is as follows:
Breakfast apperitif
Parmesan crunchie with smoked salmon and bucks fizz (for the adults) or for the kids should they get up too early!!
Lunch:
French Onion Soup
Slow roasted leg of lamb with home made red wine and herb gravy
Caramelised red onions
Leeks ala Eva's parents
Roast Potatoes
Roast Carrots
Red Cabbage ala Mama
Medley of roasted vegetables (whatever odd veg I can get my hands on)
Creamed parsnip and celeriac
Dessert:
Christmas chocolate log / Pannettone / Pandoro / Fudge Fairy Cakes with marshmallow topping
Well deserved coffee.
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Thursday, 17 December 2009
One of those days
You have a subtle feeling that the day is going to be interesting, when the boy shuffles into the bedroom at 5:45, declares he is not tired and wants to see the snow. Advise him that there is no snow, but that sleep fairy decrees its TOO early. hubby puts him back to bed. half hour later, boy shuffles in, announding he has done a poo. my cue to get up.....
Kids discover air hockey at localish soft play area. Madam's arms are too short to reach properly, so have her on the table, am helping her out trying to stop the boy from scoring (his eye hand co-ordination is phenomenal!) when Madam decides its my fault that she is loosing. Never had a air hockey pusher try to seperate my fingers from my wrist. Wont be in a hurry to try it again. Mutter loudly that Santa was probably watching that. Go back to the bag, pretend to write a note in my notebook. Tell her that its for Santa's daily report. Madam wails the house down. Seriously, she could rake in cash for the local firebrigade, should their alarms ever fail.
Some time later we are at bike shop, took them to get helmets for their scooters, which Santa will supply, if they are good. Having coaxed one of them to put helmet on, the other small one announces she needs a wee. As she has only just been potty trained we dash out. As we are descending stairs I notice boy still has helmet on. Would it come off easily? Ofcourse not. Madam yelling she needs a wee, boy getting frustrated that I cannot take helmet off, makes me chuckle to myself. I am still chuckling as Madam is held against the car to relieve herself. Boy thinks its time to make a stream into a river and decides to tandem pee.
My laughter is cut short when I see the direction of the pee. Its heading towards a porsche. the puddle stops just next to (ofcourse it would!!!) the drivers door. Am pulling the kids trousers up, assuring them that the steam from the pee is not the same as steam from thomas, when i see the driver heading towards the porsche. Run back into he store with kids half dressed, really did not want to hang around for the abuse on that one!
In the store both kids have helmets forcibly bestowed, they start banging heads. Keeps them occupied whilst I pay and mumble apologies.
We head home, stopping off at a local shop. Madam announces she needs a poo. Tell her to do it in her pants, as no toilet available, and we are some way from the car. She obliges, and starts running round the store telling anyone who will listen that she has done a BIG poo. As I enter my pin I hear her and boy arguing over the fact that she is smelly, and but that the boy did a smellier poo earlier.
Kids discover air hockey at localish soft play area. Madam's arms are too short to reach properly, so have her on the table, am helping her out trying to stop the boy from scoring (his eye hand co-ordination is phenomenal!) when Madam decides its my fault that she is loosing. Never had a air hockey pusher try to seperate my fingers from my wrist. Wont be in a hurry to try it again. Mutter loudly that Santa was probably watching that. Go back to the bag, pretend to write a note in my notebook. Tell her that its for Santa's daily report. Madam wails the house down. Seriously, she could rake in cash for the local firebrigade, should their alarms ever fail.
Some time later we are at bike shop, took them to get helmets for their scooters, which Santa will supply, if they are good. Having coaxed one of them to put helmet on, the other small one announces she needs a wee. As she has only just been potty trained we dash out. As we are descending stairs I notice boy still has helmet on. Would it come off easily? Ofcourse not. Madam yelling she needs a wee, boy getting frustrated that I cannot take helmet off, makes me chuckle to myself. I am still chuckling as Madam is held against the car to relieve herself. Boy thinks its time to make a stream into a river and decides to tandem pee.
My laughter is cut short when I see the direction of the pee. Its heading towards a porsche. the puddle stops just next to (ofcourse it would!!!) the drivers door. Am pulling the kids trousers up, assuring them that the steam from the pee is not the same as steam from thomas, when i see the driver heading towards the porsche. Run back into he store with kids half dressed, really did not want to hang around for the abuse on that one!
In the store both kids have helmets forcibly bestowed, they start banging heads. Keeps them occupied whilst I pay and mumble apologies.
We head home, stopping off at a local shop. Madam announces she needs a poo. Tell her to do it in her pants, as no toilet available, and we are some way from the car. She obliges, and starts running round the store telling anyone who will listen that she has done a BIG poo. As I enter my pin I hear her and boy arguing over the fact that she is smelly, and but that the boy did a smellier poo earlier.
Monday, 14 December 2009
Quick Roundup
Glowing appraisal at work (payrise linked) - check. Two very tired but happy kiddies after the Science Museum - check. Drunken frivolity at works dept do - check. Madam potty trained and moving onto toilet - check. Christmas presents, bought, wrapped and sent - mostly check, all bought but am bored of wrappying and posting, may probably delegate to hubby.
Kids "motivated" (via chocolate) to create some hand made presents - check. Hubby supplied with list of presents which I dont have to feign excitement at - check. Food ordered and menu assembled - come on, this is me we are talking about - check, ofcourse! Day off in lieu of the above - check (it was lush to say the least!). Boys birthday invites organised - check. Backup of all photos and pc bits just in case - check. Grow nails and avoid biting them even though root filling takes place - CHECK! Give up bread - checkish (comeon, have to have room for improvement somewhere. Chewy bread, gets me every time!!!).
Go me!!!
Kids "motivated" (via chocolate) to create some hand made presents - check. Hubby supplied with list of presents which I dont have to feign excitement at - check. Food ordered and menu assembled - come on, this is me we are talking about - check, ofcourse! Day off in lieu of the above - check (it was lush to say the least!). Boys birthday invites organised - check. Backup of all photos and pc bits just in case - check. Grow nails and avoid biting them even though root filling takes place - CHECK! Give up bread - checkish (comeon, have to have room for improvement somewhere. Chewy bread, gets me every time!!!).
Go me!!!
Christmas is all about
kids faces lighting up when they open the present, a few too many yo ho ho's when cooking the food, cinamon and vanilla sugar, Mama having the last say at the highly inappropriate tree which grossly uberpaid for, frantic last minute christmas card dispersal, sneaking upstairs to wrap a present for someone who has turned up unannounced, incestous Christmas party at work, kids devouring chocolates of the tree which are about 10 years old, Mama making a hand made Christmas decoration, tantalising baking and food smells from MAmas kitchen, Pannetonne, more pannetone, turkey stuffed under the skin ala me, cold turkey sarnies, smoked salmon, mulled wine ala Mama, stockpile of batteries so high you could open a corner shop, bucks fizz, walnut, poppy seed beigli, pogacsa, hugs, kisses, Dr Who, sitting in the dark room with only the lights on the Christmas tree illuminating the fact that you are raiding the chocolate tin, walnuts from our land, hazelnuts from Mama's land, random bits of sellotape hanging off the table post wrapping frenzy (only to be discovered in july), long walk whilst food roasts, honeyed roast parsnips,red cabbage ala me, cheezy christmas card competition with hubby, the sound of the doorbell, red wine, more wine, being in your Pj's on boxing day until 4pm...becoming an expert in piecing together the toy which toddler is demanding assebly of pronto, polar express, christmas carol, christmas cards, terry's chocolate orange, hangover!!
Christmas is not: mince pies, christmas cake, queens speech (apart from to heckle),scrooge, supposed to be about spending 3 hours untangling the lights, trying to jazz up the Christmas door wreath only for it to fall apart in your hands, woolworths (sadly!).
Christmas is not: mince pies, christmas cake, queens speech (apart from to heckle),scrooge, supposed to be about spending 3 hours untangling the lights, trying to jazz up the Christmas door wreath only for it to fall apart in your hands, woolworths (sadly!).
Monday, 30 November 2009
Super Salmon
So, the salmon spawned some golden caviar themselves, the shares I chose went up over £2.30 each, netting me a tidy £200 after costs. Whooo hoo. Hubby has decreed a competition for next year, we each get £100 to choose some shares with whoever bags the most cash will pay for a shot of falling down water.
Have got my list and am now looking to open up an account with a broker. We have agreed that in the interests of fair play, I would have my own broker as until now we have been using his. I am looking forward to picking the phone up, quoting a code and saying “buy, buy”. Hopefully not sell sell!
Have got my list and am now looking to open up an account with a broker. We have agreed that in the interests of fair play, I would have my own broker as until now we have been using his. I am looking forward to picking the phone up, quoting a code and saying “buy, buy”. Hopefully not sell sell!
Nasty Dentist
Nasty dentist wont let me cancel hygienist appointment, due to piggy flu. Will cost me £15 to cancel apparently. Decide to go and pass the flu to the stroppy receptionist. As I am getting my fix of National Geographic magazine, I hear the tones of the receptionist getting shriller towards the recipient on the other end of the phone. Pretend to read the mag but tune my bat ears to the conversation. ……………….”no Mrs Xxxx the dentures definitely had teeth marks on them, the repair will most DEFINITELY be chargable”………”I am very sorry Mrs X, are you sure the dog did not chew them by accident”, they did have a lot of damage……………”, laugh quietly to myself and decide that this was worth £15 in itself.
When to keep quiet
In the middle of swine flu I casually happened to mention to Madam that once she was all better, how would she like to not wear nappies, but use a potty. She looks at me as though I have just suggested boiling live puppies. Tilts her head, points to her nappy that I am about to put on her and throws down the gauntlet of “ I do NOT want to wear any more nappies”. Shudder slightly, not sure if this is from the flu, or because I know how the next week is going to pan out. We will be housebound again. Great.
Hubby is on the phone to our friend in Oz. I quickly say hello. Must have been distracted as I promised Madam two chocolate coins if she does a poo on the potty. All I hear from the hallway is boy urging Madam to deliver the goods as he needs a chocolate coin. Am pulled eagerly towards the bathroom, Madam is jumping up and down. Yes, you guessed it, potty full of poo. Boy jumping up and down gleefully telling me to “get chocolate coins mummy, hooray”! We give Madam a large clap, head off to get chocolate coins, boy looks in potty and declares he is about to be sick. Deal chocolate coins like a trigger happy pirate, clean up offending mess and wonder if our friend in Oz heard what just went on……..
Hubby is on the phone to our friend in Oz. I quickly say hello. Must have been distracted as I promised Madam two chocolate coins if she does a poo on the potty. All I hear from the hallway is boy urging Madam to deliver the goods as he needs a chocolate coin. Am pulled eagerly towards the bathroom, Madam is jumping up and down. Yes, you guessed it, potty full of poo. Boy jumping up and down gleefully telling me to “get chocolate coins mummy, hooray”! We give Madam a large clap, head off to get chocolate coins, boy looks in potty and declares he is about to be sick. Deal chocolate coins like a trigger happy pirate, clean up offending mess and wonder if our friend in Oz heard what just went on……..
Shreklike Piggyflu
When I first saw this picture I thought it was of someone who had walked through three valleys, wind and rain to get to a doctor as they had severe toothache. I wondered what I would relate that picture to next in my life. Swine Flu. Not the severity, but the fact that little would I believe I would be able to survive 5 whole days housebound with two sick kiddies. I came close to licking windows, we played a LOT of snakes and ladders, went through a lot of tissues but hardly any food. Good news is that kiddies are all recovered apart from lime green Shreklike snot.
Friday, 23 October 2009
Taking things sloooooow
Felt quite tired today, went back to bed after dropping the kids off. Wake up at 11, realising that I have 1.5 hours left to clean house,organise recycling and rubbish do three lots of washing, buy food for the weekend and go to the bank and pick kids up.
Rush round like a headless chicken throwing things into the washing machine. Decide to do the recycling at the same time. Find as I have taken my time over recycling, have omitted to put washing liquid into the machine. Decide to throw liquid in and find that there is nothing to wash it down with. Inspiration strikes, fill jar destined for recycling up with water and chuck it in the top of the machine. Its only as the water is cascading into the machine I notice that the jar I have selected still contains tomato sauce and a smattering of garlic. This is now in the machine. So now the washing is actually dirtier than when it went in.
A little later I am in the bank trying to get £2.95 of charges back. They tell me as it relates to a credit card, I have to call the credit card company,. despite it being the same bank. so I have just queued up for 15 mins to hear that hey cannot help me. Bank staff were very polite though so I just sighed and left (but took about 10 pens for my waiting efforts!).
In the afternoon, following mini movers, I take the kids to the garden centre to buy some potted herbs and a ghoulish pumpkin. Kids complain they are tired. Suspect that I may actually overdeliver on the outings front on a per day basis. We select bulbs to plant this weekend (try explaining the fact that you wont see these tulips for another 4 months to an eager 3 year old!). At the till I am offered a gardening club card for which I get discounts. Fill out paperwork whilst trying to fend kids from breaking the glass items eversohelpfully located next to the till.
We were so close to leaving, the exit was about 6 meters away, when I spot the "guess the weight of the prize pumpkin". have a meaningful discussion with the kids about how much it weighs. As much as Igglepiggle was one theory. As much as Daddy (!) was another. As I am filling out our guesses, I notice its extremely quiet. Thats because my son is staring in horror at my daughter who has left a perfect imprint of her teeth in the prize (no more) pumpkin. Look around for witnesses, luckily there are none. Heard the kids out of the building, tell Madam off. Boy wants to know all the way back why we cannot have such a big pumpkin as the one int the garden centre.......As garden centre now have our home details, I am awaiting a bill to come through the oh so delayed post for damages to the pumpkin.
