Another day another Dollar!!

My buddy Bee (Birgit), we work really well together, we think the same and help each other out

Andrew one of our customers, Bee and I have been out with a meal with him and are going again soon, he works at the local biscuit factory and always brings us a bag of biccies in, my Niece Lolly loves one certain type so he brings extra of those just for her.

Have you ever seen anything so gorgeous, Bee and I have wanted a coin counter for the shop for years, when we empty the machines of a night time we have to count all the coins by hand, well not any more Karl our new Manager (he's fab) has bought this in, he's our friend forever!!

Jill one of our cleaners and her Husband Paul.

I'm so sorry I haven't blogged in a week but as you can see and I did warn you all I do when I'm home is work work work, just like the rest of the World, I do Love my job though so it's not that bad.

I'm home alone again, Manny has had to work all weekend, had to get up at 4am which is exhausting for him but we need the money, he is still paying for my trip to California! lol I'm going to cook him lamb chops with mint sauce and new potatoes and veg for tea, he really loves lamb it's not something you get in the Philippines.

I've got a bit of housework to do, nothing much I try and keep on top of things when Mum's away and only really use my bedroom and kitchen. So I might do a bit of laundry and then sit in the garden IF the sun comes out, highly unlikely to be honest there's not enough blue in the sky to make a sailor a pair of trousers at the moment.

Lolly's Cake

So Miss Lauren Ann (Lolly) Goode stayed over last night, it's such a pleasure to to see our Little Lady.

She baked a cake with her Nan last night and then she decorated it this morning. There is a love heart in the middle with a L in for Love but I say for Lauren.

I got up at 8am this morning especially so that I could catch Tracy on-line and guess what she wasn't, so I had to text her to wake her, I have never known T be in bed at midnight! We had an hours chat then she had to go back to bed and so did I to be honest, I think my first 3 days back at work have caught up on me today and I still have this cough and earache and a sore throat. I'm really missing Tracy it's difficult having your best friend so far away.

Well the big news is..............Brighton has a 30% off sale!!!! I'm gutted I wish I could just jump on a plane to come and do some shopping!!! (lol)

Well that's it for today, got a roast pork dinner to eat, not taking a picture of that for you though sorry.

Welcome to Coral's

This is probably the worst picture I have ever seen of me! I'm so proud of my uniform (lol) I thought you would all like to see it.

Part of the gang. Anet, Rob (he quit this morning, do I frighten people!) and Nic.

Liam. Trying to look intelligent! No Liam it's not working love!! (lol)

The shop. Please note the gorgeous guy on the left in the blue t-shirt, his name is Dizzy he's a contractor from Newcastle working at our power station, we have a laugh and joke that I'm in love with him (yes Manny knows!)

Meet Hans he's our resident Irish/American joker.

So I've done my first shift and it was great, I really enjoyed it, I worked with Liam for most of it and he is so funny, he's 19 and couldn't give a monkeys about anything, he just let's everything go over his head, sometimes a little too much but we are moulding him into our ways ready for the real World! (lol) He's so easy to work with he just does as his told and gets on with the job and doesn't mind when I kick his ass (quite often, only literally), we have a laugh usually at his expense, well he does go to gigs and get punched in the face and the mouth and all sorts of stuff like that, he's just got one of those faces. Bee and me feel like his Mother sometimes!

I wasn't at all nervous about going back to work, I mean I've had 10 weeks off in all so really was quite looking forward to it. So many people were pleased to see and said how well I look, I feel great to be honest, still in California mood I think, hope it will last forever!

So it's quite a busy week at work this week, it's Royal Ascot so we are busier than normal, but we can handle it, we've handled worse Bee and Me, we make a good team.

24 hours to go!!!!

So this time tomorrow I will be BACK AT WORK!!!!

I'm feeling very strange about it not sure if it's nerves although I don't think so or what. I helped Bee close the shop on Sunday and I remembered most of the stuff that has to be done, just hope I can remember how to open the safe!!!

So today I thought I better catch up on the ironing, the pile is nearly as tall as me. I nearly jumped out or my skin, I'm doing it upstairs and I turned around and there is a person looking at me through the window, it was the window cleaner Steve. I went and made him and Larry a nice cup of STRONG tea, they don't like the way I make coffee because it's too strong but they like there tea strong enough to stand your spoon in. They have known what's been going on with me and have kept my confidence which I appreciate they, are good guys! I've given this address so they can check the blog out, so Hi guys if your looking, you could make your own blog up with all the things you see being window cleaners.

So tomorrow is D day, I'll take my camera in and see if I can snap a few customers, got to be careful though it's like working in a confessional you'd be surprised how many wives don't know what there Husband is up to, well I guess you wouldn't really! lol

Just for you T!

So there you go T a picture of Mother's cottage pie!

