Isn’t it strange how a word or thought suddenly jolts something in your mind which then starts a conversation, this is just what happened last weekend when my mother came to dinner, she asked me if I remembered the day she took me, my sister and best friend Sue to Longleat for the day and how on the way home doing what girls do best were waving furiously at two guys on a motorbike and ended up handing our telephone number and address through the car window much to my mothers disgust
Another ten miles down the road and we had forgotten our little tryst with the motorbike guys and were keen to get home, have some tea and slob in front of the television, we had been doing this for about an hour when the doorbell rang, not expecting visitors and also living above a post office you had to be careful about opening the door, not that we were living in dangerous times and were expecting armed robbers but never the less.
Peering around the counter to see who the visitor might be, my first thought was of a midget alien dressed in leather until shock, horror I realised it was the chap on the motorbike, aghh, he certainly looked different when standing. My first thought was to run an hide and hope that he would go away but unfortunately he had seen me and was waving and beckoning me to the door, what could I do. ‘Hi I’m Richard’ he said stepping across the threshold like an astronaut taking his first steps onto a new planet he certainly looked as though he came from one, ‘Hi I’m Susan you’d better come up’ I blurted out as I ran in front of him to warn the family and beg them to act normally and not laugh but what always happens when you ask people not to laugh they do even if they don’t know why.
Well that was not the last we would see of Richard in fact he plagued me for weeks, wanting me to be his side kick and join him in races at the stadium, he was going to kit me out in leather and we would look like a couple of aliens together, no thanks.
But no matter how rude or harsh I was with him he was as determined to keep me as I was to get rid of him. So one evening he invited me to the stadium and I promised I would only go if my friend Sue could accompany us he reluctantly agreed and attached the sidecar to his bike. I rode pillion, Sue in the sidecar, I have to admit I was quite enjoying the thought of going to the races and started to relax after all I didn’t have to marry him. As I let my mind wander I didn’t see the accident waiting to happen until it was to late, we sailed down Groveland’s Road Richard swerved to the left and Sue and the sidecar went their own way and swerved across the road and landed up outside the Pond House pub, up a wall.
‘Richard’ I yelled and banged him on the back to attract his attention and stop the bike, we both raced to Sue who was thrashing around like a turtle on its back. Together we pulled her out and she was not best pleased. Richard by now had dragged the bike over as was trying to put things back together when I noticed a bus coming along that would take us home, I nudged Sue and off we went, as the bus passed we watched Richard still trying to reattach the sidecar .We laughed our heads off all the way home and it was much better than the races and a God send as I refused to see him again on the grounds that he nearly killed my friend.
Sunday, 3 June 2007
Monday, 28 May 2007
Mum has the answer
There is a saying that goes ‘thou cast a clout till May is out’ and this weekend is no exception. For the sensible folk that decided to travel to warmer climes I salute you, as for the rest of us, what fools we were to believe that we could enjoy the English countryside and all it had to offer.
I trawled the Internet looking for indoor activities that we could all enjoy as a family but there were none. I considered wrapping up warm against the elements and convincing everyone that we should put on a brave face and go back to our original plan to visit the country fair at Highclere but there were no takers. So back to the drawing board where I drew a blank.
My daughter phoning every five minutes moaning about the boredom that had set in and expecting me to provide answers for the weekend activities. What am I a Butlins red coat with a host of activities to suit all weathers and occasions all up the sleeve of my infamous red blazer? I don’t think so but it would seem that no matter how old they are even with their own children, mum is still meant to come up with the answers. Does this make me a failure? as a mother certainly not but it does as a red coat.
This is one time when going back to work after a long weekend will actually be a pleasure at least I know what I will be doing for the day come rain or shine, working.
I trawled the Internet looking for indoor activities that we could all enjoy as a family but there were none. I considered wrapping up warm against the elements and convincing everyone that we should put on a brave face and go back to our original plan to visit the country fair at Highclere but there were no takers. So back to the drawing board where I drew a blank.
My daughter phoning every five minutes moaning about the boredom that had set in and expecting me to provide answers for the weekend activities. What am I a Butlins red coat with a host of activities to suit all weathers and occasions all up the sleeve of my infamous red blazer? I don’t think so but it would seem that no matter how old they are even with their own children, mum is still meant to come up with the answers. Does this make me a failure? as a mother certainly not but it does as a red coat.
