Looked out of the windows this morning, very rainy again today, also with kind of wind radio should warn us about. For some reason Radio Two, well our Terry Wogan in particular, although delightful in the morning, does not talk about extreme seaside weather. Everytime we do have extreme weather here there seems to be no warning, or in fact no mention of it at all. Leads me to suspect this sort of windy, blow over wheely bin and rainy weather is in fact normal for the South Coast.
Still have got busy day today, and we're getting lift with K, so no need to get soaked and blown over by crazy South Coast weather. K had a brainwave yesterday, of a great activity that will keep our lively little ones amused, and should be fun for us. We're all off trampolining. Apparantly its suitable for 0-5 year old and their parents, although am a little worried that any size trampoline suitable for 0-5's will have me bouncing my bottom in to the floor. Still worth a go, as anything better than another boring morning staying in with My friends Tigger and Pooh. Even Ol getting bored with it, as he's started substituting Poo for words in children's songs. I don't mind too much, but it did raise a few brows at the hippy dippy museum group yesterday. Still he made up for it by loudly singing wind the bobbin by properly, i.e. not substituting my daddy for the bobbin.
Right, in terms of lovely tatty house simply must do some vacuuming later, and have to work out how to make curtains for attic bedroom. Just not on to be thrity something and have bits of material nailed to the walls instead of curtain. Also not really on to not have work table in work room. Have decided to try and get one from the amazing Friday Ads today, they're like local e-bay but 'cos they're all Hastings based, everything is actually get-able, mostly in a car. Oh, and affordable because suspect lots of people who sell things either just want rid of them for the space, or sadly are actually addicted to cider, and just want some pennies to buy more.
Friday, 18 January 2008
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Wrong Impressions
Just back from looking around son's likely first school and have already shamed self in number of ways. Firstly the head was amazingly well put together, thus making me look like a jumble sale reject. She also talked properly too.
Then daughter had face of scabs, also back of scabs, which she took every opportunity of showing off by lying on every table we came across on her tummy, and letting her jumper roll up, and her builders bottom show.
Then I forgot her age, agreed she was three when Head asked me, then rather than just Leave It. Embarrassed self by acknowledging that wasn't right, and putting self right.
And finally daughter played up, moaned, insisted on being carried all around, so much that Head began talking about parenting classes held at the school and how we all Need A Little Extra Help whilst smiling at me.
Least I did not tell her I was an atheist when she told us she was a Proper Christian. Could have said I am a Proper Charlie me...
Then daughter had face of scabs, also back of scabs, which she took every opportunity of showing off by lying on every table we came across on her tummy, and letting her jumper roll up, and her builders bottom show.
Then I forgot her age, agreed she was three when Head asked me, then rather than just Leave It. Embarrassed self by acknowledging that wasn't right, and putting self right.
And finally daughter played up, moaned, insisted on being carried all around, so much that Head began talking about parenting classes held at the school and how we all Need A Little Extra Help whilst smiling at me.
Least I did not tell her I was an atheist when she told us she was a Proper Christian. Could have said I am a Proper Charlie me...
The horror of the wrong buggy
I've finished today's nursery run, and was interested as usual in the outfits of my mummy colleagues, oh and the odd daddy one, but they're usually too scruffy to mention. But I am pondering whether we need to have the right buggy to fit in.
When I first had my son it was crucial to have the right buggy, and the right changing bag. Keep trying to think what would happen it your buggy wasn't right, I know my old friend M had a travel system which was far from right. She wasn't sentenced to coventry, but hmm, I think playground mummy mentality meant that not many people chatted randomly to her whist she had her buggy out. Lovely little M's mummy on the other hand got it absolutely spot on, with a Jane (four hundred quid ish's) buggy, and a sixty pound changing bag. Needless to say she had loads of mummy friends, course the fact she's also nice and fun is coincidental.
I had a mothercare brand buggy for three months, and had no friends at all in that time. I then switched to a Maclaren (about a hundred pounds then) buggy, and made lots of mummy mates. My friends from antenatal class even went as far as researching which buggy was most popular with artists and people who went to openings (again the Maclaren). Of course all this leads one to question are me and my friends only interested in the sort of shallow person who would judge you by your buggy? The answer to this is probably mostly yes, because you do want to have those little short hand conversations with people about clothes, and shoes, and bags, and buggies and have them get it. Obviously no one I know, or at least no one I like would judge a mummy by her buggy, but it helps.
Now the children are getting bit too big for their buggies, we're moving on the the next step, cars. In London most people I knew did not drive around on a weekday so we all had no idea what sort of car anyone but our neighbours and very close friends had. Thus for mummies, the idea of a car as a status symbol was defunct. Not so, perhaps for daddies and other men who seem to have ways of finding out one's brand of car.
