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

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

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....

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

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!!!!

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.                                 

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 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 

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.     

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.

james and Luke were very reluctant to go out. Cries of , 'Mam its freezing, why can't we stay in?' and Darren saying I need my head seeing to, fell on deaf ears!! So, off we went. All bundled up in scarves and gloves etc.

It was freezing cold at the coast but we had a great time(well I did anyway) ha ha... There were quite a few other mad people there as well braving the elements. The sea was really rough and it was blowing a gale but it was fab. I love walking on the beach in the middle of winter. It bows the cobwebs away after sitting in with the heating on.

We walked around the harbour-not eating fish and  chips because it was that cold no one was open!! We ended up at Maccy D's. I'm not too keen on Mc Donalds but the kids like it.By the time we were read for home it was high tide and really rough. James, Luke and Darren played 'chicken' behind a big wall dodging waves-very unsuccessfully as well. They all got wet and provided entertainment for some old ladies taking a stroll!!

It's really funny how something like that brings out the child in everyone.All along the seafront people were doing the same thing.Freezing to death, getting wet through and laughing. A great antidote for the winter blues.

It is surely unimaginable how this young girl and her family and indeed all victims of the Holocaust truly felt and the hardship they endured.To have to leave your home and 'hide' for 2 years in an enclosed space with people you have little in common with-apart from religion, must have at times been intolerable.

Last night on another channel, we watched the Kenneth Branagh documentary/film called- Remembering Anne Frank.It had me glued in silence to the TV for 2hrs.Annes friends and allies who aided her and her family were interviewed about their place in history and experiences.I watched Annes' father, Otto speak of how he barely knew his daughter until he read her diaries after he was released as a POW. It broke my heart. I sobbed as I listened to this proud, dignified, quiet man dispaired over the loss of his wife and two children.

I have seen a lot of programmes about the Holocaust they are extremely disturbing, horrifying and unbelievable to watch. But, you have to watch.You have to watch because we owe it to the millions of people murdered for nothing apart from their beliefs. You cannot bear to see the suffering. Women, children and grown men emaciated through starvation and malnutrtion and extremities of weathers.Diseases such as Typhus ravaging through once fit and able bodies.

But, you have to watch because it happened. Over and over again, and I pray to God it never happens again-ever.

Everyone should watch this film by Kenneth Branagh. I believe it has won awards and deservedly so.

People cannot and should not forget the pain and suffering those poor people went through and for survivors of the Holocaust -are still going through.

I wept buckets last night watching this film.For Anne, her family , her poor father to survive being a prisoner of war to find his family no more. For all the people murdered , starved , had their basic human rights taken away.

I cried for the human race. I still find it ludicrous, bizarre and totally inhumane how human beings can do this to other human beings.

Spare a minute today to think, sometimes we all get wrapped up in our problems and lives and we forget-but how could we and why should we.

God Bless all who have and are suffering through war.

I had my first driving lesson for a month on Thursday and it was really weird. I made daft mistakes and I am in panic mode.I think its because my test is in a couple of weeks and its on my mind a lot. I find I'm  in bed on a night thinking about manouvres-think thats how you spell it!!!  My instructor says that everyone goes down hill a bit when they have booked their test.Instead of getting on and driving people try to be 'perfect' too much.So, a bit worried and stressed about that.

I had a bit of a fall out with my sister this week. We both live in rented accomadtion and had the same landlord. Well, my sister has done a runner basically owing some money and leaving the house a mess.I had to ring the landlord on Thursday because we have a leaking gutter and some damp and even though I knew it would come eventually, he asked me where she was and for her phone number. I said I was unwilling to do that because after all she is my sister.I told him the tenancy was between her and him and I have always paid my rent on time and have never been arrears and its got nothing to do with me.

He went on and on about it. So I asked him if I refused to tell him would he refuse to do the work on our house or evict us-we have lived here for 6 years now-never owing rent. He said he gives us his word but I still refused to tel him. If I told him her whereabouts, I would have no loyalty or morals.I do feel sorry for the landlord though and totally understand where he is coming from.So, we had words me and my sis.Everything goes over her head.Its like she doesn't really care. She is one of these people who say 'Oh, I'll do it tomorrow and leaves things until it gets out of hand.I'm not like that. I like to deal with things ASAP and she really naffs me off!!  I have told her that if the landlord refuses to do our work or evict us because I refuse to tell him the info he wants, then we will be falling out big time.  She is the total opposite to me it'slike we're not even related.

The weather is till extremely cold here-it is minus 3 today. I have to pluck the courage up to go outside. My poor old dog just sniffs the air and turns back half the time. She looks at me as if to say, 'If you think I'm going out there you've got another thing coming.'!!

Have a good weekend peeps.

Darren bought me a Seat Ibiza for a 'surprise' Xmas present.I am still shocked really because he is always so practical. I have always said that people that buy cars before passing their test need their heads seeing to!! We have a Picasso and we are both on the insurance for that. When we tried to insure the Seat for me the price was nearly twice as much as the Picassi insurance!! Bearing in mind that the Seat is old-N reg it seems weird. So we looked around and having taken quotes off the internet, have decided to sell mine and part exchange the picasso for a Zafira-which the insurance quotes weren't too bad.

So at least I can say that I have had my own car, even tough I never drove it on the main road!! haha...

