Unlike some folks, I like an uninvited guest. It says people are comfortable enough to drop in on you and head home again if the timing is not good. At just under my alloted year at the cottage and we have started recieving our first uninvited guests.The only downside it that with a number of large downstairs windows, one must make sure that pyjamas and other 'homely' clothes are decent at all times. Naked Tuesdays is clearly best kept for city living. My fasle assumption that I would be safe upstairs gathering clothing slowly between brushing toddlers teeth,changing nappies,packing lunches etc was further thwarted by the sporadic visits from the window clearner. He seems to have adopted a stealth approach to ladder work which must surley have its downsides as well as benifits for the man.
Our second, less popular, Uninvited Guest is 'Bitey Cat'. Bitey Cat is a bully who had taken to chasing our nice but dim moggy about the garden. It seems that my water pistoling and throwing of pots(the light plastic ones) and pegs has been a lame attempt to frighten it off. All too frequently we have heard hissing and spitting downstairs in the night to find a stand off taking place. Moreover, Bitey Cat appears so at home, he has made a bed in Mr A's Tramp Coat, where he sleeps every night and during rainy spells by the back door. On further investigation it appears Bitey was owned by the lady at the top of the road and then passed onto our neighbours after the one owner flattened the other's original pet. In this case I can't help feeling a bit sorry for Bitey. Mayhaps I should see him more as an LAC (looked after cat) and consider his needs-no wonder he has affection and freidnship issues if his life has been handed from home to home. Still, I'm not sure I have the patience or skill to be an effective foster mother to a delinquent feline. Maybe I should invest in that super soaker after all......
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Thursday, 9 May 2013
Saturday, 4 May 2013
Bloomn' Loverly
A typical bank holiday weekend in the UK. 6am and its chucking it down. Still, think I, its good for the garden. I am immediatly reminded of a moment a few days back whilst in the green house when upon The Archers ending and Gardeners World being announced...I thought to myself, my how useful, that sounds interesting. I am infact 73.
Aside from prematurly aging 40 years, the last few weeks have been treating us very well. The garden looks great, although there is somthing of the forest about my peas, which still refuse to climb and simply lollop along the grass, despite my continued coaxing.The rhubard is pretty spritley and nearly pickable and I picked one leek-for no other reason than it was a decentish size and they have now been in since october and are officially the most boring vegatable to grow...ever. The sticky 'ornamental cherry' is making its best case for me not to chop it down and burn it come summer. I maintain if the thing only looks pretty for two weeks then looks like a large witches broom the rest of the time, its got to go.
Baby number 3 is making its presence felt in that I am very tired, although thankfully the sickness has now passed. Laurie came full of concern to see me lying on the sofa, 'Mummy, you look tired, would you like a spanner?'. I'm not entirely sure what I would have done with a spanner at that point but it was a caring thought. Mol has no grasp of the situation and if questioned simply points to her tummy and says baby. Although she did come inform the garden claiming she had been playing with her friend Hannah. She has no such friend but it was top of my baby names list. Spooky.
Aside from prematurly aging 40 years, the last few weeks have been treating us very well. The garden looks great, although there is somthing of the forest about my peas, which still refuse to climb and simply lollop along the grass, despite my continued coaxing.The rhubard is pretty spritley and nearly pickable and I picked one leek-for no other reason than it was a decentish size and they have now been in since october and are officially the most boring vegatable to grow...ever. The sticky 'ornamental cherry' is making its best case for me not to chop it down and burn it come summer. I maintain if the thing only looks pretty for two weeks then looks like a large witches broom the rest of the time, its got to go.
Baby number 3 is making its presence felt in that I am very tired, although thankfully the sickness has now passed. Laurie came full of concern to see me lying on the sofa, 'Mummy, you look tired, would you like a spanner?'. I'm not entirely sure what I would have done with a spanner at that point but it was a caring thought. Mol has no grasp of the situation and if questioned simply points to her tummy and says baby. Although she did come inform the garden claiming she had been playing with her friend Hannah. She has no such friend but it was top of my baby names list. Spooky.
Sunday, 21 April 2013
In an English Country Garden
Finally, Spring has shown the promise of activity. Better late than never. The orchard, (all 8 trees of it) are showing the first hints of colour and the garden's showing signs of life. That is, except for the pond where the frost has killed off all the frogspawn and it is now covered, again in weed. I am not a natural gardner. My peas are showing no interst in climbing the lovingly made terrace I built them and so far I my strawberry relocation scheme has killed off more than it has saved and unearthed a cat graveyard. I firmly believe house seller should alert buyers to the location of all deceased previous occupants if still at the residance. That put aside, today I rebuilt a raised bed, rehomed some rogue strawberries, chatted to a robin and generally felt like Beatrix Potter.
