Saturday 29 August 2015

A successful Saturday

After managing for two months without a car, with help from family we have managed to buy another Zafira. I pick it up on Wednesday after work, and the garage have given me a courtesy car to use until then. I'm so happy, although we're not planning on keeping it for long as we want a VW camper next year. 

We then headed out to buy a new microwave as our one has been broken since May! 


We tested it out by having jacket potatoes for dinner!

Now I'm celebrating with a glass of this

I'm usually a rose girl, but this red with chocolate is delicious and so smooth. I'll be getting some more in!

Lupin Girl x



Tuesday 25 August 2015

Migraine Hell

I'm suffering at the mo. 

I started with a migraine Sunday evening. Took my tablets and went to bed. 

Got up Monday to see the children off as J was taking them to my Dad's. 

Went into the kitchen after they'd home and just stopped myself from collapsing. After it happened for a second time I realised there was no way I could walk to work and had to phone in sick. 

I crawled up the stairs to bed, where I stayed all day. 

I felt a bit better by nighttime and thought I'd be okay for work today (Tuesday)

Got up and dressed and J took me in. 

I carefully walked up the stairs to my office and was promptly told that I really shouldn't be there and got sent back home. (Luckily J hadn't hone far and came and got me). 

My Mother-in-Law had the children today and I went back to bed. 

I am feeling a lot better, I managed to get up this evening, but the back of my head still really hurts. I still feel like I'll collapse if I move too fast, but I've got to go in tomorrow. 

Keep everything crossed that I'm better in the morning. I've not been this bad for ages! 

Lupin Girl x 

A sunset to cheer me up :)


#wordlesswednesday 26th August 2015


I came home to my amazing children one night last week, who had made me a lovely pasta dinner and blackberry muffins with sauce, which were amazing. R had put on a waistcoat and was my waiter, L wore her posh dress and B had a waistcoat on too and was my chef. (C was at his girlfriend 's house) 

Feeling loved. 

Lupin Girl x 



Sunday 23 August 2015

Hayling Island 14-16/8/2015

Wow, a lot has been going on around here. 

I had an interview for the permanent position if the job I've been doing over the summer, and was successful! So now I'm a full time worker as well as a Mum of 4! 

We enjoyed a lovely weekend away with my Mum and Dad to Hayling Island. We visited Portsmouth and saw the kite festival. 


Portland Caslte


We even found a lovely fish and chip shop called Whistlers, which was recommended on Facebook, and had gluten free fish and chips. 


They were delicious and we enjoyed them on one of Hayling Islands beaches and I would definitely recommend going there if you're in the area. 


It was lovely to spend some quality time with the children. I've really missed it with working and it's the one thing making me question whether I'm doing the right thing. 

Lupin Girl x 


Wednesday 19 August 2015

Wordless Wednesday 19/08/2015


R getting stuck in making waffles for pudding. Gluten and lacto free naturally!


Wednesday 12 August 2015

Wordless Wednesday 12/08/15


Grasshoppers were a bit of a theme of our Isle of Wight holiday. 

Lupin Girl x 


Sunday 9 August 2015

Weekend Catch Up 7&8th August 2015

After a long and hard week at work I have enjoyed having a lovely relaxing weekend. The weather has been lovely and I spent most of Saturday in the garden, finally getting to finish the prequel to Maze Runner which I stared before the children broke up from school. I read this series on B's recommendation and I enjoyed reading them with one of these lovely concoctions I whipped up in the kitchen. 



 Today, Sunday, I had a lovely lay-in, before tackling all of the junk and kids belongings which had settled itself all over my downstairs. this done I managed to hoover and the downstairs isn't looking quite so bad as it was. I scrubbed the bathroom and sorted out the kitchen, but then decided to start reading a book which I'm going to review for a friend whom I met whilst studying for Creative Writing level 2 a couple of years ago, I'm about half way through and loving every minute, I won't go into any further details here as I'll save it for my review. 

 We had a lovely roast chicken, with smoked Isle of Wight garlic roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings in the garden which was really nice as what with camping we've not had a roast for a couple of weeks. 

I know a lot of you out there juggle full time work and raising a family and I've always admired you, but it's going to take me a while to adjust (if I get the full time position that is!) 

