Local Grandmother caught shoplifting...

This work malarkey is not good for my health. I am seriously missing the daylight hours and my long walks with Milo. I go to work in the dark and return home in the dark, Milo struggles to find his ball when I throw it and I find myself searching for his pooh with a torch! I've had more visits to my GP lately than ever before, with one thing or another, and Milo is now on first name terms with his vet. Basically 9-5 sucks. But on a good note, I have accumulated the grand total of £5.42 in my work place pension scheme. After Christmas I will focus on finding some kind of employment that affords me to witness daylight and won't push me to an early grave.

I have a dilemma. Should I inform the family across the street that I can see them peeing in their bathroom? It's not that I go out of my way to witness this activity, but as soon as they flick on their bathroom light, my eyes are drawn to their window. It's lit up like Blackpool illuminations and they have no blinds on this window. It's like those 'ugly naked guy' scenes from the TV series Friends in my house; 'he's brushing his teeth', 'he's taking a shower', 'ew, he's picking his nose'...

I'm now on countdown days for the arrival of my granddaughter. It could be before, during or after Christmas, but as long as she's healthy I don't care what day she chooses to arrive in this world. I did come to realise recently that when I read those type of headlines saying 'local grandmother victim of crime - caught shoplifting - speeding' and you immediately conjure up that image of a poor little, grey haired, vulnerable old person and think 'aw, poor little old lady'. Well, that little old lady could be me - at the grand old age of 52...

Milo just about catching daylight...

Grandmother mugged in her own home...

Grandmother caught shoplifting...

Grandmother caught speeding...

Dear child of my child...

Every day, when I drive to work, my journey always appears the same. The same cars on the road, the same crowd of people stood at the bus stop, even the same man stood on the corner, every day, waiting for his lift. Nothing really changes, except the weather. I could practically do this journey with my eyes closed. And I do. I drift off into my imaginary world. Classic FM plays on my radio as the cars on the motorway weave in and out, as if dancing in perfect rhythm to the music. The young girl applying her lipstick at the bus stop will, today embark on an office romance. The older lady, hobbling on a stick will today reach the top of the waiting list for a hip replacement. And the forlorn gentleman, whose head hangs low, will today find the courage to leave his unfaithful wife. The man, who stands on the corner, never late for his lift, will today win on the lottery and purchase his own car. And I, will continue my journey, until it ends. And then, I will start a new journey. Oh how I see my wonderful world :)

In about seven weeks time my Granddaughter will take her first breath in this world. I am so excited to meet this child of my child. I will strive to be a good Grandmother to her. I will only tell her of two things; Love and Respect. Embrace all the love you receive and treat people the way you wish to be treated, with respect. I may add 'smile' and then she will discover if you smile the world smiles with you...

Smile, my Daddy told me...

Smile, I told my Son...

And keep on smiling...

That's one small step for Milo...

This is probably the longest period of time I have ever left between my blog entries. And there are a few, unexciting, reasons for this. I have just finished a 12 day stint at my very exciting (not) job. Prior to that I contracted a pretty gruesome head cold and was dosed up with medication for a while. Also, it being the 'month' of fireworks, I have spent most evenings trying to console poor terrified Milo. He hears them well into the distance and has to find a hiding place until morning, here he just cowers and shakes all night. I usually cover him with a blanket and play soft music for him, other than that there isn't much else I can do for him. As if that wasn't bad enough for poor Milo, this week he started limping, badly. His limp was so bad he was walking with only three of his legs. After spending all night watching him struggle to even sleep I took him to the vet.
He remained at the surgery for most of the day and when I went to collect him I was presented with a bill for £520 and told "nothing is broken, but we're not sure what is wrong with his paw"...
He is now sporting a trendy little moon boot, has a bottle of painkillers and a ten day course of antibiotics. He has now taken to walking around the house like Neil Armstrong.

So, not been a good few weeks for Milo and Me. But on a good note, Milo is receiving more love than usual from everybody, and I got to see my future Granddaughter punching a few high fives out of her mummy's tummy.

