Rabbit or Turkey, the choice is yours!

I took the darn rabbit to the vets again this morning. Well actually, I took her to the dentist first. I wasn't quite concentrating properly and when I parked outside the dentist surgery, Tall Girl, who always enjoys a good vets visit, asked what we were doing there! I suddenly realised I should be at the vets instead, which is only two streets away, so off we dashed - drove very carefully because the white fluffy thing slips about in her box- and arrived for her appointment in the nick of time.

During a vets visit there is always a glimmer of hope that the current problem from which she is suffering won't have a cure. However there is no end to modern veterinary medicine it seems! After having paid for a course of 3 injections recently for the mite problem, which was making her fur drop out in clumps and which haven't quite done the trick, the vet now informed me that I need some drops of stuff to put behind her ears. Probably as expensive as Channel no.5 but not quite as fragrant! Anyway I have to pick it up tomorrow, yet another trip, and pay him then. You wouldn't believe how much that rabbit has cost over the last 18 months!

Then, the nit children arrived. More medical traumas in store, I thought, as the nit boy cheerfully announced that he has a skin infection! A skin infection? OMG he's the one giving it to the rabbit after all!

So what next for 2009? Plague and pestilence in abundance in BS9! Happy New Year by the way, just in case I expire before tomorrow!

So what did you do with yours?

The turkey I mean! What did you do with it?

By the second day of cold meat here, Husband had had enough. However the children didn't seem to notice they were eating the same thing over and over again, and I'm perfectly happy with the whole thing! Partly laziness on my part I think, because it's there and it's food so why not eat it? And also, while there is turkey left, I don't have to think of anything else to cook. However, tonight the Turkey Curry used up the very last bits. Shame really!

Anyway, in answer to some of your questions, yes, the small box under the tree contained my mothers ring, made by her father. It is very plain and also very precious. Thanks Mum. Strangely enough there were no leopard skin items anywhere to be seen, bless her, and she did spoil me this Christmas (as she always does because I am an only child you see!)

My favourite presents were my ring obviously, as well as a coat that mum bought me (told you I was spoilt), the champagne which Nephew arrived with and a candle which burns here next to my puter.

What was your best gift and why?

Cloud Watching

Sleep is supposed to be a great healer, and Small Sprog slept through most of the night last night without too much coughing. Hopefully the hospital visits are over, and thanks for all of your concern recently, it has kept me going!

I have also caught up on my sleep a little and lazed in bed awhile this morning, with the curtains open, watching the clouds whip passed the window in the sharp northeast wind, making pictures in the sky. The colours mauve and grey with blue sky beyond were beautiful to see.

Lying on my side, staring out with my thoughts far away, I felt Husband put his arm over me (rather than around). It felt awkward, a strangers arm, with nowhere to go. I lay still, and although I could have turned over and regained something that is lost, I choose to cloud watch instead, very quietly, until the time had passed and I was alone again.

Time here is moving more slowly than in most places. There is a large cloud on the horizon and I am not sure when it will finally approach, how long can I leave it, how long will it take, or if I am strong enough to make it through the storm?

Supercharged Small Sprog

Today and yesterday have gently merged into each other with another hospital run for Small Sprog at 3 am this morning. Both of us are severely sleep deprived, but at this moment he is driving his remote control helicopter around the sitting room! The drugs they give him in hospital make his heart race, a little like a caffeine rush I assume, so it is a sleep deprived but supercharged Small Sprog which lives here today! It would be funny, if it had not been such a long night.

Luckily the adult to child ratio here has been a little better than normal, with Small Sprogs cousin, who has just left, taking the pressure off and playing with him endlessly. When Small Sprog is like this he has a butterfly mind and it takes quite a bit of keeping up with- Lego, wii, helicopters, marbles, wii, Lego, wii, helicopters -can you see what I mean?

Tomorrow (should we be lucky enough to stay away from the hospital tonight) we have a duty call to see Mother in Law in Devon. These visits are often fraught, Husband will be tense but I am passed caring now! She no longer upsets me as she once did. The bonus is that Small Sprog might sleep in the car, therefore catching up a little, and I am hoping against hope that his 'superchargedness' will have dwindled to a mild rev!

A day of two halves

Early this morning I took Small Sprog into hospital. It is years since his asthma has been unmanageable but today was a wake up call. It was quite surreal to drive through deserted Bristol streets to Frenchay Hospital. He was so good. The nurses and doctors were , as always, just wonderful and we couldn't have had better care.

By the time we got home it was nearly time for Husbands nephew to arrive and his arrival was such good medicine for us all. He came bearing gifts which were thoughtful and sweet, it is good to have him here.

Game of Mario Kart anyone?!!

