On Wednesday took Mavis to coffee morning & J to John's house, 9 miles away then back to pick up Mavis in time for ambulance to take her to her exercise class. Felt little bit like taxi service. Then waited at home for Broadband engineer. Thankfully as soon as he tested it it went off. After over an hour working on it including disappearing off for ages he found the fault was at the exchange & fixed it! It's a whole new world noe. I'll be able to put pictures on my blog again without losing them half way through uploading. J'll be able to do research for his home work without major hassle. I'm able to send emails without losing connection at the moment I press 'send'... the possibilities are endless...
Right now I have to go to help J with piano practice. Sorry.
Monday 25 July 2011
Tuesday 19 July 2011
Update
- Just been to Pizza Express as J's treat for having worked hard at school.
- J got prizes for Maths & Exceptional Effort this year -well done J.
- He is now on holiday.
- We have had lots of rain.
- On Saturday we went to a quiz at 'other church'. One of those quizzes where we scored really well on every round except the one where we played our joker. Never mind. Did win a box of chocs for the extra quiz at the break. Got to know another couple a bit better which was nice.
- Broadband situation still really bad. Engineer coming tomorrow.
- Having fun with new shredder. When sorted out papers to shred found cheque for £23 among them.
- Isn't all this phone hacking business just really awful?
Thursday 14 July 2011
Shaving foam & Worcester Sauce
I have had continuous broadband connection for almost an hour! Amazing!
On Tuesday night we went to J's school play as his friend John had a part & was singing a solo. The play was Bugsy Malone & the beginning was a bit confusing I thought, mainly because I couldn't hear everyone's words but otherwise very good. Half way through the interval there was the loud sound of a computer shutting down. Then the drama teacher stood up & announced they'd the lost computer connection & there would be a delay while they rebooted it. After a bit of a wait she stood up, looking like she was about to burst into tears & said the connection was completely gone, no chance of getting it back & would we mind waiting while she went & got the cd with the soundtrack on it. I felt really sorry for her especially as this was the performance in front of the headmaster & the mayor & his wife.
Anyway after a bit more of a wait during which I had my first ever experience of Worcester Sauce flavoured crisps, the second half started. And it was actually better than the first half, everyone seemed much more relaxed, probably because the disaster had already happened so things couldn't get any worse so they might as well enjoy it (reminded me a bit of my driving test). John did his bit at the end & it went very well.
When they did the shooting they used guns which shot shaving foam. The last scene involved a massive shoot-out in which everyone shot everyone else in a mad frenzy & they all ended up dead. There definitely seemed to be a bit of score-settling going on in some cases.
All in all it was a very enjoyable evening. Not sure about the crisps though.
On Tuesday night we went to J's school play as his friend John had a part & was singing a solo. The play was Bugsy Malone & the beginning was a bit confusing I thought, mainly because I couldn't hear everyone's words but otherwise very good. Half way through the interval there was the loud sound of a computer shutting down. Then the drama teacher stood up & announced they'd the lost computer connection & there would be a delay while they rebooted it. After a bit of a wait she stood up, looking like she was about to burst into tears & said the connection was completely gone, no chance of getting it back & would we mind waiting while she went & got the cd with the soundtrack on it. I felt really sorry for her especially as this was the performance in front of the headmaster & the mayor & his wife.
Anyway after a bit more of a wait during which I had my first ever experience of Worcester Sauce flavoured crisps, the second half started. And it was actually better than the first half, everyone seemed much more relaxed, probably because the disaster had already happened so things couldn't get any worse so they might as well enjoy it (reminded me a bit of my driving test). John did his bit at the end & it went very well.
When they did the shooting they used guns which shot shaving foam. The last scene involved a massive shoot-out in which everyone shot everyone else in a mad frenzy & they all ended up dead. There definitely seemed to be a bit of score-settling going on in some cases.
All in all it was a very enjoyable evening. Not sure about the crisps though.
Tuesday 12 July 2011
Don't buy this shredder
If you are ever tempted to but a £17.99 shredder from WH Smith then don't. No good. Says can do 5 sheets but can't even manage 2. Mine lasted just 5 days before literally grinding to a halt.
What's that noise?
As I'm sitting here there are terrible noises coming from our roof - a sort of crashing sound! What is going on up there? Must be some sort of bird or animal but what? An eagle? A mountain lion? Or just a manic pigeon?
I'm in a sort of sad, sort of bad mood today didn't really feel like housegroup but went anyway. Sophie who's the leader was saying she's thinking of doing missionary work abroad sometime. I'm not sure though as she can't bear to step out of the house unless her hair & make-up are immaculate & is always dressed up to the nines. When she was baptised she missed the prayers at the end as she hadn't finished blow-drying her hair. You do tend to have to rough it a bit as a missionary. Still God often chooses the most unlikely of people & it might be the making of her.
