shinies
Hit the bottom
23/08/08 09:39
A week of wondering and head shaking this week. So much happening and little headspace to filter it through which tends to frustrate me.
I've started running. Haven't done much yet but I've enjoyed it so far. I should be doing it now instead of on here but yesterday I spent the time thinking about blogging and never got here. So I'm trying this first today.
So what's in my head that's getting too full?
House
Can't stop thinking about it and making plans, it's only a week from being ours which is even more frustrating than it being a month away. So near I'm letting myself get excited and plans are coming together in my head fro rooms. Instead of feeling good about this I'm just annoying myself as I really want to get there and do it! Stupid I know.
HE
This isn't causing any kind of frustration, I've just started to get my head back into education mode ready for a couple of weeks time. I'm going to have to be really organised so I can do that in the mornings and have time to do house stuff in the afternoon before clubs start. I'm rather enjoying the thought of all this as it's making me plan better and think wider than before.
Summer is going to be home educated as of September and she'll be with me all day Thursday's. This will be good for some projects that work better in a group so have been thinking about opening up our time to some other kids to create a mini group for learning certain things. I think the girls would enjoy this.
Money
This is going to be really tight. We've been comfortable for a few years now but that's all going to change again. I'm not lolling in self pity here as it's something we've taken on ourselves. I'm just hoping we manage to adjust and that it doesn't last for long really. What's the point of having a big house but no money to enjoy life? I'm also worried that we won't have the money to do the place up never mind buy the shopping with...
Shinies
This is my biggest headache just now. It's had me in tears of frustration and moments of real anger. I've been part of Shinies for 7 years. I am one of the original members and have seen it go through changes good and bad, growing from 3 families to the current amount of about 50. Some things have gone on during this time that I haven't liked, haven't joined in with and at times have had me questioning why I'm there at all.
For the past two years each summer we've held a fun day to raise money. One of the main attractions of Shinies is the never ending pot of money we have. It's very nice. But it doesn't appear by magic. Two members work really hard on getting funding from causes such as the National Lottery. I'm rubbish at askign for money as I don't feel it's my right so don't get involved in this. Stupid on my part I know. To compensate in my mind for this I help get money in other ways. So here comes in the fun days. They are long drawn out in the planning and begging other members to get involved in any way shape or form. Of course there are those members who are always there and always helpful.
Last year pushed me to my limits. I ran around like a crazed woman, driving the van here there and everywhere, collecting this and delivering that. The night before I got home at 10pm and made cakes. I sat in my lounge on the packing boxes before climbing the stairs gone midnight to sleep on the mattress on the floor. At 5am I was up again and out of the house to start the morning off. Setting things up and driving around some more. From start to finish I painted faces, I had one drink, my back ached and I shook with tiredness. I helped clear up and went home. I then helped Tony move house. The removals company had double booked so they didn't turn up until 3.30pm. I met them at the new house at 5pm to help unload. The van wouldn't go down the drive so we had to carry everything. We all worked long and hard.
We returned to Stafford House and fell onto the mattress. We spent the next day moving more stuff and unpacking.
I'm not typing this for a medal or praise I'm typing it to remind myself what I did and what I'd do. I can't list it all. I did it all because it needed to be done. Shinies is an important part of our life. It's our community , our HE world. Through Shinies our needs are met, friends are made, support is offered and fun is had. We have good times, we learn good things, we get opportunities that I couldn't do home alone.
Every Friday we meet in a hall for 3 hours, each family pays £3. This covers the hall, drinks and the ret goes in the never ending pot of money. During the time in the hall, activities are on offer. These activities are provided by individual families, some are large some are small. Some are toys and board games. ALL are appreciated and VERY MUCH needed. Without them there is nothing for the children to do and they get bored. When they get bored they get up to no good and problems arise. Over the past six months, less and less has been brought to the hall. Obviously this has led to problems. At the end of May whenb we stop meeting in the hall, I'd decided not to return to Shinies in September. The girls had had enough, they had been picked on and been called 'pricks' once too often and I couldn't see the point any more.
Over the summer I've thought more about it and talked to the children. We'd come up with a plan. We spent the summer arranging play dates and meet ups. Building up their security again and testing our feet as to what to do. We'd decided to go to Shinies every two weeks ensuring we'd take at least two activities and one of them being for over 9's only. As part of this plan I thought I'd get a task force togetehr of like minded parents and create some sort of rota to guarantee at least 5 activities each week.
I'd promised Tony that I wouldn't do the fun day this year and would put the money we would normally spend in that day in the never ending pot anyway. At a meeting I didn't attend it was decided that instead of a fun day we would do bag packing at a supermarket instead. This was a cool idea, no planning and only 1.5 hours commitment from each family. The first set of dates came out and it's when I'm in Cambridge at the Petites party. I sent my apologies and reasons. They were accepted.
