Happy birthday to my mum.
So - survived Beavers and Cubs last night. We had a great time - apple bobbing, followed by trying to get maltesers out of flour (lovely). We finished with eating a doughnut without using hands. The kids loved it. I think the part they most enjoyed was getting the malteser out whilst getting covered in flour. I wish I'd taken the camera now. Maybe next time.
Today I have cleaned the house from top to bottom, managed 2 loads of washing, packed for 3 of us to go away for a week and then gone to school to help with swimming, paid money it at 3 banks, paid for a library book we've lost, picked the boys up, had time at the in-laws then gone back to school for karate. We had fish and chips for tea :*) - living 5 miles out of town means we don't have take away often. The boys watched the tail end of Quantum of Solace and are now in bed although judging by the noise they are far from sleeping.
At least it is now half term. Work tomorrow morning then we head off to Somerset for a week. I can't wait. I need to top up on my dose of the South West regularly. We are having 'Christmas' at the weekend as well. Not sure what we will eat but there is a fantastic butcher and fishmonger near mum so it should be good.
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Wednesday 21st October
Wow - a couple of busy weeks there not to mention a post yesterday which went missing. Argh!
I have worked 4 out of 5 days for the last 2 weeks so trying to keep up with everything has been hard. At least working 3 days at the hospice made me feel I belonged and knew what was going on for once rather than just being the weekend doctor. It will be interesting to see how I feel when I go back on Friday after a weeks absence. Obviously one of the problems with the hospice is that people sometimes leave faster than you expect so just catching up can be a trial.
Other than that I have helped out at school on Thursday afternoon helping year 1 change for swimming -that's fun - not. At least I get to see Tad swim if I help. I also help in year 5 on Friday afternoon and am getting better and better at laminating, cutting, sticking, guillotining and mounting. Helping there lets me see Con in class and gives us something to talk about on the way home. Last Thursday after swimming I went in to the parallel year 1 class to talk about bones which was entertaining. A few weeks earlier I'd done the body for Tad's class complete with why we wee and poo. One little boy stuck his hand up and told me in all seriousness that he knew a fact I hadn't told them - if you watch too much tv your eyes go square. I didn't know where to look.
Last Friday was a difficult day for Goat and I. His dad has been getting progressively more and more confused. He's been investigated at the hospital and sadly its not Alzheimers but just general non-specific dementia so none of the medication will improve him. He's been having hallucinations for a while but on Friday morning MIL rang to say he was verbally aggressive and had been up every night this week. Goat arranged via the GP to do some tests top amke sure it was nothing infective (it wasn't) and he is now on a night time sedative to give them both a rest. He still has the hallucinations during the day but they're not stopping him from sleeping now. The daytime ones seem to be less threatening as well and he is quite entertained by them. So far he has slept well 5 nights out of 6 so fingers crossed it will hold for a while. I went over to babysit on Saturday with the boys - MIL took them out while FIL and I had a nice chat. At church on Sunday I dropped out of the St Vincent de Paul society as clearly if I am going to visit any-one at the moment it should be family. It was my first Mass since September and I realised how much I miss going really. At the end I got chatting to the undertakers wife and we have worked out how I can manage to fulfill one of my ambitions - to watch an embalming. Watch this space!
On Sunday I got the boys outside after Mass. We wnet egg hunting. Goat had founf 17 in the pampas on Saturday and I found 5 more near a compost heap. At least we aren't feeding the chickens for nothing now although I am sure they are moutling - the garage is full of feathers. We could almost make pillows now! While the boys plyaed around I also managed to dig over some of the veggie patch. The ground where the taties were was lovely so I will grow even more this year just to make my life easier. Picked about 20 caterpillars off the brussels and purple sprouting in the hope that we get something from them. Last year the broccoli was eaten in the space of 24 hours. This year I still have 4 plants left so we should get a garnish at least!
We finally succumbed and lit the boiler as well 2 weeks ago.The smell of wood smoke and cooking food is wonderful as you come into the house. I love it.
On Monday I went with year 5 to the Mary Rose - brilliant. I can highly recommend it. Next year in February half term mum and I will find a hotel for a night and go back with the boys for a whole day. We can see the Victory too.
