Whenever I go to our church a few steps away I try to stay for coffee at the end. Whatever my thoughts about religion and all that, I have no issues with chat and coffee.
No matter whether I get my drink first or towards the end, I'm always the last person to bring their mug to the sink and wind up swooshing it through the suds myself. How does that happen? Probably because I love talking with people and having a good time!
So I recommend a chatty church to anyone, just sing along and ignore what you don't get along with. I suspect life is too short to try to find the right religion.
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Saturday, 30 October 2010
'Right over there'
We all went bowling this evening. T and H decided soon after arriving that they would rather not change into the bowling shoes. They took my car keys and set off across the huge car park to find it and then sit in it. It took 2 journeys for them to find my car. I like to get some fresh air so always park a long way from my destination. It was quite hard to explain exactly how far away it was and how it was near a hedge 'right over there on the left'.
They had enough of that after a while and returned to watch us play.
The good bits were getting some good shots, seeing S getting some strikes and lending my camera to the other HE children in another lane to play with and get some action photos. I got a tiny bit of chatting to 3 other HE mothers too.
When we got back I promised to never take them bowling again. They used to enjoy it and I was the one who would to refuse to go.....
They had enough of that after a while and returned to watch us play.
The good bits were getting some good shots, seeing S getting some strikes and lending my camera to the other HE children in another lane to play with and get some action photos. I got a tiny bit of chatting to 3 other HE mothers too.
When we got back I promised to never take them bowling again. They used to enjoy it and I was the one who would to refuse to go.....
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Monday, 25 October 2010
Power
'Let us remind ourselves: words are very dangerous, they are dynamite. Jokes can't start a revolution, but they can loosen the bricks in the wall. A joke introduces a little anarchy into the world, a bit of disruption. It tests the limits; it pushes them.'
from the FT.com/magazine
by Hanif Kureishi
from the FT.com/magazine
by Hanif Kureishi
Sunday, 24 October 2010
Tricked, or something
I went into Blockbuster with one of my sons. There was no fuss at all, but when I got back home I realised I had come out with one 18 amongst the 5 dvds.
Last time S was the one who magically came home with something with the wrong rating after going to get a dvd with that same quiet but determined son.
Hmmm...for the nth time.
From now on we adults will go there unaccompanied!
Last time S was the one who magically came home with something with the wrong rating after going to get a dvd with that same quiet but determined son.
Hmmm...for the nth time.
From now on we adults will go there unaccompanied!
Furry gifts
Last night at midnight our visiting cat came to see us. She was very excitable and full of energy.
This morning I realised why she'd been so lively, there were *2* dead rats laid out by our back door, one adult and one young one, side by side.
This morning I realised why she'd been so lively, there were *2* dead rats laid out by our back door, one adult and one young one, side by side.
Names
It has just hit me that we are in a new world now where it is absolutely standard practice to pick new names for ourselves online.
I choose different ones for each website, but some people seem to keep to one identity everywhere.
The names on Mumsnet are an artform in themselves.
It's a surprise for me, that moment when I need to register for a forum and need to decide on a name before I have seen what the norm appears to be for the others on there.
Passwords are another issue, another level of sudden decision making. It would be so much easier if I didn't feel the need to keep my passwords private! I have a system though, so on every website I sit there trying my various versions of password.
No one talks much about their systems though, so that is another of those modern day mysteries.
I'd like to set up an automatic one where I'd just put in tomorrow's date and yesterday's day of the week, eg: 25sat.
I choose different ones for each website, but some people seem to keep to one identity everywhere.
The names on Mumsnet are an artform in themselves.
It's a surprise for me, that moment when I need to register for a forum and need to decide on a name before I have seen what the norm appears to be for the others on there.
Passwords are another issue, another level of sudden decision making. It would be so much easier if I didn't feel the need to keep my passwords private! I have a system though, so on every website I sit there trying my various versions of password.
No one talks much about their systems though, so that is another of those modern day mysteries.
I'd like to set up an automatic one where I'd just put in tomorrow's date and yesterday's day of the week, eg: 25sat.
Saturday, 23 October 2010
The Pantry
Yes, we really do have one. It was last organised back in 2001. Some of the beer I threw out dated from then. There was some ancient jam too.
I'm amazed by how many clean toddler resources I had tucked away: puzzles, card games. They had been used, but hadn't got spoilt or gnawed. Maybe I had simply thrown away the damaged bits and stored the rest! They are all going to the charity shop though.
It's sad because I feel as if I am throwing away the boys' childhood. I know I'm not, but still. I keep my very favourite toys for any guests. Even the marble run and Monopoly are pretty much retired now.
My next issue is to decide what to do with the group of decanters. Flower vases, pretty things for a mantlepiece? Containers for Ribena and other cordials? Get into drinking sherry at 6pm every night and refuse to go out on little late night drives to the garage to buy crisps and chocolate...that would be unkind to all of us.
I'm amazed by how many clean toddler resources I had tucked away: puzzles, card games. They had been used, but hadn't got spoilt or gnawed. Maybe I had simply thrown away the damaged bits and stored the rest! They are all going to the charity shop though.
It's sad because I feel as if I am throwing away the boys' childhood. I know I'm not, but still. I keep my very favourite toys for any guests. Even the marble run and Monopoly are pretty much retired now.
My next issue is to decide what to do with the group of decanters. Flower vases, pretty things for a mantlepiece? Containers for Ribena and other cordials? Get into drinking sherry at 6pm every night and refuse to go out on little late night drives to the garage to buy crisps and chocolate...that would be unkind to all of us.
