Web sites can require a big investment in terms of money and time, and creating one can be a big decision for any company to make.
When employing the use of a web design agency, it is essential that there is someone from your team who knows everything about the site and the budget and your requirements and who can be on hand throughout the working day to assist the designer. This can place quite a strain on the already stressful workload of an individual.
However, when implemented correctly, a web site can also prove to be a fantastic marketing tool for your business and one that can put you way ahead of your competitors.
It is not for everyone though, and we quite often get quote requests from people who don’t really know what they want and where the web site will be of no more value to the client than a free listing on a relevant directory. There are also those who require a website to act as a service, without realising that the market is already saturated with web sites already very successfully offering the same service. A new website offering this same service would require a huge investment just to make it noticed.
There are others who approach us with a fantastic ‘Google’ type idea and expect to pay next to nothing.
When thinking of setting up a website, you have to be realistic. You have to look at what is already available online – is there somebody already doing what you want to do, and if not, why not?
Another thing people should think about when considering a website is, will the site do more harm than good? If you do not put the time, effort and money in, a cheap, inefficient site can easily put off potential customers.
Here are some points to consider when deciding whether or not to create your website:
• Does my business need a website?
• What will my website do for my Company?
• Do I have the budget for a successful website?
• Who is my customer and will they have access to the website?
• Do I have the time to put into working with a designer now and do I have the time to update my website later?
Generally, you should consider creating a website for your Company if:
• An online presence will attract new customers and create new contacts;
• Your Company will benefit from a national / international audience;
• You sell products which can be sent directly to the consumer;
• You provide a service which will benefit a wider audience;
• Your customers will have access to your site and will benefit from the information you are sharing;
• Your customers will find it easier to access the site for their information than to contact you directly.
When done correctly and for the right reasons, there is no argument that the internet is a fantastic resource for businesses and the best way to establish new clients and contacts. Very rarely does a good business not warrant a good website.
Monday, 16 February 2009
5 Tips To Being a Great Client
When having had the opportunity to work on a huge variety of different websites, it is certainly apparent that there are just some projects that run a lot more smoothly than others. It seems that those projects are usually the most enjoyable for both parties and the ones that will generally be the most successful and efficient.
Those projects that do work best, are usually those where everyone is aware of what work is required from both parties and where everyone respects the need for flexibility.
To give your website the very best start, here are a few key points to take into consideration:
# You may not be the most creative of clients but as long as you know what you want from your site, you’re halfway there. A web designer needs as much information from you as possible, starting with what you need your website to do and what is the reason for the site in the first place.
# Researching your competitors’ sites and what you feel is good or bad about them is a great help. Remember, your web designer is an expert in web design and will probably not know much about your industry.
# Send your web designer links to sites that you love. Sending as much information as possible will put the designer on your wavelength and will provide clear goals to aim towards.
# Have all the information required for the site prepared. There is nothing worse than having a site that is ready to be launched with no content. Get your text and images ready.
# Make sure you can afford to pay. A client who pays on time is always appreciated and makes for a much stronger working relationship. Website work can be long-term and a reliable client will always get a more dedicated service.
The successful implementation of a website really comes down to both the designer and the client and can only really work with good communication.
Those projects that do work best, are usually those where everyone is aware of what work is required from both parties and where everyone respects the need for flexibility.
To give your website the very best start, here are a few key points to take into consideration:
# You may not be the most creative of clients but as long as you know what you want from your site, you’re halfway there. A web designer needs as much information from you as possible, starting with what you need your website to do and what is the reason for the site in the first place.
# Researching your competitors’ sites and what you feel is good or bad about them is a great help. Remember, your web designer is an expert in web design and will probably not know much about your industry.
# Send your web designer links to sites that you love. Sending as much information as possible will put the designer on your wavelength and will provide clear goals to aim towards.
# Have all the information required for the site prepared. There is nothing worse than having a site that is ready to be launched with no content. Get your text and images ready.
# Make sure you can afford to pay. A client who pays on time is always appreciated and makes for a much stronger working relationship. Website work can be long-term and a reliable client will always get a more dedicated service.
The successful implementation of a website really comes down to both the designer and the client and can only really work with good communication.
When a £99 Web Site is Too Good To Be True
So you want a site that doesn’t break the bank? You’ve heard that you can pay just £99 for your own web site? And you’ve also heard that your own web site can cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds? What do you do?
It’s true – there are websites that can cost £99 and, really, if all you need is a page or two with some information and contact details on, then this may be the way for you.
However, there is a reason that not all sites can cost this much. For a start, if you think about the fact that the average web designers’ hourly rate is anything from £30 upwards, you have to wonder about how much work can possibly go into creating a site that costs £99.
What you really have to do is work out exactly what you want from your website and then weigh up the costs. If you want your website to stand out and out-perform your competitors’ site, it is going to require a bigger investment from you both financially and in terms of your time and dedication.
A £99 website is usually too good to be true when:
# You require a fully bespoke design;
# You would like a content management system with fully updateable pages;
# You require control of search engine optimisation;
# You require a site with e-commerce functionality;
# You would like video or music playing capabilities;
# You require help in promoting your site and making it easy to find on the web;
# You want to host your own site and not be tied into someone else’s system;
# You want to develop the site in the future and add new features;
As with anything, you do get what you pay for and it is important to consider your own priorities and whether the website you are opting for now is likely to be a long-term investment or something more disposable.
