Choes

How many shoes do kids need? 1 School pair, 1 with velcro so they can get them on and off, 1 pair of non-school shoes, 2 pairs of wellies... yes 1 for home and 1 pair to leave in school. Next year plimsolls will also be requred.

I used to think that uniforms in school were supposed to ensure equality and a standard now I think they're being used as a money making scheme. Looking into ballet for our DD the uniform costs a minimum of £55 (4 pieces)! And that's for the under 4's - for the full whack (including headband) it's £70 ... of course it's specialist you can't just go out and buy it in Tesco or Asda. What a rip off these uniforms are. When I was a kid you went to your clubs in your own clothes (jeans, leggings, 1 school leotard, 1 set of swim stuff for all swim/water activities etc) now you must have this for that activity and that for the other... do they never consider that you might not be able to afford it all? And then what? Just stay at home watching TV?

Daylight!

I can see I can see! It might be a right mess but I can see out the windows!

What a palaver, a week worth of upheaval and mess but at least it's done. Now to get the rest of the house in shape.

Portals to my garden

Yeah finally done it. Managed to save enough to get new windoors (windows and doors) which I shall be able to see out of... I'm determined on that point, I really don't like looking through murk just because the sealant's (or whatever) has gone gone gone...

It shall happen this week (it shall it shall). Today we moved lots of junk away from the vicinity. Yes lots of junk, lots more than the folks back 'ome had to move when they had their windows done and we have the tiny house. I am going to throw some of it out (whether it be mine or not) ... my rule is if it's sat and done naught in the last 4 years then it shall unburden my rooms and disappear into the wide world. I shall put a foot down and say "no more".

.....if I say it enough it might just happen.

Glug glug glug

I finally got round to taking the darlings swimming (been demanded from the eldest for a long time). So we all toddled off as a family to the local pool. The little pool wasn't open so we went in the "splash" pool.

Cold, very but we got used to it. Eldest did very well considering that when we got it I was half strangled. C gained more confidence when sat on the top step. So it was a case of try this and then you can go back. By the end C was "swimming" (not quite doggy paddle) with us gently holding on. Then there were the tears when we got out. Little R was quiet but enjoying floating and even trying to kick too! We were very impressed with the pair of them. Unfortunately not so impressed with the pool. We had constant crying from Little R until fully clad, including own cardi and C's cardi plus a share in fruity flakes! Cold was not the word North pole was more like it. No way will I go there with the two of them just because they were both chilled to the bone when we left the pool!

The other one nearest us is filthy - they allow people to walk through the changing rooms to pool side to get their kids and dirt is spread around. Yuck. So that's it for pools. I'm going to have to find one with a small pool that's open, warm changing rooms, easy to get to and cheap.... not too much to ask for, is it?

Sunny days

What can I say ... a change is as good as a holiday? Perhaps I've had too much sun already :s

100%

I was taught in school that 100% was the whole thing, that there was no more because 100% was everything. So why do we now have 110%? or even worse 200%!

I cannot give more than 100%

Someone better explain basic maths to these politicians, economists, sports people etc so when they talk percentages on TV they can at least get it right.

Grrrr.

Family Story

As my own has expanded I'm also looking back along the branches and up the trunk. It's quite fascinating working out where people went - from Devon and Somerset to Kent to London and then some moved back through Hampshire back to Devon whilst others came from Suffolk to London and the odd bod disappeared up to Lancashire... people didn't 'arf get 'round.

There's the "How many children!" factor my side has reached 14 whereas the other half has one with 19 kids (ouch!). And my favourite right now is the branches where I've found several Rev.s', some Admiralty clerks and I'm getting quite a collection of Baron's...

heh if I go far back enough I wonder if I can get royalty linked in there somewhere.

Ill

I am soooooo ill. I've been off work since week last Wednesday and have been hacking my way through the week since the Friday before then. Wish I hadn't taken a sick day last week I might've been able to "work" my way through it.

