Augsut 26th, 2012

First on today's agenda was a serious sleep after yesterday's 7 hour clean up, and we definitely deserved it!

Ended up heading to Harrogate today, Andy's dad is in hospital after a fall so we called up to see him. And while we were there (in Harrogate, not the hospital) we managed to sort the music for the wedding, so that was good!

I'd picked a song for me to walk down the aisle to, but it's really long so Andy's brother managed to edit it for us, and it's perfect!  We're not having any prayers or readings in the ceremony so we wanted the music to be personal to put our stamps on it a bit more, which I think we've done!  Not sure what we're going to come out to yet but the coming in is sorted, which is the important bit ;-)

August 25th, 2012

What a day!!  The estate agent was booked to come and take photographs of the house at 3.30, so Andy and I got up and worked for 7 hours straight to get the house put back together after last weekend's decorating. 

You've never seen anything like it, it was like one of these 60 Minute Makeover programmes, only on a bigger scale with only two people!  It was crazy, really was one of those enormous jobs that we finished with one minute to spare, which would have ben fine if the estate agent hadn't turned up 10 minutes early!  But all was well in the end, signed on the dotted line and the ball is rolling - just got to sell the thing now!  Which is a shame, as it turns out that when this house is tidy it's actually pretty big...typical!

August 24th, 2012

Today was the first day of my new life and I swear, from the second I woke up, I felt completely different.  Every bit of stress and worry has lifted and I've got me back, I feel motivated and enthusiastic to get things done, had a very productive day of Lucy Liz (which is a good job, as it's now my only source of income!)...it's just been a brilliant day!  I'm just fuming with myself for not making this move sooner!

Had the second estate agent to see us today, all went well again but their costs were a little higher so we're going with the original guys (told you, gut instinct!) So tomorrow they're coming round to do the measurements nad take some pictures, and the house will be on the market before the weekend is over!  Exciting times!

August 23rd, 2012

Today was, without question, one of the strangest days of my life.

It's been no secret that, for various raesons, I've been unhappy in my "other job" as I so fondly call it, and over the past 9 months my stress levels have gone through the roof.  Anyway, over the past few weeks I've really not been feeling well so, long story short, I took myself to the doctors and he signed me off with stress.

Such an awful moment, to sit in the doctor's room with a piece of paper on which he's put a huge tick through the box that says "not fit to work" was hideous, I've really never felt so defeated in my life.  So I quit my job.  Enough was enough.  Andy and I had spoken about me leaing on and off for months but I always found reasons to stay, but to be signed off by a doctor was the final straw for me, no job in the world is worth that.

So that's that - I guess I am now a full-time bag lady!!

Oh, and in other news, the car passed it's MOT!

August 22nd, 2012

Today we had the estate agent round, all seems to have gone well!  Pretty much what we expected really, which is good, the last thing we wanted was any unpleasant surprises!

But it all seems good and pretty positive, we've arranged for someone else to come around on Friday, just for the sake of having covered all bases, but I've got a good feeling about these guys - I'm very much a "go with your gut" kinda girl!

Now to worry about tomorrow, the car's booked in for MOT and I really can't see it passing - there's any expense we don't need 5 weeks before the wedding!!!

August 21st, 2012

Such a frustrating day today.  Had to go out to work and leave the house not even close to finished for the estate agent tomorrow, made worse by the fact that they decided to re-lay the tarmac on the road we work on, so hardly had any customers anyway as they couldn't drive to us.

So frustrating, I hate being somewhere doing very little when I could be elsewhere getting tons done.  So inevitably it was panic stations when we got home to get the house ready, as well as boxing up some orders that have to go out in the morning.  Feeling utterly miserable!

August 20th, 2012

MANIC day today!!

Called the estate agent this morning who is coming around on Wednesday morning to view the house, and I'm out of the house all day tomorrow, so I've had today to finish the glossing from the weekend, tidy the house, as well as finishing off some Lucy Liz orders that need despatching this week!  Blue arsed fly comes to mind!

