A couple of months ago we had this conference and I got to go at the last minute which I found incredibly exciting.  It was amazing.  There was a lot of controversy about him coming and I was eager to see if it was well-founded (naturally it wasn't, it was just a case of some ill-informed people making snap judgements about something they knew nothing of, and then influencing others).  The whole situation did make me think for myself though about the conference and the people that I know and the judgements I make based on what other people say and what I experience.  How often do I get it wrong (more often than not it seems sadly) and how many people do I hurt by being judgemental and not accepting of them.

Since that conference I have fallen down the stairs in my apartment (not a nice experience; especially as they were concrete!!) an amusing circumstance albeit frustrating on occasion. 

We have had a glowing end of year report and a good parents evening and E shall be doing her first ballet exam a few weeks into the new term for which she is now very excited.

And the job offers keep flooding in though I am still waiting for the one I can actually accept and do!  Am heading off to investigate something on Wednesday which I can't wait for.  Just got to see if they have anything available and if so that I have the required elements of qualifications, job ability and personality to make it work out.  In the mean time I am still at the charity shop and enjoying the opportunities to socialise there.

OK, it is now nearly midnight so I should shoot - but may make it back again soon.

Oh before I go I got 100% on my BSL (foundation) level 2 assessment.  Should be ready to take the next level tomorrow.  I just got the result and I am so relieved.

Peace
EF.x 

This is so exciting and I am actually gonna get to be there which is even more amazing!!

If anyone is in the UK and interested in details the evening meetings are free, and the day sessions are £20.  Just message me here or email me via MintiMail and I will get the details to you.  It is easy to book online, and I believe it is possible to just arrive as well if that is how things work out for you.Peace
EF.x 

Anyhow, thank you to all the love here everyone, and those on Facebook with me.  Although I have not been around much I have been checking in and it has been great to know I have friends around.  Somehow it has just kept me strong. 

At the end of Feb we had the second court date and I was due in hospital also same time same day - so incredible thatI managed both successfully - everyone pulled out all the stops to get me through early at the hospital and late with the court so that I could honour my committments.  He never showed at court (surprise surprise) so that is it gone away now.  And there has been no contact since.  It is a great relief and most particularly knowing that there is a legal record now to back up my version of events.

As for the housing situation that some may have been aware of - I won!  PTL.  The council had to pay up for their clerical error.  The lady found me credible and I am still smiling like a cheshire cat when I think of it.

Our birthdays all went by well and we had a special dinner to celebrate my brothers birthday (which hit us harder than we ever thought it would) before preparing for E's 5th birthday the next day.  Am so glad we had that to distract us immediately as it helped us through.

Right now we are back to school, E is doing very well and loving everything.  We have nothing hanging over us now and so are just beginning to relax and look to what the future may hold for us.  Still really really want a job!!  It will come in good time though.

Gonna stop here so I can pop around and visit some friends ... IE is playing up - so if I dont make it to yours then forgive me and know that I will catch up when I can!
Peace
EF.x 

Finally also life is looking up and things seem to be unravelling and sorting themselves out.  Back in court next Thursday as he didnt show last time - not sure where that leaves us.  Just hope that he does not come this time either I guess.  I dislike how the law seems to disregard the children and the way they feel about it all.  I am also double booked next Thursday with other appointments and have no idea how to juggle them as they are all of the high priority which is impossible to get out of - and all convinently for the same time.  YAY! 

Thankfully Tuesday will be over and I will simply enjoy and make the most of it.  E has planned to do the music and games in the 90mins we have together that day.  

Well must go and play some games.
Peace
EF.x 

She had Monday off school as her temperature was still flucuating, but we spent a lovely day with my parents and she was back to school on Tuesday which meant I got them to myself for a day.  They then baby sat her while I went out in the evening which saved me paying a babysitter - yay! (for me, not the babysitter...lol)

On Monday I had an interview for a voluntary job which I started on Wednesday afternoon - there is an option to be employed there, but there are not enough hours, so I am currently looking into another job that will work around this one, but will meanif I do these two that I am not home after school each day to relax with E.  So although I am applying for both I am not sure that I will accept the second one if offered it yet.  Also need to find decent child care, but my contact at the jobcentre is good, so I dont anticipate any problems there really.  Just need to be sure I am doing the right thing for us both.

This afternoon we are heading out to see some friends, so I must rush - just wanted to get this up before I forgot again.....lol

Have a great weekend everyone.
Peace
EF.x 

1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Are you ready? I know you just can't wait to know 6 random quirky things.

I was tagged by:  mum2four, mcm and dramamom

Six things about me:

1. I enjoy PB&J sandwiches with cheese
2. I work as a volunteer, but would love some paid work
3. I desperately need to start exercising again
4. I miss my brother and his family in America
5. I am currently seeking out delicious lentil recipes
6. I intend to try and tag 6 people that have not yet been tagged.....let's see if I am successful...

