One week to go....

So the suitcase saga.... Last Wednesday I ordered 2 matching suitcases and a carry on from the Luggae Hut.  Got an email on the Thursday morning to say they only had one in stock.  So I chose another one.  And waited for it to be delivered, and waited and waited....  I was in contact with a gent there who said they were wanting for the other suitcase and carry on to be delivered.  This was Wednesday of this week.  Baring in mind that my mum is taking our packed suitcases away with her on Sunday, this was getting too close for comfort.  Thursday, they still not had them delivered to their warehouse.  So I told them to just deliver the one they had, and cancel the other 2.  I sent paul to look in Chichester at BHS and John Lewis.  He decided to look in sainsburys, they had some good offers on ok suitcases. So he came away with one huge one, and a carry on, for a bargain price.  Still need to check our accounts and make sure Luggage Hut have refunded our other ones.  They will be getting a snotty email at some point over the next few days.  I may be busy, but I can find time to complain about shoddy service.

Yesterday I spent the morning selling off yet more of my house. I got home to discover a big fat to let board up at my back garden.  By the end of the day we had some viewings arranged for friday.  We got rid of some big items, with promise of many others going next week or over the weekend.  I had my lovely friends Philippa and Vicki round yesterday afternoon, mainly to buy more toys, but it was lovely to see them.  Gonna miss those girls.  I think everything that is going on is catching up with me.  I slept on the sofa for nearly an hour last night.  I then put yet more stuff for sale, spoke to my dad and had a bit too much wine... And a bit of a late night.  Bless my youngest, he decided that 2am was a good time to have a screaming fit.  Took some paracetamol to settle him, but even that took time.  He even had the decency to wake his brothers.  He woke up this morning with a stinking cold, which I also think Isaac is fighting too....

Took the boys to school and preschool this morning, then headed home to wait for peoplemtovpick up more stuff.  Had a viewing, then Seb went for a sleep.  Sorted out yet more stuff for sale, before I sat down to do some uni work.  I had worked really hard Monday and Tuesday of this week to be sure I had done most of my assignment.  I sat down to reference my 1st question.  Went to read through the rest, they werent there...tried my best to find them, but they are not on the hard drive anywhere.  Then the realisation struck.... Paul had copied over our hard drive from the main computer to a new smaller one on Saturday.  I had been saving my work to the old one, which got packed up I the shipping on Wednesday....I was sooooooo annoyed with myself.  Luckily I managed to do some more work this afternoon, so i only have 1 more question to do tomorrow night.  I want that assignment gone.  To be honest, it may not matter.... I got an email from the OU saying they are having problems contacting the university they would use in Greenville for hosting my exam.  They have asked me to try, or to fly back to the UK for my exam (no chance), or defer sitting it till the next exam period, which I think is February.  Think I may be deferring.....

This afternoon I had my last ever Netmums meetup at my house.  I have been arranging these for about 3 years, first as right hand mum, then as chair mum.  I really enjoy them.  We had 7 adults and 11 kids round this afternoon.  I will miss my Netmums friends a lot.  But I am happy, as those who are taking over will do a good job, and keep the meets going.  Luckily I didn't really have to say a proper goodbye to anyone other than Lucy, that was hard enough.  We have arranged an impromptu night out for Monday, I am hoping lots will turn up, I think there will be at least 6 of us which will be lovely, yet hard to say good bye to people....

This weekend we are off to my dads tomorrow to drop off a boot full of stuff.  My gran is over from Northern Ireland.  She wanted to see us before we head off.  She does not think she will see us again.  A bit morbid maybe, but my gran is going to out live everyone.  Then we are off to Birdworld.  The boys love birdworld, it is just the right amount of time for their concentration level, and the right distance for my Gran to walk.

Then Sunday my mum and Lee are down to look after the boys while we pack most of our clothes away.....

Only 7 days to go........

Is it July already?

Evening

I know it has been a while since I posted last, sorry!  We haven't even been mega busy, but will update anyway.

