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Archive : December 2008
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
That was the year that was
I'm actually starting this, in draft, on the 30th - mostly because it's going to take me an age to type it!
So, 2008, pretty much done and dusted. How was it for you? ;)
I'm going to trawl back through the blog archives (and my own fading memory!) and try and recap a bit and then look forward (I'm playing at being Janus here!)
January 2008....
I don't have this in my blog archive and there's a good reason for that - it got deleted. January was one of those sorts of months that I hope I NEVER have to live through again. I won't bore you with the details but, in short, it revolved around betrayal. People who I thought were friends who turned out to be the biggest, backstabbing cowpats in the world. It revolved around me not making a good decision (regarding who to hand my yahoo group on to) and then SERIOUSLY regretting it. It revolved around deleting all the blog posts from that time and saying "to hell with it". Then I took a break from blogging for 3 months! Other than that, January was just ... well, a typical January! Cold, bleak and a bit depressing.
February
Still not blogging. I don't honestly recall much from this month apart from one small but ... errr.... amusing incident involving Tim's boss, Richard. In fact, this incident has been the stuff of much teasing (on both mine and Tim's part - although mostly mine) ever since! I won't recall the exact details here (for fear that someone from Tim's work might actually read this one day!) but it involved a whole series of phone calls in one day and plenty of giggling (from myself and Richard!) Honestly, we must have both been very bored that day! *laughs*
March
STILL no blog! What the hell happened in March?! ... Erm..... there was food. This was about the time when there was a lot of hoo-haa about chickens (remember that?) Tim and I had already made the decision to eat more healthily and stuff but we never really considered the chicken thing before (shameful!) So we did and we decided to buy "good" chickens even if they cost more and just stretch them out a bit - and we really did! Amazing what you can create from one chicken!
April
Back in blogland. I'd spent a HELL of a lot of time thinking about the events that took place in January and came out of it with a renewed spirit and, in my opinion, a better person. We (well, mostly me and the kids) got very heavily into "creating" at that time. Much time was spent on drawing, painting and modelling with various materials and it was all very, very good. After the traumas of the earlier months this was a very peaceful time - busy, in many respects, but peaceful. I also set up the Dorset Home Education website - sadly, not to last but it was good while it was there! I was given the Arte y Pico Award which is, apparently, given to bloggers "who inspire others with their creative energy and their works, whether it be writing, artwork or more", and which I was ridiciously, childishly pleased to receive.
May
This was a duff month blogwise as our computer busted! The eldest of my 2 younger brothers turned 36 this month. We were also getting to grips with planning for our upcoming holiday to Jersey (in August) Oh, and April started nursery!
June
Still having computer problems (major ones in fact!) but at least back in the world of blogging due to James lending us his. April still going to nursery and, apparently, enjoying it whilst I was THOROUGHLY enjoying having ONE whole afternoon a week to myself while she was there and Tim took Rosie to trampoline class! God, was that ever lovely! Homeschool-wise we switched to using the Everything Homeschooling curriculum for a bit and it was great to start with but quickly became tedious and repetitive. Tim and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary - TEN YEARS! Seems like a lifetime. The weather was hot, hot, hot and I blogged about going out in the garden with no shoes and April coming home from nursery drenched in sweat. I enjoyed Springwatch on telly and we had our one (and only!) barbeque of the year. We went to Rob's (Tim's sisters boyfriends) 40th birthday party and I got stuck with "Scarey Rachel" the "psychic" who proceeded to tell me that I would have loads more babies (no way!) and tell Tim that he was "extremely fertile". Barking. I took a touch-typing test and totally amazed myself by doing 82 words a minute - hey! I've still got it! Also a sad time as I began to realise that Mo (my beloved old cat) was definately reaching the end of his life :( Finally, I wrote this: "I'm distracted, my head full of wandering thoughts that I can't shift. It's that sort of time, at the moment, when I wished crystal ball gazing actually worked *smiles*. Over the last couple of days, where we've been so busy with going out and swimming and doing things around the house and garden, I've been occupied and not had time to think. Today, I have more time - this afternoon is my quiet afternoon when everyone else goes out. I'll be brooding no doubt. It's not such a bad thing I suppose, sometimes it's good to just let your mind wander but I guess it depends on the topic of your thoughts!" No, I'm not telling you what the brooding was about! *laughs*
July
God, what a month. I celebrated my 38th birthday, totally cleaned out the house and got crafty and made some nice "decor" things, had a re-think about homeschool curriculum (again!), watched a grass snake wrestling with the biggest toad I've ever seen in the garden (the toad won!), Tim got fined £75 for turning round in a carpark, I had a bizzarely realistic dream about getting kissed by a tall, dark handsome man in a silver car and consequently got very into noting my dreams for a bit, baked in the summer heat (yes, we did have some!), had some gorgeous walks at Hengistbury Head and the fruit picking farm and, finally, said goodbye to our 15 year old cat, Mo .... quite simply, the saddest day I've experienced in a long, long time :(
August
Our holiday month! Yes indeed! After about 2 years of planning we FINALLY sailed off to St. Helier in Jersey and enjoyed one glorious week (and apart from a couple of night time downpours, the weather was glorious too!) We also got our hideous bathroom overhauled while we were away and came home to a gleaming white vision of loveliness :) I got back into autumn-mode pretty quick this year in a great flurry of excitement and optimism. Sadly, it all went a bit tits-up for some reason that I cannot fathom. Actually, I can - it was stress about April going/not going to school and other unbloggable "on my mind" stuff that did it. Pah!
September
Autumn! I went a bit bird crazy this month and started taking some really nice pics of our regular visitors to the garden - got a bit of a hobby going actually which I'm still enjoying (to a lesser degree) now. Made my very first Dorset Apple cake EVER and bloody gorgeous it was too! Homeschool wise we went all hands on and thematic, particularly with maths with the kids doing stuff like weighing and measuring apples - all very autumnal! My youngest brother, Gavin, became a dad for the first time to a little boy - Jayden. We watched the last night of the Proms (usual flag-waving crap that was). Got back to Montessori in a BIG way in homeschool and I made a load of lovely new materials for the kids to use. April DIDN'T go back to nursery (big surprise there!) and didn't seem to miss it in the slightest. Rosie celebrated her 11th birthday whilst I simply couldn't believe that 11 years had gone by.