However here where people drive cars are immensely important, and it can be a terrible mistake to get the car wrong. I've got a real vested interest here because I adore my car, especially when shiny and clean with its roof box on. In my head it then looks like Sindy's family car from the 1970's, just right for whizzing around town or popping through the country. However, it is quite cheap, and Japanese, so could be seen as being a little, well, cheap. And my friend G persists in calling it a Sirloin which always upsets me.
However I think the absolute worst car for a mummy lady type to have would be a Ford Ka. Just dreadful. Then probably a Nissan Micra (not teenagified), or another similar type. I also struggle with new Mini's and new Beetle's, they are cool, but I think only to us, thirtysomethings who would really rather an old one, but need something reliable. Thus, I think they probably are not cool at all, plus Jeremy Clarkson's wife drives one, and even if he's sort of old school cool these days, she's not at all (too much make up).
People carriers, just mean you've had too many children, and need to keep transporting them and their friends around. The worst thing that can happen in my view with people carriers is when a family gets a new one, and the mummy, 'cos its usually her, is really proud of 'her new car'. No. No, Don't stoop that low, you know if you chose your own new car, it'd be nippy, and ideally have only two doors and a sun roof, not seven and room for the dogs.
Old school is always cool, whether this is a tatty old van, Volvo, or even battered up car. Trouble is old school doesn't always work, or get you where you are going. Other hazard with vans are sitting backward. No-one likes to clear up sick.
In Hastings, the SUV rules as cool, preferably with some logs, or manly looking machinery in the back. It's a proper Ute, like they used to talk about on Neighbours but works, and, if this is important to you, has some power and can go quickly.n.b. personally I couldn't care less how fast a car goes, slower the better as I only like driving at maximum speed limit, and prefer if husband forced to do the same.
Love the idea of having SUV, for first time husband and I have agreed over choice of car. He can be manly and take it to the woods, and I can be girly and take it to the beach. And you never know we might even park in one someday.
So, buggies are important, as short hand for who you are, so are cars, but they're far more complicated, because for one thing, practicality comes in to the equation, and for another the whole family has to have a view. Pesky kids!
When I first had my son it was crucial to have the right buggy, and the right changing bag. Keep trying to think what would happen it your buggy wasn't right, I know my old friend M had a travel system which was far from right. She wasn't sentenced to coventry, but hmm, I think playground mummy mentality meant that not many people chatted randomly to her whist she had her buggy out. Lovely little M's mummy on the other hand got it absolutely spot on, with a Jane (four hundred quid ish's) buggy, and a sixty pound changing bag. Needless to say she had loads of mummy friends, course the fact she's also nice and fun is coincidental.
I had a mothercare brand buggy for three months, and had no friends at all in that time. I then switched to a Maclaren (about a hundred pounds then) buggy, and made lots of mummy mates. My friends from antenatal class even went as far as researching which buggy was most popular with artists and people who went to openings (again the Maclaren). Of course all this leads one to question are me and my friends only interested in the sort of shallow person who would judge you by your buggy? The answer to this is probably mostly yes, because you do want to have those little short hand conversations with people about clothes, and shoes, and bags, and buggies and have them get it. Obviously no one I know, or at least no one I like would judge a mummy by her buggy, but it helps.
Now the children are getting bit too big for their buggies, we're moving on the the next step, cars. In London most people I knew did not drive around on a weekday so we all had no idea what sort of car anyone but our neighbours and very close friends had. Thus for mummies, the idea of a car as a status symbol was defunct. Not so, perhaps for daddies and other men who seem to have ways of finding out one's brand of car.
However here where people drive cars are immensely important, and it can be a terrible mistake to get the car wrong. I've got a real vested interest here because I adore my car, especially when shiny and clean with its roof box on. In my head it then looks like Sindy's family car from the 1970's, just right for whizzing around town or popping through the country. However, it is quite cheap, and Japanese, so could be seen as being a little, well, cheap. And my friend G persists in calling it a Sirloin which always upsets me.
However I think the absolute worst car for a mummy lady type to have would be a Ford Ka. Just dreadful. Then probably a Nissan Micra (not teenagified), or another similar type. I also struggle with new Mini's and new Beetle's, they are cool, but I think only to us, thirtysomethings who would really rather an old one, but need something reliable. Thus, I think they probably are not cool at all, plus Jeremy Clarkson's wife drives one, and even if he's sort of old school cool these days, she's not at all (too much make up).
People carriers, just mean you've had too many children, and need to keep transporting them and their friends around. The worst thing that can happen in my view with people carriers is when a family gets a new one, and the mummy, 'cos its usually her, is really proud of 'her new car'. No. No, Don't stoop that low, you know if you chose your own new car, it'd be nippy, and ideally have only two doors and a sun roof, not seven and room for the dogs.
Old school is always cool, whether this is a tatty old van, Volvo, or even battered up car. Trouble is old school doesn't always work, or get you where you are going. Other hazard with vans are sitting backward. No-one likes to clear up sick.