It was divine as always, a girl can't beat her Mum's cooking. Good old fashioned minced beef with mixed vegetables and potatoes on top, usually mashed but Cornish new potatoes are so nice this time of the year they just have to be sliced on top. I wish this was smell and taste a vision so you could all understand how good it is!

That's it for today, just a quickie!

Friday 13th!

So Chloe (next doors cat) likes my new clothes, she thought she's check them out for me, make sure they wouldn't be too itchy, I think I'm safe don't you!

Tracy wants to see our bedroom. Manny hates the colours I choose he says they are Indian colours, well he's right and I like them so he just has to put up with them! They are even better on our new bed, it is sooo comfy!!

I picked Lauren up from school this afternoon, of course I went to the wrong classroom first, she was really pleased to see me and gave me a big kiss. She's made her dad a Father's day card, I had to laugh it said exactly the same thing she wrote in her Mother's day card..........

'Love you Dad and Love your cooking'

so I asked if her Dad was a good cook and her reply was............

'well actually Jenny (his partner) does most of the cooking'

Aren't kids so funny, she says the funniest things.

So I finally got together with Bec today, it's so difficult for us to meet up our hours at work clash all the time. She's a good friend that I made when I worked at Sainsbury's and we have kept in touch. She's moved on as well and works on the toll road, the best move she ever made away from certain people, she knows who I mean. She is trying to save up so we can go to America one day, it would be great to show her around, so T you might have another house guest!!

Well I tried to make the tupperware cake, what a disaster. First of all I wasn't sure what size packet mix to buy, I mean what a quandary for me then would you believe how hard it is to buy one single can of pop, we went to 3 different shops for a 330ml can of sprite and ended up getting a 500ml bottle. It was a big old mess, the bin enjoyed it and Bec and I had mandarins and mango with cream, not a bad substitute. Katie (Bec's cat) enjoyed the cream also. lol

When I was at the doctors the other day I was reading through this magazine, now I'm not one to read my stars and I certainly don't really believe in all that guff, but just read it, it is freaky....

'A spiritual holiday during may would clear your mind'

I'm by no means religious but I am praying the end of June bit is right also!!!! lol

So there you go, as I said once I was back in Blighty it wouldn't be too exciting but I will try and keep it up for you all.

The Man's a GOD!!!!

OMG he gets better with age!!!

So on Wednesday night, yes you've guessed it we saw NEIL DIAMOND. a GOD I tell you!!

I have been a fan since childhood, my parents had a tape of his and I listened to it all the time. He does a 2 hour show without a stop and is just amazing! My Mum danced her little heart out we both really enjoyed it. It's so weird because although most of the audience is Mum's age there's an awful lot that are my age or even younger, that proves how good he is.

So I also went to see the mental health nurse, I had to laugh, he was a lovely guy a hippy and had hair like the professor out of Back to the future, but he was lovely. He asked some strange questions, well strange to me because the answer was NO to all of them..........'Do I hallucinate?'......'Does the TV or radio talk to me?'....'Have I ever contemplated suicide?'

He said I just needed to see a bereavement councillor and he's signed me up for a life skills course, that should be interesting! He discharged me from the mental health side of it, he said I just needed to come to terms with losing Dad, to be honest I could have told him that! lol

So I am going to my friends Bec's later today, I am taking a lasagne over with me, just a chilled thing I can stick in the oven, she's doing the salad and garlic bread. It'll be nice to catch up with her.

Manny isn't home until tomorrow night, he's working an extra day, they still need to catch up on the job, they finish it in 2 weeks, then he may be working at the power station in Rugeley for a while, I do hope so, it'll be a normal days work for him and he'll be home every night, but things change, he could end up in Scotland again, I do hope not it scares me now after him being taken ill up there last year with that internal bleed. They never did find out what caused it and luckily he's never had another problem.

So I'm back to work on Wednesday, I'm quite looking forward to it, that woman leaves on Tuesday so I won't have to see her and our new Manager starts the following Sunday, it's a guy called Carl, he has worked in bookies all his life his Dad owned one for years, I've heard he's a really nice guy, I do hope so, we need some peace in that shop!

So I guess I should shake myself and get dressed, got a few things to do today before I pick Lauren up from school at 3pm for Sophie then head of to Bec's for tea. I'll try and think of something exciting to blog soon I promise!! Keep watching.

Just another day.

So yesterday I met up with my work colleague and friend Bee for lunch. It was a gorgeous day so we sat outside the pub it was lovely. I bought her a bottle of Hidden Ranch light ranch dressing home with me, she was over the moon. You can't really get it over here and what you can get is yuk. She had a salad so she could have it on it and she has taken it home and hidden it from her Daughter (lol)

When I got home Mum and I sat in the garden for an hour and relaxed in the sun, it's such a rarity in England we have to make the most of it when we can. Once I'm back to work I won't get to see any of it. I'm going back next Wednesday, can't wait really I've missed the old place.