October
Time's racing on! Pretty dull month really - particularly in view of the fact that we ALL had stinking colds for the first part of it. Our car had an easy time in it's MOT, only needing a set of break pads and then promptly threw a wobbly and got a broken clutch cable. This resulted in us NOT going to Lulworth Castle for the Halloween fun as we intended (cue much sulking from me). The weather was gorgeous though and we had lovely walks up Hengistbury Head and I took some really nice photos of the garden in the early morning. Homeschool was a rather odd but strangely satisfying mix of lapbooks, hands on history and (yes, really!) Waldorf. I started getting ready for Christmas by making my cake (which we're STILL eating and, frankly, getting sick of now). Finally, we had a lovely Halloween and dressed up Hemmy in a witches hat :
November
In November we went over my sister-in-laws place for bonfire night and very nice it was too (although it absolutely bucketed down with rain!) We plodded on with homeschool - going back to Montessori again (which is where we still are now). I got busy and started making a few things for Christmas (a very cute fleece hat for April). I also fretted a great deal - some of it unbloggable stuff and there were other things like whether or not to send in April's school application. In the end we did send it off (get the results in March) simply because she seems like the sort of child who might actually enjoy school. We went on a lovely homeschool trip with some other home educators to the Red House Museum in Christchurch and made some stuff from the old Ladybird make and Do books (good fun that was - even Tim made a Christmas card!) I completely revamped my website with all new graphics AND brought back my free Montessori materials (which are very well received judging by the site stats!) I saw a sparrowhawk in our garden for the first time ever - murdering a dunnock :(
December
So, here we are, December - this is so recent that I don't have to do this! So now, I'm just looking foward .........
2009
These are "sort of" resolutions I guess.
* I want to do more stuff for myself - I don't spend nearly enough time on my own hobbies and I definately want to do that in the coming year.
* I want to accept that, sometimes, having hopes and dreams and fantasies (even patently ridiculous ones!) is a good thing. I shall stop trying to push away "silly" thoughts and just live with them - everyone needs dreams :)
* I shall look on April going to school as a good and positive thing and stop thinking it's the end of the world!
* I shall stand up for myself more and not continually take stuff on the chin when, in fact, I'm right and have a perfectly valid point.
* I absolutely, definately will use the yoga equipment Tim got me for Christmas on a daily basis. REALLY!
Well, I guess that's it! I hope everyone has a wonderful, healthy and happy new year. I know things are not good for any of us (financially and whatnot) but a good dose of optimism goes a long way and there are good things to be had everyday - no matter how trivial. Be happy, be healthy, be honest and truthful with everyone, be kind and giving, make the most of every day. You only get to pass by this way once so do your best to do the things that you love and bring you happiness WITH the people that you love and bring you happiness.
See you in 2009! xx
Sunday, December 28, 2008
It's that messy time
I'm not a fan of the sort of "twilight zone" between Christmas and the new year - it's all much of a muchness. The house looks dreadfully messy because it hasn't been hoovered for a few days now (yes, really!) and there are pressies we received that still need to found a home for. One particular homeless present is a bike that April got from grandma and grandpa which needs putting together and which seems a bit complicated if you ask me (but what do I know?!) It's still in it's box in our living room and we have to keep moving it out of the way to get to the book baskets which are behind it. Trying stuff.
So, anyway, after Christmas day we headed off to visit relatives - 'twas the usual mix of slightly overcrowded house, over-excited children, a couple of everso-slightly bitchy comments together with nice food, lovely pressies and some pleasant people. It's very sleepy-making though and we were glad to get home eventually. I came home with a mobile phone - this wasn't a present but my mum-in-law's old one as she'd got a new one for Christmas. I've just got to get a new sim card and battery for it (already ordered in fact!)...... and a new cover as the one that's on there is a bit pongy with cigarette smoke :( Anyway, I've seen the MOST gorgeous pink one which I've SO got to have *laughs*
I've reached the must...take...down...christmas....decs stage. This is not really a bah-humbug thing, just, as I said above, it's soooo messy in here and I can't put anything away with all these sparkly things out. Tim's doing a few days at work and then he's off on holiday until the 17th January so, at the beginning of his hols we're going to put the decs away, clear up and perhaps freshen the place up visually with some new lounge curtains. At least I hope I can get some curtains - depends on the price I guess.
The other thing we have to do when he's off, is get the car sorted (groan!) It's currently still sat on our drive having not gone to the garage with James to be fixed. We are of the opinion that it actually needs a new clutch and are now in the process of deciding whether it's worth it or whether to just ditch it and try and get a newer car.
Finally, I'm currently mentally reviewing the year gone by and planning some new year resolutions. I don't usually bother but I have some VERY fixed plans for this year and I'm bloody well going to carry them out!
More on that soon. Bet ya can't wait eh? ;)
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas day
Peace ..... at ..... last.
Phew, what a day! A gorgeous, lovely, happy day but ... well ... y'know Christmas day - you feel exhausted at the end! We've got the kids in bed and I'm finally getting chance to wade through all the pics we've taken today. It's been really nice, kids didn't get up too early, I made us all croissants for breakfast and we had pressies (more on that in a min). Tim cooked a yummy lunch (I did help a bit honest!) and then, later, my brother James came over with his girlfriend Ali. Tomorrow, we're all off to Tim's mums to do it all over again!
Lovely pressies this year - can't remember everything, but briefly - we got Rosie a telly/dvd player, club penguin stuff and books. We gave April a Peppa Pig camper van/camp site set (overjoyed she was - played with it ALL day), club penguin things and Night Garden stuff. I gave Tim a mobile phone (remember the hoo-haa with that? *rolls eyes*), beard trimmer thing (so he can get that totally sexy stubbly look heehee!) and a new dressing gown (to replace the one I brought him YEARS ago which was, literally, holey). I was a very lucky girl - got yoga things, a gorgeous "old fashioned" cookery book and a gift card for my favourite clothes shop (January sales here I come!)
Anyway, here are just a few piccies:
First a couple from Christmas eve including a freshly bathed april looking at a Christmas story book under the tree :)
My finished cake! VERY basic decoration this year as I left it very late to decorate it .... Christmas eve in fact. Ahem.
April looking serious!
Rosie, mucking around with her new telly, sat up on her bed
Rosie and April at their little dinner time table (not sure what April's doing here!)
Erm.... me! Tim took this in one of his "lets try and get a good picture of Sarah" attempts. I don't look impressed actually.
April and Ali trying to work out where the stickers go on the Puppy in my Pocket playhouse
Tim washing up (complete with silly hat) Btw, I've just realised that this makes it look like Tim cooked lunch AND did all the washing up! I honestly did help with lunch AND did a whole bunch of washing up too - I didn't loafe around all day *laughs*
Mini cushions I made the kids
Hemmy decided he wanted lunch too!
Hic!
Hic!
Hope everyone had an absolutely gorgeous day! :)
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Have you been good this year?
Come on, be honest! :) I think I have .... erm... ok, a couple of minor offenses p'rhaps - I broke a couple of kitchen jugs, argued with Tim a few times, flirted with the mysterious Mr X once (or was it twice, it escapes me), forgot to feed the birds once or twice so far this winter and spent a bit more than I should have done on learning stuff for the kids. That's it though. Not bad .... REALLY! ;)
So, I hope "Santa" has been paying attention *laughs*.
