recovery time

Sorry for the lack of posts, can't believe it's been 11 days since my last post. Even then that was a scheduled post as it was the day of my surgery...

My surgery went well and I'm recovering just fine. In case you're new to this blog I was having a para-umbilical hernia repair... in every day words, I had a hole in my stomach wall and my intestine was falling through, so I had a huge lump {I looked 16 months pregnant, yes 16!}. So I had open surgery and a piece of mesh was put on my stomach wall {like a fake stomach wall} and that was that! I had staples to hold the wound together but they are now out and the wound is healing fine.

I cannot wait until I can drive again and move around normally... I can't wait to get on my bike and go swimming and walk more than a mile! Simple things I've missed for a very long time. I'm also hoping that now I'm 'fixed' and in a few weeks time I'll be let loose to be 'normal' that I'll loose some of the {OK, lose lots} of the weight that has slipped on since I had the problem at the beginning of the year.

Hopefully I'll be back on track tomorrow with my Meal Planning... hopefully!

Through the Keyhole {part 1}

I love looking at other people's homes and decor. It's amazing to see how different people's taste is and to get some great tips and ideas for your own home too.

I had some lovely feedback about doing some 'Through the Keyhole' posts to my home, thank you! So I'm kicking it off with the main room / hub of the home. The living room / dining area.

We stay in a new build house, can't believe it's over three years since we moved in! New build isn't where my heart lies, I love older home with character and tradition but this isn't our forever home. Our previous home we had ripped out completely and it was a whole lot of hard work so I vowed I'd not be doing that again any time soon, hence the new build buy!

We've recently refreshed our main room: painted the 'mushroom' walls grey {as Dulux delisted the 'mushroom' colour}, replaced the creamy carpets with grey/brown oak wooden floor and a long awaited for new sofa!

living room area

I love my living room area, it's nice and bright. It has a huge window to the front and at the back of the room {at the dining area} there are patio doors that lead to the garden. The garden is always in full sun until around 8pm so there's lots of natural light flowing into this room all the time.

You'll notice I have a 'thing' for dots!  My littlest got a little armchair for Christmas {from Dunelm Mill}, it is of course red with white polka dots. Our other dotty item is a huge rug from Ikea, only £20! I also have a 'thing' for Zebra print. I do try and limit my animal prints as too much isn't nice {I don't think}.  I have a lampshade in Zebra print, the lamp base is from TK Maxx as is the shade but both were purchased years apart {There used to be a pleated red shade on the base.. yuk!}. I also have a Zebra print storage box which holds the piano music, another TK Maxx purchase.

The canvas above my sofa was a total fluke make, it did take me a few days to get used to it but now I love it! I used spare paint I had in the garage and just slapped it on... adding to it, rubbing bits, twisting the brush.. anything really. I'm not sure anyone else likes it but I do and I made it!

Clocks... Oh you'll see a whole lot of clocks in these posts, this one is from TK Maxx {yeah I do like TK Maxx}.  My favourite clock is at the top of the stairs... it's a backward clock that I made..So when you look in the mirror you can see yourself and the correct time, anyway more on that when I get to that post {exciting}.

My TV unit is from Ikea, a great buy! It holds our huge TV {Hubber likes his gadgets, I could so live without a TV} and I have storage boxes along the bottom which houses all littlest's toys! Quick to throw back in once she's in bed, close the box over and voila toy free living room!

dining room area

The dining room area is hardly used as we eat at the table in the kitchen, but on special occasions or if we have guests we'll eat here as it seats 6 comfortably. You may remember lightgate?  If not I won't bore you with the details but the short story is: I saw a light I loved and it was out of stock and out of production but I eventually found it on display at Next and begged the store to sell me it, so once they had it pat tested I got it!

The dining area isn't huge but it does hold the dining table, 6 chairs, the piano, a tall cupboard and the bureau! {jeezo that is a lot}. All our furniture is dark brown / black wood but the bureau is a lighter colour... that kind of annoys me but I do love my bureau as it holds all my #PostCircle and crafting supplies, plus when we move house it will have it's own room {fingers crossed}. A recent addition to the dining area is the deer's head. Like the canvas, I'm not sure anyone else likes it but I LOVE IT!

