Jun 30

It’s the first time I havent spent the day with my fella on his birthday.. It feels very strange. He wont open his cards or gifts until he gets back Friday, But i hope today manages to bring him some smiles even though he has to work..  Happy Birthday Steve!

He said hes holding the picture of what we did last year in his head today so hopefully will be able to add to that when he gets home.

We are going out Saturday to see our friends which we are both really looking forward to and Sunday im taking him out for a meal. Hes been waiting for a restuarant to open here, which has its grand opening this weekend..So its perfect timing ..

Today i need to walk miles to go pick up some sausages my grandad got the kids so im gonna grab a shower before i start, Ive already done the packing and emails so am ahead of myself this morning, it was too hot to sleep anyway so i got up at stupid 0 clock as usual.

Ive got the size converter working in my old site  now so am trying to figure this out later and see if i can mend it in the new site, im halfway through taking it out of the templates and prefer them with it in.. Its because the new site automatically caches that it doesnt work in there so i need to sort one out that will work with my new system.. its so boring doing the same thing over and over, I do a bit on one site then move onto the next, but its getting done slowly. Im getting my eldest working with me tonight and getting him on the directory.. I can see now exactly why my fella works nights! theres always a list that never gets finished and  just grows..and this type of work you cannot do when you have kids buzzing around you..

The Royal Norfolk Show is starting today which so many of my friends from the stables are competing in, so ill be catching up on what the day has held in store for them throughout the equestrian events and posting it.. I hope next year me and Mandy will have our own horse to share so we can join them there.. Id love that.. My goal is to get up to her level so we can buy a horse between us that is suitable for us to share..I loved the dressage competition last year and intend on doing a lot more of that as well as jumping…

My legs this morning are a nice shade of black and blue from riding, I dont think its riding Kenny that did this its more like saturdays awakening on the bigger horse, im walking like John Wayne today with hips that ache on top from belly dancing.. 

Perhaps that walk is a positive move this morning..lol

written by Joanne \\ tags: ,

Jun 29

Last nights lesson went really well, Talk about hot though.. it was sweltering in there on that horse..

Phil put me back on Kenny again, the small horse. Mandy cannot understand why either, when i went in he said he was giving me a huge horse tonight and had told Kevin but as Wendy beat him to it Saturday he changed his mind…lol I think he was a little put out.. I didn’t actually mind though, it gave my legs an easier night as we were having a jumping class.

The pace on these small horses feels so much faster, I love the speed side of it as it gets the adrenaline pumping but i have to make sure i don’t lean too far forward when i jump, or I’m gonna come unstuck!

Thankfully it went well last night so I’m gonna ask him now to put them up, its not about the heights i was worried, i just knew i wasn’t taking them right.. Now I’m ready to tackle the higher ones.

Ive worked out that i cant take the higher jumps in trot, whoever I’m riding needs to be in canter. its when you take the jumps too slow they end up stopping and lunging at them, its then you get unseated.. posh word for falling off the bugger.

In the class after us (the more advanced group i asked to be taken out of) one of my friends came off twice last night!  I’m not scared off falling anymore which is good I think you have to come to terms with the shake up of a fall and not worry about falling anymore.. I cant believe I’m actually feeling like this again.. The enjoyment is back without that feeling of I’m crap.. Ive arranged for an hours class on purely jumping on Saturday so I’m gonna be sore afterwards.. If i can jump big poles on little horses it will make me a better rider.. they are harder to ride as everything’s so much quicker and more energetic.. Perhaps its not so bad being small after all..

