The weather is officially glorious! Had a lovely Me day today, took the dog for a walk in the beautiful morning sunshine then took myself off for a mani/pedi before getting ready for lunch treats with Saf! We went over to Bluebells in sunningdale (I know I have blogged about that place before) and we had a delish lunch and catch up in the sun, was fabulous and a great way to start the weekend, as usual my booze bill was more than the food though and I only had 2 small proseccos and a glass of Sauvignon!

My starter, Eggs Benedict, delish

I am having a crap week - too much going on and I rather feel as though I am running to catch up with myself at the moment.  Sigh. I did however have a lovely time at my Big Girl's class assembly this morning, they did a production of Robin Hood, complete with rendition of 'Everything I do, I do it for you' !  She was a Narrator and delivered her lines beautifully, I was very proud.  I also spoke with my Sis and Andrew on Skype and guess what Droo can point at a photo of him with his cousin and say 'Androoo and ZACH!!!!'  It is THE cutest thing to hear, he is just getting better and better each day and I am so proud of him and Rigs and Andrea for all of their hard work.  I can't imagine how tough it has been for Rigs not having her baby talk to her for all this time.. well, now he is and is coming on leaps and bounds, just got to get my Italian up to scratch now! 

Ah sunshine, how we have missed you!  I have to say that England looks beautifully green due to the constant rain that we have had, but I am not sad to see the back of it and am ready to embrace the sunshine, well almost.. I need a pedicure, and I need to get my white self in to some sun, for a good amount of time.  I have made some great summer purchases recently though so will share them with you now. 

Firstly these Tory Burch flip flops, £29 from Biscester the other week;

This cute H&M sundress only £7 as I had a £5 gift card

This H&M dress £18 using a discount code that I found online



Woohoo, I do love a good thrifty find or two, and not bad seeing as I am not meant to be buying summer clothes hahaha!  I do however need to lose a few lbs in order to do justice to some old and beautiful summer items, so operation Summer Body has started.  I have been running - much easier and more enjoyable with the sunshine, and am cutting back on the wine.  I can't do a diet as such, just eat smaller portions of everything and exercise more, it is a no brainer really. 

Talking of sun, I am all booked to stay at San Gregorio at La Casella for the whole time that I am in Italy in August, here is my apartment and this is a shot of the pool taken last year

.. I really really cannot wait.  My darling Andrew was taken in to hospital over the weekend with some horrid flu type infection, poor darling was running a hugely high temperature and swollen glands and they were really worried about him.  Happily he seems to be on the mend but at times like these I really wish I was there to just nip over and help out... one day...

Oven update - the Smeg engineer finally came and fixed my oven on Friday, but I had to pay him - to be fair he was really nice and agreed that the element should not have gone after 14 months, so I am going to write to them and complain, if an oven can't get hot then WTF is the point in having one?!?!

Today I am going to have a quick moan - as most of you know I am a Customer Service Consultant, and, unsurprisingly, I take customer service very seriously.  I also like to buy, where possible/ sensible, quality items that will serve me well and last.  So, imagine my horror when (thankfully at the end of lunch!) I went to cook some additional Yorkshire puddings and found that the control on my oven wouldn't work - the 15 month old, very expensive SMEG oven!  So, I phoned the helpline only to be told that it was out of warranty and would cost me £125 for a call out and to have it replaced.  Not happy.  So I phoned customer services and complained that this was not acceptable and the oven was not fit for use.  The operator has fobbed me off with free parts and promise of call from an engineer to discuss the costs for fixing it.  Quite frankly I think that it is terrible service for a reputable company, I had expected better and will be sitting down to pen a letter of complaint shortly.  Grrr.

On Friday we joined our family in Hampton in Arden for Grandad's funeral.  It was so wonderful to have everyone there to send off Jim Walter Greenwood MBE in style - just as a quick aside, my Granddad and his bomb squad colleagues saved Harrods from obliteration in the late 70's, how cool is that?! - the service was very moving, the vicar was lovely, my cousin read a great reading and Dad delivered the eulogy with grace and love.  It was all very poignant and dignified and my lovely Nana was really touched by the love and support that she received. 

