All on my own

So Craig has gone to France fishing for the week and I;m on my own with Blue. Kind a enjoying it but it's actually getting harder as I miss Craig..... Oh well enough of the soppiness...
Just a quick update. Due to knee and foot problems I won't be running the race for life. Nothing serious but because of injury I couldn't train properly. ( I sound all professional but seriously it does hurt when I run so no good.)

God TV

So whilst being off sick for nearly two weeks ( I have spent 6 days practically asleep!) I have discovered God TV. What a great resource. I found that everyday i tuned in God used it to speak to me. I used to be a bit synical about it all but it was really powerful. Finally feeling a bit better today and hopefully will be back at work on Monday.
Tonight I'm spending chilling out on my own and thinking through some of the things RT Kendall just had to say about forgiveness. Always a challenge when God searches your heart on that topic.

Not much else happening at the moment. But thought I'd update anyway.

as you asked so nicely

a couple more photos

On a different note

As many of you may know last summer I had a bit of a breast cancer scare, thankfully it was a false alarm but it made me think. So when people at work did the Run for Life for Cancer Research I joined in and did 3 miles. Now I didn't do very well with the sponsorship thing but loved the running so I've decided to do a 10k run in September. I have a sponsorship website if anyone fancies helping me do better at the fundraising side, please do so.

www.10ksponsorme.org/ulrike

thank you ever so much

Mrs

My goodness it's been a while. I am now officially a married woman and getting used to being Mrs Ulrike Sherratt-I'm loving it.....

Hen Do

Friday night: Craig tidied the house for us all so upon my return from work all I had to do was chill ensure that there was bread and milk for the morning and wait. Not that I knew what I was waiting for! Then the girls arrived with pizza, wine and huge smiles on their faces. We played games and drunk lots of wine, ate lots. I was rather proud of myself for knowing so much about Craig that I don't think I even finished the glass of wine I had during 'The Quiz'.
Everyone even brought me presents- fancy underwear. As Sally so eleoquantly pointed out "i've seen your underwear and thought it was about time to update" and she is sooooo right. I'm getting better I promise....

Saturday morning I picked up a rather shattered big sis of mine and dropped Blue off at his granny and grandads. Then went home and chilled till lunchtime.
Then it was off to a mystery location. At this point my face was showing how much I don't like being out of control (after this weekend bring on surprises!).
We went into the Thistle Hotel and chilled out in the Sauna, mini pool and jacuzzi. It was so pleasurable and I even wore my new honeymoon bikini. It was great chatting about the wedding and working out what we would all be doing this time in 3 weeks........I'll be MRS SHERRATT. WHOOOOOO

Saturday night it was a girlie get ready at the cottage. as much as I love Craig it's just so much fun just getting ready with girls, running around in underwear, getting honest opinions about hair, make-up etc listening to cheesy 80's Ballads, generally getting giddy. I went out in the most daring outfit yet. Mixed feelings of 'i look great' to "oh my my dress is soo short" But I was in safe hands.
A wonderful meal was had at Brasserie Blanc- and I was even the last one to finish!! un-heard of I tell ya.
Then off to the mint lounge for a boogie. with a stop off at Blue for a cosmo.
The evening was rounded off with a spicy chicken wrap- Sorry Kebab shop owner for being too loud- I didn't mean it....

Sunday was started with a large frie up and more chilling out.

I was spoilt, loved, made to laugh and generally made to feel extremely special. I love you all girls and thanks so much for making this an amazing weekend and a great time.

I know I always promise to upload photos and then don't. the intention is there honest. Just not the time at the moment.

PS: I've joined facebook but I'm confused.

Wine, pizza, treats

Just to say I have had the best weekend ever. I felt so loved and appreciated and pampered it was amazing. I will update photos and a bit more about what we actually did later. Internet at home is not working so I'm sneaking this on at work.

4 weeks

So yep it's exactly 4 weeks now till the big day. Can't wait, so excited. All is falling into place just nicely and it's that wonderful time knowing that all is in sorted and let the big day roll on. I've had the house to myself this weekend as Craig is on his stag weekend in Poland. It's been lovely to have time all to myself and take the whole weekend dead easy. So all I have done is go out on Friday night, then Saturday watched a bit of scrubs and then went and spend the rest of the afternoon at the Stables. It was lovely weather. Discovered Blue's amazing acrobatic skills. I locked him in Kate's stable whilst Shelley and I went for a ride. As we were coming back he heard our voices and actually jumped out of the back window of the stable to get to us. Bearing in mind that the window is at about my height and not exactly easy to get out of, it was quite a feat.
Today was also lovely and chilled. I read the sunday paper in bed, and then had Sunday lunch with Marta eating Polish Perogi's. Different and tasty. Then a walk and just more chill time. Great to have these kind of moments to chill, reflect on Easter and generally just be happy and content.

