we may be able to have it for a couple more weeks as the building work isn't going as quick as they'd like it to, we have to check with them at the end of the month as to whats happening.

A Down Day

2009-01-16T20:20:00.003Z

Well not really been up to much today. If I'm perfectly honest it's been a bit of a down day, I don't know why I just feel extremely fed up. Oh aren't I the happy ray of light, lol!

I was messing around on the internet this morning when I had a look on IMDb's news feed, one of the stories was about Bear Grylls, who was born on the island and grew up in Bembridge, and how his wife has given birth to their 3rd son Huckleberry! One of their other son's name is Marmaduke. I just can't believe how mean some people can be to their own children, still each to their own I suppose.

We took a trip out to Tesco's where we bumped in to one of Matt's old friends Mum, who was having a good old whinge about him (Martin her son, Matt's old friend), still it's always good to know he hasn't changed as he's always looking for an argument! We also saw Steve who we had a quick chat with before heading off to the checkout.

On our way back i dropped Matt off at his Mum's then I popped round Mum and Dad's. Poor Mum's had an awful day at work again today, but hopefully now the "big boss" is kicking his son's rear end it may start to get better soon- hang in their Mum xxx

I did her ironing for her as she offered to pay me, she also gave me some petrol and a tin of Bournville chocolate, which I love. Then we tried accessing Mum's hard drive so I could write my thank you letters for my Christmas Presents, unfortunately we just couldn't get the laptop to acknowledge that we had plugged in, and turned on, her hard drive. Technology, tut, it's great whilst it works but when it malfunctions I'm useless!

Dad came in about 5.45 saying that he'd just had another phone call from Auntie Claire, her and Auntie Debra had just been summoned to the hospital where my Nan is as she'd had a heart attack. So all in all I think every ones had a pretty rotten day. I've offered to go up with Dad if he needs to, so then at least I can look after Matthew and Zoe and keep Dad company on the trip as well.

Hopefully I'll have actually done something tomorrow so I have a happier, fuller post to give you.

What a Grey Day

2009-01-15T22:10:00.007Z

Just to make up for my very early morning yesterday, lol, I permitted my self to have I lie in today. I didn't get out of bed till gone 11 o'clock and then had a nice long soak in the bath, though I must admit I never thought I'd get in a bath again after watching the Christmas episode of Jonathan Creek!

Mum and Dad bought me some lovely smellies for Christmas, the ones I'm using at the moment are by Soap & Glory and I love them! I would highly recommend them to anyone and everyone. They make your skin fell really soft and they all smell great.

Soap & Glory products

After I had finished "pruning" myself, as Matt calls it, we went for a quick walk along Shanklin seafront. I must admit we did cheat a little bit by driving down and parking on the revetment, but it was gone 2 o'clock when we left the flat and I wanted to be at Mum's by 3. The wind was extremely cold and even Matt found it too cold,which is definitely saying something because he's still wearing shorts! We must have looked a right pair as I had multiple jumpers and a coat on, as well as hat, scarf and gloves!

I got some cracking photo's, though when I get a job I think I might start saving for a decent camera, as they never come out as well as I would like them to on my phone camera.

It was quite rough today, I think, don't quote me on this though, it was a force 7, but I wasn't paying much attention to the weather forecast. In some places the waves where even splashing up onto the revetment even though the tide hadn't fully come in!

Shanklin Seafront

Waves crashing over a slipway in Shanklin

Looking back to the Stink-Pot, Shanklin seafront

We didn't stay out long as it was just far too cold! So I dropped Matt back off at the flat and then made my way to Mum's, dropping in at Lidls first to pickup some mince meat for her. Poor Mum had had a rather frustrating day at work and being woken up at stupid o'clock this morning by my Auntie didn't help. She very kindly phoned them to say that my Nan had been admitted into hospital again, I don't really know what she expected Dad to say or do as we live about 250 miles away from each other! You would have thought she could have waited a little bit longer and called them at a decent hour, I know I would have probably hung up on her if she had disturbed my sleep, but hey that's just me. Oh well I know her hearts in the right place.