Happy Christmas to all my lovely readers - have a good one :) x x
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Ready..... steady.....
.....not quite go. We're nearly there - at that time when we can go "aaaaah!" and just chill for a few days but not quite.
Tim's working tomorrow (although hopefully only the morning) and I've still got a load of hoovering and bed changing and cleaning of small children to do (heavens! can't have grubby kids on Christmas day!)
I'm a little sad - for the first time this year, I won't be making mince pies on Christmas eve. It's usually my tradition - get the kids in bed, have dinner, drink (lots of) Baileys and make mince pies but not this year. Tim has FAILED in his mission to purchase mincemeat grrrrr!! Actually, it's not his fault, EVERYWHERE seems to have sold out, obviously everyone decided to make mince pies this year.
Anyway, here is a little something I saw on another blog, not in the least bit Christmassy but rather fun nevertheless ... here goes.
1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be?
Cornwall. Absolutely love it there.
2. What's your favorite article of clothing?
A pair of extremely battered jeans. These are nothing flash or expensive (I got them at Sainsburys!) but they fit me better than any other jeans I've ever owned. Obviously, I could go buy another pair but I'm terrified I'd find they don't do that particular cut/size/length/colour any more and I don't think I could handle that.
3. Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex?
Oooo! Hmmmm, gotta be careful here coz really I should say stuff that only Tim possesses or he might get the wrong idea. However, on a very general level I like - a "manly" face - by that I mean, you get some blokes that look a bit little boyish and I can't stand that - I like a sort of "chiselled" looking face. I like dark(ish) hair - can't see myself with a blonde haired man EVER. I like tallness - again, it's the "grown up" man thing as opposed to looking like a little kid I think. Obviously, I like a man who can play the piano beautifully, cook gorgeous pasta bake and reduce me to putty with a certain "look" he does. Tim then :)
4.What's the last CD that you bought?
I haven't the faintest idea - must have been a long time ago. I tend to get individual songs off iTunes these days.
5.Where's your favorite place to be?
Tucked up on the sofa in the evening with a yummy dinner and something amusing on telly. Either that, or up Hengistbury Head on a hot, sunny day.
6. Where is your least favorite place to be?
Inside my head.
7.What's your favorite place to be massaged?
Just inbetween my shoulders or waaay down at the bottom of my spine.
8.Strong in mind or strong in body?
Well, strong in body is just a ruddy joke! I can be very strong-minded so I guess it would have to be that one.
9.What time do you wake up in the morning?
About 7.00 usually, when April gets me up. On mornings when Tim goes to work it's earlier because he wakes me up to say bye-bye and sometimes I don't go back to sleep again.
10. What is your favorite kitchen appliance?
Erm... I don't get wildly excited about any appliances but I couldn't cope without my washing machine.
11.What makes you really angry?
God, how long have you got?.....
- being woken in the middle of a particularly yummy dream
- snobs who think they're better than you because they're car is newer or whatever
- newspapers and the absolute rubbish they print (and I should know - I used to work for one!)
- Tim not putting his dirty clothes in the laundry basket properly. He stands at the entrance to the bedroom and throws his stuff across the room in the general direction of the basket and most of it doesn't go in the basket. It REALLY winds me up.
- People who get in my way in supermarkets by parking their trolly across the aisle.
- Anybody who isn't honest about their feelings and who is rubbish at communicating how they feel and plays sort of guessing games with you (and expects you to be a mind reader). Just say it for gods sake!
- Anybody who plays loud rave music, anywhere.
12. If you could play any instrument, what would it be?
The clarinet. I have one but have never learned to play it. I think they make the most beautiful, sexy sound.
13. Favorite color?
Purple, closely followed by pink.
14.Which do you prefer...sports car or SUV?
Well, since I can't drive it hardly matters, but I guess a sports car.
15. Do you believe in an afterlife?
Nope
16.Favorite children's book?
The Enchanted Castle by E Nesbitt. Such a magical, weird story. It was sometimes a bit scarey too what with the Uggly Wugglies *shudder*.
17. What is your favorite season?
Always used to be Autumn but this year went a bit tits-up so I'm thinking of changing to spring. I've been let down! *grumble grumble*
18. Your least favorite household chore?
Yanking hair out the plughole (yuk! yuk!) and putting duvet covers on duvets. Do you remember the car advert where the guy struggles with the duvet cover and gets lost inside it and it says "have you lost your va-va-voom?". That's like me that is.
19.If you could have one super power, what would it be?
Erm... I'm going to have to pass because I haven't got the faintest idea.
20.If you have a tattoo, what is it?
Don't have one - waaay too wimpy.
21.Can you juggle?
Naturally, isn't that what women are best at?
22. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to?
My nana - I'd ask her what the bloody hell happened to my mother to turn her into such a screwed up bitch.
23. What's your favorite day?
Tomorrow, if only because it gives me the chance to sort out the mess from today!
24. What's in the trunk of your car?
Well ... in the back of Tim's car, I believe, are a couple of cardboard boxes from work and a filthy old rag. Gripping stuff eh?
25. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger?
I've never eaten sushi and hamburgers make me feel ill ......
So that's that. Kids bedtime now so I'm off to do the usual evening routine. Byeee!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Naughty Santa!
Thank heavens it was only kissing mommy and "santa" were doing - I mean, they might have got on to the mince pie and sherry stage ... IMAGINE!!! Shocking behaviour *laughs*
Monday, December 22, 2008
Not bad!
My mum-in-law told me this morning that she had gone to her local Sainsburys to do her christmas food shopping and only ended up getting a quarter of what she needed because it was SO crowded and SO hectic that she couldn't stand it in there. This made me everso slightly nervous at the prospect of us going to get our shopping today (especially with the kids in tow!)
Anyway, Tim eventually got home from work and off we set to our local Sainsburys. Well, it was really fairly easy! Yes, it was a bit crowded and yes, there was a bit of jostling but we still managed to get most of the stuff without too much in the way of frayed tempers. Then, after tea, we popped down the road to our local Tesco (as opposed to the big one a bit further away which I usually favour), and got the rest of the things. To be honest, you wouldn't have believed it was nearly Christmas in there - it was no busier than usual! I then wanted to go into Superdrug next door and I was the only person in there apart from one rather bored looking shop assistant - honest! Really weird!
So, we're pretty much done shopping-wise. Tim has one more pressie to get for me and the veg to go with dinner and he's going out on his own tomorrow to get that and then we're done!
Anyway, in between all the shopping today, April decided she wanted to make a "funny bird" (I think she got the idea from Rosie's cress bird the other day). Here's April's (sorry, VERY blurred!):
Right, off to relax with a glass of wine (which is exactly what I said I wanted to do earlier!) and wrap up a few last presents. Tomorrow, I'm going to ice my cake and start to have a good clean round the place (will finish Christmas eve) so I don't have to worry about doing it again over Christmas day/Boxing Day.
