30,000 Tweets....

Please note : Before you read this I need to let you know, I've called out a few people who follow me, just a few. I love all of you, please don't be too upset if I've not included you. The post would have been just too long otherwise :)**

I've reached a milestone of 30,000 tweets, not much for some, but a big figure for me. But what does that number actually represent?

I've been on Twitter since May 2008, but it took until I got my iPhone late 2009 before I really 'got into' Twitter. Before that, it was weekend and evening's only and then only when I thought about it.

If I'm being honest, back then, I used it more to figure out
a) where my boss at the time, @Breenster was, and more importantly
b) what sort of mood he was in before I asked a question !!??

People I mainly followed were work colleagues. I used to get a bit star struck when visiting another site and realising I was sat near to the great and good of twitterati company fame. I bumped into @peewii in a hotel corridor and realised who it was from her avatar. First and probably last time we met face to face!

It was a bit of fun, a novelty piece, like looking through a window onto someone else's view of life.

It changed for me though when I was told I might have uterine cancer, the treatment of which was a total hysterectomy. I started this blog and through Twitter I 'met' and made friends with people who helped me through it. For the four or five months I was ill and not as mobile as I would have liked, Twitter was there with a supportive tweet at silly o'clock in the morning and a virtual hug on the bad days. @cleanless @grealis and @alittlebit are just a couple of tweeters who come to mind.

Through Twitter I've learnt so much. The best iPad apps to use, the greatest sites for funny pictures, amazing people to follow, great tips on reducing clutter, recipes, new foods to try, inspirational quotes (the one on my header is from @inspirationguy)

I've watched programmes like The Apprentice, Britains Got Talent and The Voice, not to mention important sporting events like England matches or tennis, and feel like a bunch of friends are in the room with me. The observations make me laugh and I feel part of something bigger.

Three years ago, although alone on New Years Eve, as MrC underwent surgery, I wasn't lonely.

@peter_agambar had faith in my son from a speculative tweet last summer to give him a job, landscaping the garden (Bless him, he started on one of the hottest's days and got sun burnt. The second day it poured down and was soaked through to his skin!)

I'm now more in touch with what is going on in my local area from the guys I now follow (and keep planning on meeting up with one day!) and more upto date with what's going on in the world in general, thanks to the people who tweet links to important events (The London Riots, Gaza, Whitney's death, who won the Apprentice to name but a few)

I joined Slimming World last year and now have a support group of SW devotee's. Who needs to go to a meeting when these wonderful people are there for me at the touch of a button? Want to know the syn value of something or need talking out of eating that chocolate bar, turn to twitter. (@BeeBeeCavendish @Anjeebaby @Vicki_Harrop @fiannah@Sulalee1 and many many others) Want to plan your meals to help keep on track? Meal Planning Mondays from @madamding has hit the spot! 

Even some of the spam bots have made me smile! Hello 'marmite bot' and the 'spelling' bot is very useful too!

When @Churchyc4 moved to London she found the easiest way to keep in touch was through Twitter! (Does that make me sad!? Hey, it works for us) It was fun and we know what sort of day each other is having.

I've been introduced through friends and friends of friends to new blogs which have made me laugh, made me think, inspired and made me cry. I've read about birth, death and everything else in between.

I talk to people from the other side of the world, people I've never met, but feel connected to. (@JaneofAustralia is just one who springs to mind!)

Reasons to be Cheerful (#R2BC) from @michelletwinmum has enabled me to share my good days and brush over and forget about the worst of the bad ones.

My #tedthetumour this year has been interesting to say the least and new twitter friends have been there for me too. @woolhatwoman @MrsBorderreiver @laurenbigeejit @LizAnne_x @PhilippaDavey @SAHDandproud @TheBoyandMe @amumonamission @TheBoyandMe @Kateab @MammyWoo to name just a few.

@dorkymum wrote a post recently called Twitter is Like If you haven't read it, please do because it sums it up beautifully. I'm lucky to have that room in my house

The last six months have been hard, the hardest I've ever had to deal with. And I won't lie to you, when I say things are still difficult. However Twitter has helped me immensely. It's entertained, informed, supported, counselled and listened. It's made me realise there are always people worse off than yourself and be thankful for what you have.