Rush round like a headless chicken throwing things into the washing machine. Decide to do the recycling at the same time. Find as I have taken my time over recycling, have omitted to put washing liquid into the machine. Decide to throw liquid in and find that there is nothing to wash it down with. Inspiration strikes, fill jar destined for recycling up with water and chuck it in the top of the machine. Its only as the water is cascading into the machine I notice that the jar I have selected still contains tomato sauce and a smattering of garlic. This is now in the machine. So now the washing is actually dirtier than when it went in.
A little later I am in the bank trying to get £2.95 of charges back. They tell me as it relates to a credit card, I have to call the credit card company,. despite it being the same bank. so I have just queued up for 15 mins to hear that hey cannot help me. Bank staff were very polite though so I just sighed and left (but took about 10 pens for my waiting efforts!).
In the afternoon, following mini movers, I take the kids to the garden centre to buy some potted herbs and a ghoulish pumpkin. Kids complain they are tired. Suspect that I may actually overdeliver on the outings front on a per day basis. We select bulbs to plant this weekend (try explaining the fact that you wont see these tulips for another 4 months to an eager 3 year old!). At the till I am offered a gardening club card for which I get discounts. Fill out paperwork whilst trying to fend kids from breaking the glass items eversohelpfully located next to the till.
We were so close to leaving, the exit was about 6 meters away, when I spot the "guess the weight of the prize pumpkin". have a meaningful discussion with the kids about how much it weighs. As much as Igglepiggle was one theory. As much as Daddy (!) was another. As I am filling out our guesses, I notice its extremely quiet. Thats because my son is staring in horror at my daughter who has left a perfect imprint of her teeth in the prize (no more) pumpkin. Look around for witnesses, luckily there are none. Heard the kids out of the building, tell Madam off. Boy wants to know all the way back why we cannot have such a big pumpkin as the one int the garden centre.......As garden centre now have our home details, I am awaiting a bill to come through the oh so delayed post for damages to the pumpkin.
Thursday, 24 September 2009
Fridays off
May have to start with a yoga class, found one which starts at 9:30 for an hour. Trouble is that I will probably be hyper for the next few hours, then feel REALLY tired by the time I pick the kids up.
Invitation to be my butcher (as in supply the meat, not carve us up!)
Butcher in the village has had his two chances and I am still bewildered about his meat. Its all from Scotland. He assures me that the meat is organic / free range but I am not convinced. For instance, one "organic" chickenbreast, was soo large and fat that it could have given Dolly Parton a run for her money!
I have ordered a duck for Saturday, this will be crunch time. I have also taken a business card and will be googling him to make sure he is not sweeney todd in disguise. Sooooo, the lack of butcher situation is slightly worrying, only to me ofcourse, other family members just expect meat. So, if you are a butcher then please answer the following:
1. Do you stock organic and free range, LOCALLY, sourced meat? If yes, proceed to question 2.
2. Will you be able to prove to me that the meat is local / organic / free range?
Once you have shown me one example, I will believe you and trust you.
3. Do you have the ability rather than asking me what weight I want (which will ALWAYS be in kg and gramms!) I will just normally say: 4 hungry adults (duck!), one large (whole chicken), 4 famished carnivors (fillet steak!). If your answer to 2 and 3 is no, then goodbye, you are the weakest link.
4. Will you be able to take my hungarian cookbook pictures of the meat and translate that into a cut of meat that I want. Mr Archer my previous butcher was a pro at this, he used to relish my visits with the aforementioned cook book.
5. Will you be able to take the fact that for the first few visits I will check the meat in front of you, if I find any clotted blood on the meat, this will be met with death ray stare and be rejected immediately?
6. Will you be able to offer me at least two suggestions of what meats / cuts other than I normally buy, when I am not in a creative mode? Sausages as an alternative are not an option.
7. Will you be able to handle the fact that I will use Mr Archer for our Christmas Turkey, Easter Ham and birthday / anniversary / cheering up steak?
8. Do you like Tesco?
9. Do you have a vacuum packy machine?
10. What are the scores on your doors?
11. Will you give us free samples / ice cream and tasters?
12. Will you be able to make conversation on anything other than non meat related products?
If you think you are upto the challenge, then, please feel free to apply. We will reward you with more custom that you can imagine, especially as we dont leave leftovers. I will always put the leftover pennies change in the charity box and I promise my kids will keep your other customers entertained with exactly what noise the animal used to make before it was destined to grace our plate.
I have ordered a duck for Saturday, this will be crunch time. I have also taken a business card and will be googling him to make sure he is not sweeney todd in disguise. Sooooo, the lack of butcher situation is slightly worrying, only to me ofcourse, other family members just expect meat. So, if you are a butcher then please answer the following:
1. Do you stock organic and free range, LOCALLY, sourced meat? If yes, proceed to question 2.
2. Will you be able to prove to me that the meat is local / organic / free range?
Once you have shown me one example, I will believe you and trust you.
3. Do you have the ability rather than asking me what weight I want (which will ALWAYS be in kg and gramms!) I will just normally say: 4 hungry adults (duck!), one large (whole chicken), 4 famished carnivors (fillet steak!). If your answer to 2 and 3 is no, then goodbye, you are the weakest link.
4. Will you be able to take my hungarian cookbook pictures of the meat and translate that into a cut of meat that I want. Mr Archer my previous butcher was a pro at this, he used to relish my visits with the aforementioned cook book.
5. Will you be able to take the fact that for the first few visits I will check the meat in front of you, if I find any clotted blood on the meat, this will be met with death ray stare and be rejected immediately?
6. Will you be able to offer me at least two suggestions of what meats / cuts other than I normally buy, when I am not in a creative mode? Sausages as an alternative are not an option.
7. Will you be able to handle the fact that I will use Mr Archer for our Christmas Turkey, Easter Ham and birthday / anniversary / cheering up steak?
8. Do you like Tesco?
9. Do you have a vacuum packy machine?
10. What are the scores on your doors?
11. Will you give us free samples / ice cream and tasters?
12. Will you be able to make conversation on anything other than non meat related products?
If you think you are upto the challenge, then, please feel free to apply. We will reward you with more custom that you can imagine, especially as we dont leave leftovers. I will always put the leftover pennies change in the charity box and I promise my kids will keep your other customers entertained with exactly what noise the animal used to make before it was destined to grace our plate.
Friday, 18 September 2009
Quick Summary
I am trully happy in the house, just love driving back, turning the corner and have a smile on my face. Neighbours are lovely. Kids happy happy happy. Hubby happy too so it counts for a lot. Amazing what four walls in a different location can do for ones life.
Kids have never made me laugh so much, there are days when I cry with laughter. Today, I took them to mini movers and we pretended to be spaceships. The boy loved being a shooting star, I think the ABBA music helped!
Madam is just jolly, she is still eating for england just returned from dinner at M and V and to my consternation after four slices of pizza she polished off most of my dahl, beef curry (lovely, spicey and hot!) and gave me a filthy look when I dared to eat some rice when she was not looking. The boy is sooo funny, hubby and I call him the health and safety executive as he keeps telling us how dangerous everything is.
Taught him to rock climb a wall that a 6 year old could not scale. He was pretty pleased with himself. Tomorrow he has a golf lesson whilst I take Madam swimming. Then, I won us a family ticket to see the Gruffalo so we are heading off to see that. Sunday LM is over as well as RandB and kids, FatNav and SB. Should be a really good day.
Taught Madam the chorus to Delilah and we sing it loudly in the car when the boy becomes mr health and saftey (watch out mummy, slow down, thats dangerous, when I am older, I will drive!....). Boy orders us to stop singing but we just get louder, wish I knew more than one verse.
Er, think thats mostly it.
Kids have never made me laugh so much, there are days when I cry with laughter. Today, I took them to mini movers and we pretended to be spaceships. The boy loved being a shooting star, I think the ABBA music helped!
Madam is just jolly, she is still eating for england just returned from dinner at M and V and to my consternation after four slices of pizza she polished off most of my dahl, beef curry (lovely, spicey and hot!) and gave me a filthy look when I dared to eat some rice when she was not looking. The boy is sooo funny, hubby and I call him the health and safety executive as he keeps telling us how dangerous everything is.
Taught him to rock climb a wall that a 6 year old could not scale. He was pretty pleased with himself. Tomorrow he has a golf lesson whilst I take Madam swimming. Then, I won us a family ticket to see the Gruffalo so we are heading off to see that. Sunday LM is over as well as RandB and kids, FatNav and SB. Should be a really good day.
Taught Madam the chorus to Delilah and we sing it loudly in the car when the boy becomes mr health and saftey (watch out mummy, slow down, thats dangerous, when I am older, I will drive!....). Boy orders us to stop singing but we just get louder, wish I knew more than one verse.
Er, think thats mostly it.
Saturday, 29 August 2009
First post, wireless at that!
Every move has uncertaintly. This one had a high risk ratio as we were moving into a village, without knowing much about it. We were also moving to a house which hubby had doubts about and I really liked from a size point of view. To throw some further "entanglement" into the equasion moving with two kids is never easy, either pre or post move. Whenever the kids dont understand anything I just mention Schrodingers cat to myself, chuckle, then get back to reality. Moving is something akin to this.
Move went well, mainly thanks to team of expert movers. I will put their details as a link. They were fabulous, very easy going, removed doors, pivoted furniture like they do it in their sleep. It took me two weeks of packing boxes from 7pm to 10pm at night and then the whole of the day before the move from 7am to midnight to pack boxes. I stopped counting at box number 152 as all I was writing was "stuff from garage /eaves / which we have not used in 10 years. I reckon about 175 boxes in total. Movers cleared the house of boxes and furniture within 3 hours. Thats stopping for two tea breaks as well.
I went out with the kids and had a good day out. Went back to the house for 2:30 to meet Alex who is an oven cleaning guru. He transformed carbon covered grime into sparkling fresh new like oven. Had to keep the kids upstairs for fear of them getting near the chemicals. My fav bit of the move came next. Once I had read enough books to them, sung all the songs we knew, I took out some chocolate and we ate in on the floor of our former bedroom. Boy counted out the pieces so we all had equal amounts and Madam did her best to squeeze as much chocolate into her mouth as possible in one go.
The new house is great. I wonder when it will morph from "new house" to home?!!!
Its wierd going back to the old house as I dont miss it. Whenever I turn the corner into our new road I feel insanely happy. Everyone is so friendly. i had not even turned the engine off earlier when Shirley from accross the road came to introduce herself. It would seem that the average age is 60plus. They all like their alcohol though. Mentioned to Shirley about my Mount Gay Rum adventures and she muttered approvingly.
I love our ensuite. The shower cabin reminds me of Morks egg cabin and our bedroom itself is large. I wont mention the boxotpia which resides around the house. am not rushing unpacking the boxes as we need to move some furniture around.
Kids love the house, the boy shut Madam in the airing cupboard telling her, "you have been naughty, in you go". All I heard was the sound of muffled sobbing "Me not been naughty". Kids keep using the upstairs landing as a mini athletics track, holding races.
I have managed to unpack most of the kitchen and the kids room. Clothes in the kids room were unpacked amid a game of hide in the built in cupboard and shout "its spooky". I gave up after about 20 mins as I had pins and needles.
There are some nice items to go on the snagging list, one being that their is no stopper to the top drawer of the dishwasher, so, when you pull it out, it falls off.
I think thats it. We are very happy, but extremely tired.
Move went well, mainly thanks to team of expert movers. I will put their details as a link. They were fabulous, very easy going, removed doors, pivoted furniture like they do it in their sleep. It took me two weeks of packing boxes from 7pm to 10pm at night and then the whole of the day before the move from 7am to midnight to pack boxes. I stopped counting at box number 152 as all I was writing was "stuff from garage /eaves / which we have not used in 10 years. I reckon about 175 boxes in total. Movers cleared the house of boxes and furniture within 3 hours. Thats stopping for two tea breaks as well.
I went out with the kids and had a good day out. Went back to the house for 2:30 to meet Alex who is an oven cleaning guru. He transformed carbon covered grime into sparkling fresh new like oven. Had to keep the kids upstairs for fear of them getting near the chemicals. My fav bit of the move came next. Once I had read enough books to them, sung all the songs we knew, I took out some chocolate and we ate in on the floor of our former bedroom. Boy counted out the pieces so we all had equal amounts and Madam did her best to squeeze as much chocolate into her mouth as possible in one go.
The new house is great. I wonder when it will morph from "new house" to home?!!!
Its wierd going back to the old house as I dont miss it. Whenever I turn the corner into our new road I feel insanely happy. Everyone is so friendly. i had not even turned the engine off earlier when Shirley from accross the road came to introduce herself. It would seem that the average age is 60plus. They all like their alcohol though. Mentioned to Shirley about my Mount Gay Rum adventures and she muttered approvingly.
I love our ensuite. The shower cabin reminds me of Morks egg cabin and our bedroom itself is large. I wont mention the boxotpia which resides around the house. am not rushing unpacking the boxes as we need to move some furniture around.
Kids love the house, the boy shut Madam in the airing cupboard telling her, "you have been naughty, in you go". All I heard was the sound of muffled sobbing "Me not been naughty". Kids keep using the upstairs landing as a mini athletics track, holding races.
I have managed to unpack most of the kitchen and the kids room. Clothes in the kids room were unpacked amid a game of hide in the built in cupboard and shout "its spooky". I gave up after about 20 mins as I had pins and needles.
There are some nice items to go on the snagging list, one being that their is no stopper to the top drawer of the dishwasher, so, when you pull it out, it falls off.
I think thats it. We are very happy, but extremely tired.
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Reaction to the house
Took the kids to see the house yesterday, after checking that their room was big enough to play hide and seek in, they then ran round the house like loonies. I guess a house devoid of furniture is an exciting place for kids. Whilst the sound of scretching kids filled the air hubby and I tried to talk to the landlords. Practically impossible.
Boy then announces he needs a poo. Take him upstairs, landlady desperate to show me something upstairs, follows. At one point, boy is on the toilet yelling "I have finished, wipe my bottom", meanwhile Madam is jumping up and down like Tigger in one of the bedrooms screaming look at me, and Landlady is carrying on talking to me about the rubbish collection rota. I am trying to pay attention to landlady hoping she does not tear up the rental contract. Helpfully there was no toilet brush......