We had the most amazing day on Friday - I couldn't wait to get back here and write it all up so that I can't forget a moment of it - but it has been a really busy weekend, just by way of a change.

I leapt out of bed on Friday morning (not something I do very often!) went down to the yard to feed Bug for Mum, before heading out to school to meet our new caretaker and do a premises walk with him - ANYWAY - I was all done by 9.30 so came home and got ready for the day.  In my great excitement I decided to tweet the lovely Raymond to let him know that we were so so looking forward to our visit, much to the great amusement of our friends who just teased me mercilessly... UNTIL he re tweeted me!  I was over the moon to get a reply, and those wicked friends of mine were very jealous, so all good!! Hubs took Zach off to Granny's and we were all set to leave at 10.  We zipped up the motorway to have an hours' child free shopping at Biscester before heading over to Le Manoir.  I got some fab Tory Burch flip flops (sadly they only had my coveted Reva pumps in sludge green or glittery gold, hmm, that's the trouble with outlets!) but I shall talk about them another time.

We set off for the beautiful village of Great Milton, which is a joy in itself quite honestly, and turned in to the sweeping drive at Le Manoir at exactly 1.15pm.  We were shown to the very comfortable and pristine lounge where we enjoyed a glass of champagne and canapes whilst we chose our lunch.  The somellier came over and recommended a bottle of Domaine Henry Pelle Menetou-Salon Morogues (Sauvignon Blanc) from the Loire Valley, France.  Next we were shown in to the conservatory to our table and were introduced to our wonderful server James who then looked after us amazingly for the entire meal. It was just fabulous, the flavours, freshness and textures, just heavenly. Cliched maybe, but it was perfection on a plate. This is what we ate;

I was pleasantly surprised to find a beautifully wrapped present on my place setting, and just assumed this might be something that was customary - until James explained that those who tweet and are re tweeted by M. Blanc, receive a gift!  Just more delight!  Here is my pressie - seriously my face hurt from all of the smiling that I did that afternoon.

 At the end of our meal we enjoyed a glass of the Bellbird Sauvignon Blanc with our pudding, and loved the fact that we were one of the last tables in the dining room.  James came to have a chat with us and ask how everything went, I was dying to walk around the gardens but the weather was a bit too rubbish (and I felt that my Louboutins would have made for some unwanted lawn aeration) so we decided against that, but James gave us a map of them and then asked whether we might like a tour of the kitchens instead..  WOW a full on kitchen tour, yes please!  So, drinks finished we were lead to the kitchen by another one of his delightful colleagues and were given an in depth insight in to the back office at Le Manoir.  Just immense, the kitchens are vast and so immaculate it was so fascinating to see it all live and in action - and I particularly loved the fact that there is a bust of RB above the door as the servers leave with the dishes, he is always watching over them, even if he isn't there ;) Sadly he wasn't there, but it was so lovely to meet his Head Chef and everyone else, such genuinely lovely people, utmost professionals and a joy to be around. 

Sigh, can you tell that we had an incredible day?  We came home buzzing and ready to book again. One of the main things about the whole day was that it was, for us, a full experience and a very special day for us, just us and no distractions, a chance to relax, talk, laugh and just be us for a while, no outside world to worry about - a precious little bubble, even for a shortwhile.  Yes, I looked away when signing the bill but hey, I have worked hard to take us there and for us it was worth every penny.  We are hoping to go back with Saf and Ram in the summer, so it is back off to put our names down on the waiting list, and to putting those pennies aside.  Thank you Le Manoir, for such an incredible and uplifting day, truly sensational food, service and surroundings, we can't wait to be back with you.

