Well hey. Here I am still in the land of the living 10 yrs since my last post and life has moved on dramatically! Wowser we can now claim to be the generation that is post-covid. A world pandemic which was admittedly very scary stuff when it hit! I recall my youngest (who is now a very grown up 20![how did that happen?]) asking me at the very start of covid if this would turn into a pandemic mum? and I hastened to reassure her na of course not! having just read the WHO headlines saying no it wouldn't be a pandemic. How wrong they were! lockdowns not allowed to leave houses except for hourly walks only urgent shopping allowed. Very frightening! But hey i have missed out on 10 years My 2 babies are now grownnups having succeeded in their educational endeavours with flying colours. one can drive (I never get to see my car!) one about to sit their test imminently. So i may as well forget driving my car ever again! The eldest has just bought a flat with their partner so will be flying the nest (and boy will that be hard on me!!! 😭) But in amongst all that life has gone on with all the usual trials and tribulations of family life. But i am still here. Fighting the good fight. Mebbe not always winning. But surviving to fight another day mebbe slightly bloodied and bruised but still standing! Getting new windowz and doors installed next week which will hopefully help with energy bills this winter in view of the ever rising costs due to gawd awful government and economic crisis thanx to Brexit and Covid but let's not go there!!! 😝🙄 Lets move on. Looking forward to our trip to Islay come October. Toi many years since I've been to Islay (something like 5 years) and I'm needing my islay fix. In saying that. Even in the time i haven't been over the island has changed. New whisky distilleries have opened up (no complaints there!) and also a rum distillery has now opened. Very intrigued! As is my youngest! Gonna be a very expensive trip this time let me tell u! Well i better sign off here and stop procrastinating. Which is my middle name as u know! I better go and hang the washing out! Will keep u posted about my new windows and doorz! Next instalment coming soon Remember to stop and smell the roses! 🌹 Ttfn

I'm baack!!:-P

hiya folks no i havent fallen off the edge of the planet hey im sorry i havent been around for 2 years i guess life really has got a way of intruding but here i am again to bore u with the mundanity of my life. Well that's October week over. Back to school. My eldest has just informed me that I have to run him to the local park at 6.30 in the am so he can go for a training run with some of his running club mates at 6.45. Now I am up and dressed at that time on a school day, but I am normally on auto-pilot for half an hour until OH leaves for work and I have to start the day by making packed lunches and getting the kids up and now he wants me to be properly awake at that time.!!! Monday am: Well here I am, I managed to get him to the park and sat and waited for half an hour while he and his mates ran round the park in the cold and dark - what fun!! They are all packed off to school and I am now just starting to feel human! Admittedly when run fanatic left for school, he admitted he wasn't quite sure of his whereabouts - he was kinda running on autopilot!! having got up an hour earlier than normal, ran round the park, came home, breakfasted and showered and left for school in a kinda daze! he's gonna be knacked tonite!! Here's hoping this gets old quickly with him!!! Well my baking forays having taken new steps recently - I tried out, for the first time ever making a Key Lime Pie desert - not quite the pukka USA recipe, but worked for me - and it was actually surprisingly good - mixed reaction from the family - OH enjoyed - at least he didn't spit it out!, wee one - na she didn't like it, but RF yeah he agreed it was OK! So a thumbs up basically, and another one I can add to my repertoire. Also tried out chocolate scones for the first time ever - saw them mentioned on Twitter - basic advertising folks! - and having never even heard of or seen chocolate scones, researched them and decided ok I'd give them a whirl - turned out surprisingly ok - a totally new territory for me and quite strange to get used to the taste of - never having contemplated chocolate and scones together - but yeah tasted ok, I think next time tho, I will tweak the recipe a bit to reduce the amount of cocoa powder - bit strong for my taste but now I know the receipe I will feel happier tweaking it around a bit. A 60/40 success from my tasters - the wee one luvs them and surprisingly RF who doesn't like normal scones snaffled about 4 of them and said please mum make some more! My OH not so excited but not total thumbs down. Next adventure is the Christmas Cake - which I have to make kiddie friendly and not so large - since OH says he doesn't want his birthday cake come April to be Xmas Cake with 51 candles!! oh so witty - just for that I reckon I have to save a piece for April!! (hopefully we WON'T still be eating it by then!!!) So onwards and upwards and apologies to all those traditional Xmas cake bakers out there while I try and tweak the recipe a bit! Guess what I'm doing next weekend - has to wait til then cos I need OH muscles to mix it! (something he's very good at at the best of times!) Will keep you posted next week on my (natural)baking success! Til then - if you can't be good - be careful!