Also, I have ascertained I need to put the kids out on a Thursday for collection and the neighbours two doors down have rubbish the same age. Sanity, what sanity?
Boy then announces he needs a poo. Take him upstairs, landlady desperate to show me something upstairs, follows. At one point, boy is on the toilet yelling "I have finished, wipe my bottom", meanwhile Madam is jumping up and down like Tigger in one of the bedrooms screaming look at me, and Landlady is carrying on talking to me about the rubbish collection rota. I am trying to pay attention to landlady hoping she does not tear up the rental contract. Helpfully there was no toilet brush......
Also, I have ascertained I need to put the kids out on a Thursday for collection and the neighbours two doors down have rubbish the same age. Sanity, what sanity?
Sunday, 23 August 2009
circa 6 miles with two kids
We did the undercliff walk from Brighton to Ovingdean yesterday. Kids loved it as they got to run around, balance on the mini walls and match the screetching of the seagulls. It was a glorious day. We watched the boats and tankers as we ambled along to Ovingdean, had a paddle in the sea. Consumed ice cream and walked back. Really was a perfect day out.
Friday, 21 August 2009
Suitably Smug
My shares have soared again. Also, this article caught my eye. as I mentioned it months ago on my blog.
People watching, is the way forward........
People watching, is the way forward........
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Letters
Have written several letters over the past few days, LM, Eva, Granny, Aunty. Am finding it hard not to repeat items in the letters on email. V nice actually writing a letter though and knowing its going snail mail.
Quick update
My business cards have arrived, I designed them last week in order to help me remember my mobile number.
Got outbid on ebay for jumper, bid £20, ah well, no biggie, there will be more opportunities.
We have had to order new boxes, but removers are now booked in. Can start to do the periphery bits now.
Am going out with a friend for a meal tonight, will be good to get out and not have to play box tetris.
Kids want to see house. Boy thinks that everything can be resolved by saying we are moving to a larger house....sadly this does not mitigate the kids slooshing hot chocolate and cheese everywhere.
Got outbid on ebay for jumper, bid £20, ah well, no biggie, there will be more opportunities.
We have had to order new boxes, but removers are now booked in. Can start to do the periphery bits now.
Am going out with a friend for a meal tonight, will be good to get out and not have to play box tetris.
Kids want to see house. Boy thinks that everything can be resolved by saying we are moving to a larger house....sadly this does not mitigate the kids slooshing hot chocolate and cheese everywhere.
Monday, 17 August 2009
the house move is on
we move in 9 days time. scary, exhilarating and fun all rolled into one. A bit like eating fugu. Bring on the fugu!
What price for a jumper?
Madam has a cashmere jumper as her security blanket. We have been regularly harvesting the "big bit" for small "bits" for her to carry around. Big bit resides in her bed until she is ready to go to sleep. Bit looks after her during the day. There are 9 incarnations of bit. All bar two went missing today.
I am fairly resilient when it comes to finding her bit, we have dug it out of a pile of grass at Kingston green, dredged the bottom of the bin, scouered our hedge, climbed hedge, fallen into hedge, muttering incoherent curses whilst Madam looks on, either laughing with her head tilted back or having minor melt down.
I have turned the house upside down for bits today. I can still only find two. Hubby wants me to harvest big bit. Big bit is dwindling, therefore following yohoho inspiration, have logged onto ebay, found green cashmere jumper which is remarbaly similar (RRP £145) and have placed a bid. Question is, what price is a good price for my princess's happiness and my sanity?
Answers on a green cashmere postcard please!
I am fairly resilient when it comes to finding her bit, we have dug it out of a pile of grass at Kingston green, dredged the bottom of the bin, scouered our hedge, climbed hedge, fallen into hedge, muttering incoherent curses whilst Madam looks on, either laughing with her head tilted back or having minor melt down.
I have turned the house upside down for bits today. I can still only find two. Hubby wants me to harvest big bit. Big bit is dwindling, therefore following yohoho inspiration, have logged onto ebay, found green cashmere jumper which is remarbaly similar (RRP £145) and have placed a bid. Question is, what price is a good price for my princess's happiness and my sanity?
Answers on a green cashmere postcard please!
Box number 35 come on down
I ordered the boxes from a company called madforboxes. Should have been mad from boxes. I pack therefore I am.
Saturday, 15 August 2009
The Circus
We had a ball, we had ringside seats, just needed to smuggle Madam in as an under two year old. In the end it did not matter as she ran through ticket inspection, straight into the big top.
We sat down, our fiends sitting at the back, as very wisely they knew it was going to be loud! The acts were really good, clowns were the best, me and the kids could loose ourselves in the churlish humour.
At almost half time the seats next to us were taken by one child in a wheelchair and two adults with kids on their laps. Turned out it was Jordan's aka Katie Price's kids with either nanies or Granny. They were incredibly cute and well behaved.
My kids loved it, Madam clapped and went ooooh all the way through, she was very captivated by it all. The boy looked at me sternly when the Wheel of Death came on and told me it was very dangerous. Quite.
Met up with our friends during the interval and after the performance. All in all, a great afternoon.
We sat down, our fiends sitting at the back, as very wisely they knew it was going to be loud! The acts were really good, clowns were the best, me and the kids could loose ourselves in the churlish humour.
At almost half time the seats next to us were taken by one child in a wheelchair and two adults with kids on their laps. Turned out it was Jordan's aka Katie Price's kids with either nanies or Granny. They were incredibly cute and well behaved.
My kids loved it, Madam clapped and went ooooh all the way through, she was very captivated by it all. The boy looked at me sternly when the Wheel of Death came on and told me it was very dangerous. Quite.
Met up with our friends during the interval and after the performance. All in all, a great afternoon.
New fangled cooking
As I have packed most of the crockery, made a wonderful recepie discovery today for pork fillet.
Tenderise pork fillet, brown in butter with 2 cloves of garlic. Set pork aside, deglaze the pan with white wine, bring to boil. Throw in some fresh rosemary and thyme, throw in rice. Put into the oven for 45 mins. Lovely!
I threw in green beans near the end as well, could also work with adding olives?
Tenderise pork fillet, brown in butter with 2 cloves of garlic. Set pork aside, deglaze the pan with white wine, bring to boil. Throw in some fresh rosemary and thyme, throw in rice. Put into the oven for 45 mins. Lovely!
I threw in green beans near the end as well, could also work with adding olives?
Box number 25
So far I have played 3 dimensional tetris (putting the books into boxes!) this was great fun. Then I have played Deal or No Deal with the boxes. Finally I sat on them whilst I talked to my aunt on the phone. Numb bum from box 25, have clearly not loaded enough soft items in there.
We have had a sweepstake at home as to how many boxes we will end up with. Hubby thinks 76. I think 83.
Watch this space.......
We have had a sweepstake at home as to how many boxes we will end up with. Hubby thinks 76. I think 83.
Watch this space.......
Public Viewing
I am well used to the kids being around me pretty much 24/7. I read a book about the French Royal Family having members of the public watching them eat and this memory came into sharp focus yesterday.
Let me set the scene, after a bad nights sleep, I am having a shower, kids come in, firstly Madam throws in a toy into the bath. Looks me up and down and asks why I have not yet passed her back the toy. Boy comes in, pulls Madam away and tells her to come and play as I am having a shower. I smile appreciatively.
M points to various bodyparts of mine and tells me what they are. Mutter words of encouragement and tell her she is clever. Boy then wants in on the act and adds a few adjectives to my bodyparts. Getting marginally irriatted by the words my son is using, wobbly, big fat and huge! Try to turn his attention away from myself, I tell them to go find a book and I will read it to them upon exiting the shower. Turn around to try and ignore them.
And this is only the start of the day.
Let me set the scene, after a bad nights sleep, I am having a shower, kids come in, firstly Madam throws in a toy into the bath. Looks me up and down and asks why I have not yet passed her back the toy. Boy comes in, pulls Madam away and tells her to come and play as I am having a shower. I smile appreciatively.
M points to various bodyparts of mine and tells me what they are. Mutter words of encouragement and tell her she is clever. Boy then wants in on the act and adds a few adjectives to my bodyparts. Getting marginally irriatted by the words my son is using, wobbly, big fat and huge! Try to turn his attention away from myself, I tell them to go find a book and I will read it to them upon exiting the shower. Turn around to try and ignore them.
And this is only the start of the day.
An update for E
Hello my dear friend here is a quick update for you:
1. I am taking the kids to the circus today. Should be great fun trying to keep them still, we are ringside, so I have threatened to sell them as a doubleact to the circus should they not behave. In true A household style, hubby has refused to buy a ticket for Madam, so I have to pretend she is under two years old.
2. 40 more packing boxes arrived this morning. Guess what I will be doing this evening once the kids are in bed????? In signature organised style I not only have a spreadsheet detailing box number, contents, room to be put into and whether its essential for us to have it within the first 2 days of being in the house. Each column sortable.
3. In between packing boxes I dyed my hair last night. Ran out of boxes, switched to Mount Gay Rum and tumbled into bed. Woke up with the same amount of grey hair, so have decided to lower the mount gay rum dose and up the leaving on time with the hair colour next time.
4. I have a cunning and secret plan that if the rum should run out, the box marker pens will be a brilliant subsitute.
5. Motto for today is: smile, survive and pack if my life depended on it.
Hope the apartment is taking shape and that you have a good time tomm in NY, am thinking of you.
1. I am taking the kids to the circus today. Should be great fun trying to keep them still, we are ringside, so I have threatened to sell them as a doubleact to the circus should they not behave. In true A household style, hubby has refused to buy a ticket for Madam, so I have to pretend she is under two years old.
2. 40 more packing boxes arrived this morning. Guess what I will be doing this evening once the kids are in bed????? In signature organised style I not only have a spreadsheet detailing box number, contents, room to be put into and whether its essential for us to have it within the first 2 days of being in the house. Each column sortable.
3. In between packing boxes I dyed my hair last night. Ran out of boxes, switched to Mount Gay Rum and tumbled into bed. Woke up with the same amount of grey hair, so have decided to lower the mount gay rum dose and up the leaving on time with the hair colour next time.
4. I have a cunning and secret plan that if the rum should run out, the box marker pens will be a brilliant subsitute.
5. Motto for today is: smile, survive and pack if my life depended on it.
Hope the apartment is taking shape and that you have a good time tomm in NY, am thinking of you.
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Cod and Chips
I am currently having a break from packing the house up. Desperate to escape the tangle of bubble wrap, boxes and packing tape ends which are strewn across the house.
Ran round the cash and carry like a loonie woman this morning buying packing implements. I was somewhat overawed by the sweet aisle which has ended up with me packing large cod and chips. What?
Well, justification for the sweet aisle is that we need energy when moving boxes around (half of Rowntrees output should do it!) and secondly, as I was uberexcited I accidentally picked up fish and chip paper instead of tissue paper.
So there I am wrapping the kitchen items, injecting humour by telling myself that it’s a large haddock and chips. Hubby is convinced I am at the end of the loop of a very large and long loop the loop.
I have been keeping the kids informed of the fact that we will be moving. I keep a poker face when I tell them nonchallantily that Mummy and Daddy will be looking at houses. The information and subsequent questions are met with a breezy lighthearted response that any North Korean news reader would be proud of.
Kids are desperate to view houses. Last time I took a child along to view a house, he turned the oven on, tried to jump on a bed and the viewing was abandoned after 10 mins due to the oven stinking the kitchen out.
Now to go and do battle with packing a large savaloy, extra chips and onion vinegar!
Ran round the cash and carry like a loonie woman this morning buying packing implements. I was somewhat overawed by the sweet aisle which has ended up with me packing large cod and chips. What?
Well, justification for the sweet aisle is that we need energy when moving boxes around (half of Rowntrees output should do it!) and secondly, as I was uberexcited I accidentally picked up fish and chip paper instead of tissue paper.
So there I am wrapping the kitchen items, injecting humour by telling myself that it’s a large haddock and chips. Hubby is convinced I am at the end of the loop of a very large and long loop the loop.
I have been keeping the kids informed of the fact that we will be moving. I keep a poker face when I tell them nonchallantily that Mummy and Daddy will be looking at houses. The information and subsequent questions are met with a breezy lighthearted response that any North Korean news reader would be proud of.
Kids are desperate to view houses. Last time I took a child along to view a house, he turned the oven on, tried to jump on a bed and the viewing was abandoned after 10 mins due to the oven stinking the kitchen out.
Now to go and do battle with packing a large savaloy, extra chips and onion vinegar!
Sunday, 9 August 2009
Quick Summary
Lots of things have happened in the great bog random smelting pot that is our family life. Had a fairly boozy goodbye lunch (for me!) with Evova at Ockenden Manor. We managed to have some tea before a really lovely lunch with pimms and the obligatory glass of vino. I wont mention the crazed masochistic wood pigeon which decided to amble on the downside of Ditchling Beacon, in the thick fog. He bounced off my windscreen and was luckily ok.
Very very sad to say goodby to Evova, she is one of three people I speak to on an almost daily basis.
Anyways, needed a first daytime nap following boozy lunch and then found myself making coffee, turning the heat up higher and higher. It was probably only a minute before the machine would have exploded before I realised that I had not put any water in!
Lastly, I was pruning the lavendar out the front when I heard a scratching noise from next doors roof. Look up and next doors cat is sliding off the roof, lands with a thud and carried on as though its all part of some master plan. After my recent incident with cats, I did not even bat an eyelid at this one.
We may officially be homeless if this continues. That or I may have to spend a month on Hungary. Shame.
Very very sad to say goodby to Evova, she is one of three people I speak to on an almost daily basis.
Anyways, needed a first daytime nap following boozy lunch and then found myself making coffee, turning the heat up higher and higher. It was probably only a minute before the machine would have exploded before I realised that I had not put any water in!
