2016 Part Two...the sequel

OK.....synopsis from part 1 for those who missed it....Dead car, Race ran, Butt hurt, Food eaten, GASP nervous, weight stable...hormones unstable.

July - Jiving

With the impending local barn dances, I decided to turn my attention to jiving, a skill I wanted to learn and in the absence of running, thought it would keep me fit . I loved it and was delighted that I could now join those at weddings etc. without looking silly.
This month we took our annual holiday week out of the country to Wales, to where my dear friends from college days still live, and I very proudly brought my family to their homes, where they treated us like celebrities. We got time with the Burmese Scot, my 4th sister and had a ball. The highlight for certain members of the family was the trip to Anfield , but for me it was the sheer joy of meeting up with those I hold very dear, who always make me feel loved. Thank you !
That month also saw a re union of the BMM's side of my family in Brittas Bay, which was magical and now I was the mother with her children in the freezing surf with their granny alongside...a generation later...brilliant !

August - The Hoedown in Lobinstown gave me the opportunity to show off my new jiving skills, in my pink cowgirl boots alongside a hot young male jiver.....Rrrr ! It also reminded me of my age and arthritis as two days later my back gave way and I ended up flat on my back...not in the way I like ! Luckily I recovered for our annual trip to Avon Ri in Blessington with the Mad One, her brood and Fat Freddie . It is a heavenly place with lots to do, great food and a little haven in the midst of our crazy lives. I am not sure the boys will ever recover thought from seeing the Mad One flying out to her car early one morning, in a t shirt and knickers, getting her bum caught on a pokey twig as she squeezed through the little hedge outside the house.

Sept - Special

Eurodisney - Oh My God ! BMM surprised us all ( 14 of us) with the trip of a lifetime. It was due to coincide with the arrival home of our New Zealand family members but unfortunately their trip was postponed. We had to go ahead and it was incredibly special. The Hairy One,( who is living in sin with my baby sister ! ) came along too and the men happily escorted the older kids on the scary rides as The Mad One, BMM and I tackled the quieter rides with the little uns. Mind you, my abiding memory is still of the Mad One on all fours having a panic attack, having come off Crushers Coaster....a children's roller coaster where they just asked for under 7's to be accompanied....so much for her having turned 45 ! We cannot wait to welcome the New Zealand 6 home in 2017.

October - Ouch !

In October I decided to re launch my fitness regime and was rewarded with the worst but and leg pain I have ever experienced and a prescription for Tramadol ,Diazepam and Valium ....bloody marvelous...lesson learned ...NOT ! It appears recovery takes a little longer at my age...ho hum !
My baby turned 7 years old and as with every year, I rue his decision to arrive on Earth the day before Halloween leading to the trilogy every year of fancy dress day at school, birthday party and then trick or treating....painful !

November - Nouveau Nostalgia

For mental health reasons ( ours and that of our husbands) The Mad One, Sunshine, The Caribbean Queen and I had a wee trip to Carcasonne and it was 48 hours of peace and laughter and of course Du pain, Du vin, Du boursin ! God bless Ryanair for making the world affordable ! It reminded us all that sometimes Mums and Wives need to be able to just be themselves occasionally with no responsibilities and time to breathe. It coincided with my starting a Leadership course, which further gave me time to stop and reflect and make a few early resolutions for 2017.....
The original Tuesday Night Ladies managed to get together too, The Blonde, The FA, The Queen of Baking and No Longer Single. Each had tales of various challenges, worries, joys and funny stories to share, reminding us of the importance of like minded friends when getting through life.
Oh and I started the Christmas shopping...this year I will be totally organised well in advance !

So it's December 10th......Delirious and now drinking as I type !

The tree went up on Dec 3rd...sacrilegious before the 8th I know, but I succumbed and knew it was actually the quietest weekend, so lights on. The Mad One gets too excited every year , so has already given me her gift as she can't hold her water. Today she made snow in her kitchen for the kids and sooo kindly gave us a container of it to take home !!!***@@@ My kitchen is efffin covered in it. I have failed to do any more Christmas shopping, so will, of course, resort to the very expensive last minute dash having started so well in advance..XMAS FM is on in the car and if I hear Fairytale of New York one more time I'll need medication. Debate reigns at work as to whether or not "Love Actually" is a great or totally crap movie. The Late Late Toy Show was fab. I have to make a robot costume for one child, the other child being totally disgusted that he is a narrator ie. no costume " I wanted to be a penguin or a polar bear!". I convinced him though that the " girls" Christmas jumper in Lidl was actually more suited to a boy ( phew!) in advance of Santy's arrival at the school tomorrow. I have limited my Christmas parties to 2 this year from 4...liver happy ! My Marks and Spencer's Christmas jumper( posh reindeer with tiny bells on) is down from the top shelf, I have bought to pairs of thermal socks and now the temperature is 15 degrees ! I have posted the parcels to the UK, bought the tiny square Christmas cards for my son to give to everyone in his class and will joyfully (?) receive about 40 back. P.S This is my Christmas card to you all - the year I told the Spud Farmer I was not sending cards but sending a donation to Aware he asked to see the receipt !
Youngest asked why we don't have an Elf on the Shelf ( B*****d Americans...as if I don't have enough to do !) But as GASP says " It's only one day !!!!****@@@@&&&&%%%%$$$$$ I've bought extra essentials...Krill Oil and Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, Costa coffee and antidepressants, Anti inflammatories and anti psychotics......BMM's phone spell checked and sent us a message saying "A Dry" instead of "A Very" Happy Christmas .....God forbid ! We're off tonight to see Elf with popcorn, Coke Zero and Giant Buttons...I can't wait because in light of my neurosis and protestations I love the whole bloody thing and am grateful every day for all this year has brought !
2017 will hopefully see a hormonally balanced, regularly exercising, healthy happy bigfoodiemama, but lets face facts, the blogs are better when I am suffering !
If you have had a healthy year give something to a charity for those who have not been
If you have been happy all year, give something to those who help others find their happiness
If you haven't lost a loved one, give something to those who help people at end of life
If you've paid your mortgage every month, consider the homeless
If your fridge is full, help fill someone elses
If you have not been lonely, visit someone who might be
Above all be grateful.

Happy Christmas from BFM x x x x