It is one of those catch-up posts again!! AWOL over the weekend - did anyone see me? No?! That means I will have to give you all the details, warts an' all.

I was dreading Saturday. My mum had arranged an afternoon of 10 pin bowling and then tea at a local restaurant with a soft play area for the kids. I was dreading it as most events with my family turn into a pantomime.

The bowling was great - I hadn't been for years but on the Monday I ached a little - worth it though as I won the top female prize! Yeah she went to the bother of prizes, little trophies, wooden spoons, medals for all competitiors etc. She is a nutcase.

My sisters managed to be nice and actually listen to me when I spoke - normally when I speak to them (my mum included) you see their eyes glazing over or they just start to speak to someone else! I don't even think they slagged me off once. They are a cackle of witches, the three of them, sometimes. Mainly due to the fact I dont conform. I married before I had kids, I got an education, I haven't caused them any problems when I was growing up. My sister on the other hand (not that there is anything wrong with kids out of wedlock) has 2 kids but is engaged to their dad, spent at least 2 nights in a cell for alcohol drinking underage, bashed their car twice, has pierced her ears 5 times, nose, eyebrow, belly button, threatened tatoos, dropped out of school with few qualifications, quit her first job and didn't tell my mum for three weeks (she just went through the charade of still going on a daily basis!). My other sister has been in a cell for underage drinking, is a general gobshite and thinks that if she has an opinion on something then it is the right one! Enough on her as she just gets me riled.

Back to the bowling .......

My boys loved it, infact my 2 yo won! Granted he had the ramp to help launched the balls but still way to go little man! DH was top man - I know that anyway - but this meant it was a clean sweep for our house! Way to go Jensgems and co. Whoop Whoop!

We then travelled to the restaurant for tea - I haven't eaten out anywhere other than McD's or KFC for ages it was tasty. DH and I shared a tapas platter to start with, I then had a gammon steak followed by a chocolate orange cheesecake - Fat badger me. But my trousers still fit so we won't punish myself for the splurge.

I actually managed to spend 6 hours in the company of my family and the time actually flew by - usually 2 hours feels like a lifetime! I need to practice being in their company for prolonged periods as my mum is thinking about a family trip to Eurodisney for her 60th. I have probably mentioned it before but we aren't keen, lack of funds mainly, although the company is a major factor also! Until then I wil keep saving my Tesco Clubcard points and see if we can get it cheaper.

Sunday was nice, breakfast at MIL and then onto friends for our tea.

Yesterday DH was sick - Friend we visited on Sunday always cooks really rich food and DH always suffers. I had to make a mad dash for loo roll at one point! You really didn't want to know that, did you?

Better go and feed the sproges.

Blog to you later

Jen x