Just a little bit of magic under the tree.

My grandfather, on my mothers side, was a Watchmaker all his life. He made jewelry for his loved ones too.

This year, under my Christmas tree, is a very small little parcel. Attached to the Very Small Box is a Large Gift Tag which says "To My Lovely Daughter, All My Love Mum x"

I think I know what is inside! The box is small enough to contain something which was made for my mother, a ring made lovingly by my grandad, her father, many years ago. It does not fit her any more and she offered it to me recently, but I couldn't take it from her. I hope that is what is inside. It will go together with some earrings that I have in safe keeping, which belonged to my grandmother............ I wonder.

Tall Girl and I lay down near the tree tonight and sifted through the brightly coloured packages. She was happy, I was enjoying her company. It was a special moment to remember.
There is still just a little bit of magic under the tree.

The night before Christmas

Tall Girl has always been a clingy child. I could never have lost her in a crowd when she was little, not that I'd have wanted to. She was always there beside me, clinging. She is shy and nervous, but will blossom one day I'm sure.

So.........The thought of Father Christmas coming into her room to fill her stocking was always something she faced with trepidation! She has always hung her stocking downstairs in the hope that there will be no strange man crossing her threshold on Christmas Eve. On the other hand Small Sprog has no fear at all. He positively wants Santa to wake him up with a HO HO HO! So Tall Girl is not happy, was not happy. For Santa needs to pass her open bedroom door on the landing, to get to her brothers room. This was a cause of worry to her every Christmas Eve. So what to do?

Last year I could stand it no longer. She still believed (at 11 years of age) and got more anxious as the years went by!

Now Christmas and Santa are supposed to be pleasurable. I watched her struggle for sleep on Christmas Eve last year and thought, for goodness sake why don't I tell her it's not true? She'll sleep much better and will enjoy Christmas so much more.

Now what mother tells her first born child that Santa is not real on Christmas Eve?! Well I did, and it was the best thing I ever did. The look of relief on her face and the smile were worth all the worry of breaking a dream. She was incredulous. It was mummy all along? The relief washed over her and she slept like a baby for the first time I could remember on Christmas Eve. She has also been true to her word and not 'spilt the beans' to Small Sprog, who will still put carrots out of the attic window on Christmas Eve, just in case the reindeer fancy a snack.

In case I don't get here again before The Big Day

Merry Christmas

It's been so good getting to know you this year :)

The Sunday Before Christmas

I experienced a brief escape from suburbia to the Forest today. Though the day was grey and wintry, it matched my mood as the trees and fields sped past. I turned up the volume in the car but it was turned down again and I was reminded that I have no autonomy here. I closed my eyes, felt the comfort of the cars vibration and slipped easily into my own thoughts of an oasis there.

Later on we arrived at my sister in laws and I realised that being in company is the perfect solution to my mood. Husbands nephew, who is 31, was there and we have not met for quite a while. I enjoy his company and so do the children. Four generations under one roof, and a dog! What more could I ask for? Communication is a great healer. We tell stories and exchange views. I am now coveting Nephews i phone and so is Small Sprog, who has a definite talent for 'tilting' games!

Nephew is in a finished relationship but unable to escape. His parents are obviously worried. As I leave, my sister in law talks over her worries. "Nothing ever stays the same" I tell her, "Something will happen" and I realise, as I speak, that I am not thinking of his relationship but of my own.

Twitching

Siting up in bed with Tall Girl, staring out into the grey which was morning, I listened to her observations about one of the houses opposite. It's the house that is attached to the Single Woman Doctors house. This one who gets dressed in the morning VERY close to her bedroom window!

The house next door to hers has recently been renovated by a single bloke, who obviously has building connections, and he is now living there alone (mostly!). I am not very observant and wouldn't be able to tell you what he looked like, but Tall Girl seems to have 'clocked' him once or twice.

"His blinds are always shut mummy" She commented today
"Are they?"
"Yes, and he has a really big car, and a really big telly and a really big extension"
Quite some credentials then, I mused!

Whilst writing, Small Sprog is dancing around the kitchen, chanting "Tesco, every little helps!"interspersed with the ASDA advert "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!"

He's a walking TV disaster at the moment! He has seen far to much telly while he has been poorly. It seems that this morning, he is feeling a little better, and excitement for the coming days is mounting. Can he sustain this level of anticipation I wonder? I think perhaps he can, the question is... can I?!

Mad Mother!

