I got a job!!!!!!!!! After 11 years of being a 'stay a t home mum' to my boys' I got a job. It's only 16 hours a week but it fits in with the boys school day really well.Darren has tried ti find a full time job that pays enough to support our family but there is nothing out there paying that kind of money.So, after 8 months claiming benefit, now I have a job it means we can sign off the dole.

My job is being a Personal Assistant and carer for an elderley lady with COPD and serious mobility problems.I met her yesterday morning for an interview and she asked me to start straight away, so I did!!

She is really nice and has loads of problems but I really admire her, she is so happy go lucky and chirpy when she could so easily be the opposite.

So, after working two days-and I know you might think-lazy buggar-I am knackered.So not used to it but enjoyed it too.And it is really rewarding.

Keep your fingers crossed it works out-so need a change of luck after such a bad year.

Love, Lisa xx

Just turned on my laptop and had 28 emails regarding my article about my sons' circumcision!

I am genuinely touched by the support people have shown me over the last few days, and I would like to thank you! It is really weird that I've hardly been on here and all of a sudden 'bang' a massive debate starts!

All genuine minti members have been fantastic-thanks so much, Lisa xx

Just to let you know, in the last few days I have recieved a lot of emails regarding an article I wrote ages ago about my sons' circumcision and the reasons why he had to have it done.I have found the response on the whole-after nearly 1000 viewings to be positive.But for some unknown reason some minti members have really had it in for me talking rubbish about matters which were personal and which I was willing to share with minti members.

At one time I loved to come on here and help people in Q&A and write the odd article but slowly but surely things began to change on here and obviously not for the better.

I met some lovely people on here which I have now found on another site which I use more regularly but i do admit I did enjoy this more.I think minti members should consider themselves really lucky that there are people out there from all over the world willing to share in their lives and experiences.

There are enough narrow minded people you meet in your lifetime without having to be insulted and belittled by on here.

I am quite upset and disappointed , but thankyou for members that have stuck up for me.

And by the way, I have replied to Joelface after he/she gave me grief and I have swore so will prob get reported.Wowee....

Hi everyone! hope you're all ok.I haven't been on for ages to write-just popped in now and again and took a quick look.I've had such a bad year with one thing and another and my heart hasn't been in it really.

Firstly after my last blog in March, Darren came home and said there was no work for him and therefore lost his job!! We managed for a month (hoping his boss would change his mind too) until we went to the dole office.OMG it was so embarrassing but this recession has hit so many people, I know there are people far worse off than us.

Darren then had a series of abcess's and was in hospital.Then his son got into trouble and left our city -on police advice for his own safety.Darren was devastated, but we got over that-sort of.

At the beginning of the school holidays James caught Swine flu.I had a right performance with the doctor diagnosing it.He was really poorly and the doctor wouldn't give him Tamiflu-because they had decided here that over 5 years old didn't need it.So, he was given two lots of antibiotics 'just in case'.I had to stay in with him for 10 days because of contamination.I couldnt go to my mums because she has COPD, so felt a bit 'shut in' really but got over that.

Darren has had a chronic viral chest infection for about 5 weeks now and was admitted to hospital-again!! He has really bad asthma and after his check up this week was told its been made worse by all the stress this year.

He still isnt working which is affecting him.He has a disabled left arm and he is the wrong side of forty.Also his doctor told him not to go back in the building trade because of his chest, so don't  know what will happen.

I am still having problems with Bursitis in my hip.I've had 2 injections this year and it kills me.I got a job a few weeks ago and my physio told me to not to do it because it involved too much standing and driving!! So had to turn it down.

So think thats about it in a nutshell.I tend to go on Facebook more now cos a lot of my close mates are on it.If my minti mates want to chat to me on there let me know.Hope everyone is fit and healthy-Autumn here now so all aches and pains will start again, LOL.

Lisa x

Haven't blogged for a month again. Probably because not much is happening-nothing interesting anyway.I do still log on and browse through  but not as regularly.

I am loving my driving!!! I'm getting a bit of a lard arse thats spreading!!!! I also seem to be spending my housekeeping faster because I'm going to shops further away and seeing different things to buy- naughty, naughty.

I had my 38th Birthday on Monday. I am a bit down in the dumps about it really.Two years to 40 and I'm really not looking forward to it at all.I seem to be spending a bit extra time in a morning with my Nivea Q10 anti wrinkle cream. I asked Darren if I had lots of lines around my eyes and he said I looked the same as when we met.Lying sod!  I suppose if he said  Oh my God yeah you have loads he would have been in the dog house ! .

Can't wait for spring.We had a couple of days at the beginning of the week and now its cold again.Our winter has lasted forever and I need some sun . I think you feel so much better when the sun is shining.

Kids fine. Luke is doing well at school and fingers crossed, his behaviour is getting much better at school. James is throwing hissy fits left, right and centre. He throws massive strops like a toddler!! I suppose at 10 and half he is getting ready for puberty-can't wait for that one.

It's Mothers Day on Sunday over here.I wonder what delights await me???