Red Shoes

Hiya folksies - yes I am still out here in cyberspace.  I know I don't chat enuf.  Life seems to run past me at a rate of knots these days and I can't run fast enuf to keep up.
Well here we are - exactly 2 months to Xmas day. 
My news - don't really know where to start, so I'll just jump in at the middle and see where it takes me.  I went out today and bought myself my first pair of docs.  (Dr. Martins) - not the real deal, obvs. since they are about £70.00, but still and all Docs. they are - and what colour - nice shiny red.  And no I am not 2 years old - 2 years and a bit maybe, but I can't resist red shoes.  So what if my husband walks 3 yrds in front of me, my daughter will stand by me and my son doesn't walk these days, run mebbe, but walk not.
My eldest (son) just turned 13 last week and is now taller than me.  Sports coming out his *** - did a 2 mile cross country last week, without even breaking a sweat!.  School football team, sprinter, badminton, athletics.  Not what I envisaged 13 years ago, I have to say, but luv the boy to pieces.
My girly - Brownie Hallowe'en party tonite, school Hallowe'en party tomorrow nite. Trick or treating next week - almost catching up with me in height too! Not to mention she knows best.  Where would I be without them.
Cold today - talk of snow next week and -10 temps.  Come on here, its only October!!!  Well my feet will be nice and cozy in my red docs. even if himself won't walk down the street with me.!!
As my eldest says, YOLO - {(You Only Live Once) to the unitiated!}
When I have more time early next week, I will ramble some more - must go now, as ever too much to do - too little time.
TTFN
RED SHOES wahay!!!

Spring & sorry

Has is really be just under a year since I last blogged. Sorry peeps.

Life just kinda ran away with me last year and only now are we returning to normal service.

Hey its SPRING - I just love the freshness and new promise of spring - warmth, bright colourful flowers, buds on the trees and dreams of a long hot summer - well one can dream huh?

Well where to begin? My eldest is at Secondary as you all know and luving it - its a cakewalk for him - I worried that it might be hard work and kinda scary - who am I kidding - proud isn't the word where he is concerned - top marks in this, top marks in that, A team in the school football team, scoring X amount of goals, running track times - yeah yeah, so he beats S2's. Just can't help but luving him.

My little one - hey mum I want to do street dance - check out this move - fair blew me away yesterday and confidence by the bucket. Luv her to bits. So jealous of her long legs and gorgeous hair - its just as well she's mine!

Kids gotta luv them.

Hey I got a new washing machine for free sort of - the old one was knackered - parts obsolete and cause we were paying a maintenance agreement, so no call out or parts charges, we get a new for old machine - and this one is mega - 7kg drum - enormous. Even I can't overload this. And quiet! - I have to keep checking its on!!! To say I luv it might seem a bit excessive! And hooray, my OH finally decided at the weekend to lay the kitchen floor for me after XXX months of living with bare floorboards - looks great - shame about the units, but hey we can't have everything.

Plumber coming to fix my knackered toilet tomorrow.
Life moves on apace.

Kids off for Spring break in 2 weeks - can't wait to not have to drag myself out of bed at 6.00 a.m. every morning for 2 whole weeks - bliss.

And I have my summer holiday booked to look forward to - admittedly just in good old Blighty and not abroad as we originally planned - but hey its a holiday so whats not to luv.

Can't help smiling - but don't want to jinx things just happy cos its Spring at last.

Will try and be it bit more blog concious over the next few weeks if there is anybody out there who actually reads my ravings.

So Happy First Day of Spring everybody and keep smiling.
Lol :)

School Prom !! Help!!

Hiya peeps. Long time no speak. Well we have finally reached the culmination of 7 years of primary - the school prom is tonite. I have promised to be on my best behaviour and no tears will issue from my fisog. The limo has been hired, all the smart clothes and shoes bought and now we just wait til 7.00 p.m. Well I say all the smart clothes - he has decided to tell me at 8.00 a.m this morning that he wants a jacket to wear now too - not just the waistcoat that he was adamant that was all he wished to wear for about 3 months since we first started discussing this and trying to convince him that the pair of black leather shoes are not too big!!! - simply because he has lived in trainers for the past 3 years!! But as I say - hopefully will manage to get him a jacket today and I promise I will not cry when I see my baby all dressed up smart like a grown-up!!!
He can't wait to get to secondary school after having been at his induction days - needless to say tho there is a list as long as my arm as to what he must have for secondary!! Oh to return to the simple days of primary. This is the next big step in his life - he will be walking to and from school - be home before me, some days, - when I have to pick the wee one up from primary which finishes later than secondary on 2 days out of 5. It seems like just yesterday I was buying his uniform for primary one and his little SpiderMan Lunchbox and he looked so brave heading out into this big new world!! Time passes too quickly!!!
Summer - where is it??? - We are coming up to the summer solstice next week, and I am still waiting for the long hot nites when you can't bear to have any covers on the bed. I have bought all these wee skimpy tops and flip flops - chance to wear them yet - ha ha.
Skools out next Friday for 7 long weeks - maybe the summer is waiting til then?!!
Next birthday coming up is for my little girl - and what does she want - a mobile fone! - how times have changed - growing up too fast in this life.
Hubby on the mend after his major op. itching to get back to being the boss, but still tiring easily.
Will my life ever settle down into mundanity again?
My sunflowers and lettuces aren't event getting a chance to sprout properly yet - still making a valiant effort, but struggling - this time last year I had a bounty of lettuce and fruit coming on - still waiting!!
Sorry today is a kind of mixed up posting - bit like my head just now.