Dr finally gave me antibiotics Yesterday and the threat that if I didn't improve in 48 hrs they'd "take me in"! What with the Other half sneezing for the last 3 days and Little C all bunged up I think I might get some peace and sleep if I were taken in. Snot (and there's a lot of it here) fair - why is it whenever I'm ill so is the Other Half? I can never have the peace and pampering I deserve in my sickbed because I still have to cater and care for the other sick people!

I must be getting a little better... I'm beginning to moan more but that could be the effect of having no clean cutlery and having to think about feeding the pair when all I feel like is putting my feet up with a hot cuppa - once a cup's been cleaned! I'd love to be able to sleep in bed too - I can't lay down cause it starts my hacking off. 

At least I've had several brief contacts with the outside world just to keep me sane, although my head feels like a lump of cotton wool that's slowly spinning sideways. And just as the weather turns for the better and I could go out and plant and dig things I'm nowhere near up to it. Once I get my real head back I'll have to find my phone charger as my phone's as flat as a pancake and I can't think where I put the charger (sob sob no texting)

Oh woe is me. 

Home made food

Been watching Jimmy's Food Factory.. interesting, I'd say.

Although I can't really say I'll be attempting to make my own cornflakes or square ham. Somethings are definitely too much trouble and some things have too much added. 

It'd be interesting if we could all make these foods - I'd need a barn or out house, and at least one spare tumble dryer and a cement mixer!! Not sure how the family would take to green home processed ham though. Hope he does another series.

Me

Life's hectic - as might be noticed from my "missingness". 

Work was dodgy there for a while - new processes and procedures (phrase of the moment). But now ideas abound, if only they are actioned! Other than that it's a struggle to stay awake what with all the repetitive copy and paste work. Things are still iffy as the big phrases banded around from on high are "cost cutting" "pay freezes" and "money saving" - we now have to prove our worth! 

The other half still spends more time on the "super information highway" than is good... hence another reason I ain't here much. It seems I have to account for everything I do online in the brief hour a week I get whereas other half is addicted to Farmville but very rarely gets to go on at all- except first thing in the morning, when I ring at lunch, when I come home from work, after dinner and before I go to bed I hear the sheep bleat, cows moo, ring of money in the cafe etc.

We have been struck by colds, bugs and now the little one has chickenpox. Poor little mite - the nurse told us it was nothing to worry about and gave C the MMR jab so now we have to look out for the symptoms of "a mild case of measles"! I'm furious at this as I've never seen chicken pox but knew the instant I came home and changed C for bed time. The nurse should've at least said to wait and see what develops before jabbing C in each arm. At least (touch wood) she's not been scratching or moping around. In fact apart from the spots C is very much a handful - demanding, climbing and addicted to Iggle piggle.

History...

What would you do if someone you spent most of your time hanging around with at school and uni but hadn't heard from for two and a half years bumped into you in the shops? I was accused of not getting in touch - ok so I hadn't but I don't have any contact details as the said "friend" moved several times (Canada to England once and all!) and never bothered to let me have any phone numbers let alone address.
I was friendly polite person, cheery even, and provided friend with mobile number to call me as we were dashing off to pay the parking fee and didn't want to go over the hour (close we had 2 minutes left on the ticket). It's got me thinking that no matter where everyone else moves to they all knew my parents number and house yet no one from those days gets in touch..... ....perhaps the past is best left in the past and new horizons should be sort.

Progress report

Ok so two in one go is a lot from me but I thought I'd divide up to give a Little C progress report.

Slimline Little C hasn't progressed with any more toofypegs - we have random days of red rosy cheeks and drooling and once I even thought I'd found a little toof appearing but alas nothing seems to have happened. We're active little'un, started crawling, walking and climbing all in the last week.... oh when I say walk it's not quite independent walking it's "can you hold my hands please" - this I don't mind as Little C is wibblywobbly still. We've been through the sudden thrusting onto feet just to topple over and bang head on floor phase and Little C has decided to climb people who will hold on and not let such nasty things happen. Except sometimes I'm a baaad person and blink and in that moment Little C always slips or slides down something - at least the crying isn't so bad now. 