That's where 30,000 tweets have gotten and given me. They represent friends and a supporting network and here's to the next 30,000

What does Twitter give or mean to you?

** Maybe if you weren't named this time, you'll be included in the 50,000 tweet posting!

Reasons to be Cheerful Week 15 #R2BC

Phew, got away with last week, hope everyone was ok with me hosting. We had a couple of first timers joining in too, so thank you to everyone who linked up. But I'm glad it's back in the hands of Michelle over at Mummy from the Heart. Mitch, I'm happy to see you back!

Onto my week and it's been a good one.

• I'm driving a little bit more now, just short journey's but makes me happy to be under my own steam!
  
• I've discovered Draw Something (I'm faycglass if anyone wants to play! And I may be addicted)
  
• I've also discovered Tweetbot (little bit in love with an app, if that's possible) and iPhoto ( why didn't I know about this app before now?)
  

The treadmill has been oiled, so it's not making creaky noises anymore. I've been walking without fear of a break down. If I'm being honest I did have images of it coming to an immediate stop mid stride and I'd have a comedy fall off the back, with legs going one way, head the other and knickers on show. Comedy for everyone I told, but my body is fed up with the onslaught (plus I'm running out of hash tag inspiration!!)

• Wound is all clear now, and no longer need to see the nurse! Yay!
  

I tweeted yesterday that I was going

out to somewhere which wasn't Tesco, the GP surgery or my parents house and I was so happy I was doing a happy dance.

( I also later said that what I really wanted to say was that I was so excited I might wee myself, but thought it was maybe a tweet too far)

I had a great lunch with my Mum and Amy's mother-in-law to be. Jane is a wonderful, energetic and friendly woman, who introduced us to the pleasure of Cowslip Workshops near Launceston, Cornwall. It's a working farm with the side business of quilting, the art of sewing two or more layers of fabric together.

There's a treasure trove of a shop (with amazing quilts and projects on show) which gave me lots of ideas and a wonderful cafe where we had lunch. I would recommend taking a visit if you are interested in quilting or want to buy one for a special occasion. The people working there are so friendly and helpful! I bought some wonderful buttons and some fabric squares for Mum to start her first proper quilt! We've also arranged to visit Jane next week for some lessons! Again, I'm excited and looking forward to it! ( wee may or not be involved )

I was however extremely tired at the end of what was a long day, and I'm okay with that. I've spoken to my Renal Nurse who agreed with what everyone else has been telling me ( I know, I'm a bit on the slow side sometimes ) , it's okay to be tired. I'm beginning to accept it was a major operation and not something I can bounce back from quickly. And that acceptance is a good feeling.

What has also been good is seeing people, who then say I'm looking really well (hopefully not in the 'you look well' you say to a friends who's put a bit of weight on!) Jane even apologised at one point as she'd forgotten I'd had major surgery only a month ago. That makes me feel good, I feel I am improving and long may it continue

So although I am very tired (sorry twitter, I'm missing you too) I'm doing stuff and it makes me happy.

 

 

 

 

Reasons to be Cheerful Week 14 #R2BC

It's that time to look back and celebrate the good stuff which happened this week and link up with Michelle at Mummy from the Heart.....uh, no, back up a bit. Gulp! ......it's my turn to host....noooooo, the pressure. Be kind to me guys! Michelle's on a well deserved break with the family for Easter, but will be back as usual next week.

This is week three post operation for me and I'm feeling good. I'm still not doing very much apart from sofa surfing and watching TV, but on the plus side I'm all caught up on my viewing and I'm now the newest fan of Homes under the Hammer. I've even gotten my Mum into it and she's series linked it!

Regular readers or twitter followers will know about the saga of #gammyfoot which has made another appearance. (if you have no idea about #gammyfoot and aren't too squeamish, click here for the lowdown) I personally think #gammyfoot was getting jealous of all the attention #tedthetumour and #brokenbum was getting and needed to get in on the act. However I'm pleased to report the foot is a lot better, so much so I can get back to walking.