This week, I've even managed to write a few more chapters in my Book Two. Although, I've also just discovered the series 'American Horror Story' on Netflix and am quite addicted to the weird and wonderful world it portrays...

Remembering all the War Heroes today...

Milo's Moon Boot...

One of Milo's safe places...

My own American Horror Story...

My plan to save the planet...

Sitting in a factory postal room, all day, every day, gives a girl lots of time to think. And, I've now come up with an amazing idea on how to resolve our country's housing crisis! Basically there are far too many single people in the UK. Therefore whilst I live in 'one' house there is potentially a single gentleman out there living in 'another' house. Now, if Theresa May could plough some investment into this national crisis, of too many single people, and put in place a government run dating agency, then this would bring together all us singletons living in separate houses.  This in turn would also save the planet, everything would be halved - As we all live happily ever after, together, sharing a house, sharing a bath, sharing a shopping trip in the car, sharing the electric bill, sharing a bed, oh the list is endless! I think this is a jolly good idea and I might write to our Theresa today, she could kick start this plan by inviting me to Number 10 and introducing me to some eligible bachelors...

Meanwhile, I sit, all day, working on the factory floor, waiting patiently for my Richard Gere to whisk me away 'Officer and a Gentleman' style.

Today is my sons birthday. We are to spend the day assembling a pram, I am so excited about this. I have had my hair done in preparation! I've actually had about six inches chopped off, well overdue. Big shout out to Dave (Irby Village). Talking of shout-outs, my lovely local garage, Wirral Small Cars, (who have looked after me for many years) informed me that a couple bought a car from them recently. They chose his garage because they read about him in my book. At least someone is benefiting from the  adventure of Milo, Me and The Beast...

Milo and Me, nearly living under a park bench...

Me, waiting for my Richard Gere happy ending...

Before and after my chop...

This is Big Brother ~ Nicci please come to the Diary Room...

Earlier this year I was contacted by the producers of Big Brother asking me if I would be interested in being in this last series! Me! They asked me! They said they had researched my story and saw me as an ideal housemate, one with something to say. Well, obviously after watching last nights housemates enter the house it is apparent I'm not in there, which is a shame as free board and lodging would have been quite nice for Milo and Me. Maybe that's why they didn't choose me, because I did, at one point, ask if Milo would be able come with me? Or maybe it's down to ageism? It appears the housemate ages range from 18 to 32, perhaps a 52 year old, granny-to-be, prancing about in her bikini, would have looked out of place?! Anyway, whatever the reason is, I'm feeling pretty good with the fact that they even asked me. Although, my mum, who loves Big Brother, was mortified. "What if you use the 'F' word? "or have sex on television?" she declared. Well I rarely use the 'F' word and as for sex... another rarity in my life!

Maybe, in the future, Endemol will create a new Big Brother, one with grannies and dogs and people who haven't had much of a love life lately!
So, here I am. Not in the Big Brother house, but working in a postal room, with lots of other people, cameras on us at every angle, and my diary room is just my blog. Oh, my life...


It should have been me!!...

I reckon MiloandMe would have fitted in quite nicely...

"8.18 in the Big Brother house ~ Nicci and Milo sleep..."

From the front cover of national press to preparing my butty box...

Phew! I did it, I completed a whole week of 'normal' work. I think Milo must wonder where I disappear to for eight hours every day, but luckily whilst the daylight hours are light he is still benefiting from two walks a day. I, on the other hand, am struggling with routine. To do the same thing each day feels quite alien to me and I don't know if I could ever get used to it. My whole working life has been mainly shift patterns and, of course, the last three years have been a bit of a mixed pot every day. But needs must and I'm sure I'll get used to it soon enough, although it is a temporary contract, up to Christmas, and goodness knows what crazy plan I will have come up with by then!