Today is supposed to be just as nice, but so far no sign of Mr Sun, let's hope he breaks through for a couple of hours, I've got a few job I need to do this morning but I'm hoping to relax in the garden this afternoon with a book. I'm reading the slushy Harlequin books I bought home with me, they are so silly but good, T still has a few and is going to mail them over to me when she's finished them.

So I'm afraid no pictures today, nothing really to photograph, you all see the sun every day over there in California so it would be boring to take a picture of that.

I'm really missing Tracy, I wish we were closer, never mind eh, they do say absence makes the heart grow fonder and we are like an old married couple!!! (lol)

My Mummy

So while I was away my Mum went to her friends Wedding.

Her friends name is Jo and it's her second marriage, she has been divorced from her first Husband for over 20 years, but my Mum said she was so nervous it was like it was her first marriage, how sweet eh.

My Mum is very good at arranging flowers, whenever there is a Wedding she always helps with the arrangement, most of the Weddings she goes to are held in marquees so there are always a lot of flowers to arrange, it's a good job one of the women that goes owns a florist and my Mum's friend is a genius with flower arranging.

My Mum always looks so beautiful when she goes to a function of any kind, don't you agree?

Sunday Lunch & Chocolate Cake

So Tracy wants me to blog as often as I can, so I am. Don't shout at me for taking daft pictures please I'm just going through daily life and snapping it on the way.

So Jordan stayed over again last night, he had been to work with Mum and wanted to stay over to help Manny and Me put our new bed together. Just a shame he's a typical nearly 11 year old and when it came to it he didn't want to because he was BORED AND COULDN'T BE BOTHERED!! Don't you just love kids when the sun is shining and they can't find anything to do, Mum ended up getting him to sweep out the sun house in the garden, not a happy chappy I can tell you!! (lol )

So Manny and I put our new bed together and took the old one to the skip. OMG it is so comfy I am over the moon with it, Manny's not so overjoyed a beds a bed you know what men are like and plus he's paying for it under duress!! (lol )

I was up at 6.30, early again for me still a bit jet lagged I think and I couldn't believe how much energy I had, Mum was in shock when she came downstairs to find the kitchen all clean and tidy, there are nearly always a couple of dishes from the night before!

Sophie and Lauren wandered over around 2.30pm and Mum make lunch, Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding with HOMEMADE chocolate cake for pudding that Mum made and Jordan decorated, a masterpiece in the making I think! (lol)

My Mummy preparing the Sunday Roast

The Family sitting down to Sunday Lunch

The Sunday Roast..Beef, New Potatoes, Cabbage, Peas, Roast Potatoes & Yorkshire Pudding and let's not forget Horseradish Sauce!

The Cake (Cheesecake Factory eat your heart out!!)

The cutting of the cake.

I hit tired then so decided I would go and try out the new bed, I was sound asleep in 10 minutes flat and slept for about 2 hours, don't know if I'll sleep tonight with Manny having to wake up at 3.30 for work.

Mum had an hour or so on the lounger in the garden with her feet up, she is now pottering away doing some weeding, bless she loves her garden.

So guys, that's a Sunday in the life of Abi Guinto, exciting I know but you did want to know T!

Home Sweet Home!!!!

Victoria Gardens by night, the place is just so fantastic!

So it finally ended, the best three weeks of my life, well apart from the obvious you know, getting Married, the birth of my Niece and Nephew and all that. (lol)

I have had the most amazing time in California with my Dearest, Dearest Friend Tracy Lieko Carruth.

It is good to be home though back in the bosom of my family. The good news is it looks like I've bought some of the good weather back with me, let's hope it here to stay for a while, don't want rain and all that English stuff until Winter thank you very much!

People wonder why I like America so much, well look at this for a sandwich!! Turkey, corned beef, not like ours either much better and cheese, with macaroni salad, delicious I can't tell you how delicious!

So Tracy is saving up to come over and see me in 2011, who is she kidding I can't wait that long, I'll end up going over to her again before that and she'll just have to save harder. (sell some houses woman!!!)

So the journey home was as bad as the journey out there, another Dutch couple but older this time, he wouldn't let me have the light on over me to read, then when I was trying to sleep him and his wife kept chatting and laughing, I just don't like travelling alone I always get stuck next to strange people!!

I had a stopover for 2 hours in Schipol airport in Amsterdam, it's a lovely airport for shopping, but you'll be glad to hear I didn't buy anything but a drink.

So I'm home and can't sleep, it's so annoying, I was up at 5.30am yesterday and 3am this morning, I am so tired. Luckily in one way Manny has had to work today because they are behind on the job so I can try and catch up on some sleep.

