Has it been a year...already....?????

I've been away. I've been living a 'normal' life. This has been the most beautiful novelty that I am yet to come across, and there are a range of novelties on the northern coast. I am learning who I am and I am wondering whether this is a life long process that is ever changing. Perhaps it should be. Perhaps that is the only way to be. I certainly prefer to make mistakes, than to wake up one day, still wondering and convincing myself that all is good within my little bubble.

It's been about a year since I wrote as my alter-ego. I think that is because I am finally being the person I've aspired to be. There is something about it that I am very uncomfortable with, I am expecting to wake up.

We moved here just over a year ago because my other half got a job here and we saw our escape from the dead end lives we'd found ourselves in. When we were asked to relocate, we took no time in setting the wheels in motion. We stuck to the rules regarding our home, which was rented. We lived six months without a boiler, with severe damp, a resident mouse and a leaking roof, which restricted us to just one room. We saved up a deposit for a new home and we gave our notice. Then we ended up being unlawfully evicted and were homeless.

We were all sorted within a matter of weeks and we are fine now. Happy to be away from that sort of mentality, which we found was quite common at 'home'.

Since moving here, life has brought different challenges. We have learned a lot about ourselves. We have come to realise that in our short relationship (5 years but our eldest son is 4) we have both used humour to support ourselves through every kind of opportunity. This is something we still do and it has been our life-jacket thus far.

We have found this really difficult to overcome. We now live in a beautiful city, rich with historical importance and stunning sights. The mentality of the average person is completely different. Yet it will always baffle me, as to why most of these people, in their lovely homes, surrounded by fresh air, seagulls and historical landscapes, can be so miserable.

So, I understand that with the level of academic success within such a small city, may lead to a lot of competitive, like minded people living in a small space...and I understand that it does rain A LOT... it also seems that there is a front which people value massively for themselves, but thanks to facebook, a lot of people are having to 'keep up with the jones'. Just to go off track for a second, how many of us, has rearranged a background so we can take a 'natural' photo in our 'everyday' lives...no? Well how many times have you seen someone else's pictures on facebook and wondered A) how they keep their house so tidy...or B) why they haven't tided up for said 'natural everyday' photo... who are you kiddin'?? If I am guilty...and we are realising that I am a polished turd, then you are probably guilty too!

Anyway, I plan to keep you more up to date on my thought processes. I've honestly been lost without you. Over the last year, I've started university and also left university. I've started a few businesses and got distracted. I've moved home. I've moved the kids and the other half has started a new job. We have been to two different schools and had both of our children start pre-school. We had my so called best friend hide chilli's in my toddlers food...yes you did read that right... nothing good ever comes from spoiling a child and her parents will know that now. We have arranged a wedding. we've ate a lot and dieted a lot too...I'd say we ate more than we dieted, but then again that goes without saying, and we were homeless for a while...Out of all of the above, this has been our best, easiest and most wonderful year.

People said that we would find out who our friends are when we had children...they said it again when we moved...but nothing has made people show their true colours, quite like seeing us happy.

Thanks for your patience and continued support.

Enjoy the sunshine...

Dorris xxx

Half term melt down

I haven't posted for a good while now...I have been very busy writing a book for my Son's and drawing for Little Tea Pot Craft Shop. I have been exhausted since the holiday!

I never know how taxing a half term could be, as a stay at home Mum, I assumed that I'd simply wear my jammies all day, instead of 90% of the day, and we'd roll that way...this has not been the case...

After my eldest got a virus which set his asthma off, we ended up in and out of the Dr's surgery and A&E with Finn, then Alfie for the virus, then I did...So over the two weeks I have had...pretty much NO sleep AT ALL...

Then, of course, they have been stuck in, with less stimulation that usual and the rubbish weather has meant we have been stuck in, in out Jammies...so I got that bit right.

I thought at one point, that there had been an avalanche in my kitchen, but it turns out, that is actually my washing pile!

This all culminates to both boys, fighting, and screaming...all of the time, with no let up.

Thank goodness that it only lasted the two weeks. I love those boys so much, but they are exhausting!!!

Dorris xxx

Ella's Kitchen's New Milk Float!

I would love to write about Ella's Kitchen's new dairy range...but the boys ate them that quickly, that I didn't have time to get photographs!

So I will give you a link to the tiny, weeny, Ella's Kitchen milk float instead.

Ella'sKitchenMilkFloat6.jpg

Handing out the delicious goodies, in a tiny milk float, to tiny people.

Ella'sKitchenMilkFloat8.jpg

Just racing around

Watch me!


Perfect gluten free gift for valentines day!

We recently wrote a review on a range of cakes and bakes from the lovely lot at Honeybuns cakes. We recommended their delicious treats with the fondest adoration! So if someone you love, needs to stick to a gluten free diet, then why not treat them, and give them the gift that shows you care the most...CAKE!!!

http://www.honeybuns.co.uk/



Perfection...in a cup!!!

Review: Honeybuns Cakes- The Best Gluten Free foods


A few months ago, my Mum was put onto a gluten, wheat, barley, lactose free diet, by her doctor, in an attempt to help discover where her discomfort was coming from. My Mum has always loved to cook and to bake, and there is always something cooking away in her house.

My family came to visit us here one afternoon, and we decided, at our leisure, to stroll, aimlessly into the city centre and enjoy the range of foods that the outdoor market has to offer, followed by a delicious, calorie filled coffee... EVERYTHING ON THE PLANET SEEMS TO CONTAIN GLUTEN!!!!!! My poor Mother looked grey and She was literally starving. She couldn't eat ANYTHING that we could eat!

So I contacted a couple of companies, and let my Mum give her, brutally honest reviews on their products. So deflaited and starving, She waited for an online solution to these life consuming problems.

Honeybuns Cakes sent me a few, quaint, treats for her to try.

She was ecstatic! It felt like the first time She had eaten in weeks...oh wait...it was!

These free from desserts are delicious, and are everything you would expect from any delicious dessert...just these are free from gluten too!

My Mum described all the gluten free foods that she had previously tried as tasteless, and boring. However, these were devoured within seconds!

We recommend Honeybuns Cakes to everyone!

Ill again...stupid germs

How does this happen? Ill again! Flu...cold...something viral...?

Rubbish!!!!!!!!!!!!

This, surely, has got to be my record for consequtive 'germy bugs' within a short space of time. I am sure the kids think that I am faking it to grt out of the washing :-/

So, my glam dressing gown is my faithful costume, I have used make up... no I forget when that last happened, and I washed my hair 15 times in one day, last week...because my o.c.d. is absolutely, well and truely under control. 

Dorris xxx

New gadget

Last year, my eldest and a little bit myself, spilled milk in our laptop! Well, santa brought me a nice, shiny, new gadget. Which I have named...gadget.

I am a real technophobe, so bare with me!

So, I have a lot of articles for you, just gathering dust!!! Oh, I have so much to tell you all! Gluten free goodies, christmas memories and arranging our, long over due, wedding!!!!

And breathe... deeply! Keep calm and DIET!!!!!!!