Ten on Tuesday, for once! Ten things to be thankful for:

1. Friends. New, old, mummy, faith filled, work ones. I'm blessed with a lot of lovely people around me. If you're special to me, then I hope you know that x

2. Family. The olds and the bubs. In our house you can't have one without the other. God bless helpful family, and God bless the youngest generation, they rock.

3. Kids parties. They are awesome. So nice to see lovely, well behaved children enjoying and appreciating a good time. The children I know are all ace, and generally so well behaved, they're a pleasure to be around.

4. The Wirral. It really is one of the best kept secrets in the north west, and long may it continue. I took the long way to a friends house today, cos I just live driving through the locality.

5. The nhs. I recently had the misfortune of going to the local hospital. Yes some things were questionable about the service, but heck, just the fact that you can walk in and demand good treatment is awesome.

6. My husband. He is all showered, shaved and clean, ready for an important meeting tomorrow. He is conscientious and hard working and I am so proud of him. He deserves a promotion, so I hope he gets it. Oh and I get an extension to my house if he does, hee hee.

7. The fire service. We take it for granted I think. People are daft and take stupid risks. These brave fire fighters pick up the pieces and save lives. God bless them I say.

8. The Olympics. They have their haters and slaters, but I for one am proud of London for securing the games. So 2 fingers up to all the whingers from me.

9. Clean water. I lay in a deep hot bath today and reflected on the fact that so many people will never have a bath and don't own a sparkling white bathroom. Next time you soak think on.

10. And finally G4s. Thank you G4s for showing your true colours, you are not capable of taking over policing roles so there! I hope that I never get to see you advance your little 'security' empire into frontline policing roles.

The most inconsistent blogger post!

Hello all, I am awful at blogging so here's 10 reasons why  i'm so inconsistent

1. I work shifts and often Tuesday's pass me by so no ten on Tuesday
2. I work shifts so often sleep is more of a priority than blogging
3. I work shifts and i'm a full time mum, juggle, juggle, juggle
4. I work shifts and my husband is on the other side of the world
5. I work shifts so my house is a disgrace and you'll often find me fighting fire wrestling with load upon load of laundry, or thinking, 'when exactly did these floors get mopped'
6. I work shifts so you'll often find me getting petrol or buying milk at 1 o'clock in the morning
7. I work shifts so crumpets and tea are still form a major role in my diet, as do boiled eggs
8. I work shifts so I'm beginning to look my age and some
9. I work shifts and often wonder 'is it worth it?'
10. I work shifts so my new moto is 'stuff everything, when i'm up, dressed and with my girl she is all that matters', feel free to wipe your feet on the way out of my house, it may be a tip but my daughter is loved x

Did I mention that I work shifts??? This post is dedicated to Nana & Grandma, God Bless you, without you it wouldn't be possible.

If you're a mummy and having a bad day, it's good to remember, these years will soon be blur and we'll be wishing for jam stained sofas and homes that smell of poo again! (or maybe not, but you know what I mean). I can't think of a single one of you that has an annoying, spoilt or over indulged child, take heart, we're all doing a great job.

and if you are a consistent blogger, good on ya! Check out: Sarah, Lucy, Hannah, & Laura.

A late 10 on Tuesday

1. I keep being asked if the Cape Town trip was a holiday of a life time. I can't sum it up, it was a holiday, but it also just felt like going to stay at Barry and Kates, and it was the best just to see them, how they live and what they do. We thoroughly enjoyed South Africa, and i'd recommend it to anyone, but seeing friends and making new ones was and is priceless. We miss the Lewis' terribly now.
2. I'm in the process of making an important decision, if you're a prayer, then remember me please
3. I have a lump, where glands are at the base of your skull/neck/hairline. Got to go back to Docs for more investigation next wed. As with 2, if you pray....
4. I am busy making for a baby shower, say no more for now. I love making and wish that i had a room that I could just leave my creative mess out in. Currently it's the living room.
5. I need to get to the gym
6. I don't want to go back to work
7. There's a bit of me that wishes I could sort out 4 & 6 by opening a shop/business, but i'm not brave enough/not the right economic climate etc etc
8. I wonder what mothers day will hold??? last year I got an awesome tea pot. I'm going to make my own prezzie too though, I want to make a finger print necklace from air dry clay. I'll let you know how it goes.
9. I love pinterest soo much
10. I'm so glad we're creative beings

Another Tuesday Missed!