Sunday, 14 April 2013
Little fish, big pond
So we decided to take the whole of team anonimum to a wedding in the big smoke. The wedding I was looking forward to. The 8 trains,9hrs travel and sleeping enmasse in a family room, I was not.
In actual fact it all went pretty smoothly. Various overpriced novelty children's magazines kept the kids entertained most of the way and the 'waiting', 'boarding', 'waiting', element is apparently an exciting event in itself for the under 4's. Despite kids and train tracks giving me endless nightmares, they were pretty good. Thanks goodness for good natured old folks who were happy to entertain and play 'peepo' for an hr tho.
The wedding was great, the food was amazing and the non alcoholic drinking options (more on that team development later) were well thought out. The Bride glowed in a beautiful cobalt Ghost number, breaking with the humdrum of ivory and the Groom looked appropriatly like the cat with the cream. It turns out kids at a wedding is a bit of a pain but kids at a wedding plus grandparents,aunties, uncles,2 godparents and numerous baby coralling friends, is totally manageable. We ate and drank and danced (Mol won many friends by finding dance partners amoungst the tipsy guests) until pyjama o'clock which found me pushing a wiped out Laurie and Mr A encouraging a lively Mol (intent on finding every puddle) accross the soutbank and home.
On our way home I had planned some family time (a good idea I had imagined). I had not factored in the monumental hangover Mr A would have having rejoined his friends and fogotten the homeward journey the next day. So, as I strode thru Green park, marvelling the sunny day and the scenery, Mr A limped behind, dark glasses on, making comment such as 'whats this one then'?. 'That, that large building with changing gaurds, golden gates, mounted police, flags a flying,, Mr A, that will be Buckingham Palace'. Needless to say he was pretty useless until about 5pm at which point we were nearly home. The journey was rather more painful, but lightened by Laurie composing a loud song called 'Broken Daddy' as we pulled out of Paddington.
In actual fact it all went pretty smoothly. Various overpriced novelty children's magazines kept the kids entertained most of the way and the 'waiting', 'boarding', 'waiting', element is apparently an exciting event in itself for the under 4's. Despite kids and train tracks giving me endless nightmares, they were pretty good. Thanks goodness for good natured old folks who were happy to entertain and play 'peepo' for an hr tho.
The wedding was great, the food was amazing and the non alcoholic drinking options (more on that team development later) were well thought out. The Bride glowed in a beautiful cobalt Ghost number, breaking with the humdrum of ivory and the Groom looked appropriatly like the cat with the cream. It turns out kids at a wedding is a bit of a pain but kids at a wedding plus grandparents,aunties, uncles,2 godparents and numerous baby coralling friends, is totally manageable. We ate and drank and danced (Mol won many friends by finding dance partners amoungst the tipsy guests) until pyjama o'clock which found me pushing a wiped out Laurie and Mr A encouraging a lively Mol (intent on finding every puddle) accross the soutbank and home.
On our way home I had planned some family time (a good idea I had imagined). I had not factored in the monumental hangover Mr A would have having rejoined his friends and fogotten the homeward journey the next day. So, as I strode thru Green park, marvelling the sunny day and the scenery, Mr A limped behind, dark glasses on, making comment such as 'whats this one then'?. 'That, that large building with changing gaurds, golden gates, mounted police, flags a flying,, Mr A, that will be Buckingham Palace'. Needless to say he was pretty useless until about 5pm at which point we were nearly home. The journey was rather more painful, but lightened by Laurie composing a loud song called 'Broken Daddy' as we pulled out of Paddington.
Thursday, 7 March 2013
Assessment for learning
You could do a masters in 3 years. Maybe I should suggest a Masters in' Mum' to the open university as many of the skills I have learnt are both useful and transferrable and may help forward my furture career path in numerous fields. Admittidly, some of the skills I have learnt have more limited uses.
New Skills Audit
1: Knowledge on how best to remove the smell of Fish Finger Vomit - solution involves bicarb and a new car playmat from Ikea £9.99- a bargain!
2: Ability to encourage son to fart on his fathers side of the bed not my own- solution involves much bribing.
3: Ability to get two sleeping tots and one push bike up the hill home with only a single push chair- solution involves cheating via use of kindly neighbour
4: Ability to remove challenging substances such as playdough, porridge and the surprisingly concrete dried banana from faces, clothes, flooring, furniture,curtains and so on.
5: Ability to still be awake after 45 mins of rocking and singing in the dark.