I Tag:

1. hrs2004
2. izzy
3. katiepiatt
4. Chele
5. Gypsie
6. Michellei

Peace
EF.x 

My parents are coming to visit for a couple of days from tomorrow, so we are hoping she will be well again in time to see them - a lot can happen over night, and with continued administrations of medicine and good sleep I pray and hope that she will be better soon. 
I am heading to bed around about now, though I hope to be up again later on - still got laundry and dishes etc to do - daily housework that needs doing before it gets too late - but E wont let me leave her side while she is awake.  We have had lots of fun reading stories and playing 'Ludo' and 'noughts and crosses' through the day. 

I learn such a lot from her about how to encourage her learning and use the techniques that her teachers use. 
Wow, I cant see through my yawns - excuse me.
Peace
EF.x 

A week after E was born my brother did a parachute jump, this was his birthday gift from my parents.  E and I went to watch as it was near where we live.  This was what my brother was like though, he was brave, funny and a great  guy to know.  He got married a year later and we rarely saw him except when he was in hospital, but each visit he made E feel like a princess, she knows how much he loved her, and that he always wanted to see more of her and spend more time with her.  She would sit on his knee while I pushed his chair.  Their friendship was precious. 

Last weekend E and I started talking about what we were going to do for her birthday and I realised that PJ's would be the day before - we had already decided to buy flowers that day and we are considering sunflowers but not sure about expense.  So we started discussing what flowers to get, how many, and where we would put them in our home.  E's birthday plans have been shelved.  I have spent the week in tears every time I mention PJ's birthday or something that relates to it directly - such as the date.  At least I know I can be fine on her birthday, because any crying I do for him will be on the day before.  Her birthday in and of itself I am fine about.

I do feel so stupid though.  Even as I write this - I must have so many typo's because I cannot see what the monitor shows me - gee, I dont even know if the cursor is in the right place.  And I dont know where the keyboard is except that it is somewhere under my fingers....as I was saying, as I write this my eyes are filled with water, there are tears pouring down my cheeks, and my chest is heaving with sobs.  Why?  I feel stuck in a time warp of some sort where I cant get past him not being here to share Toblerone for our birthdays.  I feel daft because it is only his birthday, yes, there arememories, but there were also many christmas memories, why do I find his birthday so emotive?  Oh I hate this helplessness, I am sorry to bung it all out here, but I need to get it out before I bottle it up and trap it inside.  I wish I had someone here whom I could share it with and speak it out loud to.  I just want this out of my system.    Oh man, the 'grief counselling' people called the other day to let me know I was still on their waiting list and I should be seen within the next couple ofmonths.  Well, I guess I will be accepting it by then and it will all be ok.  god is kinda good like that - I have a natural aversion to counsellors after meeting a couple of weird ones not in thier role, but still trying to play the role socially when I was a child. 

Well, I got sunday service to finalise for tomorrow with my friend, so must get on I guess.  Thanks for a place to vent.  I just miss him so much always.  I know it will get easier soon - I can feel that transition happening.  But some days just still really suck.  (can I say that here???)  Have a great weekend y'all

Peace
EF.x 

My mind has now gone blank, so I am gonna go - well, at least I checked in i guess. 
Peace
EF.x 

I would like to say a big thank you to all who have offered love, support, encouragement and random emails throughout the 2007.  It was very encouraging knowing that I had friends here who cared even when I was unable to be a proper friend in return.  As for the people I have yet to meet - well Minti has continued to grow magnificently, so there are plenty of 'new' people that I have to catch up with as well. 

It is good to be back again, and I have often thought of you all while I was 'living life' or at least coping with whatever was happening. 
Briefly a 2007 ovevew: 
♪ I was very unwell and sleeping up to 20 hours a day, barely making it out of bed to take E to pre-school and so on.   I managed to get that sorted and eventually got back on my feet again
♪  We had a fantastic time of summer holiday activities with E and were planning on having a family holiday for a week when suddenly my brother passed away in August.    He was 25, leaving a wife - who screams blue murder at the mention of our family;  and two foster children (a girl of 16 and a boy of 6). 
♪  E started school in September  along with me finding out that because of yet another 'clerical error' I might lose our home,  and E's father getting a solicitor and wanting access or something.  (I dont know what he wanted as access has never been denied him - he just disowned her instead.  But hey, not to worry)
♪  As the year progressed I got personally stronger,  but missed my brother more and more.  Made me wonder when that moment comes when the adage "Time heals all things" would kick in and start to take effect. 
♪  Christmas was naturally interesting, E was in her school nativity play as a sheep - and very well she did too! (Even so far as sitting centre stage to balance the cast...lol).  We spent Christmas week with my parents and brother who still lives here with phone calls to the brother in America and family in New Zealand.  Mum only worked two days of the 9 we were home for, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - but we had the rest of the time to play, make things, practice bike riding, make cross-stitch Christmas cards with my brother as he had forgotten to get them started on time and there were 4 needing doing as well as a biggie of 'Forever Friends' and a scarf he was knitting for his girlfriend.  We lacked for nothing to do and had a great time getting back here in time to spend a week here and play with E's friends as there is never time in the school terms now. 

  Well, I am launching a new look on the christian websites that I oversee tonight, so I best get on and stop avoiding all that needs doing. 