OOh and what I wore?  Crap pic but;

Black 7/8ths - Zara
Silk printed dress - Mango
Black Blazer - Zara
Alex monroe necklace
Oversized pearl earrings
Gold watch by Michael Kors
Faithful Blue Louboutins
Marc Jacobs Elise Handbag

We are off to Le Manoir!  I can't actually contain my excitement anymore, my working week is almost done, and I am counting down the hours..  Tomorrow at 1.15pm we have a table booked at Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons - a table that I booked for us in February, yep that's right, a 3 month waiting list!  Still, we have wanted to go for ages, and were going to do it for our 10 year wedding anniversary last year but never did, so I decided to book and treat us.  The 3 month wait meant that I could save up too!  We aren't staying sadly (would need more than 3 months to save for that) but are very much looking forward to the 5 course lunch and leisurely afternoon in the beautiful surroundings.  I shall report the whole thing back, including what I wore, tomorrow. 

Tonight we have the lovely Jay and Jude coming over for catch up and a takeaway which will be great as it feels like ages since we saw them.  I am thrilled to report that Steve's operation to remove the filter in his main blood vessel went well yesterday, it sounded like a truly horrendous procedure involving him being awake and the doctors going in through his jugular (!) but he is OK and has left hospital again. 

All the plans are underway for Granddad's funeral next week, my Dad has been such a star, so stoical and organised.  I really am dreading it, seeing my poor Nana upset and confused, that is going to break my heart. But, at least we can be there and offer our love and support for all that is to come.

There are few things in life more therapeutic than making risotto! I love the calmness of the preparation, the continuous stirring and nurturing of it and the steaming fragrant plate that you end up devouring, hot and tasty and using only a fork.  Last night I made asparagus, pea and Parmesan risotto and I'm happy to report that it was highly satisfying and delish;

Asparagus, Pea and Parmesan Risotto

30g butter
70ml white wine
1/2 onion or 3 shallots
300g arborio rice
100g asparagus
50g petits pois
700ml chicken/ veg stock (I use Marigold Swiss Bouillon)
50g Parmesan
Salt & Pepper

Method

Melt the butter over a medium heat and sautee the onions until soft.  Add the rice and stir for about a minute, until it dries out.  Season and stir.  Add the wine and stir in, add the stock ladle at a time and keep stirring, don't stop until its done!  After about 15 minutes add the asparagus, keep stirring, add more stock, after 5 more minutes add the peas and keep stirring/ adding stock until the rice has fully absorbed the liquid and the asparagus has a little bite.  Cooking time is 30-40 mins.
Once the risotto is finished stir in the Parmesan and serve with extra freshly grated Parmesan.
Enjoy with a nice cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc :)

I also spoke with Rigs over skype last night, planning the finer details of our trip to Italy in the summer - so exciting, but even better was the Andrew was forming proper words and was trying to say 'Auntie Katy' - I could definately hear it, which was just fantastic!  So so lovely to hear him saying real words, he said 'ciao, ciao' as we said goodbye too, was so lovely to hear, he is doing so very well and I can't wait to see him when they come home in July for Em's wedding.

Another weekend flies past..  On Saturday we had a good catch up and Supper with Steve before heading over to Woking to cheer Rehan on in the production of The King and I at the New Victoria Theatre.  It was a brilliant show, the set and cast were fabulous and Rehan was the consummate professional, it was a super evening, and we definitely have a star in the making - watch this space!

On Sunday the house filled full of our friends and their kids for Zach's 3rd birthday party.  I had hired a Thomas train track and kids rollercoaster for the day anticipating the sunshine at the the end of April.. No such luck, it thrashed down all day so we had to rearrange the living room to accommodate everything, it went really well though and they all loved it.  In true Neill fashion we didn't say goodbye to the last of our guests until late in the evening but we all had a great time with much fun and laughter from adults and kids alike.  Zach wanted a diesel 10 cake (not just plain old Thomas!) so I commissioned this fab fondant topper from loveableleanne on ebay and made the cake and iced it myself.  It took forever to do the no 3 as the metal tin needed to be lined and greased, it was a complete mission, especially as I am not the world's best or most patient baker!  But he was thrilled with it, and was over the moon, so that made it all worthwhile.

