Cathy’s Blog

We’re all looking for ways to save money these days and one of the unfortunate drawbacks to this is that we often have to spend money to do it. For example, spending out on highly economical washing machine will be pricey but will save money in the long run. It’s a fine balancing act between what we have available now and our long term plans to cut down expenses. Another aspect ot it all is that we have all become so used to our creature comforts that there are certain items we are just unwilling to do without. The phone and computer for example, have become essentials in everyone lives and are not cheap. However, to save money in the long run we could combine the two into a VOIP phone and save money on our quarterly phone bill.

Easter is approaching rapidly and what’s on our minds – chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate!! Big, fat Easter eggs, small, hide in the handbag Easter eggs and just for inbetween Easter eggs – more chocolate. Oh ok, maybe thats just me. Easter has, for many, lost it’s religious implications and become another reason for a day off work and a little relaxation and family time. Nothing wrong with that I say, why not give gifts and cards? However, to do our bit for the planet that god has graced us with why not send ecards instead of tangible ones?

It quite amuses me that with my husbands fiftieth birthday approaching, our children think all he needs is a zimmer frame and a stair lift to keep him happy! Far from ready for that my husband is still a dynamic go-getter. He’s full of life and spirit, just as he was 30 years ago. He still loves to socialise, to have a laugh and to go paintballing without a zimmer frame in sight! So, what to do for this milestone birthday? Contrary to popular opinion he will not be sitting with a shawl over his knees playing Bridge – more likely I will throw him a themed party and we’ll all dress up and have huge amounts of fun!

Looking for appropriate wedding venues early last year I went on line and sought out a list of venues in my required area. This saved me so much time and was an invaluable resource. This was the second time around for me and my fiance and we didn’t want a church wedding but we did want something a little special that we could put our own mark on, that would be a day to remember not just for us but for everyone involved.

Adopted from America, the school prom has caught on big time in the UK. Well, why not? We all like an excuse to let our hair down and dress up, so to speak. However, in typically British fashion it has now become a bit of a competition between parents to lay on something special for their child on prom day and to do this many will use chauffeur hire with a posh car to get their children to the prom.

Just picture this – an office in central London housing 100 staff in the middle of summer and not an air conditioner in sight.

Everyone is feeling the pressure to meet their deadline, the heat from the office machinery is off the scale, staff are crammed together like sardines and sweat is pooling on the floor precariously. An aroma is building that is stifling the thoughts of the staff and all anyone wants to do is get out of there – hardly an environment conducive to getting the best from your staff.

My husband and I are going on a belated honeymoon in May this year. We delayed it by eight months because we wanted to go somewhere really special and had to pick the right time of year to enjoy the best weather. Denis Island in the Seychelles it is but as it’s going to be a once in a lifetime holiday we really want a special way of keeping the memories alive forever which is why we have decided to make photo books from our experience.

Well, today saw something I thought would never happen! My eldest son came to me and asked my advice on buying houseware.

Now, the time came about a month ago when he and a few mates decided they could afford to club together and share a flat. They organised it just as boys do – room each and space for the TV and beer fridge. No thought to how they would clean the toilet, dispose of rubbish, clean their clothes or cook they’re food. Of course, they didn’t think of any of this – in their mind they could live off take aways forever and the washing and cleaning would be done by the fairies that existed when they lived with their parents!

Like many mums-to-be, one of the first things I did when I discovered I was pregnant was to begin thinking of baby names. Yeah, I know, there are much more important things to consider but in those hazy, fuzzy moments thinking of the new life growing inside of me, I turned to thinking about what sort of label I was going to attach to this little person with for the rest of their lives.

When it comes to holidays, who wants to have to stick to a routine? Who wants to be told what time to have breakfast? What time to go out? What time to be entertained? Who wants to have a restricted diet? Not me! I’m a fan of self catering holidays where I can choose my own agenda, where I can lay in bed til midday if I choose, then get a breakfast of my own choosing, whether that be chocolate or chips or cereal. I then want to have the freedom to go out and find my own entertainment or simply sit in my room reading until I feel like a stroll or until I feel like eating anything I want.