My mother appeared out of the blue yesterday. She whirl winded in as always, muttering something about parcels and corners and careful driving. When I deciphered her drift, it turned out that she had loaded the car up with things to deliver, including some wrapped up parcels, which she placed on the roof of the car while she was loading up the back. She left home and drove some distance before stopping at some traffic lights. As she was waiting for the lights to change, a man walked over to her car and retrieved the parcels from the roof, handing them to her through the car window. "He didn't seem to think it was funny" She laughed whilst telling me. "Probably thought you were completely barking"I retorted! Well, you have to speak as you find don't you!! However it does go to prove that she doesn't drive quite as dangerously as I thought she did, having negotiated several corners without leaving her treasure in the gutter!

Up date!

I have not blogged so often recently and I guess I'm not the only one at this time of year when so much is going on. So a few updates from Suburbia:

Yesterday my natural father and his wife visited for tea. They always come at this time of year, close to Christmas and dads birthday. They always come bearing gifts and their slippers, which always makes me laugh. Dad was a bit down because his friend of 66 years died a few days ago and the funeral is on dads birthday. He will be reminded every year, now, on his birthday of his close friend. I feel for him, he is very sensitive like that. Anyway it was nice to see them and he cheered up after a while.

I watched Small Sprog perform in his Christmas concert at school last Friday. He hated performing at his last school, mostly, I think, because they were expected to go on stage without rehearsing very much and he hated feeling ill equipped for the job. However his new school have been practicing for weeks. He has informed me that he has 'completely conquered' his stage fright, bless him and he seemed to enjoy the whole thing, which is really the point I think. He should have performed again tonight, but is home poorly with the beginnings of a nasty cold.

The children are counting down the days now until Christmas. It all seems a bit unreal this year, I peeked to early as I knew I would!!!

The Tree

It was tree decorating day today, a family event (well almost!). Small Sprog was up with the lark because of the excitement. However before the event he wanted to go to his school Christmas Fair. Tall Girl and I went along to. Small Sprog spent most of his pocket money on things he could eat and Tall Girl munched on mince pies. Someone wafted past me with a tray of mulled wine, which was quite irresistible! While Tall Girl and I sat down and watched the world go by, Small Sprog went in search of friends and fun. He was like a whippet, no sooner had we arrived than I had lost sight of him. Anyway, he came home happy, if not just a little overdosed on sugar!

So, it was tree time! We unpacked the decorations and I prepared myself! "OK" I said before we started "What's the golden rule of tree decorating?" Small Sprog was taking no notice at all and was rummaging in another bag. I looked at him pointedly! "Only one decoration on each branch" Said Tall Girl dutifully! "And not clumped altogether!" I added! "Small Sprog, that means you!"
No reply of course! How could he listen and rummage full of excitement in the boxes and bags for his favourite decorations? Tall Girl raised her eyes to the ceiling and tutted. I didn't remind her that not long ago, she was the one overloading the branches!

The door bell rang, it was one of the nit children. Oh well, I think, I guess a bit more help can't make it any worse, but Tall Girl comes back alone. "Where is she then?" I ask
"Well I was just talking to her and her tooth fell out!" Says Tall Girl "So she's gone home"
That would be an odd thing to happen if you were an adult, I think to myself, but as a child, it's just a normal event. Anyway, back to the tree.........

Sibling rivalry took over in no time. "No, not there"
"That's mine"
"Put it there!
"No"
"Mummmmm!"
A lovely Christmas Tradition, as you can see!
"Daddy, are you coming to decorate the tree?" Asks Small Sprog
"Why break the habit of a lifetime" Muttered Tall Girl
We all laugh, but underneath it all, we know it's true. I'm not sure why it's always just the three of us, but that is the way it is.

PS. Apparently, there is a tradition, on the other side of Bristol, where you just lob the decoration box at the tree, job done. A thought for next time maybe!

Christmas Chopping!

After work today I went to finish my Christmas shopping. I needed to get something for my mum. What do you buy for the woman who has everything? The answer is....... A chopping board, apparently. "What size?" I asked her last night on the phone.
"Just like my melamine one" she replied.
"Wooden?"
"Oh no, I don't like those ones, I want another melamine one!"
Well this is the twenty first century, I'm not sure you can still get melamine, I wanted to retort but kept my mouth firmly shut!
So, off I went to John Lewis (because it's not far to go), to see if melamine is still 'in'! Well what do you think??
I did ask and no one seemed to know what I was talking about -although that is quite normal right now! So I ended up with something else that looked fairly durable. I wonder if she'll like it?

Thanks to everyone who commented below. You will have to keep guessing I'm afraid! Suffice to say that I am still reeling slightly. The evidence is all around me! I have just gone out to the kitchen because I could smell a slight burning and realised I had put some leeks on to slowly saute awhile ago, oops! On the way out of the kitchen I realised I was carrying a coldish cup of tea in one hand, and a glass of wine in the other!! Things in Suburbia are still a bit 'tilted'.

