Super Mommies…

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… I wish I was one of those super mommies!

You know the kind who wakes up the children with ready to eat healthy breakfast, who bakes pastries and sends them to school, who never ever forgets important school dates.

Who has lunch ready by the time the children are back from school, who bathes the little buggers and reads them a bed time story.

One with diaries to make sure, she never forgets anything.

Yeah, I wish I was so organised, motivated and wide awake, looking stunning in the early morning…. or afternoon.

Who organises play dates and hang out with the other mums on playgrounds.

But me? Pfffff…… I don’t plan…..I do have a planner however…..but forget to note important dates…. I forget school relating things until the day they actually happen or when I am really lucky the babies tell me just before shops will close.

Other mums??? I don’t even know what they look like and my excuse for now is, that I just moved here, ha!

Yes, I admit I am chaotic, I am most of the day in rush or busy with other things and also yes, when it is more convenient, I just put some chicken nuggets and chips in the oven paired with a glass of smoothie.

Yeah, I am trying…. but hey, they are alive and healthy so I must do something right.

Franky

Christmas in hospitality

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As you might have read earlier, I currently work in a hotel as a waiter.

I, together with my headwaiter and two other lovely individuals, run the breakfast buffet which can get pretty tough, especially at weekends.

But now that we had Christmas, we are open 30 minutes longer every day and we are fully booked until the 2nd of January!

30 minutes does not sound much at first…. but hey ho, we ALWAYS (and I am rolling my eyes right now) have guests who come in one minute before we officially shut the doors. Maybe I should mention that in addition to the 30 minutes we top it up with another 15 minutes as a curtesy! And even than, some guests have no care in the world, wandering around, thinking about what next to eat. And than we have those very cheeky guests who stick their head through the closed door, demanding more food/drinks!!! What the…?!

If you are one of those who like to eat out over Christmas:

Don’t you think about the staff? About the people who serve you? Who get up very early in the morning to get the buffet ready, arranging everything nice so that you don’t get sore eyes?

Have you ever thought about, that those people working in hospitality would have liked to stay at their cozy homes, watch their children, family and friends to unwrap presents and stuff their faces with delicious food they prepared the day beforehand???!!!

I had to work 9 days straight! I did not get to see my children unwrap everything and I had to prepare all food the day before with instructions for my family about how long to put what in which oven to be ready for when I return from work.

So since I had to work every single day over the festive period, I would never even consider eating out at such a time and those with family (maybe, or high likely those without as well) will understand why.

Franky

P.S.: Once I was home from my shift I did nothing but eat all day long, my Christmas dinner was lovely.

Worldly possessions

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On my way home from work I realised, I could live without all my so called worldly possessions!

I wouldn’t mind if I loose my house for what ever reason, everything in it, even my beloved eye and face cream (which is quite fancy, makes me look 10 years younger and costs hubby a fortune).

I wouldn’t mind loosing all my favourite clothes and running gear… after all you could replace it all.

But what I could never live without is the love of my friends, my children and husband.

Feeling loved is the only thing that does not make you feel lonely and that, I think, is the most important thing.

Merry Christmas all

Franky

When you get lost running

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I did it again!

I think I could have the best map in the world, with pictures and instructions + distance all the way and I would still get lost!!!

I am a lost cause, really!

Yesterday was my day off and so I thought it would be nice to run (well it was more a hike to be honest) up Ben Ledi here in Callander.

So I dropped off the babies at school and drove the 5 minutes over to the small car park where the actual route starts.

Me being me, took the cycle route instead of the route to the left which would have brought me straight to the main route until you hit the little gate up to Ben Ledi.

After 20 minutes of running along the cycle path I decided I should go up left now. I had the feeling I was wrong so I thought I have seen something like a faint trail through the spinney and ended up on a large area with chopped down trees, Ben Ledi to my left.

Bolt as I am I climbed over trees until I finally hit the actual trail.

So up I went the mountain. Believe me guys and girls, though I was in shorts and the temperature around 1C on the lower grounds, my legs worked so hard, I didn’t feel the cold at all.

Occasionally on the lower bits I was able to run a bit.

There where 3 more big climbs and before the last one I was already cursing in my head, saying that there better be the cross when I reach (what looked to me, like the other two times) the summit.

