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My Weekend Away! 23rd-26th August.

So this weekend we ventured to Wales! We love Wales but we don't go as often as we should :( it is totally my favourite place in the world! 

Here's some snaps from the weekend!

Severn Bridge. 

The plot for our house. This is where the old house was situated. But we will relocate to the other side of the field

This is the only part left standing of an old house. The plot is massive enough room for a 4/5 bed house.

Behind this tree is our secret house :))

This is the side we would build the house. 

All in all a fabulous weekend, we were staying right next door to a working farm.  The place we stayed in was a little village called Glandwr. A tiny village in the middle of no where, the closest neighbours are a good mile away. The closest town is 25 miles away. The closest shop is a 15 min drive :) my sister and brother in law, joined us for the weekend too. We ventured to Pendyne as the weather was glorious. Pendyne is a small seaside town, there is no arcades, there is nothing really a shop for drinks and a cafe..... its litterally just a 14 mile stretch of beach. It's a good show of untouched beauty. The kids built sand castles and paddled in the sea a little. That evening we had planned with the neighbour back at the farm, to go see his working farm, cows being milked, sheep being sprayed ready for auction, these people work extremely hard. Their days start at 5am, where they milk 120 cows and does not stop till sometimes 9:30pm. Hughwel and Sharn were so lovely. They talked us through everything they were doing, they showed us the animals, 2 day old calfs the kids stroked animals, rode tractors, quads etc! They had a fabulous time! A massive thank you to the lovely Hughwel and Sharn, for allowing us city people to venture into your world :) the kids and adults loved every minute of the tour!

When the time came to leave, have to say we all were pretty sad to say goodbye to Delfryn our home for 4 days, However the good news is, we are returning me and my boys in 2 weeks time. Hubby has some work up there, fixing cow sheds and repairing some windows in the house :) 

So roll on 2 weeks time :) glandwr I'm returning :))

Another amazing memory making weekend :)

Maternity clothing dilemma.

Second trimester!

Yup I've made it into the second trimester of pregnancy I'm officially 17 weeks gone. More scary than that is the fact I only have another 23 weeks to go till I hold baby JJ in my arms :)). It's very exciting and scary but I am looking forward to the weight gain, the showing off the bump. However seems that as I'm kinda in the middle of my pregnancy, I'm not massively showing, however my clothes are starting to get tight! I decided I would start the maternity clothes seeking/shopping mainly for comfort and the fact I know I shall be needing some soon. I walked round Brent X shopping centre today, I browsed online after I returned and I have to say, (no offence) but maternity clothes are just shit, aimed at the 'older' lady. I browsed new look, mother care, h&m, mamas and papas, next even GAP. 

Not only are the clothes shite, but massively over priced. Every other thing I looked at, seem to have stupid slogans on the front or were specifically aimed for breast feeding mums.? 

Some of the slogans:

Hands off the bump

Baby on board

Prince/princess on board

Oh please!

I'm 31 years old, do you think that's too young to be having a child? Cause I don't? I want tops that firstly cover my rear end, I want dresses, that are plain, not covered on horrible prints or make me look old? Don't get me wrong maybe it's just not my thing! However seriously some of these clothes are just awful! That's without the massive price tag. £32.99 for a tunic style top. The same top in normal size is £19.99? How do they warrant the £12.00 jump in price? Hardly enough extra fabric to explain the price hike....... Someone helppppp meeeeee!

Another maternity issue.

Maternity Lingerie...... 

Another black hole in the market, being pregnant, why can't I have lovely underwear, pretty sets, without the 'nursing' removable part? I am not breast feeding (I know I know) so again I don't need this feature, however I would like a range of nice underwear and nightwear rather than the above, with removable bits and granny pants? I was looking for nighties and pyjamas for when my time comes...... I could find absolutely  nothing that I thought aw that's nice! 

I can understand why younger mums to be, don't bother maternity shopping. I can understand why they wear what they have. Personally I am not a fan of showing the belly off, where the bump is fully on show like skin showing etc, I just don't like it. Yes people should be proud they are pregnant, show it off, but something's can be covered and look nice too! 

However with small amount of maternity ranges aimed at my age group I think this is the main reason for the above. Buying and spending a fortune on things that simply are horrid and only need to last you what 6 months at the most.

Why can I not be pregnant and look nice without the ewwwww that's got a rank pattern or the stupid slogan? 

Can anyone recommend anywhere that does the whole lot:

Trousers

Tops

Nightwear

Underwear

Why can't younger mums to be, feel and look sexy? Without the 'older look'? There must be somewhere? 

I think the way forward for me is, I am gonna be needing the clothes for autumn/winter, so I am thinking leggings, tunics, oversized jumpers and cute dresses, and flat shoes/boots will have to see me through! I may even just buy the next size up in everything and hope this will do!! Because I am losing the will to live trying to find some nice stuff!