Today - after getting in from work I have been lazy. Now I am in a rush to get off to beavers having faffed all afternoon but I needed it. Tomorrow I need to wash, pack and get ready to go to Mum's for half term. We are having Christmas on Saturday with my sister who will be in Oz visiting friends in December. Lucky thing.
I have worked 4 out of 5 days for the last 2 weeks so trying to keep up with everything has been hard. At least working 3 days at the hospice made me feel I belonged and knew what was going on for once rather than just being the weekend doctor. It will be interesting to see how I feel when I go back on Friday after a weeks absence. Obviously one of the problems with the hospice is that people sometimes leave faster than you expect so just catching up can be a trial.
Other than that I have helped out at school on Thursday afternoon helping year 1 change for swimming -that's fun - not. At least I get to see Tad swim if I help. I also help in year 5 on Friday afternoon and am getting better and better at laminating, cutting, sticking, guillotining and mounting. Helping there lets me see Con in class and gives us something to talk about on the way home. Last Thursday after swimming I went in to the parallel year 1 class to talk about bones which was entertaining. A few weeks earlier I'd done the body for Tad's class complete with why we wee and poo. One little boy stuck his hand up and told me in all seriousness that he knew a fact I hadn't told them - if you watch too much tv your eyes go square. I didn't know where to look.
Last Friday was a difficult day for Goat and I. His dad has been getting progressively more and more confused. He's been investigated at the hospital and sadly its not Alzheimers but just general non-specific dementia so none of the medication will improve him. He's been having hallucinations for a while but on Friday morning MIL rang to say he was verbally aggressive and had been up every night this week. Goat arranged via the GP to do some tests top amke sure it was nothing infective (it wasn't) and he is now on a night time sedative to give them both a rest. He still has the hallucinations during the day but they're not stopping him from sleeping now. The daytime ones seem to be less threatening as well and he is quite entertained by them. So far he has slept well 5 nights out of 6 so fingers crossed it will hold for a while. I went over to babysit on Saturday with the boys - MIL took them out while FIL and I had a nice chat. At church on Sunday I dropped out of the St Vincent de Paul society as clearly if I am going to visit any-one at the moment it should be family. It was my first Mass since September and I realised how much I miss going really. At the end I got chatting to the undertakers wife and we have worked out how I can manage to fulfill one of my ambitions - to watch an embalming. Watch this space!
On Sunday I got the boys outside after Mass. We wnet egg hunting. Goat had founf 17 in the pampas on Saturday and I found 5 more near a compost heap. At least we aren't feeding the chickens for nothing now although I am sure they are moutling - the garage is full of feathers. We could almost make pillows now! While the boys plyaed around I also managed to dig over some of the veggie patch. The ground where the taties were was lovely so I will grow even more this year just to make my life easier. Picked about 20 caterpillars off the brussels and purple sprouting in the hope that we get something from them. Last year the broccoli was eaten in the space of 24 hours. This year I still have 4 plants left so we should get a garnish at least!
We finally succumbed and lit the boiler as well 2 weeks ago.The smell of wood smoke and cooking food is wonderful as you come into the house. I love it.
On Monday I went with year 5 to the Mary Rose - brilliant. I can highly recommend it. Next year in February half term mum and I will find a hotel for a night and go back with the boys for a whole day. We can see the Victory too.
Today - after getting in from work I have been lazy. Now I am in a rush to get off to beavers having faffed all afternoon but I needed it. Tomorrow I need to wash, pack and get ready to go to Mum's for half term. We are having Christmas on Saturday with my sister who will be in Oz visiting friends in December. Lucky thing.
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Tuesday 6th October
Its raining!
Boy is it - its making up for lost time. It rained pretty much non-stop yesterday and its worse today. It is so nice to see green for a change but amazing how quickly the grass improves with a little water.
Anyway - last few days have been a bit odd. The old chickens, one in particular who is now called black bum, are bullying the new girls. One of the newbies has a large bald area on her chest and also on her shoulders. We shut her away on Sunday and yesterday I put her to bed in the broody area of the hen house to protect her from the others. Despite that there were feathers everywhere in the garage yesterday. Black bum seems to go out of her way to peck the new ones and doesn't let go straight away either. If she continues I may have to separate her from all the others and if that doesn't work - chicken soup any-one?