But the offers of help from other families just didn't come in. Three or four families said yes. An email went out asking for more support, pointing out that in fact the never ending pot is actually just about at it's end and there is no funding from elsewhere this year.
Cue outrage and abuse from certain families about how they shouldn't have to do x,y or z. No they shouldn't have to do it but to get the money in to do all the things they want to do then the money has to be raised. it doesn't just fall out of the sky. One woman posted that she joined Shinies for the cheap trips not to have pressure put on her to organise things. But the cheap trips don't happen without the money!! The online forum has got nasty, people have left and it's all turned out horrible. I'm not going to leave but I;m not going to support and fund these kind of people any more. I'm very well aware we all have other commitments, we all have different values and beliefs, we all have different amounts of free time and money. BUT we all have a commitment to our children and to the group. You can't just join and do nothing but expect it all in return. A small offering is appreciated so much more than nothing at all.
I'm fuming about it all. I've kept out of all discussion online as I'm so angry but this here is my space and I can do and say what I like on here.
So all that aside how's life at The Screamteam?
Not bad actually. The children are happier than they've been in a long time, they are spending the summer playing and enjoying their childhood. I never ask them to do work during the summer, I have wonderful memories of long hot summers playing and having fun. They haven't got the heat but they have everything else! My garden is full of home made tents from bamboo canes and material. As I sit here and type I can hear them in the garden. Today they are making a film. They are having a good childhood, they are good people.
I've started running. Haven't done much yet but I've enjoyed it so far. I should be doing it now instead of on here but yesterday I spent the time thinking about blogging and never got here. So I'm trying this first today.
So what's in my head that's getting too full?
House
Can't stop thinking about it and making plans, it's only a week from being ours which is even more frustrating than it being a month away. So near I'm letting myself get excited and plans are coming together in my head fro rooms. Instead of feeling good about this I'm just annoying myself as I really want to get there and do it! Stupid I know.
HE
This isn't causing any kind of frustration, I've just started to get my head back into education mode ready for a couple of weeks time. I'm going to have to be really organised so I can do that in the mornings and have time to do house stuff in the afternoon before clubs start. I'm rather enjoying the thought of all this as it's making me plan better and think wider than before.
Summer is going to be home educated as of September and she'll be with me all day Thursday's. This will be good for some projects that work better in a group so have been thinking about opening up our time to some other kids to create a mini group for learning certain things. I think the girls would enjoy this.
Money
This is going to be really tight. We've been comfortable for a few years now but that's all going to change again. I'm not lolling in self pity here as it's something we've taken on ourselves. I'm just hoping we manage to adjust and that it doesn't last for long really. What's the point of having a big house but no money to enjoy life? I'm also worried that we won't have the money to do the place up never mind buy the shopping with...
Shinies
This is my biggest headache just now. It's had me in tears of frustration and moments of real anger. I've been part of Shinies for 7 years. I am one of the original members and have seen it go through changes good and bad, growing from 3 families to the current amount of about 50. Some things have gone on during this time that I haven't liked, haven't joined in with and at times have had me questioning why I'm there at all.
For the past two years each summer we've held a fun day to raise money. One of the main attractions of Shinies is the never ending pot of money we have. It's very nice. But it doesn't appear by magic. Two members work really hard on getting funding from causes such as the National Lottery. I'm rubbish at askign for money as I don't feel it's my right so don't get involved in this. Stupid on my part I know. To compensate in my mind for this I help get money in other ways. So here comes in the fun days. They are long drawn out in the planning and begging other members to get involved in any way shape or form. Of course there are those members who are always there and always helpful.
Last year pushed me to my limits. I ran around like a crazed woman, driving the van here there and everywhere, collecting this and delivering that. The night before I got home at 10pm and made cakes. I sat in my lounge on the packing boxes before climbing the stairs gone midnight to sleep on the mattress on the floor. At 5am I was up again and out of the house to start the morning off. Setting things up and driving around some more. From start to finish I painted faces, I had one drink, my back ached and I shook with tiredness. I helped clear up and went home. I then helped Tony move house. The removals company had double booked so they didn't turn up until 3.30pm. I met them at the new house at 5pm to help unload. The van wouldn't go down the drive so we had to carry everything. We all worked long and hard.
We returned to Stafford House and fell onto the mattress. We spent the next day moving more stuff and unpacking.
I'm not typing this for a medal or praise I'm typing it to remind myself what I did and what I'd do. I can't list it all. I did it all because it needed to be done. Shinies is an important part of our life. It's our community , our HE world. Through Shinies our needs are met, friends are made, support is offered and fun is had. We have good times, we learn good things, we get opportunities that I couldn't do home alone.