April 30th 2012, the day my Grandad passed away.  The cancer was just too aggressive and he couldn't fight it anymore.  One thing that we can all take comfort in is the fact that he went quietly in his sleep, the dignified end that he felt he could only hope for.  Rest in peace Grandad, you will be missed by us all.

So, April is almost over and my little boy is 3!  It really seems no time at all since he was born..  We had a lovely time at the weekend celebrating his birthday, on Friday night we made the trek up to Nottingham (which took 4 hours! Nightmare) and stayed in a hotel for the night.  Saturday morning saw two very excited kids leap out of bed and head down to breakfast before going for a swim in the fantastic hotel pool and then setting off up to Leeds.  We arrived at Kate and Tom's just before lunch, Kate had decorated the whole place with banners and balloons and she had made the most fabulous train cake for Zoomy, he LOVED it! I was so touched, she really is so lovely.  After a quick itinerary check we headed out to Flying Pizza for amazing food and a great noisy catch up.  We then walked down to Roundhay park and went to Tropical World, which was excellent!  After all that we walked on over in to the park, had ice creams and even a ride on Thomas before making the long walk home again for Train Cake, tea and wine.  Z was beside himself with excitement, love him.  It was so so wonderful to see them both and spend time having a proper catch up about the baby and house plans and general catch up - it is 3 months since their wedding already and they look so very happy and content.. Baby bump is coming along nicely and she looks amazing too, so much happiness this weekend.

On our way south on Sunday we managed to stop in and see Nanny and Popo and JC, Becky and Matthew too.  So glad we did, they were all really pleased to see us and we had a good giggle.  It is funny but they (my grandparents) see a lot calmer and happier than I have seen them in a while - I think that the situation with my other grandparents has hit them hard and has brought home hard the fragility of life in old age, and just how quickly things can change.  I can only take that as a positive.  Another positive is that as a result of our visit and other family members last week, my Nana has come round a lot and can now see that my Grandad is indeed Jim, her husband, and not his mother, or a stranger.  The mind is a complex thing but I am really happy to hear that she is more accepting and despite the fact that my Grandad is growing weaker, she is able to support him mentally and that is a huge relief. 

My sister made me crack up today - she sent me the following in an email;

I was thinking today that if you were a city, you’d be Milan… Chic, organized, up to date, yet Mediterranean and groovy..

I would be Naples: dark, chaotic, disorganized and a little hairy at times!

I had to laugh!  She cracks me up, and man I miss her.. I shall take my comparison to Milan as a compliment, love her!

My little ones have been staying with their Granny B for over 24 hours now and crikey I miss them.. the house is really clean, tidy and QUIET but it is horrid without them!  They have, however, spent a wonderful day on the Watercress Line (with both my Mum and my MIL) and have met Thomas, had their photograph taken with the Fat Controller and have obtained a few autographs.  It all sounds fab and I can't wait to hear all about it when they get home.  I have jacket potatoes baking in the oven waiting for their arrival.

Tonight for me and Him I shall be cooking Chicken Marsala served with new potatoes and asparagus.  It is one of our favs and I haven't done it in ages, will post some pics tomorrow if I remember to take them but in the meantime here is the recipe (note: you can add mushrooms to this but we are not keen, so do without)

Ingredients:

30g (1 oz) butter
4 chicken breasts
flour
salt, pepper
2 onions
2 cups water
2 chicken stock cubes
¼ cup marsala
¼ cup cream (optional)
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Method:

Bash out the chicken breasts to about 1/4 in thick, lightly coat the chicken pieces in flour seasoned with salt and pepper. Melt the butter in a hot pan. Flash fry the chicken then remove them from the pan, they will cook in the Marsala sauce! Add peeled and finely chopped onions to the pan and saute them over medium heat until the onions are transparent. Add water, crumbled stock cubes and Marsala wine. Bring the sauce to the boil; reduce the heat; return the chicken to the pan, cover; simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. Reduce the heat, stir in the cream (if using) and parsley and pour over the chicken. Serve with tagliatelle or potatoes and vegetables or salad.