For my Birthday on Monday, Darren took the boys shopping for my presents!!  Big mistake. Darren said get her what YOU want. MMMM...... James got me 3 cans of Impulse ( must think I stink) and a big box of fudge-which I hate.Luke got me 6 different lots of sweets !!  Luke said I know you don't like them much but I'll eat them if you want .......

Darren got me a lovely bouquet of flowers and we were going out for a meal but couldn't really afford it so got take away. On his return from the takeaway, he rushed upstairs to wrap more 'lovely' pressies. They wrapped them really carefully and I had to guess what they were.

Wait for it............ a papaya........a pomegranate.........a bunch of broccolli!!!!

I wasn't very impressed really and Luke and Darren thought it was dead funny-revenge awaits.

If I don't come on minti over the weekend, hope everyone has a wonderful Mothers Day and gets plenty of broccolli!!!!

Today is the day-my mum is having KFC for the first time aged 63!!!!!  We are all going . James ,Luke my sis, her daughter me and my mum.

My mum never goes out anymore. Since my nan died 3 years ago she has changed dramatically. She doesn't go out, she has put on loads of weight and she now has emphysema.

If she goes out once a week that is it-she doesn't want to go out and can't be bothered.She has had a chest infection on top of the emphysema since the beginning of Dec last year.It does my head in. She won't open windows because 'It's too cold' won't open doors cos 'Its too cold'. I've been on the phone again with her this morning about it. She constantly feels crap but won'y do anything to help herself. She doesn't walk anywhere either.She also has a back problem and walks with a stick but won't even walk to the corner shop.She got herself a Spaniel nearly 18 months ago to 'get her out' but she won't. My stepdad takes her out all the time.

I asked my mum this morning if she would like to go somewhere else as well as KFC today and the answer was no.I said she is wasting her life and it is passing her by.She agreed but won't do anything about it.I said her living room is like Gods' waiting room and she just agreed with me!!

I think she needs counselling sfter the death of my nan but she won't ask for it and when her nurses go she won't tell them about how she feels.

I get really exasperated about it because at one time she was always out. Visiting, walking etc. But there is nothing anyone can do.

So one reason I wanted to pass my Driving Test was to take my mum to KFC!!! and today is the day!! Lets hope she enjoys it.                                 

Can't believe it is half term already, although it seems like ages ago since Christmas.

Hope you all got spoilt for Valentines. I got a card and a big bunch of roses, carnations and a lovely mixed spray. He always tells me how much they cost though-don't know why.I know he thinks flowers are a waste of money-miserable sod!!

It's the first day of half term and I enrolled the boys at a local sports arena for 3 days. It's really good value for money and they have a wide variety of sports and other activities to do.Today they tried archery for the first time!

Luke is really sporty and wants to try boxing.I've been on the net tonight looking for local clubs and a lot of the children at the clubs still look like babies!!

Darrens' girls are coming on Wednesday for a few days. It takes Darren nearly 9 hours round trip to pick them up.His bitch of an ex wife won't meet him half way.It's not the girls fault though so you can't really say no.In all honesty I don't look forward to their visits. After them living here and then going back to their 'mum'  I must admit I feel resentful about it. Our lives were turned upside down at the time and it really naffs me off that after all the emotional stress and the full house having to be accomadating for them and they ended up going back-although I am glad they did.

Darren said he is looking forward to seeing them but in all honesty, I wouldn't be bothered if they never came here again.I would never say that to him though. He is a great dad to my kids and it is something I would never say.My boys don't really like them to come either but what do you do??

I'm taking my mum to KFC tomorrow. She is 63 and never tried it!! Now that I passed my test I said I would take her.So, tomorrow mum, me and the boys and my sister and neice are going to Kentucky Fried Chicken-yum.

Sending good wishes to all for the coming week,

Lisa xx

I've got a really bad cold yet again. Since September last year I have had 4 colds and had flu the week before Christmas.

I've always been a big advocate of fruit and veg and I'm beginning to think it doesn't matter what you eat, if you're gonna get it, you will. My throat feels like it has razor blades in it and my sinuses are killing me. I've tried all sorts before. Sudafed etc and other decongestants and they haven't made a bit of difference.This time I'm going back to good old fashioned paracetamol and hot drinks!! Will save pounds as well .

I haven't been driving much at all because the weather here is so bad.I went to the  crematoriam on Tuesday because it was my nans' 3 year mem. It was the first time that I have been able to drive myself( cos I passed my test last week-thought I'd say it again)!  It was treacherous at the crem, really icey. As I was leaving there people leaving a funeral and I had to reverse right up to a hearse to get out( there was no one in it or I would have waited). My heart went in my mouth it would have been my worst nightmare to crash into a hearse of all things.

Does anybody have any tips on parallel parking a Zafira by the way???  I did all my lessons in a corsa and parallel parking(reversing in ) was always good but since I have been in our car-which Darren says is only 50cm bigger!! It does my head in. I just don't seem to be able to get the angle right and I seem to be backwards and forwards like an idiot.

