I got home from work today in a great mood after having a lovely day. Daughter number 3 (who's 20) got home an hour later in tears. when she calmed down she told me a gang of lads and a few girls started picking on her as she walked passed them. They hang around outside an empty pub drinking all day just down the road from where we live.They started shouting things like who do you think you are with your fake tan and being really nasty. Although there were quite a few of them she stuck up for herself and only started crying when she reached home.My brother and my other children had to stop me from running out the house to confront them. I hate confrontation and any kind of violence but at that moment in time if I had got to them I would have completely lost it. Two hours later I had calmed down A little but determined they wouldn't get away with it so I went to the shop hoping they were still there. There were only two of them still hanging about so I let them have it. I told them how dare they insult my daughter who just came back from work and that we are paying the tax money that allows them to claim dole money and stand around on street corners drinking alcohol all day. I left them looking rather sheepish and told them to make sure they told the rest of the chav's that were with them. Only then I knew I could calm down and enjoy the rest of my evening.

Its amazing that no matter how gentle and calm a person you usually are if someone hurts your children you turn into a complete mad person who could and would take on the world.

L x

I went to see sex and the city last night with my daughters and a few friends. Its not everyones cup of tea I know but if you were as addicted to the series as us lot were ,it was a film worth waiting for. We had to book ticket's in advance and it was just as well we did. There wasn't an empty seat to be found. The last time I saw a full house like that was when I went to see Grease in 1978. The film itself was very moving it had you laughing out loud one minute and in tears the next.The audience was 90% women all dressed up ready for cocktails after the film as we were too. The film ended with a big applause from the audience not something that happens very often.

L x

Its amazing the running about your body gets used to. When I worked full time in catering I used to come home and start again cooking ,housework and all the rest of it. When I started my degree last September and part time at the chocolate shop It was madness once more. The last few weeks now uni has finished for summer and the hours have dwindled at the shop(quiet this time of year) I can barely muster enough energy to get out of bed in the morning. I worked two days running for the first time in weeks and came home with just enough energy to make a coffee before collapsing on the sofa and sleeping for two hours.

I must be getting old or maybe its just all caught up on me.I think us women feel guilty if were not running ourselves ragged.So Ill be kind to myself and have a trip to Liverpool for a few days to visit Liverpool man.Lazy days with magazines no cooking or housework and a Sunday trip on the ferry and I promise myself I wont feel guilty.

L x

Isn't it great when you wake up in the morning and realize you don't have to get up. It was like that for me yesterday morning no work,no uni just the day ahead to do exactly what I wanted with it. Two cups of coffee a Greek yogurt and a Marlboro light and I was restless. The sound of the Jeremy Kyle show starting was enough to get me off my backside and motivated. I couldn't decide whether to potter around the garden,paint the bathroom celling or phone around to see who was available for lunch. The weather was warm so I chose the garden and spent a few enjoyable hours out there.

On the afternoon I prepared a curry and put it on to simmer ready for my brood to return from college and work. With a few hours to spare before their return I caught up with E-mail's and face-book. Face-book was set up exclusively for family and uni friends but about a month ago the ex found my profile and I stupidly added him. He now leaves me messages just general chat and a few hints about meeting for lunch so ill have to think about how I'm going to handle that one.

Tomorrow Ill have to start revising for a re-sit in July. It was the only module I didn't pass only a marginal fail most of the group failed it. It was one of the science subjects not a easy one but Ill do it. I really enjoy the aromatherapy module the smell of the essential oils are divine. I often drift off to another world while giving a massage its just as relaxing for me. Aromatherapy is currently going though regulation and bit by bit being integrated into conventional medicine. Hopefully by the time I qualify they will be more choice of jobs out there. Time to go and check on youngest to see how his revising is coming on.

Bye for now L x

Hasn't this year flown Ive just completed my first year at University.All the hard work done exams,assignments and many sleepiness nights on my laptop.It has been an amazing experience and I'm so glad I took the big leap of giving up my boring tiring full-time Job to study Complementary therapies full time.Although there is only 11 of us on the course they are the loveliest group of women Ive ever met.On our last day we all headed for the local pub where we have our lunch 3 times a week. When we got there the manager had reserved our usually table with bottles of champagne and balloons. I think he will miss us (and the business we bring). A lovely day to end the academic year.

