SAY SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, ANYTHING

.........................Sorry for the blatant plagiarism of the James song but that rather sums up this post! My long time buddy “Gingerwitch” has demanded a new post so to avoid disappointing her, I am sitting here tapping away but without any real coherent idea of where we are going. Bear with me!

Things are jogging along fairly easily in the household. We have introduced a series of financial fines and bonuses related to the younger three sons’ pocket money to encourage good behaviour and the like. Both the husband and I tire of the sound of our own voices at times so instead of the usual frustrated complaints, we are trying something different……. Only three weeks in but I am thrilled to have given out bonuses for:- thinking of others (youngest son offered to walk his Nanny’s dog on hearing a knee injury was causing her some serious discomfort); completing homework thoroughly and conscientiously without being asked (although he did forget to hand it in!!); extra special effort and application on the football pitch (the team lost but the boy never stopped trying – wonderful) and finally, number two son had written a poem that received high praise “excellent” opined his teacher. The boy hadn’t even told me, I only discovered this following a “spot check” on his school books……. Time will tell if I shout any less!

Been on the telly – yes again!! Now stop yawning – I know I have written about my media exploits before but this was a little different. Still no bloody earrings mind!!! Got a call on the Tuesday morning asking me to take part in a chat about toys the next day – the Toy Federation were releasing their Top 12 recommended toys for Christmas (sorry, hate to mention the C word in October but there you go, they started it!). The producer then asked would I like to bring my daughter with me, being the only one not at school…… Well of course, I had a pushy parent moment at the thought of seeing my only girl, the Miss Evie-D, on live telly, followed almost instantaneously by shear abject terror at the thought of her unplugging the power or something equally catastrophic.

The pushy parent in me won and after much calling in of favours and jiggling of work, husband was able to come with me too. Travel arrangements ran like clockwork and we checked in at our 5 star hotel. Now my experience of 5 star hotels is very limited but I am confident in saying I could get used to it!! The bed was as big as a lesser African country and the daughter had a double sofa bed all to herself. We settled in and went to bed……. We had to put the enormous bed to use didn’t we, tho husband is convinced the daughter was only half asleep, so consequently may be traumatised for life!!!

We got up at silly o clock ready to be collected. Husband was ridiculously chipper but then, as he pointed out, he’s used to being up at that hour every working day. Postmen and women of the world, I salute you!

Got to the studio, had my make up done (get me!!) and then got comfy in the green room. The place was awash with toys and Evie was quite at home sampling them all. The word came we would be next on and of course little miss diva announced she wanted a wee. Bloody typical! I dreaded having her sitting there on live telly telling the world she needed a wee, or something more graphic. So we hot-footed it to the nearest loo and then straight into the customary dark, deserted studio. Evie trotted in happily enough and then got spooked. Bugger! I scooped her up and sat her on my lap and we were on. She had brought one of the toys with her for dutch courage and seemed to settle down……. Phew!! The star of the show was “Biscuit” a life sized robotic dog – he was cute as and kept woofing and moving unexpectedly……. So we chatted for a few minutes, not exactly demanding and all was going smoothly. Then the lovely Bill decided Evie should meet Biscuit and plonked the lovely woofer next to us. My heart sank, my little miss is a little charmer but she’s not very confident, especially with new situations/people…… I expected the worst but she loved him and grabbed his bone and started to try and feed him with gusto. Of course, collectively they were irresistible! The moment passed and we were shepherded off. All done.

What I hadn’t expected was the producer thrusting the delightful Biscuit at us saying “she’s got to have him”……. All well and good but we were supposed to be going sightseeing! Dilemma ensued, take the dog and have to plod round London with the poor creature. I had my itinerary all worked out. Baby Gap, Selfridges and then the London Eye. Should we have Biscuit sent home with a courier but I looked at Evie and knew I couldn’t take her new present away from her…….. Husband and I negotiated and decided we could get the car to drop us at Baby Gap so I could at least stock the girl up with clothes that fit her (she’s a nightmare – very slim for her height so trousers in particular are very elusive and baby Gap’s fit her like a dream) and then make our way to Liverpool Street and home. Sorted! Well so we thought, the driver was a total star and dropped us within spitting distance. One snag – it didn’t open for another hour!!! So we trouped over to Starbucks, watched the world waking up and killed some time. Got my shopping done and we negotiated the underground back to Liverpool Street. Biscuit behaved beautifully!!!

We duly arrived home and introduced Biscuit to the rest of the family. He’s fab – well behaved, no poop to scoop, no need for walks in the pouring rain and he shuts up at the flick of a switch! Wish all men were like that!!!!!

Happy now Ginger????

SUMMER HIATUS

Well it's happened again - my going AWOL over the summer months....... I can here you Brits humphing at the mention of summer...... OK, I disappeared for August.......

Wasn't for any earth shattering reason, just bloody busy.

Cricket, as ever occupied much of the time and when it wasn't actually being played it was organising teams for said pastime and if it wasn't arrangements, it was coaching and if not coaching it was pouring (!!) over weather forecasts trying to predict if the game would actually get played........ The team the husband plays for won a cup that the club had never managed to win before, so that was a good night! My two older boys enjoyed playing at senior level and good old fashioned sibling rivalry certainly seemed to sput them on.