The egg yield has dropped off markedly too - either they are hiding them somewhere or maybe they are moulting but whatever the bullying has to stop!
I was on call over the weekend and only had 1 call! Sadly at 1am on Monday morning so I was not at my sparkly best yesterday when I worked at the hospice again. This time I worked with some-one I had previously only spoken to on the phone so it was nice to put a face to a name. Got home at half one and wasted the afternoon on the computer.
Tesco's delivered a load of food at 9pm - its supposed to be greener but having heard the mileage he'd clocked up prior to my delivery I'm not so sure it is outside of town. At least we got a load of tins and milk delivered which saves me lugging them home in the car. I now need to sort out the shed where we keep all our food but might leave that until tomorrow.
Today I have been quite busy. Dropped the boys off at school - we walked 15 minutes from the top of town to school as I didn't need to get to work. Luckily it was only drizzling when we walked. I do like them to walk as far as possible but living 5 miles from school means they have to drive most of the way. Got home, had a cuppa, planned Cubs and Beavers on the computer then played a game for an hour before being motivated to - tidy and hoover the living room, tidy and hoover the dining room and play area, deconstruct and put away several lego-like toys (about 5 big ones), strip and polish the table, tidy the kitchen surfaces, sort through paper work. I have also sorted out the scouting accounts and sent invoices out for subs. Not bad eh?
Lettuce soup for lunch so I am feeling virtuous!
Boy is it - its making up for lost time. It rained pretty much non-stop yesterday and its worse today. It is so nice to see green for a change but amazing how quickly the grass improves with a little water.
Anyway - last few days have been a bit odd. The old chickens, one in particular who is now called black bum, are bullying the new girls. One of the newbies has a large bald area on her chest and also on her shoulders. We shut her away on Sunday and yesterday I put her to bed in the broody area of the hen house to protect her from the others. Despite that there were feathers everywhere in the garage yesterday. Black bum seems to go out of her way to peck the new ones and doesn't let go straight away either. If she continues I may have to separate her from all the others and if that doesn't work - chicken soup any-one?
The egg yield has dropped off markedly too - either they are hiding them somewhere or maybe they are moulting but whatever the bullying has to stop!
I was on call over the weekend and only had 1 call! Sadly at 1am on Monday morning so I was not at my sparkly best yesterday when I worked at the hospice again. This time I worked with some-one I had previously only spoken to on the phone so it was nice to put a face to a name. Got home at half one and wasted the afternoon on the computer.
Tesco's delivered a load of food at 9pm - its supposed to be greener but having heard the mileage he'd clocked up prior to my delivery I'm not so sure it is outside of town. At least we got a load of tins and milk delivered which saves me lugging them home in the car. I now need to sort out the shed where we keep all our food but might leave that until tomorrow.
Today I have been quite busy. Dropped the boys off at school - we walked 15 minutes from the top of town to school as I didn't need to get to work. Luckily it was only drizzling when we walked. I do like them to walk as far as possible but living 5 miles from school means they have to drive most of the way. Got home, had a cuppa, planned Cubs and Beavers on the computer then played a game for an hour before being motivated to - tidy and hoover the living room, tidy and hoover the dining room and play area, deconstruct and put away several lego-like toys (about 5 big ones), strip and polish the table, tidy the kitchen surfaces, sort through paper work. I have also sorted out the scouting accounts and sent invoices out for subs. Not bad eh?
Lettuce soup for lunch so I am feeling virtuous!
Saturday, 3 October 2009
Saturday 3rd
Work yesterday and today at the hospice. Didn't go into school yesterday afternoon to conserve some energy for the weekend. Cooked lemon chicken for tea with pak choi. Told Tad it wasn't chinese which meant he ate it. If he thinks its chinese food he wont.
After work this morning I took the boys into town for their karate grading. It was Tad's first go so he was quite nervous but excited. He passed easily - to be honest it seems as if they just turn up and they get it for the first few belts. His friends passed too.
Con got a level 3 which is a plain pass. He is used to a good pass - level 2 - and said his grade was really hard this time. They had to do their kata in pairs with 2 examiners watching. The other child with him failed. At least he passed and has realised its not going to just be a walk in the park from now on - he will need to be ready for the grading. At £12 a go I'm reluctant to take him if he's not sure of passing.
