Lorraine's Magic moments

Tracey's birthday in Paris! continued..........

2012-01-01T03:42:00.000-08:00

Saturday 12th November 2011

Chris and Tracey were unable to stay awake for the journey........hahaha so I grabbed the opportunity for a photo...........

Chris was just exhausted.................

And finally we arrive in Paris..........at the Gare du Nord Railway...........our adventure begins..............

Hmmmm or maybe not..........firstly we have a little trouble finding the exit from the station......Tracey tries to suss the situation..................

Chris just woke up and not only is he not in America or England........is he in Paris?????

Finally we found our way out of the station and I must say the first thing that you notice is the beggars........immediately we were approached by several people asking for cigarettes.......I personally found this a little off putting..............in the photo below behind Kev you can see a group of ladies standing around......this is directly outside of the station entrance and they are not shy and will immediately approach you..............

Still we moved along and took an opportunity for a photo while we considered our next plan.........

The architecture in Paris is beautiful everywhere you go............after being approached by the beggars and moving along I began to look around and the first thing I noticed was the beautiful architecture........everywhere!

Some half an hour later we are still standing outside of the station hahaha......hmmm what first.......we all decide we are starving hungry.............

What French cuisine can we try...........oh my goodness........we decide there is a subway directly opposite the station........and yes.........we indulge ourselves after having a little chuckle at how original we are...................

I must add it was absolutely delicious after our long journey............

After satisfying our hungry bellies.......we move outside the subway shop (still outside the train station) and decide to catch a tour bus........whilst we are waiting........Chris and I notice these strange bikes that you can hire..........

We decided to have a little play on them whilst we wait for the bus.........

Such children..........we were so busy fascinated by the bikes that Tracey and Kev cooly cross the road to have a chuckle........I think we looked like people who had never seen a bike.......hahaha

We wait at the bus stop for the tour bus.......after some time we decided that actually we would catch the metro underground ..........we go into the underground (back into the station) queue for a while then decide no actually we will get the tour bus after all (this is all approximately one hour after our arrival in Paris.........we are not going to see much at this rate...........

Finally we board the bus! Hoorah! We are off and this is where the fun really began! We were extremely lucky that the weather was dry and fairly warm so we took the opportunity to sit on top deck of the tour bus...........................

Kev was disapointed to leave the station area..........hahaha

We passed many old and amazing buildings................

It was lovely and relaxing just sitting on the top of the bus being shown around Paris and we had earphones that gave us a guided tour................

Tracey's birthday in Paris!

2012-01-01T02:46:00.001-08:00

Saturday 12th November

My friend Tracey and I for some months had excitedly planned a trip for her birthday to Paris.....every year our birthday's pretty much come and go without to much fuss (quite normal for us mums) but this year Tracey went over to New York for 2 weeks to stay with her friend Chris. When she came home, Chris came with her for 3 weeks so we decided what better than to all go to Paris for her birthday. Neither myself, Kev or Chris had ever been to Paris and we couldn't think of anything more exciting for a birthday day trip........

Our adventures began very early in the morning........in fact we drove to the International Railway station at Ashford, Kent the evening before our train and after getting lost we did eventually manage to find our hotel at about midnight. We had to be up at five o'clock and at the railway station by quarter to seven in the morning. Tracey and I had decided that getting to Paris via the channel tunnel on the Eurostar was how we wanted to get to Paris. The whole event was a big adventure for me. I was quite strange to go through customs to get on a train. We all got through fine and by this time we thought coffee was desperately needed..........

I must admit I was getting very excited and camera happy at this point......I took many photo's but due to a desire to stay alive I will only post a few............hahaha

Kev was wonderful and agreed to my constant demands of stand here, stand there, do this etc in order to record our trip...............

My fellow Paris travellers, Tracey, Chris and Kev.................

And finally our train arrives............

By this stage I found myself getting very excitable.........haha

We boarded our train to Paris from England........I had booked the seats several months before and what a smart move that was. We were able to sit in a four group with a table in the centre.....I can honestly say how much more enjoyable the extra space made our journey and it was so much more sociable. We discovered the table seats were sought after and on both journeys to and from Paris we had to ask people to leave our pre-booked seats.
Chris makes himself for comfortable..................

And much to my amazement my boyfriend Kev (who is a computer addict haha) discovered Chris had brought his portable games console with him (hmmm pre-planned set up I think).......so Kev enjoyed a little game...........or 5...............hahaha

At 7.20am the train departed and time to relax...............Paris here we come!

