Well??

Who still reads this? Fess up!! If its no one then I won't bother...

Mish Mash

I have been told off by Twinny for not updating my blog regularly enough. I think once a month is pretty poor too, so I think I'll just ramble for a little bit...whilst trying to stay POSITIVE about things! No complaining in this blog, thats the rules!

I believe we have finally decided between the Canon 450d and the Canon Powershot G10. We are going for the G10! Mainly because of cost and portability. Hopefully once the G11 comes out, the G10 will go down in price. I'm still a little miffed that you can buy the G10 in the States for £100 less than you can here. It just doesn't make sense! We've saved up enough Amazon vouchers to be able to not have to spend any money on it though, which is absolutely amazing. I can't wait to take pictures of Baby G when s/he is born.



Talking of Baby G (as always!), I'm 32 weeks pregnant today. Woah. That gives me 8 weeks give or take until two become three! The house is slowly getting ready for his/her arrival, but it still has a long way to go including a whole conservatory build and a bathroom refit. Lord help me! I'm so so so thankful that I have amazing friends and family who are always willing to help. My parents pulled out the decking a couple of weeks ago so that the builders wouldn't have to do it and could just get started on the foundations. My sister keeps offering to come over and do whatever she can to help. Our homegroup from church have offered to have a painting party one Wednesday evening instead of having group, so that we can get the living room painted. ♥ Everyone rocks. I'm glad for all the help though, because the bigger I get, the more helpless I'm becoming! Bless my lovely husband for helping me clean and tidy last night, despite the fact that he is working his socks off and not sleeping too well because of me! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Also my family have been awesome with providing us with things for the baby, like a pushchair and moses basket and cot etc etc etc...



Today I'm thinking of working on our personal website, but I'm considering changing the domain name, as it currently uses our surname as part of the URL. Maybe not the wisest of ideas. I may even transfer this blog over to it, or use this blog for something else but I just can't decide! Its taking me long enough to choose a Wordpress theme for it! Mostly its to keep friends and family updated on photos and everything to do with us - whether people will actually visit the site or not? Who knows?

I was sure I had more to write about than this! I have baby brain!!

Early Morning Thoughts

I haven't blogged since the beginning of July! Shocking! Its a bit of a shame really how my blogging/photo journalling has taken a back seat as of late - maybe I'm just feeling uninspired? All I seem to be thinking about at the moment is the baby/pregnancy and trying to get the house ready for our new arrival. I do miss blogging though. Maybe once I'm on maternity leave (starts Aug 28th!!) I'll get all creative again.

Talking of being creative, last night I met up with some of the girls from church and we got out a load of card making bits and just made some random greetings cards. Maybe thats what has gotten my creative juices flowing! I'm not usually very good with hands-on things like that, I'm much better with a mouse and keyboard. Give me photoshop over glue sticks anyday! But still, I managed to make a passable anniversary card for my brother-in-law and his wife. Sure, I nabbed a few ideas from a good source (hello, Tiny White Daisies!) but at least I can claim that the execution of the project was all mine. Its got me thinking about what kind of birth announcement cards to make. I want to organise that way in advance, but its a little tough when you don't know if you're having a girl or a boy.

See...subject will ALWAYS turn back to Baby G in some way or another! You may have noticed that I'm writing this pretty early. I've been up since 5:30am, not sure why. I think I got woken up by kicks and then I just couldn't get back to sleep again, despite not having gone to bed til 12:40am!! Oops. It's going to be interesting getting through the day today...wow its my last Friday at work!!

Well I might as well make the most of the time I have to get ready this morning, including enjoying a shower which cuts out repeatedly (bring on the new bathroom pleeeeeeeeease!!) and maybe getting to work early?! Shock!!! I shall leave you with my current bump progression. I really should have picked one outfit to showcase Baby G in, but I didn't think that far ahead.

Pesky Critters!

I woke up the other morning and did what I always do, go downstairs to get breakfast and on the way open the living room curtains and check that my plants haven't all disappeared overnight. Usually everything is as it should be, but the other day it wasn't such good news!

Considering this is how it should have looked:

This is how the other side looked:


I was NOT impressed in the slightest. Look at the poor peg pot all filled with soil. I have to clean all of those now! In fact this was a couple of days ago and I can't even bear the thought of going out there to clean it all up because I know half the compost is going to go down through the cracks in the decking. Bah! So unnecessary. I can't wait until we get the conservatory/extension built. Then i'm going to treat myself to new planters for flowers, considering these were left here when we bought the house two years ago and look a little worse for wear. And well done to those of you who noticed the bizarre cat flap that the container full of flowers is hiding. Its only on the outside and not the inside... weird.