Bye for now! :)
Monday, December 22, 2008
"Are we there yet?"
Edited: Not going to dinner now - not sure whether to be pleased or upset. Still, I guess it means Tim and I can concentrate on getting on with shopping and stuff. Frankly, all I want to do is chill out with a glass of wine and a massage right now!
The run-up to Christmas seems to be taking an absolute AGE this year. I'm not sure why that is, most probably, coz I'm absolutely bogged down with "stuff to do" and I feel like I'm wading through treacle and not get anywhere fast! *laughs*
Tim and I went out yesterday and did most of our last present buying, still got a couple last things to get though. Bar the drink and some bikkies and cheese crackers, we've done absolutely NO food shopping whatsoever and are, apparently, going to go and do it sometime today. When this time will be I've no idea because Tim's currently at work and when he'll get home is anyone's guess. We could have gone this evening but I'm supposed to be going to Flame for this "girls night out dinner" so we can't do it then. Tbh, I could happily pass up the dinner tonight, despite looking forward to it for a while - I'm so whacked out, got so much to do .... AND I've got a bloody great big mouth ulcer on my top lip as a result of a stupid accident where I stabbed myself eating some VERY crusty bread. There's also the huge possibility that we'll get there and find it's completely full due to being only 2 days before Christmas and I really can't be arsed to drive about everywhere trying to find somewhere else to eat. Anyway, at the moment we're still going!
Rosie had a lovely time at the Swanage Santa train yesterday - she came home with a great big green teddy bear! I'm glad it was fun for her as this is the last year she'll be going - too big now really (sob!) She's always loved the whole experience because grandma and grandpa don't just "do" the train, they also go round the little shops and play on the beach for a bit. I think this is a little yearly ritual she'll miss so we'll have to try and find something to replace it.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
What can I say?
Edit: Sorted. James is going to take the car to the garage and do the clutch for us. Phewee! Bless his little cotton socks :)
Sorry about the ... er... outburst yesterday but, really, it's blindingly frustrating. We eventually sorted out temporary transport - Tim's step-dad came over and collected us so that Tim could have his belated birthday dinner and then we brought back his mum's old Mercedes. The issue with this particular car is also causing a little bit of tooth-grinding at the moment because it was only about 2 weeks ago that there was talking of us having that car. Now, it seems, that they've decided to keep it as an emergency vehicle for situations rather like the one we found ourselves in. This is obviously a good idea BUT I do wish they'd thought about this before saying that we could have it if we wanted - y'know, it's not very nice to be told something like that and then kinda have it taken away again. Anyway, luckily, we have it for now so we can continue on our merry way with Christmas shopping and so on.
Had rather an amusing incident yesterday evening though, before we went out. Tim was frantically trying to arrange someone to pick him up and take him in to work this morning (before we knew we were having the Merc). He managed to get hold of one of his work colleagues and arrange something but then, a little while later (Tim was in the loo - typical!), the phone rang and I answered it. Conversation went something like this:
Me: Hello
Strange-man-who-I've-never-spoken-to-before: Hello
Me: (waiting for explanation as to who this is and who they want) ... er... hello?
Smwoinstb: (sounding a bit edgy) Who am I speaking to?
Me: (thinking, "oh right, a crank phone call, fab"), No, YOU tell ME who you are first!
Smwoinstb: Hello?
Me: (getting increasingly irritated and about to tell him to "get lost weirdo") who ... do...you..want...to...speak...to?
Smwoinstb: (hangs up)
Me: (slightly hysterical) TIIIIIM!! there was a strange man on the phone!
Anyway, Tim looked very concerned and did 1471, fully expecting it to say "number witheld". Instead it was Rolly's (work colleague!) number. Erm..... Quite why he didn't speak to me properly I don't know - why didn't he just ask for Tim?! The mind boggles!
So, back to the car. We now have to decide whether to pay out and have the car fixed again (not by the same garage as there was some evidence that they didn't do the job properly in the first place and they're a bunch of gits) OR collecting some money together (not entirely sure where from!) and trying to pick up something a little newer and less troublesome. Tim relies on the car quite heavily for work so it has to be definately less troublesome!
Hey-ho, decisions, decisions.
Friday, December 19, 2008
B******S!!!!!
The clutch has gone on the car again.
Tim just had to struggle home with a boot full of the kids Christmas presents (couldn't abandon the car could he?)
He's got work to go to and we've got Christmas shopping to do.
WHY NOW?!!!!!!!!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Alpen Bar Biscuits
These are ickle tiny little bits of yumminess - an invention of my own fertile imagination. I wanted to make some biscuits today and spied a lonely Alpen bar on the shelf (a fruit, nut and chocolate variety). Hmmmm....... A bit of experimenting later and taa-daaa! Gorgeous bikkies! The bits of Alpen bar, which start off chewy, end up all crunchy and the chocolate melts into little puddles in the biscuits. Yum.
Ingredients:
* 175g/6oz plain flour
* 100g/4 oz butter
* 50g/2 oz caster sugar
Couple drops of vanilla extract
1 chocolate/nut/fruit Alpen bar (although, I guess, you could use any variety) chopped into very small pieces.
A little milk
You will also need 1 large, greased baking sheet and to preheat the oven to 150C/300F/Gas 2.
Ok ...... Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract. Then add the flour and stir in well. Add a splash of milk and the chopped up bits of Alpen and then go in with your hands and bring the whole lot together into a soft dough (if it's too sticky, just add a bit more flour to it). Turn the dough out onto a floury surface and roll out to about 4-5mm thick. Use a cookie cutter (I used a tiny one of about 5cm diameter because I wanted little bitesize bikkies) to cut them out and put on tray. Bake for around 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Done.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The lull
It's just tooo gorgeous isn't it? Couldn't resist this rather posed-looking (although it wasn't!) shot. Oh, bliss - get the kids in bed, turn off the overhead light, pour some wine, light some candles. Reeeeelax. Perfect. Please ignore my teatowels drying on the radiator though!
It's very quite at the moment, a bit of a lull between 2 hectic weeks. I've been "puttering" around doing little housey things like piling up fircones into bowls and dripping Christmassy scented oil onto them (you can just see some in the pic above - next to the two tealights), they smell divine. I've also hung gold ribbon on the wall in the living room and put all our Christmas cards on it and I've been working on a stocking filler pressie for Rosie (but can't show it here yet in case she sees it!)