If you are on a budget, most web design agencies will try to accommodate your needs and come to a realistic price, often offering payments in installments. It is usually worth discussing this before you decide they are too expensive.
Your first quote is always up for negotiation. When clients use our own online quote form, we encourage them to provide as much information as possible so that there are no surprises later!
Whatever you decide, the price you pay should be a good reflection of the product you are buying and the service that you will be offered.
It’s true – there are websites that can cost £99 and, really, if all you need is a page or two with some information and contact details on, then this may be the way for you.
However, there is a reason that not all sites can cost this much. For a start, if you think about the fact that the average web designers’ hourly rate is anything from £30 upwards, you have to wonder about how much work can possibly go into creating a site that costs £99.
What you really have to do is work out exactly what you want from your website and then weigh up the costs. If you want your website to stand out and out-perform your competitors’ site, it is going to require a bigger investment from you both financially and in terms of your time and dedication.
A £99 website is usually too good to be true when:
# You require a fully bespoke design;
# You would like a content management system with fully updateable pages;
# You require control of search engine optimisation;
# You require a site with e-commerce functionality;
# You would like video or music playing capabilities;
# You require help in promoting your site and making it easy to find on the web;
# You want to host your own site and not be tied into someone else’s system;
# You want to develop the site in the future and add new features;
As with anything, you do get what you pay for and it is important to consider your own priorities and whether the website you are opting for now is likely to be a long-term investment or something more disposable.
If you are on a budget, most web design agencies will try to accommodate your needs and come to a realistic price, often offering payments in installments. It is usually worth discussing this before you decide they are too expensive.
Your first quote is always up for negotiation. When clients use our own online quote form, we encourage them to provide as much information as possible so that there are no surprises later!
Whatever you decide, the price you pay should be a good reflection of the product you are buying and the service that you will be offered.
Monday, 9 February 2009
Marmalade Butties
I was just talking about the fact that I very rarely laugh during a film, regardless of how funny it is. I did laugh in Slumdog Millionaire a few times, especially when the little boy fell down the toilet, but generally, despite finding something really funny, I make no outward gesture that I have been tickled by it. I don't know why.
I remember going to the cinema on a first date to see 'The Fully Monty' and on leaving the cinema, Mike turned to me and said 'Is everything ok? You never laughed once during that whole film.'
That was the first time I realised that I don't laugh.
Mike really thought I was pretty humourless and that relationship didn't last long at all.
But when I mentioned it again the other day, my aunty said, 'yes, when I took you to see Paddington bear when you were very small, you remained completely dead-pan throughout all the funny bits when the other children were laughing.'
I was devestated. I must look so miserable!
'Yes,' she continued, 'but then you surprised us all. When everyone else was quiet, all of a sudden you jumped up and shouted across the audience 'My daddy eats marmalade butties too!'
I remember going to the cinema on a first date to see 'The Fully Monty' and on leaving the cinema, Mike turned to me and said 'Is everything ok? You never laughed once during that whole film.'
That was the first time I realised that I don't laugh.
Mike really thought I was pretty humourless and that relationship didn't last long at all.
But when I mentioned it again the other day, my aunty said, 'yes, when I took you to see Paddington bear when you were very small, you remained completely dead-pan throughout all the funny bits when the other children were laughing.'
I was devestated. I must look so miserable!
'Yes,' she continued, 'but then you surprised us all. When everyone else was quiet, all of a sudden you jumped up and shouted across the audience 'My daddy eats marmalade butties too!'
25 things you may or may not find interesting about me
1. I was named after 2 famous actresses / models that my dad fancied - I think one was Diane Keaton but couldn't tell you who Beverley was!
2. When I was 7, I was made to sit cross-legged in front of the whole school assembly as an example of how to sit nicely! I was sat cross-legged, knees pulled up to my chest and with fingers on lips.
3.The first thing I think of every day is what I am going to eat for the rest of the day. It plays on my mind until I know the answer.
4. I usually fall asleep during a film even if I'm in the cinema. I know that after sacrificing a few scenes and letting myself have 5 minutes snooze, I'll watch the rest of the film more comfortably.
5. I really can't stand the use of LOL and don't believe that people are always laughing out loud that much or that often.
6. It is very unusual for me to laugh out loud during a film despite that fact that I find it hysterical.
7. I've never taken any drugs.
8. I had hypnotherapy to cure my fear of being alone in my house and hearing strange things. I have a fear of fear but since hypnotherapy, can usually control this!
9. I never ever swear
10. I am about to start my second career and am very nervous and excited and anxious. It is going to take me at least ten years, if not more, to be anywhere near the salary I was on before.
11. There is nothing I really really want to see or do before I die. I have no list.
12. Age terrirfes me and the fact that you cannot go back and re-live a moment.
13. My proudest memory was our wedding day and seeing all of our amazing friends and family in one place. I felt that the amount of wonderful people that were there bore testimony to us in a funny way and was a very flattering moment.
