Mamma Kerr

I loathe cheap toilet paper and fee it is a false economy to buy it!   Instead, I tend to buy more luxurious brands when they are on special offer. 

No, I´ve never had a surprise birthday party thrown for me.  I´m afraid I´m too much of a control freak to leave such things to chance!  LOL   I like to plan my own parties!

I once threw a surprise party for my hubby, who was then my fiance, when he was turning 30 (many moons ago! LOL).  He had expected to go out for a meal to a local restaurant – just us and his parents.  When we turned up at his parents´house to collect them to take them to the restaurant, there were family and friends waiting to shout “Surprise!” at the flabbergated Birthday Boy!

That has to be my computer!  I simply cannot live without it! 

NEW FRIEND FRIDAY

Join in the fun that is New Friend Friday at The Girl Creative and The Trendy Treehouse.

1. Do you collect anything?

No, I don´t collect anything in particular, but I am a hoarder of knicknacks and I like to pick up little momento treasures on my travels – ornaments, crockery, photos, trinkets, etc…  I have collected treasures like this from holidays in Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Canada, USA, Egypt, Ireland and even throughout the UK, where I live.

2. Name 3 celebrities that you find good looking.

 

Hugh Jackman, George Clooney & Christian Bale. 

3. Do you have any scars? If so, what’s the story behind it (them?)?

 

Yes, I have a small scar on my left eyebrow which dicates the shape that I can have them groomed.  The scar was caused when I was a toddler and my mum fell when carrying me.  It probably should have been stitched, but I think she made do with a little plaster!  I think she got the fright of her life when I drew blood!! 

I also have a small scar on my right knee, caused by a fall in a swing park in Riddrie, when I was about six years old.

My “best” scar has to be my caesarean scar, from when my twin girls were born six weeks early six years ago!  It is almost invisible now – thank goodness!!

4. What is a food that you like to eat, but others might think it’s gross or weird?

 

I like eating cereal with yogurt instead of milk, which some people find weird or gross, but I cannot understand why!? 

5. Have you ever seen a tornado in real life?

 

No, we don´t really get extreme weather systems like that in Scotland – just year-long rain!!  LOL  I have seen a small funnel cloud, when I was in Canada many years ago, but it was very far away.  We had been enjoying the sunshine at sand dunes by Lake Ontario, when we had to cut our trip short because of a thunderstorm.  The rain was torrential and it was pretty scary to be out in the car!!

Why not join in the New Friend Friday blog hop at The Trendy Treehouse and The Girl Creative.

Absolutely NOT!!  LOL   I wanted to be a primary school teacher or a journalist!  Now I’m a number cruncher for the local council!  I couldn’t have ventured much further from my chosen path, eh?

I wish I’d learned how to ride a bike!  I feel that not being able to ride a bike makes me a failure!  I wish I could go cycling with Hubby and the girls, but who’s ever seen an adult bike with stabilisers!? 

Why not join in the New Friend Friday blog hop at The Trendy Treehouse and The Girl Creative.

1. Do you know how to play a musical instrument?

 Erm… well… Strictly speaking I can play quite a few:

1. Triangle
2. Hand chimes
3. Cymbals
4. Tambourine

Do they count?    Actually, I can knock out a couple of simple tunes on the keyboard (e.g. “Love Me Tender”).

I once got a guitar for Christmas as a teenager, along with a “Learn to Play Guitar” book.  However, after learning a few cords, I got bored and impatient and gave up!  The guitar gathered dust in my parents’ attic for years until they gave it away.  L

2. What is your pet peeve while driving?

I have several pet peeves while driving:

• Impatient drivers driving up my backside (and no, I’m not going too slow!)
• Idiot drivers not indicating (especially on roundabouts!)
• Selfish drivers not leaving a space in the queue of traffic to allow me to get out of my side street.
• Selfish drivers sitting between two lanes at a junction, which prevents other drivers from using the filter lane

This question actually reminds me of a Post It Note Tuesday post I did a while back, which you can read here.