In Hastings, the SUV rules as cool, preferably with some logs, or manly looking machinery in the back. It's a proper Ute, like they used to talk about on Neighbours but works, and, if this is important to you, has some power and can go quickly.n.b. personally I couldn't care less how fast a car goes, slower the better as I only like driving at maximum speed limit, and prefer if husband forced to do the same.
Love the idea of having SUV, for first time husband and I have agreed over choice of car. He can be manly and take it to the woods, and I can be girly and take it to the beach. And you never know we might even park in one someday.
So, buggies are important, as short hand for who you are, so are cars, but they're far more complicated, because for one thing, practicality comes in to the equation, and for another the whole family has to have a view. Pesky kids!
Monday, 14 January 2008
10 Top Rainy Day Activities to do with Toddlers for Bad ITV Mummies and Daddies
Right, have spent forever in the house now with sick children, or worse children who have illness' (chicken pox in our case) but are apparently still full of beans. There is only one way to survive this, have a selection of activities that will keep you, and them entertained, plus have a good Chardonnay on chill for seven o'clock, and a mobile full of funny texts to reply to...
Can't or won't share the chardonnay, and the mobile texts are probably only entertaining if you're me...so here are my Top Ten Rainy Day Activities for Toddlers (or a 2 and 4 year old in our case...)
1. Craft comes in at number one. Favourite not too messy craft activity is collage. This has the fantastic bonus of enabling you all to flick through your favourite magazines and comics, then cut out the best pictures. For the littler ones, you'll need to speedily cut lots of nice pictures (of whatever they might like from fairies to tractors) for them to stick. The most effective places to stick the pictures have been on old Ikea stools, to make their own little places to sit/use as a side table, or making special treasure troves out of old shoe boxes. Just have a glue stick per person, do make something yourself unless you get caught up in celeb goss world as they and you will enjoy it. Once all the pictures are stuck down and dried (this may take a while if your children are specially keen on using glue), then cover with a piece of sticky back plastic. I newly love this stuff, you can buy a big roll of it from WHSmiths, or other stationers quite cheaply, and it gives a real 'professional' edge to the collage or decoupage work.
2. Sorting out things, I personally love this one, and so do the children. My favourite is going through their wardrobe's, getting them and their dollies and teddies to try on outfits and putting them in four piles; one to go back in the wardrobe, one for the charity shop, one to put aside for friends' children, and finally one for those lovely bits you want to keep forever. The sorting out can be moved to dollies clothes, or for my son, to sorting out Playstation games, this keeps him happy for ages even though he only has nine (bless). Part of the fun is putting them in categories, i.e. driving, Sonic games, snowboarding etc. Other times we've sorted the car box, the pens and pencils, and spent many a happy hour trying them all out, and sharpening them (I know we need to get out more! But this is for when you can't risk your germ laded family on the world, so relish in your inner order queen or king.
3. Cooking things, this really can entail cooking absolutely anything, from helping wash the vegetables for dinner in a large saucepan with a scrubbing brush to the usual fairy cakes and cheese straws. When I simply can't be bothered to cook anything, we decorate plain biscuits, just a bit of icing sugar and water, then use anything we can find to put on top, usually hundreds and thousands, chocolate vermicelli, and those cool silver balls that taste of nothing. The trick is to make sure the decorating goes on for a while, they, ok me too can get a bit keen sometimes and eat our way through a whole packet. This is not healthy, or good because then depending on e-numbers and whether I've included food colouring everyone can get a bit manic.
4. Colouring things, this is a lovely peaceful activity if you've a few decent colouring books hiding away, if not cbeebies website does some really cool, depending on your view of the characters colouring sheets you can download ad print straight out. If you're really crafty, and it looks alright, i.e. everyone has been banned for colouring in in black pen, then save these sheets to use as future wrapping paper.
5. Children's website's, if you haven't tried these you'll be amazed at how interesting they are, well sort of, but at least how much the children will enjoy singing along, playing games, doing some of the activities. The best is probably cbeebies with nickjnr coming a close second, and I'm afraid to admit disney being the current favourite in our house. In the disney playhouse pages you can make up your own swirly slide then watch the Mickey Mouse gang go down the slide you've designed. How cool is that? (Again, yes, god I do need to get out more, but honest its loads of fun).
6. Play board games, you knew this was coming didn't you? We've got a wide selection of games, and I have to say once the children get to an age when they can (almost) get the usually very simple rules they can provide minutes of fun. There's loads of new ones that we didn't have when we were little, but most of them will be familiar versions of Hungry Hippo and Operation, and even Junior Monopoly. Have to admit have not been playing educational games, like the shopping list one (don't even know what its called, bad ITV mummy me), and Scrabble, but obviously these should feature in your games collection if a proper one..
7. Play Hide and Seek, we have hours of entertainment with this, even though the children don't quite get the game (they tell me in advance where they are going to hide). Still if you're the one hiding you get to have a little lie down under the duvet whilst they hunt you. n.b. best not to 'hide' in the garden and have a sneaky fag, you're bound to get caught yellow fingered.