Once Elena was in from school and had got herself ready we set off for Newport. We parked at Dad's work- beats paying car park fees- and walked down to the cinema.

Mum very kindly gave us a bogof voucher she'd got from McDonald's and the money to pay for the other ticket as well as some drinks and sweets. Elena and I were the only people in the screen it was brilliant, like having your very own home theatre!

We watched Bedtime Stories, the new Disney movie with Adam Sandler. Who looks exactly like Rich a lad I used to work with!

Rich

Adam Sandler

The film was great, full of laughs, a definite must see. We also saw a couple of ads for a few new films that look really good, well when I say a couple of ads we actually watched 20 minutes of them before the film got going! One of them was for The Secret of Moonacre starring Dakota Blue Richards, the girl out of The Golden Compass, I also really want to the new Brendon Fraser film Inkheart, and I can't wait for Angels and Demons to come out, but according to IMDb it's not due to be released in the UK until the 15th of May! What are they playing at?!?

Cineworld in Newport

Elena very kindly took a picture of the cinema advertising Bedtime Stories for me as my camera just wasn't up to the job, thanks Elena xxx.

We went back to Mum and Dad's for tea, lasagna yum, I feel just like Garfield I love lasagna I think it's got to be one of my favourite pasta dishes.

Mum and Dad have been clearing out their kitchen cupboards ready for their new appliances and it's brill because anything they don't want any more comes my way, so I came home with a bag full of goodies tonight, including freeze blocks which will be brill for the summer at the yacht club.

Now I'm back at home listening to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and thinking I should really go to bed as it's almost midnight. Well bye for now.

Edutainment

2009-01-14T17:56:00.005Z

Nice early start for me this morning, well when I say early I mean 8.30! Your probably thinking lazy moose, but at the moment I'm used to getting up when I'm nice and ready, which is usually around 9.30, so as you can imagine it was a bit of a shock to the system.

By 10.20 Matt had dropped me off in Ryde so I could go to my appointment at Next Step, based at a business called Edutainment, with a lovely lady called Amanda. We discussed my options further, from what we had talked about on Saturday.

She has found me some possible voluntary work with Age Concern, which sounds really naff but it's with there event organising department, which will be perfect as that's what I'd love to get into. We also looked at a few courses for me to do and have decided that I should maybe update my computer skills and perhaps go back to college to study either business management or business administration. She's going to have a look into funding for me as now I'm a "mature student" lol it's not going to be cheap!

She's also going to find out if she can get my some help finding a job, because I live in Lake and they are based in Ryde they may not be able to .I should find out about that when I speak to her next.

At 11.40 I reluctantly went down to the job centre to sign on for the first time, I felt so embarrassed sat there with a load of chav's, I can't wait till I find a new job. The man who i had to see was rather big, which wasn't a problem, but he was wearing a shirt that was about 2 sizes too small for him and subsequently straining at the buttons, needless to say it wasn't a nice sight.

As I was leaving Debbie was just coming in to sigh on for her first time. She had very kindly got hold of an email address belonging to our last customer, well her Mum's as our last customer was about 2 years old. Shaun had taken a picture of her as she made her purchase and we said that we'd email it to her, unfortunately someone was a wee bit to efficient when tidying the office and threw it away. So at least now when she's old enough to understand she'll be able to have a look back, we also sent her one of all of us just after we had closed.

Matt came and picked me up and took me to Newport Quay, he'd arranged for us to have a look on one of the boats. I didn't take any photo's of inside as I found it rather small and in need of some work, but did manage some of outside this time.

All the boats in the car park along the Quay sideView up the Medina off the top of a Gaffa KetchView into Newport off the top of a Gaffa KetchRiver Medina

Temporary accommodation

2009-01-14T00:18:00.005Z

On the 2nd of November, after a lovely week spent up in the cold northern region with Auntie Claire & co and Teresa & co, Matt and I moved into our first home together. It was great having something to look forward to as usually, like every one else, I hate coming home from a holiday.