It was already getting much colder and I hit snow, so it was time to put my hood up (my OMM Kamlaika jacket did not let me down and kept me warm with a fleece underneath) and get my gloves (thin merino which was just fine) out of my bag. Warm and toasty I kept on climbing.

Finally while marching up the big rocks I reached the summit and the cross. Unfortunately the sun was not high enough to reveal nice views so all I saw was clouds, but still beautiful enough.

To make matters not worse I retract my steps, had some chats with other hikers until I hit the actual path at the foot of the mountain.

So I thought to myself, lets follow this one which I did but when it kept on turning right and higher and higher I was certain I was wrong- again (it turned out later I wasn’t).

But I also didn’t want to run all the way back. So I did the only logical and lazy thing:

I walked cross country, straight down to where I heard the river and where the cycle path is.

I can’t even tell the amount of times I nearly lost my trainers in the knee deep bog and ice colt waters, not to mention the scratches from the bushes.

If someone has seen me, they probably had a good laugh.

But eventually after I chopped my way through the undergrowth, I reached the cycle path again and when I reached the car park, what did I see?

The path I should have taken instead of the cycle path. The one where I thought was wrong…. unbelievable….

That happens when you get too excited! You just don’t open your eyes…. well at least I don’t.

Happens.

Probably will happen again.

That is fine.

Franky

I lost my way

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I think I lost my way!

I’ve been thinking that for a while now.

When I ask myself where I would like to see myself in 5 years, my answer would be:

In a job I really enjoy. A job which is enjoyable and earns me a bit of money!

The reality might be different though. I might be stuck like I am now. In a job which is convenient and pays the bills.

I am not a dumb person. I studied different things. I have diplomas for two different type of jobs and a lot of knowledge when it comes to other things I did.

I like learning new things and I love physical jobs! Jobs where I almost drop dead by the end of the day because it makes me feel like I actually did something useful!

A few days ago I found a trainee vacancy in Livingston for (I think it was) a ship or boat company. They where looking for someone who would assist with boat repairs etc.

I would have loved to apply for this job, but travel hours would have been too long.

Every week I check the ferry websites for their job offers. I know the seasonal job offers should be out soon and I wonder if I should sign up for a stcw training so I can apply. But I don’t want to pay a £1000 for a course and in the end I don’t get the job. Of course getting this certificate is no guarantee for employment but shouldn’t I do anything to go forward?

I feel lost. So lost! I bet everyone of you felt like this before and if not, well lucky you. It is not a nice feeling.

Well…it is 7:14pm, my uniform is already ironed and ready for tomorrow and I will be off to bed now.

Beauty sleep is essential and tomorrow might be a better day or the job opportunity!

Franky (who keeps her hopes up)

Our very own house

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We made it. Finally!

We finally bought our very own house. We paid more than we intended to. Also it is not as far north as I would have wished to.

We decided against Orkney. We travelled all around Scotland, checked places, viewed houses and eventually settled for a nice cottage in the beautiful town of Callander.

It was built late 1600s, it has fireplaces, a dine-in kitchen, a big enough garden and the area enough outdoor activities, bigger towns and cities near by for work-

All important factors for us.

Now whenever I have my days off, I start painting rooms. Yes, I know usually you renovate before you move in- we do it in reverse. Plainly because we really wanted to move out of this teeny weeny tiny cottage which was infested with humongous monster spiders!

Unfortunately I haven’t seen much of the area just yet, as I do nothing but work and if I get home early, it is raining. Like hammering down bad rain!

Actually I should be the happiest person alive. I live in Scotland with my family in a traditional beautiful cottage in a even more beautiful area….. but still.

Maybe it is the fact that from now on we just go to work to pay off the house, pay for the renovations (you should see the wall paper which snakes its way to the first floor, roses far as the eye can see), pay this big amount of council tax….

I look at the house and see how it could look like once it is done.

Wallpaper down and nice colours on…

Getting those ugly tiles off the floor, ripping the carpet out replacing all with nice wooden flooring….

At some point install nice new bathrooms (yes, plural. We have 4!)….

Ax two of those awful trees down….

Repaint my poop brown kitchen units, change the handles, install Belfast sink, change worktop for wood……

Sooooo much  to do.

I think the fact that I see how much there still is to do and me being me, wanting to get it done there and then. And the fact that I can’t get it all done straight away as money does not grow out of my pockets does not let me enjoy my house….Maybe I should just sit back and relax….

But for now:

Off to bed.

Nighty night

Franky