8. Children have fun bath, with bath crayons/bubble bath/random toys/teapot/whatever you can think of. Mummy then gets to have a nice quiet sit down in the bathroom with cup of tea and just murmurs encouraging laughter whenever requested to.
9. Play whatever they want to for a defined period of time, this can get weird but is brilliant for children's self confidence if they know they made up the game and their parent/sibling are joining in whole heartedly. Only thing I would say as a note of caution here is if feeling lazy and children request you find a bed for their babies do not do as I did and suggest they live in a darkened cupboard. Lovely little M still a bit freaked out by time I suggested this over 12 months ago.
10. The joy of telly, all parents in my view must have either a good stash of favourite DVD's, or cbeebies etc on tap. The only advice I can give is don't let TV hour go on over an hour or two 'cos then it sort of turns children bit feral, and its well worth having some favourite DVD's that you can bear to. These might be of the Shrek variety, or Mary Poppins, or even better for me, Wizard of Oz ilk. Make up a batch of popcorn and give in to the inevitable afternoon in front to the telly.
Can't or won't share the chardonnay, and the mobile texts are probably only entertaining if you're me...so here are my Top Ten Rainy Day Activities for Toddlers (or a 2 and 4 year old in our case...)
1. Craft comes in at number one. Favourite not too messy craft activity is collage. This has the fantastic bonus of enabling you all to flick through your favourite magazines and comics, then cut out the best pictures. For the littler ones, you'll need to speedily cut lots of nice pictures (of whatever they might like from fairies to tractors) for them to stick. The most effective places to stick the pictures have been on old Ikea stools, to make their own little places to sit/use as a side table, or making special treasure troves out of old shoe boxes. Just have a glue stick per person, do make something yourself unless you get caught up in celeb goss world as they and you will enjoy it. Once all the pictures are stuck down and dried (this may take a while if your children are specially keen on using glue), then cover with a piece of sticky back plastic. I newly love this stuff, you can buy a big roll of it from WHSmiths, or other stationers quite cheaply, and it gives a real 'professional' edge to the collage or decoupage work.
2. Sorting out things, I personally love this one, and so do the children. My favourite is going through their wardrobe's, getting them and their dollies and teddies to try on outfits and putting them in four piles; one to go back in the wardrobe, one for the charity shop, one to put aside for friends' children, and finally one for those lovely bits you want to keep forever. The sorting out can be moved to dollies clothes, or for my son, to sorting out Playstation games, this keeps him happy for ages even though he only has nine (bless). Part of the fun is putting them in categories, i.e. driving, Sonic games, snowboarding etc. Other times we've sorted the car box, the pens and pencils, and spent many a happy hour trying them all out, and sharpening them (I know we need to get out more! But this is for when you can't risk your germ laded family on the world, so relish in your inner order queen or king.
3. Cooking things, this really can entail cooking absolutely anything, from helping wash the vegetables for dinner in a large saucepan with a scrubbing brush to the usual fairy cakes and cheese straws. When I simply can't be bothered to cook anything, we decorate plain biscuits, just a bit of icing sugar and water, then use anything we can find to put on top, usually hundreds and thousands, chocolate vermicelli, and those cool silver balls that taste of nothing. The trick is to make sure the decorating goes on for a while, they, ok me too can get a bit keen sometimes and eat our way through a whole packet. This is not healthy, or good because then depending on e-numbers and whether I've included food colouring everyone can get a bit manic.
4. Colouring things, this is a lovely peaceful activity if you've a few decent colouring books hiding away, if not cbeebies website does some really cool, depending on your view of the characters colouring sheets you can download ad print straight out. If you're really crafty, and it looks alright, i.e. everyone has been banned for colouring in in black pen, then save these sheets to use as future wrapping paper.
5. Children's website's, if you haven't tried these you'll be amazed at how interesting they are, well sort of, but at least how much the children will enjoy singing along, playing games, doing some of the activities. The best is probably cbeebies with nickjnr coming a close second, and I'm afraid to admit disney being the current favourite in our house. In the disney playhouse pages you can make up your own swirly slide then watch the Mickey Mouse gang go down the slide you've designed. How cool is that? (Again, yes, god I do need to get out more, but honest its loads of fun).
6. Play board games, you knew this was coming didn't you? We've got a wide selection of games, and I have to say once the children get to an age when they can (almost) get the usually very simple rules they can provide minutes of fun. There's loads of new ones that we didn't have when we were little, but most of them will be familiar versions of Hungry Hippo and Operation, and even Junior Monopoly. Have to admit have not been playing educational games, like the shopping list one (don't even know what its called, bad ITV mummy me), and Scrabble, but obviously these should feature in your games collection if a proper one..
7. Play Hide and Seek, we have hours of entertainment with this, even though the children don't quite get the game (they tell me in advance where they are going to hide). Still if you're the one hiding you get to have a little lie down under the duvet whilst they hunt you. n.b. best not to 'hide' in the garden and have a sneaky fag, you're bound to get caught yellow fingered.