Which leads my nicely onto the treadmill, which has come into its own again. I bought it last year to help recuperate from my hysterectomy as walking is good for the stomach muscles and builds stamina. I live on a steep hill which makes exercising from scratch hard work. Using it means I can go as far as I want without having to worry about the walk back too! Managed to get myself up to a steady 30 minutes (while watching Homes under the Hammer) before #gammyfoot made an appearance, but will be back at it very soon.

I did however get to go out and post a letter on Tuesday! A solo walk, up the dreaded hill and back, I was very proud of myself!

Found enough concentration to get back to my crocheting too! For some reason, I've not been able to hold a thought in my head for very long (writing posts has been a little bit of a love hate relationship) and flit from activity to activity. Crocheting took a proper back seat but tried again on Monday and haven't put it down much since.

Do you like my crocodile stitch scarf?

Wow! Looking back at this post, although I've not been out much, I've still got a lot to be cheerful about! It's true when you start listing things it makes you realise how lucky you are.

There you go, there's mine. I look forward to reading all of yours. Let's face it, I've got plenty of time and a sofa crease to work on. It's either that or I may have to resort to Jeremy Kyle.......... ??! So please give me some great posts to read and link yourself up below.

 

What's Oomph?

I tweeted earlier today

Has anyone got any 'oomph' they can send my way?

I think it must be in short supply today because I got no offers :(

So if I needed some, I was going to have to generate it myself. After getting sucked into watching Homes under the Hammer and supervising the delivery of the grocery shopping, I decided to take myself off for walk all the way to the postbox! @coffeecurls was asking for some recommendations for a different herbal tea to try and I offered to send some chocolate teabags to sample (I promise, its the future!)

Once I'd found an envelope and paper (I don't post much now!) and then negotiated with MrC about letting me out by myself (I had to promise to take my phone and text once I'd posted and was on my way back....bless) I was off on my first solo adventure post surgery.

It was fab, although climbing up the hill was a little daunting, but I was determined. There was a nice breeze, I could hear a windchimes' melodious tones mixing with the birds chirps and the seagulls cries. Neighbours gardens are blossoming with spring flowers and it was just nice to be out by myself with my own thoughts (and under my own steam!)

I was soon back, I think I was out for about 20 minutes, but I found my oomph. I'm going to look after it this time!

By the way, what's your definition of 'oomph'? I googled.....and was surprised! **blush**

For me, its an energy, a purpose, a lightening of spirit and looking forward, but how would you define oomph and what's your tips for finding it?

 

 

Email from my brother down under: why he has it harder than me

Not sure I sure if I should share this mail with you all, but what do you think?
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Hi Fay,

How are you holding up now you’re back at home? Hope you’re not chowing down on Salt and Vinegar flavoured crisp sandwiches now you’ve been cut off from dad’s cooking. Those things will kill you. What you need are Cheese and Onion flavoured crisp sandwiches. Wash it down with some Cherry Coke and you’ll be back on your feet in no time.

So the clocks go back here tonight which is bad. Not only does it mean winter is on its way but small children and animals don’t give a tinker’s cuss about what time the clock says. “I think you’ll find that the clock says you have to stay in bed another hour,” I’ll say to Eva when she spring launches herself out of bed tomorrow. “Okay daddy,” she’ll say, “I’ll go back to bed. Sweet dreams.” And then that nice little fantasy I was having about Eva actually doing what I say will be shattered by Eva in real life demanding her breakfast when the clocks clearly say it’s six in the effing a.m. on Sunday morning goddammit.

One good thing about the arrival of autumn is that we can finally burn out some bush/tree stumps in the garden. The local council put up this blanket ban on fires during summer because it might burn down some protected native areas wildlife or something. If you look around the place it’s mostly grass and cows so I don’t know what their problem is. Well, grass apart from the reserve up the road from us that is. But that’s uphill, everyone knows fires like to travel to the lowest geographical point on the map. Or is that water?

Anyway we get to burn out some stumps that Juliette cleared out over the summer. Juliette, a.k.a. Edward Scissor Hands, managed to clear a massive area of our garden which has made moving the grass easier and helped cut down on the mosquito retreat we seem to have going. Bottom line is that we’ve got a tonne of branches and two stumps to burn down. Of course we could spend two days digging and cutting out the roots to those stumps but you know, fire.