Love the Ten on Tuesday Idea, but it relies on me writing on a Tuesday, not that likely, soooo now stealing this idea from https://www.facebook.com/#!/apartyofseven

 Dear House

You are beautiful with your light streaming through the windows on a beautiful spring day, and in the summer you are cool and refreshing. But right now you are cold and draughty, you really let me down in winter with your bad behaviour, please try harder next year.
Love Blanket wearing home owner
..............................................................................................................................................................
Dear Airplane

Thank you for letting me book a cot seat for Tuesday nights flight, but what I really need is a toddler seat. As the airline you work for doesn't let me book one in advance, could you hide one just for me, or more, just for Pip. Also if you could be a nice smooth sleep inducing flight for all involved that would be perfect.
Yours hopefully, first time 'flyer with a child' Jackson.
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Dear Friends made through having Pip

If I haven't said it before, then let me take the chance to say it now, you are an absolute blessing and my life and my child's life is richer for having you in it. It's just a shame that we have to share those play barn places with 'strange folk' who let their kids run riot and don't watch them lol.

Looking forward to spending many years of fun with you, xxx
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Dear Husband

When you travel I miss you a lot but I am so happy that you have a job you love and that you get to do these things. Iain I think you're great.

Love from her left at home
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Dear Lisa Le Ped, Anna Graves, Angie Ellis and Lesley Hoo-lee!

I am so very chuffed for you all being 'with child', I wish that I could share a (2nd) pregnancy with you, you're very blessed with your gorgeous bumps, you're going to have awesome families. Can't wait to see what this year brings you all

Love an expectant but not expectant friend
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Dear Sarah James

You truly are inspiring in lots of ways, thanks for being so generous with your creativity and for letting us steal your blogging ideas

Love Jo
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Dear Capetown

Please be kind to me and my family, we've been so looking forward to meeting you. I hear that you're pretty hot right now and I just hope that everyone can sleep and won't get burnt. Also if you could just keep us safe and well, and let us find the best things to do that would be lovely. Did you know that Pip hasn't been overseas before?, (well apart from in my womb) we'll take lots of photos to show her when she's older, but hopefully if we get on, then it won't be her only visit anyway.

See you soon, yours in anticipation
.................................................................................................................................................................

Dear Friends
Mwah for now
Love Jo

If you liked this then link in with

http://familydeane.blogspot.com/2011/12/ten-on-tuesday_13.html?spref=fb

http://www.somemothersdoavem.blogspot.com/

http://yeastandwest.blogspot.com/2011/12/ten-on-tuesday.html

http://profile.typepad.com/familyjamesfive

another wednesday ten on tuesday!

1. I couldn't even remember my own blog address, that's how bad a blogger I am!
2. I have ordered my South African Rand, have bought beach towels and bical shoes for Pip
3. Pip is a proper walker now, although that was nearly cut short when she crawled behind me without me knowing and I trod on her foot, poor lamb!
4. I have a new job and I love it.
5. I got paid for working Christmas night, and it was soooo worth it kerching!
6. I'm addicted to charity shop purchases, today I got a toy for Pip that I had wanted to buy for her at full price though, £3.49 instead of £16.99, double kerching!!
7. I'm also kind of attached to 'one born every minute', 'coppers' and 'the biggest loser', love TV too much
8. I have been given an IPhone by my lovely bro in law, unfortunately my contract provider doesn't support IPhone so I can't get it to work, booooooo!
9. I haven't been to the gym since the end of November, getting squidgy.
10. I still love crumpets.

Wussy Wednesday instead of 10 on Tuesday!

Apologies that I have missed 2 Tuesdays, so here's my musings this Wednesday:

1. I went to New York about 10 days ago, it was a fab trip but I got that horrid tummy bug the night before. There's nothing like starting a transatlantic flight by clutching your tummy in a jam on the M56, shouting 'I don't think I'm gonna make it to the airport!', nice!

2. On a plus point I had my first trip in business class, was driven around in limos all weekend, ate at Gordon Ramsey's restaurant, and 14th row from front at Broadway isn't bad for tickets either. spoilt.com.

3. What exactly is a work life balance??? It's a phrase used a lot in the modern work place, but the reality is that you have your shifts, your job throws up what it does, and you just have to get on with it regardless. Evening shifts that I used to love, I've come to dread now, spend my days like a teary zombie on too little sleep. I've reluctantly asked for a role change. Hope it happens, I'll keep you informed.

4. The tree is up. Pip's face was a picture when I switched the lights on, but so far she hasn't wrecked it. Think that first day of repeatedly saying 'look with your eyes' each time she touched a bauble saying 'ooooh' seems to have paid off.

