Feeling Glam (For Once) & Fun At The Zoo

Well the weather hasn't improved at all since my last blog post!! It's vile out there, so thankfully today is a rest day at home in my pj's as the last few days I've been rather busy.

I completely forgot to tell you in my last blog that I am taking part in a project for a charity 2014 calendar. I can't tell you about the theme just yet as it's meant to be a surprise for the big unveiling when they finally go on sale, but the funds will go towards Live Life Then Give Life & it features transplant recipients on each month....

I actually had my photoshoot on Sunday just gone. Unfortuately I can't tell you what I wore or post any piccies for a while, but I'm sure the wait will be worth it once the entire calendar is finished... I was up extra early, there was a make up lady booked but sadly she came down with the flu so I for once, attempted my make up myself, (I was so nervous & found it really difficult as I never wear a lot of make up these days, however, I think I got there in the end) My fab friend Jeanna came over with a maccy d's brekkie in hand bless her & styled my locks & then it was picture time with the photographer Steve. It didn't take too long & we had a bit of a giggle, but I was really pleased with the end results. There is still much work to do, including raising funds to be able to get the calendar printed & several copies sold so I will keep you posted with all the details as & when...

 

Make Up Completed, Before Hair Style For Shoot

 

After The Shoot In My Kitchen

I've still been having trouble with my arthritis & tummy pain, but I haven't let it get me down so much as I still wanted to carry out my plans, I've been more like a hermit crab the last few weeks & I certainly needed some fresh air so I just sucked it up & got on with things. I have clinics starting again from next week, both Exeter & Harefield, so will keep you posted as always with the results as I get them.

On Monday I was able to catch up with my friend Jo which was nice as haven't seen anyone in a good while & then my sister had two days off work as she was celebrating her 25th birthday. On the Tuesday, I met her & my mum at China Blue (my fave meeting place as not too risky for infections & lovely place to just relax) we had a drink & snack in the coffee shop & then looked around all the goodies, I was even able to get my big food shop done whilst we were in town to save going back down again before Stef finished work, so was able to chill out in the evening with everything packed away & done.

On her actual birthday, (yesterday), we went to Dartmoor Zoo. (Apparently I've been there before as a baby but as I can't remember, to me it was my first visit) Lauren drove as I paid for a special deal on Groupon to get two adult tickets for £9 - BARGAIN! Saving £12.90! I told you, I'm the new Mrs MoneyPenny! We took a packed lunch to save money buying from the restaurant too. The weather was a bit hit & miss, the sun would shine but then it would chuck it down with hail which was a shame but to be honest I didn't really mind as I wasn't getting soaked & actually enjoyed doing something nice & different for once...

 

The Birthday Girl & Her Cake!

 

Picnic In The Hail Storm!

The Zoo itself I thought was amazing, it isn't that big at all, you could easily do it with a couple of hours, but compared to Paignton Zoo I just felt the enclosures were more accomodating for the animals, it still has a lot of work to be carried out there too as only reopened in the last few years, once they've finished what they are set out to achieve I think it will be amazing. I took loads of pictures, especially of the big cats, other than reptiles, tigers I just find stunning, they were my Nannys favourite animal so I think I get that from her! We were lucky enough to have picked the best day as at 2pm the tigers were being fed.... We just watched them for ages & I felt like I could have stayed there for hours. I brought back a magnet for our fridge (we collect them from trips we've on / places been too) & a coaster for Stef as he was asking for one a while back & I thought a DZP one would be perfect as he missed out as was working bless him.

 

I Love Her!

 

Me & The Birthday Bitch :)

 

Stunning....

 

 

Josie The Lioness

We haven't much planned at all again now, especially over Easter as Stefan is working when he can & I have 4 hospital visits just in the next fortnight alone. We just appreciate the evenings we get to spend together & hoping the weather soon brightens so we can plan something around May / June to spend some quality husband & wife time again. The snake babies are all doing really well at the moment & we are waiting for our new arrival in mid April.

 

Dave (LadyLungs) Removed The Fencing For Me

From This Photo. What A Perfect Picture

I hope you all have a fantastic Easter, Thank you as always for taking the time to read xxx

Rubbish Weather & Feeling Under It!

