For Navy WAGS...Parcel ideas.

It has come to my attention on a lot of the Navy WAG support pages that we enjoy sharing all things RN, So, I thought I would share a long list of parcel ideas for our men at sea x

PLEASE feel free to message me with your ideas that I can add to the list

Bathing

Facecloth

Luxury soap or favourite shower gel

Spot cream...just in case

Toothpaste

Electric toothbrush head

Dental floss

Luxury sponge(men like them too)

Hand sanitiser

Aftershave

Bottom wipes

Cotton buds

Shaving Gel
Hair Gel
Mouth wash
Comb
Nail brush
Moisturiser
Nail Clippers

Snacks

Noodles, super noodles, pot noodles(easier if you empty dry contents of a pot noodle into sealed bag)

Cous Cous

Savoury rices

Cup Meals(cupasoup, pasta in sauce etc)

Biscuits

Chocolate

Energy bars/breakfast bars

Nuts

Dried fruit

Mints

Sweets

Mini cereal boxes

Crisps(always check date as it can take weeks to arrive)

Crackers

Popcorn

Foods

Tinned(tuna, tinned ham, sardines etc)

Small rice pudding

Custard

Coffee

Tea bags(especially if they like a specific tea)

Hot chocolate

Syrups

Jams
Coffee whitener
Sauce sachets
Mini squash bottles/packets(robinsons make nice little squeezy packs)

PLEASE CHECK REGULATIONS FOR ALL FOOD ITEMS.

Clothes

Vest tops

T-shirts

Boxer shorts

Socks

Vests

Cap

Gloves

Scarf

Hat

Your t-shirt(sprayed with your perfume or scent)

Sandals

Spare shoes

Umbrella

Mac in a Pac

Pyjamas
Belt
Swim shorts
Goggles

Extras

Sunglasses

Blueys

Pens

Lube(for chaffing!)

Sun Cream

Hand warmers

Multi vitamins

Favourite bottle of beer or beverage(please check packing guidelines, and there is a alcohol % guide)

Family photographs

Diary

Mug(maybe with family photos attached, I did this and he loved it because it was large!)

Keyring

Book

Magazine

Amazon Voucher(Kindle/App purchases)

Cuddly toy

Kinky letter

Chewing gum

Paracetamol

Eye Mask

Ear plugs

Headphones
Back Scratcher(because you are not there to do it!)
Pack of cards
Drawing pad and pencils
Mini games(chess, draughts etc)
Pain gel
Blue tac
Water bottle

Obviously there are so many more items you can send, I would love this list to get bigger for future newbies to the Navy or military scene.

Please remember to check for any restrictions regarding items you can send to each deployment.

Post Office Information

Happy Tuesday xxx

Bon Voyage...

PHEW!!! What a hectic few weeks it has been.

I haven't stopped and my head has definitely not had a chance to stop spinning.

Bonjour to Bon Voyage...

I met my husband in March 2006. St Patricks day to be precise.

I had been ill for 2 solid weeks and I mean ILL!!! 

On this particular day I felt much better, my hair though still had essence of vomit giving it a distinct scent, my skin was still that lovely shade of grey and I hadn't bathed in the entire 2 weeks...yep! That ill!

I threw on some clothes(pyjamas and an old cardi), my slippers and headed to my friends house a few doors down.

As I entered I realised immediately she had company! 

"Emma, this is my brother David"

BROTHER??? 

WTH! My brain racked trying to think of any conversations we had, had in the 3 years of our friendship that mentioned a brother. I had nothing!

Then this 'thing', sorry it is the only way to describe it, scuffles into the kitchen...Of course this is when your polite side comes out. The pleasantries of the first introductions etc

"Are you trying to be a goth or something?"

WHAT THE HELL JUST CAME OUT OF MY MOUTH???

Who does that? Me! That's who!

"Trying.." He says...clearly much politer than me!

At this point I was still married. I was telling my then husband every day that I wanted a divorce but some people just don't listen!

Long story short, I didn't see David(Dai) again until a few months later when he just turned up at my front door for a "coffee" and the rest as they say is history...

Some Strange Stuff!!!

When I was younger I said for years that if I had a son I would call him Pierce. Even when I was pregnant with my first child it was high on the list but something stopped me...

I married Dai Pearce!

For the last 2 years of my marriage I would have the same dream over and over, which I only ever told my best friend about.

I was on a ship, a navy ship and there was CHAOS! Sailors running everywhere, alarms sounding, when all of a sudden I am pulled into a room, bent over a table and, well...you have imaginations!

