Feeling cold and miserable yesterday I was delighted to recieve my Valentine's swap gift from Briggie. I got a lovely parcel full of peppermint pattie hearts, mint chocolate, soap (mint and gingerbread flavour which I though was pretty canny), an angel and a book. Thank you so much Briggie for making my day and thank you to Kailani who organised the swap.
We were all set to be wiped off the tennis court. The team we were playing were very strong and hadn't dropped a point over the five weeks of the league but I was looking forward to the challenge.
It all started so well.
I served well, my volleys were working and I was well able to rally with the girls. We won that first game.
The second game started off well with us winning the first couple of points.
Then came the lob...not a problem I thought as I raced back to get it. Unfortunately it was a great lob and landed on the back of the line so I stretched that bit more....that's when I felt it...yep I tore a muscle in my bum.
I continued to play but I was in agony and couldn't put my weight onto that leg.
Of course we lost.
I'm sitting here in a great deal of pain as it's far worse today but at least I have a good excuse to blog all day and I've just booked a spa treatment at this hotel where I'm going for a girls weekend with the tennis girls.
Finally I'm getting better but poor Mollie now has the virus and is currently tucked up in bed, she's had a sleep and is now bored but the rule in our house is if you're too ill for school you have to stay in bed, no tv, game boy or psp whereas reading and drawing is allowed, maybe I'm a strict mother but I don't want them feigning illness to have a fun day off school.
It took me a few days to catch up on all my blogroll posts but I've been busy reading and feel ready to get back into blogging only my brain seems to have turned to mush and I don't know what to blog about. I know, I'll share the story with you of another time my brain turned to mush!
Back in 1998 my best friend Sarah from England was getting married. I was bridesmaid and Sarah decided to have her hen party in Dublin, so I booked a hotel, sussed out a club and was looking forward to the weekend which was about 10 days away. Then Sarah rang and started telling me the times of the flights her friends were arriving from various different UK airports, I said tell me next week, she said but we're coming on Friday...ahhhh....double ahhhh...triple ahhhh. Rang the hotel, no space for Friday. Rang some more hotels, no spaces. Panicked. Decided to put the 10 girls up in my shoebox of a house and kick the family out. Then I tried the youth hostel, and they could fit us in, phew! It was a very grotty hostel but also very cheap and we had a brilliant weekend so the girls forgave my ineptness.
Fast forward two months and the impending wedding. Our flight was booked for the Friday evening as I'd asked for an evening flight because Joules had to work and we were travelling without the children. On the Monday I became violently ill with stomach cramps and diarrhoea, so ill that I had to call out the doctor. Friends and family looked after the children as I lay in bed delirious worrying about the wedding. My GP said I probably wouldn't be able to go but he'd check me out on Friday and give me a decision. So I had to call Sarah and warn her, which didn't help her nerves. Friday rolled around and the doctor said I was just well enough to travel but to take it easy. The children went to their granny's, I packed our bags and checked the tickets as Joules locked up the house...ahhhh....the flight said 0700....I burst into tears said I couldn't cope and walked off down the road. Joules rang the travel agent to ask why they'd given us a morning flight when I'd specifically asked for the evening flight, their answer was that they would have listed all the flights for that day, I heard seven assumed it was 7pm and said yes! The travel agent rang the airline but the flight was overbooked so there were no guarantees, all we could do was get to the airport and hope there were some no shows.
We got to the airport and there were three places left, a couple turned up so only one place left with minutes to boarding. At least this meant that I could travel, we discussed driving but wouldn't have made it to Bristol in time for the wedding, this was my only hope...then another couple arrived. The manager came out to explain that only one seat was left but that he could fly the other person to Birmingham (90 miles from Bristol) and pay for a taxi to any destination. My ears pricked up at Birmingham, so I asked to speak to the manager and explained my predicament as I dissolved into floods of tears. He was fantastic and agreed to fly us to Birmingham at not extra cost but apologised for not being able to pay for our taxi as well. This was the best news ever and my dad drove to collect us from Birmingham and I made the wedding mushy brain and all!