Oliver getting used to basketballs....

We had Oliver's sports day last Friday (29th June).  It was good.  My mum made it down ultra early, I think her Mazda has wings.  Unfortunatly the inlaws (Keith and Chris) got stuck in traffic around Chichester, as we had forgotten that the Festival of Speed was on.  They did manage to make it to see Olivers last race though, which was good.  Oh, and Isaac got 3rd in the toddler race, so proud of my big boys! We had lunch with Oliver, when he went into class, we took a drive down to Littlehampton riverfront and had some lunch.  All the relatives stuck around till Oliver came home from school.  Oli got his birthday present from the inlaws, more Lego (feels like its coming out of our ears....)




Isaac with his 3rd sticker

We had a nice lazy family weekend last weekend.  At the beginning of the week we got full confirmation of our Look and See trip.  Business travel here we come!!!!  We need to sort our ESTA's (Visa Waiver programme, as our Visas will not be ready, in fact we will pick up the pack to take to the embassy while we are out there)  but there is time for us to do that between France and America.  All the paperwork for our visas has finally reached the visa attorney in the states, so they are currently compilling the pack ready for us.  Lets hope there are no problems.

I had my meeting with Mr Ancell on thursday.  Apparently Oliver had stood up in class and told everyone he was going to move to America.  His teaching assistant, Mrs Merrett had corrected him thinking he meant for a holiday, so they got a bit of a shock!!!  I am able to take Olivers work books from this year with me, and Mr Ancell even emailed me  a copy of Oliver's report, despite the fact I still don't have it in my hands yet.  Was nice to get a look at it, he is doing very well.  Mr Ancell thinks I will have a few forms to fill in, but is going to contact the office, then let me know. 

I also took both the big boys for haircuts last week, Isaac on Wednesday, Oli on Thursday. You can check out Isaac's before and after photos in this blog!

Isaac after his sports day

Friday (6th July) was Isaac's sports day, again my mum flew down and got here in just over an hour.  It was starting to rain as we arrived, and continued to spit all the way through.  The staff were brilliant though, and got the kids through it very quickly.  It is always so lovely to see the kids at preschool, they are so well behaved and so cute!  Paul had to pop to work in the afternoon to pick up a Rolls Royce.  My mum stayed on Friday night, which was nice for the boys, they love having nanny here.  We need to make the most of it while we can.

We were both hungover on saturday, so we did very little.  Paul spent the morning cleaning the inside and the wheels of the Rolls, as he was doing a favour for our next door neighbours dad, Steve.  His daughter got married on Saturday, and Paul used the Rolls to chauffeur them from their house to the venue, as they had been let down at the last minute by the company they were using.  I think everyone was very pleased with the car.  We were invited to the evening, but lack of babysitters and hangovers meant we stayed home.  Oli was allowed to sit up and watch Indiana Jones, Raiders of the Lost Ark, whle I went to Tesco.  I know who got the better deal.....  Saying that I did finally buy the suitcases.  £70 for 2 big suitcases is a bargain, and they will do our many airplane journeys well.  Oliver had a party this morning, then we watched the F1, great race.  And watched Murray lose at the tennis.  Never mind, Federer is pretty much THE best player of all time.  As soon as they put that roof on, I knew Murray was a gonner....  At least he won a set.  He will definatly improve over time, and I would not be surprised to see him in another final very soon.  So another lazy Weekend....

This week coming up is going to be a bit mental.  My friend Vicky is having her C-section tomorrow, good luck hunni, can't wait to meet your little bundle.  My money is on a girl...  I have to spend the rest of the week making sure the house is tidied and the kitchen is stocked, as I am off on an OU residential school on saturday.  6 days in the chemistry labs of York University making insect pheromones.  Got my computer marked assignment back already, got 50%, so quite pleased with that.  Bit nervous about it all, I am not great at chemistry, so can only hope I meet people who are, lol!!!

Will try and update before I go.

Much Love x