Song of the Moment

"Eve of the War" by Jeff Wayne from the War of the Worlds musical

How I heard about this song: Dad has loved the War of the Worlds musical by Jeff Wayne since it first came out in the late 70s! If you haven't heard about the War of the Worlds musical, its basically the story by H.G. Wells set to music. We went to see the stage show at the O2 Arena in London and it was AWESOME.

Why I like this song: Because it reminds me of my childhood and I just love it.

Info on the artist and album: http://www.thewaroftheworlds.com/

Best Estate Ever!

Whoever thought that a new estate in South Woodham Ferrers should have roads named after characters and places from Lord of the Rings is a genius.


View Larger Map

I want to live there! Mostly in "Rivendell Vale". How cool would that address be?!
I'm a geek. And I know it.

Thankfulness, Again

I'm having a bit of a downer day today with very little motivation and a high dislike for anything work related. But of course, I am still determined that my blog should not become a vent for all that is blah, so I shall yet again write a list of things I am thankful for.

♥ I am thankful for Twinny, who has been online during work hours the past week and has kept me sane...literally.

♥ I am thankful for the internet, for which I would not have met some amazing people and learnt so much. (I've just noticed I was thankful for this exact thing the last time! - I think I'm just loving the babycentre boards and the awesome blogs I get to read...)

♥ I am thankful for the roof over my head. We are so blessed to have a house, and I must be grateful even though there is stuff everywhere and DIY projects unfinished.

♥ I am thankful for the beautiful little baby currently growing in me, and thankful that technology means that I get to see Baby G wriggling away on a scan screen - totally amazing.

♥ I am thankful for my husband, who has been incredibly supportive, especially through all my complaining!! ♥ ♥

What are you thankful for?

Song of the Moment

"Open Sky" by Iona

How I heard about this song: My parents bought the album a looooong time ago and I borrowed it for also a very looooong time. Haha! This is the song that inspired the name of my blog and my very first post on it. If you want to hear my fave bit without listening to the whole song, skip ahead to 3:08. I love the virbrato in her voice.

Why I like this song: Because its beautiful, and it calms me and I want to have a voice like Joanne Hogg.

Info on the artist and album: This song is on the album "Open Sky" by Iona. The whole album is pretty much perfect.

Decisions Decisions

Back in April I posted about my technology cravings which included the Canon 450d. We've been diligently saving our Amazon vouchers in order to make such a camera purchase by the time baby comes along. I would love nothing more than to be a prosumer photographer for our little one. However, costing it up it looks like its going to cost a lot of money. The body only is over £400, then there's lenses and a bag and all the other stuff that comes along with it. I reckon it could come close to £1000 knowing us and wanting the best of the best. We really can't afford that now in my opinion, and so we talked to my brother-in-law about it as he is a wedding photographer himself and he has a Canon 5D for his pro-shots. He was saying that he would get a Canon Powershot G10 which is £358 on Amazon.

So...the decision is between a DSLR, the Canon 450D oooooooorrrrr a prosumer point-and-shout, the Canon Powershot G10...





Argh I just can't decide! There are pros and cons to both. The G10 would be much easier to carry around and about, especially when going to the park with Baby or something. But the 450D has a lot more scope for doing interesting things with it, and getting interesting lenses. But then would we really use all the features the 450D has to offer? I don't think we would. I don't know! I need some opinions...like right now!

Photo Envy

Just recently, I have been feeling a fair bit of photo envy. Not many of you will know the story of our wedding photos, and why I have reason to be envious. The short version of the story is that we had a not-quite-so-professional do our wedding photos and we have regretted it ever since. We were shown the photos, on a slideshow and then in one of those cheap books by Photobox and we had so many discussions with the photographer afterwards. Basically half of them just weren't flattering, so he hadn't taken enough shots to get that perfect one, and the post-processing on them was awful. Thankfully hubby's brother is a photographer and he did some post-processing work on them and they look a thousand times better, but they still aren't exactly what we wanted. Its not like we can do it all over again...

When we went over to F&F's (hubby's brother et sister-in-law) the other day, he showed us an album he had put together for a wedding he did a month or so ago. It was beautiful. And I was so envious.

Recently Becka and Nate from Studio222Photography have been posting a lot more on their blog and I absolutely adore their photography. If they had been running their business when we got married back in Sept 2007 (were they? I don't know...) then I would have paid ANYTHING to have them be our wedding photographers. I am envious.

We only had one wedding day, and it was a perfect day. I just feel like the fact that the photography wasn't exactly how we wanted it has marred it a little.

I still love this picture though...one of those captured moments...

I had an excuse...

I realise I haven't blogged in a fairly long while. Perhaps no one even reads this anymore who knows, but I still like to keep this blog for my own reasons.

And this is the reason I haven't blogged...



