The fruits of their labour.

On Saturday the church held 'Serve Day'- a day where 2000 people came out in force to serve the community, and were involved in numerous projects throughout the city. Last year as a family we fed firemen and cleaned up several parks. This year we were supposed to be spreading sand in a new play park, but that was cancelled at the last moment and we were allocated to join a team picking citrus fruit. (I use the term 'we' loosely, as I was still on my vacation in Hawaii(!).


The kids had a great time, though apparently the work was much harder than they all expected, and Nigel came home with scratches and scrapes all over his hands.




The elderly folk (whose trees they were!) were very appreciative and gave them all lunch, and a box of goodies to come home with! So, we blitzed them all in the juicer for a massive Vit C boost- I think the kids want me to come home from my holiday!!

Inconvenient indeed.

Well, whilst on vacation,(!)I have had plenty of time for pondering, and have been thinking on all things green(with the exception of leprachauns and shamrocks, peas and the mould at the bottom of the fridge.......)
I am having a 'green' lent, and thinking through stuff such as ...
'do we buy a house within walking distance of school and work in Sheffield, even though it costs £50,000 more than one further out which would require daily use of the car?'
'do we re-do the kitchen cabinets with recycled yoghurt pots and lids, even though they only come in one colour and my creative streak likes at least three choices?'
Etc etc- (I am amazed at how many etc.s I have pondered!!)
Anyhow, I rented 'An Inconvenient Truth' for my afternoon viewing while the kids were busy serving the city,and was challenged even more...






Winning the Oscar last night for best depressing documentary will, I am sure, put this film higher on people's agenda for viewing- which has to be a good thing. And now you know you need to see it, it would probably be highly immoral for you not to rent it yourself.......(probably.....!)

This is where my doctor is heading on vacation!!

Well, still feeling fairly awful, so decided to take out a second mortgage and visit the doc. He was very sympathetic to my respiratory flu, which, in his experience takes about 14 days before the symptoms begin to subside (fabulous- I am only 6 days in!!), and since it is viral, would charge me $100 to tell me there was no treatment! However, it probably would be sensible to pay another $40 for 5 tablets to prevent any bacterial lung thingy going into pneumonia........
I know the Americans pay less tax and that health care here is additional expense, whilst it is included in UK tax system, and therefore, theoretically free.......However, when we are still paying full UK tax, and now also US tax, we seem to be stuck between worlds, and hard not to be a tiny bit peeved.
Still, I am going to lie on my couch and imagine I am lying on a beach in Hawaii, and the staff of the hotel will scurry around me tidying up, and making me cocktails.........

The rumours are true!

Well, it's official- we are moving back to Sheffield in the summer.
The house went on the market this week, and the sign went up yesterday. Someone asked if the kids were distressed - the answer has to be a resounding NO !!
They were so excited when the man came round, and as soon as he had gone they were dancing around it and swinging it to and fro!!




We have had a wonderful time out here, and have certainly made the most of every spare weekend, taking in many of the local, and even distant sights. But we are very excited about being back with friends and family, being much more 'hands on' in the business, and being back in the city with totally renewed vision. The kids are desperate to be able to wear coats, hats, scarves, and gloves again!!!

We are now just hoping that nobody wants to view for a few days- I have been immobilised with a 'flu thing' for three days, and it has become pretty apparent who does the tidying in this household!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Be magnetic.
Be captivating.
Cause a stir.
Cause heads to turn.
Cause all eyes to land on you when
you walk into a room.

Experience the Kiss Me Mint allure. Those white teeth and that fresh breath — you'll be creating a whole new level of admiration. That pepperminty flavor with a burst of berry is just the right mix of cool and sweet to tempt anyone.




The launch of the new Kiss Me Mint toothpaste to coincide with Valentine's Day is quite staggering, but then if the claims in the advert are to be believed there has never been an easier way to secure a mate!!

Don't try this at home!

Went to a pyjama party the other night at my friend's house- the idea was to watch a video and drink wine, so I was quite up for it! The video ended up being very strange...... It was Dr.John Grey (Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus)- and he apparently is from another planet altogether!!
It seems that all you have to do is to pencil in a few noughts on a dollar bill and then pin it on your ceiling. Then, when you wake up, it will be the first thing you see, you will focus on it, and money will start rolling in to your life. If you are moaning how your mail is full of bills, then that is what you will receive, but, amazingly, as soon as you visualise cheques in the mail, you will become a millionaire!! There is only one small catch to this incredibly foolproof scheme- you have to believe without doubt in what you are focussed on......
Hmmmm
I suspect it is easier to visualise envelopes full of cheques when you sell millions of books, and make videos which even Oprah is endorsing this week!!