Christmas - been and gone!!!! 27Dec2006

Well, I can't believe how quick that came and went.... I think my Christmas started with a lovely visit from Libby, Mark and Tori on the 16th December- with a surprise appearance from Kathryn - I had no idea she was joining us, but it was so lovely to see them all. I think we ate half of Iceland (the store, not the country!!) I was out on the town that night with my team from work - so Libby went on to visit some more peeps they know in the area.
I had a great night out, however I would have to say that I am glad the company had paid for it as it was an awful lot of money for a meal that was not really what it had promised to be. The soup was amazing - mushroom and parsnip , strange combination, but scrummy - and the rest was really not worth mentioning. (Actually - Libby, the chutney they served with my cheese and biccys was ok - not as good as your autumn chutney though)
So, Jay and I finished work on Thursday afternoon, flew round the shops to make sure we had food to come back to and then went to the library to rent some "books on CD" for our journey up north. You may remember the fog was atrocious and we find this a good way to travel, if you have any hold-ups you are generally well entertained if you have chosen well!!
Having been prepared, the journey was fairly uneventful - the fog round the Heathrow area was dense - but it was actually worse in the midlands - we managed it in approx. 5 1/2 hours with a stop.
Well - news of the lovely Madison - she is still beautiful and although she was only 3 weeks old she is trying desparately to smile believe it or not will make noises when you talk to her!!
Zoe seems to be coping well - poor Andy being in retail has been working all hours on the lead up to Christmas - up to 14 hour days, I dont know how these companies get away with it. I asked him if he had to do the long hours - and cutting a long story short, he would not be included in the store bonus scheme if he didnt do what they asked. Sounds like the arm is firmly up the back there!!
Amy is also working extra hours, for those who dont know her she is qualified in all things horsey (BHS exams) but has recently moved to an office job with MBNA, and is trying to be able to afford life in general - horses are an expensive hobby, and stabling costs along with everything else does not come cheap. She has a lovely 16hh dark bay mare called Babe, who she has promised to love and care for for ever - hence her show name Promise Kept.
Danielle, Jay and I spent a very quiet Christmas Day - we have a lovely cooked brekky, and dinner at 4.15 (on the button - as planned - no delays - amazing!!!!!) and then spent Boxing day with his Mum and Dad and Emily (Jays daughter), that was really lovely, we all ate far to much, but it was a lovely day - we played Upwords - like a sort of Scrabble - I won!!!!! (there you go Mum the grammar school education paid off at long last!!!!!)
Well - enough of my rambling - I wish you all a very Happy New Year - keep safe.

Caro xx

A hectic week..........14Dec2006

Well - its been one of those weeks - we were so busy over the weekend, both Jay and I worked on Saturday - I finished at 1pm, and Danielle and I went Christmas tree shopping!!! I am a die hard fan of real Christmas trees and can be very fussy regarding shape height and the like. I choose the 2nd one I picked up!!!! Its a Christmas miracle............ Usually I wouldn't bring it into the house so early - but Libby, Mark and Tori are visiting this weekend and I would like some air of festivity about the house!!

This is a good 2ft shorter than the size I would normally squeeze in, but I loved the shape so much I went for it!

At this point I would like to say it was all going swimmingly - there are 3 feline prowlers however that are interfering with decorations and water levels - namely........

Garfield - Mr "butter wouldn't melt in my mouth" - caught red pawed with a soft teddy angel bear in his mouth, surrounded by gold tinsel.............
Roxie - Miss " honest mum the bauble I was chasing had mysteriously fallen from the branch on its own"

and Fliss - who couldnt possibly drink water from any other source than the Christmas tree base - how does she cope the rest of the year?

Charlie - the elder statesman - can't really be bothered - he is a wise 7 years old and has been there, done it, and cannot remember what the fuss is all about.

Well just a short entry for today - I am on 1-8's this week - so being in the centre of Tunbridge Wells I have to leave about 2 hours before my shift as the christmas shoppers invade every car park around .

See you all soon....Caro xx

One proud mum............... 05Dec2006

Hi All - I know my big blister (libby) will have passed on the good news - but I have the photos.........
After a four hour dash up the motorway thru winds and rain - ~I arrived at the hospital with a few hours to spare - at 5.34 Friday 1st December 2006 Madison Louise came into the world - after a very short labour and on only gas and air - a very shell shocked partner Andrew, a proud Mum and a fantastic midwife with armour plated skin to defend her from the expletives (where do they learn those words.........) baby came kicking and bawling into the world - and very quickly started rooting and found a thumb!!! - just like her mum!!!!

This is Madison - minutes old having been disentangled from her umbilical cord - wrapped neatly once around her neck - giving me enough time to sprint down the corridor to get the camera from a very patient Danielle who was in the waiting room.Meet Zoe and Andy - I must say both Andy and Madison have got a bit more colour...........Madison and Pooh Bear - how plumptious and gorgeous is she?This is quite a line up.... from the back - Me!! Zoe, Nana (mine and Libbys mum) and Madison, quite something to have a photo with four generations!

Who's a proud Nanny then?

We will be visiting all up north just before Christmas so will have more photos then, I am going back to work for a rest now!!!!!!!!!!

Catch up soon - Caro xxxxx