14. I never knew what I wanted to do in life, I always just went along with what people told me to do and what my grades were. If I could go back in time, the one thing I would change would be my degree. I would definitely have done a science.
15. The only regret I have in my life is not persuading the doctors to do something about it earlier.
16. I used to faint if I stood for more than 5 or 10 minutes. A local hairdresser used to refuse to cut my hair until I was tall enough to be able to sit in the chair like an adult and not have to stand in front of the mirror.
17. I once gave my brother away to a lady outside of the chip shop
18. I have never tried very hard at anything and wonder where I might be if I had!
19. I follow no religion but believe in some kind of God. I probably am a mixture of Christian and Buddhist and think that most religions go too far and demand too much.
20. I don't like beige interiors.
21. I love hot chocolate but it makes me feel sick, as do cheese and onion pasties
22. I often wonder why music is so important and why people ask each other what kind of music they like when they first meet, and not what book are they reading or what's they're favourite animal (for example!!)
23. I really do believe that all animals and humans and everything are equal. I feel that we have all just taken on different forms and shapes and that we are all to be treated the same.
24. When I pray to God, I can't just ask Him to protect the people I know - I have to ask Him to look after everyone everywhere and everything everywhere to make sure I don't leave anyone out and to show no favouritism.
25. I have to announce the time when I see '11:11', '22:22', '12:34' etc. I have to say it out loud even if there is no one else with me. This makes me feel lucky and happy!
2. When I was 7, I was made to sit cross-legged in front of the whole school assembly as an example of how to sit nicely! I was sat cross-legged, knees pulled up to my chest and with fingers on lips.
3.The first thing I think of every day is what I am going to eat for the rest of the day. It plays on my mind until I know the answer.
4. I usually fall asleep during a film even if I'm in the cinema. I know that after sacrificing a few scenes and letting myself have 5 minutes snooze, I'll watch the rest of the film more comfortably.
5. I really can't stand the use of LOL and don't believe that people are always laughing out loud that much or that often.
6. It is very unusual for me to laugh out loud during a film despite that fact that I find it hysterical.
7. I've never taken any drugs.
8. I had hypnotherapy to cure my fear of being alone in my house and hearing strange things. I have a fear of fear but since hypnotherapy, can usually control this!
9. I never ever swear
10. I am about to start my second career and am very nervous and excited and anxious. It is going to take me at least ten years, if not more, to be anywhere near the salary I was on before.
11. There is nothing I really really want to see or do before I die. I have no list.
12. Age terrirfes me and the fact that you cannot go back and re-live a moment.
13. My proudest memory was our wedding day and seeing all of our amazing friends and family in one place. I felt that the amount of wonderful people that were there bore testimony to us in a funny way and was a very flattering moment.
14. I never knew what I wanted to do in life, I always just went along with what people told me to do and what my grades were. If I could go back in time, the one thing I would change would be my degree. I would definitely have done a science.
15. The only regret I have in my life is not persuading the doctors to do something about it earlier.
16. I used to faint if I stood for more than 5 or 10 minutes. A local hairdresser used to refuse to cut my hair until I was tall enough to be able to sit in the chair like an adult and not have to stand in front of the mirror.
17. I once gave my brother away to a lady outside of the chip shop
18. I have never tried very hard at anything and wonder where I might be if I had!
19. I follow no religion but believe in some kind of God. I probably am a mixture of Christian and Buddhist and think that most religions go too far and demand too much.
20. I don't like beige interiors.
21. I love hot chocolate but it makes me feel sick, as do cheese and onion pasties
22. I often wonder why music is so important and why people ask each other what kind of music they like when they first meet, and not what book are they reading or what's they're favourite animal (for example!!)
23. I really do believe that all animals and humans and everything are equal. I feel that we have all just taken on different forms and shapes and that we are all to be treated the same.
24. When I pray to God, I can't just ask Him to protect the people I know - I have to ask Him to look after everyone everywhere and everything everywhere to make sure I don't leave anyone out and to show no favouritism.
25. I have to announce the time when I see '11:11', '22:22', '12:34' etc. I have to say it out loud even if there is no one else with me. This makes me feel lucky and happy!
Friday, 23 January 2009
Dog's Holiday
It's a bit early to be planning, but as a doting parent, I want the very best for my little girl.
We are going away in June for 2 weeks and have just realised we can't take the dog with us (passport problems) so I am now looking for the very best dog boarding place that our money can afford.
When we were growing up and used to go away, we would take Duke to the local kennels. He always came away unscathed but I remember, he used to just get a little cubicle in a big concrete block which housed about 100 dogs.
Is it irrational of me to want Olive to spend 2 weeks with a loving team or family in a warm, cosy, wonderful place where she gets walked several times a day and gets played with and can even go an mingle with other dogs? Is there such a place?
Still Hoping
I could point you in the direction of my blog 'Feeling Negative' as I am completely re-iterating exactly what I said then really. But, as I use this as my online diary practically, and a great way to get it all out, I'll just say it all again!
I can't believe that after all this time I am still in the same position as I was then and have no more hope than I had then.
But yes, once again, I stupidly thought I might be pregnant! How stupid!!