The first night that Dai turned up at my home(I was not impressed, it was 11pm, my door was open so he just walked in, and I was in my pjs wearing a turbi towel on my head!)

Well, as he left and I got up to see him out we passed a table and all of a sudden he(he was in the RN for 6 years and had left a few months before we met) bent me over a table and, well...you have imaginations!!!

I know all of this post is random and a bit naughty but I am going somewhere...I think.

In 2006 when I met Dai he told me from the start that he regretted leaving the RN and as soon as he had the chance he wanted to re-join.

He tried, every year. Every year he was turned away because the RN was "full"

At first I was supportive, apprehensive and then gutted each time this happened. Then I got to the stage where it was routine, and just part of our year.

He applies, he gets a no, we move on...

That was until 2012

In 2012 Dai applied again. He was told the same thing except this time he was told not to even bother in 2013 as he would get exactly the same answer.

4 months later.

January 2013.

I get a call.

"Can you tell us if David is still interested in re-joining? We are looking to place him in the marine something or other, and we NEED him asap!"

Confused? I certainly was.

Anyway he went through the whole thing...he got through the stages needed but the snag was he had a tattoo on his hand...this tattoo took a year to be removed!!! A Year!

I was convinced at this point that he would be told that it was too late...It didn't happen.

April 1st 2014

He is in. Not any part of the Marine unit, but in.

Goes off to base. Does Navy stuff.

May 2nd 2014

Confirmed shore based for rest of year...

May 19th 2014

Dai phones, tells me to sit down and informs me that on the 16th June he would be flying out to meet a ship for a 6 month deployment! I was floored!

It was like the ground just disappeared from under me. I couldn't believe that it was happening so soon, so little warning. I didn't know(and still don't) the first thing about being a Navy wife!

From that point on we have done all we can to prepare the boys for the change, the separation and the loss. It truly has been heart-breaking.

We have spent every penny we had on train fares for him, days out with the bugs, meals out for the two of us. Basically making the most of the little time we had.

This is why I have neglected my lovely little blog. It is why I have neglected all my wonderful blog friends.

May 15th 2014. Fathers Day.

I won a competition for entering Dai into a 'best dad' fb competition and he won!

£50 to spend in a restaurant that has just opened up(part of a chain, lovely to look at, average grub but AWESOME red velvet cheesecake that I could get in Manchester but not down here...so happy!)

It was our last day together as a family until December. I couldn't eat a thing and I was glad to be wearing sunglasses as I turned into a blubbering wreck. I just couldn't hold it in.

I was distraught. We have had a really rough time lately. Things in the relationship have been very strained due to some crappy events. Things were not 'fixed' and we had run out of time. 

How do you say goodbye to someone when things are not 'fixed'?

He put smallest bug to bed, then he broke down. He played his last game of cards with the bigger bugs and held them so tight.

Then he held me. I don't know how I let go.

When he was in the Navy first time round he never had a family to leave. He never had to walk out of a home.

I know all this seems very melodramatic but it is how it is. We know it is not forever but it is a long time. It seems like forever.

As he waved his way down our path and into the taxi waiting to take him on his new adventure we all cried. I watched my eldest bugs break down. We held each other and reassured each other, I don't think any of us believed the clichés we were spouting, but they helped.

Little bug slept as we waved his Daddy goodbye.

And now we wait. Now we love. Now we get on with every day life as if every thing is OK. 

Please let it be OK.

Fair Winds our Sailor. 

Come home Safe.

We will be waiting.

Happy Thursday 

xxx

(This guy is actually 30!!!)

Bring on Spring...Part 1...

Why hello there my lovely friends.

WOW! It seems like forever and a day since I last paid my poor little blog a visit.

The truth is, with all this awesome sunshine I have been very pleasantly distracted. We have been filling every day with outdoor activities or simply hanging out washing, taking advantage of the chance to reduce the electricity bill AND get that wonderful line fresh smell on all the laundry.

When I last blogged I mentioned my arm. I am pleased to say it is on the mend. Still not fully functional, I find crocheting or typing for too long makes it tense and can lead to temporary pain. It has made blogging almost impossible, I have missed it, but I am so glad that each day has been filled with fun and laughter...also a LOT of arguments since the boys broke up for the Easter hols on Friday ARRRRRGH! It makes me want to bang their heads together!.

There have been changes. The man went to serve our Country...and then came back less than two weeks later for the 2 weeks Easter leave! 

It was nice to see him all spruced up in his uniform though....