So this leads me nicely to why I have it harder than you with your cancer thing. Last year we bought as brazier to use one day as night time heating for the time when the kids finally grow up, clear off and leave us to sip wine and stargaze on the veranda till the small hours rather than what we do now which is watch An Idiot Abroad on the computer while clock watching for 9pm when we have to turn in to bed because no way either one of us getting a full night’s sleep. So, this brazier has sat all summer in the garage with a bunch of blackened sticks sticking out of it. This was from my first attempt to burn a load of the branches when E. S. Hands esquire cut down half of our garden. Green wood doesn’t burn too well and the evidence in the brazier backed this up.

So yesterday I dragged the brazier out onto the lawn and set fire to those sticks just to see if the wood had seasoned enough so that next weekend we could actually start a proper fire. Success! The brazier full of wood burned really well and the sticks burnt down to hot coals in about half an hour. The problem was the brazier was on the lawn which I was supposed to be cutting, so I checked how hot the coals were and moved it and the ash plate (which theoretically caught any embers dropping onto the floor) into the garage. The thing was just mildly warm so I knew it was safe. But then I thought what if Juliette and the kids get back and they open up the garage to get feed for the chickens and Sam toddles to the back and sticks his hands into the coals and gets burnt? No, that’s not going to happen, I’ll put some water on it. So I grabbed the half bottle of water I had in the garage from my camping trip a couple of weeks ago.

You see I always take water with me when I go camping and use any empty bottles to pee in because it’s a real pain to get up and go to the toilet in the night. Because tents aren’t sound proof and a continuous whizz into a bottle makes it obvious what I’m doing I’ve perfected a weeing action that actually makes it sound like I’m decanting port. True story.

Anyway I’d chucked the pee bottle when I unpacked the car two weeks before but had a half full bottle of water in the garage festering away. Brilliant! So I poured the water onto the warm coals, the thing spat for a bit but then went cold and safe. Oh no, that’s totally not what happened. What happened is that I poured half a bottle of piss onto some apparently really hot coals and turned my garage into a sauna. A wee stinking sauna that smelt of kidneys and piss that is.

Two weeks before I’d obviously thrown out half a bottle of spring water and kept hold of half a bottle of my urine. Brilliant. Great clouds of piss stinking steam bellowed up from the brazier and in less that thirty seconds my view of the exit quickly got obscured by the fog (bearing in mind this is a garage and the exit was big enough to drive a car through). It wasn’t fire, it wasn’t dangerous, it was just my own little stinking piss pea souper.

The whole garage stank like a public toilet and as I emerged into the fresh air trailing piss-steam like Doc Brown jumping out of a time travelling DeLorean I just dry retched onto the grass and cursed my own stupidity. I cut the grass for an hour, went back and it still smelt like I’d hosted The Homeless Person’s Public Toilet Contest 2012. I gave up and shifted the brazier up to one of the paddocks by the water pump. I’m hoping a dose of rain will clear it out. Did I mention the brazier can double as a barbeque? Mmmmmm.

That night we were sat down watching something and Juliette snuggled up, sniffed a bit, paused and said “Have you been … have you been smoking? What have you been doing in the garage?”, “Getting a Turkish bath in my own piss steam m’dear, tis all the rage.” I replied.

Yeah, I didn’t really. I just had to set fire to some rubber tyres in the garage to clear the smell out. She’ll totally freak when she finds out. Keep it a secret eh?

Love Mark xxx

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Of course I will, you lot won't breathe a word either......will you?

And as always, my dear dear brother........

1 year old

Well I may have missed the birthday by a day, but who cares? It's all relative. My blog is a year old!

I started it as a way to put some order into the chaos of my mind following the news of uterine cancer. Who knew that a year later it would be still helping me but through kidney cancer this time??

In the past year I've blogged about

Hysterectomy and subsequent all clear from that cancer

Many recipes have been written up, blogged and linked with Reluctant House Dad's Recipe Shed and Mrs M's Meal Planning Mondays.

