I wasn’t going to do a Smiley Saturday.

I have been feeling a little subdued this week.

Then I thought ‘Bugger it !!! There have been Smiley moments.

Finding a medieval shop. Woo hoo !!! I bought a medieval mirror for myself as an early Christmas present for my beloved husband. We are naming it the Michael Bolton mirror, in honour of the year I bought Mr S a Michael Bolton CD for Christmas. He hates Michael Bolton. I loved him at the time. Mr S and I are very thoughtful gift givers when it comes to each other. **snigger, snigger**

Speaking of gifts, I made gorse flower cordial this week. It tastes like lemon cordial. I also have a recipe for Elderberry flower Champagne that I was going to use gorse flowers for. I am just thinking gorse flowers have no taste. Though the goats love them. But it is fun doing it anyway.

The Celtic kids LOVED the Medieval shop and Celtic Dingo has asked for a mace and flail for Christmas. We are thinking maybe archery lessons. Might get into those groups who re~ enact jousting and stuff. Mr S would make a great court jester …..

Ok, Ok, Ok, here is Mr S, on THAT night. Hands off ladies, he’s all mine. Wipe that drool off your keyboards.

Another reason to smile, is shortly after I posted yesterday’s post, I received a call from the grandmother.

I did not recognise the voice at first as she was trying to disguise it.

She asked for Mr S.

I said he was at work and offered to take a message.

She declined and asked to ring back and leave a message on the answerphone.

It dawned on me who it was.

I calmly said “Oh, it’s you J, no you can not leave a message and please do not call this number again.”

And I hung up.

I was shaking like a leaf afterwards.

Mr S called her. He was straight with her too. We will be going through CYFS and refuse to deal with her directly. This way, everyone knows what is going on.

While it has been a truly AWFUL situation, it has been a truly growing one. I have shared everything with my spiritual advisor and she agrees that I have grown through this.  J is a truly, truly, manipulative woman. My spiritual advisor has known her for some years, and thinks that I must be the first person to have stood up to her in a long time. She had isolated everyone in her life, but I brought them altogether and this is when the truth of their situation came out. J tried so many things to control and manipulate me, and while it wasn’t always pleasant, I think I have learned to stand my ground a little and not be emotionally blackmailed.  And that gives me something to smile about.

Head on over to Lightening and find more reasons that people are smiling.