My baby has only gone and 'got all grown up'.....

My boy is 18 now and can legally go and buy his own pint! Where did that time go?

It only seems like yesterday when the midwife said "you are having a contraction" to which I replied "am I"? - the midwife told me that she doesn't have to actually inform many mothers about this so called painful event, but I honestly didn't feel a thing! (No, I didn't have an epidural (spelling?), only gas and air!

Anyway, this young man of mine is now waiting to hear from different Universities. He has to go to Manchester for an interview and the following Tuesday UCL. Still waiting to hear from York and Exeter - Nottingham don't want to i/v, just get 2 a's and 1 b and he has a place.

What an expense just going for interviews!!!! We sat down trying to work out the cheapest way to get from Cornwall to Manchester and it has ended up hubby and son will fly from Newquay - it's cheaper than taking a train and having to have two nights B/B. London is much cheaper to get to, so "Mummy" is keeping her fingers crossed that he gets a place at UCL!!!! Only draw back is, it will cost him more to stay in London if he is accepted.

Next question - what does a young man wear to an interview at Uni? We have been out and bought him a new suit and shirts with ties. (We did have a funeral to attend, so money not totally wasted), but a friend of mine has informed me that students don't dress up for interviews. Surely that can't be right? A Uni like UCL, who appear to only take the cream of the cream surely would prefer students to look smart at an interview - or am I just being really "old school" here and showing my age?

Well, I am going to go now - Big Brother starts in approx. 40 seconds!!!!!!!

Take care,

until my next blog......


Kathryn
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Sale Time!!!!! Get some bargains in quick.

Hi everyone,

Where have I been hiding for so long?

Well, fortunately I have been busy!

Earlier this year, the company that designed, hosted and marketed our website
http://www.trewhellowsgiftshop.co.uk/ went out of business. We had to frantically find a new host
before losing our website - which we did with only days to spare! Phew.
We then set about having a brand new website designed and hosted by a new company (TidyV4) which went live in the middle of September. It's the best thing that ever happend to us as the new site is far busier than the old one and in my opinion looks far more professional.

There are plenty of goodies in the sale at Trewhellows Gift Shop - so take a look before it ends.

We have also set up a 14 day sale with our e-bay store, so why not grab yourself a bargain there too!

I have also been busy with our holiday cottage . People are now starting to book their summer holiday in Cornwall. I am confident that this summer will not be a wash out like 2007 and following this very cold winter we have had, it's bound to mean a glorious sunny, hot summer in Cornwall. (Don't hold me to that though!) I mean, -6 degrees is unheard of in Cornwall!!!
I need a nice warm sunny summer to re-charge my batteries!

Well, I had better get back to work - listing to the Bee Gees in the background - GREAT!
Someone has just sent a question about One Night Only asking if Andy Gibb is projected on the screen in one of the songs - what a brilliant excuse to have to listen to my own DVD!!!

Take care folks,

Kathryn
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Sale Now On at Trewhellows Gift Shop!!!

Hi Everyone,

Just thought I would let you know that Trewhellows Gift Shop has a January Sale Now On!

Why not grab yourself a bargain, or get some early Christmas shopping done for 2009?
Ouch!!! Who threw something at me for mentioning Christmas 2009?????

Enough of Trewhellows Gift Shop - How about seeing in the New Year in Cornwall?
OK, so it's tomorrow, but you could still pack a bag and have a last minute holiday to Cornwall at Rosia Cottage! We have reduced a weeks self-catering in our luxury cottage from £800 to £600 - or if you want less than a week make me an offer (for this weekend only)!!!

Enjoy the celebrations folks! No doubt I will be my usual party pooper and be in bed fast asleep when the New Year comes in - I am over 50 don't forget!!!! On the other hand, I might just manage to stay awake and watch the TV. It won't be BBC1 - not after last year. Sorry Nick Knowles, but your programme was somewhat slow and boring! I watched the repeat of Take That in the 02 and wished I had watched that instead. So this year, if I am awake, it will be Elton John in the 02 on our telly!

Don't drink too much folks! (But enjoy yourselves)

Bye for now,

Kathryn
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Seasons Greetings

Hi everyone!

I hope you all had a brilliant Christmas!

It has been so long since I wrote on my blog, I had almost forgotten how to log on - how bad is that?