Surprises

Life is never simple in this household. Sure knows how to play you a blinder. My better half is in hospital having had an operation earlier this week, but doing well and itching to get home already!. Need to get new shower installed, before he comes home - this will hopefully be done at the weekend so it will be up and running for his return. Fence between me and my neighbours has blown down and needs to be removed - part of it stil standing - neighbour is going away on holiday at weekend so my better half has given my son the go ahead to kick his football at the fence so it gets knocked into the neighbours garden for him to get rid of (as we offloaded the rest of it to the dump after the winter storms!) and other half won't be fit on his return from hospital to remove it! - so fencer can renew fence, without us having to pay for him to remove old one! - hope you got all that, kind of confused order.
My son is going to the local High School, after all the heart-searching about putting in a placement request for the further away high school, which I did for him against my better judgement - the reply comes in saying he is getting in to local High School - 15 mins walk away - my heart was in my mouth at the prospect of telling him - and guess what, when I tell him - he is pleased!!! - he has been hoping that his placement request would be denied, apparently, for the last 2 months, (but didn't want to say after all the fuss he made about getting me to put in the placement request!) - decided he wanted to go to the local school after all! - well he got his wish - and thankfully, all his friends are going to the local school too - they all got knock-backs for their placement requests too - so everybody is happy - a lot of grief over nothing way back in January after all!!
Well, what did we make of the Royal Wedding - personally, I thought she was gorgeous - I don't care what anybody says, I loved her dress - so entrancing yet understated. As for Wills - he may not be the handsomest, he is definitely a Windsor - but I think he has got his mothers sense of humour, a bit on the cheeky side - not quite so staid as his father. I think when his time comes, he will make a good King and his bride has been well chosen. They will lead us well through the 21st Century.
Summer seems to be just around the corner - had cracking weather for the last couple of weeks and my garden has appreciated it - I now seem to have a Horse Chestnut tree growing down beside my raspberries at the bottom of the garden - must have dropped one of the kids conkers, which we religiously collect every autumn, down next to my raspberry canes and it has decided to take root - I will leave it and see what comes of it - quite novel to see! I also seem to have managed to root some brambles too - yee hah - I sneekily stole a branch from my neighbours overhang a couple of years ago and planted it next to the raspberries too. Nothing came of it last year and I reckoned cos it wasn't a proper cutting it wasn't going to take - but it would appear to have taken this year and hopefully come the autumn, I will have an abundance of brambles too. So my garden is quite fecund at present after the evil long term winter we had - so good to see everything growing and bringing life and eventual harvest to my garden - my potted sunflowers and sweet peas have started to sprout gleefully, along with my peas, carrots and lettuces and my strawberry plants are also showing new life - so here's hoping I shall have an abundance of home grown fruit and veg to see me through the next few months and into the autumn.
Never know whats round the corner do we, maybe best that way.
Well I guess the housework won't go away, so best get to it.
laters peeps

Surprising Finds

I am not a great gourmet or foody, but I do know what I enjoy.
Normally, when it comes to Farmers Markets, I tend to run round them with a quick dismissive glance at the stalls and think over-priced but not really worth the time. Well I have proved myself wrong!
At the weekend, purely because it was in a very handy local position, we went to a Farmers Market at the Avenue Shopping Centre, on Sunday morning and boy, am I glad I did. The usual eclectic gathering of stalls, but not horribly busy, so we had a chance to browse.
Firstly, Cedar Cottage Country Foods - where we spent £20 on fresh meat - but boy is it worth it - simple foods like smoked Ayrshire bacon, square slice (Lorne) sausage and link sausage flavoured with leeks - and every one of them delicious and what real fresh meat should taste like.
Next stop - now this one I have to say is quite off the wall, but blew me away - Home Ground Coffee Ltd. - now I do enjoy a good cup of coffee, usally quite strong - tried a couple of samples of this guys coffee - not your usual blends that you find in supermarkets, but different beans that he sources and grinds himself - the one I bought, Nicaraguan - quite strong but my oh my - sent me to a happy place - couldn't help smiling when I was drinking it, and boy the buzz it gave me - dare I say it - better than chocolate!!! A very nice coffee that is well worth savouring.
And last but not least, again I do quite enjoy strong flavours, but not overwhelming and here Inverlochy Cheese have won me over - the Lazy Ploughman - cos I do enjoy a cheddar ploughmans when we are out for a pub lunch - mature cheddar cheese, so creamy and milky it transports you to heavenly delight - with a sweet pickle mixed into it. Oh delicious. Bought only the one small truckle - wish I'd bought more cos the Farmers Market doesn't return for another 4 weeks and the cheese is almost finished!
Just goes to show - you can't judge a book by its cover. And I will be returning to support these traders and possibly more, on their return to the Farmers Market in 4 weeks time.
If you have a local farmers market and get a chance to try any or all of the above, I highly recommend them. My simple advice today - support the small home traders or we will lose them. Fresh is best for sure.
Sorry to wax so lyrical. Rant over for today.
Laters peeps.