Pre Christmas

Today I have sustained a Christmas tree injury! I dropped the trunk on my finger, ooch, it still hurts. We don't usually get a tree this early, but seeing as they all seem to be cut at the beginning of October anyway, there seemed to be little reason to wait, although it probably won't come indoors until later in the week.

We follow the same routine every year. Pick up the first tree, look at it, say "That's a nice one" and then pick up at least ten more before agreeing (or not) that the one we first saw was the best. We go back for it but where did it go?! This year we nearly just bought the first one anyway, to save all the trouble, but old habits die hard. "We can't possibly buy the first tree we've seen, lets look at some more." This time Small Sprog 'guards' the first one (his idea). Then we see another which is Just The Right Shape. Oh it's a mine field out there!

Meanwhile Small Sprog has put up the nativity scene. Not a Star Trouper in sight........unless you look very, very closely, is that a droid hanging from the stable roof?



And to add to the chaos that sometimes befalls this family, the dish washer has given up the ghost. Damn it. Husband thinks I should go and buy a new one tomorrow, but I think I have better things to do with my day off.

Parasites

This morning Tall Girl and I took the bunnies to the vets. Ruby rabbit has mites, so she was poked with a needle and told to come back in 10 days for another, £30 for that, damn rabbits cost a fortune!

Later on we had the 'Nit Children' from down the road, here to play. Another £10 on organophosphate needed sometime in the future most likely!

The youngest 'nit child' is a girl, she is Small Sprogs age. The oldest is a boy, he is the same age as Tall Girl. He hangs around a bit when Tall Girl is about, which is kind of cute. However, because she is so tall for her age, the boy nit child is very much shorter than her!

They have played here and up and down the street for most of the day and in and out of each others houses too. The boys play and the girls play separately. However the boy nit child is never far behind Tall Girl.

This evening she has come home with various new tunes on her phone, downloaded from nit boys phone. Also some ring tones which say 'fuck', a lot! Small Sprog was singing them at dinner time. He knows it's a ''bad'' word, but is confident that I won't tell him off for using it. I do try to be liberal with them! He is aware that he must not say the words anywhere else or in front of other adults. I trust him and he has not let me down so far. I do remember being his age and hearing this word, knowing it was 'wrong' but not knowing what it meant or why I shouldn't use it. They both are fully versed in the meaning and do not use it in there everyday vocabulary. I hope I have done the right thing.

Anyway, at tea time I was chatting to Tall Girl about her new tunes. "You know Nit Boy fancies you don't you?" I said to her, thinking she was totally unaware of the whole thing as she acts very nonchalantly when he's around.
"I know" She said in a matter of fact voice, and flounced off!
Ah! She is further advanced than I thought!

Another moment form suburbia

Everyday, when I pick Small Sprog up from school, he says the same thing;
"When I get home can I have a sweetie?" No niceties like "Hi mum have you had a nice day?" Nope, he has one thing on his mind. Food!

My reply is always the same. "Yes just one, but you have to wash your hands first!" (I hope I don't pass on my OCD, about clean hands and food, to him in later years!)

However today was different. When I arrived to pick him up he said "Mum, when I get home, can I have an orange?" Yay! All the talk about healthy eating at home and at school has sunk in at last! I ruffle his curls and smile......My Boy!

On the way home I asked him what he had had for dinner. "Lots of lovely stuff" Was the reply. Today it was roast Beef and Yorkshire Pud and, just to finish it off, there was his other favourite, Jelly! So he was a very happy Small Sprog. As we got out of the car and unlocked the front door he said "Mum, can I have a sweetie?" Oh well, at least the thought was there for a second.

No sooner had we walked through the front door than Tall Girl texted me. "Where are you?" She messaged. Damn it, she was supposed to be getting off in the village to do her Christmas shopping and phoning me later when she wanted to be picked up. Small Sprog had only just reached for the sweetie jar and it was snatched from his clutches immediately!

So off we go again, (he had an orange in the back of the car and didn't complain) back out into the cold to pick her up at the same place we had picked her up the night before. When we arrived she was nowhere to be seen. "I'd take that mobile off her" Says a small voice from the back of the car!

I get out my phone and call her, 3 times. Eventually she answered. "Where are you?" I asked and continued "I'm where I was yesterday, the meeting place, and you are??!"

By this time I can see her at the top of the road. "Run!" I shout down the phone, laughing as see her break into a vague trot!

Is this just a taste of things yet to come? I think it maybe. Hayho! I guess I'll just add 'general taxi service' to my (rather long) job description.

And the photo? Nothing to do with anything really! I just thought I haven't put one on here for a while, so here is the sunset on a lovely, but cold beach, taken on the day the clocks changed in October. It'll soon be the shortest day and then we can look forward to summer, yay!

