I drank so much last night that for the first time in my life I can justify visiting a bottle bank. May it be the start of many trips. I had my three sisters over for a girly night - It involved drinking games and I think thats enough said!!!!

Earlier this week we all went ghost hunting at Craig-y-Nos castle . It was a good night but I couldnt help but smile when the ghost tour guide told me ghosties were using my energy and I was there for a 'different reason' Interesting though - Will probably go back for an all nighter.

I cant believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve, when I was a kid it took forever to come around, December seemed so long and now I just dont get time to think about it.

I hear Tesco opens at 12.01am tonight - Dare I do my Christmas food shopping at midnight? If I avoid the crowds - Damn right, That reminds me I have to take the turkey out.

Have a happy massively merry Christmas - Thank you to all that stop by and comment, I do appreciate it - And see getting all emotional now!!!!!

Yesterday I got laid off in work. Cant say I am devastated but I do feel a bit discriminated against as they got rid of everyone with young kids or those with commitments.

They told me that Friday would be my last day - And I thought "why should I make their life easier?" they were obviously playing the 'you have been here under 3 months and have no rights' card

So I called this morning and told them I wouldn't be bothering to come back and would drop off my uniform next week.

In the meantime I get to enjoy a Christmas at home without work on my mind.

So new years resolution - find a job pmsl.

I love the School Christmas Fayre - I dont like admitting it but I really do. And with my kids today was no exception. School Fayre's remind me of when I was a kid and that its not long till Christmas. So here's todays fun, we were nearly first in line to get in as quickly as possible

- Girl heads straight for the mystery gift stall to get the biggest and best parcels for just 50p

- And on discovering she does not like the toy sells it to the toy stall for £1. Result.

- Elsewhere, boy flashes his smile and gets a £1 bag of reindeer food for 38p. Bargain

- Meanwhile I stock up on tins for 20p a go, Not bad when beans are 47p a tin.

- Boy sets himself a challenge, what can he buy for 5p, answer a pencil case complete with parker pen.

- Then knowing Santa's helper has its advantages and we get a free picture with Santa.

- And finally Ethan won the raffle - A nice big box of choccies for us all to scoff tonight.

Today not only did I manage to find sellotape (hurray) I managed to get a bag thrown at me in work when some impatient stuck up cow couldnt be bothered to wait more than 10 seconds to be served, you could question my customer service skills but I burst out laughing at her impatient mutterings as she stomped off which probably didnt help - learn some patience biatch!!!!

I also managed to pick my kids up from school today whilst it was still light as my work hours have changed.

In addition to this I managed to win £90 of Barbie island princess toys today, so that made my day and completes the christmas shopping for the kids.

So not a bad day then :)

Is there a national shortage of sellotape? I dont want brown parcel tape, christmas tape or insulation tape - I just want normal clear tape! Have I been able to find any? NO. Now this may just be my opinion but you would think that it would be everywhere at this time of year in its rightfull place right next to the wrapping paper and yet it isnt.

I looked in 8 shops this morning - Next, Debenhams, TK Maxx, bla bla bla and none sold sellotape - all sold wrapping paper and those annoying foil ribbon bow things that never stick properly on presents. Why didnt they sell tape.

I asked in BHS at the till and she pulled a roll out from under the desk and offered to cut me a bit - I mean wtf? I need to wrap presents you silly **** !

I asked in my local (supposed to have everything) Spar and he tried to sell me green insulation tape.

I even travelled to my local stationary store - which I find when I get there has closed down (probably through low sellotape sales)

I just want some sellotape - just one (possibly two if they are not rationed) roll of sellotape. And no dont suggest Tesco - I dont want to go there - every little doesnt help - I hate the place and every time I go there I spend £50.

Sellotape ..... Sellotape......I NEEEEEEEED sellotape..... and possibly Vodka!!!

Trick or treating has definately changed since I was a kid, And no before you say anything its not all that long ago. When we were kids it was just a way of getting some money for nothing - and no its not ideal but thats how it was.

Last night for the first time ever after much pressure I took the kids. And OMG how times have changed, They both took with them a pumpkin bucket (as sold by tesco) and we managed to get around most of the 300 houses on our estate in about an hour and a half. Half didnt answer - the other half did.

By the time we got home the little pumpkin buckets were buckling under the weight, They had so many sweets and chocolates I was gobsmacked. Seriously they have more sweets than I would give them in a month and people were loving dishing them out. And the decorations was another thing that amazed me - pumpkins and skeletons, banners and spooky noise makers all about.

I am guessing this is another thing that we have inherited from America - not that I am complaining, my children had a wonderful time - are totally sick of sweets and I wont have to buy any for at least another few weeks. Result.