It has to be said that I didn't get too far with the tidying, looking around all I can see is sewing, unfinished bags and packaging materials...that's not a great effort is it?  This is where I could really use staff!  Don't think that's happening any time soon, so best get myself into gear and get it done...not sure when, but it'll be done.

August 19th, 2012

Day two of decorating over with and you know, I think we're just about finished!  Two days of work and we've painted and glossed the entire hallway, stairs and upstairs landing, all the upstairs window ledges and repainted the dining room walls and ceilings - it's amazing how much you can get done when you put your mind to it!

I guess it helps that we're both really set on this move, so we're really motivated to get the work done to make it happen.  Only problem is that now we can barely move!  Stiff muscles, stiff joints, could barely eat our meal we're so tired!  But everything's clean and fresh and feeling very positive, so its all entirely worth it!

August 18th, 2012

I should probably let you in on what our master plan actually is huh?  These posts would make more sense if I did!

In a nutshell we're looking to sell our house and move back up north, which is home for both of us.  The area we're in now is truly lovely, it's just in the wrong place - Andy moved here for work and I moved here for Andy, so we're miles away from our friends and family.  Don't get me wrong, we have a perfectly decent social life, but it would be nice to have dinner with our families without driving the M60, M62 and M1 first!

So today we started tidying the house up ready to put it on the market and got loads done - high as a kite on gloss fumes now but well worth it!

In other news, our wedding gift list went live today, really feels like this wedding is getting close now...

August 17th, 2012

Final details meeting went well!  I was more than a little concerned at first as it turns out that someone has booked a wedding for September 28th, the day before ours, so was so worried about them being able to turn the venue around for our big day, but it's all good.

Details are coming together!  Rooms sorted, food, cake, flowers, the lot...still not got a dress but apart from that we're laughing!!!

Early to bed for us tonight, tomorrow is day one of major decorating as part of our grand master plan...must be rested!

August 16th, 2012

Well only the one minor panic today, had to call the emergency breakdown service to our house as our car stunk to high heaven of fuel.  Turns out there was a slit in the fuel pipe and it was leaking - lucky we caught it really, especially given someone I know is prone to throwing cigarette ends out of the window on the motor way! 

Heading up north shortly ready for the final details meeting at our wedding venue tomorrow, but before we set off we had to go through the questions the venue need answering, and that means confronting all the little details that we've been avoiding making decisions about!  Some are small things but some are biggies, like the music, music has been so important in our relationship (and let's face it, if it wasn't for our love of music Andy and I wouldn't even be together!) so it's actually a really big thing to decide the song I'll walk down the aisle to, and the one we leave to...but we'll get there, we'll have to!

August 15th, 2012

Today was one of those really annoying days that I hate, I got up this morning, did a day's work, now I'm ready for bed and I feel like I have sod all to say about my day!

I hate that, makes me feel like I worked all day but achieved nothing, I refuse to have any more days like this!

August 14th, 2012

With 6 weeks to go until the wedding I've decided to have one last health push!

In the kitchen you can't move for fruit, fat-free yoghurt and green tea, the natural shampoo is in the bathroom, exfoliating facial scrubs by the sink...I think I'm pretty geared up for this!

I just figure that the better I feel physically the better I'll feel in every other way, which really isn't a theory that should only be applying to the wedding but it's certainly a good reason to start.  It's right though, I think if you feel generally healthy and presentable you work better, so I have every intention of maintaining this long after the wedding.

In other news I *think* the dress is sorted, got to wait another couple of week for delivery which is less than ideal but at least I can sleep knowing things are moving!

August 13th, 2012

So today, after the cock-ups with my wedding hair, dress and the groom's suit, I finally took delivery of a pair of wedding shoes that fit (although they might be too tall)...you know what I did after that?