That is the first 13 week scan of the baby I'm currently growing inside of me. We found out back in March that we are expecting our first baby and ever since then, everything has got very hectic in trying to get the house sorted as we don't currently have the space for a new little one! The "Nasa Space Station" (our pet name for the office) will be demoted (or promoted?) from the second bedroom to a new conservatory/extension built on the back of the house and the second bedroom can once again be made into a bedroom. Hurray!

So the past few months have been taken up with trying to get my head around knowing that I'll be a mummy by November, which is a fairly scary prospect. I've also been struggling a little bit health wise, as obviously I had literally only been on vitamin D supplements for just under a month before I became pregnant so my body has been trying to figure out what on earth is going on. I've also been told that some of my thyroid tablets are not suitable during pregnancy so I've been put on new ones. Essshk! Needless to say I've been a little tired and grouchy. Now that I'm 15 weeks pregnant, things are starting to settle.

The other major thing that happened in my life is that my grandad passed away at the end of April. We're all still trying to come to terms with it, because he wasn't particularly old and it was very much not expected. Life throws these things at you once in a while doesn't it.

So I'm hoping to blog a lot more in the future. The "Song of the Week" is likely to be sporadic still...less song of the week, more "Song of the Moment". In fact I may just change the name to that so I don't have to post quite so religiously.

Song of the Moment

"How He Loves Us" by Kim Walker

How I heard about this song: I think someone sent the link to hubby or something. We listen to it while we're in the office on our computers. SUCH a great song.

Why I like this song: The emotion behind it, the TRUTH behind it!

Info on the artist and album: This song is on the album "We Cry Out" by Kim Walker. She has an amazing range.

Technology Cravings...

Well here I am again! I know its been a month since I last posted but I have my reasons. And as this is a blog primarily for me rather than my adoring fans (*silence*) then I really shouldn't be apologising about it! So there!

I have been having some recent technology cravings. Mostly for this:


Oh man, I want the Canon 450d soooooo much. SO much. We're saving up our Amazon vouchers for one but I don't know if we'll hit the target soon enough for my liking! We have about £150 of vouchers so far. Considering the 450d is over £400 for body only then...hmmmm...not entirely sure its going to happen. If only people would sign up with our Freebies Website!!! Do people really not realise how easy it is?

Second technology craving is this:


I just wish that the iPod Classic came in all the awesome colours that the Nano does. I could do with a bit of colour in my life at the moment! However, I'm willing to sacrifice the cuteness and brightness of a Nano for the amount of space (120GB, hello!!) on a Classic. Plus I'm less likely to sit on it and crush it to little pieces!

Plus, I can't WAIT til this comes out in June:


I completely realise that this makes me a very geeky person, but I really don't care! :D :D :D Ok i'm done, now to think about song of the week...or the month should I say!!

Song of the Moment

"Jump" by Van Halen

Van Halen - Jump
Uploaded by hushhush112

How I heard about this song: I *think* I've just grown up knowing this song. Who hasn't? Well, I guess only people with rock loving fathers will have known this song.

Why I like this song: See my post on "My Happy Song", that pretty much sums it up. Haha, I love his long blonde hair in the vid, and the outfit! Classic.

Info on the artist and album: Van Halen ROCK. So there.

Is Anybody Out There?

Its funny to think that so many people read my blog. I wonder why you guys read it? Or who you are? How you found me? What you think about my ramblings? I know my mum reads my blog because I gave her the link and she said that she read my blog to find out more about how my hospital appointment went. I wonder if she got anything new out of it, haha.

So why don't you comment already? Go on, I dares ya! Now my Twinny has gone to Australia for 2 months I'll be commentless...

And to give this post a bit of substance rather than just nonsense, on the health front I'm feeling much less achy than I was. It's still there, but its no where near as bad. However, I'm having other adverse reactions to my tablets. I have to now make the decision as to whether I go back to the GP who misdiagnosed me, or wait until I've managed to register with the new one. I'm thinking the latter. I really don't want to go back to those nincompoops in my old doctors surgery.

Song of the Moment

"Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles

How I heard about this song: This song is in memoriam of my twin, who absolutely loves to sing this song and rocks at it. She's going to Australia for 2 months next week so I know she'll appreciate this! I first heard this song sometime while I was at university.

Why I like this song: I mostly love this song because I LOVE to sing it. I love the rhythm of it too.

Info on the artist and album: Alannah Myles (she's a Canadian dontcha know) is still around and doing pretty well for herself I should imagine. She recently released an album called...wait for it..."Black Velvet". How original. But I'm sure its good. It has this song on it, possibly an enhanced version?

The ACTUAL Diagnosis

In my previous post (the one that wasn't Song of the Week...) I wrote the following:

Monday is THE hospital appointment where I find out my results... fibromyalgia? Vitamin D deficiency? Coeliac disease? All will soon be revealed! And I can't wait, although I'm a little nervy about it all. You know, each of those results will change things for me completely one way or the other. Right now I'm in limbo.