Christmas was the usual in our home, apart from the fact we had beef this year instead of turkey.

My cousin's son came to stay with us. He was supposed to be staying at our holiday Cottage next door, but we had people staying there, so he had to sleep on our sofa. (Sorry Scott, but we can't afford to turn away paying guests). Poor chap went out to celebrate on Christmas Eve, got back home at 3 a.m. and was woken again at 7.30 a.m. by people desparate to open the presents around the tree!!!

As usual, we gave the children presents that were okayish in the morning and surprised them in the afternoon with something they really really wanted - after watching their faces drop a little, but trying to pretend they were grateful for what they had received in the morning, it's lovely to see them bubble with joy with their afternoon surprises. Only problem with that is, next year they will no doubt expect a wonderful surprise in the afternoon!

Poor Clive spent the afternoon making Mark's football table - which now stands between our lounge and dining room as a huge obstacle to walk around (that's until we tackle Mark's bedroom to make a space for it).

Sarah soon got her Guitar Hero Band bundle together and much to Grannies frustration we all had a go on the drums and guitar. It was most unusual to hear Granny say "Please could you turn it down a little" as the normal banter from her on Christmas day is "I can't hear what they are saying" (referring to the TV). She ended up taking her hearing-aid out I think and then went home just after 5p.m. - Mind you, by Boxing Day evening, even I was asking Sarah to turn the volume down a little as the music on Guitar Hero is somewhat heavy metal - why don't they put a few guitar tunes from the Shadows or Phil Collins on the disc? (Don't answer that as I know people who have Guitar Hero won't even know who the Shadows are!)

Andrew just has to wait to enjoy his afternoon present (or go into his room away from us all) as he had the DVD Box Set Scrubs - much to his delight. He did have a new hoody to wear, with Spiderman and comic strips like that all over it, so he wore it for the rest of the day. (He had said he would love it when looking through a catologue - I would not have bought it otherwise). Granny was "gobsmacked" that he would even put it on his back - making comments like "surely you won't go out with that on?" (Granny is quite victorian in her ways and very much one of the "Twin Set & Pearls" brigade!!!!).

Clive had two remote control helicopters! Yes, Andrew & I both fancied them to play with so unknown to each other, bought one for Clive (or should I say "us") to play with!
It was so funny to see the cats eyes! Poppy went from a peaceful sleep in the chair to eyes wide open (almost popping out of her head - but no, that is not why she is called Poppy), and when the helicopter was close enough to almost touch her, she darted off with the wind up her tail. Sorry all you animal lovers, but we all fell about laughing !!!

I had my usual supply of Sudoku books to keep me quiet for the rest of the year! I also had DVD's and CD's of Celien Dion, Take That and Best of Bet (Middler) to watch and listen to. Granny gave Clive and I a wonderful garden swing last year that was our present for last year, this year and next year as it cost an arm and a leg. Mind you, when we did have gorgeous weather in spring/summer time (don't mention July/August as that was a wash out), it was devine to lie on the swing in the sun, just lazing about (yes, I know, I took up the whole swing for myself - but somebody had to do the work while I lay there!)

I think that is probably enough of my waffle for today! But, I would like to wish all of my readers, customers on Trewhellows Gift Shop and guests at Rosia Cottage and very very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Bye for now,

Kathryn
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The Roger Randell Ramble...........

Hello everyone!

We have just all arrived back home after a Great-Aunts funeral this afternoon.

Found out the details of how to sponsor my cousin (who is not well herself), who is bravely going to walk the Coast of Cornwall next April to raise money for Cancer Research and also Shelterbox.

Apart from sponsoring Dawn myself, I thought I would just try and shout about her efforts on Facebook, Twitter and also my blog.

If anybody is feeling generous, either now or at a later date, then please feel free to sponsor her
http://www.justgiving.com/dawnphilpott (This one if you want to support Cancer Research) or

http://www.justgiving.com/dawnphilpott1 (This one if you want to support Shelterbox).

Thank you to anybody that helps!

Until my next blog folks!

Kathryn
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Mamma Mia.......here we go again!!!

Hi everyone,

Today is a wonderful day for my son Mark..............Mamma Mia has come out on DVD!!!!!