I think it was cos this time, I was timing everything. Like a weird, unnatural, machine-like woman, I had all my instruments by my bed and everyday recorded my temperature and used my ovulation testing strips like clockwork and went on the online ovulation calendar to make sure, so I knew for a fact what day was my most 'fertile' (supposedly!).
Then, when I felt a small pang of nausea, I quickly checked on the internet to see what the early symptoms of pregnancy were (as if I didn't know). And when the first few said that you usually feel nauseous after a few weeks, I kept checking all the websites until I found one that said yes, I could start to feel nauseous from day 2!!
Then, after reading all the other symptoms, I realised that actually, yes, I could taste a faint metallic flavour, and that actually I could smell funny things etc etc etc!!!! I felt an aversion to alcohol and prawns and the things I usually love...
I guess I really talked myself into being pregnant.
Even when I came on my period, I looked it up and found that actually, I could be having pregnancy spotting!!
It's really really disheartening to know that after timing everything so perfectly, I can still not get pregnant. It's amazing really.
And then you have all these people who, just because I just got married, think they have the right to ask when I am going to have children. You have all these people who get in touch on facebook and ask where the kids are. All these people that announce their pregnancies on facebook and then gloat about their cute baby photos. Grrr..... I really really do share in their happiness, I can't say that enough. But they don't really seem to realise that actually they are very lucky to have that and that not everyone can have that. They don't realise how insensitive it can be to plaster it all over everyone's computer screens.
Or am I just being a bit bitter? I think I am!
But it has been 2 years now! 2 years! I can't believe that.
I don't know how I feel about our next appointment in a few weeks. What are we going to find out, if anything, and what are they going to do about it?
My friend who has been going though all this but who was about 2 months ahead of us in terms of hospital appointments, had artificial insemination last weekend. My fingers are really crossed for them both.
I'm not hugely sure how I feel about that for us though. I just hope hope hope that we can do it all naturally.
I can't believe that after all this time I am still in the same position as I was then and have no more hope than I had then.
But yes, once again, I stupidly thought I might be pregnant! How stupid!!
I think it was cos this time, I was timing everything. Like a weird, unnatural, machine-like woman, I had all my instruments by my bed and everyday recorded my temperature and used my ovulation testing strips like clockwork and went on the online ovulation calendar to make sure, so I knew for a fact what day was my most 'fertile' (supposedly!).
Then, when I felt a small pang of nausea, I quickly checked on the internet to see what the early symptoms of pregnancy were (as if I didn't know). And when the first few said that you usually feel nauseous after a few weeks, I kept checking all the websites until I found one that said yes, I could start to feel nauseous from day 2!!
Then, after reading all the other symptoms, I realised that actually, yes, I could taste a faint metallic flavour, and that actually I could smell funny things etc etc etc!!!! I felt an aversion to alcohol and prawns and the things I usually love...
I guess I really talked myself into being pregnant.
Even when I came on my period, I looked it up and found that actually, I could be having pregnancy spotting!!
It's really really disheartening to know that after timing everything so perfectly, I can still not get pregnant. It's amazing really.
And then you have all these people who, just because I just got married, think they have the right to ask when I am going to have children. You have all these people who get in touch on facebook and ask where the kids are. All these people that announce their pregnancies on facebook and then gloat about their cute baby photos. Grrr..... I really really do share in their happiness, I can't say that enough. But they don't really seem to realise that actually they are very lucky to have that and that not everyone can have that. They don't realise how insensitive it can be to plaster it all over everyone's computer screens.
Or am I just being a bit bitter? I think I am!
But it has been 2 years now! 2 years! I can't believe that.
I don't know how I feel about our next appointment in a few weeks. What are we going to find out, if anything, and what are they going to do about it?
My friend who has been going though all this but who was about 2 months ahead of us in terms of hospital appointments, had artificial insemination last weekend. My fingers are really crossed for them both.
I'm not hugely sure how I feel about that for us though. I just hope hope hope that we can do it all naturally.
New Job!
Well, my days of doing nothing are over it seems!!!
I finally have a job! And a new career! And I'm actually really excited.
Bit of a long story and it seems a shame to cut it short when I've got loads of time to write and this is a blog. Not particularly interesting story but it may be the last time I'll have the luxury of time to write!
Well, I went to this NHS open day in Liverpool, which, at the time seemed like an absolute waste of time. You had to just say what kind of job you were after and generally, there were 3 or 4 vacancies within each category.
Anyway, then I got called for interview, but as there were 500 applicants and I had no experience, I wasn't too optimistic really.
Anyways, just after Christmas I get a call to say I had been successful!!! Hurrah you may think.
No! Not hurrah. I had been given the job as Healthcare Assistant - a position I had purposefully not applied for the whole time I have been trauling through the NHS website (which is considerable).
To top it off, it also required me to drive all day to different people's houses and to clinics etc - a daunting task to someone who hasn't passed their test yet.
Anyway, it was a job, and I especially owed it to Al to take it and to start paying towards the mortgage and getting up at silly hours in the morning like him.
So I stopped applying for jobs and prepared myself for a lifetime of cleaning people!
Anyway (I use that word a lot), I got a call about 2 weeks ago asking me to come for interview for a job I applied to before Christmas. It was for the position of Elective Treatment Centre Assistant and sounded really varied and wonderful with great prospects.