My other favourite things are my Paris photos, I took these in 2008. The flower arrangement on the table {in the animal print jug with a matching milk and sugar bowl} are fake, I used to run a little flower / fascinator company {many years ago} called Bloomsadaisy and this is one of my creations from then.

So there you have my first through the keyhole post!  I hope you enjoyed it!  Now I wonder which room to focus on next...

*Scheduled post {I might even be on the operating table as you read this!}

Meals

The meals this week... it's all a bit of scribble and thrown together. I go into hospital at 9am tomorrow for my stomach surgery and we're also running down the freezer as it's full! 

Tuesday - Goat's cheese quiche, roasted sweet potato and salad.  Littlest had chicken nuggets and corn on the cob.  Biggest had pizza. 

Wednesday - Chicken nuggets and home made fried rice with mushroom and onion.

Thursday - Potato wedges {waffles for biggest} and cheese burgers with salad.

Friday - Spag bol with garlic ciabatta.  Biggest having chicken and waffles.

Saturday - Mediterranean veg pastry ring.  Littlest having fish fingers and beans and Biggest tbc

Sunday - Chilli meatballs with rice.   

I'm linking up with Mrs M... what's you your plate this week?

Where we are...

We've arrived... In Raasay!  I've lived in Scotland for 41 {and a half} years...yes all my life, and I am still in awe of it's beauty! 

Today was spent most of the time in the car and on the ferries but it was a wonderful drive with the most breathtaking scenery. We started our journey with a 4 hour drive to Mallaig and the ferry to Skye, it's only a short crossing, around 45 minutes.  Then we had a 45 min drive to Sconcer for the ferry to Raasay. We left home at 1045am and arrived on Raasay at 7pm.

I can honestly say we are staying on the best B&B on the island {according to trip advisor}, it is 4 star approved by the Scottish Tourist Board. It's a lovely new build house which overlooks the glorious hills, stunning views! The room is spotless, faultless...and that's something coming from me, Mrs Fusspot!! There is a huge lounge we can use too and a conservatory which opens out onto the gardens, I want to slip my shoes off and run barefoot through the daisies... Ok maybe not but it's a nice thought all the same.

When we arrived we hadn't had dinner yet, so we headed up to Raasay House, probably the only place that serves food. The House has recently been bought and refurbished and the people of Raasay own it. We had just missed the BBQ and bounced castle by the looks of things. We got a seat in the cafe area and we had the most amazing dinner...I do have photos which I'll no doubt Instagram {anneeapple}. Hubber had the Raasay special burger!!! oft! I had haddock and chips, it was so big I couldn't fit it all in the photo frame, or my belly!!  Littlest had some chicken and ham nuggets with chunky chips, she loved her dish too!

Back at the B&B, it's way passed littlest bedtime and she's still 'getting comfy' in the travel cot... This could take some time!

We're leaving on the 10am ferry back to Skye to hop on another ferry for a tour of the small isles. Then back to Mallaig and we're staying in a B&B on a farm!!

Do I need to go home?

feeling hot {hot hot}

Isn't it warm? Too warm for me {dare I say}...

I seem to be missing in {blogger} action, and I can't remember the last time I meal planned! I blame the decorating, the hand, foot and mouth disease and the hectic workload...and maybe the good weather!

I'm actually on annual leave this week, I say as I sit at my desk at home blogging after over 2 hours of 'work'. It's an important time at work just now so I can't turn off just yet, but we are heading to Skye at the weekend so I will be email free for those few days.

When I return to work I'll be back for just one day then I have a {not so} nice trip to Hairmyres Hospital for surgery on my tummy! {paraumbilical hernia repair}. As you can imagine I am not looking forward to this! Some say I'll be out of action for a few weeks, others say I'll be out of action for 6 weeks! I'll wait and see. It {the surgery} desperately needs done as it's problem now hinders my normal daily routine and I can't wait to be able to do some sort of fitness, cycling etc without aches and pains and worry that I'll damage myself!