He has been to the cinema to see it twice and just could not wait for the DVD release. We have been having a countdown for about the last three weeks. Naturally Clive had to pop into Tesco at 8 a.m. to get the DVD (and a nice surprise as it was only £7.99 - believe it or not, we sell DVD's and wholesale price is almost double that!!!!).

Instead of working this afternoon, I had a long lunch and watched the film - as already reported by Mark and a friend of mine - it is very entertaining. But I am not ashamed to admit that I have always been an ABBA fan, I will also admit that I am old enough to have been in my 20's when it was in it's prime.

It's nice when your children have the same music taste as yourself. Not sure if my 18 year old son is an ABBA fan (well, he will be 18 on the 18th December), but Mark and my daughter who's 14 love it. (ABBA music is blaring out as I type!). The whole family like Queen, Phil Collins and music of that era - so it's a very happy, full of fun music type of family.

I do also like classical music (the light hearted type) but the 1812 overture has got to be my favourite, so much so it HAS to be played at my funeral* to put a smile on everyones face - they can all picture me with it turned up full volume and holding my imaginary baton (good job I don't have close neighbours!)

*Not planning on having my funeral just yet though!!!

A piece that will always move me is Nimrod from the Enigma Variations by Elgar. But music that will always lift any mood, is almost anything from Strauss.

Isn't it funny how you sit down to type your blog and think "what can I type about today?" and I seem to have rattled on about our taste in music. Yet again, no mention of any business promotions - if I was employed I would have had the sack by now!

OK - here's the plug............ why not get your Christmas shopping done at Trewhellows Gift Shop and get in quick as there is 10% discount on all orders £50 & over on until 27th November!

And for the next one................... Fancy a holiday in Cornwall?......then why not come and stay in our luxury self catering Cottage which is ideally situated to visit any part of Cornwall. It's also next door to us, so you could come a see the crazy family for yourself! Rosia Cottage Holidays


Just in case anybody is interested (which I doubt! LOL), I have completed the DLA form for my son Mark (as mentioned in the previous blog) and it was not as bad as the last form I filled in. Apparently, the forms for under 16's are much nastier than the one's for over 16's (unless they have changed them all together). So, I'm feeling a happy bunny yet again!

Until the next blog folks!

Kathryn
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Ohhh no... not again! Why ??????

Hi everyone,

Hope you are all well. I'm fine, but you will probably tell from reading my blog today that I am not my usual bubbly self.

Why is that you ask? Well, as you may have gathered from reading past posts, my eldest son Mark has Down's syndrome - he is a wonderful chap and Clive & I are extremley proud of everything he does and achieves and we love him to bits. But in the post today came an application to renew his Disability Living Allowance - *%@**&+++ Have a heart Dept. for Work & Pension - our life has not suddenly become a bed or roses you know - it's still bloody difficult and not likely to change as I don't think anybody has found a "cure" for Down's syndrome yet! So why do you need me to tell you all about it yet again????

Filling in those horrid forms just makes me so miserable as I have to write all of the things down that Mark can't do! Reality check or what!

Apart from those bloody forms, we have had to fight his corner all of his life. If he did not have us to do this for him, I dread to think what would happen to him. He is 20 next year and we have had to spend 20 years with one battle or another be it from health to education.
Do you know, in November 2006 I started the ball rolling to get things set in place for him for when he left school. Here we are, November 2008 and I am still trying to get everything sorted for him! He left school in July 2007 for heavens sake!

To get a Social Worker was a battle in itself and I think I deserve a bloody medal for achieving that alone! Thankfully, the Social Worker Mark has now (Jo Jobson) is the best thing since sliced bread! - Yes, honestly, I am talking about a Social Worker here!!!! I don't think I could cope anymore without her, she really is a breath of fresh air.

Oh I must shut up - I'm sure nobody is in the slightest bit interested in my problems! The thing is, Mark is not a problem - he has a huge sense of humour and as I said, we love him to bits - but Government departments seem to want to make life as difficult as possible for the Carers in this world and make us miserable.

If I didn't have a thumping headache today I might have felt a bit happier, but writing it in a blog has "got it off my chest" so to speak.

I'm off to bed now and am sure I will wake up my normal self in the morning.

Thanks for listening!

Kathryn
xxx