6: Ability to drive/work/teach/Mum on under 4hrs of sleep....just about......If Maggie can run the country on it I can darn well Mum. Will not be shown up...grit teeth....pin open eyes...drink more coffee.....
7: Awareness of all avaliable toileting spots in a 5 mile radius- could set up the Mum's version of 'The Knowledge'
8: Ability to seek out suitable toileting spot within 1 min time limit in unknown terrain.
Areas of development
1: Maintaining level of calm when trying to leave the house quickly on a cold and blustery day when faces by adverse factors of winging kids, unmatched gloves and missing shoes.
2:Maintaining calm when faced with two kids who point blank refuse to eat the nutritious and budget friendly meal lovingly prepared for them
3: Maintaining calm when tot will not share toys with friend despite insisting all week friend comes over.
4: Improving organisation to ensure there is enough bread on packed lunch day and not be the only unorganised mum making sandiches from Stop n Shop goods outside the school gates.
5: Ability not to get clocked by other mothers preparing lunch from Stop n Shop goods outside school gates.
6: Maintaining calm when yet again for no freaking reason the kids are awake and screaming from 12-4am...why oh why? Maybe this is some sort of final exam test.
7: Ability to reduce beautifying routine to leave house in satisfactory time without resulting look being 'bag lady chic'
New Skills Audit
1: Knowledge on how best to remove the smell of Fish Finger Vomit - solution involves bicarb and a new car playmat from Ikea £9.99- a bargain!
2: Ability to encourage son to fart on his fathers side of the bed not my own- solution involves much bribing.
3: Ability to get two sleeping tots and one push bike up the hill home with only a single push chair- solution involves cheating via use of kindly neighbour
4: Ability to remove challenging substances such as playdough, porridge and the surprisingly concrete dried banana from faces, clothes, flooring, furniture,curtains and so on.
5: Ability to still be awake after 45 mins of rocking and singing in the dark.
6: Ability to drive/work/teach/Mum on under 4hrs of sleep....just about......If Maggie can run the country on it I can darn well Mum. Will not be shown up...grit teeth....pin open eyes...drink more coffee.....
7: Awareness of all avaliable toileting spots in a 5 mile radius- could set up the Mum's version of 'The Knowledge'
8: Ability to seek out suitable toileting spot within 1 min time limit in unknown terrain.
Areas of development
1: Maintaining level of calm when trying to leave the house quickly on a cold and blustery day when faces by adverse factors of winging kids, unmatched gloves and missing shoes.
2:Maintaining calm when faced with two kids who point blank refuse to eat the nutritious and budget friendly meal lovingly prepared for them
3: Maintaining calm when tot will not share toys with friend despite insisting all week friend comes over.
4: Improving organisation to ensure there is enough bread on packed lunch day and not be the only unorganised mum making sandiches from Stop n Shop goods outside the school gates.
5: Ability not to get clocked by other mothers preparing lunch from Stop n Shop goods outside school gates.
6: Maintaining calm when yet again for no freaking reason the kids are awake and screaming from 12-4am...why oh why? Maybe this is some sort of final exam test.
7: Ability to reduce beautifying routine to leave house in satisfactory time without resulting look being 'bag lady chic'
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
I dreamed a dream
Recently I have been experiencing a period of very active night time imaginings. This could be for a number of reasons. possibly as due to the tiny amounts of very broken sleep I am currently getting, somehow my brain feels it needs to cram as much dream doings on in the small window avaliable. Possible it could be because two kids plus endless DIY plus exm season = very busy brain and limited process time when awake. Either way it's not making for a restful nights sleep as I seem to constantly be having high action ninja/asassin style adventures which seem both physically and mentally exhausting. Well, constantly expept for the one time I had a very dull work dream in which I was struggling with a tedious process which I spend enough work time dwelling on to bother with at home, let alone in my sleep.
In other news team Anonimum is thriving, save the odd tummy complaint and pre-school mishap. We are looking into chicken rearing- as we clearly don't have enough on our plates! We have many plans, some are achievable and some probably pie in the sky. I'm throwing around ideas for our kitchen renovations. It seems a huge project but one that can happily wait the 10 yrs before we have the cash to afford it, Well maybe 15 yrs at the current rate. Think we'll have to stick to a bit of new lino for now.
In other news team Anonimum is thriving, save the odd tummy complaint and pre-school mishap. We are looking into chicken rearing- as we clearly don't have enough on our plates! We have many plans, some are achievable and some probably pie in the sky. I'm throwing around ideas for our kitchen renovations. It seems a huge project but one that can happily wait the 10 yrs before we have the cash to afford it, Well maybe 15 yrs at the current rate. Think we'll have to stick to a bit of new lino for now.
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