My 'best friend' got me a card yesterday for passing.I was a bit upset with her because she can be a bit of a jealous person and resentful and I think she was annoyed cos I had less lessons than her and so didn't get me a card. Petty I know but when she passed hers I bought her gifts and a card straight away.  We live in quite a small community with lots of children and I always make sure whoever Birthday it is , they get a card at least.  I've never been one to 'give to receive' but even Darren says I shouldn't bother any more.i'm always the one they come to if they need to 'borrow' something and be their shoulder to cry on. Darren always says that if roles were reversed would it be the same.Maybe not.

Moan over....Not really,, OMG the weather is so depressing. Rain, snow, wind , ice and its bloody freezing!! I can't wait for spring.I spotted crocus bulbs the other day at the roadside. It's supposed to be a sign that it's warming up and spring is round the corner. We shall see.

Have a good everyone.         xx 

I did it, I passed my driving test. I am so chuffed and excited !!! I had my doubts if I would pass because my nerves were so bad beforehand. I had a lesson last Tuesday and I stalled 3 times-the most I have stalled in 6 months of lessons!! My instuctor, Helen said it was nerves and she must have been right. On Wednesday night I hardly slept at all. I had everything I had to do going over and over in my head and I was shattered when morning came. I also had a very nervous tummy shall we say and was on the loo quite a bit too !!!

The test wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. The test itself was good too. I was dreading having to do the reverse parking bay maneovre.They do my head in and if you get that on your test and you go over the lines, you fail.

Luckily I didn't get that one and got all the things I'm better at doing. After the test I sat there while he went through the paperwork and I thought my heart was going to pop out of my chest.  Then he said it-Well done Lisa, I'm pleased to say you passed your test!! I thought I was going to cry but I didn't I think I was so thankful it was over with.He said it was an excellent test with only 3 minor faults.( You are allowed 16). I was really chuffed.

My driving instructor Helen came running out and threw her arms around me. She was so pleased for me. A year ago I wouldn't even know how to start the engine. I knew nothing at all and never even wanted to drive. Darren and the boys nagged me and I thought why not? So I started my lessons in July and now I passed.

There is just a bit of bad vibe coming from my so called best friend. When she did her theory test she got less marks than me and because I passed my practical after less lessons and less minors, she's gone really odd. When she passed I made a real fuss of her and bought her a pressie and card. She hasn't even got me a card. I know it's petty and childish but its upset me really. I haven't told Darren how it makes me feel because he is not keen on her anyway. She can be resentful and a bit bitchy. She is 10 years younger than me and I do sometimes look at her and think OMG why did you say/do that.

She is also getting married in August and because we have been 'bessie mates' for 6 years I thought she would ask me to be a bridesmaid but she hasn't.She would be one of the first I would ask if it was me but there you are.Maybe we don't have as much in common as we thought anymore.

So, yes I now have a full UK Driving Licence!! and its thick snow here and aren't going out!!

Have a good week everyone. 

It's my minti Birthday this month too. I think I joined 9th February last year.     

As some of you may remember, last summer I spotted rats in my garden. The local enviromental health came to see and said that I was encouraging them because I feed the birds. I have a bird table and various feeding 'stations'. Anyway , the person that came took away a gulley end which until then had stopped rats getting through. I was told that to buy a new one was easy and loads of places sold them blah blah. Anyhow we couldn't get one and have covered our drain in the backway with housebricks.

On Thursday just befor my driving lesson, I looked out of my window and saw a massive rat in the middle of the bird table scoffing a birdseed cake I had made. It was right outside my window and I could have died! I banged on the window and banged the back door but it didnt shift. I had to go because of my driving lesson. When I came home it had eaten nearly all of the bird cake.

On Friday I decide to clean the table and stop using it. I threw all my bird stuff away thinking that would be the end of it.I was wrong. Friday afternoon I saw a movement through the window and it was in my red robin tree outside my back window and it was looking in at me! I freaked out totally and even got pains in my chest.Darren came home from work with his boss's air rifle-thinks he is a hunter!!   The rat ran across my window ledge and stood on its back paws looking in.

I had to go out. I went to my mums with Tess my dog because I daren't let her outside to do her business. I rang the council and they came today.

The guy that came was the same one that came here 5 years ago( I had an open drain underneath the house and rats were living in my bathroom cavity wall).

He has put special boxes down and came back this afternoon with a new gulley end. He said that  he thought I had been through enough the last time and brought this fitment even though he's not supposed to.

So I received preferential treatment because of a rodent-how nice!!!

I can't stand them.I don't know why. To be honest when it was on the bird table it looked quite cute, but when it stared me out-ugh. I read the Stephen King novel The Rats years ago and it scared me to death.

I've had to stop feeding the birds and feel really guilty. I get lots of birds every day and now I can't feed them. The guy today I should be ok to feed them again soon. I sound a right saddo and old granny for feeding the birds.

Also got driving test Thursday-aaarrgghhhh.