This is one time when going back to work after a long weekend will actually be a pleasure at least I know what I will be doing for the day come rain or shine, working.
Sunday, 13 May 2007
Secrets
I am currently reading a book called ‘Secrets’ by Rhonda Byrne, it tells you how to apply positive thinking to be able to obtain anything you want in your life. There is no limit from, abundance, happiness, health, wealth, the whole kit and caboodle. It really does make very interesting reading, you really have to put your mind to it and not allow yourself to be surrounded by negativity, this can be hard especially for someone like me that always wore a cloak of despair and could only see the negative aspect of life and everything else, it was almost like a hobby to me.
You have to believe in yourself and in what you want to achieve, once you have determined this you visualize it and then be thankful for when it happens. On the other hand my husband (Geoff) has always had a positive outlook on life, even when he was made redundant three years ago, my first reaction was of doom and gloom, wolf at the door and in my worst moments, no door for the wolf to be at! But despite all this bless him he carried on being positive for both of us. I ranted, cried and despaired, he plodded on and on and on. I am sure there were times when packing up and leaving me in my pit of despair would have been easier for him.
Three years on we have turned the corner he has his own business, which is expanding, and I have at last reduced my hours at work albeit by just a few hours each week. This is just the start as he says; “this time next year we’ll be millionai
You have to believe in yourself and in what you want to achieve, once you have determined this you visualize it and then be thankful for when it happens. On the other hand my husband (Geoff) has always had a positive outlook on life, even when he was made redundant three years ago, my first reaction was of doom and gloom, wolf at the door and in my worst moments, no door for the wolf to be at! But despite all this bless him he carried on being positive for both of us. I ranted, cried and despaired, he plodded on and on and on. I am sure there were times when packing up and leaving me in my pit of despair would have been easier for him.
Three years on we have turned the corner he has his own business, which is expanding, and I have at last reduced my hours at work albeit by just a few hours each week. This is just the start as he says; “this time next year we’ll be millionai
Monday, 7 May 2007
Curse of the Werewolf
What is wrong with me I have been floating around in a fog, sometimes of despair other times euphoria but no lasting happy medium of normality. Why? Well I am at that difficult age where the hormones decrease causing mood swings which over time can wreck your life and anyone else’s within shouting distance, if you are all lucky enough to survive this you can hopefully come out the other end more understanding (your spouse) and move on but you are it seems always on the precipice.
Once the depletion of the hormones has settled you then realise that your body is less female and facial hair has started sprouting overnight causing yet more misery so the semblance of normality that the whole family has begun to enjoy is swiftly replaced by anger at turning into the lady with the wrinkles and beard. As a child I thought the bearded lady was a myth just made up to make money.
My first awareness of the invasion of long black hairs was pointed out by a friend who asked had I not looked in the mirror lately, I explained when you reach a certain age mirror hogging was no longer a hobby. Maybe you should she explained as she tugged at the bunch of black hairs that had appeared from nowhere on the side of my face. I was horrified how many others had seen them and not mentioned it to me for fear of embarrassing me, how long had they languished there.
Surely on the odd occasion when I have ventured towards a mirror wouldn’t they have stood out, was my eyesight also failing, what other damage can lack of hormones do to you. Looking in the mirror in her office she was right, they stood out like sore thumbs.
‘Have you any tweezers she asks I will pull them for you’ No I reply I didn’t realise I should need to carry the equivalent of my husbands grooming kit alongside everything else in my bag just in case a bunch of rogue hairs appears. As we had access to dressing packs we rummaged through and found some big plastic tweezers they were not suitable to grasp one hair let alone a bunch so in desperation we cut them off leaving a bunch of stubble, which in fact probably looked worse. She was trying desperately hard not to laugh as she could see how mortified I was especially as I had always prided myself on looking as well turned out as I possibly could under the aging process and had always felt that I was succeeding.
I did point out to her that it was no laughing matter and that it would only be a matter of time before she experienced the same, a long time admittedly but it would happen nonetheless. Then of course there is the little matter of the bulging midriff, which also comes with the depletion of the female hormones. So I was turning into an unshaven middle-aged slob. No longer the woman my husband had fallen in love with, they say love is blind and it is at this time of your life you really hope that is true.
To be continued….. I have to shave!