Me and Mandy are gonna set a scene for next weeks class though.. and ill make sure i get it down on camera! I’m cutting conicals out of my back protector where my boobs are and customising it.. They are not made if you have a bust and do hamper riding, so Ive read up the health and safety page and have decided I’m doing this as there’s nothing to say i cant… so don’t tell Phil! we will just surprise him with that one in the lesson.. we don’t stop laughing now, so it will add another giggle as well as help me breathe…

Its belly dancing tonight with Stelli .. I’m really looking forward to it. Ive pulled out the gear i used to wear but hid up as i felt i couldn’t wear it how i was feeling, left behind the bad stuff that’s happened and I’m going to enjoy every moment tonight…

Meanwhile today i have a house that resembles a bomb site, orders to pack and 2 websites I’m trying to go through tweaking.. the size conversion chart wont work in one so I’m taking it out and building a new one.. Ive also  designed a new look for this one and the new clothing site.. so ill test my skills on this one next week and see what damage i can do…lol

My fellas birthday is Thursday, hes gone away to work all week again and not even taken his card! hes still not said what he wants to do at the weekend so I’m playing it by ear.. Hes not staying in for his birthday that’s for sure, i did on mine as we had too much work on and i wasn’t well, but there’s no excuse for him. Hes doing so well all week, and helping me at weekends to learn what he does.. This weekend we are taking off though, its a year everything’s changed and we have much to celebrate in all areas….

written by Joanne

Feb 15

Ive woke up in a very unsettled manner today, i feel empty, frustrated and dont know how to get shot of the feeling, ive ran myself a bath but cant find the motivation to get in.. what the hells the matter? why do i feel like this?
I went out riding last night with Wendy and came home really happy, it went well, i rode well so i was hoping it would help with the week, trouble is the weeks still infront of me and im feeling a bit dead inside, one of those days where you have lists of things that need doing, but as this lot dont give a shit anyway or notice, im kinda trying to stop myself from repeating the same things as i did yesterday,the socks will be all the over the floor again tomorrow even if i do pick them up, why did noone ever warn you moterhood makes you feel as crap as it does good.. yes you love them, but its also very frustrating as its like 5 against one here…. well thats how it feels.

Well im not coping very well with it this morning my heads like a washing machine on spin cycle.

Its a day where i want to be near noone, yet need to go somewhere..

my usual sense of direction in a vehicle has found its way into my life.. i feel pretty lost today….

My daughter is crazing me to paint her room, my fella cant find the time to take down the castle, i cant find any kind of patience today and dont honestly want to be here…. not a good day!

I hate feeling like this, its not often, so somehow ill get through today..

I think ill start with going for a walk……..

written by Joanne \\ tags: , ,

Feb 05

The weekends gone so quickly.

Riding went much better, Phil gave me an in between horse, hes not small but not huge either, my bum actually fitted his saddle without hurting for a change so it went pretty well. when i got there he had taken the stirups off the horse, try getting on one of those without them.. i sprung up and over the over side!

He is good and know what hes doing with me, by the end of the lesson he had me cantering round without stirups, and using a whip (even if it was just twice) but feeling much more confident in myself as the horse was doing what i wanted him to.. its like he says, if you get on that horse the first 20 seconds dictates how the horse will act, i did what i was told and hes shown me that his way does work, so even though im not so keen on whips, ill use it if i have to and mean that, hopefully cutting out all this crap im giving myself, by trying to do it my way.. being stubborn isnt how we learn so that needs to go….

Ive asked for Jack tonight, I dont know if that was stupid or not, he was the first thing that came into my head when Phil asked me who it is i really want to ride… t

The girl who had him last week was bloody good, but only my size, so my fella pointed out quite correctly.. it can be done Jo.. the only difference between her and me, is my attitude and lack of confidence in my abilities, so tonight i need to prove i am good enough to myself, and get my horse back……….shes not getting him without one hell of a fight.. So im gonna do this for me….

