Well, I have to tell you that I did have the most amazing weekend away.

It was so good to actually be away from the flat, away from the boys and away from everything!!!!

I spent a lot of time drinking voddy and just laughing and chilling out with mates, both old and new.

It has really livened me up and gave me the break that I needed.

Some of the weekend is already a distant blur, but a really good haze!!!!

The boys were pretty good for the lady upstairs and they looked a bit thinner but happy to see me!

I had an embarrassing moment when the van conked out as I was approaching the tolls, and they had to close the Dartford tolls for 5 minutes to allow me to be towed through.

The van is now on the side of the road waiting for the mechanic to come out next Tuesday.

I am not worried as I do not think it is too serious.

I cannot tell you how good it felt to be away, and now I have a cunning plan to try and get away again in June!

Ok, so did I tell you that I am off to the New Forest for a few days?

No, well I most certainly am!!!

I have Thursday, Friday and Monday off work, so it will be quiet here for a few days!!!

I am off in my 1973 VW camper van to join fellow VW fans in their vans, tents and beetles, for a weekend of carnage and laughter, fun and hopefully some good weather.

Since I have been on my own and in my rented flat, this is the second time that I have been away.

I feel happy with the lady upstairs looking after the boys, so I just need to have some fun.

I am going away again in July and maybe 2 more weekends before October.

I know, some days there is just no stopping me!!!!!

It seems that young Alfie could not stay away this weekend.

I caught him on Saturday and despite me chasing him and making loads of noise, he came back on Sunday.

I took a few photo's of him yesterday, as despite everything, he is a lovely looking 14 month old fluffball!!!

Check out Vinnie in the third photo!!! He was not happy!!!!

this morning as I am feeling abit drawn out.

Last night, 12 of us from work went for a massive Chinese meal.

After a year of not eating Chinese, I can confirm that it has not gone well and would seem to be aggrevating my delicate stomach. So that is another food off my available to eat list!!!

I have a few glasses of red wine, but not that many.

I got home about 12.30 and Vinnie made a one cat protest and messed about till almost 2 before coming in.

This morning I am feeling alittle slow, and that it would take some time to solve any great mystery that may come my way.

I hope it is a quiet one at work.

I feel old. Mind you, the young 'uns feel shattered too so I get some joy from knowing that!!!!

Let the day pass smoothly and quickly.... please!

My cats are lunatics.

They do love to sit and gaze out the cat flap for hours on end.

I have no idea what they may be looking for, I have no idea if they ever find it, but it always make me laugh when I see them.

It always start with both of them having a look.....

Then Scooter normally pushes forward to get a closer look at things and get an all round assessment of what is out there....

After a while, Vinnie will suddenly take matters into his own hands and make a mad dash for it, who cares if it is raining?!!!!

Once Vinnie escapes, Scooter will often carry on just sitting there, poking his head out occasionally, just waiting.

I love my cats, there are a never ending source of entertainment.

I have been inspired by Seaside Man to appreciate the free things in life that can make you smile!

In his honour and to thank him for posting all his photo's I have a moment in a lifetime, well maybe not that dramatic, last night!

I was faffing with my camera and the cats were making a real fuss in the kitchen.

I wondered to the kitchen, with my camera still in my hand, and sorted the cats out.

As I looked out the window, I caught sight of a rainbow and was lucky enough to capture a few photos before it disappeared again.

I hope that you enjoy them!!!!

It was one of those weekends where I got the camera out, charged the batteries and then went mad for photos!!!

Shame on me though as my laptop went all wobbly last night, so I could not upload them. I cannot complain as the laptop is 10 years old and have served me well. I just cannot justify buying another when I do not even have a phone line at home!!!!

I am hoping that tonight a cunning plan will cure the laptop and I can update all this week with photos.

I have an amazing one that I must share with you tomorrow with a mad story to go with it.

Had a great weekend as moved my van, went for a drive and got all excited with the smell and feeling of freedom being in him.

I went mad and did a few small jobs in him and just sat and thought watching the rain.

I am so excited as next Friday I go off in him for 3 days in the New Forest with some very good friends, and some new friends.

At last I feel that my struggle to survive on my own is going to have some reward.

I feel good, I feel relaxed and I feel like I have a renewed sense of life.

How blummin' deep for a Monday eh?!!!!

Take care and try to control yourself watching for the photos eh?!!!

I spoke to the woman that lives upstairs last night about my cats.

I feel cheeky asking her to look after them too many times as my mum bought me up proper like!!!

After having a really nice chat with her, I have agreed to pay her now to mind the boys for the weekend.

Now I am paying, I do not feel bad asking her and I am planning to have one weekend per month until September away.

