18 February 2013
So half terms over, back at work. But it was a super break, despite receiving an email to my personal address from a governor asking for my input on 'non- negotiables'. Well here's one for ya- absolutely no contact on school holidays! That was what I was thinking, but obviously didn't reply in that manner, after all, one of my resolutions was to 'bite my tongue' or words to that effect. But ... on a positive note I'm doing pretty well with all the others:
No biting nails - tick, it's been hard but I'm trying.
More me time- tick. Eventually used that lovely birthday voucher for my beautician by booking a full two hour pamper session. Lush! And... Spent three hours in the hairdressers having my naturally highlighted hair highlighted. Even though they thought my hair was lovely and had been "dip dyed" eh? People actually pay to have hair like mine? It was like being at the dentist, sorry @tetti2, but it was. I desperately wanted to show them a picture of Jennifer Anniston. Haha. Anyway, small mortgage later and I was... pleased with the subtle fill in the gaps look.
Use my brothers Airmiles- tick. Yep he's booked my flight to see my bestie in Athens in May. We will have known each other for thirty years this summer! It's quite incredible really, so girls and boys out there, hang on to your mates through thick and thin, one day you'll treasure those memories of laughter, adventure, stupidity, first boyfriends, first..... You get the drift.
Speaking of the bestie, she's joined Opuss to keep up with my stories. Although, she hasn't figured out how to use it, as shes not liked any!! Yes, she's one of those faceless Opussians that read and don't post. I am trying to persuade her to write a blog, as it would be ace, funny, informative, with many a tale to tell. Watch this space.
It was just me and my secret walker last week, yes, SECRET. Stealth is her middle name. A huge, mahoosive, milestone last week, and it was days before anyone believed me. Erin walks when SHE wants to as shuffling on my knees upright is far more attractive! Anyways, the big one went to spend quality time with his grandparents oop north. With extended families so spread apart these days, through work, for me, it's important he still has this generational contact. Some of my friends think I'm packing him away, but they don't see the bigger picture. I barely remember my gran and grandma because of the age my mum was when she had me, so I don't want either of them not knowing their paternal grandparents and great grandparents. Mine are all gone.
So,.... Stay with me, there's a point to it.... So it gave me more free time to concentrate on my latest obsession. Well, it's actually my sisters obsession which I'm joining in with. Tracing our family tree. In fact it was the piece that smellys finger typed out last week that really inspired me to crack on and find out more about my maternal grandpa's First World War service. I knew very very little but with @smellyfingers help I have discovered far more than I bargained for. Although, I did send him on a cycling wild goose chase. So I've been on quite a journey this week, and I still have more to do and research, but I am planing a visit to Kew also to read a specific war diary from his section, from the period he was in Gallipoli. I now also have several photos of him and a very old one of my parents. Which if you've read any of my past stories, will know this is very special, as I have no tangible memorabilia of them.
My eldest brother asked me, why him, why Grandpa Mack? Well, because I'm fascinated with history, and the War. I wanted to know what he did, why he survived, and to tally up the vivid story my brother remembers of him been blown into a German trench. And..... and this is the part I didn't tell him, when I was around twentyish, I went, with two close friends (then later with my sister and my then sister in law who has now sadly passed away) to see a spiritualist. To cut a long but very interesting story short, it was my Grandpa who was with me. I didn't know it was him, but when I described in detail to my mum what was said, she said it was him. So believe what you will. He may be my guiding light, he may not, but I want to travel his past journey and share this with my children.
Hope you all had a lovely day. Meh.... to Mondays! Although I did have a lovely walk in the sunshine to pick up my eldest from school with my neighbours dogs. (After sneaking away from work a wee bit early. Tut tut)
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Non-negotiables, Resolutions, Smelly's Finger, and my Secret Walker • Opuss № I