I'm hoping that during my time recovering I'll get some well needed rest and maybe read, goodness I might even get a few minutes to knit again...

I think meal planning will be back in action next week as I'll have to be super organised so that I can rest. Thankfully my Husband has 12 days off to look after the littlest as it will be around 6 weeks or so before I can even attempt to lift her.

Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine and not melting like me! x

never ending

Do you ever have one of those weeks when it's non-stop, yes? Me too! This week. But slowly I feel like I am getting on top of things. 

We've been decorating the living room, with only a few dramas so far... 

Our joiner who was fitting our wooden floor cancelled the job just 5 days before he was due to do the job... we spent quite a lot of time finding a new one, but we found a good 'un and he did a great job! If you need the number of an amazing joiner in the Strathclyde area then let me know and I'll share his number!

Our new sofa was delivered on Tuesday and the chair had a wobbly leg... so that's sent back to get sorted and at this time I've not had an answer from DFS as to when it will be delivered {I'm not a happy chappy about that}

New sofa {minus the chair}.  The window dressing here is the ones I didn't like

I spent Tuesday night {all of Tuesday night} making new window dressings only to not like them at all once I put them up! So Wednesday I spent finding new fabric {I ended up buying a double duvet and using that!} and that night I made new ones... I'm not 100% happy with them but they'll do for now.

the new window dressing using a 'city scape' duvet cover

In-between all the chaos at home I've also been very busy at work {as always} but... I'm off on annual leave next week! Quite looking forward to it!

Have you been decorating lately? I've read a lot of great blogs with 'through the keyhole' type posts:  a million dresses (I love the décor in the new house) and some more over on The Dusty Attic.. I'm thinking of doing a series of similar posts, would you be interested in nosing through my keyhole?

Ax

What's in my bag?

I've seen a lot of these posts lately and it's great getting an insight into what people carry about with them every day. I always think I carry far too much!

I'm joining in with the 'What's in my bag' competition.. click here to go to Money Supermarket to find out how to enter!  You could be in with a chance to win a luxury handbag worth £1,000!

My Mia Tui Minnie Amelie

My handbag (at the moment, as I'm a bit of a bag lady) is a Mia Tui Minnie Amelie in Aubergine, you can read about this bag here and here's what's inside...

Mia Tui Minnie Amelie - £55

Cath Kidston Notepad - £5

Paperchase Notebook - £12

Filo Fax - £24

p20 suncream - £25

Escada Sentiment Perfume - £30

Purse - gift

Cash - £20

Kobo Touch and Leather Case - £75

Reading Glasses - £150

Make up bag - £2

Estee Lauder Double Wear Compact - £27.50

Soap and Glory Supercat Eye Liner - £6

Estee Lauder Eye Liner - £16

Mac Lipstick - £20

No7 Eye Liner - £7.50

L'oreal Lipgloss - £7.69

Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer - £10

Bourjous Blusher - £7.40

Vaseline - £1

Painkillers - £1

Carex - £1

Nappy Cream sample - free

Elizabeth Arden 8 hour hand cream - £25

Elizabeth Arden 8 hour lip balm - £20

Bobble

I usually carry my laptop, iPad and Samsung SIII too!

Total cost of £548.18... eek!

What's in your bag?!

{sneaks in}

hello... here I am!

I seem to have been missing in action since last Monday! I guess it was a busy week at work, squeezing in buying a new car {I hate car shopping but this time it was quite painless and I love the car!}

I couldn't even fit in my craft club {which is only one hour a month and I do get angry that I can't even manage a little hour a month to do something I want to do...an hour, pft!! It's tough but that could be a whole other blog post!}

On Friday we headed to Shetland. It was some trip! A 3 hour drive to Aberdeen {in the new car!} then a 12 hour ferry trip to Shetland...