3. Would you rather have a housekeeper or unlimited spa services? 

Much as I would enjoy unlimited spa services, I would have to opt for the housekeeper, because I hate housework more than I love spa treatments (…just!)

As a fulltime working mum, I’m often berating the fact that I simply do not have the time or energy to keep up with my housework.  I would love to be able to employ a cleaner to come to my house one or two mornings per week.  I have looked into the costs in recent months, and it definitely is something I want to do in the future.

4. Is there a song that you hear that will take you back to the moment, like a junior high or high school dance?

Yes, I’ve got lots of memory-associated songs!  Too many to mention here!!

The intro of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s “Relax” always gives me goosebumps as it reminds me of school discos. 

Scottish band Wet Wet Wet’s “Wishing I Was Lucky” always reminds me of my happy carefree teenage years, when my BFF and I were huge fans of the Wets and used to go to all their Glasgow gigs.

“Killer” by Adamski feat. Seal is another song which gives me goosebumps as it always reminds me of going ice-skating on a Sunday afternoon as a teenager.

“Respect” by Erasure is another song that brings back happy memories of working in a newsagents as a teenager with alongside my friend, Barry (who loved that song!)

In more recent years, “Dakota” by The Stereophonics reminds me of jumping and dancing around our living room with Hubby, each of us holding one our toddler twin daughters, all of us with huge smiles on our faces.  Happy happy times! 

5. What song best represents your life right now?

Hey, this is a hard one!….

… what about “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin!?   It certainly represents my current outlook.

Join in the fun and link up on the blog hop below:

Oh how I’ve missed participating in this fun meme in the past few weeks, when my blog was offline!

1. What is your favourite thing about summertime?

It’s definitely going away on holiday and spending more time with Hubby and the kids.  I live in Scotland, and we are not guaranteed to have good weather over the summer months.  (It has been great so far this year though!…)  Therefore, in order to enjoy a little warmth and sunshine, we have to travel afar!  This year we’re off to the Spanish island of Majorca for two weeks, and I can’t wait!  We’re staying in Cala Bona, a lovely little fishing village, with sandy coves and a harbour – the perfect place to relax with the family (i.e. no “lager louts*”!)

2. What is your ideal retirement location (if money didn’t matter)?

Much as I love my homeland, if money was no object, then I would love to retire in a warm sunny place like Cyprus or Florida.  If I had to stay in Scotland, I quite fancy the idea of retiring to the peace and solitude of rural Perthshire, with its stunning scenery!

3. Do you live in the same town you grew up in?

No, I moved away from Glasgow many years ago, but it’ll always feel like home to me!  I don’t stay too far away (about 30 miles?), so I still get to spend time there quite often.  However, I do not see me ever moving back to Glasgow.  I prefer the semi-rural location we live in at the moment.  I do know of quite a few of my old school friends who still live in the area where we grew up (one of them actually still lives in the same house!)  I can’t really imagine still living there – my life has moved on so much, and I am grateful for the experiences I’ve had in the three different locations I’ve lived in since moving away from my home town.  I’m thankful too for the many friends I’ve made in these different locations!

4. What nervous habit did you have as a child that you kicked to the curb before becoming an adult?

Ooooh!!  This is a hard one!….  The only thing I can really think of is that I used to crack my knuckles a lot (which drove my parents mad!), but I haven’t entirely kicked the habit – I still can be found doing this from time to time!!  My mum used to say to me, “Stop doing that!  You’ll give yourself arthritis!”

5. What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you while on the job?

OMG!  I thought this question was a bit… erm… rude… at first!!  ROFL  *red face*

Anyhoo!  The most embarrassing thing to happen to me at work is probably being caught by my new boss, dancing around with two conical party hats, al la Madonna’s conical bra, at a Christmas party just ONE WEEK after starting a new job!  *cringe*

 You can link up to this fun meme by visitng Mama M at My Little Life or in the linky below.