Today i am getting the packing done before 10, doing the stock take i didnt do yesterday with the help of my mate stelli (whos kindly offered on her day off to lend a hand) and hopefully find some time to dye my hair.. im cooking again for everyone, but leaving it to my fella to dish up, as when they get home at 6 im off………….riding is earlier tonight at 6.30.. by tomorrow i can start my new project on my site and be able to find some quiet, ive got the rest of the week on my own then, as it looks like my fella may be going away…

Thank god the kids go back today, i love them to bits, but finding some space in this house has proven impossible, im starting to feel pretty frustrated and just want some time to myself now………

I think today my headset may start to make its appearance again….Im needing music to get me through this lot, and half a dozen cans of red bull… Its only Monday and im already shattered…

written by Joanne \\ tags: ,

Feb 01

Ive had a week filled with all sorts of thoughts… Well id be in serious trouble really if i hadn’t got any wouldn’t i ! lol sometimes i don’t half come out with some blonde stuff, i dont even have to think about it, it just comes naturally ..

What i meant was, Ive made some decisions, kicked myself up my arse and decided to sort out the riding problem, it wont get me anywhere if i quit.. its not something i would normally even think about, so Sunday I’m going with my confident G string on and am just gonna do it..

I spoke to Phil last night, hes such a nice guy and said he only gets angry with me as he knows i can do it, i only got angry as i know i can too so was upset with myself, it was silly, having my Monday night defeatist attitude made it worse i know that. He says he has a plan for what he is going do with me, so ill trust him and not worry and just get out there and do my best.. I’m really hoping inside he gives me a bigger horse for once, but knowing Phil and his love of the smaller horses ill probably get a frigging midget now…., ill have to show it who is boss and harden up a bit, I’m what the dressage ladies called me, a sympathetic rider! that means im too bloody soft with the horses for my own good…. they were just talking posh to make it sound interesting..

Anyway im up with the birds, now going to feed them (as they are already forming a queue along the fence) and going to get stuck in early, this lot will sleep til lunchtime anyway, so i may even get the stock take done before they wake up..

I hope today’s a good one….

written by Joanne \\ tags: , ,

Jan 20
Its been quite a week….I fell off Jack on Monday night big time!
My word did he make me eat my words of wanting a bigger horse…lol

Since Jacks ‘show of defiance’ on Monday and my argument with the wall, ive been trying to get on with things as normal, i havent done badly, just everythings taken twice as long..

The kids i have to say for once have actually been helpful, my eldest has been doing the post office runs for me and the others have been making me tea in rounds, nothing like a cuppa to sort everything out is there? lol

Im happy to say this morning it feels like my nerve is freeing itself up, i can now put my weight back on that leg, im so pleased……….what an improvement, my fella was threatening to drag me up the hospital if it stayed the same, which meant hours of lectures about me hurting myself riding, trying to talk me out of going anymore.. and we didnt want that! The board break showed what listening to the negative stuff does, i know he means well but i dont want to be put off riding , I love it..

my argument was i bet people have done worse to themselves on the ice this week…so im sticking to that..

Today i have packing to get out of the way first, its been surprisingly busy, which im pleased about, i didnt quite hit my fellas wish amount yesterday (he is totally bonkers and on another planet money wise) but im happy with whats happening and thats all that matters.. so the weeks off to a good start.. They both looked so tired last night, im glad at least i can help out with the meal side…

I have to get the stock take into the computer by lunchtime as this afternoon my aunts coming up for her wednesday wash and blow dry… its like an odd job place here at times, im trying my hand at all sorts, ill be glad when i can get my own hair done though…
My fellas going to be off all over the place shortly, hes hitting Scotland, Cyprus Italy and god knows where else, i am secretly wishing i could go along.. im screaming for a break and know i still have a while to go……….his is work so i cannot complain, id just like to feel some sun on my skin, ill have to go to the tanning center and use my imagination instead.. its amazing what thoughts i get in that place…

 

Its 5am im on cup number 2 of my wake up tea and lady Gaga is belting out ‘Bad romance’ on the radio so i feel strangely awake and energetic at the moment, what is it with songs like that? i totally love it and find myself turning to music all the time now to find some drive…
ive come up with a plan that if i hit the bath by 6am i may just get an hour to myself so ill take the radio in there with me now ……………
Ive got to get myself sorted out today as its salsa tomorrow and im not losing that bet!
he says i wont make it as im too bruised, so of course im out to prove him wrong again…

Nothing like a challenge to make me feel better quick…lol

Right time for that bath…………Todays gonna be a rock day i think.. I may just get this all done then….

written by Joanne \\ tags: ,

Jan 14

The weekends gone so quickly, do you ever get that feeling like youre hemmed in? its a time when you want to find some peace and quiet but it simply doesnt come..
We’ve had our friend here for meals which has been really nice ..