All is forgiven

sorry Liz all is forgiven... I have no idea how but it all appeared the way it should. PTL for that one. Not got on to facebook as yet. I'm dashing to the horse as we speak ignoring the complete untidy state our house is. I'm neglecting my 50s image of the perfect house wife- just for the day mind :o)

HELP

Ok I admit making changes or trying to add things to my blog at 1am is really not the best idea. But now I have this Visiual ID code by my profile rather then the pretty pictures and it won't let me edit it like it did last night. Help someone. I personally blame liz who seems to have become an IT genius -please I beg help me liz i'm on my knees pleading share your secrets.:o)

Faithless

What an evening just been to my second Faithless show ever. The MEN was packed with people and the atmosphere amazing. Definitely the best concert I have ever been to at the MEN. Apart from some idiot lads behind us who insisted that baptizing us in beer was a good idea the evening was brilliant. I just wish clubs still played this kind of trancey music rather then just always funk funk and more funk. It's all become the same. Anyways I won't let that get me down I had a good night. A good laugh with Sally and Lee and a good dance. Now I am at home winding down and getting ready for bed.

Other news: I've sold my first items on ebay. How very exciting. That means my parking ticket from Wednesday is covered. 1 item hasn't sold and another is still on. Hope I sell that one. We could do with a bit of cash. That's all now folks.

Miracles

God is amazing and i just want to say that here publicly.
haven't got much time as I'm writing this before work. I got up early today to go for a run. I managed the early bit and a walk not the run. But it's a start you've got to walk before you can run!! I have put myself down for the Run for Life with work mates this year. And believe me at my current level of fitness 3 miles sounds like a full marathon.... Realising that because of all the stress lately i have not done any exercise i've just wanted to veg and do nothing of an evening. It's all change. What happened is that Monday night was a lovely evening and I went for a ride with Kate. She was all energetic and lively but me- oh goodness was quite the opposite. I realised that I am completely out of shape. It must change. So the dog is going to love me know even more with the morning runs...
Update on wedding plans: All going well. The service is now sorted apart from the going out song still not decided. Dress fitting next week, found potential shoes for the bridesmaids. And most importantly I've booked my manicure and pedicure:0) all in all it's going well practically and emotionally.

Waltzing the night away

On a jolly good note we are going for our first waltz lesson. Very very exciting. Brilliant brilliant a new skill. Been thinking about the whole 'learn a new skill every year thing' and there is something really in that. I've been trawling adult education sites today at lunchtime to find something to do. The choice is endless so it's all exciting really. Torn between French, cooking or gardening at the moment.

Apart from that still in the throws of planning. We have now met with our lovely vicar who is fast turning into one of my heroes. She is ace, there ain't no messing with her but at the same time you are drawn to her and have to listen to what she says. It's our first marriage workshop on Thursday as well. It's all getting closer only 8 weeks to go!!!!!

Hearing

It's wonderful to be able to hear clearly. The amount of times I have to use the word 'pardon' or 'what' has reduced dramatically. I can now actually hear the indicators on my car again. It's little things like that that can give you enormous amounts of pleasure.
On another note: work is rather quiet which I'm struggling with. As many of you know I don't do being bored very well. I have enjoyed coming home everyday by 5pm and I really like my new colleagues but still starring into space to much. Today i couldn't get into my PC for over 2 hours- very frustrating. My estate just doesn't have a lot of neighbour nuissance. even the police don't have anything to report. I shouldn't moan but do feel rather frustrated at it all. Keep telling me just to enjoy this time.
On the up side the house is very clean. Getting things organised well for the wedding and I'm even having time to bake and read.
And it's only two days away from the weekend. We are decorating this weekend. Can't make up our minds about colours. We got some testers for a light green and dark green. Well they are actually called Kelp and Tuscan Olive. whatever happened to just calling them green? I had to laugh in B&Q with the names some of these colours now have. Overwhelming really. no wonder it's so hard to decide which so much choice.
sorry this is a bit rambly, but there is not that much happening in my daily life. Really time is now taken up with planning, planning and more planning.