8. Children have fun bath, with bath crayons/bubble bath/random toys/teapot/whatever you can think of. Mummy then gets to have a nice quiet sit down in the bathroom with cup of tea and just murmurs encouraging laughter whenever requested to.
9. Play whatever they want to for a defined period of time, this can get weird but is brilliant for children's self confidence if they know they made up the game and their parent/sibling are joining in whole heartedly. Only thing I would say as a note of caution here is if feeling lazy and children request you find a bed for their babies do not do as I did and suggest they live in a darkened cupboard. Lovely little M still a bit freaked out by time I suggested this over 12 months ago.
10. The joy of telly, all parents in my view must have either a good stash of favourite DVD's, or cbeebies etc on tap. The only advice I can give is don't let TV hour go on over an hour or two 'cos then it sort of turns children bit feral, and its well worth having some favourite DVD's that you can bear to. These might be of the Shrek variety, or Mary Poppins, or even better for me, Wizard of Oz ilk. Make up a batch of popcorn and give in to the inevitable afternoon in front to the telly.
Writing Thank You letters, groan
I must have not grown up a bit, as even though need to write these from own children now, they still fill me with the same sense of dread as a ten year old! As far as I know the accepted format has not changed since the seventies...do you remember? on floral or basildon bond paper too!
Our house
Late January
Dear Auntie Floral
Thank you very much for the lovely Christmas card and flowery writing set. As you can see I am busy writing to you on it now so it has been very handy.
I do hope this finds you and Uncle Lechy well, we are all well and Mummy says we will come and visit soon.
Lots of Love
Little Girl
That was the torture bit, the format, I think nowadays its acceptable to leave out the hope that the letter finds you well bit, well maybe not acceptable I'm just plain bored of it so don't intend to do it anymore. Also finding a positive to say about every present was sometimes a challenge. With my children there is also the challenge that I might have written down who gave us which present wrongly, oh horror.
Mind you I had a traditional thank you letter in above format from lovely little M, C and S's daughter and it was very nice except I did wonder if she really liked the thing, forgotten what is was now of course. This year we made lovely little M her own decoupage stool, which she loved, except for one bit. I'd stuck a picture of a little meanie from a fairy magazine on it, just really 'cos I liked the picture, and was getting bit sick of sickly sweet fairies. Lovely little M was very hurt, as my two did not have meanies on their decoupage stools, though they did have more scary baddies. Can't win with four year olds unless everything glittery and perfect with a happy mummy and daddy who don't get bored.
Right, must get on with letters, oh no let's make them little notes, it definitely makes me feel better. Just wish it was a bit later in day with sun over yard arm so could fortify self with some gin.
Our house
Late January
Dear Auntie Floral
Thank you very much for the lovely Christmas card and flowery writing set. As you can see I am busy writing to you on it now so it has been very handy.
I do hope this finds you and Uncle Lechy well, we are all well and Mummy says we will come and visit soon.
Lots of Love
Little Girl
That was the torture bit, the format, I think nowadays its acceptable to leave out the hope that the letter finds you well bit, well maybe not acceptable I'm just plain bored of it so don't intend to do it anymore. Also finding a positive to say about every present was sometimes a challenge. With my children there is also the challenge that I might have written down who gave us which present wrongly, oh horror.
Mind you I had a traditional thank you letter in above format from lovely little M, C and S's daughter and it was very nice except I did wonder if she really liked the thing, forgotten what is was now of course. This year we made lovely little M her own decoupage stool, which she loved, except for one bit. I'd stuck a picture of a little meanie from a fairy magazine on it, just really 'cos I liked the picture, and was getting bit sick of sickly sweet fairies. Lovely little M was very hurt, as my two did not have meanies on their decoupage stools, though they did have more scary baddies. Can't win with four year olds unless everything glittery and perfect with a happy mummy and daddy who don't get bored.
Right, must get on with letters, oh no let's make them little notes, it definitely makes me feel better. Just wish it was a bit later in day with sun over yard arm so could fortify self with some gin.
Sunday, 13 January 2008
Singing is not the Cause
Have decided am really looking forward to another wonderful night of Singstar, Ol got PS2 for Christmas, and I got Singstar. First DVD was bit too modern for me, Pop hits in last couple of years, do like a bit of Shakira, and High School Musical but wasn't on the DVD sadly.
Then lovely M went out and bought Legends, it was brilliant! Papa Don't Preach, Sweet Home Alabama, Ring of Fire, Whitney and even more I can't remember. We played all New Years Eve (until we woke the children with loud laughing, can't have been the singing), all New Years Day, then had different friends over and played the whole of a Thursday night. Weirdly we all sort of started off a bit shy, but then loved it.