It started to look dull just as we set sail
AEM Photography

nightfall
AEM Photography

The journey there was great, calm sea and the cabin wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be and we arrived in Shetland around 7.30am... I really wanted to visit Jarlshorf which was just a 20 min drive from Lerwick, so off we went... and the rain fell!  Jarlshorf is mostly outside and we decided not to visit as we'd all get drenched {sad face} so we headed to Sumburgh Head.  It was wild, there was no way littlest could even get out the car, she'd have been blown off the cliff. So I trooped up alone to take some photos of the sea birds and puffins. I didn't realise just how wet it was as the wind was cutting through me, I struggled to stay upright! But I was drenched... I regret getting so wet now as I didn't have another jacket to change into and spent the rest of the day with a t-shirt and cardigan on and my jeans soaked... my hair was dripping wet and had to be left to dry. I was so cold!

Puffins at Sumburgh Head, Shetland.
AEM Photography

The weather didn't pick up at all, it rained constantly. We drove to a few other areas on Shetland:  Toft, Lerwick and Scalloway but there wasn't much to do in the rain. We did visit Shetland Museum {and had chips, which I couldn't eat... should have known then I was unwell haha!}

dressing up box in Shetland Museum

the favourite hat

If the weather had been better our trip would have been amazing as the scenery, views and wildlife was gorgeous but we just couldn't appreciate it all in the rain, which is sad. 

The journey home was awful! I was feeling quite bad by the time we had to board the ferry, I just couldn't heat up. As soon as we got to the cabin I lay down covered in the duvets, a hour later I was sweating to the point I was ready to pass out. Was it a side effect of being soaked or had I caught a bug? Who knows... I spent the whole night feeling really awful and the crossing was terrible, so choppy! I woke up ill, which I think was due to some travel sickness thrown in for good measure. I didn't eat for over 24 hours and was sick on the way home. We had to cut our weekend short as we had planned to visit a Historic Scotland site on way home and had a nice lunch planned but we had to cancel all as I couldn't lift my own head up. A day of dozing on the sofa and sipping water seems to have cured me but I am left with not much appetite and a sore throat!

dreich
AEM Photography

I guess it was still an experience to visit Shetland and I do hope to return one day {now if only we could guarantee good weather}. I'm reading Raven Black just now for RRBookGroup {come on over and join in if you love reading} and funnily enough it's based in Shetland, so it was like a little mini research trip. But, if I was to sum up Shetland with one word, that word would be 'dreich'

Ps:  I'm hoping to be super organised and link up with Meal Planning Monday and Smitten Saturday before the end of the week... I can do it, right?!

Mmm {and a Tesco rant}

I'm sat here staring at my meal planning list that I scribbled earlier... I wrote it on orange paper with a red pen, I can't see a thing! So, I'll improvise, which should be fine as I've not long unpacked my shopping from my late night Tesco trip.

I wasn't happy at all with Tesco tonight {yes, I've scheduled this post}. I usually go to Carluke or Lanark Tesco but opted for Wishaw tonight {never again}.  I had a huge trolley filled with groceries {over £80 worth} and when I got to the check out there was no-one serving! I asked the girl at the self serve why and was told no-one was available and I had to self scan {WTF}. It was a nightmare, let's not mention my bad hand or the fact I've not to do heavy lifting due to stomach problem. I even had to shout, abruptly, to get the staff member's attention as she stood chatting to her friend at the other side. Not long after I had started scanning two check-outs opened up, I really wasn't pleased. By this time another girl had taken over manning the self serve and I asked her why there was no staff and she didn't know. I told her I wasn't happy and I wouldn't be back and she said.... nothing! I had lots of coupons to use and the self serve is a total ar5e for scanning coupons! Each one had to be authorised and I'm sure some didn't even scan!

So, Tesco... I'd be keen to hear your comment?!

Monday: BBQ chicken pasta bake with garlic bread slices

Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas {we got a new grill / pannini toaster, so I'll be toasting my fajita wraps}

Wednesday: Goat's cheese quiche with filled pasta and sundried tomato sauce {we didn't have this last week we had a sundried tomato one then}

Thursday: Feta, olive and carmalised onion pastry tart

Friday: We're off to Shetland and back on Sunday evening!