I went into the kitchen and was moving some bits around while I was on the phone, reached up to a shelf and managed to catch an un-opened jar of sauce with my elbow and set it crashing to the floor - only it didn't hit the floor, it hit my toes.  Hurt like hell!!  I was on the phone to Andy at the time who was driving and even he heard the thud of the jar trapping my toes between it and the tiled floor!

Lots of ice later I've a very painful, funny looking foot!  Just wondering what can possibly happen here next!?

August 12th, 2012

You know, I'm really quite sad the Olympics are over!  It's been brilliant!

Not entirely sure about the closing ceremony, some odd choices of artists and songs, and it didn't seem as upbeat as the opening ceremony, dare I say I don't think Danny Boyle has anything to worry about!

Also some very strange choices of guest stars, which actually I found rather irritating.  We've spent two weeks watching the most amazing athletes in the world, who've made their greatest achievements through nothing but hard work and dedication, inspiring the next generation and have done their country proud...forgive me, but Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss don't fit into that category as far as I'm concerned.

I hope we continue to be this patriotic once this is all over...would be a great shame not to.

August 11th, 2012

Today my Mum and I went to Harrogate for our wedding hair trials...didn't go well!

Mum looked stunning, she has naturally very curly hair anyway so our stylist, Nick, kept those in but defined each individual curl, it looked brilliant.

Mine on the other hand, not so great.  I must say that it was no fault of the stylist, it's me - I don't know if it's my hair (bearing in mind I'm stuck with a cut I don't want) my face, or my hair on my face but it's just not working....so with that, the disaster haircut, the faulty dress and the suit lining cock up, the only thing for me to do was have a meltdown, and I did. 

In my defence I'd been holding it in for weeks, which I shouldn't have, I should have just let it all out to begin with, so yesterday it all came out - probably did me good in the long run but not great for the hair trial!

August 10th, 2012

And today, disaster strikes again.

While I'm sitting here with a dress that's been returned, Andy's just returned from the tailor of his bespoke tailor-made suit to tell me that the suit, whilst stunning, has been fitted with the wrong colour lining....the lining is gold.  Yes, gold.  I assure you in no uncertain terms that it was never meant to be gold, so there's something else that needs fixing!

Dare I say, this wedding planning hasn't been stressful at all, it's actually been one of the most enjoyable experiences ever, but now it's time fo rhte professionals to step in and provide their parts of the bargain it's all going to hell!  Surely it should be the other way around?!!?

August 9th, 2012

So today we started putting together our wedding gift list.  I've felt funny about this one for a while but actually I'll admit to enjoying it more than I thought I would!

See, as far as I'm concered we just don't need gifts!  Andy and I have lived together for years now, so whilst we could look to replace some of our things we don't really need to, and to me it just feels wasteful to get rid of our existing stuff.  I also feel a bit odd about asking for gifts when people are paying for petrol, hotels, outfits just to come to the wedding itself.

To be fair, the only reason we have a gift list is because so many people have asked what to get us that we've set it up to cater for those who will buy us something regardless of what we say, but I'm still not 100% comfortable with the whole thing!

August 8th, 2012

6 weeks to go and I'm officially dress-less.  The dress has been returned to the designers and my fate is in their hands now!

The designer himself is looking at my dress so I really can't ask for much more than that, but it's nerve-crushing beyond belief.  Not helped by the fact that my body, which has always been completely out of proportion, evidently has measurements spanning over 3 dress sizes!  You ever think that something's not meant to be?!

August 7th, 2012

Well after the horror that was  yesterday, today wasn't much better.  Spoken to the designers about my dress, which is officially faulty, but nothing can be done without them seeing it, so right now everything is out of my hands - a position I hate to be in at the best of times but on the build up to my wedding it's hideous!

In other news, my nightmare hair does seem to be growing quickly - god bless Holland and Barrett Skin, Hair and Nails suppliments!

