I must remember this...

Sammy xx

Anniversary! 10 years have passed already!

So this time 10 years ago, I was waxed, plucked, painted and primped; and all ready to get married tomorrow!

I can't believe it's been 10 years, it's gone so so quickly.

I wasn't a completely traditional bride, and I had a massive 'thing' about spending the night apart from Mr B the night before the wedding.  Everyone wanted us to stay in separate places, as tradition states, and I was having none of it! I've no idea why, or even why I felt so strongly about it.  It got as far as me refusing to get married if I couldn't spend the night with my husband to be!  Stress does wonders to your perception of life. 

Speaking of stress, I didn't just do wedding planning, I rolled everything stressful into one! It was my last year in uni; writing a 10,500 word dissertation on mental health and social exclusion, I chose this opportune time to give up smoking and was planning the honeymoon to leave the very next day of our wedding.  I also couldn't possibly have a wedding car like normal people, I insisted on hiring three mini's for our wedding cars (red, white and blue.... Think 'self preservation society'...) which needed returning in our absence, just to make it more difficult!

Anyways, this time 10 years ago, Mr B and I went out for dinner and promptly got quite drunk!  We left the restaurant and went along to a few bars to keep us topped up, when it dawned on me it would be hilarious to call my mum.  So call I did! I rang home and told her i'd changed my mind and the wedding was off, everything needed to be cancelled.... The prank however backfired on me, when my mum fell about laughing too - yep she and my dad were indoors drinking wine and were quite drunk too! Like mother like daughter eh!

Well we've had an amazing time this last 10 years, and I love looking back at our wedding pictures, it was a fabulous day. So I thought I'd share some with you.

My pyjama party hen night, with my two best friends.

With my mum and dad, two of the most important people in my life.

With my beautiful bridesmaids.

There was a moment in the Registry Office where we couldn't possibly stop laughing and this is my most favourite picture of the day.  Mr B got an attack of the nervous giggles, which brought about the giggles for me and then the whole room!  Even the registrar had to sit down and take a moment! I don't remember our vows at all, but this moment meant that all our wedding pictures have natural smiles and absolutely no one forgot our wedding day.

With my grandparents, very sad to say none of them are here anymore.

The wedding party. I still to this day feel sad we got married in a registry office, not for any reason other than we couldn't have everyone there I wanted to and that still makes me feel sad. But hey... I may manage to get my own way and renew our vows/get our wedding blessed and have a party under the pylon... Watch this space!

So 10 years on, I'm still as happy now as I was then.  I may have been very young to get married (22), there may be a huge age gap between us (19 years, nope doesn't bother either of us or our families), I had to have two wedding dresses (that's another story) but I married my best friend and love him dearly.

Thank you Mr B, for the amazing wedding, the memories, putting up with me, and everything in between xxx

Couples holiday

Well as you know we’ve just come back from a lovely holiday in Turkey, two weeks of relaxing by the pool, the beach, long walks, lovely dinners and…. Couples bickering everywhere!

 

It is hard not to people watch when you aren’t doing a great deal, but it is so funny to watch two people, who may well be married but never spend more than an hour a day together in their usual busy lives; be thrown together for two whole weeks with not a lot else for distraction!  All the little niggles and insecurities come out, tempers fray and emotions are high and my god did these people keep us entertained!

 

We went to a couples hotel, (read - no children NOT swingers hotel please!) so we were surrounded by many many couples at all times in our resort.

 

Mr B and I are very lucky, we’re about to celebrate our 9^th wedding anniversary this year and we still get on ok quite well (I think!?).  There are times when Mr B works away, Monday – Friday and is only home weekends, sometimes he goes for two weeks at a time – so I do get quite used to being home alone, so when he comes home and makes a mess it is a little bit of a shock to the system, but doesn’t end in rows.  Although my two friends H and J know about my pile of clothes gripe! – That’s another story.

 

We always talk, (I'm a talker anyway!) and we always make time for each other (I'm conscious of falling fowl of a smug girl disaster here so I won’t say too much!) and generally we rub along quite nicely together.  So going on holiday and spending all that time together isn’t a massive shock to us, but of course – we aren’t perfect and don’t go without bickering from time to time.

 

It was so easy to spot these couples around the pool – these were the women throwing their men dirty looks, muttering in grunts under their breath and arguing about whether they had the right spot or the right bed.  I must say it was mostly the men on the receiving end of these gripes, but don’t get me wrong there are men arguers out there too.  I'm pretty sure if they knew people recognised their behaviour they would be embarrassed, but by and large I'm not sure they recognised the behaviour in themselves!  Even couples walking down the street passed us would be arguing, Mr B and I just fell about in laughter. (Once they had walked passed – I by no means want to make anyone feel bad!)

 

As well as being funny to watch, it did sadden me somewhat.  Think of all that time you’ve spent saving for your holiday, all that planning and this week or two of precious time to spend together and you spend it rowing!  So ladies, give your men a break, men if you are the arguer – give your lady a break and go and enjoy your time together. 

 

I was once told by a very lovely lady, ‘its so lovely you guys talk to each other all the time, a couple that can talk to each other at any time of the day or night, is a couple that will stay together’.  So remember, do talk to each other, do include each other in your lives and for the sake of your embarrassment keep the arguing to your room or at least quiet voices and not the buffet breakfast restaurant shouting at each other full pelt over the baked beans!  Or just suspend hostilities until you get home!

 

Ttfn, Sammy xx

We made it!