Meal Planning Mondays has also turned into a place I celebrate/commiserate with weight loss or gain

I've lost nearly four stone and guest blogged over at Kate's Five F's Blog

I've linked up most weeks with Michelle's Mummy from the Heart Reasons to be Cheerful, and even guest hosted it once!

Discovered a tumour (which I called Ted) in my right kidney, which was removed on 14th of March

Emails from my brother have proved popular

Damaged my coccyx or what I call my #brokenbum

My daughter graduated, then moved to London for her first job

I've been happy, I've been p*ssed off, I've been all the emotions in between

My son celebrated reaching manhood, with his 18th birthday

I was at risk of redundancy and happily secured a job, which I've continued to enjoy

I've been sleepless and joined a gym!

Discovered a love (if not an aptitude) for photography, with pictures peppering posts

Visited the Eden Project for the first time and now can't keep away

Walked 13 miles for St Lukes and raised over £500

So 185 posts covering a multitude of emotions and events. I've learnt a lot about myself, shared a lot more and met some wonderful people along the way.

Wonder what the next year will hold?

Well if I've got anything to do with it weight loss will be in there, with some keep fit thrown in for good measure. I'll continue to fight cancer and sort my emotions out in writing. Celebrating my families successes and shouting from the roof tops how proud I am of them all will also feature! And I will carry on wrapping it all together with a smile, will to succeed and a positive attitude

So let's raise a glass to the next year and beating effing ted to a pulp! Who is with me?

 

 

Reasons to be Cheerful #R2BC Friday 22nd March

It's that time of the week to look back and celebrate the good things which have happened this week and link up with the wonderful Michelle at Mummy from the Heart. Go and take a look at her super doopa updated site by clicking here

It took me hours to write a progress post earlier today (RCS Syndrome) so I'm going to have to keep this one brief and to the point (famous last words!)

1. I'm out of hospital and recuperating at my Mum & Dad's
   
2. Dad is feeding me really well with some amazing meals
3. Mum has made sure I haven't had to lift a finger (which is good, because I literally can't)
4. Surgical clips are due out tomorrow
5. I can now sleep in 3 positions!
6. I walked today (2 minutes there and back!)
7. I did it twice!
8. My daughter is coming home for a week on Sunday to look after me
9. My son has stepped up to the plate and has really looked after his Dad (normally my job!)
10. I'm hoping to get back to my home at the weekend, yay!

Roll on next week when I'm sure the pain will have lessened!

Reasons to be Cheerful Week 6 #R2BC

I can sense a theme here, another extremely late posting again to join with Michelle of Mummy from the Heart but anyone who knows or follows will forgive me. I hope dear reader you do too!

I have had to really dig deep to write the post and keep my integrity. I've got an agreement to never misrepresent myself and have had to really pull myself up and out of a spiral to eventual emotional meltdown. 2012 is turning out to be very challenging.

Some great things have happened this week.

- I attended a brilliant course for work, which I'll talk about another time, but I know will change things for me
- Realisation of what a wonderfully supportive bunch of people I've the pleasure of working with.
- Total strangers sometimes offer the most supportive shoulders to cry on, literally
- I got to spend some time laughing with my daughter when I visited on Thursday
- I also spent a few hours with my sister (long car journey and several hours sat in a waiting room)

However these 'highlights' of my week have come at a high price as #Ted the Tumour is now real. The consultant on Friday confirmed there is a 90% chance its cancerous. My positive outlook has taken a big bashing. In fact it feels like I've not only been hit over the head with a dustbin, but trampled by a herd of elephants afterwards too!

There are a lot of people out there rooting for me, MrC and my kids, my family, friends, Twitter and Facebook people, blog readers and so on.

So I stand by what I said last week, I am lucky. Not only that it was found, but also because of the support I will continue to get, as I fight

And I may also be one of the 10%

Reasons to be Cheerful Week 3 #R2BC

Better late than never as I always say! It's that time of the week (well 3 days late!) to look back and record the great things which have happened. Don't forget to check back at Michelle's site, Mummy from the Heart to see other people's reasons.

Without further ado......

Work is extremely busy (one reason for the late post) because I was out of the office for three days on a course. However I am now a proud owner of a first aid at work certificate. This isn't the certificate, that will be coming in the post and I've managed to lose the badge already (!!!?) but hey ho.