Why don't you join in this week? Do you plan your meals or just decide on that day (I'd love to do that!).  Click the link above to join in with MrsM

{smitten saturday}

Sometimes you just have to look around you to find treasures...

We moved here {the little village of Morningside} 3 and a half years ago, since then the estate has grown so much!{the estate that was built in the middle of lovely coutryside, eventhough I stay in it I would have been devastated if I'd lived in the village and then two new estates came along... but at the time I was far too excited about a new home to realise!}

I've been pretty stressed lately, hospital appointment, pending op for stomach repair, new proposals at work that will change my job role and hours {this is good and exciting but stressful to organise with childcare}... I really miss just getting up and going out walking for hours, we {littlest and I} do go out walking quite a lot but it's usually to the post box and that takes around 45 mins {walking at toddler pace - 5 mins for adult pace}... sometimes you just need to clear your head and take in some fresh air! 

It had just down-poured but the sky looked brighter so I got on my walking shoes {how I miss wearing these} and littlest happily sat in her pram {bribed with a bag of skips} and off we went on our adventure...

there are loads of horses in the village

long roads, some of them winding

I'm sure the horses don't like skips anyway

miles of buttercups

cycling down this road is the best EVER!
{yeah, I miss cycling too}

nearly home.. skips done

Our walk was around 3 miles and we took around 2 hours, we walked slowly and took in all the sights, sounds and smells. We saw: horses, shetland ponies, geese, ducks, sheep, cows, chickens, cockerels and a vole {yay! #TeamVole #PostCircle}. It's a great walk which I used to do daily either on foot of pedal power!

So there you have it, I'm smitten with Morningside! What are you smitten with? Link up with Glasgow Mummy and tell us...

Pre-op assessment

I should be in bed,

But I'm filled with dread,

I have a pre-op assess in the morning...

They'll poke and prod,

I'll smile and nod,

I have a pre-op assess in the morning...

They might take blood,

I'll cry like a fud,

I have a pre-op assess in the morning...

I'll need a treat,

Probably something sweet

For after my pre-op assess in the morning...

MPM {so soon!}

I probably say it every week {or at least I do in my own head} but how can it be Monday already?

I had a moment on Saturday... I was tired {are you sick of hearing me say that? I'm sick of saying it} and hungry and the thought of cooking or eating was a chore in itself. But off to Tesco I went and I filled the trolley with lots of prepared vegetables, some ready meal curry, two dine for £10 deal {which looks lush} and some other prepared things. I had to check myself a few times that night to see if I had come out in a rash.

Now, I don't think there is anything at all wrong with buying these types of meals but I always do homemade and it just feels so strange just popping things in the oven. I've only had one prepared meal so I'll pass judgement on the rest until next week.

This week looks like:

Monday: we ate out at Wagamamas

Tuesday: Tesco - two dine for £10 meal - horseradish mash, chicken and choritzo main, chocolate and caramel melt in the middle dessert

Wednesday: roasted veg with goats cheese quiche

Thursday: breaded chicken and sweet potato {roasted or mash}

Friday: panninis with various fillings {I fancy brie, cranberry and ham}

Saturday: pasta dish

Sunday: tbc

What's on your menu... inspire me!  You can link up with Mrs M too, just click the button / photo above.

it's what she says

It's nearly Monday already and I've been awake since 5.45am, who knows I may even be woken at 5.45am again tomorrow {I hope not}. I think I can say I've probably not enjoyed today, I did have moments of fun but mostly I've been too tired to function.

{hate me now}... is it the sunshine? I don't do well in the heat. I can't remember when the last dull day was. I remember most of last week it being so hot in the office, even reaching 32 degrees at one point {wish I had aircon}. I've been so hot that I've been uncomfortable and my feet, my poor feet, are aching... my tummy is sore {operation soon} and I want to sleep for somewhere around 3 weeks solid.

I have lots to do and no time to do it. But, I've just read this blog post over on The Startup Wife and it makes sense, it all makes sense. I think I'm going to read that post every day.