This week I received word from the Beast's new owners. I was overwhelmed to say the least. Dramatic, I know, but it was like hearing of a child I'd reluctantly given up for adoption. The photographs clearly showed he had been tidied up a bit, I was like "Oh gosh, they've cut his fringe!" "But it suits him" and "Oh, he looks so different" "But he looks happy". So, irrelevant of how sad I was giving him up, it's evident to see he is very happy with his new family. I made the right decision. And, bonus, his new family have kept my 'Milo, Me and The Beast' book posters in the windows!

I've just read my blog entries from three years ago. How different my life was then... I was baking cakes on the Aga for Mr P, merrily riding my bicycle through the grounds of the Big House, and preparing for photo shoots with national newspapers. Oh well, must dash ~ have to make my butties for work tomorrow! Life ~ it's a funny old game, just glad my names not Roxanne Pallett...


How it once was...

It really did all happen :) ... 

Milo, Me and The Beast

ps; hate to ask, but if anyone has actually read my book I would be eternally grateful for any review, good or bad, on amazon. Thank you, thank you, thank you :)

I've got nothing ~ so maybe pigs might fly...

Tomorrow I begin a new chapter in my life. I re-enter the real world, the one I thought I had escaped.  I start a new job, a sort of real one, one where I have to get up at the same time every day and work Monday to Friday. And I must admit I am not happy. For over three years now I have led a somewhat hectic life; travel, adventure, opportunity, romance, heartache and hunger . But I've loved every minute of it ~ living in different places, sometimes not knowing where I would be tomorrow ~ has only made me appreciate what I have. But those three years have cost me dearly and the big bad credit card is now rearing his ugly head and demanding his repayment. So, I am now going to be a grown-up and take some responsibility. If I can work really hard, for the next few months at least, then maybe I can create a new adventure, a different adventure, and possibly a cheaper one!

Maybe a motor-home company will ask me to trial their new model. Maybe a holiday company will ask me to critique their new destination. Maybe an agency will ask Milo to model their brand. Maybe a tall dark handsome stranger will ask me to be his wife, maybe pigs might fly...

Anyway, whatever happens now doesn't matter because the best is yet to come ~ my beautiful granddaughter's arrival in January ~ that will see me through the next few months.

They say 'Something is better than Nothing'
But what if 'Nothing is better than Something'
Nothing can hurt me now
Nothing is better than clean bedding after a bath
Nothing cheers me up better than Milo's love
Nothing beats PJ's, chocolate and a glass of wine
Nothing is wrong...


When you've got Nothing but you've got it All...

My make-believe motor-home...

Seems to be I miss my motor-home even more than I thought I would. Although I probably wouldn't have gone anywhere this last week - the fact that I can't is killing me. It's gone, my magic box on wheels, my comfort zone, I miss him so much. It probably doesn't help that I still read, on forums, of other peoples happy travels in their motorhomes and feel so jealous.  I've been doing quite a lot of writing on my Book Two this week and that has brought back so many happy memories of travelling in the Beast. I've now resorted in trying to replicate the feeling by sitting in my sisters shed, with Milo, with the doors shut and peering out the windows. Wave if you see us!

My writing mojo seems to have reappeared this week, I'm enjoying re-living our adventure and still can't quite believe all that happened on our travels. I read an article this morning on J K Rowling - how before her success she 'survived a broken relationship and supported a young child as a single mother while living in poverty' Hmm... we have so much in common ~ I'm single, I'm supporting Milo and I'm poor... Now if I could just get Book Two finished J K and I could meet for a coffee and laugh about the olden days!

I've consoled myself by indulging my Granddaughter to be and bought her the cutest little outfit ever from TKMax. And I also found some of my son's kept baby clothes from 30 years ago. Good old Marks & Spencer and good old moth balls.
I'm now sitting here on a rainy, Sunday morning, swiping through Tinder and wondering why on earth I re-installed the app...


My pretend motor-home...

They should lock me up and throw away the key!...

sooo cute...

still cute 30 years later...

Reckon me and Ade have much in common...

Goodbye my Beast, goodbye my friend...