I also only managed to kill the instructor twice (I didn't know you should not lay people flat who were having heart attacks or strokes!! But I do now!) 


Is it wrong I am almost waiting for someone to ill so I can practise??


I have also managed to lose another pound in weight, which takes the total this year to 13. Another 2 and I will have lost my Christmas weight, which means I only (only....!?) have 3 stones to lose this year to reach my target. But more of that I'm sure as the year progresses.


I've also taken delivery of this!

My coccyx cushion! So my #brokenbum is a lot more comfortable at work! 

And talking about work, my last reason to be cheerful was following an email exchange, from a manager who I have never met, saying he enjoyed reading my blog. What more could a girl ask for! I'm famous! Or is that infamous.......

Anyway, don't forget to check out Michelle's Reasons to be Cheerful and why not join in too! I promise, it will make you feel better as there is always something which has lightened the week, no matter how dark it feels

Reasons to be Cheerful Week 1 #R2BC

Happy New Year! There has got to be date when you don't say that to anyone anymore, do you know when that is??

I love this meme, I have no idea why I fell by the wayside in December, but here I am back, all shiny and new. And that is how I feel about this time of year. I used to find the New Year, the celebration itself very depressing. I felt there was a lot of pressure to have a good time, meet with friends and celebrate the start of the new year. But as soon as I realised, I was the one putting the pressure onto myself, the holidays became mine again. Something to enjoy and savour my way. So I spent it with MrC, quietly at home but looking forward, in both senses of the word, to the new year.

So onto my reasons this week!

I'm back onto the healthy eating plan this week (another thing which fell my the wayside) Weighed in today and have lost a brilliant 9.5 lbs!!! So pleased with myself. I know next week it will be a more modest loss, but what a great way to start back??

My kids are great at the moment. Spent time with Amy over Christmas, I'm pleased to see how happy she is and how she's coping with everything London life is throwing at her. James is knuckling down and working for his exams. He's playing hard too! But hey, you are only young once.

Am crocheting more and enjoying the results! Not only do I (hopefully) get a lovely scarf or hat at the end of it, it stops me eating! You can't crochet and eat at the same time, FACT! I'm not one to follow a pattern, find them hard to understand, but with perseverance, I am getting there. Here is my latest project, a ruffle scarf. We won't mention it looks a bit like a High Court Judge's wig!!!

I'm back at the gym, following the gammy foot episode and have decided to train for the 26 mile St Luke's Hospice Midnight Walk. I've managed the 13 miles a couple of times now, but decided the extra challenge (26 miles!! Am I mad???!) will spur me on and help with the losing weight

Don't forget to get yourself over to Michelle at Mummy from the Heart to read the other R2BC

All in all, I am a very happy bunny, long may it continue. But then if I have anything to do with it, it will. I am choosing my attitude and today's is happy and optimistic

Reasons to be Cheerful #R2BC

I know I am very late with this post, but I'd had a 'bad' week and couldn't, in good conscious, write when I really didn't feel cheerful at all! 
But onwards and upwards
I am feeling back to my normal self after my melt down on Thursday. I always try and look on the bright side of things, so when I can't, it really knocks me for six. So I'm back on an even keel again now, lot more myself!

Not my bedroom, but wish it was!

The painkillers are working brilliantly, the only side effect is they make me sleepy, but as I like my bed.........







I've only got one more week at work before I finish for Christmas. Can't believe I have two and half weeks off! Not going to know what to do with myself! 
And to sign off and in the hope MrC reads my blog, I've found something I'd like for Christmas. What do you think my chances are of finding it in my stocking on Christmas day?? 

http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/mugs/eabe/

Random stuff which makes me happy (part 2)

I was inspired to write 'part 1' in the summer by @ImSoBlogin and her post and as I have a tendancy to let my mind wander (especially when I have a lot to do, busy at work and tight deadlines!) it wandered back to that part of my brain and decided to compile a new list

So here is my happy list part 2

Wrapping up warm in my Slanket in front of the telly
A delicious casserole, especially from the slow cooker!
The colour of the leaves
Blue skies, enjoying them while I can
The slight bite in the air of the promised cold weather
Watching Fritz run around the house in unabashed joy and excitement, barking like a loon when I get home from work
Walking through fallen leaves and kicking them up like I'm seven again
Writing to do lists
Making winter vegetable soups
Listening to the sound of rain on my bedroom window at night
Comments left on my blog
Twitter
5p off fuel voucher
Dumplings
Crossing stuff off my to do list
Christmas anticipation
Big mug of tea and a biscuit
Going to the gym
A big hug
A completed to do list
Adele albums

So, over to you! What makes you happy? Let me know by leaving a comment or maybe blogging and linking back to mine, whatever makes you happy!