Last week was a nightmare of busyness - so much so that we had to put off Tim's birthday dinner at his mum's until this week (tomorrow). Starting from Sunday, it's all go again as Rosie's off for the day with grandma, grandpa and Luke to the Christmas train at Swanage. On the same day Tim, me and April are braving Castlepoint to try and get the last presents (I'm frankly dreading it). Tim's then working Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and not many other people there are so that's a bit scarey. Monday, I'm off out to Flame for the girlie-night-out dinner, although as you just "turn up" and not book, it's a bit hit and miss as to whether we'll get a table what with it being so near to Christmas day. Hey-ho. Also, sometime between Monday and "the big day" itself, we have to go out and finish our festive food shopping - we've got bits and pieces (in fact, Tim came back from Sainsburys today with 2 bottles of bubbly). I've also got to ice my cake. So much stuff to do but, buuut, it's all fab - how can it not be at this time of the year *smiles*
Off now to relax and wait for dinner to cook. Might watch Goodnight Sweetheart tonight - I've got ALL 6 series on dvd (thanks to my brother!) and every so often we go through them all - it takes aaages! We watched number 1 of the first series the other day so I think the second one is in order.
Byee for now.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
"'Tis the season to be silly"
.... and do daft quizes. So, here we go, 2 questions and I've been analysed to death ...... terrifyingly, it's very accurate.
Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...
You Are an Ingrid!
You are an Ingrid -- "I am unique"
Ingrids have sensitive feelings and are warm and perceptive.
How to Get Along with Me
- * Give me plenty of compliments. They mean a lot to me.
- * Be a supportive friend or partner. Help me to learn to love and value myself.
- * Respect me for my special gifts of intuition and vision.
- * Though I don't always want to be cheered up when I'm feeling melancholy, I sometimes like to have someone lighten me up a little.
- * Don't tell me I'm too sensitive or that I'm overreacting!
What I Like About Being an Ingrid
- * my ability to find meaning in life and to experience feeling at a deep level
- * my ability to establish warm connections with people
- * admiring what is noble, truthful, and beautiful in life
- * my creativity, intuition, and sense of humor
- * being unique and being seen as unique by others
- * having aesthetic sensibilities
- * being able to easily pick up the feelings of people around me
What's Hard About Being an Ingrid
- * experiencing dark moods of emptiness and despair
- * feelings of self-hatred and shame; believing I don't deserve to be loved
- * feeling guilty when I disappoint people
- * feeling hurt or attacked when someone misundertands me
- * expecting too much from myself and life
- * fearing being abandoned
- * obsessing over resentments
- * longing for what I don't have
Ingrids as Children Often
- * have active imaginations: play creatively alone or organize playmates in original games
- * are very sensitive
- * feel that they don't fit in
- * believe they are missing something that other people have
- * attach themselves to idealized teachers, heroes, artists, etc.
- * become antiauthoritarian or rebellious when criticized or not understood
- * feel lonely or abandoned (perhaps as a result of a death or their parents' divorce)
Ingrids as Parents
- * help their children become who they really are
- * support their children's creativity and originality
- * are good at helping their children get in touch with their feelings
- * are sometimes overly critical or overly protective
- * are usually very good with children if not too self-absorbed
Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy
Thursday, December 18, 2008
2 Christmassy things
I'm running out of time to blog my "Naff but Cute" Christmas songs - so here's another - today it's Brenda Lee, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree :)
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Chrome and Aja
Yesterday, I had to change my web browser from IE to Chrome (on Tim's advice) because of rather dodgy security risks that IE has. This has obviously been a bit of a pain in the arse involving importing all my favourites and getting used to a new set up (Chrome is not as immediately user friendly as IE). It does, however, have 2 distinct advantages:
- It loads more quickly. In fact, in loads a hell of a lot quicker!
- I got Aja back!
Erm.... who?
Aja, is a little tiger character (who lives in a cave and grows melons) that used to sit at the top of my iGoogle page in IE. She sort of does different things over the day and night and, for some bizarre reason, I grew rather attached to her. In think this is because she's a busy little bee and I found her to be quite motivational! I know, I'm weird.
Anyway, one day, Aja mysteriously vanished! I tried and tried to reinstall her - Tim could get her on his browser (he uses Firefox which I can't stand) but I just could not get her to work on IE any more. So I changed to a different theme - several in fact - but never really liked them as much.
So, switching to Chrome, I decided to try Aja again and she's back! Hurrah! How totally, ridiculously, childishly happy am I? Very.
Here she is, waking up this morning - go get her, she's very cute ... unless you use IE obviously.
Incidently, if you use IE, read this:
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Cold and crafts
Very cold today - we've been almost completely shrouded in fog for most of the day as well which has made it very gloomy.
So, in an attempt to warm things up a bit (visually at any rate!), we lit some candles and got on with some crafts. April and Rosie both raided the craft cupboard and got busy ...
I think it's obvious what April is making!
...but what on earth is this that Rosie is constructing?
It's a .. well.... erm... a bird type creature with cress growing out of it *grins*. Rosie has been growing the cress for a few days and decided to decorate the pot that it was in. Sorry 'bout the blurred photo - had a bit of a wobbly hand today obviously!
And here's April's snowman.
In fact, the snowman rather conveniently leads me onto today "Naff but Cute Christmas Song". Any guesses?
...............
Frosty the Snowman of course! *smiles*.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Hey, I quite like this game too!
| You Are Checkers |
You're able to compartmentalize and focus on the essentials. You appreciate simplicity. You can see the layers of complexity and beauty in anything. You are also playful and good natured. You don't take life too seriously! |
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Naff but cute - Christmas songs
This is a v.obvious attempt to move right along from last nights yukkiness! Christmas songs!
In 10 days time it will be Christmas eve and I've honestly not done any present squishing yet ... honest .... *looks guilty*.
Ahem. Anyway, I thought I'd help with getting in the festive mood by dredging up some old Christmassy songs (not the religious variety and NOT bloody Bing Crosby!) My dad used to have an album called Phil (I'm not in any way weird looking) Spector's Christmas Album and I can clearly remember some of the stuff off of it.
So, leading up to Christmas I shall be occasionally popping a tune on my blog (although not all Phil Spectors) - some of the ones that, despite being pretty naff, I still find endearingly cute *smiles*.
Up first, Darlene Love and Winter Wonderland.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
That was a shame
Updated: DID have a more grown up chat with Tim this morning (see! we can do it if we try!) and sorted a few things out. Thank goodness, last night was horrid :( One good thing about us is that we don't tend to carry on these disputes for very long - we're not into harbouring long term resentments. So, on with the day .....
By the time Tim got home yesterday from his lunch it was dark and all the decorations were done and they looked gorgeous (probably nice for him to come home to I guess). He went out again a bit later and got me something for dinner (we didn't have anything in!) and himself some pasta because he wasn't very hungry and we spent a nice evening and then went to bed.
However, it then all went badly wrong.
We argued. At about 4.00 in the morning. It was very, very grim *looks sad*.