J came home yesterday & said his German teacher who's also his head of year is leaving which is sad as she's been very good (although I thought she did flirt a teeny bit with P at the anti-bullying evening, might have been my imagination). His French teacher who is also a very good teacher is also leaving & so is his drama teacher whom he likes. The 2 language teachers have got promotions to be heads of department at other schools & the drama teacher is going to Thailand. So a lot of change.
I'm in a sort of sad, sort of bad mood today didn't really feel like housegroup but went anyway. Sophie who's the leader was saying she's thinking of doing missionary work abroad sometime. I'm not sure though as she can't bear to step out of the house unless her hair & make-up are immaculate & is always dressed up to the nines. When she was baptised she missed the prayers at the end as she hadn't finished blow-drying her hair. You do tend to have to rough it a bit as a missionary. Still God often chooses the most unlikely of people & it might be the making of her.
J came home yesterday & said his German teacher who's also his head of year is leaving which is sad as she's been very good (although I thought she did flirt a teeny bit with P at the anti-bullying evening, might have been my imagination). His French teacher who is also a very good teacher is also leaving & so is his drama teacher whom he likes. The 2 language teachers have got promotions to be heads of department at other schools & the drama teacher is going to Thailand. So a lot of change.
Sunday 10 July 2011
You win some...
Yesterday morning was a bit frantic with P & J trying to finish their exhibits while I was outside saying 'Open, open' to my cactus which was sitting on the car bonnet to get the full sun. We got everything there with a few minutes to spare. When I got to my section there was an impressive money tree grown by Becky's husband & a rather tatty prickly cactus. It was immediately obvious that the contest was between me & the money tree. A man in faded grey cords who owned the prickly cactus explained very earnestly that he'd made the mistake of repotting it into old compost.
Anyway when we went back in the afternoon P had won first prize & the handicraft cup. J had won second, his friend Tim having come first, & my cactus came first! So a very successful first attempt all round.
J's friend Adam had done very well & won the cup for the men's cooking entry - a victoria sponge. Becky & her family are very, very keen & competitive & all came away with cups or shields.
A good afternoon. Hmm what shall I enter next year?
Anyway when we went back in the afternoon P had won first prize & the handicraft cup. J had won second, his friend Tim having come first, & my cactus came first! So a very successful first attempt all round.
J's friend Adam had done very well & won the cup for the men's cooking entry - a victoria sponge. Becky & her family are very, very keen & competitive & all came away with cups or shields.
A good afternoon. Hmm what shall I enter next year?
Friday 8 July 2011
A prickly problem
Last night went to a concert at school in which J playing steel drums again. Whole evening was really good.
Tonight I'm going to another concert - choir in which 'old' housegroup leader sings is performing at our church.
P & J are staying at home to work on exhibits for Gardening Society show tomorrow - J doing a computer design of a castle & P a model gyrocopter.
As for my cactus - it has had 2 buds on it for a while & on Monday when I had it out in the sun they both opened - beautiful but I thought they'll be gone by Saturday so P suggested putting it in the bedroom which is quite dark. They then closed up again but have been slowly opening. The good news is that I think they will be open for tomorrow. I don't know what the competition's like though. I might get there to find 6 foot high cacti covered in blooms.
Tonight I'm going to another concert - choir in which 'old' housegroup leader sings is performing at our church.
P & J are staying at home to work on exhibits for Gardening Society show tomorrow - J doing a computer design of a castle & P a model gyrocopter.
As for my cactus - it has had 2 buds on it for a while & on Monday when I had it out in the sun they both opened - beautiful but I thought they'll be gone by Saturday so P suggested putting it in the bedroom which is quite dark. They then closed up again but have been slowly opening. The good news is that I think they will be open for tomorrow. I don't know what the competition's like though. I might get there to find 6 foot high cacti covered in blooms.
Friday
Today went to what was actually last one of 'new' housegroup because it's closing down. Funny thing is I don't know why it's closing down, when asked the leader said 'Well it was only for a season'. Obviously she's got her reasons. Possibly there will be another group starting up in another town, don't know who will lead it though. Afterwards went out for lunch. I was mentioning my theology course & how much I enjoy it but how hard I find it to write essays & this woman who's really nice but very intense said 'I'll pray for more time for you to do it in,' but I had to admit time is not the issue, I have plenty of time. Then she said: 'I'll give you some advice on how to do it, I've been to university.' I didn't like to say I've been to university too. Anyway I have made a start on my second essay & I'm determined to get on with it. Surprisingly no-one at the table knew that Paul wrote more than 2 letters to the Corinthians.
Picked up J who had a ball of pink slime in his hand he'd made in Science - 'Stop throwing that round the car, don't wipe your hands on your trousers, don't wipe them on the car seat either & DON'T WIPE THEM ON ME!'
He'd also got the drawstring bag he made in textiles which is a nice bag but really I think a whole school year to make just one bag isn't all that impressive, I mean when I was at school I made an embroidered gingham apron & a flowery skirt, or was that in 2 years? I can't remember. I can remember that I never, ever wore the things. I can remember that my needlework teacher really didn't like me. I can remember that needlework lessons were the closest I ever came to a teacher making me cry... Let's try & forget needlework lessons.