Reasons to be Cheerful #R2BC

It's Friday, so its Reasons to be Cheerful! A brilliant way to reflect back on your week and celebrate all things which are bright and beautiful
Bod for Tea is hosting this week, so get yourself over there to check it out! 
I'm going to do my usual and just blast it down on paper, find its better if I don't over analyse it! Just go with the flow!
1 Tuesday, my brain was saying 'eat chips' but my will power moved my hands to make a sensible choice. Had prawn salad and a melon pot instead! Was so proud of myself! One of the first times I have actually fought and won. Very happy! (we won't mention the chocolate bar I had on the way home, the point is I won at lunch time)
2 Amy called today and the permanent contract has been granted. She took a gamble and moved to London for a zero rated hours job. You are only young once and able to take a chance like that, and it paid off. Very proud and happy Mum. She blogs too!
3 Spent the evening with a work colleague who I knew vaguely many years ago, but are now in the same team. Spent a wonderful evening, chatting and gassing, felt like we'd been working together for years. 
Thank you Mark, I had a great time....and of course I will look after your admin requirements!
4 I'm seeing Amy on Sunday, business trip on Monday means we can spend some time together, putting the world to rights! 
5 My bargain cardigan made me very happy. It was £30 until I went to the check-out and realised it was only £10. Result! Not only that, I went back to buy a pair of trousers, but had to take them back; they were too big in the waist! Wa Hey! Brilliant feeling.
So all in all, a great week, roll on the next! And one question for you....what's the best bargain you've every nabbed?

Boring but true

I've been tagged for this post by @kateab over from The Five F's blog and I can't complain, because I volunteered, I'm a sucker for a meme. Reading through Katie's she says

All you have to do is answer the 10 questions, tag a few people, then return to the original post and comment so that the tagger knows you have completed your mission.

On I go!


Describe yourself in seven words
Optimistic, Nice, Friendly, Loyal, Approachable, Trustworthy, Bossy!


What keeps you up at night?
That's a leading question, do I go serious or light hearted? Lets see where just going with my gut answer takes me.


If I'm feeling particularly stressed all sorts of weird and wonderful minuscule details flow into my brain unbidden. When I say minuscule, I mean stuff which doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things like, 'did I turn the dishwasher on' or 'wonder what so and so had for their tea tonight and 'what am I going to have for my tea tomorrow' 


I'm of the glass half full school and think what's the point of worrying about the things you can't change or have influence over. But stress does things to a person and you end up acting in ways you don't like. So my answer has got to be all sorts of shit I shouldn't be worry about at 4 in the morning.


Who would I like to be?
I like me, I like who I am. I don't want to be anyone else


What are you wearing now?
Black trousers, black long sleeved t-shirt, sleeveless long black cardigan, blue chunky necklace and pink socks with dogs on them (I couldn't find my sensible socks this morning!) pink fluffy slippers (its cold!) What does this say about me I wonder?


What scares me?
The dark, and lack of control


What is the best and worst things of blogging?
I started this blog when I was diagnosed with cancer and used it through the hysterectomy to get my feelings and thoughts into a semblance of order. The best thing about blogging is sharing how I feel about things which are bothering me and getting support from virtual friends.


I have to be totally honest about my feelings, or else what would be the point. Which leads onto the worst things about blogging. Sometimes what I write will be read by my family and I don't always think about the impact on them. I have never written anything I wouldn't say to my family and it's never anything detrimental or private about them. But sharing your feelings will affect your family, especially if they didn't know you felt that way.