De-lurk here!

I have seen a great idea at 365 to 42's blog, so I hope he doesn't mind that I'm borrowing it.

So all you lurkers out there, i.e. people who visit but don’t leave a comment, I have a little questionnaire for you - and also for the regular commenter's (because you know how nosy I am!) :

1. Who are you and where are you from? (mainly for the lurkers)

2. What will you be doing today?

3. What do you wish you had planned instead?

4. What’s the thing you’re looking forward to most?

Almost Advent

It's been a busy weekend with visitors, bearing gifts of the birthday variety (belatedly for Tall Girl), and staying overnight, long walks, sociable eating and all this with preparations for Christmas mixed in!!

Advent calendars are primed and ready to go. The nativity set (hand sewn by my mum) has been located after much searching - why do I always put it somewhere different every year? The children (who are also primed and ready to go!) will put it out tomorrow. Last year we had the Three Wise Men standing in line with a couple of Storm Troupers, and at one point the Shepherds were hanging off the stable roof. I wonder what mysterious visitors will descend upon our nativity scene this year?!

The visitors brought, not only Tall Girls birthday present, but some cheese! Stinking Bishop no less. Fans of Wallace and Grommet may recognise the name of the cheese but if you've never tasted it then be truly reassured that its name is completely warranted! I do quite like a bit of smelly cheese now and again but this was just too much to bare! Our visitors were relatives so I felt I could ask them to take the stinking cheese away again!I'm sure there is a faint aroma of it around still, even though they've been gone a while. Apparently, their in laws had brought the same piece of cheese over to them on Friday night. Perhaps it will be one of those presents which circulates through the family for years! Eewww!!

The Christmas CD has been full blast in the kitchen again, with Small Sprog dancing around in delight. It is his favourite time of year, he loves the giving, as well as the receiving. He has been making something for daddy, bless him, he loves to give surprises. However he also loves practical jokes too! You can never be quite sure what's inside! Hmm, what would you rather receive!

Lunch

Sometimes things mull over in your mind for a while, or for ages. You look at them from lots of different angles and feel as if there is lots of time to make a decision, or you put off making the decision. Sometimes you need to talk about the whole idea but it's hard to choose anyone to tell. Tell someone too close and you end up involving them, someone too far away and you risk the decision being once removed.

I met a friend for lunch today. She is not a very close friend, but we always get on well. She is a very independent woman. I hadn't planned to share my thoughts with her at all, but all of a sudden I heard myself voicing thoughts that have been with me for most of this year, on and off. It was funny to say the words, it made it more real, more scary. She didn't seem surprised and, like a good friend, she gave no leading advice, but I was glad to have said it. It may be a long time before I say it again or act on it. I may never act.

So what did I say?

"I don't think that I shall stay married forever"

It seems inconsequential now that I've written it down.

Wee, wee, wee, all the way home!

3.30pm: Small Sprog was jiggling about a lot when I picked him up from school this afternoon. We walked to the car and drove off. After a few bumps in the road he said, in a very grown up voice "I really need to empty my bladder."

"Lovely!"

"Every time we go over a bump my bladder joggles up and down!"

Very biological, and just a bit too much information, I thought as I drove (at breakneck speed) sensibly back home for the toilet.

And whatever happened to "Mummy I need a wee"?!

It's now 8.30pm and Small Sprog and Tall Girl have just 'retired' to their rooms. We have had lots of fun tonight making Christmas cards and singing along to an old Christmas CD. Favourites include: I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday by Slade (Small Sprogs favourite because Noddy Holder blows a raspberry at the begining of the song)

The Power Of Love by Frankie Goes To Hollywood (my favourite because Tall Girl and I can sing along in a karioke/pub singer type way)

Angels by Robbie Williams (Tall Girls Favourite because I once told her, when she was little, that this was her song becauses she was my angel!)

We all sing at full blast in the kitchen (Husband disappears because we are 'too noisy'!) and sometimes there is dancing involved. Oh I'm getting all Christmassy. I hope I'm not peaking too early!

Just one moment

It's not very often that you are touched (in a good way) by a stranger. Really touched I mean, not metaphorically, not in a "I'm touched that you cared" sort of way. I mean in the hands on way. It's such a human need, to be touched and caressed. I'll do a few air kisses with friends and distant relatives, but when it comes to actually hugging, that's mostly reserved for the children. What would I do without them? But today I was touched by a stranger, well a relative stranger anyway.

