Treat Me Nice!

I'm not used to being spoilt. My parents never spoiled me. I always had to earn all of the nice things I had, through chores or through a Saturday job. My parents taught me that nothing comes for free and money doesn't grow on trees. (Judging by my credit card statement this month however it appears the latter lesson was somewhat wasted on me!!)

When I was about fifteen I had a boyfriend for about three months, who did indeed try to spoil me. I was in a show and when he came to see me in the show, he presented me with a (silk) red rose, and a silver ring he'd bought whilst on holiday in Devon. At the time I'd thought he was lush. He played the tuba in a local colliery band and I had images of him being my Ewan McGregor in Brassed Off. After his rather naff gift presentation I realised he was in fact just a gimp with an oversized trumpet and dumped him on the spot. Don't judge me! I was young and hadn't grown into my manners yet! (I still feel pretty awful about it now).

I met my ex husband a couple of years later, and he was the polar opposite. Not a "gifty" kind of person at all. In fact for the last three years of our relationship I didn't even get a birthday present. Promises of "I'll take you shopping for something you REALLY want" never materialised unfortunately. He claimed he didn't believe in Valentines Day, dubbing it "Hallmark Day" so my treat would consist of a card from the local Costcutter, brought at the end of the day on his way home from work. His best ever gift-faux-pas however was the Christmas where he thought a set of plastic cooking utensils from Woolworth's, would be an appropriate gift for me. He was lucky he didn't end up with a fish slice shoved up his poop chute. I spent all day thinking that my "real" present would be given to me at some point, only to find that alas...the man was a tool, and there was no "real" present.

So taking all the above into consideration, (and my inexperience with regards to men treating me) imagine my surprise and delight, when on Thursday last week, I had the most enormous bouquet of flowers delivered to my door! The new "bit of stuff" ;-) decided to treat me, and its not the first time either. He's really rather good at doing unexpected, genuinely lovely things. I'm not just talking about gifts and treats (which are sooooo lovely, don't get me wrong), but he's generous with his time, and has already spent time helping me move, helping me and my brother move a non road-worthy motorbike from here to Coventry, and just generally being there to indulge me when I need a bit of attention, be it in person or by text/phone.

Time is the most precious thing we have ladels and jellyspoons! I love being treated for once in my life, but time with someone who makes you giggle, be it friend, lover, sibling or spouse is the best way to be spoilt, and we should never take it for granted!

Mum's The Word!

Okay, so two weeks ago I did something I never thought I'd see myself doing. I moved back to my mums.

My nan is selling the house I rent from her, so I had two options. Find a little flat to rent...or go back to mums and save for somewhere to buy. I chose the latter, and don't mind admitting I was scared stiff!

Don't get me wrong, it means I can pay off those pesky credit cards, and get myself on an even footing again, but it's been 13 years since I left home! On top of that, mum has only been married to her hubbie for five minutes...talk about gatecrashing their honeymoon period!

Having been moved back now for two weeks I realise there wasn't much to be scared of really. We're pretty much ships that pass in the night, and I haven't felt claustrophobic or uncomfortable at all. My mum does have a habit of leaving messages for me on the fridge with magnetic letters...which would be fine if they weren't messages which the guy I'm seeing can read when he stops over...such as "practice safe sex Natz!" and such like, but that's mum and that's her sense of humour!

I'm starting to feel the obvious benefits of living cheaply which feels great and has allowed me to relax quite a bit, and that's no mean feat giving that my divorce is now going through so obviously that should normally be a stressful time, but the money I'm saving is going to help me afford it, which relieves some of the stress. I'm also reaping the benefits of having access to a free home gym and have shifted a good 4lbs since moving home (bonus!). Its not like being a kid all over again. I don't get my meals cooked for me, or my cleaning done for me, but its safe, comfortable, and for a little while at least...its home :)