Just thought I'd let you know that I am alive but not well. I think the partying, tennis, travelling and children back to school have taken a toll on my body and it's telling me that it has had enough. I have a cold and sore throat and every free moment is spent sleeping. The thought of even looking at my blogroll scares me as I'm sure there are lots of posts waiting to be read. All I am managing each day is to check my email and play willowtree's daily quiz which I'm a bit addicted to. I'll be back to catch up with all your news when I feel stronger.
A case of the old Delhi Belly does not make for a terribly Witty Wednesday but it does help with weight loss for an up and coming holiday!
According to John it's a man's world and this is why, my responses are in pink (and my tongue is firmly planted in my cheek):
Your last name stays put. My last name did stay put but hey I've a choice of two to use if I want.
The garage is all yours. What garage? But the shed is mostly mine.
Wedding plans take care of themselves. Thanks Mum.
Chocolate is just another snack. Chocolate is the ultimate snack!
You can be President. I know I can but I think I'll pass on that one.
You can never be pregnant. Poor you, never to feel another being growing inside you. The birth bit is easily forgotten hence women have more than one baby.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. I wouldn't wear a t-shirt, white or otherwise to a water park. I'd wear a swimming costume or bikini.
Car mechanics tell you the truth. In your dreams.
The world is your urinal. I have a strong bladder, I don't need the world as my urinal thanks very much!
You never have to drive to another services because the toilets at this one are just too icky. Nor do I, it's easy to take a whizz without touching the toilet seat.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Well of course not, it's fairly straightforward.
Same work, more pay. Is that something to boast about? I think it's a sad reflection of our so say equal society.
Wrinkles add character. So my wrinkles tell me.
Wedding dress £1200. £300.
Dinner suit rental - £250. What dinner suit.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. I think that only happens if your exposing your breasts then I guess you might want your chest stared at.
The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected. And I'm an expert at it as well as farting!
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. Why would they?
One mood all the time. Boring.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. How do you get the gossip in 30 seconds?
You know stuff about tanks. Lucky you, I'm quite glad to know nothing about tanks except they maim and kill and that's not cool.
A five-day trip requires only one suitcase. One suitcase? It's one small rucksack for me.
You can open all your own jars. So can I and I don't brag about it.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. You mean you get treated like a child...no thanks.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend. No one has ever forgotten to invite me, or if they have I don't know and am still their friend.
Your underwear is £5 for a three-pack. OK so I can get a three pack for €5 but why wear cardboard when I can wear silk?
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. Maybe but boring and shoes can last forever.
You almost never have strap problems in public. No you have problems lower down that involve a lot of shifting and checking.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Wrinkles, what wrinkles? I discovered years ago that wearing clothes gets rid of the wrinkles in seconds...now where did I put my iron...?
Everything on your face stays its original colour. White, sunburn red, yellow tinge...what's so great about that?
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. Double boring....
You only have to shave your face and neck. What about hairy backs and chests etc, a lot of men take their grooming further because they admire us so!
You can play with toys all your life. So can I, I bet my toys are more fun than yours.
Your belly usually hides your big hips. Beer belly, no thanks...curvaceous hips all the way.
One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one colour for all seasons. Triple boring....
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. So can I but I can also wear skirts and dresses, yey loads of choice.
You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife. So could I, if I did my nails.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache. Equality of the sexes, so can some of us if we want to? It all boils down to personal choice.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes. Look at the crap you come up with and the fun you miss out on.
No wonder men are happier. In your dreams, don't you know we're pulling all the strings!
I knew it was coming.
I had plenty of warning.
I tried to ignore it.
I tried to pretend that it wouldn't come.
Not to me.
I was wrong.
It started with a tightening in my chest.
Wheezing.
Followed by a cough.
Yesterday afternoon it hit me full on.
Another stinking cold and sore throat.
Dinner had to be easy for everyone else and comfort food for me.
They had baked potatoes.
I had marmite on toast with baked beans.
For those of you who don't know much about my mate marmite click here (well worth checking out the online advert) or read Willowtree's post regarding the black stuff.
I'm off to spend the morning in bed with a book and a box of tissues, got the nice soft ones this time!