And then I got ill, really ill with my throat. Maybe Singstar made me sick! Maybe Singstar wore my vocal cords out, is that what happens to proper singers. Or maybe as everyone says, I just got sick (from car heaters) and I can play Singstar again! Yay! I may even have a glass of wine again, after all booze is always the cure, never the problem.
Course now daughter has chicken pox, so best we don't wake her up at night, but next weekend, here we come sweet home alabama. Any takers?
Then lovely M went out and bought Legends, it was brilliant! Papa Don't Preach, Sweet Home Alabama, Ring of Fire, Whitney and even more I can't remember. We played all New Years Eve (until we woke the children with loud laughing, can't have been the singing), all New Years Day, then had different friends over and played the whole of a Thursday night. Weirdly we all sort of started off a bit shy, but then loved it.
And then I got ill, really ill with my throat. Maybe Singstar made me sick! Maybe Singstar wore my vocal cords out, is that what happens to proper singers. Or maybe as everyone says, I just got sick (from car heaters) and I can play Singstar again! Yay! I may even have a glass of wine again, after all booze is always the cure, never the problem.
Course now daughter has chicken pox, so best we don't wake her up at night, but next weekend, here we come sweet home alabama. Any takers?
Saturday, 12 January 2008
Wine with Meals
I'm better! Yay Yay Yay! Not 100% so do need to sit on the sofa wearing pyjamas for the day again. Have not got dressed for a whole week now, unless you count a few hours wearing of lounge wear rather than pyjamas. Quite keen on lounge wear generally, think it was an inspired invention, the almost pyjamas that you can answer the door in.
Friends have been brilliant with the children this week, and helping with childcare, really really pleased by how lovely its been to know kids are safe and happy playing with other people so I can sleep. Loving having local friends, and have not decided to worry about whether son will get in to our preferred school down the road. Just read the handbook for east sussex admissions and noticed that 59 people put preferred school down as their preferred one, and got in, which only leaves one spare place, and friend H's son got that when he moved here in July! Really tight, and bit worried we are a little high up the hill, school is at bottom.
Am aware worrying about school is one of those pointless exercises that I will engage in, but will not help anything, so need to worry about new thing.
This is wine, 'cos I've been so ill, can't even look at booze at the moment, but had very interesting discussion with L (him of the germ car). He knows someone who believes you shouldn't have wine with meals. Is this a true British thought? It sounds very peculiar, but sort of believable, maybe we used to have ale with meals in the olden days, or mead, which would be strange.
But no wine with meals, just as an evening drink? In terms of a lovely Chardonnay I'm with him, I think? But to never have wine with a meal, maybe just lager, I just don't know, it doesn't seem right. Also how would you ever teach children about wine, I grew up having a tiny tiny bit with meals with seemed right. Although did never understand spirits 'cos they weren't really drunk in our house, not quite sure how you explain them to children, perhaps that they're just for sad old soaks, thinking they are tres young with their vodka and orangina's, when really they should be sticking to grown up wine.
P'raps the answer is in alcopops, or maybe just horrid old mead and ale, least children would think alcohol always tastes wrong. Will I ever drink again?
Friends have been brilliant with the children this week, and helping with childcare, really really pleased by how lovely its been to know kids are safe and happy playing with other people so I can sleep. Loving having local friends, and have not decided to worry about whether son will get in to our preferred school down the road. Just read the handbook for east sussex admissions and noticed that 59 people put preferred school down as their preferred one, and got in, which only leaves one spare place, and friend H's son got that when he moved here in July! Really tight, and bit worried we are a little high up the hill, school is at bottom.
Am aware worrying about school is one of those pointless exercises that I will engage in, but will not help anything, so need to worry about new thing.
This is wine, 'cos I've been so ill, can't even look at booze at the moment, but had very interesting discussion with L (him of the germ car). He knows someone who believes you shouldn't have wine with meals. Is this a true British thought? It sounds very peculiar, but sort of believable, maybe we used to have ale with meals in the olden days, or mead, which would be strange.
But no wine with meals, just as an evening drink? In terms of a lovely Chardonnay I'm with him, I think? But to never have wine with a meal, maybe just lager, I just don't know, it doesn't seem right. Also how would you ever teach children about wine, I grew up having a tiny tiny bit with meals with seemed right. Although did never understand spirits 'cos they weren't really drunk in our house, not quite sure how you explain them to children, perhaps that they're just for sad old soaks, thinking they are tres young with their vodka and orangina's, when really they should be sticking to grown up wine.
P'raps the answer is in alcopops, or maybe just horrid old mead and ale, least children would think alcohol always tastes wrong. Will I ever drink again?
Friday, 11 January 2008
Worst Illness ever ever
Oh My God! I can't believe how ill I've been with I guess a 'normal' illness this week. Was really ill through the night Sunday, got worse on Monday, and shocking on Tuesday and Wednesday, just able to talk again really last night. Doctor thought it was some type of throat infection, and the antibiotics have finally started to kick in, but jesus, was horrible. Couldn't eat at all all week, swallowing really really hurt, so much so I was avoiding it as far as possible. Couldn't even drink because swallowing hurt so much, then couldn't breathe properly through mouth because it hurt so much and could not breathe through nose as, hmm, not sure why but was too hard. Had to concentrate so hard on breathing through nose that had to stay awake and for some reason sweat loads (well, I suppose the fever).
