more fencing, Dover to Calais-not, and starting my own business

Well had a very busy week hence no blogging! Saturday went shopping all day so not much to write about that. Sunday put up the rest of the fence posts and concreted round em. Managed to do all 10 on the one side so it made last weeks effort look really pathetic. Found out next door nosey woman goes to church Sunday morning so we got up very early and had finished in our garden by the time old nosey was back and ready to attack her own garden. Great way to do the garden. Cant wait for fence to be up so we can just hide when shes around in our numerous huge sheds and pretend we cant hear her. Anyway looks like we may actually finally succeed in getting one side of garden fenced by end of this weekend. Next week is Easter too so long weekend. Wouldnt like to guarentee we are committed enough to really do the whole of other side then but like to hope. Once fence was up we could ignore the rest of the world and relax into getting drunk. Well it was a sunday!! Anyway went to bed very early cos we were off to Calais next morning. Got up at 3:30am!!!! set off at 4:30 armed with loads of sarnies and coffee in flask. Also chocolate, fruit etc and all usual picnic stuff. Weather was awful. Traffic terrible on M1. Torrential rain. Took 5 hours and loads of traffic jams to get to Dover so we missed intended ferry. Didnt matter we though get next one. Got to Dover after driving 160 miles and they cancelled the ferries. All ferries. Also telling us not to do a day trip since probably wouldnt be able to get back and thats if any ferries even run that day. Well apparently they did but not till about 2pm. By that time we had driven all the way back home. Have to say tho sea was impressive. Waves were about 20 feet high and it was a sight to see if you like the seaside and water. The car was actually picked up and blown accross the road. It was really weird tho cos you could actually see the wind coming towards you. I have never seen anything quite like it. We then decided cos M1 was such a nightmare at the moment to go back via M40. Took ages to get there on M25. I didnt realise how far it was to the M40 till then. We used to go that way before we moved house since it was then the shortest route but not any more. Got on M40 and still torrential rain but eventually got back. Everything seemed to be against us cos we came off M40 at Banbury but had to do a huge diversion to get to Daventry and then home. Anyway called in at Tesco in Banbury which was different to buy some margerine since we knew we needed some and we were going right past it. Anyway so we drove to Dover and back and wasted fuel but got no alcohol at all!!. It was great to finally get home. Very high winds had brought down the gate next to the house but that was easily sorted since gate is just a fence panel leaned against the gap and secured by digging copper pipes into soil and leaning against fence panel! Another job to do to house eh!. Made a nice dinner tho and had a good night in and found a kennels to put hounds in next time we go to Dover incase we really do get stranded in France which I had never even considered till now but it would be exciting if it happened! Also would be cruel and wrong to leave them the time it took. I didnt expect it to take so long to get there. The aim was a quick trip to buy alcohol and be back in a few hours. In theory and according to RAC route planner no problem but the reality was somewhat different. Got a refund on tickets but am still trying to get money back for the breakdown insurance I paid out through P&O. Will post results of that when I know them!

Back at work Tuesday and had so many quotes to get out work has become a complete nightmare. Hopefully will get on top of them by the end of the week. Starting to get really frustrated with the boredom of working for someone else. Infact starting to get info sorted about the business start up which will hopefully one day give me and M freedom. Been intouch with West Midlands Woman business start up program and am waiting to get onto a free course which is meant to help you eg do your business plan and deal with tax issues. I have already started my business plan. Its the Tax issues I am really worrying about since I have never run my own business before. I have been reading up on the legislation that accompanies my type of business. Its organic hand made soap and cosmetics by the way. Am not too sure what to call it yet. Already been making soap to perfect the techniques etc and to test it out on myself and friends before selling. Aiming to start up officially on 1st January 2009. We will see how it goes. Might end up having to put that date off if necessary depending on whether we have products that are saleable. Anyway to be legal have loads to do before I can sell including official lab testing of products and talking to Trading Standards and the Environment Agency. Sounds pretty straightforward. Also its a brilliant way to finally manage to not only set up my own company but also to combine my chemistry skills with my artistic leanings. Tho have to say the strange blue coloured soap I made on Sunday that is currently curing is a bit unusual to say the least. Also if I am going to be competitive in pricing with people like eg. LUSH I really need to use much less essential oils. I used 20 mls which is probably about £4 and made 2 bath bombs. Tho they were much larger than any I have ever seen for sale. Very good tho and very encouraging cos I hadnt made bath bombs before this. Intend to make some bubble bars this weekend and possibly more soap of a different scent. The main thing thats wrong right now is I only bought blue colouring! Ah well I will just have to buy some other colour asap. Until then all my products will just have to be either white or blue. I want to play around with glitter this week too. Well if it doesnt make for a viable company at least I shall save loads on LUSH cosmetics. have to say till I started making cosmetics I didnt realise just how much that is not organic or natural went into LUSH products! Intend for mine to be truly natural.