August 6th, 2012

Wedding dress is a disaster.  Complete disaster.  The work I wanted doing has gone from slightly cosmetic to full blown reconstruction.  Just don't need this with less than 7 weeks to go, really don't.

August 5th, 2012

Wedding fever continues here, though slightly tainted as I've barely slept for worrying about my wedding dress!  Seriously, 4 hours after I went to bed I was still awake and stressed!  But it'll be fine...it'll have to be!

Lunch with the best man today, so lots of talk of stag do's (and stag don'ts!) and then a trip to look at some of the bits we'd like to put on our wedding list.

That was awesome actually, the tennis had just started when we set off, got to the TV department in the shop and waited there for the match to finish so saw Andy Murray win.  Was such a great atmosphere, everyone stopped their shopping to watch the match and the cheer that went up when he won was wonderful.  Then a couple of minutes later they announced his win over the PA system and the whole shop broke into applause...felt quite emotional!!  Go Team GB!

Right, feet are going up and I am NOT thinking about this wedding dress...not one bit.... 

August 4th, 2012

Well it's here - there is a bought and paid for wedding dress in my house!

Something of a stress with it, counting down the minutes until I can get to the seamstress and make some serious changes (more than planned actually) but it's making me feel utterly sick to think about it, so will be distracting myself for a week!

Maid of Honour dress is stunning, and Helen looks stunning in it!  We've been so lucky with it, I chose the dress online, Helen went to the shop and tried on a sample dress so she knew it was OK but I'd not seen it.  I also guessed the colour based on a 1" square of fabric that I had sent!  But we've hit gold (well, green!) and it looks beautiful!

What a night for Team GB too!!  Wouldn't have minded being in that stadium tonight!!!

***I've managed to mess up with loads of these posts, need to stop trying to post from my phone so they actually publish!***

August 3rd, 2012

Bath is fixed!  That was just the last thing we needed, but all is well now, and the guy fixed our broken step while he was here, so that was ok!

Busy weekend ahead - going to be Wedding Central here!  Visits from the Maid of Honour, Best Man, collecting the dress, seeing the MoH dress for the first time...got everything crossed that all of the above go well!

August 2nd, 2012

Nothing but annoyed - had workmen in the house, had all around the bath re-tiled (and therefore re-grouted and resealed), been under the bath and the original problem that the work was meant to fix is still there!  Fuming!

So it's batch of workmen number two coming round to take a look at everything....not what we need will less than 2 months to the wedding!!

August 1st, 2012

August 1st....getting married next month!

I was such a geek today, I took delivery of a fabric order that I'd forgotten was coming...couldn't have been more excited!  I just love it, a big pile of brand new fabric ready to be cut and stitched and turned into product, love it!  Of course there's always the fabric that turns up which is too beautiful to cut but once I'm over that - bring on the scissors!

July 31st, 2012

So, let me explain, I did write my blog on July 31st, but I was so emotionally drained that I forgot to hit post!  Had such a nightmare but now it's fixed and OK I can tell you about it!

So, with 8 weeks and 1 day to go until the wedding, I went for my pre-wedding hair cut (you can see where this is going can't you?)  I'm not going to slate the salon because they were great, had a fabulous experience there, but long story short my hair was cut wrong.  It's not that it was cut in a style that I didn't like, it was actually wrong.

Tried not to think about it, you know what it's like when you leave the hairdresser, it's so full of products that you can never really tell what it's like, so I decided not to think about it until I got home and washed and dried it myself.  Did that..and it was even worse than I thought.  Devastated.  I know it probably sounds like a massive over-reaction but the problem was the first few inches of hair that sit right on my face, with only 8 weeks to sort it before my wedding.  So having cried for three days (!) I made an emergency visit to my wedding stylist on Tuesday night, who I'm happy to say has done the most wonderful job of fixing the problem and I'm now fit to be seen outside again!!

So after I'd driven back from her house (which is over an hour away) I was so mentally drained from three days of crying and stress that I think I passed out!!!