Was concentrating so hard on swallowing and breathing that could not really think or talk, hence have had whole week of pretty much no communication or thought. Could not even concentrate on telly or celeb story magazines. Think M was also very worried about me, was concentrating so hard because did not want to end up in hospital on drip (either antibiotics or fluids as was def dehydrated) or with some breathing thing, not sure what the latter would be, but don't like the look of those Holby City mask things, where people can't talk without getting told off by Chrissie for removing their mask. Anyway serious concentration, and lots of antibiotics and nurofen have almost done the trick. Three cheers for conventional medicine from me today.
Being ill is absolutely no fun at all when that scary/serious so have tried to pin point how I managed to get the illest I've ever been (apart from after C-section infection but that's another horrid story). At first I thought it was because I went in my friend L's car at the weekend, which he likes to be warm so puts heating on. I have terrible hatred of car heating, just the feel and smell of it always make me feel ill, and sometimes I am sick just because its so horrid. I think car heating is so hideous because it recycles old dirty air around a dirty engine to warm it up, then never gets rid of it. So you're effectively breathing in air as old as your car, that is, unless you clean it, which I've never known anyone to do. Also L used to get tonsilitus a lot, so maybe his old germs were still in his car. Possibly I over stepped limits of things that is ok to say to old friends by texting him to tell him his car was germfull and had made me the most ill I've ever been, almost. He reminded me he had changed cars since he even had his tonsils out and that was over ten years ago, oops.
Then I discovered a new culprit, singstar on the playstation. Have been loving this but must be the cause, sitting around with mouth open letting germs in, and all in a small overheated living room. So no more singstar for me, and no more ever sneaky evening cigarettes. Sad about them both, but never ever ever want to have to concentrate on breathing again.
Was concentrating so hard on swallowing and breathing that could not really think or talk, hence have had whole week of pretty much no communication or thought. Could not even concentrate on telly or celeb story magazines. Think M was also very worried about me, was concentrating so hard because did not want to end up in hospital on drip (either antibiotics or fluids as was def dehydrated) or with some breathing thing, not sure what the latter would be, but don't like the look of those Holby City mask things, where people can't talk without getting told off by Chrissie for removing their mask. Anyway serious concentration, and lots of antibiotics and nurofen have almost done the trick. Three cheers for conventional medicine from me today.
Being ill is absolutely no fun at all when that scary/serious so have tried to pin point how I managed to get the illest I've ever been (apart from after C-section infection but that's another horrid story). At first I thought it was because I went in my friend L's car at the weekend, which he likes to be warm so puts heating on. I have terrible hatred of car heating, just the feel and smell of it always make me feel ill, and sometimes I am sick just because its so horrid. I think car heating is so hideous because it recycles old dirty air around a dirty engine to warm it up, then never gets rid of it. So you're effectively breathing in air as old as your car, that is, unless you clean it, which I've never known anyone to do. Also L used to get tonsilitus a lot, so maybe his old germs were still in his car. Possibly I over stepped limits of things that is ok to say to old friends by texting him to tell him his car was germfull and had made me the most ill I've ever been, almost. He reminded me he had changed cars since he even had his tonsils out and that was over ten years ago, oops.
Then I discovered a new culprit, singstar on the playstation. Have been loving this but must be the cause, sitting around with mouth open letting germs in, and all in a small overheated living room. So no more singstar for me, and no more ever sneaky evening cigarettes. Sad about them both, but never ever ever want to have to concentrate on breathing again.
Sunday, 6 January 2008
Shopping
Just back from doing weekly shop, and on the way home encountered a very normal gender difference between me, my husband and my 4 year old son
I decided I simply must, that minute go in to WH Smiths, (remember no Paperchase in this part of the country!) and buy some stationary, some nice coloured box files, and some magazine files. These will, at least in my head look wonderful on our new shelves (made out of twice recycled floorboards) in our lovely new study/work room. So rather than take whole family to shop with me, as then would probably have to have discussion on best ones, and then heated discussion why we should not have floral or pastel ones. All the time daughter would be trying out all pens she could find, and eating the rubbers.
So, anyway, I say I'll be no more than ten minutes and leave them and the car on a double yellow line around the back of the shopping centre. Once I get in to the shop I became slightly dazed by the choices, there were loads, although hardly any ones I wanted, too yellow, too purple, too black, too silver. Then I bumped in to a friend, and had a little chat about the best type, then purchased my favourites.
When I got back to the car it was gone, so I walked for five minutes down the back street wondering if they'd just moved. Then I looked back and saw the car going back to the original parking place, so had to walk all the way back to the car again.