Sunshine

Hiya peeps. Just dropped in to say hello.
Have to talk to you about this book I have just recently finished. Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. I am an avid reader, and used (a long time ago) to read Stephen King horror books - in fact i have in my possession about 30 of them, but gave up horror as I grew up, then my BFF gave me the Twilight series to read, and she waxed lyrical about them, even though are really for teenagers and I wasn't really thinking to read them, but was bored one day, picked the first one up and got sucked in (no pun intended - if you have read them you know what I mean!) and I was so disappointed when I finished the series. My life seemed empty. Having dreamt of hunky vampires (bit of an oxymoron I know), but you get the message - for weeks and lived Bella's life vicariously with her through the books, I was lost. Then I saw this book advertised, and yet again my brain was blown away by vampires - this genre not really having been my thing for a long time, remember - but this book is AWESOME. It is a hefty tome, right enough, but well worth reading if you want to lose yourself in fantasy. Again, I was bereft when I finished it and had to come back down to earth! The worst of this being, although it is the first in a trilogy - the next book will not be available until 2012 - I have to wait a whole year!!! This said, I highly recommend this book.
To lighter things - Spring has Sprung people. My daffodils are finally getting a chance to show their bright sunny yellow faces and I have finally had a chance to wash my windows - knowing they will stay clean for longer than 24 hours!! I have started spring cleaning!. Charity collections have not been so busy from my house for a long time - amazing how in the past 6 months I have managed to collect so many outgrown clothes and shoes - well not mine, so much as the children - cos like Topsy they will insist on growing!!! A whole new summer wardrobe is required for my girlie - she has definitely shot up like a top!. My son is slightly harder to please, this time round as he has very definite ideas about what he wants to wear - and of course, it all has to be designer/sports labels or it just isn't happening Mum!
How I long for the long lazy days of summer and bright colours and bbq's.
Last night I was reading a bedtime story to my little one and it was one of the Tiara Club ones, - the princesses were attending a parade in a golden pumpkin coach - and although there are pictures in the book - they are in black and white - needless to say this led to massive complaint, why are they not in colour Mummy? So I told her about the Royal Wedding and how Princess Kate and Prince William will be travelling in a gold coach pulled by white horses and Princess Kate will be in a beautiful long white dress and diamonds - her wee face lit up like a starry sky and she said, will we get to see it Mummy and I said, yes school holiday for it and she is all agog now and excited - asked to see all the information on the websites etc. and says she wishes she could grow up to be a real princess and marry a prince - how they do tug at your heartstrings - I told she doesn't need to marry a prince to be a princess, cos she is mine - but hey its every little girls dream isn't it?! Though they do grow up way too fast!!!
One last thing - the MOON - yep, I have officially lost the plot - the last thing I do every nite, is check out the kitchen window to have a look at the moon and check out what star constellations I can see, the last few nites the moon has been so ENORMOUS and close - my husband had mentioned to me that for the next 3 weeks, the moon is to be the closest to the earth that it has been in hundreds of years and wow, is this not just the case. It looks just like a big creamy milky filled bubble and it is an amazing sight - if you get a clear nite and have a good view from any of your windows to the moon, over the next couple of weeks - take a dekko - makes you feel kind of insignifcant in the great scheme of things - I have felt like this a couple of times before, when I have been on holiday on Islay (west coast of Scotland, famous whisky Isle and our hearts home from home) and you go outside on a clear night and cos there are no lights on Islay (well not many) to detract from the night sky it can be seen in all its magnificence and well, and I'm not ashamed to admit this - it makes me feel all funny inside and brings tears to my eyes - because the dark nite sky and all the tiny stars in their thousands is just such a wonderful and again, I have to use the same word, AWESOME sight - best way to see it is to lie on your back on the grass with your soulmate beside you (can't really do it standing up - cos you just get dizzy) and just look and be blown away. Anyway, if you get the chance check out the Moon just now.
OK sorry about all the madness - blame it on the sunshine!!! frazzled my brain - not used to it see!
Hey ho, onwards and upwards - now off to make some summery fairy cakes for them coming home from school.
Laters peeps.

Snow again!