Me and Kev begin to look a bit tired.....................already haha!

Dear Nan

2011-12-25T07:24:00.000-08:00

25th December 2011

Dear Nan

Christmas day is here yet again and as I get ready to set off for Christmas dinner at my mum and dads, I find myself overwhelmed by thoughts of you. We lost you in September and I find that today I feel it the most. I guess its because today is the one day I always knew I would be with you. For the past few years I have always had Christmas dinner with you. I want you to know how today I feel so grateful for that. I know you had over thirty grandkids and you loved us all the same but I feel so lucky that I always got you on Christmas day. I find myself smiling and crying at the same time today.

I can't stop thinking of Christmas day 2 years ago. We had dinner at my parents and our usual chats and sneaking off in the garden for a cigarette (naughty pair) and you looked so frail. As soon as I got home that evening you rang me, and said there was stuff you wanted to tell me while you still could. It was the most amazing conversation that we ever had and I want to say thank you nan for that chat. I will treasure it forever in my heart and it is keeping me sane in the troubled time within the family since we lost you.

I cant help but wonder if you knew inside your heart at that point that you had cancer. I love you so much nanny and I want to thank you so much for the love and acceptance you showed me all my life. I hope with all my heart that you're with Grandad and Patsy, Pinky, Tooty and Philip, actually all of your brothers and sisters who you lost. And mostly I hope you got to see your mum again who you missed for seventy years after loosing her in the bombing you and aunty pink were buried in. I know you never ever really got over that.

Nanny have the best Christmas ever and remember I love you
All my love
Rain xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
P.S tell aunt toot I never lost my fingernail biting habit Im sure I got off her x

Its been too long!!!

2011-12-03T03:12:00.000-08:00

What can I say - I havent been on my blog for a couple of years.........great memories keeper I am! So much has happened and changed in my life in the last couple of years I have alot to catch up on!

In the last couple of years I have met a man whom I adore! His name is Kev! In the couple of years Ive known him we have already had so much fun together. We have been to Cornwall and Devon twice, been to Paris and to the top of the Eiffel Tower together, saw the Black Eye Peas concert, had a mini break in Clacton, a show in the West End, many evenings playing pool, a mini break in Southampton for a wedding and many many more exciting adventures. I love his sense of humour and his sense of fun! Thought I had better introduce him to my blog as he is now a huge part of my life.

The above picture is our OOooo la la pose! This photo was taken on our recent trip to Paris! It was a first time for both of us to go Paris and what an amazing time we had! It is a place we both definately want to go back to. xx

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-02T12:10:00.000-08:00

October 31st 2008! Ali, Poppy and Jack had a fabulous halloween party. There was lots of fun games. The decorations were amazing. We all had a great time!

Pin the nose on the witch! Hmmm I'll get my revenge Ali!

Jordyn and Ali playing the game!Vicky gone mad!

Jody and her mum captured on camera! Jody was good at avoiding photo's!

Ah ha.................revenge time Ali! lol

Aaahhh, Jack and his pet cat!

Wow Ruth - Did you spot an orb!

Sam aka Frankinstein..............

Little Leah Susannah Hastings.............

The mummy game - 1st to wrap up their partner in toilet roll wins!

The decorations were fabulous...............

And Jody finally gave me a pose........................................

And Leanne having a rest...............

Rachel the skeleton.........................

Megan the mummy......................................................always ready to act the part!

Check out Jacks hair!

Little Bec..................................................

Ali and Poppy with Jordyn in background...........................

Chris, Jody, Jordan and Jack.....................................

Me and my cat...........................................

Ruth me and Kelly...............................lol..............................scary!

Pair of posers!

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Scary!

Hello people.............................Im so pretty! And hungary for frogs and worms!

1st day at Seniors

2008-10-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

Had to post this picture up................................Vicky and Jordyn's first day at school!

Hannah and Miley!

2008-10-24T01:48:00.000-07:00

Rachey loves Hannah Montana and Vicky decided she would spend some of her money of the Hannah and Miley wigs for the pair of them to have fun with...........................

Oh she so cute!............................................

Lol.....................................How funny is this picture!........................
Kelly has been growing her hair...............................

But Hannah is a natural..........

Kelly's mum Deb gets in on the action...........................................
We have a new Miley!.............................

Can you believe we were walking the streets in these wigs!......................lol

Oh la la!