The New Addition :o)

So yesterday was an off day for me, totally :( felt utterly crap headache and nausea, them pesky midwives lied. I certainly don't feel better from 12 weeks on. I thought this was supposed to the time I'm glowing. Instead I find myself wallowing on the sofa, nursing a sore back and head :((. 

Since I was moved to the big smoke, I couldn't use my car anymore :( this didn't make me happy! However since I have been off, I've noticed and realised how much I missed the car. Having to rely on lifts and public transport was just a nightmare! So I decided we needed another car, especially when baby comes and hubby using the car daily well it means that when time comes or if any emergencies arise I need some form of transport just in case.

After a couple of weeks searching for a little run around for us. And extortionate insurance quotes. We finally found 'Simon' perfect for hubby to use to and from work & FWD for the snow, and the insurance was reasonable especially after the quotes we were getting. 

I must have looked at over 1000 cars & called about 500 people! I kid you not. Some cars were just horrid, some too high mileage, or even held together by Sellotape (I kid you not). Then Tuesday I stumbled across Simon. A Saxo VTR 1.6, X Plate (2000 model), alloys, sports exhaust, with only 51,000 (warranted mileage) for a steal :)) clearly I wasn't holding my hopes on it still being available. So I got hubby to call. Simon had not been snapped up yet. So arranged a viewing :)) so we arrived Simon was at the back of the showroom.  I was imagining the pictured had prolly don't him justice and that he certainly wouldn't be a lush as the photos! I was wrong. 1 hour & 35 minutes later, he was coming to his brand new home :) deal had been done. Hubby even got an extra £50 off the asking price :)) so here he is.

Say hello to Simon x

Simon slept in a warm garage last night, tucked up safe and a true member of the family. :) hubby loves him (boy racer at heart) he is nippy and new to us! 💙🚘 x 

This is the last big purchase now before Christmas shopping commences x

Picture post

A few from the last couple of weeks, birthday celebrations, random stuff x love it x 

My little man x happy 12th birthday x

He did well x 

Me and my boy cinema time x

On the tube for a day out in London Town x

London Town x

View front he London Eye 

The shard.

Sealife London Town.

Walking under the water x

Penguins 💙

Lee purchased these for his brother/sister 💙

More baby stuff x

Flowers from hubby x

Car cleaning session.

Taking the pool down, weather has changed :((

Obtaining insurance quotes 😳 gahhhh

So all in all a busy few weeks have gone by! I'm making the most of my time off work totally chilling and enjoying life x

Here's to another fabulous week :)) x 

Yawn Fest!

What a week since little mans birthday x been here there and everywhere! However thought I would stop in and give you an update of what's been going on!! In between lots of mummy and son time, funerals, midwife and hospital appointments its been a trying couple of weeks!

So my brother (who is having a baby) the one who only rings me, when he wants a favour. 9 times out of 10 it's to borrow money...... *rolls eyes* has properly annoyed me no end. Not only did he announce his girlfriends pregnancy 2 days after me, but started with the phrase you alright, I am gonna piss on your fire. Well firstly he could have waited for my news to sink in and secondly he could have told me in a better way. Last Thursday was my sons birthday he turned 12 (now I feel old) I posted a message wishing him a happy birthday on Facebook, every person who knows me my boy is my world, he is smart, funny, kind and caring, he is turning into a proper young man! He has exceptional manors and makes me proud, my time and effort of bringing him up has really paid off. Anyways my brother was on Facebook 20 mins after I posted said status. Not only did he not bother to post to his wall, or comment on the status, but he and my mum (my sons nan) didn't even bother to send him a frigging card! I know money is tight, however Facebook is FREE! How hard would it have been to just say happy birthday? Now this highly annoyed me. I don't care about cards or presents, I just think if you have enough time to post shit on Facebook, about drugs and alcohol, you surely have enough time to wish your nephew a happy birthday right? 

So I finally accept that he is clearly not important. He never has been and he knows that, he will one day turn and tell them to do one and to be fair he has every right! I shall stand behind him and clap when he does.

My brother is the sort of person who believes the whole world owes him a favour, he doesn't work, because he got himself fired, he moans constantly about the benefit system and how hard up he is, yet he manages to buy 3D televisions, laptops and eats take out every day! He smokes and drinks and smokes weed on a regular basis! Benefits can't be that bad then right? Anyways he tells me that he believes the council should regime him and his girlfriend, that they shouldn't have to go into temporary accommodation, they want a house with a garden and they want to be moved like yesterday! He doesn't listen when I say you won't get anything for a couple of years at least! He told me that's not right, that they are having a baby, that they are priority! My response was really? What about the millions of other people who have children and need housing what makes you any different to anyone else? He also believes the midwives are going to assist them, really they have time to run around wiping the arses of the parents as well as dealing with their usual jobs! I asked if he had even put their names on the council list....! Guess what he said? No. He hasn't even filled out an application! Haha seriously, everything wanted, however he wants to do nothing to get it..... Drives me insane!