Here's to a good week and fingers crossed one that's not so stressful and so busy! {I can only wish}

{grey} sunny days

The sun has got his hat on... hip hip hip hooray! Isn't it wonderful when the sun shines?

It's been non-stop in anneeapple land since the weekend. Monday was picnic in the park with my friend and our little girls - it was a great day! Tuesday and Wednesday saw full days in the office and then the nights filled with painting the living room... grey!! Two shades of grey {no, not 50}, but still keeping my feature wall 'roasted red'!

Today I was off {waiting on my new flooring being delivered} and the sun shone yet again... we spent just about all of the day in the garden and once littlest went to bed {and I had returned from book group} we had dinner alfresco.

Tiger rolls with italian meats, feta, olives,
salad and mayo {and a cheeky Cidre}

I've had such lovely happy mail this week, I've got 5 letters {so far} to reply too, that's my weekend evenings sorted! Yay!

Here's to the sun staying around for a little bit longer, wouldn't it be nice to have a real Summer?

RR book group

I've had lots of chat lately about what I'm reading and about the book club I go to... The book club is called Ruth's Readers and is hosted by Newmains Library. We meet every four weeks on a Thursday evening from 6-7pm. We're not a serious reading group at all, we read lots of different genres and most of the time I'm lucky to finish the chosen book as I'm so busy. But that's OK, we read what we can {although just about everyone else finishes their book}, thankfully no-one seems to mind that I'm the slacker... it's a lovely bunch of people and I always look forward to meeting up with everyone.

A few of my online friends had recently mentioned they'd love to be part of a book group too... cue light bulb moment... and RR Book Group has been born!

Everyone is welcome to come on over and Like / Join in. On 6th June {the night of my book club meet} I'll announce what our new book is and if you join in great! 4 weeks later we can all find our way to the Facebook Page and have an informal chat about what we thought about it. In between times we can use the page to chat about where we are in the book, ask questions.. anything.

Hope to see you there!

Ps... the book we're reading just now is Jo Brand 'Look Back in Hunger' {I've only read 28 pages so far, no chance I'll finish it... I don't like autobiographies}

{sunny} Monday

I'm hoping it's sunny {as I'm scheduling this post as I am out picnicking in the park - if it's sunny}...

What a glorious weekend! A busy day on Saturday shopping with the littlest and my wee Sister... hours of walking, my legs still haven't recovered from. A busy day on Sunday, every last bit of laundry washed and dried {although basket is half full from bedtime routines}, lots of playing in the garden, lunch at the garden table, ballet4babies class, more playing in the garden before bed... a long lie tomorrow would be just perfect, but sadly no - I've got a few more weeks to wait until it's my long lie day!

Food... yes food... last week's meal planning went great until I forgot to defrost the meat for Sunday's slow cooker stew. So that meant a take-away of a healthy chicken kebab {there's salad in it you know!}. This week's meals look like this:

Monday - spaghetti carbonara and garlic bread

Tuesday - lasanage {leftovers from last week's that I froze} and fries / salad

Wednesday - pizza and salad

Thursday - subway style rolls with various fillings

Friday - stew and york puddings

Saturday - sausage, mash and beans

Sunday - slow cooker curry and nan bread

What's on your menu this week? Don't forget to link up with Mrs M...

Orange Wellies {Smitten}

It may be Summer but I'm smitten with wellies... and not just any wellies but ORANGE wellies!

There is a story behind the orange wellies... When I was little I always wanted wellies but I wasn't allowed. My Mum insisted on Clarks leather boots. Obviously now I know how important good footwear is and I'm grateful that I had Clarks leather boots, but when you're little you want wellies... and I wanted orange ones.

It's a little joke in our family and every now and again I'll joke how my life is incomplete and I was deprived as I'd never had the orange wellies I wanted so much. Today I met my lovely wee Sister for a shopping trip to Livingston and SHE BOUGHT ME ORANGE WELLIES!!! Thanks Sis!

What are you smitten with this week? Come on over and link up with Glasgow Mummy, you know you want to!