*lager louts - alcohol-filled, noisy and disruptive, single males.  Such people can be found at the busier resorts such as Magaluf.

No, but I have a Blackberry smartphone.  I only use basic apps like Twitter, Facebook and Google Maps. I’d quite like to get an iPhone when my current contract expires, as I think I’d appreciate the plethora of apps available for it! 

I absolutely DETEST feet!!  Yuch!!  (Apart from cute little baby or kiddie feet of course!)  I could never be a chiropodist / podiatrist!  That would be a nightmare job for me! *shudders*  I used to do party plan for Vie At Home, doing spa parties, where I would demonstrate spa treatments for hands and feet.  I would give all the guests a hand treatment, but would ask them to use the foot products on their own feet.  There was no way I was going near people’s cracked skin, corns, varucas, bunions or fungal infections!  *starting to feel queasy now“*

I would love celebrity interior designers, colin and Justin to turn up on my doorsteps and offer to resign my entire house!  That would be sooooo cool!  I did actually meet them once, albeit very briefly.  They were at an award ceremony that I attended with Hubby, and I (literally) bumped into them at the bar!  They’re very handsome men!

I think I have nice slim but shapely legs.  I’m actually very happy with my body at the moment, having recently lost over 20lbs. 

Join the blog hop over at Mama M’s blog:

Scroll down for to the very bottom to see my old holiday snap for Friday Photo Flashback.

Hubby and I don’t have very many date nights these days.  It has to be a special occasion (Valentines,birthdays or anniversarys) for us to go on a “date” these days.  Even then, it was my birthday the other week there, and we spent the day in the park with the girls (which was very enjoyable, it has to be said!) and then went to McDonalds for dinner!  So no romantic candlelit dinner for me then!   Well, to be fair, he did take me shopping to pick my birthday gift the day before, and then we went for a Eat All You Like Chinese Buffet!!

I used to LOVE my Girls Nights Out in my life B.C.  We used to have such a laugh, and dance our socks off!!    Now, I don’t have the time, money, energy, attire or inclination for those sorts of nights out very often!  I can’ t handle my drink the same as I used to B.C. and I certainly can’t handle the hangovers!!  ;P  I live too far away from the ‘Big Smoke’ now, and I simply prefer my home comforts, snuggled up on the couch at home, watching TV or playing the Wii with the family.

To be honest, my favourite nights out (or in!) tend to be out with Hubby and one or two other couples (friends / siblings).  These kind of nights are good fun, cos I can feel like a cosy couple but still have a good blether* and a boogie with the girls!  Perfect.  

No, I can’t.  Next question!….

I also love sunflowers.  They are truly awesome!

 

“Study harder.  Stop reading trashy teenage magazines.  Forget about boys for a few years – at least until you pass all your exams!! ”

However, all my mistakes, my wrong turns, my bad decisions have all lead me to the very place where I am today and, you know what, it’s not too bad, really! 

The first thing SPENDING-wise would be to pay off all our debts (mortgage, loans, cards, etc…) – Now that would feel fantastic!! 

*Blether means to have a right good chinwag (chat).

I LOVE Fridays, because it is blog hopping time! Yay! It's time to find lots of interesting new blogs and lovely people to follow. I also hope to gain lots of wonderful new followers too!    

• You can subscribe to my blog via RSS or email.
• You can also follow me on Google, Blog Frog or Blog Catalog.
• You can follow me on Twitter: @mammakerr
• I also have a Mamma Kerr page on Facebook.
• Please feel free to grab my button and display on your blog! Thanks!

If you are visiting on one of the blog hops, please leave a comment to let me know, and I’ll hop over to your blog too!!

Top Mommy Blogs - Vote for us @ TopMommyBlogs.Com!   Now it’s time for blog hopping!…     Friday Follow 

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New Friend Friday

This week, the Girl Creative wants to know about our favorite childhood memories.