Lastly, I was pruning the lavendar out the front when I heard a scratching noise from next doors roof. Look up and next doors cat is sliding off the roof, lands with a thud and carried on as though its all part of some master plan. After my recent incident with cats, I did not even bat an eyelid at this one.
We may officially be homeless if this continues. That or I may have to spend a month on Hungary. Shame.
Saturday, 25 July 2009
Questions from FB
Maybe I should...: stick to my NY resolutions
I love...: my kids, my hubby, my silver trainers, olives and reading
People would say that I'm...: a stickler for rules, they really dont know me at all
I don't understand...: people from up north
When I wake up in the morning...: its usually because my son is staring at me.
Life is full of...: minor irritations
My past is...: a nice place to visit, but you would not want to live there.
I wish...: I had a time machine
Tomorrow...: does not exist yet.
I have low tolerance...: for pink, alcohol and nasty people
I am totally terrified of...: spiders and rabid cats.
If I had a million dollars...: I would buy a library and a hat making operation
I am...: craving a glass of vino
My home is...: a total giddy mess due to two small kids
My best friend...: kissed me!
My parents taught me...: to be independent
Every day...: something bizaare happens
My life...: is wonderful if you like Imax...
If I found out my ex was gay...: what ex?
Boys are...: divine
Girls are...: great fun
I hate people who...: hate is a strong word, but dont cross me!
Last November...: it was cold?
Hickory Dickory Dock...: er, something to do with a mouse?
The best invention ever...: earplugs, not listening, lalala
I love it when...: its martini time
Sometimes I...: pretent I did not hear the phone ring.
I work...: ofcourse!
GO...: gadget go
God...: plays dice
Jesus...: also plays dice?
Buddha...: had the right idea
My dream last night...: was of vampires
My first thought waking up...: let me sleep
Today I ate...: home cooked ham, pasta carbonara, rocket salad, corn on the cob.
Sometimes I swear...: in Hungarian
As a child, I...: used to stare at people till it freaked them out.
The world could do with less...: ignorant people
Okay, post it into your blog or email your answers back to me....
I love...: my kids, my hubby, my silver trainers, olives and reading
People would say that I'm...: a stickler for rules, they really dont know me at all
I don't understand...: people from up north
When I wake up in the morning...: its usually because my son is staring at me.
Life is full of...: minor irritations
My past is...: a nice place to visit, but you would not want to live there.
I wish...: I had a time machine
Tomorrow...: does not exist yet.
I have low tolerance...: for pink, alcohol and nasty people
I am totally terrified of...: spiders and rabid cats.
If I had a million dollars...: I would buy a library and a hat making operation
I am...: craving a glass of vino
My home is...: a total giddy mess due to two small kids
My best friend...: kissed me!
My parents taught me...: to be independent
Every day...: something bizaare happens
My life...: is wonderful if you like Imax...
If I found out my ex was gay...: what ex?
Boys are...: divine
Girls are...: great fun
I hate people who...: hate is a strong word, but dont cross me!
Last November...: it was cold?
Hickory Dickory Dock...: er, something to do with a mouse?
The best invention ever...: earplugs, not listening, lalala
I love it when...: its martini time
Sometimes I...: pretent I did not hear the phone ring.
I work...: ofcourse!
GO...: gadget go
God...: plays dice
Jesus...: also plays dice?
Buddha...: had the right idea
My dream last night...: was of vampires
My first thought waking up...: let me sleep
Today I ate...: home cooked ham, pasta carbonara, rocket salad, corn on the cob.
Sometimes I swear...: in Hungarian
As a child, I...: used to stare at people till it freaked them out.
The world could do with less...: ignorant people
Okay, post it into your blog or email your answers back to me....
And so
we are at the end of July, no new house on the horizon, but at least Madam's bday is out of the way so we can concentrate on that.
I am not worried, feel stragely chilled about it, watch this space.
I am not worried, feel stragely chilled about it, watch this space.
Whisky
Our pet chinchilla went to pet heaven yesterday. I was inconsolable on the inside, had to try and keep happy for the kids sake. Kids said goodbye and the boy helped to bury him in the garden.
Farewell my beloved pet, I know you did not get as much attention as you were used to, due to the kids, but you were part of our family and you will be missed.
Farewell my beloved pet, I know you did not get as much attention as you were used to, due to the kids, but you were part of our family and you will be missed.
Madam's bday
Had a great time at Spring Barn Farm with our friends who came to celebrate Madam's 2nd birthday. The kids got to meet the farm animals. Madam soon figured that once she had a go, if she sat at the opposite side of the circle of kiddies, she could steal another go. Made me chuckle. Cake was lovely, in the essence of being a little girlie we had a pink cake. We detest pink in the house, so it was fitting that we consumed the pinkness.
On Madam's actual birthday we were greeted by the boy in our room at 5am. He refused to go back to sleep, Madam woke up at 6am in a foul mood. By the time hubby came back from business pow wow Madam had ripped up the boys fav dinosaur poster. Boy was inconsolable, he repeatedly got me the car keys so I could take him out to get another poster. Bless.
Hubby and I took the kids to an all inclusive play area in a nearby town, stopping only briefly to remove the testo bag to the front of our car on the dual carriageway!. Kids slept, woke up refreshed and then proceeded to bounce, climb, slide, and enjoy the rides.
Came back home, had cake and then the kids went to bed. Madam is two, going on teenager, she is very funny, talks to me in endless Hungarian and is loving fruit tea.
On Madam's actual birthday we were greeted by the boy in our room at 5am. He refused to go back to sleep, Madam woke up at 6am in a foul mood. By the time hubby came back from business pow wow Madam had ripped up the boys fav dinosaur poster. Boy was inconsolable, he repeatedly got me the car keys so I could take him out to get another poster. Bless.
Hubby and I took the kids to an all inclusive play area in a nearby town, stopping only briefly to remove the testo bag to the front of our car on the dual carriageway!. Kids slept, woke up refreshed and then proceeded to bounce, climb, slide, and enjoy the rides.
Came back home, had cake and then the kids went to bed. Madam is two, going on teenager, she is very funny, talks to me in endless Hungarian and is loving fruit tea.
Monday, 13 July 2009
Farewell Michael Jackson
I loved you since I was a teenager. You moved like lightning, danced like a god and sang like it was a personal performance. You never released a song I did not like. I always had either Thriller or Bad in my car. You were a true performer. Very sadly missed.
2nd Birthday
Madam is going to have her 2nd birthday next week. She truly is a joy, but the terrible two’s are beckoning. The boy has devised his own way of dealing with any hissy fit, he just shouts “oh [her name], stop it”, and stands over her like a boxing referee hovering over a knockout. I just stand back, wait till she pauses for breath, pass her her security blanket and pretend to be so shocked that the whites of my eyes are shown and my eyebrows suffer from vertigo. So far this is working, but, there will come a time, probably in public that I wont be able to perform meltdown magic!
Twilight
My dear friend evova, I have loved and admired you for a long time, now thanks to you introducing me to Twilight, I love you a little more. Brilliant books, thanks so much for thinking of me.
Holiday
Went to Hungary for two weeks on my own with the two weeks. We had a brilliant time, I have very briefly listed the more notable antics:
1. The boy taking alfresco peeing to new heights and peeing on the cat and his sister. The cat was not phased, it probably thought it was a cooling shower! Madam, however was, she turned her mouth down and screamed no at him. To which I burst out laughing at the spectacle. Feel bad for Madam as she needed a hug and all she got was my Granny and I weeping with laughter.
2. We saw storks, hedgehogs (adult and baby – so sweet!), stag beetles nanny goats, giant snails, water snake with fish in its mouth!.
3. I got bitten by a cat, have been having rabies shots ever since, I wont go into the full details, suffice to say I wanted to save a neighbours cat which was in agony, which then bit me. Went to the doctor to get a tetanus shot, having explained the whole story, they immediately phones their equivalent of the public health authority, then my neighbour got into trouble for keeping a cat without inoculations, cat was put down and am awaiting autopsy results to see if it had rabies. As a precaution I am been given rabies shots, not painful in themselves, BUT, the side effects are pretty nasty, I have been having night terrors and am off food generally. I still feel sorry for the cat. I wont even mention the ear bashing that I got from my gran!
4. Madam could not be toilet trained as she refuses to pee sitting down, she wants to pee standing up like her brother.
5. Weather was not brilliant for the first week, second week was better and we got to go to some spas. I can honestly say that I have never seen the kids so happy. They paddled, ate, screamed, squealed and splashed the whole day. Upon paying a tenner (for all of us) to get into one very renowned thermal spa, my granny went to complain that the water was cold and she wanted a refund. I did not know how to keep a straight face when the supervisor came over to inform “your most gracious madam” that she had tested the foot washing water, “and should she kindly venture 2 meters further in, she will be able to appreciate the full heat of 38 degree water!!!”.
6. The kids ate cake, ice cream and cheese scones for the most part of each day. I took the view that they were on hols so why not relax the rules a little. Besides, when they woke up in the morning, they went out and had either redcurrants, blackcurrants, cherries, gooseberries or tomatoes for breakfast straight from my grannies garden.
7. “I’m a pirate game” was invented, whereby one child randomly shouts “I’m a pirate” the other screetches the same louder and louder until one of them gives in. I must apologise to rows 20 – 26 on the flight home for my kiddies inflicting this game on them during a fairly turbulent landing!
8. The kids language skills have come on a treat, even the boy answers me in Hungarian.
9. If you are wondering about the picture then its of the fireplace, which the boy was convinced was somehow magically linked to Thomas the Tank engine. Everyday I used to pick out bits of food he had “fed” Thomas’s engine to create steam. The rope only ended up around it when my clothes, makeup and shoes were donated to the steam cause. By the way, you maybe able to see the wood panelling which my grandfather made by his fair hand, carving all the roses and circles himself.
10. Caught up with my childhood friends and sat on the deck above the water drinking, reminiscing and laughing. Thanks to all of you for making me feel so welcome.
All in all we had a great time.
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Hungover but happy
My birthday yesterday, hubby organised surprise evening out. I suspected something was going on, but, could not place my finger on what exactly it was. Having put one kiddie to bed, I was actually considering putting my pj's on and ordering a takeaway. When babysitter turned up I was slightly speechless. Got ready in super quick time.
Got into the car and showed hubby what exactly I get upto once I drop the kids off. Namely, crank the stereo upto an impossibly high setting and dance around in the car. We got various second glances from pedestrians, probably laughing at the two wrinklies dancing around in the estate car. I did not care, the moosic was LOUD (prodigy! - who else!), so loud that I could not hear myself squealing in delight. We cruised the seafront. Bliss. Only downside was that when we got out we could not actually hear anything, but we giggled like teenagers.
Hubby had booked a table at hotel du vin, a fantastic surprise and we had a great dinner. By the time the coffee arrived I was blissfully dizzy from the food, conversation and tiredness. Brilliant time. Am now nursing a hangover and trying to look after two kids. Have had 3 coffees and its helping no end.
Got into the car and showed hubby what exactly I get upto once I drop the kids off. Namely, crank the stereo upto an impossibly high setting and dance around in the car. We got various second glances from pedestrians, probably laughing at the two wrinklies dancing around in the estate car. I did not care, the moosic was LOUD (prodigy! - who else!), so loud that I could not hear myself squealing in delight. We cruised the seafront. Bliss. Only downside was that when we got out we could not actually hear anything, but we giggled like teenagers.
Hubby had booked a table at hotel du vin, a fantastic surprise and we had a great dinner. By the time the coffee arrived I was blissfully dizzy from the food, conversation and tiredness. Brilliant time. Am now nursing a hangover and trying to look after two kids. Have had 3 coffees and its helping no end.
Saturday, 13 June 2009
Random people
My son is very sweet, he is a man of few words but genuinely kind and very funny. He has of late, started a very annoying habit, one which I cannot get him to loose. When we are out, he basically latches onto complete strangers with kids much younger or older than him. For example, the other day we were at paradise park, and he latched onto a small toddler. The toddler was younger than my daughter (who did not give him another look) and I could not for the life of me get my son to loose interest in the boy or the mum. I tried everything, bribes of ice cream, ride on the train, physically dragging him away from the mother and child, no nothing worked. The other mum was bemused and so was the little boy. So we ended up going round the park with them and making akward conversation.
Yesterday the boy did it again, he found me a fireman. Retired wrinkly fireman who was there with his grandaughter. At first I thought it was amusing, and now I am just plain irritated by it. My son has no interaction with the other child, I am left to do all the talking. I am tempted to pretend that I am a deaf mute and resort to sign language, just so I am not having to make "lift" conversation with them.
Either that or sign my son upto speed dating......
Yesterday the boy did it again, he found me a fireman. Retired wrinkly fireman who was there with his grandaughter. At first I thought it was amusing, and now I am just plain irritated by it. My son has no interaction with the other child, I am left to do all the talking. I am tempted to pretend that I am a deaf mute and resort to sign language, just so I am not having to make "lift" conversation with them.
Either that or sign my son upto speed dating......
My cheese shop
has disappeared, closed down, ceased to exist. What to do now, where do I source my Mortadella, Chorizo suasages, Getojst from? As well providing wonderfully generous tasters of cheese I have never encountered, they were jolly nice people. I knew they were selling up but this was too fast. I even half heartedly considered buying the shop. Alas, then I would have to pay for gastric band to be fitted as I would attempt to stuff a whole brie into my mouth. So there you have it, Lewes has lost a treasured shop.
In honour of my friend
we played ABBA at full blast today and I taught the kids to say Skol, told them the story about the little mermaid, changing some of the places to Ikea and Lapland. I also told them about Freddie Lundberg, a vvvvvvv good looking footballer. The only one from ABBAland I know. Cannot wait to see you next Friday and catch up. x
Monday, 8 June 2009
Skool Reunion
Had a school reunion with 5 friends last night. Had a great time, despite the kids best efforts to scupper my escape. It was the first time in kids living history that hubby and I were out on the same night, but not with eachother. Having told the boy that the babysitter was arriving at 7, he proceeded to tell me no babysitter needed as Teddy would look after him.