2008-10-23T22:30:00.001-07:00

Friday 24th October 2008! It is just gone 5.15 AM - yes can you believe I'm up that early........................Time for Vicky's day trip with the school to France..................To prove it really is that early just look at me.........................................

Vic is getting ready........................................................

Money, Money, Money........................................

I love money.......................................................................

OOOOppppps! We've woke up Rachey......................................

Cuddle her up on the settee................................................................

Next door neighbour Josh is going too and his mum and dad are giving vicky a lift to the pick up point..........................

Meet Shelley, my lovely next door neighbour............I cant believe all these people let me take their photo's before 6 in the morning..............................lol

I cant believe my baby is off to France with the school................................before you know it she will be working and I'll be an old granny............................lol (like emma!)

P.S.......................love you really em....................just couldn't resist it!........................lol

High School Musical - The day has come!

2008-10-23T22:05:00.001-07:00

The day finally arrived - Wednesday 22nd October 2008, the opening showing of High School Musical 3- The Senior Year. And yes, we had tickets....................
Bec and Rachel before school that morning were very happy little ladies!

The excitement was too much to bear............................Yeehaa!

We got to the cinema early to make sure we could get seats together. There was already a big queue.........................time for more photos!

Jordyn, Poppy, Kelly, Vicky, Rachel and Bec get posing for the camera!

See their happy faces!

And more.................................

And its wonder mum Ali feeling pleased with herself for her little shocker - she hadn't told Poppy until this morning and the screams of delight were heard around the world..............

We get our seats...........there is time to kill...........................................

Nearly time........................................

Oh the waiting................................

Rachel always sees a trip to the cinema as an eating experience and after demolishing the supplies we had taken, half-way through the movie I hear "Mum, I'm starving". I tried to fob her off but it all got to much so we nipped out to where they sell the food and yes I gave in and got her some pringles...................................

The film was fab, the energy from all the kids contagious..................another great day!

Do I have any sane friends.....................

2008-10-23T10:55:00.000-07:00

Meet my friend Karen...................................totally bonkers! I told her I wanted a photo shoot and this is what happens......................

A little showing off on the trampoline........................................

Hot mama...........................................................

Adult way of saying "whatever"...............................................

Its great to be aliiiiivvvvvveeeeee..................................................

Dont mess wiv da heybridge massive!

I miss my Dad!

2008-10-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

The last time I saw my dad was at Dublin Airport on August 19th 2008. I suprised my dad by meeting him off the plane. My flight home was a couple of hours after my dad's arrived. The next two photo's are at Dublin airport. Dad was like a celebrity coming through the gate to my camera flashing. It was great to see him.....................................

We had a drink and our solpadeines in a coffee bar whilst dad offered me a squashed cheese and tomato sandwhich that had gone all soggy............................I love my dad and cant wait to see him soon! Love you Pa!

Mind out for the Shark!

2008-10-21T13:40:00.000-07:00

Summer is well and truly over now................................here are some of pictures from fun times in the pool. Featuring Heather, Rachel, Leanne and Kelly!

Rachel ADORES her Auntie Heather................its like "Me and my shadow!"

Heather is overcoming her fear of Sharks......................lol

There is an art to staying on these float ables............keep practising!

Heather and Rach...........................................true love.................aaaaahhhhhh!

Rachey, Rachey and more Rachey!

2008-10-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

My little Rach is a right little poser! Here is a collection of some of her happy moments........................................
Rachel in Centreparcs September 2008

Rachel in Centreparcs September 2008
Rachel holding her Connemara marble stone I brought back from Ireland, August 2008

Rachel just out of the bath October 2008

Rachel at the park October 2008

Rachel outside school waiting for Leanne to go on holiday, October 2008

At the no particular reason party, October 2008

Fun at Oaktree Meadow, September 2008

Oaktree Meadow, September 2008 (Check out! Courtney lookalike or what!)

Oaktree Meadow, September 2008

At home, October 2008

Dancing with Billy Bear, October 2008

Lets Pretend!

2008-10-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

Rachel loves to pretend to be my pet dog............................last night she was a little French doggy.........................................

And Kelly was a very scary Russian pitbull....................................lol

There was some serious competition..........................................in pretend dog land....................................Until they decided cuddling is the best way to end your game!

Check out these photo's - masterpieces!