I have fond memories of going on caravan holidays to Devon with my family every summer.  I particularly loved walking along the sea wall (pictured below), between Dawlish Warren and Dawlish.  The walk took about 45 mins, and we used to wave to the trains as they sped past.

Dad, Me (middle) and wee sis at Dawlish, Devon, England (circa 1982)

You can link up at The Girl Creative and enter their fabulous giveaway here.

1. What is your worst memory of your siblings?

 I’m six years older than my little sister, and I can remember her being an annoying little pain in the butt whenever I had friends over.  She was always being cheeky and interrupting us, making fun of us and acting silly. 

The problem was that we shared a room, so I would resort to (literally) throwing her out the room and sitting against the door to stop her getting back in.  After much kicking and screaming, she would run to Mum and whine:

 “MUMMY!  They’re not letting me in the room!”

Sometimes Mum would attempt to appease her with suggesting another fun activity for her in the livingroom.  However, sometimes Mum would insist that I let her back into the room.  Then Wee Sis would return all triumphant and be even more annoying than ever!

Wee Sis & I dancing on holiday circa 1983.

The thing is, the two of us got on really well (most of the time) when we were on our own.  The only time she really acted up was if I had friends round.  I realise now that she was probably just jealous of the time spent with my friends.

Thankfully we get on very well now.  I am proud as punch to be her bridesmaid at her wedding in July.

2. What was YOUR naughtiest childhood memory? (Must be something YOU did, no pawning it off on someone else!)

This is a hard one!  I’m sure my Mum and Dad would be better placed to answer this one!  I can remember many a time being told off, and bundled into my room in disgrace, but I honestly can’t remember ONE particular reason why!  I think I was always a bit ‘lippy’ so I reckon most of the time I got punished for answering back.  I was just as stubborn in those days as I am now, and ALWAYS wanted the last word!  (Much to my detriment!)  However, I can’t really remember any particular mischevious episodes.  I think my parents realise now, that they were lucky to have such well-behaved kids as me and my sis!

3. Where do you like to go to relax?

I actually like to go walking to relax and unwind.  It’s a great way to de-stress.  I also enjoy soaking in a warm bubble bath with scented candles and relaxing music.  Bliss.

4. What was the last thing you won?

I won a bottle of port in a raffle at a Ladies Night recently.  I have not yet opened it.  Cheeky Vimto anyone?  I’d much preferred to have won the Zumba lessons, pole dancing lessons (yes, you read that correctly!! LOL) or beauty treatments, but hey, a prize is a prize! 

5. If you could be on a game show, which would you choose?

It would have to be Who Wants To Be A Millionnaire?  This is the only game show I have actually applied to enter.  In its heyday about ten years ago, I phoned up several times to enter.  I suspect I would be absolutely rubbish at it anyway!  My mind would probably go blank and I’d be unable to answer even the most simple questions.

I LOVE Fridays, because it is blog hopping time! Yay!

It’s time to find lots of interesting new blogs and lovely people to follow. I also hope to gain lots of wonderful new followers too!

• You can subscribe to my blog via RSS or email.
• You can also follow me on Google, Blog Frog or Blog Catalog.
• You can follow me on Twitter: @mammakerr
• I also have a Mamma Kerr page on Facebook.
• Please feel free to grab my button and display on your blog! Thanks!


If you are visiting on one of the blog hops, please leave a comment to let me know, and I’ll hop over to your blog too!!

Top Mommy Blogs - Vote for us @ TopMommyBlogs.Com!

Friday Follow - This week’s FF is sponsored by Tooth Soap.


Please visit One 2 Try to link up. Thanks!
Follow Me Fridays at The Trendy Treehouse – This week’s Follow Me Friday is sponsored by Pixies & Bears.
New Friend Friday

You can link up at The Girl Creative and enter their fabulous giveaway here.

I love participating in this fun Friday meme by Mama M at My Little Life.