Every Friday we meet in a hall for 3 hours, each family pays £3. This covers the hall, drinks and the ret goes in the never ending pot of money. During the time in the hall, activities are on offer. These activities are provided by individual families, some are large some are small. Some are toys and board games. ALL are appreciated and VERY MUCH needed. Without them there is nothing for the children to do and they get bored. When they get bored they get up to no good and problems arise. Over the past six months, less and less has been brought to the hall. Obviously this has led to problems. At the end of May whenb we stop meeting in the hall, I'd decided not to return to Shinies in September. The girls had had enough, they had been picked on and been called 'pricks' once too often and I couldn't see the point any more.
Over the summer I've thought more about it and talked to the children. We'd come up with a plan. We spent the summer arranging play dates and meet ups. Building up their security again and testing our feet as to what to do. We'd decided to go to Shinies every two weeks ensuring we'd take at least two activities and one of them being for over 9's only. As part of this plan I thought I'd get a task force togetehr of like minded parents and create some sort of rota to guarantee at least 5 activities each week.
I'd promised Tony that I wouldn't do the fun day this year and would put the money we would normally spend in that day in the never ending pot anyway. At a meeting I didn't attend it was decided that instead of a fun day we would do bag packing at a supermarket instead. This was a cool idea, no planning and only 1.5 hours commitment from each family. The first set of dates came out and it's when I'm in Cambridge at the Petites party. I sent my apologies and reasons. They were accepted.
But the offers of help from other families just didn't come in. Three or four families said yes. An email went out asking for more support, pointing out that in fact the never ending pot is actually just about at it's end and there is no funding from elsewhere this year.
Cue outrage and abuse from certain families about how they shouldn't have to do x,y or z. No they shouldn't have to do it but to get the money in to do all the things they want to do then the money has to be raised. it doesn't just fall out of the sky. One woman posted that she joined Shinies for the cheap trips not to have pressure put on her to organise things. But the cheap trips don't happen without the money!! The online forum has got nasty, people have left and it's all turned out horrible. I'm not going to leave but I;m not going to support and fund these kind of people any more. I'm very well aware we all have other commitments, we all have different values and beliefs, we all have different amounts of free time and money. BUT we all have a commitment to our children and to the group. You can't just join and do nothing but expect it all in return. A small offering is appreciated so much more than nothing at all.
I'm fuming about it all. I've kept out of all discussion online as I'm so angry but this here is my space and I can do and say what I like on here.
So all that aside how's life at The Screamteam?
Not bad actually. The children are happier than they've been in a long time, they are spending the summer playing and enjoying their childhood. I never ask them to do work during the summer, I have wonderful memories of long hot summers playing and having fun. They haven't got the heat but they have everything else! My garden is full of home made tents from bamboo canes and material. As I sit here and type I can hear them in the garden. Today they are making a film. They are having a good childhood, they are good people.
|
Tides
25/07/08 09:39
I'm still coughing - three weeks now. When do you start worrying?
MONDAY
I waited all day for Eddie to arrive. We wandered around the house in the morning pottering and putting toys etc away so he couldn't eat them when he arrived. I dropped the kids to the cinema to see WALL:E with Tina and went to Waitrose. Whilst in there I phoned Tony for the 100th time to see where the heck the dog was. Still at home in Milton Keynes at 5pm. FFS they were supposed to be at ours at lunchtime. Asked Tony to meet me at the pub and we pretended to be grown ups. Well I mainly sat on my own and he walked around the garden on the phone. At least we tried. I then went and sat on the beach in the sun on my own for an hour before collecting the children.
Home for dinner and play. Tony took them to karate and I thought about doing the ironing. I didn't. I'm so tired all the time just now and have no enthusiasm for much so the ironing is right at the bottom of my list. Trouble with living here is that the place always feels like a tip so I really need to be on top of domestic life. I'm not.
Eddie and family finally arrived at 10pm!!!!! Tony then had to drive them to Gatwick where they headed off to New York then Florida for three and a half weeks. Eddie looked sad.
TUESDAY
A bad nights sleep not helped by Tony not getting home until gone midnight. Eddie had us up at 6am. I cleaned the pool and thought about tidying the garden. It's in a bad way and must be done soon!
At 11am friends arrived and we all headed off to walk to Beachy Head and back again. Had a wonderful time. It was hot and the children were happy. The dogs bounded and panted. We walked to the Countryside Centre and took turns looking around. We had passed some racing pigeons in the car park and saw one of them was outside the shop. As we went in it flew in over our heads. The shop assistant went to the chap in the car park but he wasn't interested- maybe it wasn't one of his. So the assistant produced a big net and scratched his head. I offered to help to which he was very grateful and I netted the poor bird. They took him outside and he flew away on whatever mission he was supposed to be on.