Full on {Friday}

Can you believe it was Monday that I lost posted! Well it was Sunday actually as I scheduled my Meal Planning post, that was when I was was organised {last / this week}. 

It's been a busy full on week which has been filled with an abundance of happy mail, the new bureau also happened and I've spent many many an hour sat at it this week. My new assistant started and she is just amazing, lots of yummy food has been consumed too AND the Mount Killa-mon-ironing was conquered!

Here's some snippets of the fun filled week!

Monday was new bureau day

Some of the happy mail I received this week...

Some of the happy mail I sent out...

I designed and made some new dividers for my lovely new filofax

And I found Pantone notebooks (and other goodies) in TK Maxx at a bargain price, that was the find of the week as I was nearly buying a Pantone notebook online last week at £10! How cute are the Liberty Hello Kitty notecards?

I nearly forgot... I also won £25 Love to Shop vouchers on a Twitter Competition, you had to come up with a #foodstadia pun {combine food and sports stadiums}, you'll all know I'm not a sports person but I do love a good pun and my winning entry was 'Surf N Turf Moor Stadium'. So, I now I have £25 of vouchers to spend on my shopping trip tomorrow when littlest and I are meeting up with Aunty Knit Knit {my very talented little Sister}

What's your weekend plans?

Meal Planned {organised}

It's a Bank Holiday Monday - yay! Last week's meal planning went great up until Friday and I was busy  at work then had to go to my frame suppliers afterwards {had lots of orders in for my personalised prints} so when I got home I was too tired to think about cooking and everyone else was fed so I had toast. Saturday was a glorious day so we went to the park and got chips on the way home {result}.

This week looks like this:

Monday: lasagne and garlic bread

Tuesday: chilli (will make this on Monday as I'm busy bee on Tuesday)

Wednesday: freezer dinner (got lots to use up in there)

Thursday: brinner (just the kids as Hubber and I are out for dinner)

Friday: slow cooker curry and nan bread

Saturday: chicken chow mein

Sunday: stew, mash and yorkshire puddings

As per it's another busy week ahead in preparation for painting the living room next week and I still need to tackle that tower of ironing. I'm feeling a little more organised though as I have a new filofax {oh yeah.. and it's purple / ultra violet} AND... AND my new assistant starts on Tuesday {hurrah!}.

Remember to link up with Mrs M and tell us what's on your menu this week?

the {cloudy} holiday

Oops, I may be just a little late in chatting about our holiday...

We had been really {and I mean really} looking forward to our Spring holiday. Work / Life is pretty busy right now and we struggle to get time together. We booked a 5 day break to Lanzarote {as Lanzarote is hot all year round, right?}, we left on 28th April - flying from Edinburgh.

Our flight times were great {ahem.. more on that later} and so far the littlest has always been a great flyer and takes it all in her stride, long may that continue! When we arrived at Arrefice airport it was quite dull...Oh uh! It's not a huge island so the weather is usually the same all over. Sadly it stayed cloudy for the 5 days! We had around 20mins of sunshine the whole holiday as the pools are heated from the sun it was far too cold to swim {bummer!}

smiles in the only bit of sunshine we saw

The hotel {Los Zocos} was OK, the public areas and restaurants were very clean and tidy. Our room was a little basic though with no aircon {maybe I should be glad it wasn't scorching} but it was fine, I just like a little bit more comfort when on holiday. The entertainment for the littlest in the evening was really dire but it was out of season so I guess that's to be expected... she still had a great time though so that's all that matters.

It was quite an exhausting holiday, no lazing by the pool, no sunbathing and no swimming. We spent every day walking into town, finding play parks and strolling around the shops. We were looking forward to coming home by the time we reached the last day... then WHAM an 8 hour flight delay {I could have cried}, not only the huge delay but we were being flow into Glasgow which meant a coach transfer to Edinburgh. We had expected to be home for littlest bedtime routine {about 6pm} but instead we got home around 4am! I had been awake nearly 24 hours by the time we got home and I had 3 hours sleep before littlest woke up for the day... I'm perfectly justified to say 'I need another holiday'