1. If you could, would you go back to high school?

My initial reaction to this questions was “Hell no!”  I loved my years at primary school but don’t have the same level of affection for my seconday school years.  What’s more, I don’t fancy the idea of being a teenager again – spots, hormones, boys, crushes, fashion disasters… (you get the picture!?)

However, on further reflection, I’d actually quite like to go back to my secondary school and choose different subjects:

• I’d choose History over Modern Studies
• I’d choose Biology over Physics
• I’d choose Technical Studies over Home Economics (Sorry, Sis! - My wee sis is a Home Economics Teacher and her Hubby2Be is a Technical Teacher!!  LOL)

AND:

• I’d knuckle down and study more!
• I’d try to ignore the the distractions of boys and teenybop bands!

2. If a genie appeared and granted you two wishes, what would they be? (And, no saying “more wishes”.)

1. A big new house (mortgage free of course!!)
2. Good weather in Scotland EVERY summer!!

3. What kids show do you secretly like?

The Wonder Pets!   Soooooo cute!

4. What is your beverage of choice?

Hot beverage – I used to be an absolute tea jenny and absolutely detested coffee (even the smell of it!)  However, now I’m a complete turncoat, as I much prefer coffee!  It started off with me trying lattes a couple of years ago, and then I progressed to white coffee (with one sweetener).  I still drink tea, but it has to be Red Bush tea! 

Alcoholic Beverage –  Morgan’s Spice and Diet Coke.

Soft Drink – Still water

5. What is something that you would change about yourself (or are working to change in yourself)?

Physical change – I am currently following the Slimming World Diet and have lost over 20lbs since the Autumn.  I’d like to lose another 7 – 10lbs in the next couple of months…  I’m now stepping up my exercise to to tone up.  I’m walking more, trying to get back into the Wii Fit and trying out Zumba!

Mental/ Spiritual change – I’d like tochange my job.  I’d like to be a fulltime writer, working from home.

1.      What was the first car you owned?

When I first passed my test, when I was twenty-one (eons ago!!), I just borrowed my then-boyfriend / now-husband’s car.  He had a Ford Escort at the time.  I only needed to use the car at weekends or in the evening, as I commuted to work by bus.

I didn’t actually get my own car until I was pregnant with the girls.  We were going to simply upgrade our little Rover 25 to a bigger family car.  However, we ended up keeping the smaller car for Hubby to use and buy a bigger car for me to use.  Therefore, we bought a Renault Scenic.  I have another Scenic now, and Hubby has another smaller car – a wee Chevvy!

2. What song are you embarrassed to know the lyrics to?

Oooooooh!!  This is a good one!  There’s a few I suppose.  I was going to say something like “The Chicken Song”, “Star Trekkin’” by the Cast of Spitting Image or “Superman” by Black Lace, as these are really cheesy annoying songs.  However, I’m sure that most people who grew up in the UK during the 80s would remember these lyrics.

Therefore, I think I’ll opt for “We Don’t Talk Anymore” by sir Cliff Richard.  *cringe*

3. Have you ever had stitches?

Yes, I split my head open when I was about eight years old.  I had just got new glasses, and so was not yet used to the prescription.  I tripped and fell when setting the table at home, and I whacked my head off the hard arm of my parents’ leather sofa.

I hadn’t realised I’d split my head open until my dad came rushing over and shouted to my mum: 

“OMG! Annette’s split her head open!  It’s like a big gaping hole!!”

I then noticed all the blood and wailed:

“Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!!! I’m gonna die!  I’m gonna die!  I’m gonna die!!”

This scared the heck out of my two-year-old sister, who was soooo relieved to see me, alive and well, but with a partially-shaved head and stitches, when I returned from casualty a couple of hours later! L

The only other time I’ve had stitches was when I had my girls by emergency caesarean section.

4. What was your first job?

I had a paper round in my teens, delivering the Glasgow Evening Times after school, Monday to Friday plus a Saturday morning.  I also delivered the Sunday morning papers, which was back-breaking due to all the Sunday supplements!

