quicky:who is your favourite artist?

I love the work of Jane Ray
So unusual and colourful

totally awsome...stunning...amazing

what a show! From the moment we walked in we knew it was going to be good. The set was fantastic, there were tree roots growing out from the stage covering some of the ceiling and boxes right up to where we were sitting (on the front row of the 'grand circle' as Emma said anything with grand in it make you feel really posh!)

The stage revolved and as the play progressed different parts would move up and down creating different effects...really clever. The whole space was used as elves came down from the ceiling, orks were on these bouncy shoes and did acrobatic movements, ents were on huge stilts and the Dark Riders were on stilts as well and were so cleverly done. I wont tell you every thing as it would spoilt it if you wanted to go. I would highly recommend it...it was visually stunning and the story was cleverly told. The musical aspect was different from the usual musical numbers and was an enhancement woven through the story rather than part of the dialogue as in most musicals.

The restaurant was fantastic...quick delicious and so funky. I had Thai Green curry pizza which was so gorgeous. Definitely recommend the Fire and Stone too.......actually I noticed they are doing 'Show and Meal' deals for Lord of the Rings why not check it out!!!

sooo excited...

we are off to see Lord of the Rings musical in London tonight!! We have always said that if there was a musical of lotr we would go...the we saw the Times doing a special offer- 4 tickets for £99!! We have front row grand circle tickets and are going with Dan and Emma some really good friend of ours. I know it is going to be awesome.
We are going up early and having dinner at Fire and Stone.....as Emma said we have to go there as it is a really Gothic name for a restaurant!!
Must go and finish tidying up and think of what to wear!

Stripping back....

Well it was while i was taking the tiles off the floor that got me thinking......how beautiful things look when you start taking away all the rubbish and extra unnecessary parts. They have a simple uncomplicated beauty which is so attractive.

I would be quite happy sanding the floor and painting it white bc I love the way things look in their original state. (too late I had already bought the flooring, which will look good in a different way)

I started applying this to my daily life. What things can I strip back to make it more simple and uncomplicated. What are the things I want to keep and what things can I so without...good question.

I cram so many things into a day that it make my head spin and that is not good!!! So I have been trying to slow down thins week and think things though a bit more...trying to think about the repercussions of a given course of action on me and my family.....

On the whole apart from one or two days life has been much calmer! I did decide to do a detox of caffeine this week as well so I was quite grumpy at the beginning of the week which was probably not such good timing (much to Stephanie's amusement!) But I can say the I am feeling much better and less grumpy (what IS that coffee and tea doing to me :( ! )

So we will see....can I keep this uncomplicated life up...according to Colin No! but I will have a good try!!!!

Phoebe with her new haircut, no front teeth and new stripy legging under her skirt (latest fashion and oh so proud of them)

B2B

no! not back to basics.... back to blogging!!! Yey! I have sooo missed doing my blog but it was nealy impossible to do over the holidays...there was always someone on the computer or doing something they shouldn't be doing or wanting me to do something. Hectic and crazy!

So this is why I like today ....

*back to school for Jamie and Phoebe

* back to routine for everyone...(sigh of relief from Colin)

* back to the cleaning and washing (*sigh* from me...not that I have had a break from it over the summer but at least I can get some done!)

* back to cropping...yey! a crop this week Thursday night at Yateley Manor School 7:30

* back to normality!

* and most of all back to blogging!

I was going through my holiday photos and I loved this one taken at The Lookout in Bracknell on Bank Holiday Monday by Colin.

To me it shows how crazy my live is. Sometimes I feel as if I am on a roundabout spinning round and round without being able to get off but while I am spinning and in the middle of the chaos I can have fun with my children. I can offer them a fun packed full live, living it to the edge but with the security and support they need. That is what being a mum is to me.

desparate to post but...

so busy with bathroom. Every moment I can spare is spent ont the bathroom. We now have a nice shiney bath which I have re-enamelled and have plumbed in.

I tested its water-tightness today with the children, now I am going to test it myself...eeek slightly more water to cause complete flood if the seal on the waste pipe does not work. (it leaked once but I have changed a few pipes and put loads of sealent round the base so, so far there have been no leaks!)

Reading back on it, I have made it all sound so easy...not so LOTS of hard work ...total respect to plumbers!!!

Back soon.... will post pics of holiday in Devon and some gorgeous stash I got from America this week! Just too yum!

we're back!!!

actually we have been back for a week but I have not had time to blog...will explain later.

We had a lovely time. The sun was out all week and it was dry!! Yippee! The campsite Cottage Farm was lovely.... really clean and well kept but just the basics. It was small,l so the children could wander around and I would know where they were. This was the view from our tent 9taken by Ewan).....

We visited Buxton..had fun it the Pavillion Gardens...the children went paddling in the stream.

Chatsworth House Gardens were such fun...they have introduced a fun pack for the children to do which kept ours more than occupied. I got lost in the maze ...again!! (last time I could not work it out)

Other places we visited were Poole Cavern and Bakewell...mmm...lovely cakes!! While we were there Colin;s Dad introduced us to a cafe called Treeline. It was tucked away in a courtyard and was lovely. The best thing was the gallery...kept the children well under control!!! The was some stunning glass work which the link doesn't do justice to. I bought a small hanging with four hearts suspended in the glass.

Phoebe did a 3 hour walk with Kath (Colin's sister and myself) and it was not an easy walk. She did not complain once!!

Well when we got back it was straight back to work...I have been gutting our bathroom and then trying to put it back together! I know mad timing but our friends are away and we are using their bath and shower so it was now or never. If I keep to schedule then I should be taking the children away on Thursday to Mullacott Farm for some more camping...and Stephanie is joining us on Saturday which will be fun!