We then headed on the route home this time opting for the path near the cliff edge. The views were just amazing and the sea so tempting. Such a beautiful colour. We had a very steep hill to go down to get to our new path which the children had a ball rolling down through very long grasses. I helped one lady get her double buggy down the hill. We must have looked very amusing. Eddie got confused and went back up the hill and took some work to call back down! We walked along the path chatting and spotting wildlife and plants. I'm rubbish at such things so it was nice to be with someone who really knew what they were taking about!
We finally got home to mine three hours after leaving. Everyone was hot and tired. The kids all jumped in the pool and froze. Us adults sat and drank tea and ate lunch.
At 4pm the french teacher Emmeline arrived and the rest of Shinies who do french with mine. It was the last lesson before the summer break and they did a little test of their knowledge. They have all completed year 7 french
It was really lovely not to have to rush out at 5.30pm to ballet. I got myself ready for work and the babysitter arrived at 6.30pm. The shop held a drum competition called Rhythm Fest. It was really popular! Some of the talent displayed was amazing and wonderful to see especially in the under 12's! We took the staff for a chinese at 11.30pm! I was home at 1am so that the babysitter could go home. A great but knackering night.
WEDNESDAY
Shinies Sports Day. Loretta collected the kids for me and I stayed at home. I did the ironing and watched Medium that I'd Sky+. It was nice being home alone and not being hassled or being to hear anyone else. The dogs slept or wandered around happily. At 2pm I went to the park with both dogs to collect the kids. Sports carried on for another hour and I lay in the sun or walked Eddie. The children had a great time and Buzz came second overall. I was really impressed as he doesn't go to Shinies Sports as a rule and he struggles with some aspects of it. He's thinking about giving it a go in September with the promise of voicing his objections when he isn't happy about something. We'll see!
At 3.20pm I got all emotional and announced to Shinies that our 11 year olds had now graduated from KS2 and were now secondary school kids. The kids were impressed at this rise in status.
We stayed at the park until about 4pm then went home. The kids joined the neighbours in the pool.
We took the dogs to the beach at 6.30pm and Eddie adored being in the sea. Kessie of course didn't go in but she got closer to the edge than ever before Tina and co met up with us and Bailey eyed Eddie up. They are both 18 month old males with their bits intact. Makes for interesting playing! We tried to by chips but the queue was over an hour long so we loaded back into the car and drove to a different part of town for chips then headed back to a different beach to eat them. Tony had joined us by now. Summer and Luke came home to stay the night.
THURSDAY
Up and out early with packed lunch for 7. The car was loaded with us, two dogs and a bike. We went to Bedgebury for the day meeting up with Shinies friends. It was hot! Luckily it's a forest so the dogs had plenty of shade and really enjoyed charging about the trees. Had my first big dog owner encounter with a grumpy member of the public who ordered me to control my dog and keep him on the lead. Eddie was resting under some shade. he daughters were terrifies and my dog was destroying their day. I gave her my opinion, put Eddie on his lead and walked off making it clear she'd pissed me off. You can't go to woods and not expect to meet a dog. She was so rude and aggressive. Kessie was off the lead also but she didn't say anything about her. If people have issues there are polite ways of putting them across. Stupid woman.
My day wasn't marred by her though and I had a lovely time. I was a little grumpy, I think due to the heat and being aware of 5 kids in my charge. Tony had gone off on a 12km bike ride to have some head space. The older two (Pe and Summer) managed to piss me off by being in their own world a bit too much and not listening or responding to me. I ended up screaming across the play area like a common fish wife to get them to move their arses. They lolled after us and I gave them a firm lecture about what I expected of them. They were much better after that
We left at about 4pm and drove home with the kids eating leftover packed lunch (I'd made lots!). They all went in the pool and I made dinner. Tony took mine to karate and Darren came to collect Summer. Luke decided to stay the night again and he played in the garden with the neighbour kids until mine returned at 9.30pm. They had crumpets (I feel like I've been feeding the 5 thousand today!) and fell into bed shattered.
TODAY
It's not as sunny as the forecast said which is a shame. Luke is still sleeping, Boo is in the garden and the other two are watching TV. We plan to have a lazy day. I want to go to the pet shop for some balls for Eddie and then we'll have a walk on the Downs. I'm seeing a dog trainer at 4.30pm to help me with walking him.
I'm finding life very strange atm like I'm on the outside looking in and if I walked away not many would notice me gone. I think some changes in what I do and who are my "friends" are, are overdue.