Once the depletion of the hormones has settled you then realise that your body is less female and facial hair has started sprouting overnight causing yet more misery so the semblance of normality that the whole family has begun to enjoy is swiftly replaced by anger at turning into the lady with the wrinkles and beard. As a child I thought the bearded lady was a myth just made up to make money.
My first awareness of the invasion of long black hairs was pointed out by a friend who asked had I not looked in the mirror lately, I explained when you reach a certain age mirror hogging was no longer a hobby. Maybe you should she explained as she tugged at the bunch of black hairs that had appeared from nowhere on the side of my face. I was horrified how many others had seen them and not mentioned it to me for fear of embarrassing me, how long had they languished there.
Surely on the odd occasion when I have ventured towards a mirror wouldn’t they have stood out, was my eyesight also failing, what other damage can lack of hormones do to you. Looking in the mirror in her office she was right, they stood out like sore thumbs.
‘Have you any tweezers she asks I will pull them for you’ No I reply I didn’t realise I should need to carry the equivalent of my husbands grooming kit alongside everything else in my bag just in case a bunch of rogue hairs appears. As we had access to dressing packs we rummaged through and found some big plastic tweezers they were not suitable to grasp one hair let alone a bunch so in desperation we cut them off leaving a bunch of stubble, which in fact probably looked worse. She was trying desperately hard not to laugh as she could see how mortified I was especially as I had always prided myself on looking as well turned out as I possibly could under the aging process and had always felt that I was succeeding.
I did point out to her that it was no laughing matter and that it would only be a matter of time before she experienced the same, a long time admittedly but it would happen nonetheless. Then of course there is the little matter of the bulging midriff, which also comes with the depletion of the female hormones. So I was turning into an unshaven middle-aged slob. No longer the woman my husband had fallen in love with, they say love is blind and it is at this time of your life you really hope that is true.
To be continued….. I have to shave!
Wrinkle free
Well it has been a long time since I commenced my blog! It doesn't bother me too much whether anyone else ever comments, reads or looks, the idea is for me to be able to write and release any moans, groans and frustrations I have with life in general, on the other hand if there is anyone out there that wishes to do the same then I shall be happy to share any thoughts with them.
Since the last blog a lot of things have gone on in my life, firstly my husband left me, not for good only to go to Spain for a week on business, thank goodness! But how strange and easy it becomes to revert to being a single person once again not that it felt right or good I might add.
The kitchen has always been a no go area as far as I am concerned other than cooking the odd jacket potato and throwing some salad on a plate mainly for my son's benefit as he still lives at home and expects to be fed, what you expect and what you get are to different things! Geoff, my husband bless him, did leave food cooked and prepared in the freezer but neither of us could remember to take it out in good time for dinner, sad aren't we?
Other than that, the week passed by and on Geoff's return I learned quickly how to share my bed once again with another instead of spreading myself about.
The media and television documentaries have caused a riot for the wrinkled of us and queues of females and the odd male i.e my husband have formed outside of Boots to obtain the 'Holy Grail' of face creams. I am no exception to them I wish to turn back the hands of time and regain the youthful looks I once had instead of looking at my dear mother and realising I am catching up with her. Does it work only time will tell and hopefully I have enough time to be able to! Watch this space or watch this face!
I have recently brought a book called 'the Secret' by Rhonda Byrne, it tells us how to achieve all we want in life providing we send out the right messages to the universe i.e positive thinking, as I want to be thinner and hate exercise and love food, I am hoping that the picture I have in my minds eye is a slimmer me holding wads of money oh and no wrinkles, well they say the mind is a powerful tool.
Like most woman I hate exercise and sharing a gym with the male sex. I was encouraged to join an all woman's establishment on the basis that you would only be sharing your wobbly bits with other females and not be ogled, how wrong was that. Almost from day one the guy that owned the gym was there and nearly everyday after.
I did complain but the girls who worked there had little say in his being there and he was adamant that as the owner it was his right. Many others complained and left as I did. I cancelled my monthly subscription but had signed a contract binding me for a year. I wrote to explain why I had chosen to do this but rather than discuss the matter he simply sold on the debt to a collection agency leaving me no choice other than to pay as interest was added on an almost daily basis. At this point we wrote explaining we would take him to the small claims court and he then threatened us with corporate lawyers, this is still ongoing. So women and girls please always read the small print and be aware of sexual predators using their gym's to watch you exercise.