On New Years day we had my mum, dad niece and my sister for lunch.I was in the kitchen for 5 hours andwas bloody knackered when they had gone.Even though my sister stayed over and woke up fine she never offered to help me.She never even offered to peel a spud!! She is really lazy and naffed me off for not offering but there you go. Good job Darren helped me with the pots and getting organised.I found it really hard to keep my mouth shut to be honest The thing is we had my sis and niece here for Xmas day as well ans she did sod all then either.

As for resolutions I haven't made any this year.I'm just going to go with the flow and try not to worry about things so much-easier said than done I suppose.

I took my Christmas decorations down today.I put them up !st Dec so fed up of seeing them now. It looks really bare in here now.No wonder people get depressed in January. There is such a massive build up from September and then you come down to earth with a bump come January.

Got to tell you. On New Years eve we went to fill up on food just bits and bobs and one of our shops had Easter eggs for sale!!!!!  Everything is spoilt now and too commercialised.

So, Happy New Year to you all!!!   

Our Christma s has been really nice but hectic.I had flu, Darren had a chest infection so we had a house full of germs!!

I've visited a few lounges but haven't got time to do them all.So if I haven't visited-I wish you all a peaceful, happy New Year filled with love luck and happiness.

From our first day at school we took an instant dislike to each other even as young as 5 we knew we didn't like each other. But Sarah would tell lies about me hurting her or teasing her which I truthfully never did.She got me into trouble all of the time for nothing all the time we were at Primary School. On the last day I hold my hands up and yes I smacked her.I thought you have lied about me all these years so now I am going to smack you so there!!

Anyhow, I haven't thought about her for ages. The last time was a few years ago when I was showing Darren old photos and she was on a couple of them from school.So tonight when I read the death notice and it must be her because the name, age brothers name etc fits. I am upset.How weird is that.A girl that caused me such problems when I was small and I didn't even like, and its upset me.She was the same age as me-37. OMG that is young, so young.It's so scary and frightening. It makes you question your mortality.

Hope I haven't depressed anyone and I don't ususally blog about this sort of stuff but felt I had to tell someone.

It's really sad I think.God Bless everyone who has lost someone they love.

Well, are you ready for the big day?? I am certainly not.I usually love this time of year and really enjoy the build up to the big day.This year I am finding it a real chore.I'm really stuck this year knowing what to get James and Luke.The main presents were easy but I just don't know what to get them.They're at the age were they're too big for a lot of things and not old enough for others.Can't someone make things for 10 year old boys please and make it easier???

I have all of my trimmings up.Tree took ages to do cos its quite big.I got it all finished and it looked lovely.the following night I was looking at it and some lights didn't light up and even changing bulbs didn't work.So, I had to strip my tree!!! Three bloody hours it took me to sort it out.I wasn't impressed!

I have a theme in my front window-The North Pole.I have icicle lights hanging down from the top and have made mountains out of boxes and cotton wool-very Blue Peter.I've stuck blue and silver glitter snowflakes on the window.I've a family of penguins and two gorgeous polar bears, a small lit up tree, santa and Rudolph.It looks really nice , a bit like a shop window.

Its a bit of a competition were I live for Xmas lights and nothing beats a bit of competition does it???ha ha...

I really hope we have a white Christmas this year.It would be lovely to wake up and the ground to be covered in snow

Hope you're all well and ready for it.

He plays up in public doing stupid noises so people stare at him and when I take him to my mums-2-3 times a week for one hour after school, he plays up there.At 3 o'clock yesterday when I picked him up from school, I went to see his teacher to see what sort of day he had.She said he was making baby noises in the morning and lied to her about him staying school dinners-he said he was coming home.She caught him out because she had seen him paying his dinner money.She had also decided to put him directly in front of her desk because his work is suffering because of his messing about.

I took him to my mums and he was a bloody nightmare.He began jumping all over and nearly landed on my mums dog 3 times and didn't stop even though I told him to. My niece was looking at her book from school and he deliberately began putting his face in front of hers so she couldn't see it.Baby noises too.My mum told him off because to be honest his behaviour is making me ill. I feel worn out and fed up with the constant battle of his behaviour issues.He kept saying that everything was 'pathetic' and thats all he said over and over. He wound me up so much it took me all my time to stop myself from smacking him.I don't really believe in smacking but I was so mad I think if I started I wouldn't stop.

When we got home I got boxes and filled them with all his stuff from his room.I left him with mothing to play with.James asked him why he was being so nasty to me ans he said, 'you are all pathetic,pathetic, pathetic and I don't care if my stuff is out of my room.' I then got his Spiderman clock-his fave thing and slammed it on the floor and then I said 'no thats pathetic'.

I feel so bad but so desperate because I don't know what to do.I have rang Parentline Plus this morning and they said ignore all bad behaviour and praise the good.How can I when there is hardly any good and he makes me so mad? I love Luke so much and I know he can be good, caring and sensitive and thats what make it more frustrating.

I am waiting for a referal for some work to be done with him as regards his behaviour.But what do I do in the meantime? I'm tempted to just send him to his room as soon as he is home from school jjjjjust so he can't start anything.I know that isn't a longtem solution but I am so tired of it.

Darren has talked to him also as he and Luke have a real good bond.The thing is Darren says Luke knows how to wind me up and does it all the more.Luke is highly intelligent and talks to me and makes me feel like the child.How can I turn this around??

There's a lot of bad drivers on the roads and enough idiots without me being one of them. So keep all your fingers crossed at the end of Jan -I will tell you the specific date later on. Don't keep them crossed til then tho, you'll have no circulation and have to have them chopped off he he....