I'm not going to blog the details but its stuff we've argued about before and I'm kind of feeling totally bogged down by the whole thing. I'm not very good at expressing myself to him - I get frustratedly angry and things come out all wrong or more spiteful than I would have liked BUT ... BUT, I DO have a valid point with all of it, I really do. That's what's getting me so sad, sometimes I genuinely feel like he NEVER listens to anything I say.
It's a bad day - I don't expect much from Tim - I appreciate he gets up very early and does a very physical job (albeit on a part time basis and, no, I'm not trying to water down what he does I'm just making the point). I appreciate those things and love him for doing it but ....... well, can't say any more ..... just that things are not sweet today. I think things will need to be sorted.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Aaaaah!
The other Christmas tree pic as promised. Soooo pretty!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Christmas is coming
Tim went out for his works Christmas lunch today so me and the kids put the Christmas decorations up - now it suddenly all feels "real" (which is jolly good because I've been having a hard time feeling festive this year for some reason!)
We never go overboard with our decs - I can't STAND paper chains and streamers hung from every corner of the room. We tend just to have one really pretty tree plus the kids little tree and a couple other little bits.
Anyway, here are some piccies - I'll try and get a better one of the tree a bit later when it's darker.
Our tree (with the first few presents we've done underneath - you can see what a pitiful amount of shopping we've done so far!)
My pixie. We used to have an angel on top but I got fed up with her (not really into angels) so this year my pixie got pride of place (or, rather, a very painful place what with the firtree branch stuck up his backside!) This little pixie is 36 years old - my nana made him for me when I was 2 and he always hung on the tree as I was growing up. Then, after Rosie was born, my mum gave him to me - I love him so much as he reminds me of nan (she died years and years ago)
My borax crystal snowflake! It worked!
....and, getting on a bit of a roll with the crystal stuff, I also made some icicles although (as Rosie quite rightly pointed out) they're supposed to be fatter at the top and then taper to a point. Unfortunately, I don't have much control over a piece of string hung in a cup of borax! *laughs*
The kids little tree and our winter seasonal table
This is a decoration I made a good few years ago. It's just an old jamjar handpainted with glass paint and we stick tealights inside - really pretty :)
Right, off to make a cuppa - the temperature is dropping rapidly again. We've had some FREEZING frosty days lately.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Very spooky
Just seen Tim off to church (ha ha) for the choir practice (he's doing the lessons and carols for them at the weekend) and when I looked up I saw the eeriest sky I've seen in a long time. The moon was really shiny and it was all cloudy apart from one really dark patch. I got a pic (which I turned into black/white in Photoshop because it showed up better like that) but it's pretty rubbish - really doesn't show how totally odd it was!
Today I stormed through our living/dining room cleaning, tidying and putting away homeschool stuff in readiness for putting our Christmas decorations up at the weekend. Looks so much better without all the school things everywhere (I'm ashamed to admit!) Also started "growing" some crystal snowflakes in a jar (using borax). These are, apparently, ready overnight and they do seem to have grown incredibly quickly! Will get a piccy when they're done tomorrow (tried to take one of them mid-growth but it was not very clear).
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
In the words of Margo Leadbetter .....
"Well, thank you VERY much!"
Today is Tim's birthday but before I get on to that I have to vent against a small, cute child. After DAYS of sneaking around and hiding card statements and emails, my lovely Christmas present for Tim arrived today. Whilst I was wrapping it up, April went to Tim and said "it will be very nice when you open your new phone".
Aaaarrrrggggh!!! Tim started grinning and I wanted to cry - I so hate having surprises spoiled :( Still, it IS my fault, I shouldn't have wrapped it in front of her, she doesn't really understand yet. So anyway, yes, I've brought him a lovely new mobile phone so he doesn't have to use the works one any more. That is what I had to do the secret emailing about - I had to ask his boss, Richard, whether he had sole use of the work one or whether he shared it. I'm on a bit of a budget and had quite a few things I wanted to get him so I decided to only get the phone if he DID have to share it and I could only think of Richard who would know that.
So that's that.
Back to his special day *smiles*. We treated him to breakfast in bed this morning and gave him his pressies - Gamecube Mario Golf from the kids and a Mock the Week book from me (which he's been dipping into periodically ever since and chuckling to himself).
We went over his mums this morning and had lunch and she gave him a very nice fleece and some new boots (I do love him in boots - so much more manly than trainers!). Now we're having tea and (just for once) I didn't make a birthday cake this time - he chose a rather sticky, totally sinful chocolate one from Sainsburys (highly yummy!), see pic below. Tonight, when the kids have been packed off to bed, he and I are having chinese takeaway - oooo! I love chinese food!
Happy 36th birthday to my gorgeous hubby!
Monday, December 08, 2008
Remind me ....
....to do any further Christmas shopping in a REAL shop and using REAL money (as opposed to online and with a credit card). I've become beyond enraged today (due to incompetent shops and their muck-ups which I won't bore you with the details of), whilst trying to order one of Tim's presents (the one relating to the secret emails heehee!). Anyway, I finally managed it but from another shop and it should be arriving tomorrow morning by registered post.
Tomorrow is my lovely hubby's 36th birthday and I'll blog about that then but for now, I shall leave you with this rather cute pic of him having a cuddle with Hemmy earlier today. Tim quite often stretches out on the floor when he gets home from work (actually, in this position, he looks more like he's thinking "just.....can't....cope!") and Hemmy joined him today *smiles*. Sorry 'bout the crap pic - it was really sunny!
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Ooo! Frosty
Got up early this morning and found 2 things - very thick frost (right down on the ground for the first time since last winter) and the washing up from last night's dinner (more on that in a second).
I went out to feed the birds, dressed in my dressing gown and the first pair of shoes I found next to the back door which happened to be Tim's trainers. Good job we've got a very woody, private garden because god only knows what a passerby would have thought of me freezing in my dressing gown and clomping around with my tiny size 4 feet in Tim's size 8 trainers! *laughs* Anyway, I grabbed a close-up pic of the frost on the fence - very pretty! Looks fluffy rather than frosty.
It's so cold today that the frost has only just melted (lunchtime) and on some parts of the garden that get hardly any sun, it's still there.
So, back to last night. Well, we had our lovely meal, got through an entire bottle of wine between us and then indulged in a bit of late-night bickering (always good just before you go to bed). Consequently, the washing up never got done which is why I was faced with a pile of yukky plates, saucepans and wine glasses this morning *grumble grumble*
Anyway, now the sun's out and we're off to Tesco this afternoon - got to get some more Christmas decorations (they're going up on Saturday!), some marzipan for my Christmas cake and some birthday cards for a certain someone ;)
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Linking
Tim and I are cooking pasta bake for dinner tonight (which is something we have very routinely because it's very yummy). We like cooking together, it's nice to get the kids in bed, pour a glass of red wine and just relax in the kitchen together - very couply! :) Obviously, we'll be reeking of garlic tomorrow - in fact, the other day he went to work (the morning after eating pasta bake) and his boss pointed out that he smelled of garlic. Since then, I've been referring to him as Stink Boy which is probably REALLY starting to get on his nerves and is also probably pretty silly as I almost certainly stink too! *laughs*
Anyway, my main reason for posting is to throw a link at you (or at least the home educators amongst you). School Express has LOADS of e-workbooks on their site and you used to have to pay for them but now they're free. They're very basic but pretty handy for extra practice (especially the maths ones).