So this guys is the Homestead, little by American standards bu big by English standards, we have 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 2 en suites, a kitchen, a dining room, a living room, a downstairs toilet and a garage and quite big front and back gardens. I will however tell you that it is 1/3 of the size of the 175 year old Cottage we moved out of 2 years ago after 40 years there, and it had brick walls inside not plasterboard, it is very strange.

The local poser Lauren Goode (Lolly) my niece, isn't she just beautiful?

I was greeted home by next doors cat Chloe, she is so cute, she doesn't go upstairs in her own house but darts up our at every possible chance, she is so funny.

Another poser Jordan Goode (Gordy) my Nephew, he is such a handsome little man, and he's loving playing Mario on his DS that I bought him home, it only cost £7.50 they are £30 here, he is already on the last level apparently!

And finally the garden, well part of it anyway, it is looking so pretty, my Mum is so clever and takes pride in it, it's lovely to look out of the bedroom window and see it, we have a pond on the other side which sounds lovely with the water trickling away. So Tracy, Kimi and Jenn this is my home, I hope one day you will all be able to come and visit, you are always welcome?

Our last supper. Arhhhh

What a strange feeling! I am excited about going home and seeing my family and Manny, but I am really sad that I am leaving my dearest and most special friend Tracy Lieko. I can't thank you enough T for having me over and helping me through my rough time it's just what I needed, you are a dear friend and I love you dearly!

So we had our last supper at PF Changs, I asked the guy to tell the management we need one in England, the food is awesome, and the guy was soooooo cute!!! lol

We then had a final walk around Victoria Gardens and I said a fond farewell to Brighton. Until the next time!!!!

I have packed really well I think and managed to get everything in, it was such a good idea bringing an empty suitcase, of course I have filled it, what can I say.......THIS IS ME!!!!

So unless I get time tomorrow to blog, my flight isn't till 5.40pm, this is my last U.S blog, so be prepared for Rugeley my American viewers because that's what I will be photographing from now on.

Kimi it has been a pleasure seeing you again and thank you for making me welcome in your home. Master C.J you are lovely boy don't change and little Miss Maya your and angel, I look forward to seeing you again in the not to distant future I hope. Jenn, Laurel and Tiffany it was great to meet you, I hope to see you again someday.

So night night guys I need my beauty sleep.

xxx

My last full day!! Boo hoo!!!

So today I am very sad, it's my last full day tomorrow I fly home, not a clue what time to be honest I need to check my flight details, just know it's an afternoon flight.

So yippee yesterday I finally got to go up the mountain, well not really yippee you could only go so far before you came to gated communities, I think Tracy was quite relieved! I got a couple of pictures but nothing to write home about.

OMG we went to see Sex and the City, a must, honestly it was fantastic, oh yeah and Tracy cried, the big emotional wimp she is. lol It was really good and I would highly recommend it.

We then went and ate at Cheesecake Factory, yes another place I love.

http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/menu.htm

I know, I keep showing you all these amazing menus, well I think you should all see what your missing out on and how I'm keeping my voluptuous figure!!!! A girl has to keep her sex appeal you know! lol

So today we are off to have a full body massage then pedicure and I might have a manicure, then it's packing time and a bit of cleaning the house, I can't leave it in a mess, Tracy fired her cleaners.

http://www.tessiesserenityspa.com/massage.html

Catch you all again soon, when I'm all serene and sexy!!!

River Deep, Mountain High!!!!

Well today's the day, yes that's right Tracy has given in and said she will come up to the Mountain with me. Bless her heart she really doesn't want to but she is and that's a friend for you!

I've rented the car for an extra day, I hardly used it yesterday I felt so rough with my cold and just came home to bed. I found some diabetic drugs for colds & flu in K mart so hopefully they will stop my nose running, Tracy gets grossed out that I'm always blowing my nose but I just can't help it (sorry T). Why can't we just buy diabetic cold rememdies over the counter in England, it's such a pain if you have to go to the doctors, and all your allowed to take is paracetamol (that's tylenol to you Americans).

We finally got to eat at Olive Garden last night, OMG it was really good, just a shame I couldn't finish it off, I just wanted to get home to bed. I've had a strange night, burning up, freezing cold you name it I've experienced it in the night, I'm just hoping I glowed (sweated) most of this cold out over night, I can't bare the thought of flying home with it.

So after we have been HALF way up the mountain, yes only half way T, I only want to see Rancho from that view, we will be going shopping, I know, I know me shopping you can't believe it! Then tonight we are going to see Sex in the City, Tracy is so excited about it, I heard it's good my friends daughter went to see it and said it was.

I guess I should really start packing, I just didn't have the energy yesterday and I need to make sure I can get everything in, I sure don't want to have to box anything and send it if I can help it.

So that's it for today folks, OMG did you hear about Universal Studios, we were only there the other day!

Catch you soon and take care. Abs x