Boo will be trying out some local schools in September and if she is happy will start in January. I'm heartbroken about this and feel like a failure ( stupid I know!) but I'd never stop her. I don't think schools are evil places and get really pissed at people who slate them, I just like having them at home. Pea is thinking about doing some taster days but says she'll not being going in January.
MONDAY
I waited all day for Eddie to arrive. We wandered around the house in the morning pottering and putting toys etc away so he couldn't eat them when he arrived. I dropped the kids to the cinema to see WALL:E with Tina and went to Waitrose. Whilst in there I phoned Tony for the 100th time to see where the heck the dog was. Still at home in Milton Keynes at 5pm. FFS they were supposed to be at ours at lunchtime. Asked Tony to meet me at the pub and we pretended to be grown ups. Well I mainly sat on my own and he walked around the garden on the phone. At least we tried. I then went and sat on the beach in the sun on my own for an hour before collecting the children.
Home for dinner and play. Tony took them to karate and I thought about doing the ironing. I didn't. I'm so tired all the time just now and have no enthusiasm for much so the ironing is right at the bottom of my list. Trouble with living here is that the place always feels like a tip so I really need to be on top of domestic life. I'm not.
Eddie and family finally arrived at 10pm!!!!! Tony then had to drive them to Gatwick where they headed off to New York then Florida for three and a half weeks. Eddie looked sad.
TUESDAY
A bad nights sleep not helped by Tony not getting home until gone midnight. Eddie had us up at 6am. I cleaned the pool and thought about tidying the garden. It's in a bad way and must be done soon!
At 11am friends arrived and we all headed off to walk to Beachy Head and back again. Had a wonderful time. It was hot and the children were happy. The dogs bounded and panted. We walked to the Countryside Centre and took turns looking around. We had passed some racing pigeons in the car park and saw one of them was outside the shop. As we went in it flew in over our heads. The shop assistant went to the chap in the car park but he wasn't interested- maybe it wasn't one of his. So the assistant produced a big net and scratched his head. I offered to help to which he was very grateful and I netted the poor bird. They took him outside and he flew away on whatever mission he was supposed to be on.
We then headed on the route home this time opting for the path near the cliff edge. The views were just amazing and the sea so tempting. Such a beautiful colour. We had a very steep hill to go down to get to our new path which the children had a ball rolling down through very long grasses. I helped one lady get her double buggy down the hill. We must have looked very amusing. Eddie got confused and went back up the hill and took some work to call back down! We walked along the path chatting and spotting wildlife and plants. I'm rubbish at such things so it was nice to be with someone who really knew what they were taking about!
We finally got home to mine three hours after leaving. Everyone was hot and tired. The kids all jumped in the pool and froze. Us adults sat and drank tea and ate lunch.
At 4pm the french teacher Emmeline arrived and the rest of Shinies who do french with mine. It was the last lesson before the summer break and they did a little test of their knowledge. They have all completed year 7 french
It was really lovely not to have to rush out at 5.30pm to ballet. I got myself ready for work and the babysitter arrived at 6.30pm. The shop held a drum competition called Rhythm Fest. It was really popular! Some of the talent displayed was amazing and wonderful to see especially in the under 12's! We took the staff for a chinese at 11.30pm! I was home at 1am so that the babysitter could go home. A great but knackering night.
WEDNESDAY
Shinies Sports Day. Loretta collected the kids for me and I stayed at home. I did the ironing and watched Medium that I'd Sky+. It was nice being home alone and not being hassled or being to hear anyone else. The dogs slept or wandered around happily. At 2pm I went to the park with both dogs to collect the kids. Sports carried on for another hour and I lay in the sun or walked Eddie. The children had a great time and Buzz came second overall. I was really impressed as he doesn't go to Shinies Sports as a rule and he struggles with some aspects of it. He's thinking about giving it a go in September with the promise of voicing his objections when he isn't happy about something. We'll see!
At 3.20pm I got all emotional and announced to Shinies that our 11 year olds had now graduated from KS2 and were now secondary school kids. The kids were impressed at this rise in status.
We stayed at the park until about 4pm then went home. The kids joined the neighbours in the pool.
We took the dogs to the beach at 6.30pm and Eddie adored being in the sea. Kessie of course didn't go in but she got closer to the edge than ever before
Tina and co met up with us and Bailey eyed Eddie up. They are both 18 month old males with their bits intact. Makes for interesting playing! We tried to by chips but the queue was over an hour long so we loaded back into the car and drove to a different part of town for chips then headed back to a different beach to eat them. Tony had joined us by now. Summer and Luke came home to stay the night.THURSDAY
Up and out early with packed lunch for 7. The car was loaded with us, two dogs and a bike. We went to Bedgebury for the day meeting up with Shinies friends. It was hot! Luckily it's a forest so the dogs had plenty of shade and really enjoyed charging about the trees. Had my first big dog owner encounter with a grumpy member of the public who ordered me to control my dog and keep him on the lead. Eddie was resting under some shade. he daughters were terrifies and my dog was destroying their day. I gave her my opinion, put Eddie on his lead and walked off making it clear she'd pissed me off. You can't go to woods and not expect to meet a dog. She was so rude and aggressive. Kessie was off the lead also but she didn't say anything about her. If people have issues there are polite ways of putting them across. Stupid woman.
