Thames Valley Mums Blog

Am I the only one who struggles with a shopping trolley?

After lazing around with friends this morning downing frothy skinny cappuccinos and discussing the spring-like weather, I stopped by Waitrose to pick up a few essentials. I like shopping there, despite the fact I spend on average £20 more each visit than Tesco. It's an experience.

It all started out nicely. Ooohhhh, what's that? Patatas bravas? And a quesadilla? My mind started to wander to summer holidays in Spain, free flowing tapas, children content in the sand, sunshine on tap...

Me, my Dyson and my car

I love my new Dyson DC25 Animal to bits -- but it's been a bit of a culture shock. Its predecessor was about 100 years old, so giving me a Dyson was like giving a granny an iPhone.

I can't get over how much it sucks up. Five containers full on the first go around our house. I had no idea I was living in such filth!

OK, I am a bit obsessed by it. I will often take it out do a quick run round the house. My husband caught me once and asked why I was vacuuming at 10 pm, the night before our cleaner was due. I just looked at him and scrunched my brow. Am I the only who enjoys dust being neatly sucked up and encased? Because, I told him. Huuummmph!

Six reasons why England rocks and Thailand doesn't

On honeymoon I truly got to grips with how fabulous dear ole Blighty is.

For those of you dreaming about paradisical beach destinations, I'd like to remind you of a few 
Photo: I was here, dreaming of cloudy days and decent puddings
advantages which our own green and pleasant land has over many exotic locations - in this case, Thailand:

1. Mosquitos are few and far between
They are bastards. I'm veggie - yes I fell off the Vegan Wagon a little while ago - and respect every animal's right to life. I gladly make an hypocritical exception for mozzies.   

Supermarket weep

A hundred years ago, when I was young, footloose and child-free, supermarket shopping was a fun and engaging opportunity. Casually browsing the ready-meal section for a Weight Watcher's lasagne, clicking my kitten heels past the ogling youth on the fish counter, swinging my basket toward the delicatessen, and always open to the chance of a flirty encounter over the frozen veg. Tellingly, my choice of food provider has varied over the years in direct proportion to my disposible income; from Budgens, to Co-op, to Sainsbury's, peaking at Waitrose with the occasional foray into M&S food halls, then back through Tesco, Scummerfield, Morrisons and Aldi. How the mighty have fallen.

Arrrrgggghhhh!

Well what a rubbish week. Following on from K not feeling well last week, things just got worse. First of all, I started to feel rubbish too. by Friday I could hardly swallow so I went to the doctors and it turned out to be tonsillitis. Joy Joy Joy. My throat felt like sandpaper, I had a temperature, felt bloody awful and to top it all my voice sounded like a strangled ferret. It still isn't right now!

On a plus note, all of a sudden the tiny bit of swelling has gone on my eyelid and it looks almost normal, I can't thank my consultant enough. The thought that perhaps during the summer I will be able to wear my contacts again is brilliant!