Babysitter arrived, read boy two books whilst I ran around in the background trying to find clothes to wear, straighten hair, remove random bits of banana out of my bag.
In the end, I managed to leave the house, met up with my friends and had a great time. Funny thing really, time seems to have stood still. Or is that just my perception? I found it quite scary looking at all the kids in our year photo. I was convinced that there could not have been more than 20 peeps in our year, as thats about how many people I remember.
Great nostalgic time was had. And also a fine curry. The third one in four weeks. Yummy!
Babysitter arrived, read boy two books whilst I ran around in the background trying to find clothes to wear, straighten hair, remove random bits of banana out of my bag.
In the end, I managed to leave the house, met up with my friends and had a great time. Funny thing really, time seems to have stood still. Or is that just my perception? I found it quite scary looking at all the kids in our year photo. I was convinced that there could not have been more than 20 peeps in our year, as thats about how many people I remember.
Great nostalgic time was had. And also a fine curry. The third one in four weeks. Yummy!
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
Grr
Slight grumble. Want to buy a bikini bottom for Madam. I dont like all in ones for kids and I dont see why I should have to pay for a bikini top I wont use. Feel like going upto the cash desk and offering them 50% of the asking price.
On a lighter note, am going to potty train Madam when we are on hols at the end of the month. This means that we will hardly need anything from the babysection any more, apart from a few nappies each week. Cannot wait for the day I dont have to visit the nappy and wipe aisle. Bring it on!
On a lighter note, am going to potty train Madam when we are on hols at the end of the month. This means that we will hardly need anything from the babysection any more, apart from a few nappies each week. Cannot wait for the day I dont have to visit the nappy and wipe aisle. Bring it on!
Feeling hot
Hurrah the sun shone for three whole days without a cloud in the sky. Ice creams were consumed and I made a personal hot tub for each of the kids. They loved it.
Life with the kids is great at the mo, we are becoming less reliant on the pushchair as Madam is on "strenghten legs" initiative. We walk everywhere. Great holding onto a pair of little (sticky) hands each side. Love it.
We are now spending at least 3/4 of the day outside of the house, Paradise Park in the morning, picnic lunch, then off to the seafront or Druscillas or Kingston playground. We generally get home between 2 and 3 in the arvo, then we bounce around outside until bedtime. Brilliant fun.
From the back of the car
The boy: Mummy you are driving too fast.
Me: No, Mummy is not driving too fast, I am driving slooooly.
The boy: Daddy drives too fast.
The girl: This [is] Daddy's car.
The boy: Mummy and Daddy drive the car too fast.
Me: Well, you make the car messy.
The boy: Mummy and Daddy make the car messy.
The girl: Mummy is naughty, want my tick tock cd.
Quite!
Me: No, Mummy is not driving too fast, I am driving slooooly.
The boy: Daddy drives too fast.
The girl: This [is] Daddy's car.
The boy: Mummy and Daddy drive the car too fast.
Me: Well, you make the car messy.
The boy: Mummy and Daddy make the car messy.
The girl: Mummy is naughty, want my tick tock cd.
Quite!
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Shops I am loving
Zara for kids. Madam and Boy both have long torso's ala me. Hennes t-shirts are short and over priced. Zara is perfect and it has a half price sale. My aunt and I seem to have bought half the shop until the kids are aged 5. Whoo hoo.
Am also still loving my butcher who provides good advice and titbits of info. Mr Archer, love you and your shop!
Am not loving M and S as their bras do not have the support bone in it. They may now have cheaper underwear, but its a false economy! If like me you need support in akin to that of the fourth road bridge, then vote with your feet and try bravissimo.
Ofcourse, my heart really belong to Lewes, Iford, Rodmell (vvvvvv nice) and Kingston.
Am also still loving my butcher who provides good advice and titbits of info. Mr Archer, love you and your shop!
Am not loving M and S as their bras do not have the support bone in it. They may now have cheaper underwear, but its a false economy! If like me you need support in akin to that of the fourth road bridge, then vote with your feet and try bravissimo.
Ofcourse, my heart really belong to Lewes, Iford, Rodmell (vvvvvv nice) and Kingston.
How to save money
1. Become Russian Orthodox Church member and celebrate Christmas on 6th January. Encourage family and friends to do the same. We can then buy Christmas presents for each other in the sales.
2. Get the boy to become a postman. He likes getting up early. He also likes Postman Pat. Perfect qualities to delver the queens mail.
3. Remove all the crumbs and leftover food items from underneath the kids car seats. This mush alone would feed the family for a week.
4. Get the kids to have less baths. Being grotty is the new clean.
5. Bind the kids feet. Each pair of shoes costs on average £30. They need two pairs at a time. Shoes need to be replaced every three months (or even less if the game of “ hurl the shoe into the garden next door” goes horribly wrong”).
6. Tell the kids that when the ice cream van plays its jingle, it actually means that it’s run out of stock entirely.
7. Dont ever boil the kettle with the intention of having a hot drink. You wont have time to drink it whilst its warm. By the time you remember you need a drink it will have a film on it.
2. Get the boy to become a postman. He likes getting up early. He also likes Postman Pat. Perfect qualities to delver the queens mail.
3. Remove all the crumbs and leftover food items from underneath the kids car seats. This mush alone would feed the family for a week.
4. Get the kids to have less baths. Being grotty is the new clean.
5. Bind the kids feet. Each pair of shoes costs on average £30. They need two pairs at a time. Shoes need to be replaced every three months (or even less if the game of “ hurl the shoe into the garden next door” goes horribly wrong”).
6. Tell the kids that when the ice cream van plays its jingle, it actually means that it’s run out of stock entirely.
7. Dont ever boil the kettle with the intention of having a hot drink. You wont have time to drink it whilst its warm. By the time you remember you need a drink it will have a film on it.
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Fab Fridays
This Friday morning will mark my fourth half day sans kiddies. Its lovely to be able to leave the house knowing I can actually get something done. So far I have had lunch with Eva, shopped in Brighton for the kids.
This week, the plan is to have lunch with my hubby. Last time we had lunch plans I caught meningitis. Today I have learned that the kids close friend, whom they played with, has chicken pox. Somehow, I think hubby and I will be playing join the dots on the kids torso’s on Friday….watch this space.
This week, the plan is to have lunch with my hubby. Last time we had lunch plans I caught meningitis. Today I have learned that the kids close friend, whom they played with, has chicken pox. Somehow, I think hubby and I will be playing join the dots on the kids torso’s on Friday….watch this space.
Otherwise known as Imelda.
My little girl is a joy. She is also a minx. For instance, the boy, although cheeky, has never pushed the bounderies quite like Madam, who is insistant on twisting everyone round her little finger. If we needed to get the boy out of the swing, we just told him that swing time was over, time to go on the slide / climbing frame etc. With Madam, to get her from the swing, I start weaving a story about the swing being tired, she looks at me with fire in her eyes and declares NO! I reiterate to Madam that the swing is creaking because it is tired. The swing won’t go any faster or higher as it’s the swings nap time. Round we go like this for five minutes. Madam then accepts that the swing is tired as its still. She allows me the privilege of taking her from the swing, she hugs it, says night night, thank you and waves it bye bye.
So, now you know she is hard work, but equally adorable. It was a rainy day, so I decide to take the kids to a local soft play area. Madam brings me her sandals to wear. Explain to her that we cannot wear sandals today. Show Madam that the boy and I are wearing winter outdoor shoes. I am met with crying and a shoe being thrown at me (not the sandal sadly, as I could have then confiscated it). I open the door and show Madam the pouring rain. Cue more crying and sandal waving. After much cajoling, we agree that her doll will guard the sandals whilst we are out and she can wear them in the house when we get back. All the way to the soft play area all I hear is the sound of Madam trying to take her shoes off, shouting, “not mine”.
Some time later, we are playing at the top of the soft play frame. I hear a scream and Madam hurls herself down the slide and runs off into the distance. Boy and I rush after her. Turns out that a little girl has the same sandals that Madam has just left at home. The little girl is bewildered. In the confusion all I hear is Madam screaming Mine, Mine. We are now joined by bewildered little girls mum who is asking me whether her girl pushed mine……….
So, now you know she is hard work, but equally adorable. It was a rainy day, so I decide to take the kids to a local soft play area. Madam brings me her sandals to wear. Explain to her that we cannot wear sandals today. Show Madam that the boy and I are wearing winter outdoor shoes. I am met with crying and a shoe being thrown at me (not the sandal sadly, as I could have then confiscated it). I open the door and show Madam the pouring rain. Cue more crying and sandal waving. After much cajoling, we agree that her doll will guard the sandals whilst we are out and she can wear them in the house when we get back. All the way to the soft play area all I hear is the sound of Madam trying to take her shoes off, shouting, “not mine”.
Some time later, we are playing at the top of the soft play frame. I hear a scream and Madam hurls herself down the slide and runs off into the distance. Boy and I rush after her. Turns out that a little girl has the same sandals that Madam has just left at home. The little girl is bewildered. In the confusion all I hear is Madam screaming Mine, Mine. We are now joined by bewildered little girls mum who is asking me whether her girl pushed mine……….
1000 Angry Ants
Take 1000 angry ants, 1000 baseball bats, and around 500 maces. Combine these together in your skull, add a fever, projectile vomiting and light sensitivity, what have you got? Viral meningitis.
Hand on heart I have never known pain like it. This from the woman that has experienced two babies skulls nestled into her ribs for the last six weeks of pregnancy, resulting in only partial ability to breathe, have had nipples chewed off by relentlessly unruly babies, resulting in me crying in pain, whenever it was feeding time, which, unfortunately was all too often!
It started innocently enough, I was at a kiddies party, headache started and within 15 minutes was really quite painful. I put it down to not drinking enough water and running in and out of a warm house, into a cold garden. Within 30 mins I was asking for paracetemol (unheard of for me!).
An hour later I am begging hubby to drive home on straight roads as I cannot handle turning corners. Am unable to get the kids into bed, leave them in the care of hubby as I crawl into bed. I assume it’s a 24 hour bug. By the next morning I am totally drained of any energy, my head feels like Helman province has relocated there, my ears are throbbing from fever and I have to have the duvet over my head to “keep out the pesky light”. Hubby dutifully brings me two paracetemol and looks after kids. By 11 am I am asking him to phone duty doc. (Again, unheard of for me).
Docs arrive, quick assessment later they tell me that they cannot rule out meningitis (bacterial or viral) and they arrange for A&E to expect me. They tell me to pack an overnight bag. I tell hubby that I just need something for the pain and once I have that I will be home. He drops me off at A&E.
Within about 5 mins of announcing my name I am wheeled into a cubicle behind a&E. By this time I am very quiet from the pain, I cannot really move my head or neck or the ants get really angry and pound my head again. So there I am in a wheelchair, eyes fixed on the ground, trying not to anger the ants. First I see a nurse who sticks a line into my arm “for fluids she explains”, another nurse tries to get blood out of the other arm, within 10 mins my hand is looking like a novelty pin cushion.
Dr arrives, asks me lots of questions, I keep repeating to her that if they give me something for the pain I will leave them to concentrate on the really sick patients. At which stage, she lowers her voice and tells me I am really sick. Again, the quietness returns to my mind, if I keep looking at the floor the ants wont return. After the SHO checks me over, I am left with a nurse, whom I actually cannot make eyecontact with, as I am still staring at the floor. She tells me they are taking me to a CT scanner to check for a bleed on my brain.
It still at that stage had not hit home how serious things could get. After CT scan, I am wheeled into a ward without windows. Doc comes and explains there is no bleed on the brain, (which I pretty well knew anyway), and that they are going to do a lumbar puncture to see if its bacterial or viral meningitis.
Before you know it I am in a foetal position, trying not to move, “if you move it could damage your spine” being my mantra. Meanwhile something has clearly angered the ants who have now decided its time to rake my brain. Each drag of the rake results in a hot jolt of pain from the front of my skull to the back. Meanwhile, hubby is holding my hand, which I cannot really feel due to the fever and need to vomit. What can I say, if you ever need a lumbar puncture in your life, have some vodka first, about 2 litres should do it, that will help prepare you for the sensation of someone sticking a knitting needle between your disks. By the time its in, and you have caught your breath, they are removing it and you wished the needle was still inside. All in all, it was so ghastly that I ran out of happy thoughts.
I then have to lie down for the next hour to try and reduce the risk of post lumbar puncture headache. After 40 mins, my old nemesis projectile vomiting is back.
At 3 am they wake me with the news that its probably bacterial meningitis and they need to give me some anti biotics, steroids and anti sickness tablets.
Next morning the doc does the rounds and confirms it is bacterial meningitis, and that they caught it early. I feel as though I wont the lottery. Unfortunately the nurse who has to administer my fluid antibiotics sets the machine incorrectly and runs the concoction in over 15 mins instead of an hour. The result is that I start hallucinating, heart racing and being breathless. On top of all this, the ants are back, luckily they have had the baseball bats confiscated but they seem to be practising Riverdance…
I am moved onto an isolation ward. By moved, imagine me pleading with them not to move me out of the bed as the pain will be back. I then have to be “persuaded” to go.
Isolation ward is quite nice, I get my own room. The Ants are back in force and no amount of painkillers will help. By this time its Monday, and I have not eaten since sat arvo. Shiny food is presented to me which makes a return about 15 mins later.
More steroids, more anti sickness drugs, which don’t really work, more lapsing in and out of catnaps (am unable to sleep as if I move my head accidentally the ants turn on the chainsaw). And repeat this for another 24 hours. Next morning dr tells me that the lab results are back, it was not bacterial meningitis but a very severe dose of viral meningitis. Apparently I must have caught it from one of the kids (luckily who are immune) and I am released to go home under strict orders not to move a muscle for two weeks (again, if you know me, sitting still is impossible, due to ants (not angry kind) in my pants!