2008-10-21T08:18:00.001-07:00

Here is a taster of some of the pictures I took at the park on Sunday 19th October 2008!
Featuring Rachel, Catherine and Jay..................................................

Ruff Days

2008-10-21T08:11:00.001-07:00

It has been brought to my attention by my friends that I have an advantage over them...........................I always have the camera and never put bad photo's of myself on..................................to prove I too have one or two bad days per year I submit the following............................lol

Best mums in world!

2008-10-21T07:50:00.001-07:00

High School Musical 3 - the senior Years................................ Oh yeah, oh yeah.......who's the greatest.................................................

Yes folks we are (Ali and I) without a doubt the worlds greatest mums! Today I had a secret squirrel operation to sneak off down to the cinema with Kelly and Ali and purchase High School Musical tickets for the opening TOMORROW. Ali already had her tickets weeks ago but she came along with us to make sure we all got tickets for the same performance...........................

Ali leaving operation HSM.....................................

And then there was darkness..................

2008-10-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

The no particular reason party didnt finish in the house.........................as soon as it looked as though it was getting dark................armed with chalk, bubbles and torches we took the party to the park................................

Out come the bubbles............................................

Leanne suggested we tell you the bubbles are orbs..........lol

Ali becomes a vandal.................but dont worry folks it's only chalk!

Leah and Jack are figuring who to handcuff............................Liam getting worried!
Fun in the darkness.............................................................

Megan outdoes herself yet again..................................lol

Aaaahhhh aint love sweet!

Poppy and Jack on the zip line.......................

Please release me......................let me go.....................................

Oh no, it is time to go.......................the kids are not happy.........................

Another good day..........................................

The no particular reason Party!

2008-10-20T06:05:00.001-07:00

Well in pursuit of keeping my status as the greatest aunty in the whole wide world I decided to have a party. We called it the no particular reason party. It all came about because ruth, my amazing sister-in-law, super scrap-booker, blogger, mum, cake maker etc., took my leanne crabbing...............and they caught a whopping 85 crabs in one day! Wow, the challenge was on................until it hit me....................she cant be megan, sam and leah's greatest aunt coz she is their mum. lol Anyway, it was a good excuse for us to party.....................and party we did..............................

Megan is always up for the crazy challenges put her way.....................

Rachel wins the crab challenge........................

even though Ali challenged her for the title...........................

Vicky will not be outdone....................................OOOOOOOUUUUUCCCHHHH!

And here comes the double act......................the wheelbarrow!

Im starting to worry about Ali................she is regressing......................lol

Vicky's having a little trouble with lift off..............................

But dont worry................Jack is at hand to demonstrate how its done

Megan's ball is doing stunts.........................................

Oh dear Ali............................Come round for a chat..............it will all be okay!

Ruth is......................................not sure really what she is doing...........lol

Now that look kinda says "Yeah yeah good party but the 85 crabs still wins!"

Megan is so happy!...................................and I cant stop laughing....................... Anyway folks, after the indoor fun, we went out to the park in the dark..............to be continued!

Bye Bye Leanne.............

2008-10-19T14:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday 19th October - It's been a long wait for Leanne but the time has finally arrived for her school holiday to a place called Kingswood in Norfolk. It is an adventure centre and the holiday is for 6 days................................those poor teachers.....................just imagine....................no sleep............................midnight feasts........................giddy kids.............................lol!

We arrived VERY VERY VERY early, which was a miracle in itself so we found ourselves the first people there at the school, time on our hands and an awaiting fan club to see what we are going to do next. As always there was a photo opportunity...................................

Check out these posers!

Leanne fancied some horse-riding but as there was no horse the suitcase was an acceptible substitute!

And then she wanted to show off her lovely long legs.........LOL

Me, Rach and Leanne seize the opportunity for some family fun!

The excitement was really getting to Leanne................................

Finally the coach arrived.........and guess who was first on...............................

I even managed to get Miss Scales to give me a pose! I cant work out whether that is hapiness or hysteria..............lol

Bye Bye Leanne..................................come back soon......................missing you!

Glamorous Gran!

2008-10-13T05:35:00.000-07:00

I had an exam to sit so I asked my wonderful mum if she would kindly get the kids from school and bring them home. She happily agreed and to be honest it was the best ego boost imaginable! Leanne asked my mum if her friends could see her. She agreed but what followed was hilarious...............................lots of the local kids were coming into the house looking my mum up and down and discussing her with leanne like she wasnt there. Turns out they couldnt believe she was old enough to be her granny....................Wow mum, hope I inherit those genes!