Well here we are at 09 March and it is snowing yet again!!! Will summer, never mind Spring, ever arrive. My daffodils are bravely trying to bloom in the back garden. My poor wee crocuses are having serious thoughts about trying to open their pretty colourful faces and the lettuces and sunflowers, I have potted indoors with the children are definitely saying no go yet. Please, all I want is some warmth along with the sunshine - I am definitely not a cold weather penguin - sorry person. Give me sunny lazy summer days any time.
On a different note - just for a change my trusty car has failed its MOT again - another £300 will have to be spent to pass it - these days it is costing almost more than the car is worth to actually keep it on the road!!
And with His birthday, then Easter and then the eldests School Leaving Dance/Prom just around the corner, I definitely need a lottery win!!
Not to worry - we are now in Lent and for the next 40 days I am supposed to give something up - how about worrying! - although I did read a funny comment in Twitter this morning - one of the people I follow mentioned, giving up paying for things for the Lenten period - now I do like that idea - but somehow, I don't really think it will wash. I will do my best to give up chocolate - hey now nothing rash here - I don't mean completely - cos that just ain't gonna happen in this life - but I will try to limit my intake - better than nothing and hopefully, will have some worthwhile results come Easter - just in time to get stuck into all the Easter EggS!
Made pancakes yesterday and my daughter declared me the best pancake maker in the world! - so now you know. Makes it all worth while really.
Please bring on the summer!

No rest for the wicked

You just get them back to skool after mid-term and what happens? - the other one decides to be ill. Is it some sort of mind-set games between them - I'll go sick this week, then it'll be the holiday, then u go sick! But what can u do - the one thing you can't check is a "sore tummy". Truth be told, she is not herself - ie. not bugging the life out of me, running hot and cold temp. and sitting quietly. So if I had sent her to skool, I would have spent the day feeling guilty! It is Friday anyway. I might get my life back on track one day!

On a cheerier note - they do make you proud - over the mid-term weekend - when the weather decided to behave itself! - she learnt to ride her bike!!! We spent all last summer using every encouraging idea we could think of to get her to learn - but this one is as stubborn as the day is long and choses to do things in her own time. So after faffing about on the bike on her own - with no stabilisers, but not actually pedalling - what did she do at the weekend - feet on the pedals and away she goes - no stopping her now. I think with this one it is a case of slowly slowly catchee monkey! But boy does it make you proud when they finally succeed. It all seems worth it! Go for it Girlie!

Seems the Spring has decided to desert us again though and there was me thinking of planting lettuces etc. Obviously, I am getting ahead of myself there - after all this is Scotland I live in!

Tomato soup and sandwiches for lunch and let's keep cosy.

Have a good weekend peeps.
over and out.

Spring has sprung

Just a quickie. Yeah, I know they all say that!

Is that Spring out there? or do my eyes deceive me. Wonder of wonders, I have just been out in the back garden - hold onto your hats here - without a jacket, hanging up my washing! - yep, I can't believe it either! For the first time in what seems like ever, I have my back door open, have hung out my washing and I am not frozen! Oh how I luv Spring. The sun is shining, it makes you feel glad to be alive and the world is all rite around you. Help, I'm even smiling!

Roll on the daffodils and crocuses and new beginnings and warm summer days, aahh!

One other little gem for you, - with Valentines just around the corner - don't underestimate the power of Pasta! - forget the sonorous steak dinners and curries - nothing puts a smile on his face quicker than a sensual creamy plate of pasta - canelloni, ravioli, tagliatelli - lite with a creamy sos, yet meets all the requirements of the way to his heart is via his stomach! - that Italians sure have that right - finish it off with a delightful lemon meringue pie - tangy yet yummy and hey ho, the perfect Valentines dinner, together with the requisite Pinot Grigio of course. I am drooling just at the thought - never mind his stomach!

Ok enuf madness - the sunshine and spring like quality to my back garden has addled my wits. Must go and finish cleaing out the hamster! - oh what a glamorous life I lead - aren't you jealous!!!

Luv u and leave u - til next time ...

Ain't life just grand

Hiya peeps. sorry about too long absence, but life kinda takes over ocassionally.
Baby bear off skool with flu - been a bad few days, since the weekend (thot I'd got past sleepless nites! - a yoyo didn't have a patch on me Sat/Sun nite.!), delirousness was a bit scary, bit like his sleepwalking but with added sweats and misery! but finally he seems to be a bit more like himself - still white as a wee ghosty and now has a smokers cough to beat none - but at least he is lifelike!! Needless to say the weenty is sulking cos she still has to go to skool, while her big brother gets to stay off!! - what can u do really?!

Due to having baby bear home housework has kinda gone out the window, but must get it done 2day, beds changed etc. At least I amn't required to be quiet as a mouse and constantly pouring juice and adding blankets 2day. Don't get me wrong, I do feel sorry for my wee soul, but if he did as he was told, he would get better so much quicker - must be guy thing - starting early!

Mid term starts on Friday - so gonna have them both stuck in the house, moaning about the crappy weather, "I'm bored mum" and fighting with one another over who gets to use the computer! Luv them really!!

Roll on summer. Although I find it hard to get my head round that we are halfway through February already - really time passes way too fast these days.

As to high school - have to wait til end of April to find out if placement successful. So on tenterhooks for another couple of months yet!!

Not much else to report just now. Need to go and give my baby bear a hug.

Keep cheerful. Look out for those daffodils - I just love the first signs of spring.