Talking - I do, I'm trying not to fall into the raspberry-blowing-googoogaga that the other half and other halfs family do. I'm asked if "dada" is on the list and noooo its "a-bprrrrrrrrr" - well that's what dada does to Little C. We do have "mama" generally when Little C is frustrated or hurt, I guess it's as good a time as any. 

Food - yummy, Little C eats it all! Well eats what we've tried - baby rice, veggies, fruit, lamb, beef so far and all mushed to a pulp. We've choked on carrot sticks and sucked bread crusts and this week rice cakes (they really are polystyrene, aren't they?). We've reached the stage where Little C can be stuffed yet still cry when the bowl is empty - I did this last night as we were too late for baby rice before bed so I filled her with dinner. Ok so it's not as bold as bolognaise or lasagna which you can get in pots from any supermarket but I thought starting bland with individual flavours would provide a good start, at least then Little C can recognise different flavours rather than a mushy mix. You may thing bread is bland but apparently for little mouths it's a startling taste that needs serious consideration.

Redundant

Oh it's a horrible thing to happen - been there done it myself now the other half is going through it all. And what could be worse? Being at home with the other half underfoot, in my way and basically hogging everything I used to have al day to do..... hence the lack of blogging ...coz I can't get on the Internet as it's always occupied! 

One is informed there is a gadget that can be got which will allow all interested parties access at the sametime - but it's like the curtain rail in Little C's room, one day it will be removed from it's wrappings and actually fixed to the wall (we've had it for 4 months already!).

It as been nearly 4 weeks since the news was announced and the p'd off other half came home, and it's been a battle to get things that are normally done with regularity done once. Saying that things have improved slightly, the other half does now fill the dishwasher and make tea without too much complaining and sometimes I'm lucky enough to hear the phrase "can I help" (usually around lunch or dinner time when I've started cooking). The other half has even ventured to feed Little C once or twice, and I've started "it's your turn" when Little C starts moaning.

Perhaps I just demand too much too quickly?!?

Toofypegs

We had two toofypegs for christmas and they were quite easy to produce.

This next set are real trouble. We're gnawing thumbs in particular and others things we shouldn't have our little hands on - and I've just been shown how negligent I was at putting away the Christmas "toys" as Santa is getting a good chewing. 

Ya know I did a lot of reading about sleep and teething and basically I'd advise myself to throw it out the window if I were to be looking for the information again. Little C is obviously NOT a typical baby - we do not want to sleep the required 12 hours at night with between 3 and 5 naps during the day, we will not be lying or sitting around entertaining ourselves with our own toys and no way will we sleep the whole night through. Sometimes I think I should swap Little C for one of the quieter less mobile models I can find at the baby & toddler club......

MERRY...

..CHRISTMAS!

The decorations are up, the presents wrapped, Little C has gone to bed not aware that Santa (or Daddy Lulu as my other half has just told me) will be visiting.... except we have no chimney and I'm not quite willing to leave the front door open for him just yet. ....oh as I was saying, the house is a mess....

But I wish y'all a cheery time with good company and good food.

Little uns and friends part 2

Still feel sorry for the pair. My friends in quite obvious pain - yes she's being seen to but it seems the pain eases in one place and reappears in another - hence the strange (to me) feeding positions. I still don't think it's very good bonding or getting the milk into the babe. I went so far as to say I often lay Little C across my lap so I don't have to hold her, but alas this was brushed aside. 

At least the changing business looked like it had improved - we took the little uns in together so i could see her and she could see me. I'm afraid I've become a bit of a rabbit-er (?) well non-stop-talker, saying things like "bottoms up" and "put yer trousers on" and "here's the nappy".... in fact I talk alot, an awful lot like that to Little C, and when in a room of mums and babes I seem to be the only one with this verbal dihorrea.

Definitely...

oh absolutely positively.... until a new theory comes along. 

