Asha Treacy

I'm on the scrounge..again! :-))))))

Something different this time though and it's not me doing 5k runs or two hour spins. This one is for the boys of my husband's footie team. Norman coaches a bunch of under 16's for Feltham FC. They play in the Surrey Primary League where they sit at the moment in second place. This season didn't see them start with good pace but they have warmed and are doing very well at the moment. I don't often go due to other commitments but went along the last couple of Sundays...blimey have they grown!! lol What I love about this whole thing is Norman does this for nothing, it's quite a committing hobbie, sorting games, subs, kits, transport for away games, sorting refs and not forgetting dealing with 18 testosterone teenage boys!! They are a lovely bunch of boys and glad they have something to get into rather than hanging about on the streets which these days I'm sure you'd agree is never really safe. I take my hat off to anyone who is dedicated to give up their own time and effort to encourage kids to get into something worthwhile out of school. And most boys do love footie..

Unfortunately we do not have a sponsor anymore and we need money for new kits, pitch fees and ref costs. So doing my little bit to help I'm asking if you can dig deep for some loose change and donate some monies to help ..I know it's difficult times but any donations would be most most appreciated ...It's easy, just follow this link ..http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/ema/index-outside 
please type the email norman.treacy@hotmail.co.uk in the To box and continue...

I've attached a picture of the boys ..they drive Norman potty, eye up girls, play with their bits...lol BUT they are a lovely bunch ..

Every penny counts..pleeeaseee and thank you :))

Our summer holiday this year took us to Bulgaria..where? why? That's what we got from so many people when we said where we were going. It's not the most popular choice I guess and never thought it would hit our radar..but after such a busy, full on time in Egpyt last year and a hectic few days in Rome earlier in the year, we needed some chillaxing time...and not one for doing it so easily we deliberately booked a lazy beachy place..   

I tend to leave Norman to find good deals on the web and book stuff and all, but for some reason I thought we were in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria, and told everyone that where we were going..lol we are actually flying into Burgess, and heading to Sandy Beach ...Sofia inland...Burgess beach...hmm..duh!! :-// Bulgaria is supposed to be the up and coming Spain but without the Euro..the currency is Lev, so we got value for the pound! Anyway, this holiday was different for us in more ways than one..but we were guaranteed sunshine and that's exactly what we got :)) We stayed at the Majestic hotel, with a glorious sea view and it was lined up with loads of other hotels in the resort. Sandy beach is very lively and busy. It was a bit walking along Oxford Street, lots of people, restaurants, bars everywhere. Most days we just monged on our sunbeds, reading the paper, listening to music and stared at people, taking the piss and swimming. We did a one day trip to Sozopol, had a little boat cruise where we were hoping see some animals..we saw 2 tiny tortoises!! We had a lovely Bulgarian meal and a stroll in the local town and markets..was a nice day. The only other day we had out from the resort was the water parks..dingies and wedges..lol was a blast!

So back at the resort our normal day consisted of gym in the morning..yup took advantage of that, chilling by the pool, lunch somewhere along the resort, some more monging, shower and dinner and then to a bar for a couple drinkies. My favourite thing about the resort was the string of small bars, they were lovely with sea view, big sofa's and cushions and lots of candles...was the perfect way to end a day. But we never stayed out too long with the kids, I'm guessing the bars liven up some more through the late evening. And of course beach = water sports, the day we decided to jey ski the tide was really high..hmm..and we let the boys at the front..hmm..thought I was going to fly off in the air at one point we were boucing the waves so hard. Mish and I did the para-saling..ahh that's better nice n peaceful up there it was. So there was some mini golf, table table, bugarian dancing shows, long walks and reading! and that was it, that really has summed up our holiday. Yay we did it, we chilled so much on a couple occassions we hardly spoke to each other..it was quiet...that does not happen often..shhhhhhh!!

So what was so different..well the place for one, I wasn't that gone on the food, normally I'm not fussed but was very picky as alot of the hotel food didn't appeal to us ..lunches were yum yum thought. Gym most mornings and stayed away from junk food and we were sleeping by half ten most nights, so got 8 to 9 hours sleep most nights...So basically we did everything the wrong way round and for the first time we had a healthy, chillin, relaxing break. Course when we got back home, it did not take long to get back into normal routine..hehe..Not sure where out next summer hols will be, but flirting with the thought of Orlando, but will see. And if anything comes up in the meantime then that's always a added bonus ;-))

Have you ever been anywhere where you'd least expected to go? Did you like? Did it work? Or did you think..never again...Tell me tell me :-))  

It's been a while since I've been here, been busy busy and too tired..Hopefully I'll get better going forward :) 2009 is flying by, already in May, but along the way there are a few special birthdays of family and friends....I have 18, 16 and 40's coming up. So the first on my list is my daughter's 18th..oh my days, can't believe where the time has gone :-/ As a birthday present and an opportunity to get outta here, we booked a city break and jetted off to Rome for a few days..woohoo! I do love travelling..

This was meant to be a few days relaxing around the city, seeing the Vatican, Colessuem, etc but nooo not us, we decide to cram it all in and totally knackered ourselves out..Again! We just can't help ourselves..