Spring may be a Fact and not just a memory

Well thats me been and gone and done it now, for better or for worse - what I hear you cry -don't panic nothing life threatening - at least not in the awful sense - but I have just managed to make my life for the next 4-6 years even more complicated than it is now - yes, after much heart searching and tears and pleas from my eldest I have put in a placement request for his high school - not drastic I hear you say - but mad, I can assure you - instead of wishing to go the local - i.e. 20 mins walk away high school, easy to get to and from - he wishes to go the the high school at least 1/2hrs. drive away - so what I hear you ask - well I now have to manage to get 2 kids to 2 different schools both for 9.00 a.m. (well, as of August and the new school year anyway) -its hard enuf getting them out of bed to leave the house for 8.30 a.m when they are both attending the same school!!! School run madness will now reign supreme in this household - we had all better make the most of our "long lie" in the morning, as things will have to change dramatically in August. But at the end of the day, as long as they are happy at school and getting the best education possible that is what matters! I just have this very scary habit of looking forward and anticipating all the problems and issues long before they arrive. As if life wasn't hard enough, I go looking for problems! Like my husband said tho, when discussing putting in the placement request, (a necessity as all my sons friends are also putting in placement requests!!!) - maybe he won't get in and will just have to go to the local high school - but with my luck, you can rest assured - he will get the placement granted!! I have to admit, I have simply put his happiness at the forefront of my decision - going to high school is a big and frightening enough transition, without having nobody there that you know!, so for his sake, I do hope we get the placement. As for the travel logistics - well, hey ho, I am a Mummy - so I can cope and will find a way to have them both in school on time - how, I don't yet know but, where there's a will, there's a way!!!
On a cheerier note - yeeha - the snow has gone!!!!! Now I can look forward to spring and summer - there is life after snow after all. Believe it or not I can almost feel a smile and a "Spring" in my step.
I want to see flower shoots and brightness, I feel sunny yellow coming over me, I want to wear bright colours again. My mind is turning to lighter meals and sunshine - I think I feel a lemon meringue pie coming on! But I will need to buy some cream to go with it. Yes definitely lemon meringue pie for tea and go hang all the problems the future holds. Smile and the world smiles with you.

New Year, new ....

Well, here we are 2011. A whole new year ahead of us filled with who knows what.
I was listening to the radio yesterday and the dj was asking what would make 2011 a memorable year for you, what is happening in 2011 that is going to make it stand out for you.
Well what to say - what is happening this year? My eldest is going to be starting secondary school after the summer. That will certainly stand out for me - a big step forward, not least for him - it seems like just yesterday I can recall him going into Primary 1and thinking well now I have lost my baby and here goes the rest of his life - and now he is talking of his P7 Prom (as they are now calling the P7 Leaving Dance) and what to wear, can we hire a limo for him and his mates - am I allowed to ask can we stop this ride, so I can get off - no way can my "baby" be that old!!
My youngest has this year found Attitude with a very capital A and she's only 7!! - hopefully we can get this hit on the head sooner rather than later this year!! - if only for my sanity!!
Gotta luv em, don't you.
What would make 2011 special for me - well lets not think small here, how about I win the lottery, get a new car - that Ford Kuga 4x4 I have my eye on so that next winter - hopefully no! - if its as bad as this - I can at least get out the street!!
How about I write that book that keeps popping up in my mind and everybody says I should put to paper and make my million!
Not least lets get through the year, healthy, happy and with the minimum amount of grief and please bring on the Summer!!!

Countdown - hours now!

OK, now it is officially time for me to panic - half my Xmas shopping ain't yet done and won't be until tomorrow in all the mad Christmas Eve rush!! why oh why do I get myself into these situations - life just kinda took over this last week and Christmas had to get put to one side so I am now on Red Alert Panic Stations.

Well at least I have some of the shopping done, the turkey is de-frosting, the fudge is made (1 present down!) - successfully, fingers crossed! But what remains to be done - I don't want to think about it too much or I will run screaming for the hills - or as much as I am able considering the g. awful weather conditions we are experiencing at present! - I am taking five minutes here, before I start the mad house clean for Christmas - since as of 2.30 I have a house full for the next 10 days! gotta luv them all really tho. I said to my youngest this morning, well are you all excited about it being nearly Christmas - I remember, when I was your age, I used to get butterflies in my tummy round about this time, thinking it was Christmas Eve tomorrow - and what was her answer re. excitement? - na mummy, don't need to get excited, I know I am on Santa's Nice List - like I say, gotta luv 'em!


Well, unlike their cousins in USA, my kids are going to have their white Christmas - and we are heartily sick of the stuff - wish we could mail it to America! but at least after 2day we don't need to struggle to get to work and school on time. If it wants to snow, bring it on and I fear from the weather forecast that it will! Looks beautiful, like a Christmas card and brings tears to your eye with the beauty, but what I would give to be able to see the tarmac!!