I went to see my doctor in London today. Firstly, man was that journey exhausting! It took the majority of the day in travelling and I didn't realise how many stairs there were on the underground and at train stations. All of that for literally a 2 minute appointment!

The results are in, and he told me that... *drum roll* ... I have a vitamin D deficiency. My levels are really really low, and that is what is causing the pain. He said he's seen some people with this issue that can barely walk because of it. So I guess I've caught it quite early! I'm now starting on some Vit D supplements and I'll go back in 6-8 weeks and he said I should be feeling loads better by then. Apparently the deficiency is caused by a bad diet and lack of exposure to the sun. So hubby and I are going to start juicing again and really focus on our fruit/veg intake and reduce our cake/chocolate intake and perhaps manage to book a holiday for Easter? Yes please!!

I am SO happy with that diagnosis. Amazing, praise God! etc etc. It was the diagnosis I was hoping for as it is the one easiest to fix! YAY!!! However, I am NOT happy with my GP. When I first went to see them after the aching began, I was told there was nothing wrong with me and to come back in 4 weeks if it still hurt. Shortly after this, I saw this article on the BBC News website and so went back to my GP to ask them to check my vitamin D levels. She practically refused to do the blood test, saying that last time I was tested she checked for something (I can't remember what she said) and that if I had low vit D it would have shown in that result. When I spoke to my rheumatologist in London about that, he said "that's a load of bollocks" (his actual words!!). My GP then proceeded to tell me that the aches were hormonal, and to take Evening Primrose Oil and just get on with it. (!!!) I went down the whole fibromyalgia route thinking it was what I had because I didn't know any better. The symptoms fit, and no one could seem to find anything wrong with me, until now!

I am so thankful for the opportunity to see one of the top rheumatologists in the country, and I will spread the word to people on the fibro-forum I used to visit just on the off-chance that someone might have the same experience as me.

So watch this space for a much much healthier me, I CANNOT WAIT!!

Song of the Moment

"Everything" by Lifehouse - and with a meaning...

How I heard about this video: This time its less about the song and more about the video. Of course its an awesome song, and I've been listening to Lifehouse for a very long time. But eventually, this video started doing the rounds on Facebook and it touched my heart so much that I want every one to see it.

Why I like this video: Because this one video sums up my life so far. It makes me cry every time.

Info on the artist and album: The song is by Lifehouse, and I have NO idea what album its on, I can't find it!

Random Mish-Mash

I need to post my "Song of the Week" but I can't bear to do it right above the last Song of the Week, so I guess I better post something! (Plus Twinny told me to, and what she says goes I guess!)

This has been a very strange week for me. I started the week feeling pretty good actually, healthwise. Which is a rare but wonderful occurrence. So I managed to make it into work and get lots done, come home and make dinner, do the ironing, watch some TV with hubby etc etc. I was a bit of a whirlwind.

Now? Not so much. I'm off work again. It seems I have made the same age old mistake of doing too much on my good days. I guess I ran out of spoons.

However, putting a brave/positive face on! Monday is THE hospital appointment where I find out my results... fibromyalgia? Vitamin D deficiency? Coeliac disease? All will soon be revealed! And I can't wait, although I'm a little nervy about it all. You know, each of those results will change things for me completely one way or the other. Right now I'm in limbo.

In other news, I had my haircut. Wow, what a girly blog this is turning out to be. Health and haircuts. The excitement! This was a big step for me though because I got brave and said to my hairstylist, "I need something DIFFERENT". So she cut me in a fringe (bangs), as its THE hairstyle for 2009 don't ya know? I have had SO many compliments from people at work about it. Even people I barely know are walking past and saying "have you had your hair done? It looks great! You look younger!" Which is a great thing, and great for the confidence levels. Maybe thats why I've been doing well this week? Hm, who knows.

In other other news, the weekend with my twin has been and gone. It feels like SO long ago, and I do miss her. She's flying off to Oz in a couple of weeks and I'm going to miss her...despite her being so far away already! Haha. The weekend ROCKED. Unfortunately I was not as well as I would have liked to be but we managed a shopping trip, and quick visit to the freezing cold beach, a trip to the zoo and cake decorating. Amongst other things like watching Stardust, one of my favourite movies. So to end this random mish-mash of a post...behold the TIGERS from the zoo.

Song of the Moment

"Love You More" by Racoon

How I heard about this song: I was watching music TV at my sisters house in Rotterdam, Holland and heard this and instantly loved it.

Why I like this song: Its just such a beautiful love song, about how love just keeps getting stronger. I love the acoustic guitarness feel of it too.

Info on the artist and album: Racoon are a dutch band who you are unlikely to have heard of unless you listen to European MTV or something like that. Maybe they'll find their way to the UK and the US someday? This song comes from the album "Another Day".