When I was sixteen I got promoted to a weekend sales assistant at the newsagents, where I served behind the counter on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings.

5. Who is your favorite Sesame Street character?

It has to be Oscar, the resident grouch!   I still love grouchy characters in TV shows!  They’re so much more interesting than goody-two-shoes!!

 Head over to Mama M’s blog to link up on the blog hop…

Rules for 5QF: 

Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them link up withthe MckLinky here or at Mama M., the Founder of the fun that is Five Question Friday!

If you don't have a blog of your own (yet) then please just answer the questions in the comments below. This is a fun, easy way to get to know your fellow bloggers!

1. Did you pass your driver's test on the first try?

 

Sadly no!  It was actually third time lucky for me.  However, I have to say that I reckon I should have passed it first time round.  I was totally miffed when the examiner broke the news:

 

"I'm sorry to tell you that you have not passed on this occasion."

  

I had hardly a mark on my sheet, and my instructor didn't think the errors amounted to a fail.  Unfortunately, I got the very same examiner for my second test and, to be honest, I failed my test as soon as I clapped eyes on him!  My nerves just got the better of me and my driving was admittedly awful that time.  I'm afraid I cried all the way home that day (and for some time after!)

 

Third time round, I got a different examiner, soflty spoken with a cheery face, who immediately put me at ease.  I felt that I had driven well that day (though perhaps not any better than my first attempt!), but it was still a pleasant surprise to be told:

 

"Congratulations, Miss Black!  I'm pleased to tell you that you have passed your driving test."

 

"Yeeeeeeaaaaah!!" 

 

2. What is your most embarrassing moment?

 

This is a killer question!  I have so many embarrassing moments - some too embarrassing to share on such a public platform!  LOL

One moment which springs to mind is this:

Several years ago, after a works night out, I stopped off at the chippy* for chips 'n curry sauce*.  I was absolutely starving, and devoured those chips on the way up to the bus station.  As I walked through the streets of Glasgow, I kept getting funny looks.  I thought to myself:

"I know I've had a few drinks, but I'm not THAT drunk!"

I was really paranoid by the time I boarded the bus.  Even the bus driver looked at me funny!

It was only when I eventually sat down on the bus that I realised, to my complete and utter horror, that I had spilled curry sauce all down my front!  Yes, there was a huge dribble of thick curry sauce on the front of my jacket!  I fumbled about in my handbag to find a tissue.  However, the stain was too big and engrained to remove with just a tissue.  Furthermore, as you can imagine, with it being curry sauce, I must have been rather pungeant on that bus journey home!  Very embarrassing. :S

3. What TV show would you like to be on- Oprah, Biggest Loser, or What Not to Wear?

 

I'd love to be a special guest on Oprah in the future, after becoming a best-selling author!  That would be pretty cool.  I'd love to meet her.  I suppose I'd better buckle down and get that award-winning novel written then!.... 

4. Would you ever get plastic surgery and what kind?

 

I'm not against plastic surgery, but I doubt I'd get anything done.  I'm too much of a wussy needle phobic to commit myself to that! 

5. What are your favorite jeans to wear?

  

Dark indigo bootleg jeans with a high waistband are the most flattering type of jeans for me to wear. 

 

I hate hipster jeans!  They are sooooo uncomfortable and sooooo unflattering.  Very few people suit hipsters, but still they are the most popular jeans out there.  Why oh why?!  They are fine for your size 0 teens and twenties, but for the average girl, who likes to eat, hipsters are very unforgiving.   Hipsters cause the hideous "muffin top" effect and the "Look I'm Wearing a Thong!" effect.  (Both NOT good looks at all!!)

 

 

*chippy – Fish and Chip Shop / Fast Food Takeaway Restaurant
*chips ‘n curry sauce – delicacy eaten in Scotland (usually to feed the false hunger experienced after copious amounts of alcohol) – french fries topped with a thick curry sauce.