Serves 4

Hi ho hi ho its back to work I go!  Just HOW hard is it returning to work after a long weekend?  Especially after a particularly fab weekend.  Easter Sunday saw us all up at 8am (after a 4am revaille from the kids who could not wait to see if Easter Bunny had been!) followed by an egg hunt in the rain (after this rather dishevelled 'bunny' had hidden them around the garden in the rain!)  We were then joined by my parents and Mother in Law, we opened the champagne, swapped chocolate eggs and gifts and then sat down to a gorgeous leg of lamb and all the trimmings (didn't do beef in the end because I decided to run with tradition instead, the beef will keep!) including obligatory yorkshire puds for Teya ;) Kev found some really old video footage, stuff that we had completely forgotten about, so later that night we at watching lovely home movies and drinking wine until quite late - it was a really perfect day and quite amazingly neither of the kids were sick from over comsumption, so bonus there!

Yesterday I rolled out of bed with a slightly fuzzy head to join Saf, Janet and the kids in Camberely for a date with the soft play and then Chiquitos for lunch and a very fun time was had by all.  Now back to reality for a bit but really looking forward to having Riggy home at the weekend and finally getting to see my grandparents, it has been such a long time since we did.

Hmmm I have just spent over £100 at Zara online, ouch, some gorg things though - god I hope they Ming IRL.. What a fab day I have had with my babies, swimming this am, then play park then we picked up daddy for pub lunch, M&S shopping then back home for movie and BBQ- totes prefik! Kids have been delightful too, I'm very lucky. So, now watching lethal weapon 2 - mwoohoo- hubs is snoring and all is good so happy Easter all, make each day count and enjoy the time off x

The Easter holidays are here - hooray :) I am having this afternoon off work and then a quiet couple of days catching up on admin and some documentation before stopping for the long weekend.  I am really looking forward to getting out the Easter decorations and buying the eggs for the kids' egg hunt on Sunday, I just hope the rain can hold off for a while.  I bought the beef for Sunday yesterday from Waitrose, 2.5kg of silverside which was reduced and I got it for £11.74, from £20 - bargain!  It is so big that I have chopped it in half and have frozen it all so that it will do us several meals.  I am really looking forward to having my parents and hopefully MIL over on Sunday for a good get together, just need to decide on the pudding.. I think it will have to be my butterscotch tart, my lot do love it so. 

Talking about get togethers the wheels are in motion for our summer holidays - I know that August is a way off yet but I really wanted to get the flights booked so that we have something to look forward to, as we have a few tough months ahead.  So, my Sister and Andrew fly home on the 10th August and will stay until the 17th when me and my gang will fly back to Italy with her and stay until the 4th September!!  We are getting a villa near her for the whole stay but will de camp to La Casella for the bank holiday as normal - Saf and Ram and their kids are joining us for 2 days which will be brilliant, and they have booked their flights too, Steve is coming (although the naughty beast hasn't yet replied to my text about details, tut ;) ) and I really hope that Kitty and Damon will come too with little Reggie who will be 1 by then, crikey, which reminds me, I really must drop her a line and see how they are all doing.  Roll on August, you can't come quickly enough...