The interview went really well and as all good interviews do, turned into a three-way chat more than a formal conversation.
I was slightly optimistic about it and thought I got some really good vibes from the two ladies interviewing.
However, the next day I got a call from Linda saying that she was really sorry but she couldn't offer me the job. Apparently, they were sure they were going to give it to me but then another girl came in who was equally as good as me, and unfortunately there was just something that tipped the balance in her favour.
They said they really liked me though and would really appreciate it if I came for interview for the receptionist position with the view to getting some hospital experience and being in a great place to apply for the next job to come up.
So I did and I got it!
And I took great delight in calling Liverpool to tell them I couldn't be a Healthcare Assistant.
I'm actually really looking forward to the job. Linda said on the phone that she hoped I wouldn't be insulted by asking to apply for it and knew that the job was below me etc. But, I don't feel like that at all. It will really prove to be a challenge and a great starting off point for my career and I really can't wait to start!
I finally have a job! And a new career! And I'm actually really excited.
Bit of a long story and it seems a shame to cut it short when I've got loads of time to write and this is a blog. Not particularly interesting story but it may be the last time I'll have the luxury of time to write!
Well, I went to this NHS open day in Liverpool, which, at the time seemed like an absolute waste of time. You had to just say what kind of job you were after and generally, there were 3 or 4 vacancies within each category.
Anyway, then I got called for interview, but as there were 500 applicants and I had no experience, I wasn't too optimistic really.
Anyways, just after Christmas I get a call to say I had been successful!!! Hurrah you may think.
No! Not hurrah. I had been given the job as Healthcare Assistant - a position I had purposefully not applied for the whole time I have been trauling through the NHS website (which is considerable).
To top it off, it also required me to drive all day to different people's houses and to clinics etc - a daunting task to someone who hasn't passed their test yet.
Anyway, it was a job, and I especially owed it to Al to take it and to start paying towards the mortgage and getting up at silly hours in the morning like him.
So I stopped applying for jobs and prepared myself for a lifetime of cleaning people!
Anyway (I use that word a lot), I got a call about 2 weeks ago asking me to come for interview for a job I applied to before Christmas. It was for the position of Elective Treatment Centre Assistant and sounded really varied and wonderful with great prospects.
The interview went really well and as all good interviews do, turned into a three-way chat more than a formal conversation.
I was slightly optimistic about it and thought I got some really good vibes from the two ladies interviewing.
However, the next day I got a call from Linda saying that she was really sorry but she couldn't offer me the job. Apparently, they were sure they were going to give it to me but then another girl came in who was equally as good as me, and unfortunately there was just something that tipped the balance in her favour.
They said they really liked me though and would really appreciate it if I came for interview for the receptionist position with the view to getting some hospital experience and being in a great place to apply for the next job to come up.
So I did and I got it!
And I took great delight in calling Liverpool to tell them I couldn't be a Healthcare Assistant.
I'm actually really looking forward to the job. Linda said on the phone that she hoped I wouldn't be insulted by asking to apply for it and knew that the job was below me etc. But, I don't feel like that at all. It will really prove to be a challenge and a great starting off point for my career and I really can't wait to start!
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
Resolutions!
Alex asked me what my resolutions were going to be this year....
I don't really believe in resolutions as, to be honest, in a non-arrogant way, I quite like me! I always make silly resolutions really.
Last year I think I resolved to make Alex want to marry me - he already did (little did I know) and had already bought the ring! And that same year, we got married.
I think I resolved to leave my job and have more quality time for myself - I did, and I am now unemployed so have lots of time for myself!!!
This year, I don't know.
I told Al that I would get a job, that I would pass my driving test and try and have a baby.
I was proud of them as I thought, apart from the last one, they are very attainable.
But he told me that they aren't real resolutions.
He told me, for instance, he resolves to be cleaner and tidier. I agree - he should be!
I can't make that same resolution really as my whole day revolves around cleaning and tidying.
I think I resolve to keep in touch with my brother in Wales a bit more and to also keep in touch with my friends a bit more. It's easy to lose touch with people that you don't see very often, but I endeavour not to.
I definitely resolve to be a bit more easy-going at home and not take Alex for granted as much. He does so so so much for me and I just don't feel like I give him enough appreciation.
I resolve to have more patience with the pooch and always remember that she is just a baby and it is up to us to make her into the adult dog that she will be.
And I resolve to spend more time with Alvin. He and I were proper best buds before Olive came along, but whilst she is a puppy and needs a lot of commitment and disciplining etc, Alvin doesn't get quite as much attention. That will change my little buddy, just give it time.
And I guess I resolve to just keep having a great time, a happy marriage and appreciating my wonderful family and friends.
I don't really believe in resolutions as, to be honest, in a non-arrogant way, I quite like me! I always make silly resolutions really.
Last year I think I resolved to make Alex want to marry me - he already did (little did I know) and had already bought the ring! And that same year, we got married.
I think I resolved to leave my job and have more quality time for myself - I did, and I am now unemployed so have lots of time for myself!!!
This year, I don't know.
I told Al that I would get a job, that I would pass my driving test and try and have a baby.
I was proud of them as I thought, apart from the last one, they are very attainable.
But he told me that they aren't real resolutions.