The upshot is that I am still quite weak, my back kills, but I have been very lucky.
Thanks everyone for your cards, flowers, messages, support and help. I will email you all individually when I can sit at a desk for longer than a nanosecond.
Hand on heart I have never known pain like it. This from the woman that has experienced two babies skulls nestled into her ribs for the last six weeks of pregnancy, resulting in only partial ability to breathe, have had nipples chewed off by relentlessly unruly babies, resulting in me crying in pain, whenever it was feeding time, which, unfortunately was all too often!
It started innocently enough, I was at a kiddies party, headache started and within 15 minutes was really quite painful. I put it down to not drinking enough water and running in and out of a warm house, into a cold garden. Within 30 mins I was asking for paracetemol (unheard of for me!).
An hour later I am begging hubby to drive home on straight roads as I cannot handle turning corners. Am unable to get the kids into bed, leave them in the care of hubby as I crawl into bed. I assume it’s a 24 hour bug. By the next morning I am totally drained of any energy, my head feels like Helman province has relocated there, my ears are throbbing from fever and I have to have the duvet over my head to “keep out the pesky light”. Hubby dutifully brings me two paracetemol and looks after kids. By 11 am I am asking him to phone duty doc. (Again, unheard of for me).
Docs arrive, quick assessment later they tell me that they cannot rule out meningitis (bacterial or viral) and they arrange for A&E to expect me. They tell me to pack an overnight bag. I tell hubby that I just need something for the pain and once I have that I will be home. He drops me off at A&E.
Within about 5 mins of announcing my name I am wheeled into a cubicle behind a&E. By this time I am very quiet from the pain, I cannot really move my head or neck or the ants get really angry and pound my head again. So there I am in a wheelchair, eyes fixed on the ground, trying not to anger the ants. First I see a nurse who sticks a line into my arm “for fluids she explains”, another nurse tries to get blood out of the other arm, within 10 mins my hand is looking like a novelty pin cushion.
Dr arrives, asks me lots of questions, I keep repeating to her that if they give me something for the pain I will leave them to concentrate on the really sick patients. At which stage, she lowers her voice and tells me I am really sick. Again, the quietness returns to my mind, if I keep looking at the floor the ants wont return. After the SHO checks me over, I am left with a nurse, whom I actually cannot make eyecontact with, as I am still staring at the floor. She tells me they are taking me to a CT scanner to check for a bleed on my brain.
It still at that stage had not hit home how serious things could get. After CT scan, I am wheeled into a ward without windows. Doc comes and explains there is no bleed on the brain, (which I pretty well knew anyway), and that they are going to do a lumbar puncture to see if its bacterial or viral meningitis.
Before you know it I am in a foetal position, trying not to move, “if you move it could damage your spine” being my mantra. Meanwhile something has clearly angered the ants who have now decided its time to rake my brain. Each drag of the rake results in a hot jolt of pain from the front of my skull to the back. Meanwhile, hubby is holding my hand, which I cannot really feel due to the fever and need to vomit. What can I say, if you ever need a lumbar puncture in your life, have some vodka first, about 2 litres should do it, that will help prepare you for the sensation of someone sticking a knitting needle between your disks. By the time its in, and you have caught your breath, they are removing it and you wished the needle was still inside. All in all, it was so ghastly that I ran out of happy thoughts.
I then have to lie down for the next hour to try and reduce the risk of post lumbar puncture headache. After 40 mins, my old nemesis projectile vomiting is back.
At 3 am they wake me with the news that its probably bacterial meningitis and they need to give me some anti biotics, steroids and anti sickness tablets.
Next morning the doc does the rounds and confirms it is bacterial meningitis, and that they caught it early. I feel as though I wont the lottery. Unfortunately the nurse who has to administer my fluid antibiotics sets the machine incorrectly and runs the concoction in over 15 mins instead of an hour. The result is that I start hallucinating, heart racing and being breathless. On top of all this, the ants are back, luckily they have had the baseball bats confiscated but they seem to be practising Riverdance…
I am moved onto an isolation ward. By moved, imagine me pleading with them not to move me out of the bed as the pain will be back. I then have to be “persuaded” to go.
Isolation ward is quite nice, I get my own room. The Ants are back in force and no amount of painkillers will help. By this time its Monday, and I have not eaten since sat arvo. Shiny food is presented to me which makes a return about 15 mins later.
More steroids, more anti sickness drugs, which don’t really work, more lapsing in and out of catnaps (am unable to sleep as if I move my head accidentally the ants turn on the chainsaw). And repeat this for another 24 hours. Next morning dr tells me that the lab results are back, it was not bacterial meningitis but a very severe dose of viral meningitis. Apparently I must have caught it from one of the kids (luckily who are immune) and I am released to go home under strict orders not to move a muscle for two weeks (again, if you know me, sitting still is impossible, due to ants (not angry kind) in my pants!
The upshot is that I am still quite weak, my back kills, but I have been very lucky.
Thanks everyone for your cards, flowers, messages, support and help. I will email you all individually when I can sit at a desk for longer than a nanosecond.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
A BIG thank you to the everso lushy David Tennant
You are just the best doctor ever. Oh, such a good episode!
So just how has he become quite so sporty.
His father and I are quite active, so I can understand the boy being quite active. However, the boy has become sport mad. If its not golf, the trampoline, running around the large deck, climbing, or simply bouncing round the garden, the boy is not happy. I am very thankful for this as the boy goes to sleep at night with his tongue hanging out from exhaustion.
The boy does not walk anywhere, he runs and ,full pelt at that. Whilst other kids his age are still in a buggy or on a buggy board, the boy has walked everywhere for the last year. Well done my little man. Now if you could just slow down so mummy can catch her breath….
The boy does not walk anywhere, he runs and ,full pelt at that. Whilst other kids his age are still in a buggy or on a buggy board, the boy has walked everywhere for the last year. Well done my little man. Now if you could just slow down so mummy can catch her breath….
Chuckled to myself.
Madam has learned to run. So how does she choose to apply this new found talent? Steals the boys toast out of his hands and runs as fast as her little legs can carry her.
Easter
Cooked half the farmyard again. Went for some lovely days out, one lovely morning on the beach. Madam and I got a little wet when we miss-judged outjumping a wave. Consoled ourselves with a snack whilst the boy ran round the beach. Boy ran round perilously close to the nudist area, where the potbellied variety slowly basted themselves in glorious sunshine.
Share update
I am one smidgen short of making a pound per share on my investment. Having taken a good look around a certain well known high street store, I am sure they have too much stock and not the right stock. Am going to have to beg hubby to “short” them. Watch this space.
When is a bag not a bag?
When it becomes a time machine. I found the following in my fav red handbag: madam’s half eaten plum, brown with age. Pack of colouring pencils from Café Rouge, compliments of the boy. A sippy cup. A golf ball. A kids library book which we (I thought) we returned 3 weeks ago. A half eaten pack of raisins. Sand. masses of sand from when I played in the sand pit with the kids. I did not realise they tried to use my bag as a mould.
Getting the kids ready to go out.
1. An estimated half hour before you actually need to leave, start shouting cheerfully “who wants to go out to xxxxx”
2. Take a deep breath. Put your coat on.
3. Heard kids into the hallway. Explain to whiny boy why we need to leave the house. Explain, patiently to the boy that, no, we won’t have time to go to the garden centre.
4. Pick boy up off the floor, which he seems to be welded to, courtesy of garden centre disappointment.
5. Get kids to sit down on the bottom step. Ensure you have chosen shoes to hand, as, if you have not chosen kiddies fav shoes du jour, all hell will break loose and you will not be able to win the battled entitled “shoe choice – why you cannot wear odd shoes”.
6. Ask kids politely to agree on who is having shoe fitted first. Ask kids to stop kicking each other. Retrieve the child whichever child is second, from kitchen. Close hallway door.
7. Wedge kids feet into shoes whilst other child climbs on your back pretending it’s a slide.
8. Gently tempt arms into jumpers / coats. It may feel like the kid has just grown 10 wriggly arms, but in actual fact they still only only have two. Find out you have put on jumper backwards.
9. Repeat number 8.
10. Retrieve your toddler from the bathroom (which you have just cleaned), who is busy smearing liquid soap into the walls. Tell toddler off. Berate yourself for having the audacity to clean during the day and expect it to last that way.
11. Take deep breath no 2, you will need this as you are slowly melting because you have had your coat on for the last half hour.
12. Put your shoes on. Salvage your other shoe away from toddler, who is determined to wear it. Pick toddler up (stops them from creating any more havoc) and balance child on your hip, whilst trying to put shoe on.
13. Pick up house keys, swat boys hands out of “snack” bag, which he is eagerly rifling through.
14. Open the door. Walk down to the car. Tell toddler to stop pulling your hair, toddler only stops slapping and pulling your hair when you have walked back up driveway said “good morning” properly to the neighbours cat.
15. Make a mental note to always say hello to neighbours cat.
16. Put kids in the car. Try and remain calm when they both demand that you strap them in first.
17. Sigh and sink into drivers seat. Ask if everyone ok.
18. Boy triumphantly announces he needs a wee. Cue deep breath!
2. Take a deep breath. Put your coat on.
3. Heard kids into the hallway. Explain to whiny boy why we need to leave the house. Explain, patiently to the boy that, no, we won’t have time to go to the garden centre.
4. Pick boy up off the floor, which he seems to be welded to, courtesy of garden centre disappointment.
5. Get kids to sit down on the bottom step. Ensure you have chosen shoes to hand, as, if you have not chosen kiddies fav shoes du jour, all hell will break loose and you will not be able to win the battled entitled “shoe choice – why you cannot wear odd shoes”.
6. Ask kids politely to agree on who is having shoe fitted first. Ask kids to stop kicking each other. Retrieve the child whichever child is second, from kitchen. Close hallway door.
7. Wedge kids feet into shoes whilst other child climbs on your back pretending it’s a slide.
8. Gently tempt arms into jumpers / coats. It may feel like the kid has just grown 10 wriggly arms, but in actual fact they still only only have two. Find out you have put on jumper backwards.
9. Repeat number 8.
10. Retrieve your toddler from the bathroom (which you have just cleaned), who is busy smearing liquid soap into the walls. Tell toddler off. Berate yourself for having the audacity to clean during the day and expect it to last that way.
11. Take deep breath no 2, you will need this as you are slowly melting because you have had your coat on for the last half hour.
12. Put your shoes on. Salvage your other shoe away from toddler, who is determined to wear it. Pick toddler up (stops them from creating any more havoc) and balance child on your hip, whilst trying to put shoe on.
13. Pick up house keys, swat boys hands out of “snack” bag, which he is eagerly rifling through.
14. Open the door. Walk down to the car. Tell toddler to stop pulling your hair, toddler only stops slapping and pulling your hair when you have walked back up driveway said “good morning” properly to the neighbours cat.
15. Make a mental note to always say hello to neighbours cat.
16. Put kids in the car. Try and remain calm when they both demand that you strap them in first.
17. Sigh and sink into drivers seat. Ask if everyone ok.
18. Boy triumphantly announces he needs a wee. Cue deep breath!
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Fish Update
they have so far earned me enough to have half a Bounty. Bounty bar that is. Am hoping that they will leap out of the water and shed gold scales. If not then its back to the cooking chocolate.....to be continued
Got a freebie diary from a client
must have been a champers swiging, caviar guzzling, cigar chomping type client who probably earned the GDP of a small country last year. How do I know that this big cheese is doing so well? In the miscellaneous section of the diary they have listed all the vintage years for various wines. Posh huh?
Quick catch up
Been a busy couple of weeks, busy and sickly. For a change I have been the sickly one, the new prescription of antibiotics sits in my handbag. I have decided not to take them as I dont believe what I have is a virus. Its just a reaction to a very loooooong winter. Salad, sunshine and a day off is all I need.
We celebrated pancake day early, Madame stuffed herself with 5 whole pancakes. 5 pancakes are actually taller than her. We took the boy to Wakehurst Place over the weekend to tire him out on a very long walk. The boy ran, scarpered and gamboled down hills which I had problems with. When we got back to the car it was not the boy in the need of 40 winks, it was me! We had 40 winks and then took him for mini golf.
Erm, think thats it.
We celebrated pancake day early, Madame stuffed herself with 5 whole pancakes. 5 pancakes are actually taller than her. We took the boy to Wakehurst Place over the weekend to tire him out on a very long walk. The boy ran, scarpered and gamboled down hills which I had problems with. When we got back to the car it was not the boy in the need of 40 winks, it was me! We had 40 winks and then took him for mini golf.
Erm, think thats it.
Its Quite Short
My hair that is, at the back its above my jaw and the rest is in a kind of sleekish bob. hairdresser did a fab job, I loved it until I absentmindedly clutched it in a moment of work induced stress and found I could not put it into a pony tail. That aside I love it. It will take even less to straighten it in the mornings.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
today I shall mostly be training
with a group of 5 men about techie stuff and try not to colour my screens red or crash the system.
He
snorts, he farts, he sractched his bottom in bed and then demands breakfast at 5:45am. Furthermore he demands meaningful conversation at such a time (does it actually exist?). No, I am not talking about my hubby, I am talking about my (darling) son. I had the pleasure of his company in bed a few nights ago. Now to try and wean him off this special "treat".
Its back
The need to put the moosic on full blast as soon as I hit reverse out of the nursery driveway. Fortunately, me looking backwards means that I cannot see the look on my kids faces when I drive off!
I am loving the new nursery, not only because they are producing wonderful artwork (err, son, thats a great looking....train, dinosaur, postman pat). Not to mention the fact that they are dressed, ready and waiting to be handed over. No more willing little hands into sleeves whislt they try and play with their friends!!
I am loving the new nursery, not only because they are producing wonderful artwork (err, son, thats a great looking....train, dinosaur, postman pat). Not to mention the fact that they are dressed, ready and waiting to be handed over. No more willing little hands into sleeves whislt they try and play with their friends!!
