Easter passed in a whirlwind of “spring cleaning”, cooking and minor cabin fever. Poor old Camster did not like having to be housebound for most of it. We consoled him with some lovely food:
Easter Friday – Home cooked ham in maple syrup and peppers, with homemade bread and home made hummus. Whilst the kids had their nap Stuart and I stuffed ourselves with home made meringues and strawberries.
Easter Saturday – Easter Saturday – Roast Chicken with all the trimmings including caramelised red onions (lunch)and Fillet steak (dinner)
Easter Sunday – chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate, roast duck
Easter Monday – Port Fillet in red wine, leftovers for dinner
Easter Tuesday – Pasta with home made sauce.
Camster and Lottie were expertly looked after by their granddad who did a great job in not only keeping them entertained by sorting out the electrics in the garden.
Stuart and I actually managed an evening out, first time in 3 months. Unfortunately we were so knackered from cleaning that we decided to head home straight after the meal.
A great time was had by all.
Monday, 31 March 2008
Enrivonmentally Friendly Stapler
Lottie now has her first tooth. I noticed this yesterday when she eagerly shoved my finger into her mouth. Whilst she laughed at her achievement, I winced, my finger now has a cut. Despite my mangled finger, Lottie can actually be very useful. I am touting her as an environmentally friendly stapler. Just feed her, give her some toys and then give her 6 bits of paper to stick together. She will willingly oblige. Her stapling is first rate as her tooth is so sharp. The downside is that she is unhappy at relinquishing the paper, so it gets a bit crumpled in the process of prizing it from her fingers. Whoever said “stealing candy from a baby” was wrong. Very wrong.
Dinner in someones front room, sans washing up. Brilliant.
Eva’s bday dinner on Saturday was great, went to Barry at the Tureen. Random name I know, but great food (not a tureen in sight though). I do love it when they offer to take your coats from you at the door. We then sat down in a swanky private dining room upstairs (way to go Eva, sourcing that one!). The best thing definitely the end of the evening when you could just get up and walk away without having to offer to do the washing up or “pretend” to tidy up. I never tidy up properly at other peoples now, ever since I put away a load of cd’s incorrectly (apparently the cd’s should have been stacked in alphabetical order!!).
The God Channel – am I bovvered?
Ever since Stuart realised that the “bible basher” schools are seemingly better than the “am I bovverd” schools he has been of the opinion that we could potentially go to church to get the rugrats into aforementioned school. After weeks of badgering, I reluctantly agreed that I would try the religion lark, if I really have to. Decided that the best way to see if I could actually “do” religion was to watch the god channel. Thank goodness I did, because approximately 2 minutes into watching just an advert, it dawned on me why I am an atheist. Sorry kids.
Saturday, 15 March 2008
Brownie Points - Literally
Today has been a very funny day. I have cried with laughter twice and its better than any tonic I know.
The first time was when I was changing “The babies” nappy in the toilets of a local soft play area. Camster decided to be his everso useful little self and tsteal the clean nappy from the changing table. With a nervous laugh I requested that he give it back. His response was a loud giggle and then he turned on his heels and ran out of the toilet. I waited a few seconds for him to come back. I looked out of the toilet, and saw him running away at top speed, back to our pram, which was located at the other side of the complex. As I had thrown Lotties previous nappy in the bin, I was faced with having to carry her semi naked back to the pram and hope she did not pee or poo on me during the journey. I decided not to look around to check other mothers reactions to my Olympic paced waddle back to our pram.
My luck held out and I believe brownie points are due to me for being able to put a nappy on her one handed, sitting upright, whilst fending Camster off from hitting her ( having told the boy off, his logic dictates, “is I get told off, someone else gets hit”!). It’s hard telling the boy off, and maintaining a serious face and composure when all I wanted to do was laugh. I like the verve of the boy.
Sometime later my hubby is bouncing our darling daughter on his knee when I notice a dark patch on his trousers. A quick check reveals our daughter is the source of patch. Casually remind him its his turn to change the nappy and then quickly start making myself look busy in the kitchen!
The next thing I hear is Stuart wailing “there is sh*t everywhere” who put the nappy on? (Er, maybe I should now have my brownie points deducted …..?!!!!)
I run in with Camster to take a look at all the commotion. I decide that the best strategy is to linger in the background and give useful advice.
Stuart is on the floor of Camerons bedroom with soiled wipes everywhere. Cameron opts to take a closer look and starts heaving. Stuart tries to steer him towards throwing up on the laminate floor, the poor boy veers off course and runs through the soiled wipes. There is now mustard colour textured poo mushed into the carpet. Cameron lifts his foot up and says oh oh. At this stage I am laughing so much at the scene in front of me I am unable to utter a word of encouragement or advice. I vaguely hear Stuart bemoan the fact that the house stinks of poo and words such as “…taking ages to clean up” come and go. I inform Stuart simply that unless he wants me to pee myself from laughter, and thus make the house even more stinky, I am going to sit this one out!