I came back from riding yesterday to find him and my kids all cooking brunch.. hed got my fella out of bed at 9am on his day off, which made me laugh like hell, and managed to get the kids all involved with cooking.. then took all the kids off ice skating and to the cinema…lol he really is totally nuts..

Riding went much better, Phil gave me an in between horse, hes not small but not huge either, my bum actually fitted his saddle without hurting for a change so it went pretty well.
He is good and know what hes doing with me, by the end of the lesson he had me cantering round, and using a whip (even if it was just twice) but feeling much more confident in myself as the horse was doing what i wanted him to.. its like he says, if you get on that horse the first 20 seconds dictates how the horse will act, i did what i was told and hes shown me that his way does work, so even though im not so keen on whips, ill use it if i have to and mean that, hopefully cutting out all this crap im giving myself, by trying to do it my way.. being stubborn isnt how we learn so that needs to go….

Ive asked for Jack tonight, I dont know if that was stupid or not, he was the first thing that came into my head when Phil asked me who it is i really want to ride…
The girl who had him last week was so bloody good, and only my size, so my fella pointed out quite correctly.. it can be done Jo..

The only difference between her and me, is my attitude and lack of confidence in my own abilities and the fact she did it so well, i would love to be able to ride like that, so tonight i need to prove i can and want to do this to myself.

Today i am getting the packing done before 12, doing the stock take with the help of my best mate stelli (whos kindly offered on her day off to lend a hand) and hopefully find some time to dye my hair.. im cooking again for everyone, but leaving it to my fella to dish up, as when they get home at 6 im off………….riding is earlier tonight at 6.30.. by tomorrow i can start my new project on my site and be able to find some quiet, ive got the rest of the week on my own then, as it looks like my fella may be going away…

Thank god the kids go back today, i love them to bits, but finding some space in this house has proven impossible, im starting to feel pretty frustrated and just want some time to myself now………

I think today my headset may start to make its appearance again….Im needing music to get me through this lot, and half a dozen cans of red bull… Its only Monday and im already shattered…

written by Joanne \\ tags: , ,

Jan 10

Ive had a week filled with all sorts of thoughts… Well id be in serious trouble really if i hadn’t got any wouldn’t i !  sometimes i don’t half come out with some blonde stuff, i dont even have to think about it, it just comes naturally ..

What i meant was, Ive made some decisions, kicked myself up my arse and decided to sort out the riding problem, it wont get me anywhere if i quit.. its not something i would normally even think about, so Sunday I’m going with my confident G string on and am just gonna do it..

I spoke to Phil last night on Facebook, hes a nice guy and said he only got angry with me as he knows i can do it, i only got angry as i know i can too so was upset with myself, it was silly, having my Monday night defeatist attitude made it worse i know that. He says he has a plan for what he is going do with me, so ill trust him and not worry and just get out there and do my best.. I’m really hoping inside he gives me a bigger horse for once, but knowing Phil and his love of the smaller horses ill probably get a frigging midget now…., ill have to show it who is boss and harden up a bit, I’m what the dressage ladies called me, a sympathetic rider! that means im too bloody soft with the horses for my own good…. they were just talking posh to make it sound interesting..