She is well happy as she gets paid, I am happy as I do not feel like I am taking the mickey.

This is a double wammy, as know I am totally rethinking Duncan (my 1973 VW camper van!) and now I may keep him another year..... especially if I can use him once a month as it kind of justifies having him.

Now, finally, I can see a point to living alone, being skint and going through the last 12 months.

To just have something each month to look forward too has really lifted me, and made me smile loads.

Just really wanted to share my good news, and those that know me well, know how much this all means to me.

Thanks for reading and have a big smile for me!

I have a cunning plan to get me a regular paid cat sitter.

If the plan works, then I may be able to get away for 4 or 5 weekends in the van this year.

It is a really abvious plan, but it just took me about 7 months to think of it!!!

I won't tempt fate yet, but trust me, you will know if it all works out.

I also have a cunning plan about where to move my van too in the road I live in. It will hopefully stop all the moans from now until my trip away in 2 weeks time.

My 60 litre tank is running fine and I still have all my fish and they all still look happy!

I feel so optimistic today...... I really feel like I am taking control of small area's of my life, but they all count.

Yep, I am feeling good.

My boys are weird at the moment. The weather seems to be causing them problems and the change in daylight is just confusing them even more!!!!

Well, I feel robbed that it snowed all day yesterday, but by the evening there was no trace of it.

It was almost like it had never happened. Weird old weather as I could barely see this morning on the way to work through the large snow flakes, and now....... the sun is shining.

I had a weekend of quiet reflection and faffing about not doing that much!!!

I did push the boat out though and in the Woolworths sale bought myself a starter kit for a mini herb garden. I sure know how to live!!!

I will take a photo tonight and we can begin the official Kackers Herb Watch!!!!!

The boys sulked all day yesterday as it was too cold and too snowy for them to leave the flat. They made out like it was completely my fault and even playing wit their favourite toy could not life their spirits.

Hopefully they have noticed the sun and got some fresh air today.

See, I told you it was non stop excitement.

Bad weekend news was that baileys with a hint of mint is no longer on special offer. Gutted but I made the most of the offer with my 4 bottles!!!!

Hope everyone out there is ok?

for your kind comments and words.

I am so sorry that I was out of sorts yesterday.

I blame all sorts of things, but mainly me being silly about things!!!!

I do realize that if I want things to change then I need to do something rather than sit and dwell!!!!

When you get it all clear in your head, it all seems so simple and now I feel silly for making such a negative comment when really, I have so much to be happy and thankful for.

I have a plan for many things, and over the next few months I will put parts of it in, stage by stage.

The fish are all still happy and I swear that 2 of them have grown already!!!

The boys are on a mad one at the moment, I think it is the change of season that is causing it.

They will be shocked if the weather forecast comes true and it does indeed snow on Sunday!!!!!

I am off out on Friday night as it is my best mates 30th birthday. she has been such a kind and good mates since I moved here. I am actually driving and staying sober!!!

It is my choice as I feel that going out and getting roaring at the moment is a bad idea!!! I love tapa's and the restaurant is supposed to be great.

Having said that, I won £10 on a lottery thing on Saturday so I am off to buy a bottle of Mint baileys as it is on special offer!!!!

I will need that as if it does snow on Sunday, it would go rather well with some dodgy Sunday afternoon telly!

I feel abit fed up at the moment.

I am not sure if it just that time of year really, or just a build up of things.

I know it will pass.

I will give myself a shake up and it will be over shortly.

I think that a good bottle of red, some good telly and a good old talking too myself will sort me out.

I may be suffering with that "thinking way too much" thing that we all go through sometimes.

I hope normal service will resume shortly.

Oh, the fish and tank are still fine. The boys are still silly!

Sorry, but that is all I can manage today.

p.s feel free to slap me if you like... it may help!

The water tests were all superb last night, so I am very pleased.

My lonely Oto has dicovered the real plants and seems very happy hoovering his way over the leaves!!

The sunsets also like the plant and one has taken a real shine to the moss ball!!!!

Nemo the Second can now make his way to the surface but looked abit shattered yesterday!!!

The danios are just going mental chasing about and I noticed last night that the Oto occasionally joins them for a 60 mph lap round the tank every so often!!!!

All in all, it all looks well, the results were as if nothing had happened, so fingers crossed.

This saturday I may get another 2 dwarf Oto to keep my lonely one company.

Then I will just leave things to settle for a few weeks.

I have to say that if I had of seen the 60 first I would not have bothered with a 30!!! The extra size just makes them alot easier to design and makes fish watching alot easier and more enjoyable.

I am well an truly in love, hook, line and sinker!!!!