It was Ethans parents evening last night. I asked her to double check when she quoted words like 'kind', 'helpful', 'well behaved' and 'methodical' because he isnt like that at home. Its good though, he had a glowing report and he seems keen to learn. I was thinking he would follow his Dad who hated school. I have Joanna's tonight - hopefully that will be good too.

I work afternoons this week, And its strange - Its like waiting to go to a funeral - You know you are have to go and are gonna hate it. Next week its half term and I have no idea what I am going to do with the kids - Prehaps I shall let them wander free and hope for the best (seriously before I get emails - I wont)

My Mother keeps mentioning Christmas plans since she has discovered my sister is coming home. I am having difficulty getting organised on a weekly basis at the moment, I am hoping this will calm down as I get into working - I need a diary - Have you tried finding a diary when you are 10 months into the year, surely some people must need them - I DO!!!!!!!

right I suppose I had better go and get my red polo shirt and my name tag on, I am on fitting room today - 'No of course you bum doesnt look big in that..... honestly!!!!'

So very very tired - I have nothing else to say.

I have a job !!! I have been working at TK maxx (or tacky maxx as my sister calls them) I started Tuesday and what can I say except for ....I hate the world of retail and every picky granny and 'bad tempered forced into clothes shopping man' in it!

I assumed that my training this week would mean training and not standing about pretending to look busy. Nuff said!

I also thought that part time would mean 'part time' and not full time until next february. How shite is that - my house already looks like it was abandoned in a hurry.

I also hoped that my bed would last at least another year and not collapse when I sat on it a few nights ago leading to many many 'your fat arse' jokes. (that said I have lost 5lbs so far this week by pretending to look busy!)

I also felt that somehow my children who started after school club this week (which I have been riddled with guilt about) would miss me and not ask to stay longer.

I also wish I didnt feel so damned tired!

There are so many things I should be doing when I finally get online - and blogging is just one of them. But here I am finally after weeks and weeks finally updating. Life as always is hectic, I escaped the summer holidays without injury and now am officially job hunting as its probably time I moved on a bit from the 'I am just a housewife' phase - Of course I will go out kicking and screaming.

In the meantime my boy is constantly mourning his holiday in Disneyland Paris and just a mention of the place results in an hours crying... such is the stressful life of a five year old.

The daughter has moved up to the junior's and doesnt fail to remind me on a daily basis how grown up she is... although she is apparently not grown up enough to look after her Nintendo DS which she left in the playhouse, unsurprisingly with all the kids in the neighbourhood its not there now ... I have my suspicions but cant prove anything. Gutted.

Hubby after passing his transport manager exams is now fully absorbed in his job, which is keeping him busy. Not ten minutes goes past in the house without a phone call.

Naty cant wait for you to come home at xmas - I have two words for you 'party bus' Eloise - whats it like working full time? Emily - Want anything from the shop?

Jilly - Dont post videos of spiders like that - I nearly had a heart attack.

Me - I am plodding along. Looking forward to winning the lottery ... its not gonna happen .. i know. hmmm Wake me up at Christmas will you.

Yes I am back from my holidays - yes there was much Sangria and hangovers. We had a fab time - check out the pics at the bottom on the left.

And since then I have sunk into the oblivion that is the summer holidays. Getting up later means I cant sleep at night and its a vicious circle. I havent seen 'real' people in ages and the kids on the street are driving me mad.

I am looking forward to getting back to reality - whatever that is asap.

What Rocks

1. This time next week I will be in Disneyland.
2. Jilly's Dad is doing better
3. Kids in school bought me loads of pressies for dinnerladying!!!!
4. No more dinnerladying for 6 weeks
5. Its my Mums Birthday today - Happy birthday Mum - You rock!


What sucks

1. I only just saved enough to go on my hols - so no pressie buying
2. My sister Eloise is house sitting whilst we are away and asked if she could party, WTF NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. My other sister hasn't updated her blog since last month and she thinks no one notices!!!!
4. I dyed my hair black and now I look like a goth.
5. I cant fit into my swimming costume **sob sob**

Sarah Rees is enjoying facebook at the moment!!!

Teachers training days are great arnt they **Hint - I was being sarcastic** In one of my less intelligent moments I decided cooking would keep children happy.
Lets just say we will be eating fairy cakes for days and the kitchen will never be the same again.

Whilst the kids were eating their creations I spent the afternoon counting pennies - I kid you not! We are saving every penny to go on our holidays, we are driving to Spain (yes I know thats mad)

I have to have a house sitter because I have a plant to water - Yes I know its random but I have kept a plant alive for more than two weeks and thats a miracle for me. All hail Sarah's Basil!!!

I also did alot of this ......

Because on my way to Spain I want to stop here ...