I LOVE Fridays, because it is blog hopping time!  It’s time to find lots of interesting new blogs and lovely people to follow.  I also hope to gain lots of wonderful new followers too! 

 First, it’s time for Five Question Friday, courtesy of Mama M.

 

1. Have you ever had a celeb sighting?

 

Well, actually, I am fortunate enough to have seen a LOT of celebs up close, spoken to lots and had my picture taken with quite a few.

I used to work in Glasgow city centre and would often spy celebs (albeit most of them only famous in Scotland!) on  my lunch break (mostly journalists and TV presenters such as Bernard Ponsonby, Billy Sloan, Shereen Nanjiani, Carol Smillie).  The embarrassing thing was that I would recognise their faces and, thinking I knew them personally, I would smile and say “Hi!”, only to realise afterwards who they actually were!  LOL.  The most famous of these lunchbreak encounters was Billy Connolly and his wife Pamela Stephenson in M&S.

As a teenager, I met my heartthob Marti Pellow from Scots band Wet Wet Wet, which was absolutely thrilling!

However, in recent years, I have met lots of celebs through my Hubby.  My Hubby received many accolades for his bravery in the Glasgow Airport Terror Attack of 2007.  I had the pleasure of attending many star-studded award ceremonies with him, meeting and getting photographed with various celebrities.  We even got to meet the UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and HRH The Prince of Wales. 

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2. What temperature do you keep your house?

 I loathe being cold and like to keep my house quite toasty, which is not too difficult as I live in a new-build house with double glazing and plenty of insulation.  My thermostat is set to around 18.5C.

LOL  Not particularly!  (Unless it’s really fithy!) People are more likely to notice it in mine! *blush*  As a busy working  mum, I tend to only dust at the weekends, or if I’m expecting visitors, or if the sun is streaming in the windows, highlighting a particularly dusty area.  I tend only to notice dust in the homes of my family and friends who are particularly anal OTT obsessive about housework.  When I notice a little dust in an area they’ve missed, I smile smugly quietly to myself, safe in the knowledge that they are not quite as perfect as they would like to portray!  LOL  

When I was just 21 years old, I worked in a small, cramped office with a lot of smokers, and pretty quickly developed a rather nasty “smokers cough” and chest infection.  On listening to my chest, my GP could hardly believe that I was a non-smoker!  I used to go home every night with my hair and clothes stinking like an ashtray!  *yuk!*

The smoke problem was not the main reason I hated this job though!  My boss was an absolute nightmare!  She was very gruff, very bad-tempered and foul-mouthed, and down-right lazy!  She used to sit in the back office, doing her crossword, while my colleagues and I were rushed off our feet, and then had the bare-faced cheek to shout:

“Is somebody gonna make the tea?”

Her first words to me where not, “Hi!  Welcome to the team.  If you need me, just give me a shout.”  No, her first words were actually this:

“I hope yer gonna work yer days aff!”

No, it certainly was not my intention to work my days off, thank you very much!  However, that’s exactly what I ended up doing! 

Still, even my nightmare boss was not the worst aspect of the job.  The worst thing was that we took in a lot of money every day, and I could NOT trust my colleagues.  Money and stock was always going missing and my nightmare boss was forever asking us to cough up our share of any big shortfall!  One day several hundred pounds went missing from my float, and the police were called in.  It was awful!  After this particular incident I’d had enough, and asked to be transferred to another office.  A year or so later, two of my former colleagues and a delivery driver were sacked due to fraud and theft in separate incidents.  If I ever see those scumbags again I’ll not be responsible for my actions!  *grrrrrr*

I look forward to reading your answers…. 

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Well, I reckon their college/university fees/expenses will be funded by a combination of:

• Financial support from Hubby and I – We will help the girls out as much as we can by perhaps paying for their student accomodation and course materials.
• Student loans (or whatever scheme is available for them in the future) – I would hope hope that they will have access to student loans (or similar) to pay for the course fees.  I would not want them to use this money for any other purpose.
• Money from their own part-time work – This would pay for their food, clothes and social life.

