The British Homemaker - One day at a time

What? It’s October? Sheesh! Who moved September then? Is that how you feel to? I think the whole of 2012  has whizzed by. I’m sure it was only last week we were about to sign for the keys for this house, enjoy a stress free Christmas {probably the only one ever !} and looking forward to re-creating a home for us all again. Now, as I plan for Halloween and Christmas I can’t help but cast my mind back to the wonderful things that have happened this year. I know this is a pre-mature kinda post but bare with me, all will be revealed... * January saw us in our new home, hardly able to believe we were on the way to becoming settled again. It also saw us ill {3 weeks for me!} There is nothing in the world that prepares you for being homeless, no matter how it comes about, but more than that, nothing prepares you for the time you know you can lay your hat again and allow the inside unfold...it took quite a while for us all to deal with th...

My BFF is clever, smooth, fun and faithful. I love my sewing machine. She has helped me make and create. She hasn’t given up on my and gets into the smallest of places I need her to get into. What is your favourite today?

I am not the typical homeless person because I have some very caring friends and a good supportive mother who sees me through what I need. However, there are a few things I’ve come to realise about not having your own home: Your routine and comfort zones no longer exist, no matter how hard you try. You spend more than you would running a house. Mentally you are always aware of someone else around you in a very different way, not always in a good way. Your friends jump on board with you and keep you going, the most important way is emotionally. Suddenly mopping floors and cleaning baths become a dream. Dodging traffic wardens becomes a new hobby. En suite becomes a multi use room: shower, wash, wash up, change. Going to the bathroom in the middle of the night {because its down the hall} becomes a mini trip…door key, light, loo roll. Everyone seems to need your address, only when you don’t have one to give they have that ‘look’ in...

You just, HAVE to go here …..I promise you will laugh like you haven’t laughed in ages. If you are of sensitive nature you may wish to ask a grown up to sit with you to cover your eyes. eg. Heck it is funny!! Enjoy Debs

These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services: The Fasting and Prayer Conference includes meals. -------------------------- The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.' -------------------------- Ladies, don't forget the jumble sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands. -------------------------- Remember in prayer the many who are sick in our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you. -------------------------- Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help. -------------------------- Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation. -------------------------- For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downst...

I’m linking up to Just Drink a Coke who is hosting a fun link up willing us to share our beautiful mess. Fell on a good day for me because up until 7pm’ish I’ve been child free for 24 hours and as the house was already blitzed, the only mess is my dining table with my sewing stuff and 1/2 of Kirsten’s room that I haven’t got to yet {and not sure I want to!} so here is my input: Just for good measure, here is Charleys too: However, if we are talking beautiful mess, this is not to be confused: The other half of Kirsten’s room. A temporary dumping space…but wait till it’s been transformed into the shabby chic-cafe-beautification-salon-kinda-space!! Debs

The lovely Josie sends me some really awesome emails, this was one of them: March was when my son celebrated his 15th birthday, and I got him an iPhone.   He just loved it. Who wouldn't? I celebrated my birthday in July, and my wife made me very happy when            she  bought me an iPad.  My daughter's birthday was in August so I got her an iPod Touch.  September came by so for her birthday I got my wife an iRon. It was around then that the fight started ...  What my wife failed to recognize is that the iRon can be integrated into the home network with the iWash, iCook and iClean. This inevitably activates the iNag reminder service. I should be ou...

Christmas is a little late in our house this year. 11 days too late to be precise. First we decided we’d get a fresh tree so we moved round the living room, re-homed the piano to the dining room, swapped the display unit in the hall and voila, one room ready for a super tall, super wide tree. Just not on the 1st December! Severe weather conditions meant that many of the tree’s weren’t able to be delivered here so we were on ‘hold’. Through this last week whilst waiting to get internet connection by the new supplier (see The British Homemaker Diary for more info) I worked through my to-do list like it was a marathon. The temptation was almost overwhelming to just give in and go buy an artificial one. Today I’m glad we didn’t! This baby has made himself totally at home in the living room, so much so we had to cut his diet branches back an inch or two! Next challenge comes from the erm, lack or ornaments! Last  year I gave a lot away and dumped the rest. The few I kept ar...