Last Friday I made a pact to myself that I would not let them bother me again. I wouldn't help them when they called and I finally managed to do that Monday, when he hollered at me on Facebook (because he has no money and can't ring or text me) and asks me, if I could help him shift a tele, because I have transport, I flatly told him, no I couldn't help. He said he would wait for me etc, I still said no. I told him there was plenty of trolleys about and to use one of them! 

So I finally said no! I grew a back bone and have refused to help! I won't be helping them out, I won't be running them anywhere because I am pregnant myself, I am going to concentrate on myself and the family who give a shit about me and my little family.  

He hasn't even congratulated me, asked me how I was feeling NOTHING! I'm sorry but his girlfriend isn't the only one who is pregnant.

I'm standing my ground I'm refusing to contact them now, I'm done, wiping my hands of it now for my own well being! All they ever bring is drama and right now I can live without that!

Serious Jeremy Kyle shizzle man!

Car Insurance Rant.

So this weekend, seemed to be the perfect time to shop around for a new car and insurance for hubby, we have only the one car these days, because when I was moved from one office to another, it basically meant I couldn't drive to work anymore. So we decided hubbies beloved FTO has to go. I couldn't see the point of 2 cars and one not being used. So he sold it on. Man am I regretting it now! We have only my car now, a lovely car which I searched high and low to get. I finally tracked the perfect model down, low mileage etc. etc. and bought it! then under a year later, I was moved (with a horrible outcome)

Anyways enough about my hard done by feelings about work. Whilst browsing online we found the perfect car :) Hubby liked it, was cheap, taxed and MOT'd mileage not too bad for age, we decided yup that's the one! Now baring in mind hubby is only going to use said car for small journeys, to asda, down to the MIL's nothing too far. So only needed a little run around, something to earn a years no claims off of.

So we saw a P reg, Citreon Saxo VTR 1.6 (1997) for like £395 on autotrader. we were like wow that's a bargain and local too. So before we rung the person, we thought we would do insurance quotes......

That's where the fun started.

I can not believe the extortionate prices for insurance these days!

This car, will be kept in a locked garage most days, its rarely gonna be used, only doing limited mileage on the car, Hubby is 36 years old, 19+ years driving experience, no points on licence, me 10+ years driving experience, my own car insured (he is a named driver) with 7 years no claims bonus for my £20,000 Mercedes Benz, 1.8 Kompressor I pay £600 a year (includes breakdown cover, £500,000 legal cover, handbag cover).....

The quotes we got for a 1.6 Citroën saxo, hahaha laughable.

First quote:

£3979 - Aviva (Instalments available) £1000 deposit required

Second Quote

£2750 - Bell

Third quote

£2797 - Co-Op

I mean seriously the value of the car is £300, what is the purpose of these quotes above?
And here are the most expensive quotes we got I shit you not. 

Ridiculous right? 

So we used the same companies above and got quoted for a 1.0 Corsa, N plate 1994 worth £100

First quote:

£7120 - Aviva (instalments available) Geeeee thanks for that! after a £2000 deposit!

Second Quote:

£1970 - Bell

Third Quote

£5679 - Co-Op

It pisses me off, big time! What are you basing these prices on? usage is minimal, the cars wouldn't go above 50 MPH cause they would fall apart, you would pay out £75 scrap value if either of the above were written off............... you do the math! Even with the benefit of paying in instalments, thanks for that, some people don't even earn what the instalments are in 3/4 months full time working! Its stupid! Horrendous!

I now understand why people DONT PAY insurance. because even if hubby only used the car 5/6 times a year and got caught driving each time, it would only cost £150 each time for being caught! which is a damn sight cheaper than forking out for the quotes above.

Where does this end? They say its because he has NO NO CLAIMS discount, well at the above prices of course he wouldn't! because he would never be able to afford to pay it! no one in their right minds would even consider these prices? The reason he doesn't have no claims is because he insured a car on a classic car policy, for 5 years+ for which he didn't earn no claims bonus because its specialist insurance, not for daily use, modern cars!

Now I know the cars we would go for, are boy racer cars, but the quotes for something more family orientated like the Focus, Astra etc those quotes just insulted my eyes! I could hear my bank manager screaming in my head saying PLEASE DONT DO ITTTTTTT!

So what are people supposed to do! Such a nightmare!

So after a lot of searching, we found a quote for £991.50, that's fully comp, 12,000 miles per year, Tescos Bank via Compare the Market. However I still think this is really high! But its the best price we have had so far!

If the value of the vehicle was more than it is, like a brand new range rover, super sport, worth like £65,000+ then of course I would snap up the deal! But in this case, its just not worth it!

I think the only answer we will find is multicar policy next year, using my Full No Claims bonus on the policy, his car, my car and then he earns his no claims bonus and so do I .... Until then, ill have to go top up my oyster card!

Right so I'm off to the shop to put some funds on it!

Are you having the same problem's as this? How did you sort it or get a cheaper quote?