He told me, for instance, he resolves to be cleaner and tidier. I agree - he should be!
I can't make that same resolution really as my whole day revolves around cleaning and tidying.
I think I resolve to keep in touch with my brother in Wales a bit more and to also keep in touch with my friends a bit more. It's easy to lose touch with people that you don't see very often, but I endeavour not to.
I definitely resolve to be a bit more easy-going at home and not take Alex for granted as much. He does so so so much for me and I just don't feel like I give him enough appreciation.
I resolve to have more patience with the pooch and always remember that she is just a baby and it is up to us to make her into the adult dog that she will be.
And I resolve to spend more time with Alvin. He and I were proper best buds before Olive came along, but whilst she is a puppy and needs a lot of commitment and disciplining etc, Alvin doesn't get quite as much attention. That will change my little buddy, just give it time.
And I guess I resolve to just keep having a great time, a happy marriage and appreciating my wonderful family and friends.
A Family Christmas
Well, I wouldn't be a true blogger if I didn't include a blog about Christmas!! I mean, seeing as this blog is almost like a diary for me, I can't exactly by-pass the two most stressful, emotional, amazing, chaotic weeks of my life.
So much preparation goes into it all year round doesn't it?
Personally, I am not a great believer in Christmas apart from it being a great excuse to have a few days off and spend time with all the people you care about the most. I am fairly religious in a spiritual way but do not believe in any bible or anything like that. To me, I could celebrate Christmas any day of the year.
Anyway, disregarding my own beliefs, I know that most people believe Christmas to be a very special time of year and I always do my best to accomodate everyone and to make sure that everyone is with the people they love and doing the things they love the most.
For me, Christmas started in September when I realised that nobody had yet got round to inviting my gran from Surrey to stay. She is on her own there and the rest of the family live up North. I asked my mum if she was planning on asking her, not wishing to tread on toes, and mum said she was too busy and stressed to think about anything like that. So, knowing gran would have to book train tickets and make plans anyway, I invited her to stay with me.
Al was pretty sure he would be going to Poland for Christmas to be with his family so it made sense for me to share out my three-bed house with family.
The lead-up to Christmas was pretty hectic as Al began to think twice about going to Poland. It was easy to book flights months ago when Christmas was so far away, but as it crept up, we realised we really wanted to spend our first Christmas as man and wife, together.
Anyway, there was no going back on those £240 tickets.
So, I thought I may as well invite my brother and sister and nephew too for a few days, who I love spending time with.
My mum lives in the Lake District and just wasn't feeling Christmas at all and was adamant that she would spend it on her own. Our emails went back and forth, emotions running high, and in the end we decided that mum would travel down early Christmas day to spend a few hours with us. Then dad would come and pick us kids up to go to Liverpool for lunch, and then I would return home to mum and gran.
All this fuss that goes into Christmas! One day to see everyone!
Well, Si, Kate and Jack all turned up on the 22nd. It was lovely. We had a really good night eating takeaway and drinking beer. The dog was hectic and Jack was naughty and so many things went wrong. Jack had just learnt to throw and practised with everything. He mostly threw things at the rabbit and revelled in the shouting he received from us. The dog loved that Jack was being shouted at and did all she could to aid his naughtiness.
There was a point that night when we would be laughing our heads off at the ridiculousness of everythig being destroyed and tipped over and stood on and lost. There was no sitting down for a second.
The next day my gran arrived. She was a lot slower with her walking than I remember and the 5 minute walk from the train station took nearly an hour in the freezing cold with the dog desperately pulling on the lead to walk faster. Kate and Si 'went to the shop' on the way home and disappeared for over an hour, leaving me to baby-step home with my gran.
We got home, and I think my gran literally took the armchair and glued herself there with a 6-day fixative. I hardly remember not seeing her sitting there and I had to prise her away from the TV to come and join me for dinner. Even then, she would be watching the TV from the awkward angle of the dinner table and all conversation was lost.
I felt her disapproval whenever Jack did something naughty and we shouted at him, or when Olive went crazy fighting with me and I quietly tried to discipline her whilst trying not to get in the way of the TV.
Not being able to sit down for a second, vastly reduced to a nano-second as the dog made the most of the amount of people and attention in the room. My gran welcomed the dog jumping up on the sofa and all of our training days took a nose-dive within an hour.
Pestering my gran to have a drink all the time, I was exasperated when at every meal time, just as I had asked her for the tenth time, and then finally sat down to actually eat the dinner I had been preparing for ages, she would then decide that yes, she would quite like a drink if it's not too much trouble - what do you have?
Grrr....
I looked forward to Christmas day so much when mum would arrive and look after gran and the dog for the whole day, and dad would come and pick us up and cook dinner for us and give me the day off!
Mum arrived at 7am!!!
Knowing that dad was picking us up at 10am and that we wanted to spend a few hours with mum, I was baffled that at 7:30am, my gran decided she needed to use the shower first!
My dad arrived at 10:30 and came in. It was fairly awkward as we went to get all of our bits and bobs together and he and mum were left in the same room as each other. I don't know if they said anything to each other but they were civil at least. And then I said goodbye to mum, knowing that my day off was courtesy of her and that she would suffer from my peace.