This week Ive adopted a new lodger, my fellas invited Mark for tea everyday as his partners now gone of skiing, he is used to microwaved pizzas so I’m not sure how hell enjoy tonight’s Tobagan chicken, its probably not the type of food hes used to, but they have a lot on and i know he wont bother as hes on his own, so its the least i can do is do some extra, its already caused one discussion today as he kept insisiting he was providing tea tonight and buying everyone a chinese. Im really enjoying cooking this week and already have the meat out.. We certainly dont invite someone round for meals and expect them to provide them… what ever sort of people does he go round for tea normally..anyway id like to be able to get a couple of hours out tonight so i can go grab a tan and dye my hair so he will keep my fella company while im out of the picture..im out all night mondays now anyway so they can talk about work and craze the kids while they eat…

Today ive got to do a full stock take while hopefully keeping an eye out on the kids, theres a couple of extra up there as 2 had sleepovers, so as long as they dont trash my house i dont mind, my fellas list of ‘to do stuff’ means i need to know every garment i have, so im getting it done out if the way so i can then start what he wants me to do, its gonna take me weeks and isnt a small job, but its a good idea so ill get stuck in.. if i work hard today, he’ll be in a good mood and wont moan when i disappear Sunday and

Monday to go riding will he……………lol

Anyway im up with the birds, now going to feed them (as they are already forming a queue along the fence) and going to get stuck in early, this lot will sleep til lunchtime anyway, so i may even get the stock take done before they wake up..

I hope today’s a good one….

written by Joanne \\ tags: , ,

Dec 08

I’m having one of those mornings..lol
I was so crap at riding last night i felt tired before i went so couldn’t make the jumping lesson in the afternoon, i didn’t finish packing til 4 and my work takes priority as you have to take it while its here, i can have all the lessons i want if i get this part right, so its worth it. Im also having a private one on Sunday early so its a good day for me as i can then come home and chill out..
Phil last night saw the defeatest side of me, i just couldn’t get it right, they gave me another horse i haven’t rode before who didn’t want to play ball, all night i asked Phil not to help, its my problem and it wont sort itself out if hes helping, i tried really hard but 15 Min’s before the end i pulled the horse up into the middle and said id had enough.. its making me giggle this morning thinking about it as no one up there has ever heard me like that, i physically wasn’t capable of giving anymore and that horse knew it, Phil then went on to give me a lecture on it wasn’t me but the bloody stupid lazy horse, and went to kick it up the arse.. it then bucked out kicked him in the arm and tried to throw me through the main doors…lol god knows how i stayed on, it went so quick i cant honestly remember but the girls all said they were proud of me for sitting deep and staying on……. i have no wish of being thrown head first just at the moment through the arena doors, so at least i know my seating’s right.. I know it worried Phil as he walked back with me and kept apologising for doing that, its one of those things and wasn’t as bad as it looked im sure, it felt worse when the bloody thing wouldn’t move, so at least he gave me some entertainment and made the lesson exciting…
Ive got packing today, housework and a pile of ironing the same things, followed by dancing tonight at acle, hair by dale tomorrow if i can be arsed and photos, followed by packing then dancing again all night Thursday… its the start of the Xmas parties on Saturday followed by 3 parties next week.. my fellas adamant hes going to all of them so he wants to try and catch up on the lessons we missed starting tonight…lol Ive got a feeling theres going to be a few mojitos hangovers on that horizen… I hate hangovers.. if i could drink and never get them now that would be great, i hate wasting the day after..
The strange thing is, i wouldn’t want it any other way at the moment, I’m focused on my business but also slotting in that balance of having some fun in between..
Things are changing so much yes!
But for a change its all going the right way..
There is some justice in the world afterall……….