This evening I went to Pilates. The studio is always warm and smells of something vaguely sweet but legal! Just being there makes you feel good. My teacher is quite a strange little man, fairly insignificant in many ways, very much in his own quiet world. He always asks how I am and if I have any 'stressed out' bits that hurt. I mentioned my neck (which is always the place that feels the stress first) so he laid me down and worked a little magic. He held my neck and caressed my head, gently freeing up the tension there. I closed my eyes and drifted away, caught in the moment, relaxed, bathed in the warmth, felt refreshed and couldn't help smiling!

When you've been in a relationship with the same person for years, you forget what another mans touch is like, the warmth and softness of another persons hands, moving with care. It took my breath away. It wasn't sexual, or erotic, but it was a pleasure and quite sensual but nothing more. I am still smiling.

Monday is my day off......

Today I have :
Done the weeks food shopping,
shopped for Christmas presents.

Overheard this whilst in one shop;
"Now I did speak my mind Karen"
"You always do mum!" Spat out rather than said!

Went home to unload.
Hid the presents before picking up the children form school!
Picked up Small Sprog
Visited the post office (long queue) The assistant said that there is always a long queue on a Monday (put on more b****y staff then!).
Made a mental note not to go to the post office on a Monday again before Christmas.
Picked up Tall Girl from the bus stop
Broke the World Land Speed Record trying to get Small Sprog home to use the toilet 'urgently'!
Composed a letter to Tall Girls science teacher (who really p***ed me off)
Cooked Dinner early so that I could:
Take Small Sprog to his maths tutor on time
Re write above letter taking out the insults and the aggressive tone!!
Feed the Bunnies
Fetch Small Sprog whilst Husband took Tall Girl to guides

Almost there! (can you hear me panting? It's not excitement it's exhaustion!)
Then I:
Fed Small Sprog pudding
Read Small Sprog a story (and sang the 12 days of Christmas!)
Put Small Sprog to bed
Made a cake (new recipe)
Went to pick up Tall Girl and friend
Dropped off friend
Fed Tall Girl pudding
Took cake out of oven (Looks OK!)
Said goodnight to Tall Girl and voila! Here I am, fresh as a daisy!!
Now I must just go and sew Tall Girls badge on and.........................Zzzzzz

The Christmas Party

Look, I know it's not even December for another week, but we've just spent our Sunday afternoon at the first Christmas Party of the season!

It's not easy to get 6 families together all on the same day at this time of year. Especially when at least one child from each family has a birthday between 9th November and New Year! So although this is officially a Christmas Party, it began as a celebration of birth 12 years ago.

All of us met because we gave birth within 6 weeks of each other and therefore attended baby classes at the same time. We were new mums together, 'doing battle' with our new lives. We supported each other, shared stories and exchanged advice and now look what has happened! Those tiny wrinkled babies are strapping 12 year olds, the November ones anyway. Then we all had second children around the same time too, between October and January, so they have all grown up together, knowing each other and getting along.

So here we all are, coming to terms with the onset of the teenage years, with the next period of our lives, our childrens lives and we are all doing it together. I'm truly blessed to have been thrown together with all these lovely people, all of whom I would never have met in any other instance. Over time we have laughed, cried, commiserated and moaned together! There's nothing like a good moan between friends!

Small Sprog and Tall Girl have been so excited all weekend that they have almost been unbearable to live with! Every year we meet in the same hall, order a large bouncy castle (did they want one now they're getting older? Of course, it's tradition!!) Light a few fireworks and organise a Secret Santa for them all. We eat pizza and light candles on a joint birthday cake. It's always the same and that's how they like it. The adults make a cauldron of mulled wine, and a huge pot of tea (not at the same time!) and settle down to 'catch up', all the time pondering if this will be the last time all the children will want to come. Will they want to do this at 13, 14? Who'd have thought we'd be doing it this long, all 23 of us, 11 adults and 12 children. An easy togetherness. Who could want for more?

And almost as soon as it's begun it's time to go home! It's the quickest 5 hours of the year. The children leave exhausted and the adults mostly sober! As we say our last good byes someone always says, laughing "One day they'll be pushing us all here in our wheelchairs!" and I hope that we will still meet together then, when we are old and our children have children of their own.

Questions, questions

BS5 has challenged me to complete this meme. I have to answer each question in a single word, which will be hard for me because I like to rabbit on a fair bit! So here goes:
1. Where is your cell phone? Handbag
2. Your significant other? Here
3. Your hair? Brown
4.Your mother? Frustrating!
5. Your father? Technical
6. Your favorite thing? Friends
7. Your dream last night? Secret
8. Your favorite drink? Champagne!
9. Your dream/goal? Distant
10. The room you're in? Cosy
11. Your fear? Loss
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Somewhere
13. Where were you last night? Bed
14. What you're not? Fat
15. Muffins? Toffee
16. One of your wish list items? Happiness
17. Where you grew up? Cheltenham
18. The last thing you did? Ate
19. What are you wearing? Jeans
20. Your TV? Working!
21. Your pet? Bunnies
22. Your computer? Important
23. Your life? Busy
24. Your mood? Fuzzy!
25. Missing someone? Perhaps
26. Your car? Small
27. Something you're not wearing? Leopardprint!
28. Favorite Store? Liberty's
29. Your summer? Wet!!
30. Your favorite color? Scarlett
31. When is the last time you laughed? Today
32. Last time you cried? Recently

Well I only cheated once, so not bad really! Feel free to have a go.