Christmas day has been a quite manic day in our family for the last few years, since we started having our dinner at the sheltered accomodation that my gran lives in. We use their kitchen to cook our dinner and invite any of the old ladies that are free and have nowhere else to go that year. This year was the first year that no one else from the home was coming. Still the kitchen is very basic and my dad and aunty split the ingredients between them and cook a lot of it in their own kitchens at home. Then we all transport it over to grans.
Christmas dinner was the best ever this year. Everyone else has turkey but dad got me a lovely piece of smoked salmon fillet from M&S, and it was all served with two types of potato, veg, cranberry sauce, stuffing and everyone else had pigs in blankets.
And then delicious christmas pud! My fave!
To be honest, it takes a lot longer to prepare the dinner and then to tidy up again, than it does to actually spend time together as a family eating everything. It's a shame and something which I've noticed the last few years. Everyone is so busy fussing about cooking and cleaning and setting the table that you don't actually get to spend much quality time together at all.
In the olden days, when we all lived in one house, we would wake up, go downstairs and have a bucks fizz, and then we could open one gift before breakfast. After breakfast we would open the rest of our gifts, and then there were always a few bowls of nuts and sweets around to nibble on.
We would eat our Christmas dinner and then spend the rest of the afternoon playing with our new toys, drawing on our sleeping dad, and nibbling on crackers and cheese and selection boxes. What happened? Why is it not like this any more?
These days we all live in different houses so there's a lot of transport involved, no leftovers, no nibbles.
At the end of the meal, rather than chill out, we had to rush off back to my house, as dad had to get back to see his girlfirend and I had to let mum escape.
Over the course of the 'festive period', I lost numerous plants due to Jack pulling them over or the dog uprooting them, I lost my mobile phone from Jack throwing it down the loo, I lost my two remote controls due to them being dunked in orange juice, the dog finished off two of my pairs of jeans, I got a cup of orange juice thrown over my suede sofa, my christmas tree lights and two lamps upstairs were destroyed, countless loo rolls decorated the landing and stairs.... can't remember what else but I do remember one night when me, si and kate all just laughed uncontrollably at the ridiculousness of everything going wrong!
I lost a huge amount of sleep, got extremely fit from not sitting down the whole time, got blisters from the sweeping brush being a permanent fixture in my hands, and now have the driest hands from all the washing and cleaning I have done!
I couldn't even walk my gran to the station at the end of her stay. I knew that the five minute walk would take her at least 40 minutes. So I called her a cab to get to the station, and the second I closed the front door on her, I looked down and spotted loads of mud on my hallway floor that she'd just wiped off her dirty shoes to make them look all nice and clean for her journey, and I did that thing that they do in Hollyoaks and Eastenders where you scrunch your eyes and up and melt down the door with your mouth open in a silent cry, and then just sit there crying for ages!!!! I needed that though!!
Alex got home a day later and that's when my Christmas holiday started! I let him wake up at 6am to go down to our barking dog, and I let him bring me a cup of tea, and I actually left muck on the floor after Olive traipsed it in from the garden. I left it there for at least a day. And I just chilled for about 2 days.
At the end of it, I got a cold and sore throat and muscle ache and headaches, but hey, that's Christmas!!!!
So much preparation goes into it all year round doesn't it?
Personally, I am not a great believer in Christmas apart from it being a great excuse to have a few days off and spend time with all the people you care about the most. I am fairly religious in a spiritual way but do not believe in any bible or anything like that. To me, I could celebrate Christmas any day of the year.
Anyway, disregarding my own beliefs, I know that most people believe Christmas to be a very special time of year and I always do my best to accomodate everyone and to make sure that everyone is with the people they love and doing the things they love the most.
For me, Christmas started in September when I realised that nobody had yet got round to inviting my gran from Surrey to stay. She is on her own there and the rest of the family live up North. I asked my mum if she was planning on asking her, not wishing to tread on toes, and mum said she was too busy and stressed to think about anything like that. So, knowing gran would have to book train tickets and make plans anyway, I invited her to stay with me.
Al was pretty sure he would be going to Poland for Christmas to be with his family so it made sense for me to share out my three-bed house with family.
The lead-up to Christmas was pretty hectic as Al began to think twice about going to Poland. It was easy to book flights months ago when Christmas was so far away, but as it crept up, we realised we really wanted to spend our first Christmas as man and wife, together.
Anyway, there was no going back on those £240 tickets.
So, I thought I may as well invite my brother and sister and nephew too for a few days, who I love spending time with.
My mum lives in the Lake District and just wasn't feeling Christmas at all and was adamant that she would spend it on her own. Our emails went back and forth, emotions running high, and in the end we decided that mum would travel down early Christmas day to spend a few hours with us. Then dad would come and pick us kids up to go to Liverpool for lunch, and then I would return home to mum and gran.
All this fuss that goes into Christmas! One day to see everyone!
Well, Si, Kate and Jack all turned up on the 22nd. It was lovely. We had a really good night eating takeaway and drinking beer. The dog was hectic and Jack was naughty and so many things went wrong. Jack had just learnt to throw and practised with everything. He mostly threw things at the rabbit and revelled in the shouting he received from us. The dog loved that Jack was being shouted at and did all she could to aid his naughtiness.