Oh it gets my goat when watching archaeological and history TV programmes and the "expert" comes on and says well as you can see this is definitely positively..." How the heck do they know? Were they alive then? Have they a time machine to pop back and find out? And worst of all what they say is carved in stone and becomes the acknowledged thing which then becomes taught. And when it is questioned the questioner is wrong because whatever they're questioning is carved in stone. 

Honestly I'm not waffling. So far I've seen two Egyptology programmes - one where the skeleton is definitely Queen Nef. who was such a powerful woman and ruled like a man, killed the favoured harem woman and became pharaoh in her own right after the husband died and she was a sensitive woman who listened to her people.... oh and the skeleton next to her is her brother-in-law. The next programme is where they start saying the Sphinx is definitely this pharaoh who built it..... ok so the programme's not finished yet and they may unpick this statement but it's so annoying when you get Professor xyz saying these things. It's only a possibility. We will never know definitely well not until that time machine's built. 

Being home...

...you'd think you'd have time for things and plan "Yes I shall be able to blog daily" or "I shall complete that project I stated on 4 months ago" and when you throw in the "no I'm not studying right now" you'd think there was even more time. Where does it all go? 

I feel I have less time now than I did when I was at work! Cleaning is only done in emergencies, Internet usage is almost zero, toe-tapping dancing is at a minimum, and still nothing ever seems to get done!

Mind you I've learnt that I did have a very good skill for learning dances last minute and now.. well now it takes me some time, I can still pull the easy one off in 20 minutes but anything other than improver level really does need me to practice. 

Ok so I might not be being fair on myself, what with the economic upheaval (ooo doesn't that start sound intelligent!), I have been going through all the finance stuff from energy saving, budget shopping, to all the insurances a person needs under the sun and remortgaging. Throw in the mix that I have the stinking cold that's going round (bad head, throat, ears, runny red nose etc) and Little C I should be patting myself on the back and taking a well earned rest... oh is it dinner time, I'd best be off to peel the spuds. 

Little uns and friends

Toughie this. I saw a friend who's Little L is about a month younger than Little C - it hadn't been easy for the pair of them, from pain to bad advice to medical persons discussing what to do infront of her and not talking to her. Then Little L had tongue-tie, and lost a lot of weight due to this. Now I'm no expert but I watched my friend bottle feed Little L and really felt like pointing out that the poor little bit wasn't getting a good amount of milk because of the way Little L was being held. Now I'd lay any baby across my lap with their head in the crook of one arm and tip the bottle up so there was no air in the teat - Little L was being held sitting upright (legs being held between mum's) and the bottle was being held pushing Little L's head back but only around half the teat was full of milk- and winding was not attempted for very long as Little L was crying.

And then when it was nappy time the pair disappeared for 20 minutes or so and once when they returned I was informed that Little L had put her feet and hands in the nappy and spread the contents around. I used to watch my mum doing changes and she'd hold the baby's feet inbetween the fingers on one hand and change/wipe/etc with the other. But how do you pass these tips on without making a new mum feel even worse - plus Little L is (apparently) quite a wailer, enough so to drive my friend to tears. I can understand if Little L is constantly crying if its hunger because more air is sucked in than milk and winding is not very good. But how can you tell someone this without upsetting or offending? 

Bedtime

What is the right time for bed?

I was reading my e-mails and there's one about "Now your baby is 2 months and 4 weeks old"...... erm not that that's the right age, but don't 4 weeks make a month anyway? Perhaps they use some other calendar where 5 weeks maketh a month.  "...you'll be in a routine. You will find you're baby sleeps:...... 8-12 hours a night with  two sleeps in the day. To help your baby sleep you need to have a routine:... they should be in bed between 7:30 and 8pm" erm fraid not. If Little C went to bed then my day would start at 4am! 

Mind you Little C had 2 hours kip and has been up since 9:30 tonight, which is quite usual for Little C. Fingers crossed that if we can get Little C to run round the block I wont get too many wakeup calls in the night...(ok so Little C's legs aren't quite up to running but the Little C fidgets so much we might as well start running).