Cheating at cards....
'He's outwardly respectable. (They say he cheats at cards.)
And his footprints are not found in any file of Scotland Yard's.
And when the larder is looted, or the jewel-case is rifled,
Or when the milk is missing, or another Peke's been stifled,
Or when the greenhouse glass is broken, and the trellis past repair-
Ay, there's the wonder of the thing! Macavity's not there!'
Macavity: The Mystery Cat
by T S Eliot
And his footprints are not found in any file of Scotland Yard's.
And when the larder is looted, or the jewel-case is rifled,
Or when the milk is missing, or another Peke's been stifled,
Or when the greenhouse glass is broken, and the trellis past repair-
Ay, there's the wonder of the thing! Macavity's not there!'
Macavity: The Mystery Cat
by T S Eliot
Friday, 22 October 2010
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Peace
I get a bit repetitive when people ask me how things are going. The reply surprisingly often is that things are peaceful at home, we potter about, we chat and do our favourite activities.
We do have moments of frustration, but given time and food and a big lack of rushing around they generally fade away.
I'm a big fan of being homey. A few years ago I would have laughed at the idea of making a shopping trip to get a birthday card and a favourite food. Now I think it is an hour well spent!
We do have moments of frustration, but given time and food and a big lack of rushing around they generally fade away.
I'm a big fan of being homey. A few years ago I would have laughed at the idea of making a shopping trip to get a birthday card and a favourite food. Now I think it is an hour well spent!
Sigh
The long hair has become an issue with school. I did mention to the teacher that actually T's hair wasn't nearly as long as H's hair, for information and awareness raising purposes.
The colour is also an issue. Hmm. I find it annoying that one of my children will have to put hair colour choices and lengths on hold until July 2013. I had become rather used to and proud of the fact that his school were ok with long haired rock star looks. I suspect the prospect of a new head is causing the clampdown in advance of his arrival.
I also don't yet know for sure how to redye T's hair back to roughly his underlying colour. An unfortunate green colour wouldn't be a good outcome.
Time to google 'changing hair colour from deep red back to light brown'.
T is fine about it, so I'm being the typical parent who gets wound up over non-events and irritates the teachers!
The colour is also an issue. Hmm. I find it annoying that one of my children will have to put hair colour choices and lengths on hold until July 2013. I had become rather used to and proud of the fact that his school were ok with long haired rock star looks. I suspect the prospect of a new head is causing the clampdown in advance of his arrival.
I also don't yet know for sure how to redye T's hair back to roughly his underlying colour. An unfortunate green colour wouldn't be a good outcome.
Time to google 'changing hair colour from deep red back to light brown'.
T is fine about it, so I'm being the typical parent who gets wound up over non-events and irritates the teachers!
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Stephen Fry
I'm hoping his voice will work its magic on us. I have just ordered a 2nd hand set of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone cds to listen to in the car.
Feeling uneasy as I pass the big lambs
'Be nice to yu turkey dis christmas
Invite dem indoors fe sum greens
Let dem eat cake an let dem partake
In a plate of organic grown beans'
Talking Turkeys
by Benjamin Zephaniah
Invite dem indoors fe sum greens
Let dem eat cake an let dem partake
In a plate of organic grown beans'
Talking Turkeys
by Benjamin Zephaniah
Sunday, 17 October 2010
-0.5c
Brrr, I've just been out for supplies to keep T going during a day of Airsoft.
The sheep were all quiet in the field, individual humps of shaggy wool. They are just big lambs, so they don't sleep huddled next to their mothers, because the mothers aren't with them.
There's a long heap of manure steaming gently in the field opposite the sheep.
The sheep were all quiet in the field, individual humps of shaggy wool. They are just big lambs, so they don't sleep huddled next to their mothers, because the mothers aren't with them.
There's a long heap of manure steaming gently in the field opposite the sheep.
Friday, 15 October 2010
Blogomania
It's like kleptomania, but it is ok. I go from blog to blog and land up somewhere really wonderful. Then I copy and paste it to add to my list. So my daily list of updated blogs is just huge!!! I'm happy.
I'm going to go and count them now....I may be some time.
The total is 84.
I'm going to go and count them now....I may be some time.
The total is 84.
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Faith
Seeing the miners' rescue and the emphasis put on faith is humbling. My children's great grandfather was a miner in the Durham area. I will ask my mother-in-law some questions about what she remembers of her father.
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Saturday, 9 October 2010
A little bit of J C, from Act I
Casca. Are you not moved, when all the sway of earth
Shakes like a thing infirm? O Cicero,
I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds
Have rived the knotty oaks; and I have seen
The ambitious ocean swell, and rage, and foam,
To be exhalted with the threatening clouds
But never till tonight, never till now,
Did I go through a tempest dropping fire.
Either there is a civil strife in heaven,
Or else the world, too saucy with the gods,
Incenses them to send destruction.
William Shakespeare
from 'Julius Caesar'
Shakes like a thing infirm? O Cicero,
I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds
Have rived the knotty oaks; and I have seen
The ambitious ocean swell, and rage, and foam,
To be exhalted with the threatening clouds
But never till tonight, never till now,
Did I go through a tempest dropping fire.
Either there is a civil strife in heaven,
Or else the world, too saucy with the gods,
Incenses them to send destruction.
William Shakespeare
from 'Julius Caesar'
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