There was a point that night when we would be laughing our heads off at the ridiculousness of everythig being destroyed and tipped over and stood on and lost. There was no sitting down for a second.
The next day my gran arrived. She was a lot slower with her walking than I remember and the 5 minute walk from the train station took nearly an hour in the freezing cold with the dog desperately pulling on the lead to walk faster. Kate and Si 'went to the shop' on the way home and disappeared for over an hour, leaving me to baby-step home with my gran.
We got home, and I think my gran literally took the armchair and glued herself there with a 6-day fixative. I hardly remember not seeing her sitting there and I had to prise her away from the TV to come and join me for dinner. Even then, she would be watching the TV from the awkward angle of the dinner table and all conversation was lost.
I felt her disapproval whenever Jack did something naughty and we shouted at him, or when Olive went crazy fighting with me and I quietly tried to discipline her whilst trying not to get in the way of the TV.
Not being able to sit down for a second, vastly reduced to a nano-second as the dog made the most of the amount of people and attention in the room. My gran welcomed the dog jumping up on the sofa and all of our training days took a nose-dive within an hour.
Pestering my gran to have a drink all the time, I was exasperated when at every meal time, just as I had asked her for the tenth time, and then finally sat down to actually eat the dinner I had been preparing for ages, she would then decide that yes, she would quite like a drink if it's not too much trouble - what do you have?
Grrr....
I looked forward to Christmas day so much when mum would arrive and look after gran and the dog for the whole day, and dad would come and pick us up and cook dinner for us and give me the day off!
Mum arrived at 7am!!!
Knowing that dad was picking us up at 10am and that we wanted to spend a few hours with mum, I was baffled that at 7:30am, my gran decided she needed to use the shower first!
My dad arrived at 10:30 and came in. It was fairly awkward as we went to get all of our bits and bobs together and he and mum were left in the same room as each other. I don't know if they said anything to each other but they were civil at least. And then I said goodbye to mum, knowing that my day off was courtesy of her and that she would suffer from my peace.
Christmas day has been a quite manic day in our family for the last few years, since we started having our dinner at the sheltered accomodation that my gran lives in. We use their kitchen to cook our dinner and invite any of the old ladies that are free and have nowhere else to go that year. This year was the first year that no one else from the home was coming. Still the kitchen is very basic and my dad and aunty split the ingredients between them and cook a lot of it in their own kitchens at home. Then we all transport it over to grans.
Christmas dinner was the best ever this year. Everyone else has turkey but dad got me a lovely piece of smoked salmon fillet from M&S, and it was all served with two types of potato, veg, cranberry sauce, stuffing and everyone else had pigs in blankets.
And then delicious christmas pud! My fave!
To be honest, it takes a lot longer to prepare the dinner and then to tidy up again, than it does to actually spend time together as a family eating everything. It's a shame and something which I've noticed the last few years. Everyone is so busy fussing about cooking and cleaning and setting the table that you don't actually get to spend much quality time together at all.
In the olden days, when we all lived in one house, we would wake up, go downstairs and have a bucks fizz, and then we could open one gift before breakfast. After breakfast we would open the rest of our gifts, and then there were always a few bowls of nuts and sweets around to nibble on.
We would eat our Christmas dinner and then spend the rest of the afternoon playing with our new toys, drawing on our sleeping dad, and nibbling on crackers and cheese and selection boxes. What happened? Why is it not like this any more?
These days we all live in different houses so there's a lot of transport involved, no leftovers, no nibbles.
At the end of the meal, rather than chill out, we had to rush off back to my house, as dad had to get back to see his girlfirend and I had to let mum escape.
Over the course of the 'festive period', I lost numerous plants due to Jack pulling them over or the dog uprooting them, I lost my mobile phone from Jack throwing it down the loo, I lost my two remote controls due to them being dunked in orange juice, the dog finished off two of my pairs of jeans, I got a cup of orange juice thrown over my suede sofa, my christmas tree lights and two lamps upstairs were destroyed, countless loo rolls decorated the landing and stairs.... can't remember what else but I do remember one night when me, si and kate all just laughed uncontrollably at the ridiculousness of everything going wrong!
I lost a huge amount of sleep, got extremely fit from not sitting down the whole time, got blisters from the sweeping brush being a permanent fixture in my hands, and now have the driest hands from all the washing and cleaning I have done!
I couldn't even walk my gran to the station at the end of her stay. I knew that the five minute walk would take her at least 40 minutes. So I called her a cab to get to the station, and the second I closed the front door on her, I looked down and spotted loads of mud on my hallway floor that she'd just wiped off her dirty shoes to make them look all nice and clean for her journey, and I did that thing that they do in Hollyoaks and Eastenders where you scrunch your eyes and up and melt down the door with your mouth open in a silent cry, and then just sit there crying for ages!!!! I needed that though!!
Alex got home a day later and that's when my Christmas holiday started! I let him wake up at 6am to go down to our barking dog, and I let him bring me a cup of tea, and I actually left muck on the floor after Olive traipsed it in from the garden. I left it there for at least a day. And I just chilled for about 2 days.
At the end of it, I got a cold and sore throat and muscle ache and headaches, but hey, that's Christmas!!!!
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