The girls will also have access to their Child Trust Fund money, which they could use towards funding their college/university years.  However, I would prefer it if they kept this money for later years, e.g. to help them get on the property ladder. 

Yes, I was involved in a minor accident almost five years ago.  My husband was driving my car.  We’d had a lovely day out at a country park with the girls, who were just 11 months old at the time.  We were on our way into Tescos, and Hubby bashed into another car when entering the suprmarket car park.  Our car had been coming round a bend, and the other car came out of a Give Way junction in front of us.  I saw it all happening in slow motion!  It was weird.  I got such a fright because the girls were in the back of the car.  However, no one was hurt as we were only going at 5 or 10 MPH.  I’m afraid my car didn’t fare very well though – it was a total right-off!!

This is a killer question because I don’t simply have ONE favourite book. 

My most treasured, irreplaceable book would have to be a collection of Burns poetry, which my Dad gave to me as a child.  It’s an old book, full of the wonderful poetry of Scottish Bard Robert Burns.

Favourite books from my childhood include:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (My Roald Dahl)

James and the Giant Peach

Stig of the Dump

Carries War

Charlottes Web

Charlotte Sometimes

Favourite books in recent years include:

Diary of An Ordinary Woman

Kathy's Story

Olive Kitteridge

5. Do you make your bed everyday?

No, I’m afraid not!  As a very busy working mum, I tend to rush out the door every morning with all the beds unmade.  However, this might actually make our beds healthier than my houseproud counterparts. (Read this interesting BBC article if you don’t believe me!)  I do love my bed when my bed is made up properly though!  It looks so gorgeous with its beautiful bedding, matching throw and scatter cushions!

Apologies to anyone who stopped by yesterday when I was experiencing some technical difficulties on my site. I think (hope!!) these problems have now been resolved.

This is my second week on the Five Question Friday courtesy of Mama M. I thoroughly enjoyed taking part last week and, if you’ve never participated, I recommend you do! Not only is it fun, but you might also gain a few more followers and some “Comment Luv” in return.

Questions for Friday, March 5th: (Thanks to Courtney, Erin, Renee, Thorney London, and Sandy for their question suggestions!

1. What’s your guilty pleasure?

In my life B.C. (Before Children), I used to enjoy luxuriating in the bath with aromatherapy oils, candles and relaxing music.  However, in my life A.C. I seldom get to use the bath.  The bathroom is the kid’s domain, while Hubby and I have an Ensuite Shower Room.  I’m lucky if I get to soak in the bath more than twice a year now!  LOL

My guilty pleasure nowadays is an occasional lie in on the weekend, if Hubby is off work and feeling particularly generous!  LOL    I like to watch Saturday Kitchen or read the papers, with a cup of tea and some toast.  I’ll then head for the shower around 11 o’clock. 

2. What is your favorite TV series?

At the moment it is Lost.  However, I’m waaaaay behind, as I’ve just started watching Series Three on DVD.  I always knew I’d LOVE Lost, but unfortunately, it came first out when my twin girls were just babies and getting to watch just five minutes of uninterrupted TV was a rare luxury!  Therefore, I resigned myself to buying the boxset when it came out.  I did buy the box set, but only got round to watching it last year!  Once I started watching it, I was hooked. 

3. Can you speak any foreign languages?

Yes, I can speak French, which I studied to Higher level at school.  I can also speak a teenie tiny little bit of Spanish. 

4. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

Hmmmmm…  Let me see…. I think it’s about 18-20.  I LOVE shoes and, finances permitting, I would have a lot more.  A girl can NEVER have enough shoes!

5. What’s your favorite kind of M&M’s…peanut, almond, straight up regular, etc.?

I haven’t eaten M&Ms in years, but I only like the regular ones.  M&Ms bring back memories of my teenage years, when I used to have a paper round.  I normally had a packet of M&Ms or Skittles in my pocket to keep me going on my round! 

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