The cruise is booked.

Yay, we're going on a carribean cruise on Dec 10th. I'm so excited. The cruise is advertised as being for people who don't 'do' cruises. Hubby and I have knicknamed it Butlins on a boat!
http://www.oceanvillageholidays.co.uk/email/website/landing/google/Oceanvillagetwo.htm?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=lpovtwo&utm_term=ocean%20village%202&utm_campaign=Brand%2BTerms
Of course me being me I've already started worrying, about how will the children cope with the long flight to meet the boat and the time difference, can I get them both out of bedtime pullups before we go, what if we get food poisoning blah blah etc?
Hubby and I haven't had proper foreign holiday since our honeymoon, we've just had weekends away together. Our children have never been abroad ever! We love our caravan hols but I think it pales into insignificance compared to a cruise.

Getting fit, loosing weight and fighting the ageing process.

So it's not easy fitting in trips to the gym, diet club meetings and reading labels on all food and drink purchases with a house to run, three children, a husband, a dog, a cat, a hamster and four German students in the house but I'm giving it my best shot.
I haven't got a problem with having periods in my life of being overweight and fit, after all I can diet and work out BUT what's all this with the wrinkles and pigmentation? I hate it. I don't want to be showing my age so much on my face. Because inside I'm still about 19 (mentally I'm still 5!). I have never used commercial face creams etc and only used to wear make up for special occasions until now. I can't the way commercials try to convince me that their latest creams and potions that contain all sorts of bizarre and alarming ingredients will just halt the ageing process but actually reverse it. Poppycock! We all know it and yet still we spend loads trying all the latest stuff and ignoring the ingredients list because we cant stand waking up looking like our mums. I simply have to wear make up most days now to hide a multitude of age revealing lines and blemishes.
And why oh why can't I find reasonably priced natural facial products and make up (credit crunch and all that) I used to use virgin organic coconut on my face overnight and in my hair weekly to condition but at £14.99 a tub I just can't justify it. And most of the natural make up I've tried is pricey and not even very good.
I wish I could accept the wrinkles and furrows but when I have to see them in the mirror every day it's pretty hard.
So I'll carry on working out at the gym and counting weight watchers points and hopefully the results will be seen in a few weeks but with regard to my face......
....is botox cheating?

Busy busy busy

Oh Help! I have 5 students at the moment, I had 6 but 1 went home at the weekend. I am chained to the house by a mammoth amount of domestic drudgery and I hate it. The students are lovely, the sheer amount of work involved in running a mini hotel is NOT. All students are full board so at approxiamately 10 pm every night I am to be found making up lunch boxes for the next day and trying or should I failing to resist the temptation of snacking as I go.
This is an example of my life at the moment. I'm up at 7am to start the breakfasts. Then the table is cleared and set up for evening meal. The house needs hoovering every other day, the kitchen bin has to be emptied daily, I have to do 3 loads of laundry a day, the dishwasherhas to be loaded and emptied twice a day, beds have to be changed weekly, bathrooms loos etc need to be cleaned daily, bathroom bins have to be emptied daily as there as so many teenage girls in the house removing tons of makeup with face wipes etc. I have 11 dinners to do and 9 lunchboxes everyday which includes my own family as all students are full board. And of course on top of that I still have to run around after the littlies, do the school run, ballet lessons, french club and swimming.
Thankfullyit'll all be over by 12th August and we will have the house back to ourselves and I can enjoy the last few weeks of the summer hols with my little ones.

Seedlings

Today the little ones and I planted our first veg seeds of the year.
So far we've planted tomatoes, carrots, celery, peas and salad leaves. I've also bought a mushroom gowing kit which is now safely tucked away in the airing cupboard (I just have to remember to keep it moist!)
I can't wait to see and of course eat the end results. That's assuming anything grows and that it doesn't all die of neglect and mismanagment!

I have a friend with three young children who puts me to shame by growing loads of the families fruit and veg in their lovely little garden. I never know how she does it as she's so busy but she really manages to make it look so easy.

Trip to Valencia

Yes, yes I know it's not eco friendly but hubby and I were invited on an all expenses paid weekend to Valencia. Strictly speaking it was a business trip and hubby had to attend a seminar and talk 'shop' all weekend. But it was still a fab weekend with fine wine and gourmet food and great company.

I have tried to assuage my guilt by telling myself that we don't have annual holiday abroad and my kids have never flown before. I could do a 'Sienna' and say I'll have less baths!!!!

View from our hotel.