Ive got 3 month's off before year 2 and loads to do in the house and garden But Ill start on Monday. I'm going to rest this weekend and recuperate with wine,dvd's and magazines. I hope the weather picks up again as Ive been dreaming of chocolate croissants and the Sunday paper in the garden .

Well! its count down for my trip to France. Only 5 days to go I keep waking up in the night worrying about the flight( it will be my first time)do I have a glass of wine,a Valium before the flight or should I do a spot of meditation. I've checked the weather and its going to be fairly warm. I am really looking forward to it Its a mixture of excitement and nerves.Apart from the Aromatherapy conference the lecturer has arranged for us to visit the perfume factory where we can make our own perfume (I wonder if we can keep it).I'm still struggling to get all my case studies together but I've promised myself I will spend all day tomorrow working on them,after reading the mail on Sunday magazine first of course its my Sunday morning ritual.Along with my coffee and croissant I must have been French in a former life.

My dog Sandie was limping for a few days so I took her to the Vet thinking she may have sprained her paw due to the fact that she runs about 70 mile per hour in the garden chasing cats,birds,squirrels and anything else that moves or when anyone knocks the door she slides across the wooden- floor like its an ice-ring to get to window. Mind you she does scare away the unwanted visitors that tend to knock your door on a Sunday morning which does come in handy during my magazine,coffee,croissant ritual.Anyway as it turns out she has a spot of arthritis, well we have had her for 10 years so in dog years she's an old gal(although she doesn't act it).

Its the last few days of the uni holiday and what have I done?. The plan was Get up to date with uni work,spring clean the house,paint the down-stairs bathroom and sort the garden out.I must have been delusional all I managed to do was a few entries of my journal.Its been all work and no play at the delightful chocolate shop and people were still buying Easter-eggs today(half price ones)I am no longer a chocoholic YUK!. I'm off to see Liverpool man Saturday after work and I'm going to wag my Tuesday mornings lecture ( I'm such a rebel)so I can stay 3 nights instead of my usual 2. I deserve a break ,long walks ( if weather permits), meals out and loads of wine. Then back to reality next Wednesday.

Tomorrow it is my second eldest daughters Birthday. She will be 21. I just wanted to tell everyone how lovely she is. She is so supportive,especially this week when I have come home from work feeling so tired because of all the extra hours Ive worked. Ive walked in the door and she's been there with a nice cup of tea and something to eat.So thank you Laura Happy Birthday and I love you so much

Mom xxxxxx

Its been a while since I blogged hope everyone is well. After breaking up from uni for two weeks I was looking forward to a day off today before working at Thornton's from tomorrow through to Saturday.Easter will be really busy all those eggs to ice and gift wrapping to do. Today my daughter Laura was taking me to a hotel spa where I was looking forward to a relaxing massage.Laura arranged it month's ago after arranging the booking through Last minute.com. After arriving we settled in,got changed and filled in the consultation form.At this point we were told sorry we cant accept the voucher from last minute.com because they weren't paying the hotel. So off we went to change and then we left feeling,angry embarrassed and basically pissed off. We decided to go and watch a light hearted film Accidental husband with Colin firth and the other very handsome actor Jeffery Dean Morgen. when we arrived it had already started so we went home and spent the afternoon eating cakes and watched silly afternoon TV such as Diagnosis murder and my family (lovely).Never mind tomorrow's another day I do hope its a better one

At the end of April I'm off to grasse in France with our Complementary therapy group theres an alternative medicine conference and the perfume factory to go to. I'm excited and a bit nervous as I have never flown before I usually go to France and Belgium by ferry.

Right I'm off to cook a chicken stir fry and I think I deserve a large glass of wine I know its a bit early in the day but I really should get into the French mood.All take care and I hope your day has been better than mine x

Thats the first week over.The feeling your feet,bonding with people and finding out if you have made the right decision.

I have and its been a great week. The Complementary therapies course has only been going for about 4 years,so the group is quite small(about 14 of us)So we have bonded well.I'm also not the eldest,I'm the third one down lol.

Only bumped into my dear daughter laura yesterday afternoon,she told me off for waving at her,i was too enthusiastic(no one was looking).We introduced each other, to our new friends and we spent the last hour together in the library(boffins).

So the Real work starts next week,ill keep you posted.x