My day wasn't marred by her though and I had a lovely time. I was a little grumpy, I think due to the heat and being aware of 5 kids in my charge. Tony had gone off on a 12km bike ride to have some head space. The older two (Pe and Summer) managed to piss me off by being in their own world a bit too much and not listening or responding to me. I ended up screaming across the play area like a common fish wife to get them to move their arses. They lolled after us and I gave them a firm lecture about what I expected of them. They were much better after that
We left at about 4pm and drove home with the kids eating leftover packed lunch (I'd made lots!). They all went in the pool and I made dinner. Tony took mine to karate and Darren came to collect Summer. Luke decided to stay the night again and he played in the garden with the neighbour kids until mine returned at 9.30pm. They had crumpets (I feel like I've been feeding the 5 thousand today!) and fell into bed shattered.
TODAY
It's not as sunny as the forecast said which is a shame. Luke is still sleeping, Boo is in the garden and the other two are watching TV. We plan to have a lazy day. I want to go to the pet shop for some balls for Eddie and then we'll have a walk on the Downs. I'm seeing a dog trainer at 4.30pm to help me with walking him.
I'm finding life very strange atm like I'm on the outside looking in and if I walked away not many would notice me gone. I think some changes in what I do and who are my "friends" are, are overdue.
Boo will be trying out some local schools in September and if she is happy will start in January. I'm heartbroken about this and feel like a failure ( stupid I know!) but I'd never stop her. I don't think schools are evil places and get really pissed at people who slate them, I just like having them at home. Pea is thinking about doing some taster days but says she'll not being going in January.
Write Off Week
10/07/08 20:55
Had terrible week. I've been so poorly with a terrible cough and general fatigue. I hate it. I never get colds- one a year max, so this has pushed me to the limits.
Today I ventured out for the day to Drusillas with Shinies. They do a great educational trip discount and you only have to give up 15 minutes to sit in a room and be shown 4 cute (or not so cute) animals, have a stroke and your on your merry way. Normally great but today my heart wasn't in it and I was 'Little Miss Grumpy and Hate the World'. I felt bad for those how chose to be in company really
.
The kids seemed to have a great time playing with all their friends and running about like, well, kids. Came home and tidied up, took Buzz swimming which nearly killed me having to walk 5 minutes down the hill, sit in the heat and make small talk to my normally dear friend Dawn. Luckily she was knackered so we didn't have to put on too much of a show. Forgot the money AGAIN for Buzz's 100 meter badge. I'm not a very good mummy at these things. Walked home and made dinner for the kids which they ate in the garden and I watched TV and sewed. Tony came home and they all went to karate. I watched more TV and walked to get Buzz (the girls now train 7-9.30), detoured to the Co-op for alcohol and came home. Buzz had ice cream and I washed the dishes, he is now off to bed. I'm going to take some pain killers and try to sleep myself.
SUNDAY
I stayed glued to the sofa except for about 20 minutes when I got my birthday surprise- 2 months early as they couldn't keep the secret any longer! They managed two weeks It's going to look amazing when I've finished it The kids played and enjoyed having daddy at home without me around.
MONDAY
Despaired most of the day at the state of the house and lack of storage. Kids did 4 workbooks each without complaint which was nice; maths, english, science and non verbal reasoning. They read to themselves and did a mountain of music practise. It felt good to be back to work. The afternoon is a mystery to me though i think Buzz spent most of with Lego as he loves the new storage that Tony did for him whilst we were at HESFES. Boo had tap then the girls had karate.
TUESDAY
Dropped the children off before 9am to friends for part of the day as Tony and I had appointments. Buzz went to Loretta and the girls went to Alison. She took them off to their Steiner lesson they have with Ayden, Elliott, Jackson and Harrison. They like it but I'm not convinced it's worth the money. Tony and went to the solicitor to sign our Wills. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do and I know in a few years I'll have to change it. I still have letters to write to be stored with it and my head is busy pondering those.
We left the solicitors and went to a funeral of the mother of one of Tony's karate instructors. Very somber affair. Glad we went to support our friend though who was and is heart broken. We collected Buzz but the girls wanted to stay and play at Alison's. Once home I lay on the sofa until the girls returned and it was time for French. Tony went to the gym.