This afternoon we've played poker and built things out of a sort of lego as well as watching The colour of Magic video. Excellent stuff.
Diet still on track - helped by not being able to drink this weekend. Grrr.
Breaking news - I have just bought the tent I was thinking of getting for next year. I'm glad I've waited. I was going to pay £499 and I've just found it for £380 so I've saved nearly £120. That will pay for a few trips out or maybe go towards a holiday in February. Tee hee.
Despite trying to do the green thing I am wondering about a flight somewhere just so that the boys experience it once. Having said that my sister is thinking of working in Oz for a year so we would have to fly out to see her. It does go against the grain to try to walk/cycle everywhere, use solar energy, wood energy, keep an old car (185k on the clock, 15 years old) and recycle as much as we can then to blow all that good work on a flight to somewhere I could drive to. So probably we will wait to see if Liv goes down under or not.
After work this morning I took the boys into town for their karate grading. It was Tad's first go so he was quite nervous but excited. He passed easily - to be honest it seems as if they just turn up and they get it for the first few belts. His friends passed too.
Con got a level 3 which is a plain pass. He is used to a good pass - level 2 - and said his grade was really hard this time. They had to do their kata in pairs with 2 examiners watching. The other child with him failed. At least he passed and has realised its not going to just be a walk in the park from now on - he will need to be ready for the grading. At £12 a go I'm reluctant to take him if he's not sure of passing.
This afternoon we've played poker and built things out of a sort of lego as well as watching The colour of Magic video. Excellent stuff.
Diet still on track - helped by not being able to drink this weekend. Grrr.
Breaking news - I have just bought the tent I was thinking of getting for next year. I'm glad I've waited. I was going to pay £499 and I've just found it for £380 so I've saved nearly £120. That will pay for a few trips out or maybe go towards a holiday in February. Tee hee.
Despite trying to do the green thing I am wondering about a flight somewhere just so that the boys experience it once. Having said that my sister is thinking of working in Oz for a year so we would have to fly out to see her. It does go against the grain to try to walk/cycle everywhere, use solar energy, wood energy, keep an old car (185k on the clock, 15 years old) and recycle as much as we can then to blow all that good work on a flight to somewhere I could drive to. So probably we will wait to see if Liv goes down under or not.
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Thursday 1st Oct
Poorly. First Tad on Saturday, then Con Tuesday morning and today its me. Woke feeling off colour but thought maybe it was the beer last night making me feel tummy-ish. Then I threw up. I've been in bed all morning but up since lunchtime. To quote no 1 son "I feel extremely weak". Not eaten yet but have kept a mug of tea down. Mind you things would have to be bad for me not to manage a cup of tea.
Work yesterday was fun. Beavers and Cubs OK. I cycled to and from the scout hut last night as Con wasn't going. Now I feel grim. I was supposed to be at a governors meeting tonight but I'm not going. Work tomorrow could be fun AND I'm on call for the weekend.
Con is still quite grotty - bad cough so he's not going to choir or karate tonight but Tad was desperate to go to karate. Luckily my MIL rang and offered to take him. Bless her.
So far today other than sleep I have managed to muck out the chickens. So smelly with that many of them in one coop. I couldn't leave it any longer but I could have done without it!
Now all I need to do is think about dinner. Yuck. Not good at coming up with ideas when I don't feel hungryl. We had considered fish and chips after karate/governors but that's out now. Ho hum.
Work yesterday was fun. Beavers and Cubs OK. I cycled to and from the scout hut last night as Con wasn't going. Now I feel grim. I was supposed to be at a governors meeting tonight but I'm not going. Work tomorrow could be fun AND I'm on call for the weekend.
Con is still quite grotty - bad cough so he's not going to choir or karate tonight but Tad was desperate to go to karate. Luckily my MIL rang and offered to take him. Bless her.
So far today other than sleep I have managed to muck out the chickens. So smelly with that many of them in one coop. I couldn't leave it any longer but I could have done without it!
Now all I need to do is think about dinner. Yuck. Not good at coming up with ideas when I don't feel hungryl. We had considered fish and chips after karate/governors but that's out now. Ho hum.
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