So.... I don't think for one minute that the holiday curse is cured; but I am pleased to say we managed a few weeks in Turkey, (all bar a bee sting, a bank account malfunction and puppy having to have his ear stitched up right before we went), and travelled home with no hiccups!

A mud bath to make Mr B and I look 10 years younger!

I have lots to tell you and lots planned, but I'm still very sleepy!

And I only put on 3.5lbs after a two week all inclusive holiday - I'm so happy!

Be back soon.... Sammy x

The Devil Wears Prada syndrome....

So that scene in the film.... 

Anne Hathaway has to source Meryl Streep a flight home in a hurricane. Meryl Streep won't take no as an answer, Anne Hathaway has no idea where to start or what to do and the sense of panic is rising... Welcome to my life on a daily basis.

This damn holiday cannot come soon enough and I swear if they cancel me.... God help them!!

I'll keep you posted, TTFN Sammy xx

The holiday curse...

Have I ever told you about our holiday curse?  What can I say other than we’re due to go on holiday mid September to Turkey, loosely translated as don’t book any holidays for that period or consider travelling to Turkey!

 

It is a running joke that every holiday we book ends in disaster, its not strictly true, its not every holiday - just most!

 

We have been cancelled, delayed, stuck in other countries, attacked by giant bugs, the list is endless!  Don’t get me wrong – we’ve had some fabulous holidays, but its got to the point where it is a standing joke between friends and family. 

 

We’ve been cancelled due to rioting in Egypt – but ended up in a fabulous holiday in Rome and Venice.  We were cancelled due to the ash cloud – but ended up in Amsterdam for a weekend for compensation.  We were cancelled because our hotel was flooded by a massive hurricane in Cuba – we waited and went the following year!  We had a holiday from hell on our honeymoon and flew home a week early, we then flew to Dublin for the remaining week and got stuck there because the planes engines failed – the list is not exhaustive.  So as you can see, it all happens to us!

 

So it is with trepidation that I get down from the loft and dust off my suitcase for our next adventure to Turkey – do wish me luck!  And you've been warned... Don't book anything for when were away or for the country were going to!

 

TTFN, Sammy xx

A few things IBS sufferers might identify with...

So I've touched on it before, but I've suffered with chronic IBS since 2007.  I suffer with IBS-D, (diarrhoea problems), but there I'd also IBS-C (constipation) or IBS-A (alternating). Have been having a major relapse of late and am trying to see the funny side of it, so thought I'd come up with a list some people might identify with!

1. Wind.

Why am I always so full of wind! The problem isn't necessarily it coming out (either end... Both as embarrasing as each other), but the noises it makes rumbling around my tummy and the size I can swell up to is just amazing.  The problem with it coming out is not being sure if you should do it in the loo... Just in case!

2. Bread is the enemy.

As is most of everything else, pastry, onions, pasta, peppers, rice, cheese, milk... god I'm so bored of avoiding everything.

3. Always wearing trousers/skirts a size too big.

The possibility of them falling down is very real, but I need that extra size for when point #1 rears it's ugly head. My tummy has the most amazing swelling ability and I need the room just in case!

4. Always needing to know where the nearest loo is.

Being stuck in traffic on a motorway can be a close to the wind emergency situation, it sucks.  Not knowing where the loo is leads to all kinds of anxiety and makes the sitch worse I swear!  At cinemas I need to sit on the end seat so I can get out easily, same for plane journeys etc. it's just not worth not knowing where that nearest loo is!

5. The pain.

Oh god, why didn't anyone tell me about the pain? At time I feel like sometimes the scene from alien is occurring in my tummy. The faces I pull can be second to none and the groaning, well don't even get me started!  The pain cam keep me awake at night, can have me doubled over and can make me cry, it's just not fun.

6. Over sharing.

TMI at times, I know. I start with the... 'I suffer with my digestive system' and it ends up with 'awful upset stomach with such bad pain and constant vomit inducing feeling', and that's just for starters!  When I was younger it was so uncool to talk about your toilet habits, nowadays anyone that listens get to know!!

7. Hot flushes.

Sadly these aren't the power surges I've heard about. These are heart hammering, sweat beading on your top lip, bright red faced hot flushes that accompany the pain, bloating and the immediate need to rush to the loo.

8. The drs trips.

Well isn't going to the drs always fun, especially when they have absolutely no idea what to do with you. I spent a year going in once a week, convinced I was dying and no bugger would believe me. It wasn't until the end of that year did a dr actually take me seriously and send me for a colonoscopyto finally diagnose me with IBS.  He then retired and I'm back to the internet for cures!

9. Taking so many drugs I rattle.

I am now quite under control with my IBS, (apart from my current flare up) however to feel like this I take 3 prescription drugs a day (used to be 4 but a dodgy heartbeat put paid to the really good anti sickness pills 😔).  Living on Imodium is just amazing and if I don't take my cocktail of medicines, life is a very dark place indeed.  I am luckier than some, I know this, but oh to live drug free! 

10. Anxiety.

I am just anxious all the time, am I close enough to a loo? Does that gurgling mean the world is about to fall out of my bottom? Can I manage a coach trip or even a short journey in a car someone else is driving?

11. Exhaustion.

Being up all night in pain, up all morning with an upset tummy, feeling sick for the remainder of the day really wears me out.  I'm so tired my bones hurt.

There's loads of other points, I'm well aware... These are what just popped in to my head. High five if you're a sufferer like me or live with one or sympathise with one. Yes there are iller people out there, yes I should be more grateful I'm alive, trust me I am, but IBS can really get you down at times.

Thanks for reading, ttfn Sammy xx