written by Joanne \\ tags: , , ,

Nov 29

Im so pleased tonight, all day ive sat here working, my back aches ive been trying to stay in front and losing dismally… isnt that brilliant!
usually when i dont keep up its housework, kids or riding, but tonight its orders, they are coming in thick and fast and im so bloody pleased its untrue.. im gonna have to get up so early if i still want to keep that riding lesson….
Already things are better than last christmas and ive still got so much i mean and want to do, im begining to understand now why my fella enjys working so much, sitting here working away i couldnt feel happier tonight.. its like someones finally decided to give us some good luck..
My favourite lads through to the semi finals in X factor, ive got a cuppa in hand and one hell of a happy smile..
Whatever it is thats changed our luck………….Thank you

written by Joanne

Nov 29

Its been a really busy couple of days, im trying to keep ahead of myself though and get stuff packed as orders come in, ive booked 2 riding lessons on monday and dont intend missing any.. dont tell my fella! he wont know as he’ll be at work all day anyway, but hes not so happy about me jumping at the moment, Phil is pushing harder than anyone has and its a bit nerve wracking for me at the moment, ill adjust i always do, but the others have been doing this much longer and im not backing out just because im the new girl on the block, i know at some point im going to come off as ive had a couple of unsteady moments in his class, so lets just hope i bounce well……………lol

At least ive got all the photos taken anyway so if i end up in a plaster cast it wont affect my work over christmas, ive taken enough photos to take me through to the new year so have worked out a back up plan just incase..

Thursday we went back to dancing…

It was so strange, i was slightly nervous about how everyone would be with us but i shouldnt have worried, they were so nice, everyone was hugging us and saying how much they had missed our banter.. me telling my fella off they mean, hes such a fan of sending me into spins, and with my balance being how it has over the past few months, its not nice, its like being pissed without the good parts…………

S said the class hasnt been the same which i thought was lovely, that was a huge compliment. I still cant dance with Rich though, i cant look him in the eyes without feeling uncomfortable and embarrassed which i dont normaly feel, im sure its because he knows all the mistakes when i make them so i feel like im being judged, i dont mind when im drunk as i tend to just enjoy the music and not worry about anything else.. I really like them both, but apart from dancing im not so sure we have much in common. they are always offering for us to go and stay at theirs and inviting us up for nights out, but that place for us holds fond memories which dont feel the same with anyone else……..

This weekends been and gone very quickly, i had spoke to my aunt and asked her to sit for us , both of us were really looking forward to getting out, but things didnt sadly go to plan as they had family going too so i waited to see what was happening, my aunt then turned up yesterday morning saying she needed to know if i was going out or not and as i hadnt heard i had to say i was staying in… so it went from a night we were both really looking forward to, to me working all night and throwing myself into the packing.. we never made it to our meal, but i didnt really want to go anywhere else anyway, its hard with families as you kind of feel like youre in the way with family gatherings… so i stayed in and worked while singing along to x factor. Joe made me stop work and listen stop dead, both songs he sang are two of my favourites and hit nerves so off i went into a frenzy of thinking whilst trying to shut my head up so i wouldnt wrap the wrong things up…………. it really is true about dizzy blondes, i believe we think more than most people and analyse things more.. well thats my excuse!

Today i have woke up full of energy, so im going to see if i can enrole the kids into helping me quickly so i can carry on doing what i was last night, ive had some amazing orders which is brilliant and am getting excited about the reaction the changes have caused, its all about the new year and the new start for me of what i hope she will bring…………….

Ive got a good feeling about this one……….

written by Joanne

Nov 29

written by Joanne

Nov 26

I think this mornings the first morning in ages ive woke up feeling like i havent got a weight on my shoulders, its lovely..

I dont care about the mundaine stuff, im having a bath, curling my hair and going to take the day as it comes……….

The kids were so good this morning too, i had their mate sleepover so woke them all up to breakfast and for the first time in weeks there were no rows!

Things are definately changing here, you can feel it, perhaps thats why the kids are more settled too, they must have picked up on how we were feeling..

Yesterday i managed to help a dove…. not something you get to do everyday is it?

the poor thing had been attacked by a cat and was in a pretty bad way, so i went and got David next door and between us we managed to bath it and antiseptic the wound.. I felt so sorry for the poor thing ……

It sat in a box for hours totally shocked so we were waiting to see if it pulled through, thankfully T time it decided it would fly off with his mates when they came for tea, boy did that feel nice….