I drove the MG with Boo to her ballet lesson and took note of when her exam is (a week tomorrow). Need practise driving such an old car!
WEDNESDAY
It rained and rained. A friend who used to HE and we haven't seen for a while was due to visit but she didn't because of the weather. A shame, but it turned into a nice morning for us as I hadn't started any work with the children, fearing an interruption so we did crafts The girls painted fairy planter ornaments and Buzz and I built an airplane from a kit he got for his birthday. It was lovely to work together and relax as the rain pelted at the window. We had lunch and snuggled on the sofa to watch Arthur and The invisibles. I hadn't seen it but thought it was good.
A mad dash to the dance shop for new tights before dropping Pea for her two hour stint. A quick call to Tony to drop a memory stick to him and we came home to make dinner. I discovered large amounts of mouse poo in the cupboard under the sink so cleared that out and bleached everywhere. Tony walked in with Pea and went straight back out again for mouse traps. Dinner became a menu of choice. Kids were once again in bed too late. I almost slept for more than a couple of hours but Kessie woke us up scratching as a mouse had been caught- three last night!
Here's hoping for a night of sleep, no new mice and waking up feeling bright and breezy and ready to face the world full of happiness and excitement!
Today I ventured out for the day to Drusillas with Shinies. They do a great educational trip discount and you only have to give up 15 minutes to sit in a room and be shown 4 cute (or not so cute) animals, have a stroke and your on your merry way. Normally great but today my heart wasn't in it and I was 'Little Miss Grumpy and Hate the World'. I felt bad for those how chose to be in company really
. The kids seemed to have a great time playing with all their friends and running about like, well, kids
. Came home and tidied up, took Buzz swimming which nearly killed me having to walk 5 minutes down the hill, sit in the heat and make small talk to my normally dear friend Dawn. Luckily she was knackered so we didn't have to put on too much of a show. Forgot the money AGAIN for Buzz's 100 meter badge. I'm not a very good mummy at these things. Walked home and made dinner for the kids which they ate in the garden and I watched TV and sewed. Tony came home and they all went to karate. I watched more TV and walked to get Buzz (the girls now train 7-9.30), detoured to the Co-op for alcohol and came home. Buzz had ice cream and I washed the dishes, he is now off to bed. I'm going to take some pain killers and try to sleep myself.SUNDAY
I stayed glued to the sofa except for about 20 minutes when I got my birthday surprise- 2 months early as they couldn't keep the secret any longer! They managed two weeks
It's going to look amazing when I've finished it The kids played and enjoyed having daddy at home without me around.MONDAY
Despaired most of the day at the state of the house and lack of storage. Kids did 4 workbooks each without complaint which was nice; maths, english, science and non verbal reasoning. They read to themselves and did a mountain of music practise. It felt good to be back to work. The afternoon is a mystery to me though i think Buzz spent most of with Lego as he loves the new storage that Tony did for him whilst we were at HESFES. Boo had tap then the girls had karate.
TUESDAY
Dropped the children off before 9am to friends for part of the day as Tony and I had appointments. Buzz went to Loretta and the girls went to Alison. She took them off to their Steiner lesson they have with Ayden, Elliott, Jackson and Harrison. They like it but I'm not convinced it's worth the money. Tony and went to the solicitor to sign our Wills. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do and I know in a few years I'll have to change it. I still have letters to write to be stored with it and my head is busy pondering those.
We left the solicitors and went to a funeral of the mother of one of Tony's karate instructors. Very somber affair. Glad we went to support our friend though who was and is heart broken. We collected Buzz but the girls wanted to stay and play at Alison's. Once home I lay on the sofa until the girls returned and it was time for French. Tony went to the gym.
I drove the MG with Boo to her ballet lesson and took note of when her exam is (a week tomorrow). Need practise driving such an old car!
WEDNESDAY
It rained and rained. A friend who used to HE and we haven't seen for a while was due to visit but she didn't because of the weather. A shame, but it turned into a nice morning for us as I hadn't started any work with the children, fearing an interruption so we did crafts
The girls painted fairy planter ornaments and Buzz and I built an airplane from a kit he got for his birthday. It was lovely to work together and relax as the rain pelted at the window. We had lunch and snuggled on the sofa to watch Arthur and The invisibles. I hadn't seen it but thought it was good.A mad dash to the dance shop for new tights before dropping Pea for her two hour stint. A quick call to Tony to drop a memory stick to him and we came home to make dinner. I discovered large amounts of mouse poo in the cupboard under the sink so cleared that out and bleached everywhere. Tony walked in with Pea and went straight back out again for mouse traps. Dinner became a menu of choice. Kids were once again in bed too late. I almost slept for more than a couple of hours but Kessie woke us up scratching as a mouse had been caught- three last night!