So what are you up to this weekend?

Plotting

"Daddy, when you're dead will I get all your money?"
"What do you mean, ALL!" I splutter
"Some of it" Says Husband
"Oh good!" Small Sprog says with glee
"It's not very nice though" I explain to Small Sprog "Waiting for someone to die so you can have all their money"
"Well he's got to leave it to someone" Small Sprog reasons.
I suppose he has a point!

Exasperated in Suburbia

I 'd just arrived home form work this afternoon around 2pm when the phone rang. It was my mother.
"You've just caught me!" I said, mostly because I thought she might be quicker if she realised I had only just walked through the door, though sadly I was wrong. She had her ''strident'' voice on!
"It says in my diary that you're home at 12.30!" She states
Well you know, sometimes things just don't turn out how you think they should. I hate being predictable, but what I hate more is my mother keeping tabs on me! The conversation deteriorated form there!

PS. Thank You to Cheshire Wife, who gave me this beautiful award recently :)

To tired to post!

The Ultimate Color Test

When you are at peace, you are:

Thoughtful and sensitive

When you are moved to act, you are:

Giving and warm

When you are inspired, you are:

Creative and productive

When your life is perfectly balanced, you are:

Philosophical and expressive

Your life's purpose is:

To find contentment

I have to admit to being just a bit to tired to think tonight! However as I was trawling about I found this and thought it was a fair assessment (considering all I did was choose a few colours!!)

I found it here, if you fancy a go. There are other quizzes if you scroll down on the same site, some which may be of interest (!) for example :

What should you nickname your boobs? (yes, honestly!)

What condiment are you ?(how many can there be?!)

The socks personality test (especially for BS5!)

What does your burger say about you? (before or after you've eaten it do you think?!)

Would you make a good pirate? (quite topical)

How's your attention span? (where've you gone? Hey........)

And so many more that I gave up trying to scroll down to the end. So if you're a bit bored tonight, click to find out 'If you're a Hot Chick'!!

Go on I dare you........

Bringing home the bacon

Small Sprog loves his food. He'll eat almost anything, (in contrast to his rather fussy sister) and is proud of it! We had tears last week though, someone had eaten the last piece of fruit cake, his favourite, (Tall Girl won't touch it with a barge pole, it just might contain fruit, that would be far too risky!!), but poor Small Sprogs tears were very real.

On Sunday morning we had a sort of brunch type breakfast, Small Sprog wanted poached egg on toast with bacon. There was no bacon. He was upset! I realised I was not 'meeting his needs' on the culinary front!! So later on Sunday I went to work on three fruit cakes! I hasten to add these were not all for Small Sprog. Tall Girl has a school fair and a Girl Guide 'do' this week and both events require homemade cake, so a whole batch was measured and mixed and fairly thrown together to create Small Sprog heaven.

When they were cooked and set on the worktop to cool the house was full of a wonderful aroma. Small Sprog sauntered into the kitchen and viewed the cake line up with a satisfied grin. He prodded one with a small finger, "Mmmm, fruit cake" He says, almost drooling "My favourite". Then, as he leaves the room........he shouts.............. "Shame about the bacon!" and runs off!
If I didn't know that he couldn't, I would have sworn I saw him winking!

PS. Photo, as proof for BS5!

Beautiful

The National Anthem was played on the radio the other morning at breakfast time."What's that for?"Pipes up Small Sprog.
"It's prince Charles's birthday" I explained
"What about the Queen?" He asks
"No she's had hers" I say
"I know what she does all day" He says in a very nah nah na nah nah voice.
"What do you think she does?"
"She sits around looking pretty of course"

Bless him I thought, how pleased she would be, a woman in her 80's, that a small boy thought she was still a beauty!! However I'm not sure he could pick her out in an identity parade!!

Reasons to be cheerful!

Well I do think I've moaned far too much recently, so my reasons to be cheerful are..............

I have two wonderful children who I love dearly and, because neither of them have reached that 'difficult' teenage stage yet, seem to love me back!

I have some fantastic friends, I feel quite 'friend full' at the moment and it's a good feeling.