Cats remind me of people so its probably why i dont like them, they hurt just for the sake of it as they dont eat the birds just cruely play with them and inflict those claws into them, cruel over independent unloving things, that i love to chuck cold water on, if ever they venture into my garden, either that or ill let the dogs out to scare the crap out of them.. not bad for an animal lover is it ! hehe

I cant help it… all the nasty people ive ever had the misfortune to cross in my time are all summed up in these feeline stalkers for me.. cold, devious and spiteful… not to mention they stink ..

So santa if youre reading for gods sake dont bring me a cat for xmas please……….

It would go in a stew………………..and id cook it!

Im in favour of the birds.. Ive spent a lifetime looking for that feeling they get everyday..

So wings would be a great gift if you must shove something in my stockings this year!

written by Joanne

Nov 24

Ive spent the day so far not working, I promised my fella and visa versa that id take some time out to sort my appearance out…lol well try at least. so this morning ive dyed my hair painted my nails (which have actually grew without me realising it) so i feel better in myself now..
I went back riding last night and was shitting myself, god knows where that came from but it can go back to where it did anyway, I love riding and dancing and im buggered if im missing anymore, ive booked myself into double lessons with Phil next week and will kick it off in style, I left jumping a metre high on a mad horse which didnt help the nerves last night, but he broke the nerves in gently and gave me a smaller horse, with a big heart and lots of patience…..
I came back to a suprise meal, it was my turn to cook so that one surprised me, a huge plate of steak and chips and a cuppa all ready.. how nice was that!
We had a good talk and lots of things are already changing as i hoped, hes starting to get that ‘ need to pull my socks up lark’ and is grudging the things we had in life that have dissapeared into work so came home as he means to in future, he will work from 8am -6pm as thats what he wants to do but not at home anymore…………..that to me sounds brilliant.
He wants the dancing back too so that will also help with doing more physical stuff, sitting on a computer doesnt keep you in shape and although i dont mind how much he weighs he does mind.
Its good news that he wants to do it for himself, if it was for any other reason it wouldnt be the right one..
We want our lives back now its as simple as that, the offfice will work great and allow us a cut off point where we can do all that stuff that got lost in the workload.
The customers are liking what im doing to the site, the sales have doubled in the last 2 days so im really pleased, it gives you something warm inside and makes all the work ive done worthwhile…
Today im picking up my son from college hitting a tanning centre and then going to fill up these cupboards, theres nothing to eat and although i still have work to get through ill do it as i go this week, the worst is done and my kids need to come first……..
Ive been thinking about xmas..
Im not sure yet what i want to do but ive got that need to do something different, so im hoping i can come up with something good.
The new year is one im very much looking forward to..
I feel strangely peaceful today…….