Ive not been feeling too shit hot the last few week or so. We've had some awful weather, with freezing cold temperatures, rain & even snow & it's really reflected in my state of health! My arthiritis has been playing up a lot recently, especially in my wrists & lower back & I underwent a procedure under general anesthetic at my CF hospital in Exeter last Friday (I won't go into details) but I'm still being affected from the aftermath of that which is likely to continue for at least a month or so... I spent the majority of the weekend in bed as I'm just feeling so exhausted & 'not myself'. I've a relatively quiet week again this week too so I'm just taking things easy, day by day & I'm sure I'll be back on form again soon....

Anyway, enough of that! Before I start with the nice updates, I also had an incident where some total tosser thought they would smash up my intercom outside right by my front door. It was a Thursday night, around 12.45am & the banging I heard woke & startled me, Stef didn't flinch but I'm a very light sleeper & it was, to me, really loud, I just had a feeling it was something in our house... I turned on all the lights & peered outside the window but it was so dark I couldn't see anything so returned to bed to try & get back to sleep, literally moments later SMASH!!! The whole house shook & both Stef & I physically jumped out of bed, I knew it was my house & bolted down the stairs to find my intercom had been smashed up & ripped off the wall, I was running on adrenline at first but once I saw what they had done & to think they were trying a few times to have woken me the first time round, made me sick & I couldn't stop shaking & crying. The police were called & came round, but there's not a lot they could do as we obviously didn't see the person who did it. They've since been back up to check on me & I'm still waiting for my housing people to try & repair the damage, but it's not very nice to be made to feel unsafe in your own home. There really are some pricks out there!!

We had my sister's coffee morning / raffle for her trek towards Live Life Then Give Life a week last Saturday in Harbertonford. Unfortunately, the turn out was incredibly poor, when so many people said they would make it & didn't, I felt really disappointed, we had soooo many cakes left it was unreal but it was just one of those things I guess! I had my own little table full of leaflets of Lauren's trek, Organ Donation Information & Sign Up forms, I think about 20 people turned up overall, including us that were there to run it, such a shame, but I did manage to sign up one little person to be a donor, so a special thank you that individual who came forward :) Despite it not being quite the success we hoped for, we did manage to raise a whopping £554 !! So a huge thank you to those who turned up, bought raffle tickets & donated those delicious goodies ....

 

The Amazing Raffle Prizes, Donated By Local Shops,

Restaurants & Companies

 

Delicious Treats Donated By Friends & Family

 

Yummy!

 

Me @ My Table, With My Little Lung Warrior,

Kerry In My Hand :)

Stefan has been working extra hard lately to provide for us even more, he is often extremely tired in the evenings & as I haven't been well myself we haven't done anything the last few week's other than look after the babies & enjoy spending quiet evenings together... We did however, get one evening out to see the comedian Mickey Flanagan in Plymouth last Thursday. I got the tickets for Stef as a christmas present, they were like gold dust as all 3 dates he was doing had completely sold out & we were in row 3!!! It was a brilliant evening, I haven't laughed so much in ages (good job I don't cough & wee anymore, LOL!) & I think it did us both good to get out & do something different.

 

How Close We Were To Mickey Flanagan!

 

 

Me & My Whole World

 

We don't have anything planned for the coming weeks either, it's our fifth week of not having a droplet of alcohol between us which I am so pleased about & we are really trying to curve our spending, not waste it on crap & provide our babies with the best care we possibly can... We've been sorting out the house, having a huge clear out & even been listing a few things on Ebay for those extra pennies. I really think I should start co-presenting with Miss Money Penny on that tv programme, ScrimperSavers, lol ...

 

Suits Me & Stef To A Tee :)

So that's about it for now, nothing too exciting I'm afraid but I'm still very happy despite a few blips I'm having here & there. Wouldn't change my life for the world. Will leave you with a few piccies of the babies as you haven't seen them for a while, I hope you have a lovely week!

 

We Measured Thunder A Few Days Ago, He's Just Over 8ft Now

Here He Is Chilling With A Belly Full Of Jumbo Rats Whilst We Clean His Bedroom!

 

Our Beautiful Butter Girl Angel, Freshly Shed This Week

　

Thank you as always for taking the time to read xxx