A Matter of Choice

The obligatory end of year / new year posts are in full swing so I'm looking back over the year through my photos.   I took much fewer this year than in previous years, trying to live more in the actual moment than looking at everything through a camera.  I take many photos of the boys, this year I've been hard pushed to get one of them (especially Leo) to pose for a photo without dabbing.   It became a personal mission of his to 'dab' on anything, everything and everywhere, and most video clips taken would have included 'flossing' somewhere. I've got hundreds of photos of them over the year but looking back there are few that would be worthy of printing or framing.  I'm not a great photographer (that's Aaron's department) but I love a scenic pic.   I've got lots of sea and sky shots, many of the same place as I can never resist!  So here are 12 of my favourite photos, one from each month of 2018. January  I love ...

Tis the season to be jolly, and to 'make memories'  (have I ever mentioned that I hate that expression?)  so I guess it's also the season to blog about those memories too? I loved our Christmas, it was simple, full of family, friends, food and fun. Our carefully planned amazon order containing most of the boys presents has still not arrived, and I was upset when I realised it would not make it in time,  luckily my parents saved the day and helped us get gifts for the boys to open but I realise I should have known my boys better and not worried quite as much. Christmas morning was probably our best yet,  now the boys are a little older they understand more and they didn't try and open everything in a mad panic and have it all done within minutes.  Stockings were opened, and then we had a break for breakfast before returning for the remainder.  The boys were so happy with their all their presents, the shower gels, a new sponge each, sweets, chocol...

When you think of your childhood Christmases, what comes to mind? I wrote about my Christmas pasts several years ago and about some of my memories but wanted to share a few that might bring back some memories for you too.  We counted down the days with our advent calendars, each day we were excited to open the door to discover the picture that lay behind it.  As we got older they improved and we got chocolate too!  There were no daily advent gifts, Christmas Eve boxes, or gingerbread houses to make and apart from the school nativity play and fundraising Christmas fayre the only festive activity the Chris-tingle service at the local church and driving round to see the local Christmas lights but it was magical and exciting and memorable.  Here are a few of my memories... The Christmas Radio and TV Times Do you remember the days when the only way to find out what would be on TV would be to check the daily paper,  maybe Ceefax if you were l...

Last week at Slimming World I lost 1.5 lb which left me 2lb to go to reach the target I had set a couple of months ago which was to lose a total of 1.5 stone by Christmas.   It was very tight but in a fit of optimism and determination I declared I would do it. I realised it might be tricky with the plans I had for the week, the main one being the girls night out at Mojitos restaurant for their Christmas buffet,   anyone who lives here will know that while that is a guaranteed amazing meal,  it is not going to make losing any weight very easy! Once home from SW group last week I shopped, planned and cooked.   I exercised, I walked and ate tons of fruit along with slightly smaller meal portions. Wednesday evening I went out to a Carol concert and had dinner out from a limited menu choice.  I offered to drive so I would stick to diet coke and not be tempted by the wine. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning (I'd had good intentions for...

Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year for parties and celebrations but unfortunately not the most wonderful time of the year for your waistline.    There are different ways you can approach this; First option is to say stuff it it's Christmas and eat anything and everything you fancy - if anyone points out you will put on weight then eat them too! Second option is to avoid all parties, don't drink,  refuse all treats and generally make yourself feel like you are missing out.  Personally I have always gone for the first option, and traditionally start January maybe half a stone heavier and feeling a bit rubbish.  This year I am ATTEMPTING* a third option, one that Slimming World has been suggesting to me for many years.  I aim to stick to the plan when I can  (oops I sound like I've eaten a SW consultant now - sorry!)  The plan being - not to eat mince pies for breakfast 'just because it's Christmas' Not t...

Last week was Decorating Day, I thought it was a little early when Aaron suggested it -  yes you did read that correctly! He was sorting out the storage boxes and (wrongly) assumed I would be wanting to put the tree up on the 1st December,  of course he still thinks they should go up much later but he's realised he will never win on that one.  I consulted the calendar and realised it was the best time to put them up as we were busy the following weekend. It has to be a weekend - not really sure why but I feel it is a weekend activity, traditionally with the first mince pies or something similar and a baileys or three - ahh that explains the weekend thing! It turns out that we put them up the same time for the last two years running at least, thanks to facebook memories, so he guessed correctly. As soon as it was mentioned Louka pointed out that it was his turn to put the star on the top this year.  I had no idea if he was right, and assumed that they were bot...