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
I forgot to mention
within my 25, that, I used to have LCT days (low cut top) when I used to work full time. This invariably happened on days when I needed the boys in support to do help me, whilst I ran down to their office and wailed for help.
I also close my eyes when parking the car in the work car park. I think this helps block out the boys on helpdesk as I think they are going to hold up a score card soon!
I also close my eyes when parking the car in the work car park. I think this helps block out the boys on helpdesk as I think they are going to hold up a score card soon!
Madam is a real bossy boots
Made me laugh last night, Madam orders the boy to lie down on the floor. Bemused boy complies. Madam then proceeds to lay her comfort blanket on him (high honour indeed), and pat him to sleep. Boy complains he is not tired. Pretty soon I am going to be redundant!!!
The Fear
Yuk, Lily Allens song personifies everything that is wrong with the world today. Therefore, whenever is comes on I shout e=mc2 loudly to drown it out.
Monday, 9 February 2009
Random 25
For Eva:
1. I am happy to drink the juice from a jar of olives.
2. I am quite flexible my fingers bend back to a freakisly large angle.
3. When I tell people I am Hungarian, and they then tell me in a shocked and patronising tone that they never would have guessed I mentally switch off and start to pick out my fav pick and mix, ice cream flavours, fav herbs etc. This is because I normally then get asked: what language do you think in, say something, and as I have done this athousand times, I know I can retreat into my own world. This is also what happens when people make small talk. I am terrible at it and I normally manage to kill conversations by my lack of interest at Aunt Mildred's new car/ carpet/ washing powder woes.
4. I get REALLY annoyed when I see bottles of Jam with the label proudly proclaiming "no added sugar". WHAT????
5. The only thing I ever wash up are the kids drinking glasses, everything else goes in the dishwasher, sand pit toys, dustbins, you name it, if it can fit in, it goes in and stays in for as many cycles as it takes to get clean.
6. I always have the same password, when the kind microsoftware asks me to change it, I just add 123 to the end or the beginning. Same for pins, all the same! Naughty me if I get cleaned out by the bank. Whoops, its about 18bn too late. Bastards.
7. My hubby reglularly used to (before we were married), take me out shopping and when in a shop tell me he would buy me anything I wanted. I always replied that I only wanted him and we would walk out giggling. However, one day I picked out a stupidly overpriced painting and watched him sweat as I said they should start wrapping it. His face was a picture. Needless to say, no picture but plenty of giggles.
8. I am not a dessert person, much rather starter and main course. Ohh, perhaps a cheese course as well.
9. I am a big cheese lover and my fav cheese is smoked cheese from Serbia I think a literal translation would be smoked pasture.
10. I never know what to wish for with the wishbone of a chicken, I always ask for world peace.
11. I love warm places and hate being cold, which is why you will find me sitting next to the radiator most evenings in the winter.
12. If I won the lottery I would buy a library and a hat sewing operation. I would set up a stall in town and read my books whilst handng out the hats (free of charge) to parents who cannot be bothered to put a hat on a small baby which has no hair.
13. Ice cream is my favourite food. Closely followed by a tie between spinach and chicken noodle soup.
14. I am not brilliant at keeping in touch. Unfortunately thats what 2 kids in two years does to you.
15. My resolution for 2009 is to tell it like it is and also not to worry. Both have had interesting consequences.
16. I am quite good at change and being flexible and using resources wisely.
17. Due to not worrying (see 15), I now throw the tumble drying into the machine, instead of checking to see if the neighbours cat is sleeping in there.
18. I am secretly scared of re-reading my favourite books as I fear that they wont be so great second time around.
19. I have only recently started moisturising daily. I still have the small tester moisturiser I bought in NY with Eva.
20. I am a qualified open water diver. I dont quite know how I managed that as I have absolutely no bouyancy control, what can I say, my body does not want to be submerged! My favourite pasttime when diving is to hover over the reef and the deep blue beyond. That, and trying to catch nemo.
21. I really dont like my kids names beginning with the same letter. I was heavily pregnant and not willing to argue about Madames name. Again, as with point 15, I am not worried, she will probably change it in 15 years time to something kool and yooflike.
22. My Aunt is the most fashionable person I know. She could make a binbag look radiant.
23. I have an inane ability to pick the most expensive thing in the shop without seeing the pricetag.
24. I will never understand cricket, any sport whereby you cannot actually tell who is winning at any given point is pointless and sillylegman to me.
25. If I had to have a celebrity boyfriend it would have to be the lush David Tennant or failing that Robert Peston.
1. I am happy to drink the juice from a jar of olives.
2. I am quite flexible my fingers bend back to a freakisly large angle.
3. When I tell people I am Hungarian, and they then tell me in a shocked and patronising tone that they never would have guessed I mentally switch off and start to pick out my fav pick and mix, ice cream flavours, fav herbs etc. This is because I normally then get asked: what language do you think in, say something, and as I have done this athousand times, I know I can retreat into my own world. This is also what happens when people make small talk. I am terrible at it and I normally manage to kill conversations by my lack of interest at Aunt Mildred's new car/ carpet/ washing powder woes.
4. I get REALLY annoyed when I see bottles of Jam with the label proudly proclaiming "no added sugar". WHAT????
5. The only thing I ever wash up are the kids drinking glasses, everything else goes in the dishwasher, sand pit toys, dustbins, you name it, if it can fit in, it goes in and stays in for as many cycles as it takes to get clean.
6. I always have the same password, when the kind microsoftware asks me to change it, I just add 123 to the end or the beginning. Same for pins, all the same! Naughty me if I get cleaned out by the bank. Whoops, its about 18bn too late. Bastards.
7. My hubby reglularly used to (before we were married), take me out shopping and when in a shop tell me he would buy me anything I wanted. I always replied that I only wanted him and we would walk out giggling. However, one day I picked out a stupidly overpriced painting and watched him sweat as I said they should start wrapping it. His face was a picture. Needless to say, no picture but plenty of giggles.
8. I am not a dessert person, much rather starter and main course. Ohh, perhaps a cheese course as well.
9. I am a big cheese lover and my fav cheese is smoked cheese from Serbia I think a literal translation would be smoked pasture.
10. I never know what to wish for with the wishbone of a chicken, I always ask for world peace.
11. I love warm places and hate being cold, which is why you will find me sitting next to the radiator most evenings in the winter.
12. If I won the lottery I would buy a library and a hat sewing operation. I would set up a stall in town and read my books whilst handng out the hats (free of charge) to parents who cannot be bothered to put a hat on a small baby which has no hair.
13. Ice cream is my favourite food. Closely followed by a tie between spinach and chicken noodle soup.
14. I am not brilliant at keeping in touch. Unfortunately thats what 2 kids in two years does to you.
15. My resolution for 2009 is to tell it like it is and also not to worry. Both have had interesting consequences.
16. I am quite good at change and being flexible and using resources wisely.
17. Due to not worrying (see 15), I now throw the tumble drying into the machine, instead of checking to see if the neighbours cat is sleeping in there.
18. I am secretly scared of re-reading my favourite books as I fear that they wont be so great second time around.
19. I have only recently started moisturising daily. I still have the small tester moisturiser I bought in NY with Eva.
20. I am a qualified open water diver. I dont quite know how I managed that as I have absolutely no bouyancy control, what can I say, my body does not want to be submerged! My favourite pasttime when diving is to hover over the reef and the deep blue beyond. That, and trying to catch nemo.
21. I really dont like my kids names beginning with the same letter. I was heavily pregnant and not willing to argue about Madames name. Again, as with point 15, I am not worried, she will probably change it in 15 years time to something kool and yooflike.
22. My Aunt is the most fashionable person I know. She could make a binbag look radiant.
23. I have an inane ability to pick the most expensive thing in the shop without seeing the pricetag.
24. I will never understand cricket, any sport whereby you cannot actually tell who is winning at any given point is pointless and sillylegman to me.
25. If I had to have a celebrity boyfriend it would have to be the lush David Tennant or failing that Robert Peston.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Helpfl websites
I am searching for a family holiday. I dont have a long list of criteria. It is as follows:
minimum 4 star hotel
has to have a mini golf course on site or nearby
does not have to be all inclusive, but if it is then icecream must be included (hubby designated this, who am I to argue?)
Either a family suite where we have a seperate room from the kids or a duplex bungalow as some family resorts have.
somewhere warm.
Now, am I asking for too much? Remember I have not narrowed it down to location or even price. So, can I find me a travel website that wont force all four of us to be in the same room? Nope, its nigh on impossible. All these very helpful websites want to save me money, but ruin our holiday by putting us all in the same room.
Maybe what I should do is setup a search engine for family holidays. I bet there are families who are more demanding than mine?
minimum 4 star hotel
has to have a mini golf course on site or nearby
does not have to be all inclusive, but if it is then icecream must be included (hubby designated this, who am I to argue?)
Either a family suite where we have a seperate room from the kids or a duplex bungalow as some family resorts have.
somewhere warm.
Now, am I asking for too much? Remember I have not narrowed it down to location or even price. So, can I find me a travel website that wont force all four of us to be in the same room? Nope, its nigh on impossible. All these very helpful websites want to save me money, but ruin our holiday by putting us all in the same room.
Maybe what I should do is setup a search engine for family holidays. I bet there are families who are more demanding than mine?
Why is everything breaking?
The list of electrical appliances which are RIP grows longer everyday. There is no explanation for why they are falling apart, the kids have not wrecked them, hubby thinks its cos there are rocks at the bottom, according to my Granny its because there is negative energy. Whatever the cause I just need it to stop.
Hubby called dishwasher repair guy, he came, charged £40 and told us the machine is unrepairable. I was on a well known electrical retailers website before he even drove off. If there is one thing I cannot live without it is the dishwasher. Hubby blinks at me as the full realisation that he is now the dishwasher hits him. He mutters something about being able to get a new one within a couple of days.
My stubborn streak wakes up, steadfastly refusing to believe that its unrepairable. Tell hubby that the new plan is as follows: we cram in as much dishwashing as we can, put enough dishwasher powder in to clean a cruiseships crockery, put it on the highest setting and run away. His face lights up and tells me he agrees!!
I come back 2 hours later to perfectly washed dishes. Phew! Now to try and fix the tumble drier who gets chilly, the iron who does not want to warm up, and the cranky LAN connection on my laptop......
Hubby called dishwasher repair guy, he came, charged £40 and told us the machine is unrepairable. I was on a well known electrical retailers website before he even drove off. If there is one thing I cannot live without it is the dishwasher. Hubby blinks at me as the full realisation that he is now the dishwasher hits him. He mutters something about being able to get a new one within a couple of days.
My stubborn streak wakes up, steadfastly refusing to believe that its unrepairable. Tell hubby that the new plan is as follows: we cram in as much dishwashing as we can, put enough dishwasher powder in to clean a cruiseships crockery, put it on the highest setting and run away. His face lights up and tells me he agrees!!
I come back 2 hours later to perfectly washed dishes. Phew! Now to try and fix the tumble drier who gets chilly, the iron who does not want to warm up, and the cranky LAN connection on my laptop......
An example of a day in our house - for Eva
05:55 Wake up to Madam screaming. She does not want to go back to sleep. Boy is also awake. Take them downstairs, heat up milk for Madam and raisin toast for the boy.
0700 After various books, an episode of Peppa Pig, kids are ready for breakfast number two. Prepare breakfast number two. The boy polishes off 2.5 weetabix. Madam only wants a slice of toast.
0830 Look out the window, decide that we are still snowbound and I will work from home. Hubby comes downstairs.
0845 Give hubby instructions on lunch and go upstairs to work hugging warm coffee.
0900 – 12:45 Resist the urge to go downstairs and tell hubby off for allowing the kids to play mini golf in the lounge. Spend the next two hours trying drown out the wails of Madam (for her mummy!) and try not to flinch whenever I hear golfclub banging against skirting board or furniture.
13:00 Have lunch with family. Shout hurrah when we see a snowplough clear our road. Decide we can go out.
1400 Having finished up work, I go downstairs to get kids ready to go out to the garden centre.
14:30 At garden centre with kids and hubby (he gave himself the day off!). Kids run amock, screetch at fishes and test out the sheds. By testing I mean banging the doors loudly!
15:15 Leave garden centre to go and pick up some food.
15:30 In shop, explain to hubby that Madam will need to be fed a constant supply of raisins until we reach the checkout. The boy tasks himself with squashing every item he can within the shopping cart.
At the checkout I have Madam in my arms (she is just a bit clingy), enter pin whilst warning the boy that if he unpacks any more items from the bags I just packed then I will leave him here.
16:00 Leave shop, hubby asks me if day with the kids is normally so full on!
16:30 Get home, play with kids whilst leftovers warm up. The next half hour is spent blowing noses, resolving toy disputes, washing hands, washing hands again as Madam has a habit of playing with the bin.
17:00 Eat supper. Agree with bubby that no bath needed (last night we had a poo in the bath incident, not so keen to repeat that).
17:30 Watch kids pile on eachother and play hide and seek.
18:00 Get kids ready for bed. Read loads of books and watch one episode of In the Night Garden.
19:00 – 21:00 I tidy, empty dishwasher, load washing machine, fold clothes, hubby works upstairs.
21:00 – 22:00 Martini time. Get things ready for nursery the next day and ensure I have everything I need for work.
22:00 – 23:00 Read my book The Colour. Then it’s the best bit, time for sleep!
0700 After various books, an episode of Peppa Pig, kids are ready for breakfast number two. Prepare breakfast number two. The boy polishes off 2.5 weetabix. Madam only wants a slice of toast.
0830 Look out the window, decide that we are still snowbound and I will work from home. Hubby comes downstairs.
0845 Give hubby instructions on lunch and go upstairs to work hugging warm coffee.
0900 – 12:45 Resist the urge to go downstairs and tell hubby off for allowing the kids to play mini golf in the lounge. Spend the next two hours trying drown out the wails of Madam (for her mummy!) and try not to flinch whenever I hear golfclub banging against skirting board or furniture.
