Mum

Today marks 9 years since Mum passed away, for various reasons this year we haven't been able to get down to put flowers on her grave and I'm feeling a little lost for ways to mark the day. I would normally have gone to her gonetoosoon.org page but this has been closed down now. Apologies if this post doesn't read well and seems a little bit random but I hoped that writing it down might be cathartic. 

My mum was a very strong willed lady and very proud of her danish heritage and would take every opportunity to remind me to be strong because I'm 'part viking'. She would stand up for what she believed was right (even if it wasn't) and no one wanted to be on the wrong side of her, which at the time I used to find embarrassing but now amusingly I seem to be getting that reputation.

I have fond memories of Sundays growing up, Mum would cook the roast dinner (even though Dad was as chef, hers were always better) I vividly remember the sound of her beating the yorkshire pudding batter whilst I was playing the living room. Sunday lunch would be followed by a trip to our grandparents where the whole family would descend for a lovely family tea complete with my Nana's cakes and if we were lucky her æblekage (danish apple).

As I've lived in and around Sheffield since going to university in 2001 there was quite a distance between us but we would catch up most days whilst I walked home from work, I still miss those chats where we would put the world to rights.

Unfortunately Mum also suffered from depression and a terrible smoking habit which is what ultimately took her from us. Watching her go through this and the impact it has had on everyone around her has left me with a very strong anti-smoking stance, and determined that Chloe and Oliver don't experience anything like that, obviously I know it isn't all in my control, but if I can prevent it I will.

I've found becoming a mummy and watching the children grow particularly difficult without having her to turn to, I think this is natural as most girls would turn to their Mums at this time. As Chloe and Oliver grow I see more and more of her in them. Chloe is very strong willed and will fight for what she believes as right, and Oliver has a fierce temper which I expect will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

I hope I'm becoming the strong woman Mum tried to raise me to be and that I can be the strong role model for Chloe and Oliver that she was for me when she was well.

Miss you Mum x

Not a bad January

So January is almost over, and as January's go this hasn't been a bad one. 

At the start of the month (and new year) I signed up to Weight Watchers (not for the first time) and I'm actually enjoying it. 

I've been tracking my food everyday, trying out different recipes, so far my favourite recipe has to be fluff, a lovely mix of sugar free jelly and fat free yoghurt.

Strawberry Fluff

I'm even following a new exercise routine, which for a girl who used to do everything to get out of school P.E. day is a big deal!

I'm already seeing some positive effects of the changes I've made. I have more energy and I'm finally tackling jobs around the house that I've been putting off. After watching Tidying Up with Maria Kondo I've started to apply her method to sorting my clothes, so far only to one drawer (I can't believe I'm posting a picture of my drawer on here, but I'm quite proud of it)..

My 'Kondo'd drawer!

This year is definitely going to be a year of change for me, normally my resolve on these things has faded by this point but I'm pleased to report I'm still going strong.

February is going to be a mixed month, with Mums birthday which is always difficult contrasted with a trip to Thomas Land to mark Oliver turning the big 3, so we'll see if it continues!

Bring on 2019!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone (I know its late but its not 12th night until tomorrow!), I hope you all had a good one, we certainly have.

Treats for Father Christmas

So 2019 has arrived and was even seen in by Chloe for the first time! It has brought with it lots of plans for the upcoming year, including Thomas Land, Disneyland and camping so far! Looking back over 2018 and it was a good year filled with lots of memory making with the kids.

This year will see Darrell and I celebrate 10 years married and 20 years together (hopefully!), we're still unsure how we're officially going to mark this but so far we have tickets to 4 of our favourite comedians booked (Dara O'Brien, Romesh Ranganathan, Tim Minchin and Eddie Izzard).

I'm determined to improve my fitness this year and shift some weight, I know this is a standard new year resolution but I'm really hoping I can stick to it, I may try and use this blog as a way of tracking my progress or just to vent when I'm finding things tough.

I'd also like to think this year may bring us a way to move into a bigger house but I think that really is wishful thinking, it's a good job we all get on!