Well, no rest for the wicked, onwards and upwards - house to clean, kids and hubby to collect and then tomorrow to keep my cool! - but know what I like best, tomorrow nite when they are all tucked up, snuggly in bed, with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads - wrapping the presents, listening to Christmas songs, only the tree lites on, a wee glass of malt and some home made truffles and at last, I will be able to sit back, relax, take a breath and say yes, now I feel Christmassy, I will even take time out to appreciate the beauty of the moon on the (not so quite) new fallen snow and enjoy the moment, thinking back to memories of Christmases past and looking forward to the delight and twinkling eyes on Christmas morning of my own little cherubs - nowt to beat it really.


Well, no more to be said now, 'cept hope you all enjoy a peaceful and joyful Christmas and onwards to the New Year.


Merry Christmas to all.

Snow joke

Hiya peeps. well suprise surprise, the snow hits and the country grinds to a halt. 8.30 a.m yesterday morning the snow started in earnest -after last weeks 3 or 4 horrible dumps of snow and following ice, which we still haven't got rid of - and snowed for 7 hours solid! never seen in my lifetime. I phoned the skool at 11.10 a.m to ask if it was closing early, and was advised that yes as soon as you can get here, you can take your kids home. I left the house at 11.15 - got to the skool at 12.30 via shanks pony - a journey that normally takes 20 mins max. in the car!!! I passed 4-5 cars just abandoned. I was walking in the tyre tracks on the road, the pavement was impassable - wading through sno drifts of 1/2 foot deep - no fun. Once I finally got the kids - then took 2 hours to get back home again! - 3 hour round trip for a journey that is normally 30 mins! Better half took 2 hours to get home from his work. Then 1.5 hour to dig car in to park it!!!
Skool closed today - in fact I think whole city is closed down! - husband home. Not much chance of putting my feet up 2day!
Xmas shopping still to be started and Christmas only 3 weeks away - HELP.
Tree up, but still finding it hard to feel Christmassy - even tho it looks like a Christmas card out the window. I HATE snow. It is official!!! and this is only the beginning of December, another 3 months of winter yet!!!
No chocs on Christmas tree - this a major omission - not much chance of getting to the shops to get any - even if the shops are open. Still to get Turkey! and those dreaded brussels sprouts! Cards sitting waiting to be posted. Do you think its possible to postpone Christmas? No didn't think so.
This weather has got to give us a break so that, even more than usual, I can rush about like a mad thing trying to organise Christmas.
Will we get to the Christmas Panto next week? I hope so, then I might start to feel Christmassy - oh no you won't, oh yes I will!
Bing Crosby had it all wrong - I'm not dreaming of a white Christmas - I'm dreaming of summer sun!!!
Please just lose this weather for next three weeks - then when the kids are on their Xmas break - then is the right time - then we can all relax and enjoy it and Santa will be happy too!

Nearly Time!!!

Can u believe it is only 4 weeks & 3 days to C day!!! Where has the time gone - an age old cry, but seriously the year has passed way too fast. Seems like just half an hour ago that we were rushing about getting presents, dealing with snow, Christmas parties and the like. Blink and you might miss your life passing you by!.

When you are a weenty (say 7 years old -like my daughter) you have life stretching out in front of you and you rush to fill every minute and the minutes that aren't filled are wasted, cos you are "bored", reach my tender age (... ahem) and time takes you over!

I have the other half off work 2day, so no rest for the wicked - having him home alone is worse than having both kids off at the same time! - but hey ho.

OK best foot forward Christmas here I come girded and ready to take you on with all my fearsome bravado - and a bit of frazzled and hair pulling stress chucked in just for good measure. Presents to buy (and hide - although this gets harder every year, cos they've found all the hiding places!!!), food to stock up on, lists to tick off cos yes, I am bound to forget that most important something, if it is not written down, especially at this time of year. Christmas decs to be got down from the loft, - checked for breakages, loose threads, lights working, - wreaths, and paper chains to be made. Aargh - cards to write - this comes under one of my most dreaded activities (up there with ironing!!!), cos how come all the cards seem to be for his friends and relations and I am the one writing them!!! and then comes the topper - buying and decorating the tree! - oh how I luv this bit - he always leaves the choice to me, but when we get home, I get moaned at cos its too stunted, too bushy, too tall - you name it and oh calamity he'll have to saw the trunk off it and now to decorate - funny how all the films make it look so much fun and jollity - when in reality it is cussing and fighting and loads of "I want to put this bit up" and "no thats not in the right place" etc.

Onto food - need I - oh yes - what do we have - chocolate truffles to make, fudge to make, mince pies to make, do I have enough of this, do I have enough of that, no you can't touch that its for Xmas day, oh and lets not forget the chocolates on the tree - how many times will I have to replace these between now and Christmas day!!

And in between all this, the house needs cleaned, top to bottom; old toys, clothes etc to be chucked to make room for new!

Not to mention nativities and Christmas concerts to attend and parties to get organised for.

Can all this be managed in 4 weeks? I ask you? But of course, I am Supermum - aren't we all at this time of year. Honestly, I do luv the buzz and excitement of this time, but am so glad when the big day finally comes and they are all asleep, passed out from too much excitement, e-numbers, chocolate and booze and aah, I can put my feet up - its all over for another year! But until then its onwards and upwards, teeth gritted.