written by Joanne

Nov 24

Its been a blurred few weeks, I haven’t blogged as i simply haven’t had anything good to write, Its all been work for me and being ill , so I’m now on a mission to sort myself out. I missed riding and salsa so badly, but by the time evenings get here i wasn’t in any fit shape to do either, so its been a time Ive also reflected on whats important to me and how i can change things for the better to find a happy balance of what i love and have some kind of life back.
Its started when my fella sat me down to speak to me, i was getting pretty down even when i wouldn’t admit it to myself, so many changes and balls to juggle it seemed like a never ending pit of ‘need to do’ stuff.. He was constantly working away so i was trying to help the kids with homework as well as run a business, i was ashamed to call mine…
I decided i wanted to change my website so have now started to do just that, im really enjoying this side of it and its bringing back the reasons why i love it so much, its part of me and always has been, over the last few years Ive had much of my fellas influence involved with my business, as he used to work on the roofs and got to the point he couldn’t do it anymore, part of it was his good friend falling off and dying in front of his son, it hits home, they had 4 kids just like us, so it could have been me getting a call just like Simon’s wife did. The other part was it was such a physical job and a fit mans world, he would come home soaked through to the skin and be so physically exhausted theres only so much of that a person can take and although the money was good he paid for it in many ways….
We decided then whatever he wanted to do, we would take the steps needed and indeed the risk, and he would learn a new career. Partly as i was treated so crap by several so called website builders and SEO people, he started on his journey of learning all what he could in that field.
The last 30 months has gradually been a build up of the workload hitting heights non of us imagined, we work all day and feed the kids then out come those laptops and off we go again, the lights always on here, regardless if its 4am..its no way to live though…..
I used to moan and feel if I’m honest a bit left out, i didn’t understand his new world, but knew the things he was learning would be invaluable both to him and me, so we persevered and found ourselves living on my income for the last 2 years which meant things were a real struggle here, the kids never moan and always tell me i work too hard, but for them i would do anything so you try to smile and be strong for them, sometimes it wasn’t easy though.
i tried to look on it as a new future and new adventure but when you are trying to hold up a home with 4 growing kids in it, its not cheap..
My aunt has been i have to say, my guardian angel… shes helped me through thick and thin and is always here for me on those days i wake up feeling exhausted before i even start, she knows just by the tone of my voice when i need help and always manages to make me see some positive in everything, that part of me i felt was lost somewhere buried in the mountain of where was my life heading and how can i get back on track?
I listened when my fella needed to talk, tried to tell him it wasn’t him when everyone around him called him stupid and told him to go get a paid job… but we are now coming out of the other side of the cloud, its been one hell of a journey and although Ive had some challenges in my time, I think apart from when the triplets were born too early and the stress and worry we both felt, this chapter in my life comes a close second..
It all came to a head over November as i spent week after week being riddled with migraines as my head simply couldn’t shut down, i was asking it questions no one had answers to, including myself… I know now why they call us dizzy blondes…….. I slotted into that category perfectly……
Now hes gone off into the big wide world on his new venture things are starting to make sense again, he wont be second best at anything, so has learnt his new job inside out just as i hoped he would… We were living off what takings i took through my site and stock levels were hitting the floor, theres nothing worse than watching something good, disappear slowly like that, i have worked my arse off and worked on this site for nearly 10 years, its my baby yet i felt like it was being strangled……
Over the last couple of weeks, Ive managed to start again in regards of my work, i have found a part of me i thought id lost and wake up again excited about whats to come, the stock room is looking amazing again and has huge promise as everything she takes goes back into her again now so everyday when i wake up i think myself lucky that my fella learns quickly and somehow through all this there was light at the end of the tunnel..
I finally started back riding last night, but for the first time i felt my nerves a little uneasy, would the horse pick up on what i was feeling and was this going to be my rude awakening , but thanks to some bloody good people up there and my teacher Phil they have managed to restore my confidence and i came home totally happy.. My fella had cooked me a surprise meal which was an amazing steak in pepper sauce and I sat there fat and happy, like the cat who got the cream,with the biggest smile on my face and felt something i havent felt in a while ‘contentment’..
Tonight we are bribing the kids with a video and getting some salsa tracks on, we both really miss our friends there especially Sharon and Richard as the whole salsa world had become part of us, we have both forgotten our moves so are going to make a start tonight and practise here, hopefully we can rejoin our class again on Thursday and start to find some kind of normality and balance back..
The best part is my fellas partner has now been handed the keys to his new place, so they now have an office that’s a stones throw away, and for the first time last night, in i would say over a year my fella came home without his laptop ! Its his new rule of the house and was promised when he said about this new office.. It means no more weeks of working away, just an occasional trip when needed, and my fella and me back on that road of learning to be Steve and Jo again ..
We have had to make big sacrifices and part of it meant we lost ourselves there for a while, but just like my website when i look at her everyday now, its all looking so much better and exciting ..
The futures bright and starting to bring the feeling, that this has all been worth it……..
Now we just have to listen to ourselves and dig out that part of us the work load burried..
It takes a cloudy season to make you appreciate, just how good that sun feels when it shines on you doesn’t it?
Hopefully now i will have some good stuff to share on here again with my friends too…

written by Joanne