When I got there, both son and husband said I'd been gone for hours, so long that they'd gone to look for me, and then had to drive around a long block, then forgot to see if I'd had to try and find the car somewhere else.
I was only ten minutes, and in my head, absolutely right, in theirs I was twenty five, and absolutely so slow, how apparantly can it take anyone twenty five minutes to buy a folder!
Gender differences! What's the matter with taking time to choose things? Friend C managed to spend 4 hours in Sainsbury's the other day choosing things, so she wins longest lady shop award.
I decided I simply must, that minute go in to WH Smiths, (remember no Paperchase in this part of the country!) and buy some stationary, some nice coloured box files, and some magazine files. These will, at least in my head look wonderful on our new shelves (made out of twice recycled floorboards) in our lovely new study/work room. So rather than take whole family to shop with me, as then would probably have to have discussion on best ones, and then heated discussion why we should not have floral or pastel ones. All the time daughter would be trying out all pens she could find, and eating the rubbers.
So, anyway, I say I'll be no more than ten minutes and leave them and the car on a double yellow line around the back of the shopping centre. Once I get in to the shop I became slightly dazed by the choices, there were loads, although hardly any ones I wanted, too yellow, too purple, too black, too silver. Then I bumped in to a friend, and had a little chat about the best type, then purchased my favourites.
When I got back to the car it was gone, so I walked for five minutes down the back street wondering if they'd just moved. Then I looked back and saw the car going back to the original parking place, so had to walk all the way back to the car again.
When I got there, both son and husband said I'd been gone for hours, so long that they'd gone to look for me, and then had to drive around a long block, then forgot to see if I'd had to try and find the car somewhere else.
I was only ten minutes, and in my head, absolutely right, in theirs I was twenty five, and absolutely so slow, how apparantly can it take anyone twenty five minutes to buy a folder!
Gender differences! What's the matter with taking time to choose things? Friend C managed to spend 4 hours in Sainsbury's the other day choosing things, so she wins longest lady shop award.
Thursday, 3 January 2008
Absolutely too old for drinking
Had lovely New Year, did lots of singing, and was only slightly marred by all children in the house crying to not go back to sleep at half twelve. Was sort of a ringing in the new year by three small tantrums. Very jolly. Still it meant we all had an early night and felt full of the joys of spring the next day, well for a bit until we saw the rain, and spied the amount of spots on Ol. Which meant he has chicken pox, and hence we have to stay in the house, well almost for at least five days!
Will definitely need new to do list for these next days so here goes:
1. Dye hair, am starting to look a bit wayward.
2.File all the bits of paper in various locations in the kitchen, drawer, stuffed by microwave and stuffed on noticeboard. Then never leave paper lurking about again.
3. Make lovely workspace/office complete by putting things on shelves, asking M to make big double shelves for alcoves for all things we have uselessly kept, like my old scrapbook from when I was five.
4. Vacuum horrid purple rug in living room, and put Somewhere Else until Moths get it and can warrant throwing it away.
5. Advertise things we no longer need on e-bay, shoes, air bed, poker set thingy, umm anything else I remember.
6. Oh, before 5, learn how use at least one of our millions of digital cameras and how to put things on the computer.
7. Take down Christmas decorations, shame!
8. Potty train J in the next week before she starts nursery, is this realistic I wonder???
9. Write thank you notes.
10. Make some proper healthy meals, avoid freezer food and cheese like plague as have put on at least a stone over Christmas.
11. Do some exercise, go for walks, when it stops raining, and do some pilates, all failing, make sure run up and down the stairs numerous times a day.
12. Be nice to sick children, and don't get too cross with them for moaning, well at least bribe them not to moan too often.
Will definitely need new to do list for these next days so here goes:
1. Dye hair, am starting to look a bit wayward.
2.File all the bits of paper in various locations in the kitchen, drawer, stuffed by microwave and stuffed on noticeboard. Then never leave paper lurking about again.
3. Make lovely workspace/office complete by putting things on shelves, asking M to make big double shelves for alcoves for all things we have uselessly kept, like my old scrapbook from when I was five.
4. Vacuum horrid purple rug in living room, and put Somewhere Else until Moths get it and can warrant throwing it away.
5. Advertise things we no longer need on e-bay, shoes, air bed, poker set thingy, umm anything else I remember.
6. Oh, before 5, learn how use at least one of our millions of digital cameras and how to put things on the computer.
7. Take down Christmas decorations, shame!
8. Potty train J in the next week before she starts nursery, is this realistic I wonder???
9. Write thank you notes.
10. Make some proper healthy meals, avoid freezer food and cheese like plague as have put on at least a stone over Christmas.
11. Do some exercise, go for walks, when it stops raining, and do some pilates, all failing, make sure run up and down the stairs numerous times a day.
12. Be nice to sick children, and don't get too cross with them for moaning, well at least bribe them not to moan too often.
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