New Job

Today I got a new job - not as revolutionary as it might sound, just a little extra to supplement my mystery shopping money. I'm working for AQA (Any Question Answered) which is a text based service where people text in questions and the researchers answer them. I'm doing my training online tonight so I'm hoping that I will become a wealth of useless information and I can dazzle you with amazing facts!

Dave is away tonight for a men's night away with a group from our church. I think he was a bit reluctant to give up part of his weekend but he has a Bank Holiday on Monday to make up for it. There are off to Millisle which is only half an hour away so if he gets homesick he can come back for his lunch tomorrow!

Next weekend, our church is having a family day away to Dellamont park, just outside Killyleagh. Quite amazingly, it coincides with Harry and Peter and their familes coming down to stay at Dellamont for the weekend so it will be nice to catch up with them all next weekend. Actually, next weekend is turning out to be a bit hectic as Mum is coming up to stay the night before she goes on her cruise, it's Andrew school trip away and his taster session of his Primary 1 class, we're going to an Elton John concert, Andrew has a party to go to, and we have the trip to Dellamont. I'm not sure where I'm going to be able to fit my afternoon nap into all that :)

Thirty and feeling it

Well, we had a great weekend in Nice - beautiful weather, gorgeous food, long lie-ins. Unfortunatly, it all had to end with me turning 30 on Monday - bummer.

I've been feeling pretty ill this week so far - I think my body has realised that I am old now and has decided that carrying a baby and being 30 is not compatible. Consequently, I've been doing a good bit of throwing up and feeling sorry for myself. However, I do have my mummy up until tomorrow morning to take care of me. It's now 8pm which is about an hour after my usual bedtime so I'm off to catch up on my sleep. Sorry it wasn't too cheery a post today - things will get better.

Please remember little Maddie in your thoughts and prayers - this story is breaking my heart and I am so thankful that, by the grace of God, my children are safe.

Thursday again!

I can't believe it's a week since I was last on here - days fly by. I think Thursday will be my regular Blogging day from now on as I always seem to have a bit of time to kill between the kids going to bed and the house group starting.

Had a bit of a lazy weekend last weekend, just sorting out the house and wandering round Bangor picking up bits and pieces - it's great to have a weekend like that every now and again. On Monday, Dave ran 6 miles of the Belfast Marathon as part of a relay team from our church. It's a really great atmosphere watching it - Andrew, Rachael and I cheered from the sidelines!

The rest of this week I've been doing some mystery shopping, filling out my tax return, making my way through a barrel load of washing (not ironing - that's tomorrow's task - maybe!) and hanging out with the kiddies.

I went to mothers and toddlers this morning and a lady was asking me how I was doing. I said fine but just really tired. She was saying that with her third pregnancy, she was really tired too - so much so that she went to the doctor to see if she needed iron or something. Anyway, turns out the reason she was so tired was because she was having twins! I would not be laughing if that happened to me! In saying that, it would certainly solve the problem that Dave wants 4 kids and I'm insistant that this is the last!

Tomorrow night, Julie Anne and I are heading to see our lovely friends Rosie and Gail to catch up with all the craic - so lookng forward to a night off! Actually, it's my second night off this week as I was out bowling on Tuesday night with the English Corner group - I won, would you believe it! Not much else planned for the weekend, saving my energy for next weekend when Dave and I are off to Nice (France - not just a "nice" place!) to celebrate my 30th!

Oh - here's a cute picture of wee Rach that Andrew took- badly in need of a haircut.

Just waiting

I'm just waiting for the guys from our House Group to arrive and Dave to get back from Sheffield so I thought I'd kill some time and give you all an update.

Yesterday I took Andrew and his friend Anna to their swimming lesson. It's so good for him - as his water confidence was a bit low and this is improving it loads. Thankfully, Harry minded Rachael for me so I didn't have to keep three of them occupied (Thanks, Harry and Ashleigh) Actually, Julie Anne had Rachael all morning too so I had a real easy day yesterday.

Gorgeous day today - as it has been for ages. Andy was at school this morning so Rachael and I went to the Ark Farm with our mothers and toddlers group. The website isn't working at the moment but they are updating it and were taking pictures today so check it out sometime and Rach and I may be starring in it! This afternoon we just hung out in the garden until it got too hot and then Rachael and I had a wee doze on the sofa - Ooops! Still, I'm allowed, I'm growing another human being and it's hard work!

Tomorrow, I've got another few mystery shops to so. I'm trying to get a bit more "work from home" work because, as I'm registered self employed, if I can keep my earnings over £100 per month, I can claim Maternity Allowance for 9 months after the baby is born - that will be about £110 a week so it's worth putting the effort in now. Means I can't do any of my mystery shopping stuff during those nine months but I think I'll manage :)

Got some bread in the breadmaker just now. Have to confess, this is only the 3rd loaf I've made but I figure if I make it now, it will be cooled and ready to cut for toast in the morning. Every other time it's been too fresh and I've just been hacking big lumps out of it.

I think i better go a put the kettle on now coz my visitors are arriving. Hope you are all well. xx