Count down to Christmas

Hiya peeps been out of touch the last few days as had one of my babies of sick from school with really bad cough cold - no doubt the first of many for the next six months! - but here I am back again, procrastinating as usual - something I excel at! - the housework has gone to the dogs for the last 4 days what with having an "invalid" in the house and then the weekend madness of a full house for 2 days - yes it is a pigsty this morning and since I don't know where to start, I thought I'd natter here for a bit!
Well Hallowe'en was a blast round here last nite - the kids were at a neighbours Hallowe'en barbeque then trick or treating round the doors. Some haul they came back with! My doorbell needless to say was red hot! - even with random kids, I have never seeen in the locality - but hey you can't turn them away! - nearly ran out of treats! Scary!!!
So now, once Friday - Guy Fawkes is over (this year, this will be an experience in itself, as we have fireworks for the first time, and not sure how the kids will deal with the real thing - me,I'm no good with matches, so my better half is in charge of this lot - rather him than me!) we hit the major count down to Christmas - panic buying, who have I forgotten, what have I forgotten and help, is there enough food! I try to keep it toned down - after all the shops are only closed for a maximum of 2 days - we are not going under seige! I do luv the lights and cold weather and Christmassy feel, nearer the time - although admittedly, I do try to get it all done earlier rather than later - have yet to get this one fully managed yet tho. But hey ho, the adrenaline buzz is enjoyable and finally, on the big day, getting to put your feet up knowing you have succeeded yet again to keep all of them happy, all of the time (this time round anyway) makes it all worth it.
Return for further beleaguered Christmas chaos instalments in the near future, now I fear I must stop procrastinating! aw, do i have to?!!!
ttfn

Memories

Well Hallowe'en disco at school has been and gone. Eldest had a riot doing the DJing. Youngest attended her 1st school disco. Now just got Sunday nite - Hallowe'en to contend with. How many times will my doorbell be rung! How many jokes will I have to listen to?!

And then onwards and upwards Christmas here we come. My other 1/2 (I hesitate to say better!!!) is already thinking Xmas - presents, food, tree, etc. etc. HELP!! Need to make Christmas cake next weekend, and then there is no stopping the slippery slope downwards and all for what - 24 hrs. and then its done for another year. But the pleasure and joy on their faces makes up for it. And no matter what age I am I can't help but "fill up" seeing the decorated tree, smelling the fresh pine scent, the presents underneath but most of all, I love Christmas Eve, when they are all in bed and "Santa" is visiting and then I go up the stairs full of anticipation of the next morning. I love in my secret self these final hours of peace when present wrapping as quietly as possible and then tiptoeing up to bed to allow Santa to come. In these magical couple of hours it is all still to happen and the anticipation of the pleasure fills me with a warm cozy feeling. - but hey, I'm getting carried away already. We still have all the present buying, card writing, posting madness leading up to Christmas to deal with. But hey ho. Life is life as they say.

On an entirely other tack - I know I am getting old when I have to be the one attending Parents Nite at school. This is coming up next week - I can never get away from how "grown up" this makes me feel - I remember the anticipation of waiting for my Mum & Dad to come home from the school parent nite/teacher meeting and begging as soon as they were through the door - " well what did the teacher say, am I good, is everything OK!" Well believe it or not my kids still do the same with me - a soon as I am through the door blah de blah. Funny what goes around, comes around. It all changes, but stays the same!

And finally, before I sign off - lets not leap too far forward - before Xmas, we still have Hallowe'en (which I have touched on) and then Guy Fawkes - this year, I think I am going to try my babes out with Sparklers - again, another fun thing, I always recall doing on Guy Fawkes with my Sparkler was writing my name in the air and watching it disappear - poof! and its gone! - simple things, I know, but hey its the little things, simple things that make up the whole! and memories are made of these.

Xmas Already Aaargh!

When did life become so rushed. We haven't even had Hallowe'en yet, not to mention Guy Fawkes and Christmas is in the shops already!!! The scary thing about this is that it starts me thinking about Christmas this early - what to get the kids who have it all - whats wrong with a dolly and an action man? Am I showing my age - now it has to be IPods and mobile phones - nothing nice and simple.
But don't get me wrong - as an "old fashioned" (ie 20th Century) mummy, I still like to give my kids that taste of what Xmas is all about - the simple Xmas - tangerine in your stocking at the end of your bed, with all the silly wee toys that are broken before lunch is eaten, traditional in my house is home made chocolate truffles - I always had them as a kid, so my kids will always have them, hand made by mummy; The Night Before Christmas read when they are tucked up in bed, another tradition that can't be foregone - because at the end of the day, we have to remember that Christmas is not just about who got the most expensive or biggest, it is about tradition, love, caring and sharing. Lets not lose sight of that and don't let our "computer age" kids lose sight of the best things life has to offer either!