The only downside to this flat, was that we'd only have for three months, until the end of January, as the owners, Fiona and Miles, will then be doing construction work to them. Currently they are working on the main house and having a swimming pool built in the garden!Let's hope this year brings a decent summer so they can make good use of it.

I have thoroughly enjoyed having my own space and sharing it with Matt. It was great over Christmas I had a few decorations of my own, we also bought a 6ft tree from Tesco's for just £5 bargain! Then when we found out that Woolworths would be closing I asked my manager, Sharon, if I could have the 6ft tree out of the staff canteen, to which of course she said yes. Mum and Elena very kindly came and picked it up, and both got a little something out of it Elena found a smaller tree in the corner which I let her have and Mum got a boot full of glitter, Christmas 2007 Sharon had got a bit carried away with the festivities and covered the front of the store in glitter, lol!

Well now our time here is almost up and we are searching to find somewhere else, I know we'll find something. Mum said to get a few photo's of the flat, so I have something to look back at. I have tidy, polished and positioned everything so it looks fab, I hope. There are 3 rooms the main living area/ dining room/ kitchen, the main bedroom with en-suite and the spare room with en-suite

The main living area from front door

The main living are form kitchen

Main bedroom taken from living area

View of all of main bedroomChair in main bedroom with the teddy Matt bought a few Christmas' agoMain en-suiteSpare bedroomSpare bedroom en-suite with bunk beds just behind the door

There is also a courtyard area but at the moment it's dark and raining so maybe if it's nice tomorrow I'll take some more pictures.

Bobbing along

2009-01-13T16:57:00.005Z

As it was such a lovely day we decided that we'd go for a walk along the seafront.

We're living in a lovely area at the moment, just up the road from Rylstone Gardens, and about a 5 minute walk from Fisherman's steps, which takes you down on to the beach, unfortunately they are a little bit steep and today quite slippy, luckily I was sensible and put my lovely big No Fear boots on.

View from Fisherman's steps of Sandown Bay and Culver cliff

Fisherman's Cottage taken from Fisherman's steps
Matt walking down Fisherman's steps Shanklin beach

As we were walking towards the Fisherman's Cottage we saw Katie, one of the girls from Woolies, and Simon taking photo's and "killing time2 before her driving lesson.

Fisherman's Cottage

Shanklin seafront

Beach hut's along Shanklin seafront

We as far as Little Stairs, where we saw Melvyn Hayes, the man from Summer Holiday and the Young Ones, and decided that we wanted some lunch and a nice drink so we headed back. All of the seafront is nice and flat, and we were fine until we got back to Fisherman's steps which was when I found out that I am completely unfit! My breathing was fine but my hips were on fire by the time we got to the top, lol!

Bottom part of Fisherman's steps

The place we are living in at the moment comes with free Internet access, all we have to do is go to the main house every 2 weeks to get a new slip that gives us our user name and password. Whilst I was waiting for Miles to print me one off I decided to take a photo of their gremlin that's next to their front door , I love it!

After lunch we thought we'd have a quick trip into Newport to have a look at the boats along the Quay side. There were some lovely ones there, and some not so lovely ones, they're all out of the water at the moment to be cleaned and prepped for the summer, it was certainly a sight, unfortunately me phone battery died so I couldn't take any pic's, oh well will have to go again.

Well that's about it for today, going to go and read through some leaflets I got from the lady at Next step on Saturday, as I have a meeting with her tomorrow, and get to sign on for the first time- joyous, hopefully we'll come up with some good ideas so I can sign off sharpish!

The Beginning

2009-01-12T12:14:00.001Z

Well I'm sat here listening to Harry Potter and wondering where to start. Creating a blog was my Mum's idea, after she read my status on Facebook -Gemma H is so unbelievably bored- which unfortunately at the moment I am.