  Wishing you all lots of hope, peace and happiness in 2008 
Peace
♥EF.x 

We were scheduled to go on holiday down there, so armed with baby wipes and so few toiletries (water supplies not permitting) that we had an almost empty bag we headed off for a couple of nights.  We had great fun entering into the 'british war-time spirit' of comraderie that blossomed in this difficult time.  But it was kinda fun filling up at the bowsers - when there was water in them!!

And because it persisted in raining - regardless of the prayers for it to stop (well, it is all stopped now for a few days) we got the paddling pool out and managed to get enough from what filled up in it to flush the loo one time.    It was hard when we ran out of water though to go,knowing we couldnt flush it away. 

Having said that you can see E had a great time swimming in what was there and trying not to splash out any precious drops.  Right now water is back on, (praise God - no more queueing and searching for bowsers) and should be clean for drinking soon, but in the meantime people still need to drink/prepare meals from bottles.  Many homes are still terribly damaged and those people have the rest of the year in which they will be sorting it out waiting for it to dry and trying to get back to some kind of stability and normality in their lives.

The area worst flooded was where we first moved to when we came to the UK.  Great devastation and incredible pictures of the Abbey that became an island - almost like a safe haven, that once upon a time it must have been.
Peace
EF.x 

The not so battle of Trafalgar

Nelson: "Order the signal, Hardy."

Hardy: "Aye, aye sir."

Nelson: "Hold on, that's not what I dictated to Flags. What's the meaning of this?"

Hardy: "Sorry sir?"

Nelson (reading aloud): "England expects every person to do his or her duty, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious Persuasion or disability.' - What gobbledegook is this?"

Hardy: "Admiralty policy, I'm afraid, sir. We're an equal opportunities

employer now. We had the devil's own job getting ' England ' past the censors, lest it be considered racist."

Nelson: "Gadzooks, Hardy. Hand me my pipe and tobacco."

Hardy: "Sorry sir. All naval vessels have now been designated smoke-free working environments."

Nelson: "In that case, break open the rum ration. Let us splice the

main brace to steel the men before battle."

Hardy: "The rum ration has been abolished, Admiral. Its part of the

Government's policy on binge drinking."

Nelson: "Good heavens, Hardy. I suppose we'd better get on with

it........... full speed ahead."

Hardy: "I think you'll find that there's a 4 knot speed limit in this

stretch of water."

Nelson: "Damn it man! We are on the eve of the greatest sea battle in

history. We must advance with all dispatch. Report from the crow's nest

please."

Hardy: "That won't be possible, sir."

Nelson: "What?"

Hardy: "Health and Safety have closed the crow's nest, sir. No harness;

and they said that rope ladders don't meet regulations. They won't let

anyone up there until a proper scaffolding can be erected."

Nelson: "Then get me the ship's carpenter without delay, Hardy."

Hardy: "He's busy knocking up a wheelchair access to the foredeck

Admiral."

Nelson: "Wheelchair access? I've never heard anything so absurd."

Hardy: "Health and safety again, sir. We have to provide a barrier-free

environment for the differently abled."

Nelson: "Differently abled? I've only one arm and one eye and I refuse

even to hear mention of the word. I didn't rise to the rank of admiral by playing the disability card."

Hardy: "Actually, sir, you did. The Royal Navy is under represented in

the areas of visual impairment and limb deficiency."

Nelson: "Whatever next? Give me full sail. The salt spray beckons."

Hardy: "A couple of problems there too, sir. Health and safety won't let the crew up the rigging without hard hats. And they don't want anyone breathing in too much salt - haven't you seen the adverts?"

Nelson: "I've never heard such infamy. Break out the cannon and tell the men to stand by to engage the enemy."

Hardy: "The men are a bit worried about shooting at anyone, Admiral."

Nelson: "What? This is mutiny!"

Hardy: "It's not that, sir. It's just that they're afraid of being charged with murder if they actually kill anyone. There's a couple of legal-aid lawyers on board, watching everyone like hawks."

Nelson: "Then how are we to sink the Frenchies and the Spanish?"

Hardy: "Actually, sir, we're not."

Nelson: "We're not?"

Hardy: "No, sir. The French and the Spanish are our European partners now.  According to the Common Fisheries Policy, we shouldn't even be in this stretch of water. We could get hit with a claim for compensation."

Nelson: "But you must hate a Frenchman as you hate the devil."

Hardy: "I wouldn't let the ship's diversity co-ordinator hear you saying  that sir. You'll be up on disciplinary report."

Nelson: "You must consider every man an enemy, who speaks ill of your

King."

Hardy: "Not any more, sir. We must be inclusive in this multicultural age.  Now put on your Kevlar vest; it's the rules. It could save your life"

Nelson: "Don't tell me - health and safety. Whatever happened to rum,

sodomy and the lash?"

Hardy: As I explained, sir, rum is off the menu! And there's a ban on

corporal punishment."

Nelson: "What about sodomy?"

Hardy: "I believe that is now legal, sir."

Nelson: "In that case............................... kiss me, Hardy."

Author:  Richard Littlejohn
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/columnists/columnists.html?in_page_id=1772&in_article_id=451590&in_author_id=322