Here's hoping for a night of sleep, no new mice and waking up feeling bright and breezy and ready to face the world full of happiness and excitement!
Shine
01/03/08 08:54
Somehow we were all up and all showered and out of the house by 9.15am. This is not normal Friday practise, we normally rush out of the door at 10.02 when Shinies has already started. So today by some strange fate we were out. I did have to turn the car around as Pea had left her homework at home. First time she's ever done it and she left it at home! We reached Bonners at 9.25am and I did some photocopying for today's activity. We then headed to Shinies and found ourselves driving behind our friends. We arrived at 9.50am. Nearly caused Loretta to faint LOL!
The children set up the tables and I filled in too many forms that were shoved under my nose, some in our real names and some in our HE names
I set out my activity, A3 copies of Daffodils , some real daffs from my garden and some water colours. This was a huge hit with all the children and parents.
I drank lots of tea and spoke to lots of new people. Seems to be a time for many new HE'ers just now. The newsletter has had about 15 new subscribers this month and Shinies has many new faces.
The children had science club, well Boo and Buzz refused to do it stating it boring and too time consuming. I think it would be more enlightening if it took less time each week. They all did French club, which they love.
Buzz had taken all of his knights with him and spent most of the time playing that with various friends.
Pea sat in a corner with her friends, talking and playing Shed.
We left Shinies, Pea went to play at a friends and I gained Maddie. Home to sort out my desk and file newsletter stuff, vacuumed the flat and made lunch. The children played in the garden in the rain.
At 3.30pm we left to take Daisy the GP to the vet. A 20 minute journey. After 50 minutes we were still nowhere near so I turned the car around and took Boo to her modern lesson. Collected Pea from friends house and dropped Buzz to his piano lesson. Maddie was collected from me at this point. Took Pea to jazz and collected Boo.
Dropped poor Daisy home and went to get some munchies from the local shop to keep us going for a few hours. Collected Pea and went to the shop.
Spent a couple of hours at the shop finishing the newsletter. Trying to do it at home never seems to work properly so I try to get to the shop on a Friday evening to finish it off. Tony works until 8pm on Friday's and the kids have the roam of the shop (they play spy's). I like working in the same office as Tony and it gives us the chance to chat.
Home and I made burgers for them and a huge bowl of salad for me. I have been eating more and more raw food since Christmas, but this past week I haven't and have felt rubbish. Tonight I was craving salad like I used to crave chocolate! Amazing how our bodies can get used to certain foods.
Pea read through her poem she's reading at the funeral a couple of times and they went to bed. Tony and I fell asleep on the sofa
The children set up the tables and I filled in too many forms that were shoved under my nose, some in our real names and some in our HE names
I set out my activity, A3 copies of Daffodils , some real daffs from my garden and some water colours. This was a huge hit with all the children and parents.
I drank lots of tea and spoke to lots of new people. Seems to be a time for many new HE'ers just now. The newsletter has had about 15 new subscribers this month and Shinies has many new faces.
The children had science club, well Boo and Buzz refused to do it stating it boring and too time consuming. I think it would be more enlightening if it took less time each week. They all did French club, which they love.
Buzz had taken all of his knights with him and spent most of the time playing that with various friends.
Pea sat in a corner with her friends, talking and playing Shed.
We left Shinies, Pea went to play at a friends and I gained Maddie. Home to sort out my desk and file newsletter stuff, vacuumed the flat and made lunch. The children played in the garden in the rain.
At 3.30pm we left to take Daisy the GP to the vet. A 20 minute journey. After 50 minutes we were still nowhere near so I turned the car around and took Boo to her modern lesson. Collected Pea from friends house and dropped Buzz to his piano lesson. Maddie was collected from me at this point. Took Pea to jazz and collected Boo.
Dropped poor Daisy home and went to get some munchies from the local shop to keep us going for a few hours. Collected Pea and went to the shop.
Spent a couple of hours at the shop finishing the newsletter. Trying to do it at home never seems to work properly so I try to get to the shop on a Friday evening to finish it off. Tony works until 8pm on Friday's and the kids have the roam of the shop (they play spy's). I like working in the same office as Tony and it gives us the chance to chat.
Home and I made burgers for them and a huge bowl of salad for me. I have been eating more and more raw food since Christmas, but this past week I haven't and have felt rubbish. Tonight I was craving salad like I used to crave chocolate! Amazing how our bodies can get used to certain foods.
Pea read through her poem she's reading at the funeral a couple of times and they went to bed. Tony and I fell asleep on the sofa
