An Ordinary Saturday Morning #BEDM

The prompt today for #BEDM (blog everyday in May) is Weekend Morning Routine.

Well, what can I say, we are slow. I mean like REALLY slow.............

And today, even slower, as Aaron slept at midnight last night!!! Don't go there, don't ask me to revisit it. I'll have nightmares. Just pray for me that he goes to bed earlier tonight!

So today, in my PJs and in Aaron's, we hung out 5 loads of washing, and whilst we did so, we were in the hot sun. The weather's recovered. For any international readers it is the May (1st of two) bank holiday here. We British REJOICE when we get good weather on a bank holiday weekend.

I was a DIY Manager in Homebase from 1996 to 1998 for 2.5 years and I can tell you, bank holidays, when the weather's good are murder. Everyone does DIY then! If you don't, look around you, and you'll find someone doing it.

So it came as NO surprise this morning that our neighbours were putting new fence panels up. It was great as they were right by the washing line, so they chatted to me while they worked AND even made me a latte, in a posh cafe style cup and everything, with one of those posh capsule machines.

But back to our routine. Aaron is going to be 4 in a few weeks, and he still has a morning and evening bottle of (soya) milk, each of which are on my knee, so that is how our morning begins, and gives my coffee chance to kick-in. Now somebody reading this is now judging me on two counts: one because of the bottles and two, due to my needing coffee like a drug. I am with you on both criticisms, but what can I say. I have loads of defences for the bottles, but I am too tired to argue. RE: the coffee, I was a yoga teacher for 6 years, and in the yoga circles for a total of 10. I did MANY a detox during that time, and used to feel all high and mighty when I'd see colleagues NEEDING coffee. Some colleagues wouldn't even have a meeting with you till they'd had one. I was judgemental about it, but it's yet another classic case of "there but for the grace of God go I" - things change. I needed coffee pre and post yoga, and during it too when I wasn't on a detox. IN FACT I went through a phase where I always popped into Starbucks on my way to teach yoga. I know I know I know they don't pay their tax, which is why I am now a Costa Coffee girl ALL THE WAY - a good BRITISH company.

So, yes, our morning begins in PJs, with coffee and bottle. Liquid gold for us both.

Today the PJs stayed on till way passed midday and we were only at the bus-stop to begin our day out at 15:30. Thankfully it WAS still hot and sunny at that point.

This was taken at that very same bus stop as an impatient Aaron waited for the bus to arrive:

Much love, Liska xxx

My Five Favourite Blog Posts for #BEDM

So, my last blogging post was written on the hoof (is that the right figure of speech)?

But for this one, I thought I'd adhere to the #BEDM calendar, where, today, I am meant to blog out my 5 favourite posts.

This is going to be tough and I must put my thinking cap on.....

I'll start with my highest visited post.

This one about sugar has to-date had 39,874 page views. It kind of makes me very sad as I lost 3.5 stones in weight in 2001, because I gave up sugar. I KNOW I need to do it now, again, and doing so is even more in vogue than it was (hence the page views) yet I don't seem to have the willpower, so my gout (incredibly painful right foot) continues to debilitate me when I know I could do something about it. In 2001 I cured IBS, PCOS, and gout with a radical change of diet. In 4 months I lost nearly 4 stone. It was like I melted away. I looked and felt amazing. Sugar started to look and taste disgusting. It repulsed me. Relapses weren't possible once I lost the taste for it. I even gave up alcohol ENTIRELY for 8 months and only drunk again, in practice for my hen night!

I know what I need to do. Blogging folk all around me are embarking on the Paleo diet. I NEED to do something and soon. The gout is getting worse, not better. And, now that Aaron's riding a big boy bike, we'll be here there and everywhere. I was walking behind him and his new bike for 90 minutes when I collected him from nursery this evening.

***

Post number two: 

What defines me really, as a blogger, are my "days out" posts. So I think my next 3 will be those. My Harrods' Santa post was enjoyable to write, and I just love putting collages like that together.



Post number three: 
I cannot do a "my favourite five posts" post without mentioning this one. It's had nearly 20k page views and is Aaron's ALL TIME FAVOURITE PLACE TO GO. Thomas Land at Drayton Manor. It's from 2012 and we've been twice since then, so I really ought to do a new post. I have WAY better videos and photos from our more recent visits. We are yet to go in 2014 though. Two of the times we have gone we've stayed in the hotel which I can highly recommend. Off (Theme Park) season it is a corporate (business people) hotel, so as long as you go there not expecting Butlins, you'll be fine.

Post number four:
Paradise Wildlife Park is another favourite place of ours. We've had quite a few good times there. Like with Thomas Land, we have had one of Aaron's birthdays there.



My fifth favourite post:

The best blogs are the ones where the blogger really opens up, draws you in, and shares something personal with you. The time I did this the most was in this post: Opening The Door To the Secret that Is PND. I only wish I could write like that more often.

Liska xx