I am so sad today, so very sad. I have had to say goodbye to my beloved Beast. He has gone to live with a new family who I am sure will love him just as much as I did. They have already informed me of their planned adventures in the Beast and I'm truly excited for them.  It wasn't an easy decision for me and basically boiled down to 'money' or the lack of it! I can't even afford a tank of petrol at the moment which is not fair on the Beast, he has sat still for far too long and should be out there transporting people on adventures!

I made a video of me saying goodbye to the Beast, but it is far too teary to upload, I should have had James Blunt singing 'Goodbye my lover' in the background - plays like a breakup with a boyfriend haha! So, I have uploaded my last ever drive in him, a bit more lighthearted.  Some might think I'm being a little dramatic of his departure, after all it's just a 'vehicle'? But not to me. This was my home, my safe place, my everything. Having sold everything I ever had to buy him, he was all that I had. Now, all that I own fits into a couple of boxes. But do you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way. I have had the best adventure over the last 3 years and have no regrets. So what if I don't own anything, you can't take it with you when you go!

Maybe one day I will be in a position to buy another motorhome and do it all again. Or maybe I will come up with another madcap idea and create my next adventure. Who knows? So, even though I'm sad today I will always 'dance like nobody is watching'...

click for silly video ;)
Last drive in The Beast...

Milo, Me and The Beast ❤...

All I have left now...

Goodbye My Beast :( ...

Dance like nobody is watching...

Glamorous Grandmother To Be...

Oh my word! Oh my goodness! Could I be any happier? Drum roll... I am so extremely happy to announce: I am to be a Grandmother :))))) My granddaughter is to be born in January. This is the best news I could ever have hoped for, I can't stop smiling. My son Philip and his partner Tracey have made me the happiest person alive. I honestly thought I'd have to wait years to be Nanny Nicci, although I have dropped tonnes of hints. And I'm so excited the baby is a girl - ballet classes, bows and dollies - as opposed to bringing up my son; standing on the edge of football pitches, never being able to plait his hair and rough play with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Although I couldn't resist buying her a pair of LFC knitted booties ~ keep her on the right track.

This news couldn't have come at a better time for me. Since returning from Portugal I'd been a bit down; wondering where I fit in, what to do next and have I made a mess of my life? My writing has suffered because of my mood, my book two seems to be a stop start excersise. And my job search is proving to be fruitless. But, now I'm to be a grandmother, I have a title, a purpose, a little person to read my books to and a fulltime job babysitting! Roll on January...

Oh by the way, if anyone is interested, I'm running a 'free' download promotion of my book this weekend Milo, Me and the Beast ~ The Beginning. May my happy mood continue :)

Link to download: begins Friday 20th July, ends Tuesday 24th July.
Milo, Me and The Beast



Grinning Grandmother to be...

My beautiful little Princess...

Couldn't resist... 

Surfing the net for princess dresses...

Am I a failure or an achiever?...

Exactly three years ago today I left the Wirral to begin my adventure with Milo in our Beast. Three years of travelling - places including Scotland, Ireland, San Pedro, Portugal, Italy and France. Three years of mishaps and mayhem, love and laughter, tantrums and tears, new friendships and romances - three years of adventure, an adventure I created and embraced. I have such mixed feelings about the last three years. I fall between a failure and an achiever. I didn't find a husband, a true love or a happy ever after. But I wonder if this was really what I wanted in the first place? I gave up my home, my possessions and my career and began my adventure with just me (and, of course, Milo). But were they things to give up anyway? or just things I no longer desired or needed?

On reflection I don't think I have achieved much more than I already had. But surely that can't make me a failure? I've experienced things that could have only happened on this journey, things that were not sitting at my front door. I've met people who would not have ordinarily crossed my path, I've visited places I did not know existed and I've experienced situations I thought only happened to other people.

So, now, I'm back on the Wirral and I don't have a home or a job or any possessions. But... I've written a book, I've been on television, I've been talked about in the media, I've exceeded the concept of travel, I have friends worldwide, I have memories galore and I'm still a size eight and don't have to dye my hair!...

Holding onto the sunshine...

MiloandMe in the sunshine...

Basking in bikinis...

Always been a bikini girl... 

Contemplation, Achieved or Failed?...