The gang are back!

2008-09-25T06:49:00.000-07:00

Oaktree Meadow - September 2008

Here we are again, the gang are back. For the last couple of days after school the weather has been great so we have been taking the kids to the park after school. Ali is a daily park regular as Jack has been practising to get to the top of the climbing triangle. After being put to shame by Jack I had a go..........................................

As you can see, I definately need more practice!
Yes folks, that is not a bird...............or a plane........................it's Jack.....................King of the castle!

And to prove it really is him I zoomed in with the camera!

And rachel just keeps on trying.....................................

Whilst we were there, the competition was hotting up who could be the fastest, climb the highest till the competitors got so fierce a fight broke out............................................Ali took a swing for Kelly.................................

Knocked her clean to the ground................................before aggresively grabbing her hair.............

Oh my goodness.......................Kel couldn't take the knockout blows Ali delivered!
Ali told us "They dont call me Ali for nothing (Mohammed Ali)!

After some sulking and stropping Kelly arose and we all made friends again............................

Poppy has a spin...........................................
Before deciding it was dinner time and she was getting hungry.................Oh well a daddy long legs would do......................
I try to cheer up Kelly by taking her on the see-saw..............................

While Jack and Rachel spin each other on the play equipment.......................Kelly has a play on the slide..................................................... And after some fun in the park the pose for my photo! Another good couple of days!

Hanging with the Gang!

2008-09-23T04:49:00.001-07:00

St. Peter's beach, Bradwell

Sunday 21st September 2008 - It was a lovely sunny day and my friends and I decided we would spend the day at St. Peters beach, Bradwell. We took a tent, picnic, crab line, buckets and spades and the kids but found we didn't really need all those things to have fun coz we brought kelly!

The weather was so good and the tide was in, Kelly thought it was a great idea to go swimming. 1st problem - nowhere to change. Kelly decided she would put her hoodie jacket on upside down to take off her trousers and put on her shorts. Genius! Or should I say "nearly genius" - we did actually have a tent but it was far more amusing watching Kelly for the next 15 minutes trying to get changed without being noticed. Ali's little boy Jack laughed so much we were all in hysterics!

The laughter didn't end there! Once she got her trousers off she had to get her shorts on. Well what can I say, Kelly put both her legs into one of the shorts leg gaps and nearly fell over. We were laughing so much until Ali came to the rescue.

Next on the agenda Poppy and Leanne decided to play on the clay and spent a while slipping over and having fun!

We had a huge picnic, enough to feed 100 soldiers I recon! I told Rach I wanted a nice picture of her and she announced "put me on your blog mum" posing for this picture!

The sun must have affected my friends, Ali went collecting shells, most happy with herself for finding the tiniest little perfect shell she had ever seen!

Then I asked to take her picture, and she posed like this........................

Maybe she wants to be a yoga instructer!

It doesn't end there, after some debating about jelly fish and asking if she can get attacked by stingrays kelly decided to go for her swim........................................

And it looks like aquacise was on the agenda! Pressups in the river Blackwater............hmmm
Leave Vicky to her own devices and this is what happens.........................................

After Kelly realised she survived the stingrays and jellyfish she was ready for..................crabbing! Funny thing was she was standing in the water where she was throwing the crab line.
Leanne and Jack start digging and let me know they are searching for a crystal skull!

While Rach munches on a feast.........................

We all had a great time and this next picture just shows it...........................

Ali is again on a mad one!...................................... And before we left, there was time for a kids group pose!
A perfect end to a great day!

The sun was setting on the way home, it was a very beautiful sight.

MEET THE KIDS!

2008-09-18T05:50:00.000-07:00

Meet Vicky, more affectionately known as Pop. Vicky is the eldest of my three daughters and has just started senior school this September. Vicky is very sociable and enjoys singing, dancing, movies and medical programmes. She also loves the Bill and sneaks off to her mates houses to watch it.

And here comes Leanne.......Leanne is daughter number 2. She is an adventurious little soul and has had me busy in casuality on several occasions. Leanne loves to bike-ride, fish, roller/ice skate and hang with the boys. She is the tom-boy of the family! Leanne also love the Simpsons!

And then there was Rachel..........daughter number 3 with that X-factor quality. Rach is a natural born performer who loves to sing and dance for her family and friends - but watch out anyone who interupts her performance!