Inspiration

I am currently suffering with my ear and the world is muffled. I hate it when my ear does this, a regular occurences making me temporarily almost deaf. Much to my fiances amusement as he can say pretty much anything in a whisper and I can't hear a sausage. Especially on my left side....
The dress has arrived and has been paid for. Got all giddy about it on saturday. want to tell everyone what it looks like but have had strict instructions from sal not do so..... I have to agree with her on this.
Just read Liz's blog and lent for me too has taken on a new meaning. I have joined the anglicans this year for a daily text service that tells you everyday to do an act of kindness or contemplation. I have never been one to be good at giving things up during Lent, but this is up my street doing something. The first three have been easy. 1) make someone laugh 2) Go or organise a party 3) spend sometime in silence. I won't say what I did or am doing for it. Kind like the idea of it being a thing just between me and Jesus. He knows and that's good enough for me.

Blogging laziness

I have two computers here that connect to the internet so really no excuse at all not to be blogging. sorry. Update: Time with Mum was brilliant. She kicked my a***e to get into gear with the wedding plans. so now we have spent every evening of this week writing, stuffing envelopes and sending them out. On a Sunday mind so should still be a few days before people get them. But all very exciting to say the least.
Having problems though with our reception venue- they kindly have not informed us that guests should pre-order food- so really should have gone into the invites. Now all they said was 'well we are telling you now' 2 months before the wedding when we booked last may and have tried to get a meeting with them ever since only to be fobbed off at ever occassion.
Oh the joys of event management! I tell ya the dream of becoming a wedding planner myself are being dashed fast.......:o)
back to the update of Mum being here. we all went over to Ireland for a long weekend to visit my sister. Had loads of fun. We went to Castle Trim and the Boyne River. drove through some very gorgeous countryside. Only winge is that our room was like sleeping in a fridge..... brrrrrr. Kind a funny now that you look back at it. I'm currently searching the internet for wedding shoes. That's it really for now.

My mum is coming

Yeah my mum is coming tomorrow for a week. So good so good. I'm very excited to have her here for a week to help with the wedding plans. Because quite frankly we are way behind with the plans. It's all getting sorted and getting there. Slowly but surely.
Other news is that we are also going to Ireland for the weekend to visit my sister. Very excited. A little break and we are going on the Ferry which I haven't done before...well I've been on a ferry but not one to Ireland.
I thought I'd just quickly share that news as I now have to go and tidy the house. :o)

About time

I'm getting out of the habit of blogging here. Not good. Sorry people out there that may have missed me for a week. And what a week it has been.
Last weekend was spent with really good friends. First a trip to the Wirral to visit the Walls with Sally D. Amazing fun. I love those girls and Rich your just down right lovely. Thanks for a wonderful evening.
Then Saturday evening the lads took over the house for some Boxing match at 4 am. I decided that this was not my idea of a fun night so I went and visited the lovely Rileys in their nearly in the country house in the Cheshire countryside. It's beautfiul and how much fun was walking to church in the snow. Again I can't express how much I love you.
This week has been great fun too. Didn't manage to go to our squash session this week but hey we managed 15 mins last week ( Craig managed to shoot the ball up an air vent 15 min into the game) So this week was rather chilled really.
loving my new job and flexi time. Great to see Cate. And Penny I will ring ya to arrange a flexi time coffee soon. It's dinner time now I'm very hungry.

New Year

I haven't blogged in a week I realised. I can't find my cable for my phone so I don't think there will be many photos for a while. So what's been happening in my life.
Life has been mainly dominated by my new job and my new house. I have become domesticated and over the last three weeks have already made three cakes/pies. Very proud of myself. Still struggling to find a good routine as yet, the house still needs a few womanly touches me thinks. But I'm learning just to take action.
It has been wonderful to be able to entertain some of our friends and have them round for tea. So if you want an invite just hollor.....
New job is going well. Bit of a slow start but that is actually good. Loving flexi time. It's so good not to worry about being late in the mornings anymore. Traffic can be bad but it doesn't really matter, because I can stay late or have a shorter lunch. It's wonderful. It's also really good getting to know a totally different part of Manchester. Thought the other day that the last time I had been in Swinton was Message 2000. Oh the days.

Hectic

The last two weeks have been very hectic. This is just an interim post to say that I do still exist and that I won't stop blogging just not had the inspiration to blog much.
Christma and New year went well. Had lots of fun and festivities. Start my new job on Monday.
That's really it for now. Will post some photos of the last two weeks soon.