I'm heading off to bed now as I'm still shattered! 

 Lupin Girl x


Friday 7 August 2015

Places to eat (or not) in the Isle of Wight

Most of the time on our holiday to the Isle of Wight we took picnics with us, but we did eat out a few times.

We had fish and chips at Shanklin from a lovely fish and chip shop called 'The Happy Haddock' which we had seen on a Facebook page.  I had tried phoning them but it was before they opened and so we just took a chance that they did indeed sell gluten free fish and chips and that I wouldn't have to wait ages for the fryer to heat up.  Luck was on my side as the fryer was on, they were clued up about cross contamination, ensuring me that it was all cooked separately, the lovely man cleaned out the warming container and put greaseproof paper down to be extra safe, he then asked if I'd like gluten free vinegar on my chips and when I asked about sauces gave me some gluten free tartar sauce to try free of charge.  I would definitely recommend visiting them if you are in the area, the food was delicious and we'll be back next time we're in the Isle of Wight.  I was so hungry I didn't take any pictures, sorry.


On our last day we packed up the tent and headed to Ryde for a last paddle in the sea. Unfortunately the tide was in so we didn't get on the beach. We decided to find somewhere to eat which had a garden and plumped for The Crown. We weren't disappointed.  I asked for the allergy menu, and the waitress helped me find suitable dishes, ensuring me that if there was something I wanted which want on their lunch special price menu that they would do it at that price for me. As there were no gluten free options for R on the children''s menu they said they would either cook him chicken and chips or he could have an adult dish, but kids portion and price. They then came through to us to say we couldn't have the chips after all as they were fried with the curly chips which weren't gluten free and would therefore be contaminated. R went for beef stroganoff and I had the chilli nachos. It was the best meal we had on the island and will be back on our next visit. 

 
 
 

 

I'd eaten most of if before I remembered to take a picture!

Now a place to avoid.  The Hare and Hounds which was near Robyn Hill, not because they poisoned us, allergy wise it was ok. It was just terrible service taking an age to get our deserts out, and even then only bringing half of them so we had to watch them being eaten and still wIt forever for ours, asking several times and it didn't matter who we asked, there was a very much 'we don't care attitude'  We will not be going back here again!

Lupin Girl x 


Wednesday 5 August 2015

Tuesday 4 August 2015

Holiday to the Isle of Wight Catch Up

Welcome to this weeks catch up post.

We've been very busy as we had our family holiday to the Isle of Wight with one of my best friends, C, and her lovely family, who kindly took L in their car as I'm still car-less.



We set off on Saturday morning.  The alarm on my phone was set for 5am!

We arrived at the ferry terminal nice and early and hoped to be squeezed onto an earlier ferry, but no luck.  The trip across the Solent was a bit choppy and my friend C felt a bit green, but we made it in one piece.



There was a little hiccough with the pitches, as in there was somebody on the two we were supposed to be using! However the lovely ladies at reception told us to go and find two empty ones which we wanted and they'd change the system.  We pitched in lovely sunny weather, which is always nice, and after a tour of the local supermarkets (trying to find gluten free food, we couldn't find anything in Lidl which had been our first stop, much more successful in Sainsbury) we headed to the beach at the campsite and the children (even the big ones) had lots of fun frolicking in the sea then we went back to our rather large tent to play 'Go Fish' and have an early night.  If only the wind hadn't been hurricane level. It was so windy that The Americas Cup was called off on the Sunday!

This continued, with torrential rain, over the next couple of days, we still managed to have lots of fun visiting Amazon World



and Osborne House to stay out of the worst of the weather. 



We had to keep our fingers crossed that the tents would still be there when we got back!  The weather brightened up from Wednesday onwards and we visited the Needles where we got a bit arty with our photos. Excuse the windswept look!



Carisbrooke Castle. 



The New and Old Battery (also at the Needles)



Bembridge Windmill, The Garlic Farm and a few beaches.  I went in the sea more this holiday than I have done for a long time.  


The journey home was a lot calmer than the one out, and we sat and sunned ourselves on the sundeck.  As we came off of the ferry into Portsmouth we saw somebody abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower!


See my next post for reviews of places to eat which are allergy friendly in the Isle of Wight.

Lupin Girl x






Sunday 2 August 2015