I am just one big kid, I am sooooo excited - I havent told the kids yet, its a surprise

On an out of the blue visit to Morrisons (as part of our blatent refusal to shop at Tesco) last weekend we stopped at the fish counter. The fish monger was an enthusiastic little man who inspired us to try something different. Bad move .... we ended up buying some of these little lovlies!

I have no idea what I was thinking!! No they are not prawns they are langoustines and are supplied raw in their shells. By the time we got home we had forgotton how to cook them so decided to steam them.

This was also a bad idea as not only meant we could hear the shells cracking but we could see the eyes boiling. By the time they were ready Gary was already on the phone to the local chinese in a blatent refusal of having anything more to do with them, I on the other hand refused to give up without a fight. So armed with a pair of yellow gloves decided it was time to crack them open and see why they were so special (they did cost us £5 for 6)

Well lets just conclude by saying they weren't for me, anything with eyes should be left alone, the fish monger at Morrisons is a bit of a fibber (they were not the best food I ever tasted!!) and I am most definately not going to win any cooking competitions .... ever.

Race for life?? Yes I ran, it was humid, it was raining, I got wet and nearly killed myself trying to beat my daughter's snooty teacher. Ha ... eat my dust Miss!!! We got around in 57 minutes which wasnt too bad considering we walked most of it whilst commenting on everything from the woman in fronts pink daisy covered shorts to world peace! It was emotional ok!! I got a medal though that was good, and sadly I wore it most of the day.

In other news today I travelled on a bus!! Now this may not seem strange to you but to me this is a major thing. I hate buses and pride myself on the fact I wouldnt know where to stand to catch one. OMG it cost me £1.30 to travel 2 miles, what a rip off. Apparently if you travel on buses you have to be prepared to discuss the weather with as many old people as possible... And some bloke (middle aged not old ) ruffled my hair and grinned as he walked past me!!! Is this some kind of bus riding initiation? I am confused. Thanks to the bus driver though - he was most helpful when I just got up from my seat and declared I wanted to get off now despite there being an obvious lack of bus stops. I like being difficult.

No the dentist didnt kill me in some freak drill accident - I am alive albiet with a chesty cough from hell (and no .. Mum I will not see a doctor only to be told it's bloody viral!!)

When the dentist told me she was going to do the filling without the injection I started shaking uncontrollably but truth be told - it was ok. It didnt cause massive amounts of pain and I will live to eat the usual bag of nuts at Christmas time.

Sunday I do the race for life. It started out as a bet between my sister Emily and me. We permanently have some bet going, anyway as time has gone on we have both failed to keep up the "go to the gym really often" bet and the "lets lose a stone" bet so now we are totally screwed when it comes to Sunday. I have been fortunate enough never to know anyone with cancer but when I looked into the race I felt hypocritcial just doing it for a laugh.

And even worse was the fact that a close friend of mine has just found out her Dad has cancer, and this really upset me, I cant imagine what they are going through as a family right now. So this weekend I will race for Stewart, otherwise known as Jilly's Dad. Wish me luck because I am sooooo gonna need it.

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/SarahRees

Because I am stressing about this afternoons pending visit to get that filling done, here are some pictures we took on a family visit over the weekend to Pembrokeshire.

She splattered blood all over my face - and even worse it was my own blood. Today was my first trip to the dentist since the practice changed hands. Its changed from a one dentist welcoming enviroment to a super sterile stainless steel business run by many female straight talking emotionless 6ft twenty something's.

It was a daunting experience. The first thing that bothered me was the empty waiting room! Then there was the abrupt bedside manner. "Turn head", "Rinse", "Open mouth". After my check up she concluded (loudly) that I need a filling (which I knew) and that another appointment had to be made.

Could she let me walk away empty handed? Oh no, she decided a descale and polish was in order. And so it began. I think she missed my teeth altogether because seriously my gums have never bled that much (and my teeth look no different) It took three tissues to wipe the blood from my face and five rinses to get rid of the awful taste. My gums are now purple.

And crap I still have to have the filling next week. That's one to look forward too then!!

In the last couple of weeks I have discovered to my horror that I dont know everything. As a Mum to a seven and five year old surely I should at least know the following.

On the subject of ladybugs, I discovered they can bite. Really this had never occured to me before. An in depth discussion with Joanna led to me looking it up to prove her wrong and then hurrying away to do 'Mum stuff' when I discovered she was right.

A few days and a geography lesson later I explain to her that we dont get earthquakes in the UK and what happens the next day? How unreal was that? I have also told her we dont have volcanos here but suddenly I am not so sure.

As well as this....

Giving children more space to play in doesnt mean less mess it means more! I need say no more.

Buying said children a keyboard for christmas was not encouraging creativity it was encouraging headaches.

And Rice Krispie cakes are not a quick, easy and tidier way to 'cook' with your children.