I'm not a 'cat person'. I can appreciate that they can be cute but generally I don't make a point of fussing them unless they are really friendly,   maybe they can tell I am unimpressed as I always say that cats don't seem to like me,  it's all about the claws! Aaron isn't a cat fan either but we've always made a point of getting the boys to fuss them if they are friendly as they were always so scared of dogs and were wary of cats too. Yesterday the boys and I were out exploring and as we got out the car there were about 15 cats suddenly around us and more were appearing assuming we had food - now I wouldn't say I'm scared of cats but I can't say I like that many approaching all at once from different directions!.  We ignored them and they got the message, all except one He (could have been a she!)   took a liking to Leo and came right up to him as he sat on a wall.   Leo moved away and 'Catty' (as it was imaginatively na...

This year we celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary.  We celebrated on the day (back in August!)  with a child free night out in Protaras.  It didn't go quite to plan, for Aaron anyway but it was a good night out nonetheless.  The plan was dinner and drinks,  I had not long started Slimming World again but decided to try and stick as much as possible to plan with food, avoid beer and cocktails but not worry about how many vodka and diet cokes I was having!  We wandered up and down the strip for a bit, stopped for a couple of pre-dinner drinks and eventually decided on a restaurant (that I now cannot remember the name of), the meals came (two steaks both medium rare)  but Aaron's was not cooked properly and got sent back, twice,  so by the time he actually received an edible meal I had finished mine.  He then had gone off the idea of eating and so we headed back to the pub! After listening to a bit of the duo entertaining wh...

Back in July I rejoined Slimming World, again. For those of you who have been reading my blog for years you may well roll your eyes at this point and say yep, been there done that, and you would be right but I got to target (3 times!)  and stopped going, again. Each time I was sure I would be fine, and of course the weight slowly crept back on, again! You'd think by now that I would realise where I go wrong wouldn't you? Well, maybe I have. So, back in July I joined, again.  There were a few familiar faces from a few years back and I had been  before for a little while with the consultant but it was a new venue for me and I made a point of treating like a whole new start, I even read the book from cover to cover! Like my original SW journey (Argh I hate that expression but can't think of a better description!)  this time my Dad has joined me, and like before he has powered through losing weight much faster than me, but that's fine, I'm very proud of ho...

As I published photos from our 2018 Halloween celebrations I happened to notice a blog post saved in my draft folder,  it turns out it was a  Haloween post from 2016 so I thought it was about time I actually published it! Halloween wasn't widely celebrated in the UK when I was a child,   I don't remember anyone 'trick or treating' or the shops being full of costumes.   It was starting to become a thing in my late teenage years,  I suppose once our generation was getting old enough to be able to choose to celebrate without having permission! I went to Halloween themed pub nights but my first proper party was a children's party here in Cyprus, thrown by my Halloween mad friend Sam.  It was really for our benefit I suppose, as our kids were only 1 and had no idea what was going on,  we made it spooky rather than scary with cartoon ghosts and Disney themed decorations.  We've been to Halloween events,   Cyherbia Halloween events are...

This week's Sunday post is a Halloween special!  I must apologise, Sam, if you are reading this, for cropping you out of the photo but it just lent itself to this! We had our now traditional Halloween get together for the kids - well I say for the kids but the get-togethers go on a bit later these days and include a little more alcohol as we are joined by the men and the kids get less demanding. The 'pack'   (as Leo now calls the 5 children we have between us all)  are less interested in the games we used to play,  happy now to disappear off to their bedroom and do whatever it is they do for hours on end, but they still enjoy a few once we 'drag' them out to be sociable. Hanging doughnuts had been requested once again so that went down well No themed gathering would be complete without a Tiny Acorns craft! And of course, you can't have Halloween without a bit of trick or treating. As trick or treating' isn't done generally ...

For the last few years, we have been working with the photo booth  over Halloween weekend at Cyherbia,  providing spooky photos for the hundreds of visitors they get each year. This year due to wedding bookings we were unable to work it but I did get the chance to experience it as a visitor once again when I took the boys up for a few hours on Saturday. I've lost count now how many times we've been to Cyherbia,  it's been a long time since our first visit in 201 3 - where I pushed baby Louka round the maze in his pushchair,  followed by visits with him on reins (also pushing the buggy for when he got tired - which of course he didn't, but undoubtedly would have done had I not taken it!) I loved every visit but it was hard work compared to now - it was always fun, but I would be exhausted once I got home - either from the effort of trying to keep up with them in the maze, trying to get the boys to go in the same direction, or chasing them around the gardens...