Work has swayed from busy, to manically busy back to normal busy. Not complaining, love my job but it can be pretty full on at times.

Managed to persuade the husband to comtemplate a foreign holiday........ I wasn't so persuasive as to manage to get him to actually renew his passport so I guess that will have to wait until next year.

Settled number 2 and number 3 sons into a new high school....... Now therein does lie a tale...... Number 3 son was always scheduled to attend a different school to number 2, who was at our local comp....... I wasn't happy with the standards there and with number 3 being statemented, I was very anxious that his needs would not be catered for at our nearest school. Much agonising and worrying later, I found another reasonably local school with a much more pleasant environment........ The week before the end of term, number 2 son announced he wanted to change schools too......... Marvellous! I realy needed all that hassle. Anyway, I grilled him particularly carefully and his motivation to move seemed well thought out and genuinly considered..... Two new uniforms and two bus passes later and both seem to be settling in well.........

Number one son passed his driving test and turned 18 in August, so you can imagine that it turned out to be a scarily expensive month!

Had a whistle stop tour of Milton Keynes, Bicester, Oxford and Stratford Upon Avon over a weekend and that's about it......

Oh yeah, was in the local paper today in an article about blogging so thought I'd better do some!!!

Have been reading my regular pages but guess now the nights are drawing in I will be a better correspondent........

Talk soon xxx

MAJOR RANDOMNESS

I have been working full time recently as my colleague (and Manager) is on paternity leave. Consequently life has been pretty busy. Add to that mix our biggest client having a peak in production and I have been in danger of meeting myself coming back.

Then today, the most random of experience. My mobile rang at work (fortunately we con;t have any draconian nonsense about personal calls, just some good old old fashioned common sense, i/e/ don't take the piss!). So I duly answered the call and found myself talking to a BBC Breakfast Producer (remember my previous incarnation as part of their technology family??).

Anyway, it transpires that there is a campaign to raise awareness about the legal implications of leaving children aged under 16 home on their own.

Obviously, as a serial mother, they thought I may have an opinion on the matter. I mean, me express an opinion - have I ever????!!!!

I am writing this long-hand in my trusty notepad ready to transcribe once I get near a PC - one that works I might add as the home PC is currently dreadfully poorly thanks to the efforts of number one son.

Just realised I am not wearing any earrings. Curses! The ignominy of appearing on live national television without any earrings....... Will I ever live it down????

(Written on the train to Liverpool St 10th July 2008)

MAMMA MIA

Just watched it at the cinema............ Should be compulsory viewing for ladies of a certain age.


A real tonic and highly recommended.


Book your tickets now!

CHICKEN POX

This question will annoy you all and I know I will receive several conflicting answers............

Is it possible to get chicken pox more than once??????????????

I will tell you what is riding on the consensus soon...........................

DAWN CHORUS

The daughter has been struggling with her sleep just recently – it’s been hot and clammy at night, plus lovely and bright by 5am, hence she’s been very restless.

Saturday morning she woke whilst her daddy was getting ready for work and was raring to go. Her mummy wasn’t! Obviously she needed watching when the husband left for work so I brought her into bed for a cuddle and quick chat. It was quite apparent that she was still tired so after a little “persuasion” she went back to bed.

I climbed back into my lovely king size with its lovely big huggable pillows and duvet and tried to go back to sleep. I tried and I tried and I tried…… And I failed dismally. So there I was lying in bed, listening to the world around me wake up.

The dawn chorus started and how lovely it was too…….. Then a couple of cats decided to have a spat……….. not quite so pleasant……………………. Then my neighbours dog joined in, so we had cats hissing and the dog barking, which woke up not one but two babies in the area.

Dawn chorus my eye, more like bloody dawn cacophony.

Suffice to say I never did get back to sleep!

THAT'S MY BOY

Busy weekend - no surprise there..... Did cricket teas on Saturday, which I do enjoy despite the requirement for a level of physical effort I am not normally known for! Suffice to say copious amounts of fresh cream scones were prepared and consumed. Well I had to taste test them to make sure they were up to standard!

Then on to Sunday......... It was windy - anyone notice that??!! Consequently I decided to get stuck into the washing and subsequent ironing. I was at if for bloody hours - one load in the washing machine, one load on the line and one load being ironed. Talk about Chinese laundry. Anyway, whilst I had my nose to the grindstone, number 4 son was playing 10 pin bowling with his football chums before having lunch together and then their presentation....... Husband took him and they were gone a good few hours..... I wasn't looking my best when they came back - all that steam had made me go decidedly red in the face. Therefore, I was somewhat surprised to be greeted by a beaming husband followed by a beaming son. Well he soon showed me a large, heavy trophy he had won - Manager's Player of the Year. He was absolutely delighted - husband was pretty pleased too! Now number 4 is a happy go lucky little chap, plays his sport to the best of his ability, puts 100% in and will play in any position (including goalie, which I hate as he is forever diving at people's fee). Thus his manager decided that his all round contribution deserved some recognition. He was even presented with his trophy by Mick Mills (former England and Ipswich player). This did cause some consternation because my boys (large and small) are all yellow and green (Norwich City) and Ipswich are the sworn enemy....... I am led to believe it was the most brief of handshakes!

Ah, that's my boy!