Since the last blog a lot of things have gone on in my life, firstly my husband left me, not for good only to go to Spain for a week on business, thank goodness! But how strange and easy it becomes to revert to being a single person once again not that it felt right or good I might add.
The kitchen has always been a no go area as far as I am concerned other than cooking the odd jacket potato and throwing some salad on a plate mainly for my son's benefit as he still lives at home and expects to be fed, what you expect and what you get are to different things! Geoff, my husband bless him, did leave food cooked and prepared in the freezer but neither of us could remember to take it out in good time for dinner, sad aren't we?
Other than that, the week passed by and on Geoff's return I learned quickly how to share my bed once again with another instead of spreading myself about.
The media and television documentaries have caused a riot for the wrinkled of us and queues of females and the odd male i.e my husband have formed outside of Boots to obtain the 'Holy Grail' of face creams. I am no exception to them I wish to turn back the hands of time and regain the youthful looks I once had instead of looking at my dear mother and realising I am catching up with her. Does it work only time will tell and hopefully I have enough time to be able to! Watch this space or watch this face!
I have recently brought a book called 'the Secret' by Rhonda Byrne, it tells us how to achieve all we want in life providing we send out the right messages to the universe i.e positive thinking, as I want to be thinner and hate exercise and love food, I am hoping that the picture I have in my minds eye is a slimmer me holding wads of money oh and no wrinkles, well they say the mind is a powerful tool.
Like most woman I hate exercise and sharing a gym with the male sex. I was encouraged to join an all woman's establishment on the basis that you would only be sharing your wobbly bits with other females and not be ogled, how wrong was that. Almost from day one the guy that owned the gym was there and nearly everyday after.
I did complain but the girls who worked there had little say in his being there and he was adamant that as the owner it was his right. Many others complained and left as I did. I cancelled my monthly subscription but had signed a contract binding me for a year. I wrote to explain why I had chosen to do this but rather than discuss the matter he simply sold on the debt to a collection agency leaving me no choice other than to pay as interest was added on an almost daily basis. At this point we wrote explaining we would take him to the small claims court and he then threatened us with corporate lawyers, this is still ongoing. So women and girls please always read the small print and be aware of sexual predators using their gym's to watch you exercise.
Sunday, 22 April 2007
Who's Suzie
Who am I, what am I, where am I.
Well to start off I am in my middle years physically but mentally is any ones guess and changes on a day to day basis. This could have a lot to do with hormones, well that is my excuse and it seems to work pretty well.
On a more serious note I work as a nurse in charge of a respiratory clinic and have been working for the same hospital for 30 years, a life sentence, there have been many changes some good some not so good, mainly political and governmental but whats new.
I have two grown up children, well they have reached the age of Independence but one chooses not to take up this offer a slow starter methinks (male). My daughter on the other hand has already produced a male of her own, but hopefully things will change over time, ha ha.
Husbands, I have had three, not one of them died however, had I stayed married to the first two that would have been a possibility. Number three on the other hand is brilliant the sort of husband every girl deserves, but kissing all those frogs wasn't nice. I don't refer to him as a number it was just the way it happened but my past experiences makes me appreciative of him. I needed to go through those to reach my goal of a happy marriage and thankfully that is what I have.
My reason for a blog was to reach out to middle aged woman, find out what they think, what they want, tips on any subject, to support, laugh and communicate and hopefully this is what I will achieve.
Well to start off I am in my middle years physically but mentally is any ones guess and changes on a day to day basis. This could have a lot to do with hormones, well that is my excuse and it seems to work pretty well.
On a more serious note I work as a nurse in charge of a respiratory clinic and have been working for the same hospital for 30 years, a life sentence, there have been many changes some good some not so good, mainly political and governmental but whats new.
I have two grown up children, well they have reached the age of Independence but one chooses not to take up this offer a slow starter methinks (male). My daughter on the other hand has already produced a male of her own, but hopefully things will change over time, ha ha.
Husbands, I have had three, not one of them died however, had I stayed married to the first two that would have been a possibility. Number three on the other hand is brilliant the sort of husband every girl deserves, but kissing all those frogs wasn't nice. I don't refer to him as a number it was just the way it happened but my past experiences makes me appreciative of him. I needed to go through those to reach my goal of a happy marriage and thankfully that is what I have.
My reason for a blog was to reach out to middle aged woman, find out what they think, what they want, tips on any subject, to support, laugh and communicate and hopefully this is what I will achieve.
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