I have been awake since 3.30am, urge one of those nights - drunken husband staggered in after 2, then woke littlest, I then heard them chatting so at 3.30 went in and put a stop to that! Then once littlest had dropped off, I was kept awake by eldest coughing, then husband snoring and then just as I was dropping off at 5.30 the dog started barking!! Obv the drunken one didn't let him out last night so he was desperate for the loo! So, once thar lot was done I had chance to snooze before the boy came in at 7 announcing that the sun was up! Yawn! Not happy that the glorious weather that we have enjoyed all week, has decided to vanish just in time for the weekend - I had high hopes for my new mint jeans but sadly, not to be, far too nippy? So I have indigo jeans and ank E boots on instead. Ah well, we are off to a lovely pub for lunch, the Forresters in church crookham and we are taking Cal for a long walk over that way- I love a good dog friendly pub! This evening will see us all in front of a movie with pizza in pj's. Superb. Mint jeans (mine are H&M)

I also ADORE these J Brand red jeans - perfect bright red and exactly what I am looking for but at £265 they will not be purchased at any time soon, boo.

I joined Pinterest - oops...  Couldn't resist, so many gorgeous things on there, it is a lovely site.  I can't believe that we are in the last week of term already, it is Easter in 2 weeks!  The time really has flown, and I have a very tired big girl this week, too much excitement I think, we are all ready for the holidays.  We have also finally made a date to see Kate and Tom, we are going up for Zach's birthday weekend which is going to be lovely - we found out yesterday that they are having a boy!! So happy for them, I *knew* it would be a blue one and I am thrilled.  Had a great evening with Jay and Jude last night, they came over for a BBQ (loving this weather) and we had a really good catch up, much wine was consumed though and I am feeling it rather this morning. 

We are potty training!  Zach announced on Sunday that he wanted to wee on his potty and put his big boy pants on, so off we went - and he did really well.  No accidents on Sunday afternoon, 2 on Monday morning and none yesterday afternoon.  Sadly yesterday am wasn't so successful, but he was at nursery and he must have been too distracted, which is a real shame.  Still, persevering, I just hope he does OK whilst he is with Mum today.  Not really sure what I should do about it really, so going to ask some wise peeps for their advice..

Riggy has booked her flights to come home too, yay, sadly it isn't in the happiest of circumstances, our Grandad is extremely poorly, he has cancer and is at home living out the rest of his days in as much comfort as possible.  It is so sad but we both want to be able to go up and see them and have some time together before we run out of time.  My poor granny has the onset of dementia too, so whilst Grandad's body has all but given up, his mind is fine and my granny is the opposite..  it is such a desperately sad situation and it is all very difficult for the family right now.

Oh dear.. I have discovered Pinterest!!! Whilst waiting for a work phone call this afternoon I was browsing FB and came across a friend commenting on Pinterest, 'What is this thing?' I ask myself, and curiosity got the better of me and I clicked.. ARGH!!!  As if I haven't lost enough hours of my life to the internet, I fear it is about to get worse.  SO many gorgeous things to look at and gush over, complete beautiful fluff fest and I am hooked (although not a member, just a 'lurker' for now ;) ) Loads of wonderful blogs to link to as well, check these Mini Lasagne Cups out, am desperate to race out and buy wonton wrappers right away (idiot) hee hee. 

Anyway I shall not be buying anything, not even wonton wrappers for a while - my quite frankly stupid and greedy thug (otherwise known as Basil) bust out of his field on Saturday morning, knocked over the  feed bin over that contained the alphabeet and gobbled down the unsoaked nuts !!  Happily he eats so fast that it swelled in his throat and he got choke - cue emergency call out to the vet, 3 bouts of flushing (rubber tubing up the nostril and in to oesophagus flushed through with warm water to try and shift the blockage, not pleasant), major nosebleed, numerous drugs and plenty of hours spent fretting - us and the horse-  but thank god nothing made it to his stomach!  For those who don't know, unsoaked nuts in a horse's stomach almost certainly guarantees a death sentence (or thousands in touch equine surgery), so I consider us all to be very lucky, even when the £445 vet bill landed on my doorstep this morning... Ouch.

