Monday, 27 April 2009
Back to work
All good things come to an end, or so they say, and my lovely, sunny week off has done just that. Back in to work with a bump this morning and an hour long meeting 10 minutes after arriving! And not only that, the first school run for 2 and a half weeks was conducted in the pouring rain - no more glorious sunshine for us! As if we needed anything to make us gloomier about the return to normal life....
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Missing out!
The sun is shining, I'm having a well-earned week off, the boys are having a great time running round the garden all day but I'm sulking inside. There, I've admitted it!
The reason for this unattractive state is that Mike is off to Scotland for the weekend to play with a massed band. Before I'm hastily labelled a control freak/bunny boiler/etc, I should get in quickly that I have no problem with Mike being away. His job generally means anti-social hours and passing like ships in the night for most of the time anyway!
No, my big beef is that I can't go with him. I'm booked for a concert on Saturday night and the date has been in my diary for months and months. Definitely not something I can (or should) just duck out of. I'm sure that it's going to be a good evening and that I'll enjoy what I'm singing but I'm also absolutely certain of the fact that it's going to be a fantastic weekend in Scotland, with loads of friends, some great music and brilliant laughs to be had. We've done this sort of weekend before and it's always amazing in all kinds of ways. I also hate being the one to miss out - I've already told Mike that he has to instruct me in all the in j0kes that will inevitably come back.
I don't know where this desperation not to miss out on anything comes from but I have always had it in me. I have never been able to bear not being at something or not understanding a joke.
Realistically, I've got to get over myself and just cope with the fact that I can't go but it's not an easy task to stifle the urge to run after the coach, shouting "take me with you, take me!".
Mike's only gripe about the whole situation is that, as he's not going as a couple this time, he won't get "married quarters" and will have to sleep in the smelly boys' dormitory where there will, no doubt, be snoring and nasty whiffs. It's a hard life.....
The reason for this unattractive state is that Mike is off to Scotland for the weekend to play with a massed band. Before I'm hastily labelled a control freak/bunny boiler/etc, I should get in quickly that I have no problem with Mike being away. His job generally means anti-social hours and passing like ships in the night for most of the time anyway!
No, my big beef is that I can't go with him. I'm booked for a concert on Saturday night and the date has been in my diary for months and months. Definitely not something I can (or should) just duck out of. I'm sure that it's going to be a good evening and that I'll enjoy what I'm singing but I'm also absolutely certain of the fact that it's going to be a fantastic weekend in Scotland, with loads of friends, some great music and brilliant laughs to be had. We've done this sort of weekend before and it's always amazing in all kinds of ways. I also hate being the one to miss out - I've already told Mike that he has to instruct me in all the in j0kes that will inevitably come back.
I don't know where this desperation not to miss out on anything comes from but I have always had it in me. I have never been able to bear not being at something or not understanding a joke.
Realistically, I've got to get over myself and just cope with the fact that I can't go but it's not an easy task to stifle the urge to run after the coach, shouting "take me with you, take me!".
Mike's only gripe about the whole situation is that, as he's not going as a couple this time, he won't get "married quarters" and will have to sleep in the smelly boys' dormitory where there will, no doubt, be snoring and nasty whiffs. It's a hard life.....
Monday, 13 April 2009
Happy Easter!
Promised a picture of my very own Easter bunny in his bonnet and here he is....
There were some brilliant hats but equally some less than willing models..... Fortunately, my little one only gave his up once it was all done and dusted. This was a minor miracle as he'd expressed a strong preference for his big brother's spiderman hat earlier in the day. Even I would have struggled to get an Easter message out of the old web slinging one.
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
10 years ago...
... we were just in the middle of our wedding rehearsal! We got married on 10 April 1999 at the Crossing at St Paul's in Walsall. Embarrassing picture of how young we looked below.....
Key things I remember include:
1. being told by an older, married friend on the Sunday before to remember to concentrate and take all the detail in on the day. She was so right and I'm very glad she gave us that advice. I pass it on now.
2. spending the Thursday in wellies with one of my three lovely bridesmaids, peeling ivy off my Grandma's fence, pegging it to the washing line and hosing it down, ready to be wound round the hand rails on the stairs at the church (we got married two floors up - a long story of church reordering).