I only came across this by accident as I don't tend to bother looking for home ed stuff much these days because our home educating days seem to be pretty numbered. April is determined to try school next September (so fingers crossed that we get a place for her at our preferred school) and Rosie has, what, 5 years left? Wow, time sure does go fast!
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Past, people, relationships
Been a funny old couple of days really - secret emailing and stuff which always leaves me feeling a bit weird and (strangely) low. It's in these low times that I inevitably start mind-wandering back to the past and it's not a place I like to be.
However, I've realised something. In recent times, thinking about the past has always caused me misery, it's caused melt-downs when all the pent up fury and frustration comes out and poor old Tim ends up being the brunt of it all. I scream and shout at him and he just takes it all on the chin because he knows that this is not the "real" me - this is the damaged me. This side of me surfaces, thankfully, less and less these days but when it does it's ALWAYS because I've spent too much time thinking about the people in my past who caused me pain (mentally or physically or sometimes both at the same time).
I've realised that I spend hardly ANY time thinking about the GOOD relationships - the funny friends, the loving relationships and people who made me laugh the oddballs that made me go "uh?" (but not in a bad way). That in a way is sad because these are the memories I SHOULD be holding on to.
This post is not meant to be gloomy, it's going to get better, too many times I've bored readers rigid with tales of my awful mother or my abusive ex-husband, that's not happening this time .... I'm thinking out loud! Here are some of the funny things, the weird things, the slightly sexy things and downright insane things that have happened in my relationships with other people. Hopefully, you might find it entertaining and it might make you (and me!) smile. No full names have been mentioned to protect the innocent *winks*. In no particular order .......
There was the girl I worked with at BT who had to come all the way from Swanage every day (to the centre of Bournemouth!) For a while we became the best of friends and, as friends do, we exchanged all sorts of little stories with each other. Nothing quite prepared me though for what she blurted out one day, in the office, in front of EVERYONE (we were sat at a kind of "big" desk made of lots of tables all pushed together). She started talking about her new boyfriend and how they had a rather .... erm.... odd relationship. I sat there gaping like a fish while she recounted tales of how they'd ....ahem... play games .... and he'd lock her in the wardrobe. What the?!... Whatever floats your boat I suppose. I remember going home on the bus that evening and suddenly bursting into laughter about it (which made me look insane obviously!)
Then there was John, my first real, long term boyfriend who I met when I was 18. I think it must have been him who first got me into walking up Hengistbury Head which I still love doing to this day (although my walking partner is now Tim and very pleased about it I am too) He was a lovely guy - a LOT like Tim in terms of personality, very laid back and easy going. Also, like Tim, very tall and slim!
Then there was my friend, Sarah (another one!) who I worked with at the Evening Echo and we ended up being friends for years after. She was a few years older than me and, I think, was determined to act as a kind of substitute mum! I remember a certain reporter at the Echo who wanted to take me out - I was 17 and he was about 26 at the time. Sarah grilled him (just like a parent!) about whether his motives were honourable *laughs out loud*, of course they weren't bloody honourable! In the end I went out once with him for a drink and never bothered again because he was, well, boring - so we never got to test whether he was honourable or not hehe!
Then there was an ex-boss of mine who I secretaried for. He was a (close to retirement) solicitor and another one who wanted to parent me to death! During the winter, when I was ONLY popping round the corner to the sandwich shop, I'd walk past his office door and he shout "Sarah! put your bloody coat on you silly girl!" and I would, muttering like Mutley under my breath all the time. When I left to go on to pastures new, he gave me a giant pot-plant (not sure why) which I then had to take home on the bus with me and felt idiotic!
Then there was another boss of mine - an Associate Director at a very large, local, well-known firm of Estate Agents. He pretty much head-hunted me back from another company to work for him which I felt very pleased about but, my god, did he bring out the Crippen in me! He had (and I kid you not) a filing system whereby he filed his clients by order of how much he hated them!!! Wtf?! Naturally, I was not about to tolerate this utterly pants system of filing and re-arranged it all into alphabetical. He went ballistic (because he couldn't find anything!) and we ended up having a screaming row about it. It ended up with me saying that I utterly refused to file for him if he had it that way because it made no sense and surely he didn't hate them all and, frankly, the only person I hated right at that moment was him. On and on and on I went and he went strangely quiet. I thought "oh shit, now I'm going to get fired" but he just stood there staring for a second, then broke into a huge grin and said "fine, have it your way!" Some time later he said that he liked the fact that I wasn't scared of him as his last secretary had been like a doormouse! *laughs*
Then there was Alex - a guy I went out with briefly. He was training to be an accountant and his father was an accountant (god, a whole family of them!) and they were really rich and lived in a huge house at Highcliffe. Alex was, as far as my mother was concerned "perfect husband material", however, I was presented with 2 problems. One - I found him a little dull and two - his best friend, Richard. His best friend turned out to be the reason I didn't stay with Alex, you see, from day one there was a VERY obvious attraction between us but neither he nor I said anything about it. We just went on with some rather intense eye contact, accidental-on-purpose brushing against each other ... stuff like that. I really wouldn't have done anything about it - I genuinely would have just pushed it down and just enjoyed some harmless flirtation. Richard, however, had other ideas and one day while I was at home, he just turned up on my doorstep and said "I think we need to talk don't you?". He then virtually dragged me out to his car and I realised there was no way I could continue seeing Alex (much to my mothers disappointment) I also didn't carry on seeing Richard though ... we just, moved on.
Finally, there's Tim who all my regular readers will have heard much about - obviously. As I said, he's been the brunt of my spending too much time thinking about the horrid people in my life - he's long-suffering and he puts up with me (why? WHY?!) Maybe if I switch off the nasty people memories and think more about the amusing/nice things that I wrote about above, he wont have to endure so much.
I think, for that reason, he'll forgive me talking about ex-boyfriends *smiles*.
Bye for now!
Friday, December 05, 2008
It's all doo-lally
Honestly, the things I have to do in order to surprise my nearest and dearest at Christmas!
Thing is, I really LOVE buying surprise presents (especially for Tim) and put a lot of effort into choosing things I think he'd like. This year I've got a fairly long list of potential purchases but being on a fairly limited budget I can't get all of them.