A very happy, little bug.

All kitted out in his actual work gear...still a "chef" (Thankfully most of the guys and gals in the forces are use to second rate grub...shhhhhh!?)

Things have been very hectic here over the last few weeks.

We have had some visitors...

My siblings popped by from Brighton to say hi. This is Bobby and Alice with my little bug.

Alice decided to use the time wisely by making a cake.

And bloody yummy it was too :)

The Father and siblings were only here for the day. They were dropping off my eldest little Sister, Holly. She has come to stay for two weeks. 

Was lovely to see them all...but also nice to have some peace when they went on their way ;)

Having an extra 4 children in the house is always headache inducing no matter how much they are loved.

Holly also decided that cake making was the way forward(don't know where they get it from!).

We decided to have a little tea party for Fluffy the Monsters birthday, oh yes! We have actual monsters in this house don't you know?.

I must admit it is nice to see my very tom boy sister in florals hehe!

How cool is this? Holly really did do 80% of this. I think I have some competition...

 

I think Fluffy enjoyed his impromptu party.

It hasn't all been hectic and loud in these parts.

I have managed to sneak in a few quiet moments.

Ahhhh toasted tea cakes and a cuppa...

And before I leave let me introduce you to this handsome fella.

This is Reginald(Reggie)...we picked the name...I picked the name ;). 

He is the newest member to our little mad house. I AM IN LOVE!!!

Despite his old man features he is only a pup. 5 months exactly.

He belonged to a friend of mine but she has just had a baby and Reggie isn't as house trained as she was promised and she just doesn't have the time to do it.

He is wonderful. A handful I will admit, but that makes me love him all the more.

He is a Parson Russell Terrier according to his breeder. I had never heard of them until Reggie came along.

So that is part 1 of the start of Spring. There is lots to say and share still but that can wait.

I think this post is long enough.

I hope you are all well and I promise to get along and comment of gazillions of missed posts as soon as 5 min presents itself.

Happy Wednesday xxx

Tea for One...

Today is the day a new journey began in our humble home and family. Today is the day I became a military wife.

My husband packed his bags and sailed(well got on a train) into the distance to begin(again...he was in it for 6years when he was younger) his adventure in the Royal Navy.

It has been a bit of a strange day. People asking how I feel, how are the children etc. The truth is of course, that there is, at this minute, not much change. He has only been gone a few hours.

I did sit in the kitchen once I had waved him off(not literally as I had to get home and left him in the middle of town to fend for himself.) and looked at the two mugs from the morning cuppa sitting next to the sink, waiting for their morning bubble bath, and it did hit home a little that, that will not be happening very often. 

I washed the mugs and put his aside. It will hang with the others on the mug stand, but unlike the others it will not be used until its owner is home and enjoying a hot beverage.

I still get to enjoy mine though and in a very, VERY quiet house. I am going to have to get use to all this free time. I think I can actually manage it, even if I am forced to spend it all crocheting and reading...

Before he left though, he did make Mothers day a glorious day for me(unlike last year when not even a card was in sight!) 

Now I can sip my tea from some really exquisite porcelain.

I have been hankering after some Pip Studio china for sooo long but I just couldn't justify the spend, and as for the bag!!! LOVE IT! 

Hopefully I will have better luck with it than a few other CK bags purchased in the past and this one wont come apart!

 I also had a cake made, just for me. Nom, nom...

Stunning flowers. These were from little bug(via Daddys wallet)

 These were from middle bug(from his own pocket...used some of his birthday pennies)

I adore gerberras and roses. I think gerberras are really playful flowers, they are rising up simply to spread a smile and colour. 

Roses are grown up, complex. With a little time and care they open up layer by layer to reveal the ultimate beauty of all these layers combined...a bit like women ;)

Biggest bug has also ordered me a gift with his own pennies and I am so EXCITED for it to come. I will definitely share a pic when it arrives.

So today was tea for one but dinner for dozens it seems...Small bug LOVES dressing up in his chef outfit(just like Daddys...except Daddy didn't like putting it on so much!) and making us all yummy treats. The problem comes when imaginary meets reality...sticky and smelly plates and pots where real food has somehow managed to sneak into play...

It looks like every toy in his room could dine out with him...and Mummy gets left with the washing up!

So it has been a very surreal few days since the weekend. Positive for the most part but with some sentimental and sad moments thrown in.

Tomorrow is a new day and a day to embrace this new path we are travelling on, together, as a team. One step at a time.

Happy Tuesday xxx