3. practising our vows at the rehearsal with all our families there and thinking that this was the most special bit.
4. being proved right about 3. on the day.
5. having a really, really lovely time with many laughs at the pub with both families and close friends after the rehearsal.
6. our french friends arriving on the Friday with a very large, white peace lily that Agnes had held for the whole drive from Albert, in the Somme, to Walsall!
7. spending the evening before the wedding with the girls, trying to get my chief bridesmaid's hair to curl and one of the other bridesmaids burning her head with the curling tongs in the effort. Was quite sore the next day, bless her.
8. my dad coming in to the lounge full of women at about 9.30am (we got married at 11am) and suggesting, in a slightly tense voice, that someone might like to take the initiative and get showered and dressed. I hasten to add, we made it with time to spare and were all clean and beautifully scrubbed up!
Then there are so many memories of the day itself, the only sad bit of which is how many very special people were there then who aren't here now.
If I get this dreamy at 10 years, what am I going to be like at 25?
I'll stop. And yes, I'll gladly pass you the bucket now......
Key things I remember include:
1. being told by an older, married friend on the Sunday before to remember to concentrate and take all the detail in on the day. She was so right and I'm very glad she gave us that advice. I pass it on now.
2. spending the Thursday in wellies with one of my three lovely bridesmaids, peeling ivy off my Grandma's fence, pegging it to the washing line and hosing it down, ready to be wound round the hand rails on the stairs at the church (we got married two floors up - a long story of church reordering).
3. practising our vows at the rehearsal with all our families there and thinking that this was the most special bit.
4. being proved right about 3. on the day.
5. having a really, really lovely time with many laughs at the pub with both families and close friends after the rehearsal.
6. our french friends arriving on the Friday with a very large, white peace lily that Agnes had held for the whole drive from Albert, in the Somme, to Walsall!
7. spending the evening before the wedding with the girls, trying to get my chief bridesmaid's hair to curl and one of the other bridesmaids burning her head with the curling tongs in the effort. Was quite sore the next day, bless her.
8. my dad coming in to the lounge full of women at about 9.30am (we got married at 11am) and suggesting, in a slightly tense voice, that someone might like to take the initiative and get showered and dressed. I hasten to add, we made it with time to spare and were all clean and beautifully scrubbed up!
Then there are so many memories of the day itself, the only sad bit of which is how many very special people were there then who aren't here now.
If I get this dreamy at 10 years, what am I going to be like at 25?
I'll stop. And yes, I'll gladly pass you the bucket now......
Monday, 6 April 2009
New spring/summer plumage
...on this blog. Fancied a change. I'm seeing it as a moving of furniture, just on the internet. All very satisfying.
Some might say that I have too much time on my hands. I say that I'm a master of task-avoidance....
Some might say that I have too much time on my hands. I say that I'm a master of task-avoidance....
Sunday, 5 April 2009
The first weekend of spring
This weekend has seen beautiful, spring weather and it really does begin to feel like we've finally seen the winter off.
We made the most of the lovely day yesterday by going out with the boys to the "Poohstick Park", which is a great big expanse of common land at the back of our street, with a (very small) river running through it. It got its name from it being the first place that number one son ever played poohsticks!
Meanwhile I maintained my gift for girlyness in the face of all the testosterone in my family and proved myself absolutely rubbish at passing and catching. Always said that rugby was a game for watching and not playing....
We made the most of the lovely day yesterday by going out with the boys to the "Poohstick Park", which is a great big expanse of common land at the back of our street, with a (very small) river running through it. It got its name from it being the first place that number one son ever played poohsticks!
Please note - shorts seen out for the first time this year!
The park is a very useful place at the moment as he's learning to ride his bike without stabilisers and the walk to it and the space available when you get there is ideal for practising! Once there, we introduced the boys to the finer art of rugby passing. Number one got it fairly quickly but number two didn't quite get the hang of passing the ball on. His preferred method of play was to pick up the ball and make a run for it in the opposite direction. This is not as silly as it sounds, given that his older brother was bearing down on him and had already delivered some serious, not to mention illegally high, tackles on their dad!
