Recapping week 2

Hi Clanettes

It's been a busy week at Christie HQ. Full time school for all the kidlets and I worked everyday. After school clubs include beavers, cubs, swimming, tennis, football and youth club. Holy batman it's tiring writing it down, let alone ferrying everyone everywhere. And occupying those kidlets not attending said club, but waiting 'patiently' with Mummy. Still, I (we) chose to support the activities and I think giving them opportunities to find strengths and enjoyment away from home is important. Even when I really. Really. Don't. Want. To.

Paul was away this weekend, completing his Personal Trainer training and will receive his results in the next few weeks.

Whilst he was away, we spent Saturday with Rae Rae and enjoyed some sun in the garden.

Rae Raes house means being spoilt and Saturday was no exception, they made salt dough and used biscuit cutters to great effect.

I am 2 weeks into my health make over, and I lost 3lbs this week. 12lbs in total. 

Paul is measuring me for my records. Talking about how much I weigh is excruciating, particularly knowing how hard I worked last time. So I'm talking in measurements instead.

I'm faithfully committed to my weight watchers plan and I like the way those numbers look after two weeks. 

This week I mainly spent my early mornings catching up on Netflix on this bad boy

A stationary spin bike! Or over at the park making the most of the sunshine, brisk walking and using the public exercise machines.

Nick, my personal trainer, has been on holiday for 10 days, and because of my back I declined the option to see a newbie in his absence, so I know I'm in for a self imposed world of pain on Tuesday. I love it. I'm looking forward to it.

Onwards and upwards Clanettes.

BLASTseptember!

Lots of love xxxx

School

Here they are, my babies, my offspring, the fruit of my womb. All big and at school. 

I type from the treadmill at the gym. Go me!

Happy Thursday Clanettes xxx

A quick crafty project

We have a blank pin board at home, set aside especially for school/club achievements to parade our certificates proudly.

Bebe and I decided it needed jazzing up a little, it always looks a little sad at the start of the new school year, so we made some decoupage bunting and sorted a 'High Five' sign.

Ta dah! We are very pleased!!

Hyde park

My sister and I went to hyde park in June to see Taylor Swift in concert, and quite apart from the afternoon we spent together and seeing Taylor, we both agreed that Hyde park was pretty cool and we'd like to come back with our kidlets and anyone else who would like to be a part of it.

Yesterday we took the children and my mum there on the train and we had a lovely lovely day.

We hired some borris bikes, which I adore, we went to the 07/07 monument, the princess diana water feature, had ice cream and ran around.

And then we came home and had cake and champagne to toast Yvies 1st birthday.

Paul was away on a training course this weekend, but he was there in spirit through skype

Happy New Year

Its a whole new year Clanettes, I hope you had a lovely Christmas and saw in the new year with people that you love.

I'm starting 2015 with a few new ideas in place. The smallest, but most significant in blog-land is that I am going to attempt a selfie a day this year, 'selfie365'. My friend VF suggested it and given that I intend to make a lot of changes this year, it seems like an appropriate tool for measuring such changes. Don't worry, I'm not going to post a pic everyday, I'll save them up and post collections.

Personally, or physically I guess, the biggest change is that I have actively decided not to work going into 2015.. Paul has gifted me a personal trainer, called Nick. I have gained a lot of weight. A LOT. Nick is going to inspire me in the gym, keep my workouts fresh and inspire my food choices. At home I am going to become 'Chief Economique' and work on keeping house, looking after Paul and the children. And mysef. I stopped working on myself quite some time ago and its time to remedy that.

It all sounds pretty idyllic really, doesn't it. Truth is, I'm terrified. I'm on a lot of medication right now and I want to start coming off it, so I've got my work cut out for me. I know its time, because this time last year I was m i s e r a b l e. This year I feel hopeful. Thats a good place to start, right?

I'll leave you with a few pics of our Christmas. The few blurry ones I have, were taken by the children, so excuse them, but they are good for setting the scene!

Happy 2015 x x

All change

I think I might have mentioned that my sister had a baby!! I went and met Yvie yesterday, she is a total cutie. I'm so proud of my sister.

Massive thanks to Vikki for taking my kidlets to their first day of school, you're a total life saver VF. Love you xxx

I worked my penultimate shift at Kiddicare today.. So sad to see how little is left of the store! I have LOVED working there, and I'm still a little in denial that's all over.. But it really is, the store closes on Monday and the band of merry (wo)men will all move into new jobs.

I cleaned out my locker today

And helped dismantle signage.. 

I had my first shift at Cycleworld this week. Going forward, I'm going to do school hours on a Tuesday and Thursday, and all day Saturday. I'm the only girl and I was a smidge nervous, so I decided to cycle there (show then I do own a bike and know how to ride it!) that was a big deal too actually, getting on my bike was a bit of a milestone. The journey only took me all of 6 minutes. Result!

I had a great day! They were all really nice to me, I figured out the till and built two bicycles all in my first 5 hours!

I had such a great time that the day flew past and as I swaggered out the door, with them all saying a cheery goodbye... I fell off my bike on the forecourt. CRINGE! Fortunately  nothing but my pride was damaged. 

When I'm anxious and not on the ball, the first thing to suffer is my diet and exercise. 

I've gained 24lbs this summer. I'm finally (f i n a l l y) motivated to sort it. I may be the only girl in the shop, but I do not to want be the fat girl too.

So I'm all over planning my food, using myfitnesspal (username anamcarra) and I will blog about food shortly.

Paul has a new job too! He has been with his current employer for 10yrs, so it was not a light decision. He has gone solo, becoming the director of 'Christie Solutions' and starts a new contract at the end of the month.. I'm so excited for him and the new challenges he is looking forward too.

Thanks for reading Clanettes x x

Yvie

My amazing sister had her baby yesterday! Yvie Belle Swanborough was born at 9.24am, weighing 08lbs 01oz. Congratulations to Emily, Daniel and Leif on your new arrival! I'm an Aunty again!!!

Moving on

Ah Clanettes. What a time lapse eh. I last posted from Scotland, and now I write from the Isle of Wight. A holiday sandwich!

To say I've had a time of it in the last 6 weeks, is to understate it, but I'm feeling a little more in control now. 

The Kiddicare store where I work is closing and I am being made redundant. I had major anxiety about it. The job is more than a job, it was my life support, my aim post surgery last year, it was my crutch during quiet days, it was my purpose and my colleagues are my friends. The thought of it not being there frightened me. I totally panicked. But I'm excited to say that I have found a new job, in a bicycle shop no less. They are giving me my own perfect hours and they are as excited to finally have a woman on the team as I am excited to be dealing with bikes and cycle mad people. This lady knows bike mad men!

I've been back to the hospital and had confirmation that my back isn't (wasn't) right. I'm not crazy!! Ok, I am, but you totes know what I mean. One of my screws was too close to a nerve, and I've since had an injection into the nerve. It has taken a while to settle, but it is so much better.

There are lots of life updates on the children and on Paul. So much to talk about.

I'm back peeps, don't worry x x x

Christie wedding

I love a good wedding. I love the fresh faced innocence of true love getting married. There was something extra special about yesterday's Christie wedding, I totes welled up at the vows the resonate as Paul and I celebrate our 10 year anniversary. I felt all smooshy and emotional. 

To Mr and Mrs Rory and Kaye Christie, congratulations on your marriage!! We loved sharing your day, here's to happily ever after xxx