The first time was when I was changing “The babies” nappy in the toilets of a local soft play area. Camster decided to be his everso useful little self and tsteal the clean nappy from the changing table. With a nervous laugh I requested that he give it back. His response was a loud giggle and then he turned on his heels and ran out of the toilet. I waited a few seconds for him to come back. I looked out of the toilet, and saw him running away at top speed, back to our pram, which was located at the other side of the complex. As I had thrown Lotties previous nappy in the bin, I was faced with having to carry her semi naked back to the pram and hope she did not pee or poo on me during the journey. I decided not to look around to check other mothers reactions to my Olympic paced waddle back to our pram.
My luck held out and I believe brownie points are due to me for being able to put a nappy on her one handed, sitting upright, whilst fending Camster off from hitting her ( having told the boy off, his logic dictates, “is I get told off, someone else gets hit”!). It’s hard telling the boy off, and maintaining a serious face and composure when all I wanted to do was laugh. I like the verve of the boy.
Sometime later my hubby is bouncing our darling daughter on his knee when I notice a dark patch on his trousers. A quick check reveals our daughter is the source of patch. Casually remind him its his turn to change the nappy and then quickly start making myself look busy in the kitchen!
The next thing I hear is Stuart wailing “there is sh*t everywhere” who put the nappy on? (Er, maybe I should now have my brownie points deducted …..?!!!!)
I run in with Camster to take a look at all the commotion. I decide that the best strategy is to linger in the background and give useful advice.
Stuart is on the floor of Camerons bedroom with soiled wipes everywhere. Cameron opts to take a closer look and starts heaving. Stuart tries to steer him towards throwing up on the laminate floor, the poor boy veers off course and runs through the soiled wipes. There is now mustard colour textured poo mushed into the carpet. Cameron lifts his foot up and says oh oh. At this stage I am laughing so much at the scene in front of me I am unable to utter a word of encouragement or advice. I vaguely hear Stuart bemoan the fact that the house stinks of poo and words such as “…taking ages to clean up” come and go. I inform Stuart simply that unless he wants me to pee myself from laughter, and thus make the house even more stinky, I am going to sit this one out!
Iffy Miffy
Decided to make some biscuits for Easter with “The Boy”. Unfortunately, toddler hormones reigned and he had a major hissy fit whilst I was preparing the dough, hence we ran out of baking time before he needed to go to bed.
A cunning plan struck me and I thought that rather than baking biscuits together, I could do the baking part, then we could actually colour in the finished article with some icing pens.
Why oh why are there not any Easter cookie cutters? You can get them for Christmas with holly, candy cane shaped cutters etc, but not Easter ones. Cue improvisation ala Avern. Miffy was the guide in my minds eye, as the rough rabbit shape I should be aiming for. I succeeded on the third attempt. The first two attempts gave life to “Miffy meets Dali” and Miffy “partial facial paralysis”(see attached photo).
You will also notice I have managed to create a duck and the little known “Easter fish”. The Easter fish is borne out of a need to use the last piece of dough, and I seem to recall a religious story about a Christian holiday and some fish. Hey presto!
All I need now is for the Tazmanian devil to be able to control himself with an icing pen and we may actually have some evidence to show I am a loving and good parent!
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
The changing face of the high street
I dont comprehend what has happened to Brighton. If you walk up North Street, it should be crammed full of the usual high street shops, but, most of the shops are either vacant shells, or are in the process of closing down. Same goes for Western road, just passed the shopping center.
I dont understand what is happening. One good bit of news, Primark seems to be flourishing, having moved into a much larger building. I have set myself a challenge to check the ethical credentials of all the places I normally buy clothes from.
There are also some notable shop closures in the lanes, namely Berties for shoes, the second hand picture place. The shop for men has closed and is now a dry cleaners.
I wonder what is happening......Answers on a postcard please.
NB, you wont be able to post the card from the main postoffice in Brighton, as it has closed. Nearest postoffice is a sorry excuse for one in WH Smith, churchill sq.
I dont understand what is happening. One good bit of news, Primark seems to be flourishing, having moved into a much larger building. I have set myself a challenge to check the ethical credentials of all the places I normally buy clothes from.
There are also some notable shop closures in the lanes, namely Berties for shoes, the second hand picture place. The shop for men has closed and is now a dry cleaners.
I wonder what is happening......Answers on a postcard please.
NB, you wont be able to post the card from the main postoffice in Brighton, as it has closed. Nearest postoffice is a sorry excuse for one in WH Smith, churchill sq.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)