What a few days I have had!  The end of last week/ Tuesday this week I could happily forget, but sadly that isn't going to happen any time soon - but I wont go in to the doom and gloom of it now!  Yesterday, however, was filled with great news and hope for the future.  My Sister and Andrea took Andrew for his ASD review at the hospital in Rome and the consultants have concluded that, whilst Andrew is still on the spectrum, his progress over the past few months has been phenomenal and he is on the end of it.  They are extremely positive that with continued therapy and all the wonderful work from his family, the way that he is going he may even move off the spectrum all together.  I am so, so relieved that he is responding so well and so proud of him and my wonderful sister, she has had an incredibly tough time but they are getting through it and are just amazing.  Whatever happens in the future I know that he will continue to flourish as a wonderful little boy and that he is loved so much for who he is.

Hope is a great strengthener (I am not sure if that is the correct terminology!!) I have found myself focusing incredibly strongly on hope and faith in the past few months, they have provided me with the comfort that despite hardships, there is light at the end of the tunnel and that things will OK.  Right now I would really like to jump on a plane and be with them all in Italy, but sadly that won't be possible for a little while..

Also, in other good news, Amy and David welcomed baby Ethan in to the world safely yesterday and Mum and baby are doing really well.  David came over to ours last night to celebrate and he is chuffed to bits - we are so happy for them and look forward to meeting the new arrival.

Lastly on Monday Saf and I spent a glorious day at Foxhills Spa, we got there and went straight to the outdoor hot tub followed by swimming, steam room, sauna and whirlpool - a full on water relaxation!  We then went for a lovely lunch and then came back to the spa for back massages and facials.  It was a wonderful day, filled with much chat, fun and laughter and I have to say that I felt much better at the end of the day - neither of us were quite ready to return to reality so we have promised each other that we will do it all again very soon.

As it is chucking it down out there I have been on the thigh trainer this morning, whoop me, and as it is minging, my thoughts are turning to spring wear.  I am loving these animal tees (similar to the jumpers from AW no less!!) This Jil Sander one is gorg, but not at the price..


So I am putting this in APC one in my basket and will leave it there for a bit, just in case I find anything I like more


I can see this with my electric blue jeans (if they ever arrive - EDD is early April from H&M, WTF??  I may as well have gone in to town, grr) and my silver office sandals with cardie on chillier days and my Chloe Sunglasses will go a treat, must put up some pics of my sunglasses collection, they are my absolute fav things. I don't actually know how many pairs I have but I look after them and some are really old - but I have only ever lost 1 pair (prada sport *sob*) and cost per wear is minute!

It is March and we have seen some evidence of spring - albeit short lived weather wise - my bulbs are coming through in the garden and I have been out in ballet pumps, woohoo!  It is nice to put a blazer on and not have to wrap up arctic stylie, and I love the fact that my sunnies are a constant addition to my face. 

My gym joining hasn't gone well, in fact it hasn't gone at all - I was told that the Woking one wouldn't take me as my village is Guildford borough, grr and I haven't got around to going over to the Guildford one yet.  TBH it is not really a convenient gym for me so I am trying to make a concerted effort to use my thigh trainer at home on days that are too nippy to be out, but when the weather is good this fair weather runner is getting out there, it is a great feeling although I know I have a long way to go before my fitness levels are where I want them. 

I have decided that I need to get some additional help with Basil, he is really at the stage now where he needs to start working, he is getting bored and cheeky and I simply don't have enough time to do everything that I want with him.  That pony has such huge potential but he needs more than I can give so I have done some research and have found a chap who has just come back from NZ working with spirited youngsters, I have called him and spoken with his girlfriend and am expecting a call back from him any time now.  I am really looking forward to getting on with Baz's training programme and I feel so much better just having made the decision to get someone to help me rather than try and do everything myself.  It is one of my (many I fear) flaws, I am always trying to be superwoman but sometimes I know that I need to just cut myself some slack and let go a little.  Not easy being a control freak!

Cal in the spring sunshine

Baz and Cal, getting to know each other - we have a long way to go with the pony yet before he accepts him, but Cal has been brilliant