Is it true that everyone has at least one book to write?

I for one, wouldn’t have a clue where to start, but it would appear France is as good a starting point as any! For example, Peter Mayle, Helena Frith-Powell, that Colin Firth/Darcy fella in Love Actually, to name a few.

But here is a useful article by Samantha David in The Guardian, that outlines how to go about it. It seems that the number one pre-requisite is a sense of humour! 

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I booked the tickets for our out-bound journey through Ryanair today and although the flights have gone up and then down to a very reasonable price, I can’t help feeling a little hood-winked!

The online order form is such that if you don’t want insurance, you are told to select from the drop-down menu. The drop-down menu is not easy to find! I then found it and chose the appropriate ‘no insurance required’ choice and clicked. Only when I get to the end and have completed, do I find that I needed to do that with each person….seems pretty obvious now, but it is not at all clear on the form. It would appear that there is no way of going back to amend choices made earlier on, unless I am really stupid and missing something , somewhere. So, Diddy and myself now have insurance, whether we want it or not!

I am also smarting at the baggage selection, even without baggage, I am charged £2 for ‘priority’ boarding…there seemed to be no other option. So now The Boy can go on before me and Diddy to select our seats.

I am especially annoyed as I have been through this before and vowed I would double check everything first, but even with prior knowledge, it is a process that seems to be deliberately complicated and misleading.

The flights may be cheap but the add-ons just keep rising!

Here is a breakdown of the flight expenses:

• £29.97   Flights (cheap as chips!)
• £80.20  Taxes, fees and charges…including credit card fee
• £11.40   Aviation/WCHR levy…whatever that is!
• £10        Insurance
• £131.57  Total paid

See what I mean…hoodwinked!

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I had wobbly moment number 2 today….handing in aforementioned letter to the school secretary!

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I knew it had to happen eventually, but I had my first wobbly moment last week.

With a firm date in mind now, I thought it would be a good idea to start some draft letters. I began with Mr Filby, the flute teacher, moved onto Gwendoline from French club, next onto Brown Owl and was doing really well. But not long into the letter for school, I could feel prickles in my eyes and a lump in my throat. I had to walk away from it for a few hours!

Just putting into words the definate date of departure was bad enough…it’s been a long time coming; but then writing my thanks and appreciation was just too much! I realised what a great little school we have been part of for 3 years. I found it a really difficult letter to write in fact.

I shall really miss the teachers, I shall miss the mums, I shall miss the children that I have seen grow up over the years, I shall miss the social events, such as the Christmas Fayre, the Summer Fete etc and the little extras that come with a lovely pro-active school.

But, all in all, I can’t/mustn’t dwell…..decisions have been made and life moves on. I am moving onto another chapter that will be our future memories. But I am grateful for the memories that we will have from this school.

I’ll be off again in a minute if I keep this up!

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Ok, I’m back now, ready to roll! Lots has happened, so bear with me as I update you all!

We had a great time in the Lakes. Diddy and The Boy spent a few days with Daddy in Cheshire, which meant I managed to grab a few lie-ins! Yep, in bed until 9:30 one morning! Elsie Marley…eat your heart out!

There has been dissapointment however with the house sale. Our buyer, who is a cash buyer, has had her buyer drop out, which means the house of cards has collapsed. So after surveys and searches we are back to square one. The agent has suggested we just re-market the property and not hang around for her. So I have spent today clearing up again. We will all have to start being clean and tidy again….never easy with two kids…not mine anyway!

But the good news is that we are going anyway. We figured that even though a buyer wouldn’t be difficult to find, the paraphernalia that goes with it will maybe put completion back until September. Not ideal when there are children to start at school and settle in.

Billy Jenkins has been booked for the 4th July, 4 weeks tomorrow and we will more than likely fly out, either the Thursday or a few days later….yikes!! Better get my act together!

Plum and Peter go on Friday but had a shock when the gearbox went on the car…..£1,600 worth of gearbox! Must have been all the rip-snorting I’ve been doing in it around Barnet!

Good thing is that I am now over my rabbit-in-the-head- lights blip and have started on my lists again. Hoorah!

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