13:00 Have lunch with family. Shout hurrah when we see a snowplough clear our road. Decide we can go out.
1400 Having finished up work, I go downstairs to get kids ready to go out to the garden centre.
14:30 At garden centre with kids and hubby (he gave himself the day off!). Kids run amock, screetch at fishes and test out the sheds. By testing I mean banging the doors loudly!
15:15 Leave garden centre to go and pick up some food.
15:30 In shop, explain to hubby that Madam will need to be fed a constant supply of raisins until we reach the checkout. The boy tasks himself with squashing every item he can within the shopping cart.
At the checkout I have Madam in my arms (she is just a bit clingy), enter pin whilst warning the boy that if he unpacks any more items from the bags I just packed then I will leave him here.
16:00 Leave shop, hubby asks me if day with the kids is normally so full on!
16:30 Get home, play with kids whilst leftovers warm up. The next half hour is spent blowing noses, resolving toy disputes, washing hands, washing hands again as Madam has a habit of playing with the bin.
17:00 Eat supper. Agree with bubby that no bath needed (last night we had a poo in the bath incident, not so keen to repeat that).
17:30 Watch kids pile on eachother and play hide and seek.
18:00 Get kids ready for bed. Read loads of books and watch one episode of In the Night Garden.
19:00 – 21:00 I tidy, empty dishwasher, load washing machine, fold clothes, hubby works upstairs.
21:00 – 22:00 Martini time. Get things ready for nursery the next day and ensure I have everything I need for work.
22:00 – 23:00 Read my book The Colour. Then it’s the best bit, time for sleep!
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Its snowing
Promised the kids I would build a snowman with them. Have just fished out the snowsuits, gloves, boots. Took me an hour. Better not melt or else!
Why did I not have kids sooner?
I meant to post this a few weeks ago, but it has been forgotten in the whirl of daily life.
If you know me very well, you will know I am not a woman to quote haphazard statistics, HOWEVER, it used to take, on average about 2 weeks for every broken lightbulb to be replaced in our household.
This was back in the days before kids permeated through all aspects of our lives. For instance, it took major effort just to get a lightbulb to be changed. I would kindly remind him that x lightbulb had gone, and could he please replace it. Days would go by, I would then say pleeeease could you replace the lightbulb as I am now going blind, several more terse reminders later, then a whine (from me) would produce a large tut before hubby went to rummage through the lightbulb box. put a 30 watt bulb in, just as a temporary measure. Temporary is a long time in our house, about 2 months and several nags.
Timescales became slightly more bearable, when, I deliberately mispared his dark socks hubby and blamed it on the lack of light. Hubby, desperate to catch his train, promised to amend his ways for a perfectly pared sock. This was fine and good until the next lightless incident which i will call "captain caveman", no light in the kitchen equals no dinner.
It has been a revelation having two kids, even more so for poor old hubby! Kids are fascinated with lights, and even more so with the absence of light. All it takes is for a lightbulb to flciker and both kids point screetching "light light, oh dear". "Look Daddy the lights not working" from boy and "oooooh light" this is on endless replay until the light gets fixed.
Hubby not only has a lightbulb collection Vegas Sign Writers would be proud of, but, they are all within easy reach and its nanoseconds before they are changed.
And, before you ask why I dont change the lightbulb, I just dont, I get nervous looking down, and its a mans job, like taking the rubbish out. I cook I clean he provides the light.
If you know me very well, you will know I am not a woman to quote haphazard statistics, HOWEVER, it used to take, on average about 2 weeks for every broken lightbulb to be replaced in our household.
This was back in the days before kids permeated through all aspects of our lives. For instance, it took major effort just to get a lightbulb to be changed. I would kindly remind him that x lightbulb had gone, and could he please replace it. Days would go by, I would then say pleeeease could you replace the lightbulb as I am now going blind, several more terse reminders later, then a whine (from me) would produce a large tut before hubby went to rummage through the lightbulb box. put a 30 watt bulb in, just as a temporary measure. Temporary is a long time in our house, about 2 months and several nags.
Timescales became slightly more bearable, when, I deliberately mispared his dark socks hubby and blamed it on the lack of light. Hubby, desperate to catch his train, promised to amend his ways for a perfectly pared sock. This was fine and good until the next lightless incident which i will call "captain caveman", no light in the kitchen equals no dinner.
It has been a revelation having two kids, even more so for poor old hubby! Kids are fascinated with lights, and even more so with the absence of light. All it takes is for a lightbulb to flciker and both kids point screetching "light light, oh dear". "Look Daddy the lights not working" from boy and "oooooh light" this is on endless replay until the light gets fixed.
Hubby not only has a lightbulb collection Vegas Sign Writers would be proud of, but, they are all within easy reach and its nanoseconds before they are changed.
And, before you ask why I dont change the lightbulb, I just dont, I get nervous looking down, and its a mans job, like taking the rubbish out. I cook I clean he provides the light.
Friday, 30 January 2009
Project Salmon - Progress
My little fishies were heading in the right direction, upstream. Alas, now they are battling with the tide.
Just in case M15 think I am a secret agent, the above actually means that my shares went up modestly and now they have dropped back to my purchase price.
Hold the champers!
Just in case M15 think I am a secret agent, the above actually means that my shares went up modestly and now they have dropped back to my purchase price.
Hold the champers!
Salmon Pink Fishies
I think I need to be wearing red braces, brandishing a big fat cigar and have splodges of red caviar splashed on an expensive waistcoat. I may have to walk around the room randomly booming “Buy, Buy and Sell”. Yes, you may have guessed. I am entering the bizaare world of share dealing.
Hubby has graced me with some money to “invest”. Sofar I have had a lot of fun, I read the FT in my lunch hour (I even understood some of it!). Armed with my list of 5 shares I ring Hubby to discuss my choices. After he analyses them given some random criteria, then tells me to leave it with him and bids me goodbye.
I cannot help but feel a little cheated as I did not envisage the world of high finance, being so very calm, almost beige. 5 random picks from a salmon pink paper and now I am waiting with baited breath to see if my salmon have spawned.
Upon hearing some inside news that a large company were making redundancies, I ring hubby and tell him to short sell ABC ltd in hushed tones.
Watch this space!
Hubby has graced me with some money to “invest”. Sofar I have had a lot of fun, I read the FT in my lunch hour (I even understood some of it!). Armed with my list of 5 shares I ring Hubby to discuss my choices. After he analyses them given some random criteria, then tells me to leave it with him and bids me goodbye.
I cannot help but feel a little cheated as I did not envisage the world of high finance, being so very calm, almost beige. 5 random picks from a salmon pink paper and now I am waiting with baited breath to see if my salmon have spawned.
Upon hearing some inside news that a large company were making redundancies, I ring hubby and tell him to short sell ABC ltd in hushed tones.
Watch this space!
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Update from about 3 weeks ago...;.
It was -2 last night. Any sane person would have been inside. Instead, I was outside tying a tea towel around our fern. I was perfectly happy about this small task, that was until I put my hand through a very sticky and strong spiders web.
I cannot recall the rest of the “save fern” procedure apart from the fact that it involved a small scream, major flapping of my hands and several minutes of checking that I did not have a bird eating spider on my person.
I cannot recall the rest of the “save fern” procedure apart from the fact that it involved a small scream, major flapping of my hands and several minutes of checking that I did not have a bird eating spider on my person.
The Charity Shop Run
I see that Dan Brown is a man who is not in demand. There were four copies in the mind charity shop in Goring. I know this as I have now spent what seems like a lifetime in there. So far I have dropped off four bags of books and two bags of toys. Three more bags of books and two more bags of toys to go.
Each visit is greeted with a hello and a BIG thank you. Hopefully tomorrow will be my last trip.
Each visit is greeted with a hello and a BIG thank you. Hopefully tomorrow will be my last trip.
Summary of Christmas
We had a great one. Kids loved it, boy was designated present opener. He did it with style and panache. Hours of careful wrapping (not on my part I must add) were ruined with one swift ripping action. When all the presents were opened we were left with grumpy boy desperate to open more presents. So much so he was shaking.
Boy got a massive train set from Santa. Santas proxy was setting said set up until past 11pm the night before Christmas. Santas proxy got a well deserved slice of cake and a large drink.
Boy loved the train set, if there is ever a world shortage of AA batteries, come to our house, as each engine seems to devour such batteries.
Madam got a massive Barbie dolls head upon which she can unleash her hair styling skills. She looked at it once and it has served as a handy storage place for her hairclips ever since.
We ate turkey for 3 days, by day 3 it needed to morph into meatballs before we would look at it.
Boy got a massive train set from Santa. Santas proxy was setting said set up until past 11pm the night before Christmas. Santas proxy got a well deserved slice of cake and a large drink.
Boy loved the train set, if there is ever a world shortage of AA batteries, come to our house, as each engine seems to devour such batteries.
Madam got a massive Barbie dolls head upon which she can unleash her hair styling skills. She looked at it once and it has served as a handy storage place for her hairclips ever since.
We ate turkey for 3 days, by day 3 it needed to morph into meatballs before we would look at it.
DeChristmasisation
New word in the avern thesaurus. Probable meanings: a general lethargy and hunger attributed to a lack of overexuberance, normally associated with the post Christmas period. For instance, as one is not eating 5 full meals a day (breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon snack, supper), one is likely to be grumpy and craving fudge at 10am.
How to colour your hair red.
1. Notice that my roots have used subterfuge to overtake my otherwise perfect (ofcourse!) head of hair.
2. Quick glance at social diary reveals no gaps to allow visit by the hairdresser.
3. Make mistake of taking the boy with you to a chemist.
4. Hurriedly try to choose hair colour whilst boy rearranges the womens toiletries aisle.
5. Put hair colour down, run over to boy who has tasked now himself with single-handedly destroying the electric toothbrush section .
6. Retrieve box of hair colour.
7. Pay for hair colour and try to prize the boys hands off the chocolate which is very helpfully located at the till.
8. Get home. Notice that the hair colour is not boring brown as I originally selected, but awful auburn.
9. Consider testing the colour on the boy as he sleeps.
10. Decide that 2009 is the year of living dangerously, so, slap on the colour.
11. Emerge from bathroom with moronic maroon hair, muttering obscenities whilst searching for hairdressers number.
2. Quick glance at social diary reveals no gaps to allow visit by the hairdresser.
3. Make mistake of taking the boy with you to a chemist.
4. Hurriedly try to choose hair colour whilst boy rearranges the womens toiletries aisle.
5. Put hair colour down, run over to boy who has tasked now himself with single-handedly destroying the electric toothbrush section .
6. Retrieve box of hair colour.
7. Pay for hair colour and try to prize the boys hands off the chocolate which is very helpfully located at the till.
8. Get home. Notice that the hair colour is not boring brown as I originally selected, but awful auburn.
9. Consider testing the colour on the boy as he sleeps.
10. Decide that 2009 is the year of living dangerously, so, slap on the colour.
11. Emerge from bathroom with moronic maroon hair, muttering obscenities whilst searching for hairdressers number.
The Boys Birthday
Preparations start early in our house, we have to remind the boy that it will be his bday in x number of days. He then spends the next few days repeating it will be his bday. He repeats it just as he has done something naughty, like a get out of jail card. Invariably I don’t want to be harsh so I let him off in return for futile promises of good behaviour from him.
Having decided that I should make him a cake in the shape of steam train, I mentally prepare to make a trial cake. Trial cake goes by the wayside as both kids keep me from the kitchen in the evenings due to coughing fits, teething pain, tangles in blankets prompting screaming fits....
The night before the party at 9pm, after a particularly raucous day with the kids, is definitely not the best time to bake a cake. Had to make two square cakes in order to be able to make the engine.
Dark Angel definitely had a hand in tribulations which I encountered when making the cakes. Firstly, the eggs did not crack properly forcing me to fish out egg shells from about a kilo of swamp like cake mixture.
Secondly the oven decided to make ominous rattling noises when I placed the first cake in. The solution to that was simple, I turned the music up louder and waited for the cake smell to waft out of the oven.
Had I forseen that I would be desperately pleading with the ½ kilo of chocolate icing to finally set at 11:30, I would have poured a large gin and tonic at the outset and ordered a cake from a well known suuuupermarket.
As it was, the icing set at midnight, I threw on some smarties, and sloped off to bed.
It was all worth it in the end when the boy, surrounded by his friends, found that the quickest way to enjoy the cake was to be face down in it. Job well done.
Now we just have to tell the boy that it not his birthday anymore and that he has to wait a very long time for presents and cake to be in the same room as him.
Having decided that I should make him a cake in the shape of steam train, I mentally prepare to make a trial cake. Trial cake goes by the wayside as both kids keep me from the kitchen in the evenings due to coughing fits, teething pain, tangles in blankets prompting screaming fits....
The night before the party at 9pm, after a particularly raucous day with the kids, is definitely not the best time to bake a cake. Had to make two square cakes in order to be able to make the engine.
Dark Angel definitely had a hand in tribulations which I encountered when making the cakes. Firstly, the eggs did not crack properly forcing me to fish out egg shells from about a kilo of swamp like cake mixture.
Secondly the oven decided to make ominous rattling noises when I placed the first cake in. The solution to that was simple, I turned the music up louder and waited for the cake smell to waft out of the oven.
Had I forseen that I would be desperately pleading with the ½ kilo of chocolate icing to finally set at 11:30, I would have poured a large gin and tonic at the outset and ordered a cake from a well known suuuupermarket.
As it was, the icing set at midnight, I threw on some smarties, and sloped off to bed.
It was all worth it in the end when the boy, surrounded by his friends, found that the quickest way to enjoy the cake was to be face down in it. Job well done.
Now we just have to tell the boy that it not his birthday anymore and that he has to wait a very long time for presents and cake to be in the same room as him.
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