Having just been made redundant, along with 30,000 other people, from the one and only Woolworths, I am needless to say finding it rather boring not having any work to do. Oh well these things happen!

The best Woolworths team ever! Taken after doors shut for the last time

Debbie, Gemma, me, Lyn and Sharon on our last day

Shaun and me on our last day

What have I been up to since I left Woolies...

Friday 2nd January

After leaving the store for the last time we all went down to the Kings for a last drink as colleagues

Jo, Gemma, Steve, me and Shaun

Saturday 3rd January

As I was the only person driving Friday night a few people had left their things in my boot, so after picking Elena up on my way I dropped Steve's stereo off, and then popped round Nana and GrandJack's to give them the mini hi-fi that we had used in store. After that we had a wander around Newport, where I found some gorgeous white fluffy slippers. We also saw Sharon's sister Vicky.

After we'd finished in Newport Elena came back to the flat for a bit and watched Disney's Haunted Mansion.

During the week I've just been up to the odd few bits, like taking down the Christmas decorations, putting all the photo's from Woolworths on to disc's for everyone, ready for our meal out on Friday, making a C.V.

Friday 9th January

We went in to Newport to have a look round New Look where I found a nice white t-shirt and black cardigan, perfect to wear out for the meal. We then had a wander around Island Harbour, the harbour had actually frozen over as it was so cold!

I found the most beautiful boat there that I'd love to live on, it looked like something out of Peter Pan!

We went round Mum and Dad's after Newport to see how Lisa had done in her driving test, unfortunately they failed her, but I know she'll be fine next time, as it took me 3 times to do mine! Whilst I was there i borrowed Lisa's curlers so I could make a start on getting ready to go out.

At 6 o'clock Matt dropped me off at the Kings where I met up with everyone. We had a few drinks there until we moved on up to Royal China.

They put on a lovely meal for us Spare ribs, breaded prawns, potato samosas and chicken satay for starter along with copious amounts of prawn crackers, yum! Then for our main course chicken curry, beef in black bean sauce, sweet and sour pork and sweet and sour chicken balls with rice and noodles. We had a choice of desserts, I had a gorgeous coffee ice cream covered in meringue with gooey coffee chocolate in the middle.

After we had finished with our coffee the staff decided to clear a dance space for us and start the flashing lights and an entire CD of Westlife, I don't think I was the only one who was entirely embarrassed, as they kept trying to make us get up and dance! Shaun had very kindly sorted out the presents for Sharon, Bren and Lyn from all of us, he asked me to get up and stand with him whilst handing them out, but Sharon and Bren thought that he was asking me to get up and dance with him- needless to say there were a few tears at the wonderful pictures he sorted out for them.

After the Chinese we went back down to the Kings for a last drink and then Cat, Carrie, little Gemma, Steve, Shaun and myself went down to Bogeys. Cat and Carrie left around 1 o'clock and Shaun and I left around 1.40 am as my feet could no longer take it- note to self next time don't wear heels!lol!- we left Gemma and Steve there with Steve's brother Jon.

Saturday 10th January

Off to the job center today, great. Actually it wasn't quite as bad as I had expected, though it's still beyond me how some people can do this for their entire lives, I know I couldn't! They made a job seekers agreement with me, which consisted of things like what job would I do, if I would like a foreign holiday I can only have 1 a year and must get a holiday form to do so, it's just like being back at school!

I then spoke to a lovely lady from a place called Next Step, we spoke about what I want to do now and made an appointment with her to talk further into funding for courses and possible voluntary work.

We then spent the remainder of the afternoon in Whetherspoons and have decided that we're going to keep in touch and meet up again at the end of the month, so as I want to be an event organiser it has been left to me to sort out what we're going to do, which I love, I just hope that what ever I chose everyone else will love as well!

Well that's all I can think of for now, got to go and sort out my washing, great fun, lol!