For about a year now Charley has enjoyed playing on the Lego site testing out most of their games, entering competitions and printing off there colouring pages etc. Some days he will get an hour straight after school while I begin dinner. Most days I am running up and down the stairs because he wants to go back a page or something. Tonight, after not hearing him call after about 15 minutes I went up anyway. Yep, he is totally super glued to the screen, he is on the edge of the seat racing against the clock on a game! When I asked him if he needed help with anything, he simply said: No mom! I am 6 and I know what all the buttons do and I know when to use them! Of course, what do mothers know? :D   Debs

I couldn’t help but sing the old Modern Romance song as the kids and I walked through the woods on Friday looking for the right kind of foliage for some of our Christmas Decorations. Remember that song? Back in the 80’s? Sweet! Yep, that’s my daughter in 3/4 trousers and Uggs!   The boy loves orange. EVERYTHING is orange! Boo! We walked a long way. 200 yards into it the heavens opened. Big Time! So we took cover! Charley wanted to wait for the deer to come out but erm, I wasn’t waiting till it was pitch black. Sorry son! But this tree amused him. And me. Cute eh? We’ve called him Bert. We had a super couple of hours out, rain and wind didn’t spoil it either. The dog looked like a lil rat, my hair hung like I’d just got out the shower and lets not mention my jeans that wouldn’t come off (when I got home) cos they were stuck to me so much! The goodies we came back with will be magically transformed and shared over on The British Homemaker’s Dairy soon as I hav...

Two years ago I knew my prescriptions were getting a little stronger over about a 3 year period. A couple of weeks ago Specsavers kindly informed me that I am now to wear glasses as much as I possibly can. As if that wasn’t enough, they also upgraded my prescription! I’d kindly like to remind the eye universe that I am still only 42. By many standards that is quite young. Though some days I admit that I feel like I am competing with a 90 yr old I do firmly still believe that I have a few good years in me yet. On the other hand, there are some funky frames out there. No one would really know if I was wearing them cos I needed them or just cos they are funky. Would they? Eh? EH? :D So I got some funky ones. And so did Kirsten. And Charley. Seems like going to the opticians is a family affair in more ways than one!! :D Then I realised that I do actually have to be responsible at times, especially with my church calling and when I am doing a work meeting or appointment, not to men...

Ok I cannot sing but that’s ok…I aint planning on auditioning for X factor anyways! :P What you up to today? Tell me what you’re doing, who you are with and what is great about your day. I wanna know. Seriously. I am still nursing 6567 degree burns on my hand. Yesterday I decided that Charley and I was going to do some homemade lollipops, lots of them. And we did. But I got a shot of the shakes, the mixture tipped over my finger and thumb area and burnt me. Prior to that I burnt the same finger with the hot glue from the glue gun as I made a quick cake stand. I done that twice. It hurt both times. If that wasn’t enough I reached into the top oven for the batch of cherry and almond biscuits and I pulled out the shelf tray as well as the baking tray, which quite meanly hit my knee, pausing for a second to leave a burn mark before landing on top of my cutesy Eeyore slippers. Good ole Eeyore, forever the man looking out for me! :) So I had 6567 degree burns and once I diagnosed I was...

Yet again I am doing lots of posts all in one go because I am just not consistent enough to do it daily or ahead of time! But who wants to talk to the future anyways? You? Ok Ok you got me!! This week a lorra good things is going on, I had my car back last week after almost 2 months of watching it cry out for me, beg me to sit in and go somewhere each time I walk past it. It looks sorry for itself, lost even. After much let downs, I finally found a nice man to fix her brakes, check her over and hand her back. I swear I saw a tear come out her headlight! :D So its rock n roll baby!! We (me and the dog, ya know? mans best friend n all!!) been to so many meetings, we done our own shopping, we cruised the Californian coastline…no wait, that was in my dream! Dah Ok we got stuff done. She is smiling now, I am convinced that the front grill turns up at each end when she sees me approaching with keys in hand! Charley calls her Jupiter (Fireman Sam) and totally got her upset when he bo...

Remember back along when I mentioned some changing rooms and a total room makeover that wasn’t costing me anything (other than paint) but was starting to look very chic? No? Darn, your memory is as bad as mine is! Here is the link… here   It’ll open in a new window. Well it’s still not finished. 2+ months later and we are still going! We are not without hiccups. we changed our mind on the colours. we changed our mind on the shade of colours. again. we found some awesome furniture that we are stripping and redressing. we haven’t found the right rug yet. we’re hopeful. we ran out of hours with other stuff to do. but now the case is reopened and super debs is on the case! So, watch this space for the big reveal…trust me, it’s going to be well worth it. AND there is going to be a GIVEAWAY! Yep. My very first giveaway…but ya know, it does require participation. Oh how whoreish of me to tout for comments! But I have no shame. This blog picks up...

Boys will be boys…enjoy seeing your boy…more to come on Wednesday for ya! :) Oh how I teased them…but they played up to it even more… Hurry up and get him married when he’s home… ;) lol And if you think this is a one off, think again!  These two are always like that!! I left them alone with the camera while I finished up dinner…oh boy, I’m too scared to look at the video they made! Now I’m trying to get it all loaded up so you can see it…but it may need a health warning, all I could hear was them play fighting, singing and messing around!! Lol Gotta love our missionaries!! :) Debs