Anyhow, one of them is something I think he'd really appreciate and get a lot of use out of but I'm umming and aaahing as to whether it's "worth it" (obviously HE'S worth it *laughs*) - and no, it's not some shampoo! Consequently, I've been doing some crazy round-the-houses emailing and enquiries of various people in order to come to a decision - all without him finding out! It's mad.
Ooooh! and on another note, we may very well be getting a new car soon (well, old/new iyswim!) - a Mercedes (his mums old car). Now, for anyone that knows us, can you REALLY imagine Tim driving a Merc? Thought not *laughs out loud* - very plush though and a LOT nicer than the one we've got.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Dinner out!
We went over Tim's mums today to see her so she could give April her birthday presents (some very cute stuff - dvd, rag dolly, funky jeans and Mr Men books) While we were there she invited me to go out for a meal with her, my sis-in-law and a couple of other girly friends (some time before christmas but we haven't fixed a date yet). Well of course! *smiles*. Apparently, we may be going to a place called Flame, an oriental, buffet-style restaurant in Poole. Now, I've got to be honest and say I'm really a "sit-down-and-be-served" type person - if I go to a restaurant I like to have my food brought to me so this will be a new experience that I shall approach with an open mind! There are mixed reviews about this place - some absolutely love it (the food is supposed to be gorgeous) and others say it's too packed (like sardines in a tin!) and you feel a bit like you're on some kind of gastronomic conveyor belt - y'know, quickly in, quickly out.
However, I'm nothing if not adventurous so I shall look forward to it ... be nice to have a night out anyway! Been told by hubby (jokingly, or at least I think so!) not to flirt with any "talk, dark, handsome strangers". Ha! ha! as if that was very likely with his mum and sister sat there anyway *rolls eyes* Still, you never know ;)
Thursday, December 04, 2008
More birthday pics
April had a good day yesterday :) She got all the stuff she wanted - cuddlies, Baby Born (and buggy) and lots of Jungle in my Pocket. The cake I made her turned out very yummy - lots of dribbly icing though! I don't "do" fancy cakes (not much cop at icing) but luckily the kids seem to prefer the simple ones and in this case April wanted a Duffy the dragon on hers. Duffy the dragon is from the Jellikins which used to be on TV (wonderful, "far out", colourful computer animated thing narrated by Rik Mayall). She's never seen it apart from on You Tube but she LOVES Duffy so I hunted high and low online for a pic of him which I then stuck on a cocktail stick in the cake :) She was overjoyed *smiles*.
Anyway, here are some pics - starting with the one from the digital scrapbook page I did yesterday (just a bit better quality this time!) Oh, and I cropped myself out of the final birthday cake pic .... I'm shy *laughs*.
Now for my confession regarding her little toy dragon. Remember I said that I thought we'd lost it getting out of the car in a hurry? Well, on the night before her birthday I was lying in bed (having just watched Back to the Future II with Tim!) and it suddenly popped into my head .... I knew where the dragon was! When I came to get April out the car ... BECAUSE were were rushing and BECAUSE it was raining and I didn't want her to drop the dragon in a puddle I put him in my coat pocket. Obviously this was for safe keeping. So safe I bloody well forgot it was there!! So, there he was, hung in the wardrobe, still in my pocket! DOH!!!!
So that added to a really happy birthday for her :)
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Happy Birthday April!
More pics and stuff to follow later ..... but can you see who that is in the 2008 pic I took today? (which incidently, has gone all blocky and a bit yuk, so I'll post the proper one later) Yes, he was found and I'm afraid I've got to 'fess up *looks guilty*. More later, got to make birthday cake now because I didn't do it last night!
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Anybody seen a pink dragon?
Poor old April - it's the day before her birthday and she's lost her MOST favourite toy - a little pink dragon (exactly like the one above) that her grandma got her :( She took him out with her the other day when we went shopping but he was left in the car because I won't allow them to take toys in the shops. When we got back she had him in her hand but I think she might have dropped him outside because we got out the car in rather a hurry as Tim needed to go somewhere else. Anyway, I'm guessing if that happened someone must have picked him up - we've looked EVERYWHERE today but no sign of him :(
Luckily, I've found an online shop that sells them and we're going to buy her another one but it means a few nights without one and .... well, it's not "him" is it?
Anyway, that aside, I'm FREEZING! We've got no snow like other parts of the country but it feels like we should have! I wish we would - I want to build a snowman! ;)
Right, I'm off for tea - later I'm going to be doing one of my late night birthday cake baking sessions. I can't believe my "baby" is 4 tomorrow!
Monday, December 01, 2008
These are a few of my favourite things part 1 - Food & Drink
Whilst stood in my kitchen earlier (eating tea!), it crossed my mind to blog about my favourite things (not sure why, seemed a good idea!). So here goes .. part 1, food and drink.
I've got several dinners that I love - spaghetti bolognaise, Tim's pasta bake (see below!), my slow-cooker chilli and those pizza's that have the rising-up crust (can't remember what they're called), this post features mostly just "base" ingredients ... and a few other delights as well ;)
So, in no particular order:
Twinings Assam Tea
It's got to be Twinings and it's got to be Assam and it's got to be loose leaf. Actually, the loose leaf business is a Tim thing - he thinks it makes better tea and I think he's probably right. So fixed are we on loose leaf that when we went shopping the other day and they only had teabags, he went to another shop. It's very important.
Shredded Wheat Bitesize
The big shredded wheats are ok but bitesize taste better (no, I don't know why). They have to be served with hot milk so they go all squishy and mashed up. Oh, and with a TINY bit of sugar.
Pasta & Extra Virgin Olive Oil
I've lumped these 2 together simply because we use both of them together! These are part of the ingredients of Tim's, simply lovely, pasta bake. It's his recipe but we like to cook it together (for some reason it's ended up being "my" job to cut up the mozerella cheese that goes in it!) Olive oil is very, very good for you and has a gorgeous flavour - we use the particular variety shown in the pic above and it's divinely fruity.
Tiramisu
Oh what can I say .... I just LOVE this dessert to death - the more dark, powdery chocolate it's got on the top, the better.
Baileys
There aren't that many alcoholic drinks I like - generally just red wine, vodka and this heavenly tipple. There are some that serve it chilled over ice and mixed with other stuff. No, no, no - it's got to be room temperature and served straight up - anything else with it would spoil it.
Marmite
Marmite is one of those weird things that I like but ONLY when served on very hot toast (white bread) with a lot of butter. As a kid I ate Marmite sandwiches - no way not now!
Last but definately not least.....
My bread
We don't eat homemade bread all the time - usually, I make it when we're going to have it with our evening meal (like tonight with soup!). We do have shop brought bread but it doesn't come anywhere close to mine, it's one of those things I'm very proud of perfecting :)
I could make this post MILES long because I'm a bit of a food lover but I think that covers the main things :)
Next stop .... hmmmm, books I think.
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