About Me

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South West
This is my blog and "My Time". Time for a few moments to myself: Time away from chores and Time to stop the whirring of family logistics that keep my brain permanently occupied. I am Mother of two, wife of one, with a dog to complete the set. I have a full time job and spend every free hour trying to ensure school bags are packed, birthdays remembered and bills paid. My life is chaotic, fun, demanding and fast. I, like most people, need more time.

Monday 30 April 2012

Rain, rain go away

When will it stop?  We have had two days of constant rain recently, on each occasion about an inch in one day. We spent yesterday at a Factory Shop outlet, dodging rain showers and waiting for a dry spell to let the children ride on the Merry-Go-Round.  It was not the best day to go, but we survived.

We were with friends and had a full car - girls were in the back seats (ie in the boot), with the two boys and me in the middle and Husband and other Mummy in the front. The journey was going well until Daughter got car sick, a first, about 5 mins before our destination.  I think there was one bend in the road too many.  That cleared up and our shopping list doubled, as it was not only shoes to get, but also a new outfit for Daughter.

Our first problem was the big cafe was shut, so we would have to find somewhere else to grab some lunch.  However, shoes first, and luckily our two kiddies did not need any.  Next stop, new clothes! Then to lunch, which was quite noisy with four children, and then two other shops and we headed off.

On our way home we stopped at a friends' house.  She is not married (no idea why not) and so her flat is a lovely and calm, cream and tidy.  Then we arrived. Wet soggy coats and shoes left outside. The children were fab, but it was certainly a little chaotic. On the way home we sang songs and kept everyone going, before getting on with the bedtime ritual.

And finally, two tired parents then flaked out in front of the telly.

Saturday 28 April 2012

Walk the walk...

Today we managed to fit in a short sponsored walk, watch a bride leave the Church (big excitement for 6 year old Daughter), get a sneak look into the 1930s Rolls Royce, and all this followed by a playdate with with the Youngest family.

The school supports Save The Children with an annual walk, and has done for 40 years.  Originally we did the walk along the route to The Cathedral, however it is now a walk around the school grounds and ends with a roast lunch in the dining room.  The route was much reduced this year due to the incredible amount of rain that we've had over the last week - it is a drought, of course - and so the start time was a little later.  We just got there in time and set off a few minutes before the back marker.  As it was getting close to lunchtime, I did not hold out much hope for two little ones reaching the end, so lots of encouragement was needed, (including cookies and brownies).  They got half way round (about 1 mile) and we took the direct route back to lunch.  Daughter, who was previously totally against the whole idea of a walk, was disappointed not to get to the end, but (younger) Son could not be persuaded to continue on.  The chance of seeing friends at lunch made the decision easier.  The day was a big success with everyone enjoying the walk, which was not as slippery as it could have been, and lunch, with wine, kept parents happy and the bucket for donations topped up. Total amount raised is not finalised, but will hopefully be in the region of £2,000+.

After lunch we headed to friends house for a play, and managed to see the bride leaving the Church as we drove past.  I had thought we had missed this important part of the day, but we were in luck.  The bride, our neighbours' daughter, looked stunning, as did her new husband and the bridesmaids.  We, however, we in muddy trousers and wellies, and kept a very low profile.

Two tired little ones into bed, so Husband and I were able to sit down and enjoy watching "The Voice" on BBC1.

We did it.

We have all survived the first week of term. In the past we have returned on a Monday for two and a half days of meetings and then boarders back on Wednesday and day on Thursday.  However, this time the boarders came back on Sunday and day on Monday, so our first week was a full one!  I will admit to being a little tired...

We shared our Friday night film night with our great family mates, who are sadly soon to leave these shores (boo hiss).  It was fun, and I returned from work to find all 5 children fed and washed - all I had to do was to turn on the telly, open the wine and catch up with A.  If you have not seen "Hop" it's a great film for kiddies.

Talking of which, my other great mate, Sarah Miles (you must read her blog called "Hello Wall") who left these parts (not shores luckily) last year, sent me a brilliant birthday present.  A Costa token.  We used to sneak off for Costa as often as possible when they lived in the area, and I saw the tokens recently and thought of her, but her birthday has already happened.  I think I'll save the token to share with A or Sarah.

I love keeping in touch with friends, but I am truely awful at it, and not helped by my electric devices losing address and contact details, never helps.  In fact, tomorrow we're hoping to meet up with a great girl I used to work with.  The weather looks bad, so we'll need an indoor plan....

Wednesday 25 April 2012

What a start....

Well, first day of the summer term, and it's definitely had a Monday feel to it.  The morning started with a work call at 06.30 which needed about half an hour to sort out - various calls all round the world to try to get the problem solved.  It turned out that someone missed a flight and, in fact, had they thought about it, they could have told me at 17.00 the day before!! That sorted, and my children left to get themselves up, dressed and breakfasted, left a slightly stressful time of catch-up and getting ready.  The children were amazing and just got on with it, however Daughter, who does not like sharing me with work, said "maybe you shouldn't have children, Mummy".  Ouch, and with that I broke down in tears.  One, slightly confused 6 year old, did not realise what a heart wrenching comment that was and began to cry.  After lots of hugs, we agreed that we would need armbands if the tears did not stop soon, and calmly got on with the job in hand of breakfast, and getting to school.

After school was a rush to pick up a couple of their friends for a playdate and I decided to make brownies for pudding.  Somehow my full-proof receipe was also susceptible to Monday, and failed.  After supper lots of dancing and games and, unfortuantely, a bump to Son - led to a teary goodbye. Telly soon soothed the sitation and a quiet game of lego - how high can you build a tower?  The answer - taller than a 4 year old, but not a 6 year old.

Little ones now in bed, and I am still reeling - writing this with tears in my eyes as I wonder if working full time, and having to put children second is really worth it?  A massive question, that I'm not sure I can answer.  We don't live in a city, there are not loads of job and mine fits very well with Husband's.  I must count my blessings - but today that feels like that is a very big ask.  Life and how to live it? - is a big question.

As Husband is home later tonight, so I'll either hit the wine, cry, stare at the telly, or simply go to bed and get rid of today.  Enough, as I say to the children.

Tomorrow can only get better.....  I'm glad to say it did!

Saturday 21 April 2012

My first ever blog

Well, I have to admit to being a little confused when I started this.  Never mind, it's just a bit of fun and a chance to record some of the funny things that happen around me, the achievements of children and the general chaos that is family life.  It may even turn into something that we can all look back on and enjoy.  I'm not sharing this with nearest and dearest just yet, until I get the hang of it.

So we're off to the park to enjoy some sunshine, while there is some.  Bikes for the kiddies, a lead for the dog and sarnies for all.  Wow, what an outing .... now back home again, it was as if Daughter knew what I've been up to.  An achievement to record on my blog - no more stabilisers on her bike.  She has taken a bit of persuasion, but has now succeeded - and is certainly, quite rightly, very proud of herself, as is Mother and Father; however younger Brother is a little on the "green-eyed" side.

Supper will be early on account of their tiredness from all the cycling, and telly has been banned today due to bad behaviour yesterday!  They were at a playdate with friends and all the children painted the walls of the playroom - Mrs M was not too chuffed, and luckily most of the paint came off. Discussion about punishments followed, and the "no telly Saturday" was agreed.

Once in bed, it's time for The Voice (as Husband and I had not painted the walls, we did not incurr the "no telly Saturday" rule).