Meanwhile I maintained my gift for girlyness in the face of all the testosterone in my family and proved myself absolutely rubbish at passing and catching. Always said that rugby was a game for watching and not playing....
Friday, 3 April 2009
Amazing music
Have just been to a lovely concert at Holy Trinity tonight. It was Bach's cello suites by candlelight, given by Orlando Jopling, as part of his cello pilgrimage.
This is quite an amazing effort on his part to help churches all over the country raise money towards the restoration or maintenance of their buildings. He plays and the church organises everything and then keeps the proceeds.
But this was not only worth doing to help keep the church roof above our heads for a bit longer. Orlando performed beautifully. I'm no great cello or Bach connossieur but, as a musician, I know that the technique, musicianship and dedication needed to be able to play music like that is breathtaking. At one point his solo cello sounded like a string quartet, playing 3 or 4 notes at the same time.
It was such a treat, not only to be in the audience (don't do that nearly as often as I should or as I'd like) but to hear such a good performance. If he's coming to a church near you, I'd heartily recommend him.
This is quite an amazing effort on his part to help churches all over the country raise money towards the restoration or maintenance of their buildings. He plays and the church organises everything and then keeps the proceeds.
But this was not only worth doing to help keep the church roof above our heads for a bit longer. Orlando performed beautifully. I'm no great cello or Bach connossieur but, as a musician, I know that the technique, musicianship and dedication needed to be able to play music like that is breathtaking. At one point his solo cello sounded like a string quartet, playing 3 or 4 notes at the same time.
It was such a treat, not only to be in the audience (don't do that nearly as often as I should or as I'd like) but to hear such a good performance. If he's coming to a church near you, I'd heartily recommend him.
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Things they don't tell you when you become a parent
I spent yesterday evening creating an Easter bonnet for the 2 year old's Easter Parade next Thursday. Photographic evidence will follow next week. However, this got me thinking - when I signed on the dotted line for parenthood, at no point did anyone say that I'd have to become a master craftsman as well. A bit like the dodgily-shaped Easter eggs I was sticking on to the hastily constructed hat at 11.30 last night - I'm simply not cut out for this part of the job.
It made me wonder - what else did nobody say would be an integral part of the day job as a parent? Here are a few I have come up with. I'm sure there are more.
1. You will always need to know the answer to "why?"
2. You will never be able to find pen and paper, as the children will always be using them for the latest project (currently school registers in this house).
3. Little boys are like most big boys: no aim.
4. Children will often forget their manners. They never forget the once they heard you swear.
5. The equipment needed and the mess generated is in inverse proportion to the size of the child (see picture below for details).
6. You can take a child to water but you can't make him drink. Pop, on the other hand.....
7. If they're awake and it goes quiet: be afraid, be very afraid.
8. Even the least competitive parent will find themself stifling the urge to ask how all the other children in the class are doing. (I have successfully stifled so far but it's come close a few times).
9. Just because the school trousers say they are teflon-coated doesn't mean that a 6 year old can't put his knee through them in less than 2 hours of wear.
10. You are now the world's expert on all subjects and all you say will be taken in, digested and generally repeated, whether you've made it up or not.
It made me wonder - what else did nobody say would be an integral part of the day job as a parent? Here are a few I have come up with. I'm sure there are more.
1. You will always need to know the answer to "why?"
2. You will never be able to find pen and paper, as the children will always be using them for the latest project (currently school registers in this house).
3. Little boys are like most big boys: no aim.
4. Children will often forget their manners. They never forget the once they heard you swear.
5. The equipment needed and the mess generated is in inverse proportion to the size of the child (see picture below for details).
6. You can take a child to water but you can't make him drink. Pop, on the other hand.....
7. If they're awake and it goes quiet: be afraid, be very afraid.
8. Even the least competitive parent will find themself stifling the urge to ask how all the other children in the class are doing. (I have successfully stifled so far but it's come close a few times).
9. Just because the school trousers say they are teflon-coated doesn't mean that a 6 year old can't put his knee through them in less than 2 hours of wear.
10. You are now the world's expert on all subjects and all you say will be taken in, digested and generally repeated, whether you've made it up or not.
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