5. I'm nearly ready for Christmas, but have never been so financially embarrassed in my life. Mr J's main prezzie isn't bought yet, will have to be a credit card purchase, hope the shop name doesn't given it away. And I hope his 2nd main prezzie (yes we classify our presents as' main', '2nd main' and 'other') actually arrives.

6. On the question of Christmas, do you wrap a 14 month olds presents??? Father Christmas has put Pip's things in a big special sack (I'll probably have to help Father Christmas lift it off his sleigh, aka the back bedroom bed) so should I leave it at that? seems bonkers to wrap them all, but even as I write this, I know that I probably will! crazy mum.

7. Nursery vs being with Grandma. We are blessed with Fab parents who love looking after their Granddaughter, but my mum has a lot of aches and pains, and I don't know whether to take some of her child caring duties off her by doubling Pip's nursery attendance. Such a tough decision. That's what I'm thinking about right now.

8. I volunteered to work Christmas day from 17.00 - 03.00 boxing day. With this in mind, and because we're doing Christmas day on boxing day with Iain's family, we're having steak and chips for Christmas day!!! yum yum. Thought it would be the last year that we could get away with me working and not having the traditional dinner without little Miss Pips perception of Christmas day being distorted. All traditional next year Pippa Pickle x

9. I'm looking forward to a break from boxing day until the 9th Jan. 2012 is already shaping up to be a busy year, new job role?, trip to Cape Town, 4 week driving course, Iain away in Africa/India. Tired already.

10. I have a stress headache, see previous about work, Grandma, childcare etc. It's 11am, I've missed the gym, there are no crumpets in the house, I'm going back to bed. Night Night

A Proper 10 on Tuesday! (slightly boring but i'll get into it ladies)

1. I have an aversion to a red Le Cruset mug we bought, the purple and the turquoise ones positively beam at me when I open the cupboard, but I can't bring myself to drink from the red one. What's that all about?. I am in general quite OCD when it comes to mugs, I simply can not drink from some, and I would rather not have a drink if the mug is wrong! Am I alone in the mug thingy?

2. I have have bought my daughter too much for Christmas. I even bought things for her to wear that are now too small cos I started shopping for her too early. I'm hoping that she actually plays with some of it! Last  year, the precious 'first christmas' was ambushed by strep throat, the most vile infection, so this year i've gone for it!!!

3. Talking of playing, I have a child who doesn't play! today she sat on my knee watching desperate scousewives ripping up a tissue, have I failed her already?. I did cover her ears during the bad language and kept saying to her 'Nice girls don't look like that, baby', bad mother! I'm looking forward to being able to do some chores and looking lovingly at my content child playing with a toy farm or zoo, she seems to only be interested in being with people, Pippa limpet Jackson!

4. I am addicted to crumpets. When I lay Pip down for a nap, or when i'm driving home from the gym I simply can not wait to get my hands on their buttered up loveliness!!! On the OCD theme, I have 2, toast the bottom first, then the top, they have to be spread with full fat butter, topped with 1 teaspoon of strawberry jam, on plain white plate and a cup of tea preferably from the turquoise mug!

5. Looking forward to the Strike tomorrow, I like national events, I like seeing what happens and watching the news. I like the idea that I was there, that I was part of that. I love a bit of history.

6. I am a massive Radio 2 fan, yes I am over 30!

7. I had my hair cut today and not for the first time I was told by a hairdresser that my hair is in beautiful condition. I mention this because you'd never know by looking at it. My hair is an enigma, looks like a ratty mess, but has always actually been in good nick!

8. I am off to New York and with 7 amazing women. You can never be more blessed than with good relationships, I have know some of these women for over 30 years, we went to play group together. I wonder, as I write this, who my bubs will be friends with when she is 37?

9. My house is in such chaos that I ironed a load of clothes today, the problem being that i'm not sure if they were from the 'dirty to be washed' pile or the 'clean but thrown on the floor as the drier was needed' pile. As a friend shared recently 'boring women have clean houses', if that is true then I am one exciting mama!

10. Loved it today when another friend confessed that she hates unannounced visitors because of the state of her house, loved to know I'm not alone, but secretly knew that my house is the worst. I blame my mother, clean freak, maybe Pip will have the immaculate home I desire but can't achieve.

Some friends blogs:

http://www.blogger.com/goog_446808827

http://www.somemothersdoavem.blogspot.com/

http://familydeane.blogspot.com/2011/11/ten-on-tuesday_29.html?spref=fb