Rome is a beautiful city, all you who told me so was not kidding..yeah and a bit expensive and shit lots of walking too, my poor little footsies! lol. We enjoyed some sunshine on the Spanish steps and spent Iyesha's birthday in the Colosseo and Palatino Foro Romano, it was amazing! We touched on Pisa before we went, so we got talking to some very helpful tour guides who advised us to jump on the train to both Pompei and Pisa. Three hour journey this way and two and half hour that way. This meant lots of sleepy time on the train and taking silly pictures of us conked out!!
We had a speedy walk through Pompeii and the ruins from the volcano that buried this town for 1700 hundred years: rediscovered again 1748. I thought the postcards looked interesting..but only realised how they emphasis 'male bits' in this town when I got home. We missed all this that due to lack of time...that would have been funny! lol
Then on to Pisa to see the tower AKA Tonve Pendente Di Pisa. A wonder of the world?.. apparently so or is it the Colosseo? still another wonder ticked off my list. I was ever so excited, like a kid with candy. About the walking thing, I thought I was going to die walking up those slanting steps, but once at the top, the views were lovely.
Our last day was Vatican City. The Pope didn't come out to say hello though! We had a wonder in St Peter's Basilica and the Tombs. We sat down for the 12 noon mass, because we are soo religious..hmm..the choir was good though. We took some pics and were outta there. After a wander through St Angelo's Castle in the pouring rain (proper rain frizz hair!) we settled in a fab Irish pub called the Scholars Inn, for some grub, wine, guinness, baileys and football.  

People were friendly and of course the food was yum yum too, I tend not to eat alot of red meat so treated myself. I found the Italians medium/rare a bit more rare, so sent it back a few times, bet they thought I was a right snobby brit!! lol  Oh and I lived on Chianti..just a little bit ;-)
We had fun...especially the birthday girl..

Next destination in July is Sofia, Bulgaria. We went for a very beachy, scenic place as was very inland last year in Eqypt. Not sure what there is to do out there yet, so may have to chill, although for me that means jet-skiing everyday...whoop whoop!!

Do you have any plans for travelling... what draws you to the destinations you choose? Sun (obviously), history, one of the wonders, beachy, scenery? My favourite is history and seeing different cultures...what's yours? Do share... :-))

I got tagged by Vicky Stringer (@rosevibe), Jo Jordon (@jobucks) and Jed Baxter (@jedb). They shared 25 things about themselves and tagged 25 peeps that they would like to know more about, they then tag a further 25 more and it goes on and on and on...
I've actually really enjoyed reading these, 1) it helps to get to know each other better and 2) networking at it's best..
So if you're game, have a go, I'd like to know a bit more about you. I know some of you don't write blogs however you can post a note on Facebook, it's easy just click on your profile and go to notes under tabs, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish. And/or cross-post it on your Blog or somewhere similar that your friends can find.

So did you know..

1. I'm the youngest of three, older brother and sister (sis is only 11 months older than me)
2. I favourite colour is black, I wear it alot. It's a no nonsense colour and it goes with everything.
3. I hate washing and blow drying my hair..I find it such a chore.
4. I spell words so badly that spell check does not even recognise them.
5. I had both my kids by the age of 23.
6. I spent the first few years of my marriage subjected to racial abuse and trouble. I'm married to an Irish man and live in a fairly Asian orientated community..did not bear well years ago but I refused to move, I was there first, so tough!
7. I'm a sucker for junk food, give me a dirty burger or a doner kebab any day.
8. I'm fairly strict on my kids in terms of manners, respect, appreciating what they have and pulling their weight around the house.
9. My birth stone is pearl..eeeww nasty, I like topaz.
10. I love to meet people, get a feel for different cultures and diversity.
11. I'm excited by anything new and different.
12. I love ocean and sunset views..they calm me.
13. I love to cook, more so because I 'want' to not because I 'have' to.
14. If I'm not out of this country at least twice a year, I'm likely to cry like a little baby!
15. I have a love for red wine. At the mo my favourite is Ogio Primitivo and Chianti
16. It's likely I will get a tattoo sometime this year.
17. I love music and open to all genres..love it all.
18. I broke every rule my parents expected me to follow in terms of tradition and culture, mainly because I wanted to make my own choices and be responsible for them too.
19. As a child I wanted to study fashion or be a dancer..
20. I love babies and little people, I go completely ga ga
21. I'm not into Bollywood movies, chocolate and soaps.
22. I never had dolls and toys as a child. I ran around on high walls, played hide and seek and knock down ginger.
23. I'm agnostic..
24. I can't wear artificial jewellery for long periods of time, my skin goes all itchy and scabby.
25. I prefer savoury to sweet.

And I've tagged..

@ zoe9
@ hrbartender
@ vitualewit
@ jones_rob
@ employerbrander
@ marty0518
@ jedhallem
@ annwhitbrock
@ digitales
@ Headwytch
@ joannejacobs
@ lhuga
@ AnnEvanston
@ biju chudasama
@ rgunhold
@ HR_Minion

Krunal Patel
Lyn Newman
Simon Stone
Melania Tampubolon
Sunita Birdi
Nick Barber
Cate Tollemache
Sandra Yancey
Sandy Khan

And that's me, although when I put some thought into this I had loads more..!! Comments are welcome as always and I look forward to reading 25 things about you... :-)) Also make sure you tag me back when you do your's...so get to it ;-)

2009 has only just begun but having said that, it's nearing the end of Jan already.. :-/ However a year has gone on for my braces, can't believe I've had them in one year already!! I've been making a big deal out of them all year, lots of adapting and cos I can, so there :p So I went for the monthly check up with my Orthodontist the other day and Sheila tells me that the work here is done and would like to remove them on my next visit. I have to admit, although they always predicted a year, I was some what surprised, maybe because the last time I was there she talked about Easter time. So a date has been made to remove my braces for the 11 Feb. That's great, but for some reason I was a little..oh..erm..ok?? Have I got attached to these things then? Who knows, may be a bit!!

Any how have a look at this pic, taken recently by a friend of mine. I thought it was a good one to see the work done so far and a clear view of the braces too, plus I'm zit free for a change!! I may brave a couple of before and after pictures once they are out, but I had become very paranoid of smiling out loud, so will see...

AND remember it takes less muscles to smile then to frown, so keep smiling..I love to :-))