No one close to me has a life threatening illness.

My mum is a fab lady, even though she drives me mad sometimes!

We have a roof over our head and, although it's by no means my dream home, it is big enough and comfortable enough and we can afford it!

We live in relative peace..........

Oh I don't think I can keep this up anymore! It's bloody well pouring with rain outside, the house is a tip (step away from the computer Suburbia and do some housework!) and my Husband has turned into the Grinch!!! Yep, he's green and all... Oh no that's Small Sprogs scurvy, I forgot!

So sod the cheer, give me a good old moan anytime.

Yours (enjoying the misery!)

ABC Wednesday

This week Q for Quay

From our holiday in May

ABC Wednesday was created by Mrs Nesbitt.

More can be found on the ABC Wednesday no-comment blog,

and on ABC Wednesday Mr Linky .

Please visit as many as you can and leave comments for us all!

Storm Clouds (part 1)

For the last 10 years or so since I've known Husband, he has found this time of year increasingly hard to cope with. When I first met him I must have missed it! It didn't seem to appear for the first few years of our relationship but some years are worse than others. About 6 years ago it was particularly bad, but this year it is worse. As soon as the clocks change I can feel his darkness drawing in. It's not light related because it drifts away ages before the evenings brighten in March.

It starts around Tall Girls birthday and seems to wear off just after Boxing Day. The symptoms range from sadness, to being cross, short tempered and grumpy, worrying about his own health and finally (when bad) taking to his bed. He will often blame his mood on Christmas (bah humbug), and years ago when his mother was well enough to travel, I assumed it was her upcoming visit that got to him (not a good relationship there as you may have guessed!) However she no longer comes to stay but the mood continues. The taking to his bed bit, as it happens, usually manifests around Tall Girls birthday week. My reaction to it ranges between sympathy (just a little!) and crossness (mostly) because I don't want her to pick up on how he feels or have anything spoil her special time. I think his reactions are echos from his own childhood and I certainly don't want her to suffer in the same way.

Anyway, last Friday night I came home with the children, after having quite a sociable hour with friends, to find him in bed. From where I was standing he was having a panic attack, but he thought he was going to die.

To cut a long story extremely short, after speaking to a doctor and various other things, he seemed to calm down and eventually all was well. But the dark cloud is hanging over this house. I can feel the storm gathering and I very much hope we're not in for too much of a bumpy ride.

Pirate Sprog

Small Sprog was very tired tonight, so I tried to get him into bed early. No sooner had I come downstairs again and there he appeared by my side. "What's the matter?" I said, just a little annoyed (because I'm tired too)
"I'm scared" He said with a wobbly lip.
I never know, when he does this, if he is genuinely scared or trying it on. He uses the same face for both!!
"What are you scared of?"
"I'm scared I might get scurvy"
"SCURVY?"

For goodness sake, what will he think of next!!

200 today!

I have been here for 200 posts! 200!

I ask you, do I have nothing better to do with my time?!

So if you have just popped over,

please help yourself to a glass or two and celebrate with me.

It has taken me 9 months to get this far and I have enjoyed every minute

(gosh I could have given birth in all that time!).

I have made some sweet and special friends along the way, and

read a plethora of posts which have touched me in many ways.

So thank you for calling by so often.

It is not just the writing that keeps me going it is meeting all of you.

Go on have another glass before I start to hiccough,

and while you're at it raise a glass to Tall Girl (talking of giving birth!)

Who is 12 years old tomorrow.

Fluffy Bunnies

Today I wanted to write a 'fluffy bunny' post! I was inspired by Hullabaloo when I read her post this morning. It was full of excitement and joy for life, and I felt all warm and fuzzy after I'd read it! (It had absolutely nothing to do with bunnies by the way)

So here is my fluffy bunny post, but alas and alack my fluffy bunnieness has bounced off into the undergrowth. I don't seem to be able to 'fluffy bunny' about anything today and am beginning to wonder if I should just stop writing here for a while until I can coax it out again, before you all reach for the bottle or a long length of rope, or worse.

Why have I lost my fluffy bunnieness? When did it run off? I'm not sure but I would like it to come back very soon.

Oh for goodness sake Suburbia, pull yourself together!

ABC Wednesday...................P for poppy

This week the letter P

P is for Poppy

It is remembrance Sunday this weekend so poppy seemed

a logical choice. However this poppy in my garden

(unlike the wild red variety)

is rather too pink and frilly for my liking,

but once the petals have fallen..............

the velvety appearance and the colours become fascinating.

ABC Wednesday was created by Mrs Nesbitt.
More can be found on the ABC Wednesday no-comment blog,
and on ABC Wednesday Mr Linky .

Please visit as many as you can and leave comments for us all!