For example I recently wrote 'What I saw and Heard' and my sister rang me a couple of days after posting concerned about me. I was fine, I'd written it out, sorted things in my head and felt better but I had caused her to be worried about me, and I don't like that. 


What was the last website you looked at?
It would be thesaurus.com, it helps me when I'm blogging and stuck on a word! Boring, but true.


If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
I'd like to change my size, which technically I am doing (4 stone so far) but if I got a wish that would be it, because it would be instant with no hard work! Mind you, was it once said if something is worth having, its worth working for? If it's not been said, I am having that quote!


Slankets, yes or no?
Oh my god, yes! 


Tell us something about the person who tagged you.
I've never 'physically' met @kateab, however we 'virtually' met through twitter. Her blog is brilliant, with for me the right mix of reviews, thoughts and what I call on mine general ramblings. She isn't afraid to say what she thinks and doesn't go with what everyone else thinks or does. I like that. A lot.


Now onward to tag a few people. These guys didn't run away fast enough and I caught them! 


@Littlelightwork because he is a new follower and his blog fascinates me!
@breenster because I don't think he will, but would love it if he would
@amumonamission because she volunteered! (love you!)
@comedinewithrach  because I like her tweets!
@ovenuovenvalet because she is a wonderful person and says yes to most things
@daveboyfry because I asked him!

Websites I Visit The Most

The wonderful @TheBoyAndMe tagged me in this meme which was originally started by Mummy Musings. I love these type of meme's, because they are easy! How difficult can it be to talk about yourself? And, come on, lets be honest we all love to have a blog discussion with I in the title!

I was going to be all scientific (the Virgo in me) and check my Internet history, but realised because I browse on so many different devices (MrC's computer, my iPad and iPhone and work laptop) plus just upgraded to iPad 2, it was going to be very difficult! So decided to just go with my gut.

- Twitter http://www.twitter.com/
I am addicted to it, I miss it when I don't get chance to take a peek through the day and add my tuppence ha'penny to the stream. It makes me laugh, it makes me cry, I find stuff out, it intrigues and entertains me. I've made new friends and connections, it inspires and keeps me going on the bad days. I'm @FayC if you want to follow!

- Gmail or Googlemail
When I got my iPhone, I decided to change my e-mail and gmail seemed to be the easiest one to get up and running. I check it most days and it keeps me up to date with blogs, twitter mentions and DM's, blogs I subscribe to. Not to mention the offers of two for one pizza's!

- IMDB http://www.imdb.com/
Been using this site for film information for what seems forever. If I'm watching a TV programme or film and the name of the actor is on the tip of my tongue or I think I've seen him/her in something else, this site is my go to. I can rarely get through a film without checking it out for something!

You can search by actor, film or TV programme, character name, director etc. Everything is crossed referenced, can see what else the actor's been in, their biography, trivia etc. Also has reviews of the films and where they were on location. You can see where I am going with this, keeps me amused for hours!

- Thesaurus.com
I use e-mail a lot at work, I write a lot of stuff for various things, plus I enjoy blogging. At times I get stuck for a word, or have used it too often in a paragraph and need a substitute. There aren't that many people physically sat in my work office and MrC sometimes just wants some peace and quiet. So instead of bouncing my word dilemma around them, I use the site. It really does work, giving me alternatives, but often it also helps me use words in a different way. Plus there's a handy tab at the top which takes you to it's sister site, Dictionary.com! 

- Google
I know there are lots of different search engines out there, but this is my search engine of choice. I find it easy to use and I use it ....a lot! If I hear or read something and it piques my interest, I'm off learning a bit more about it. This leads me off to read articles on other subjects. It's just so effortless to get lost in the subject, clicking links, reading and learning, absorbing information, sifting through and deciding if I believe it or if it fits in with my belief systems. There is a lot of crap on the Internet, but its fun when you find the good stuff too!

So that's my list of five, just realised they are linked with a common theme, finding out information. Now what does that say about me!

If you want to be tagged, let me know and I'll add you on. And I apologise now for people on my list below, I've added without asking, feel free to ignore/delete if you wish, I won't be offended!

@relunctanthousedad

@michelletwinmum

@madamding

@no_chocs

@ImSoBloginThis