Picked up J who had a ball of pink slime in his hand he'd made in Science - 'Stop throwing that round the car, don't wipe your hands on your trousers, don't wipe them on the car seat either & DON'T WIPE THEM ON ME!'
He'd also got the drawstring bag he made in textiles which is a nice bag but really I think a whole school year to make just one bag isn't all that impressive, I mean when I was at school I made an embroidered gingham apron & a flowery skirt, or was that in 2 years? I can't remember. I can remember that I never, ever wore the things. I can remember that my needlework teacher really didn't like me. I can remember that needlework lessons were the closest I ever came to a teacher making me cry... Let's try & forget needlework lessons.
Sunday 3 July 2011
Grass
Who would have thought it - both Sharapova & Nadal beaten?
Today went to church picnic. In someone's garden with a swimming pool. I didn't go in water as there's a limit to how many people I wish to view me in my swimming costume. I'd invited Louise who came with Adam & his sister but her husband stayed at home to mow the grass. Becky's husband who was meeting her & 3 of their children there & bringing lunch decided he first had to mow their lawn. So, like an hour later, watching everyone else eating & 3 children whining with hunger he finally turned up. P throughout the afternoon kept saying 'Can we go now, I need to cut the grass' & in the end managed to drag me away early. What is it with men? Can't they just go to a picnic & enjoy it without worrying about their grass?
We are actually considering entering something in the village Garden Society Annual Show. P & J are thinking of entering model aeroplanes, P a photo, J a computer design & me a cactus. I'm a bit nervous though as I've heard it can get seriously competitive. We should be safe though if we stay away from vegetables & cakes. I wonder which cactus to choose.
Had awesome time at healing service on Friday, felt really close to God & felt like He was saying He never wanted me to be ill.
J & I were at home all day yesterday as P went to a Governor's training course.
Don't want to talk about yesterday's weigh-in.
Today went to church picnic. In someone's garden with a swimming pool. I didn't go in water as there's a limit to how many people I wish to view me in my swimming costume. I'd invited Louise who came with Adam & his sister but her husband stayed at home to mow the grass. Becky's husband who was meeting her & 3 of their children there & bringing lunch decided he first had to mow their lawn. So, like an hour later, watching everyone else eating & 3 children whining with hunger he finally turned up. P throughout the afternoon kept saying 'Can we go now, I need to cut the grass' & in the end managed to drag me away early. What is it with men? Can't they just go to a picnic & enjoy it without worrying about their grass?
We are actually considering entering something in the village Garden Society Annual Show. P & J are thinking of entering model aeroplanes, P a photo, J a computer design & me a cactus. I'm a bit nervous though as I've heard it can get seriously competitive. We should be safe though if we stay away from vegetables & cakes. I wonder which cactus to choose.
Had awesome time at healing service on Friday, felt really close to God & felt like He was saying He never wanted me to be ill.
J & I were at home all day yesterday as P went to a Governor's training course.
Don't want to talk about yesterday's weigh-in.
Friday 1 July 2011
Steel drums
Because J's school is so big if there's a play or concert or anything you usually only get to go if your child is taking part. J has recently joined the steel drums club. After only going twice he was asked if he would play at the Sixth Form Summer Show & the 'Summer Soiree', whether this is because he has prodigious talent or because they're desperate for players I'm not sure. Anyway we went along to the show on Wednesday & it was really good. The steel band played outside the entrance & were quite impressive. Ok they had positioned themselves on the disabled slope so we couldn't get in but the school business manager came & let us in the back way through her office which was nice of her. Then we had a look at the art displays & nibbled the snacks. I wanted to stay for the fashion show but the boys weren't keen. A good evening. Looking forward to next performance.
Solar heating
The other thing that happened yesterday was we got our solar heating fixed. For some time it has been making gurgling noises & making a horrible smell when it gets hot. I adopted the 'ignore it & it'll go away' approach for several weeks then on Monday suddenly got in a panic & thought 'what if it blows up'. The complication is that the firm who put it in have gone out of business although there's a rumour that they are trading under another name. You can however go on their website & leave your details & they'll forward them to a firm who can help you. After I'd done this I started thinking what if they just forward them to their new name & what if we get a load of cowboys doing it. This was the day our broadband started seriously playing up so I was trying to look on the web for firms & it was cutting out every few minutes. On Tuesday a lady phoned up & said she was from a solar heating firm & managed to convince me they're ok - just a one man band ie her husband. When I found out they live in the village I originally came from I thought they must be ok. Anyway he came yesterday, found there was a leaking joint through which ethylene glycol was dripping out & when it got hot it was making a burning smell. So hopefully it's fixed now. I don't like the thought of us breathing in all those fumes though. Thought solar heating was meant to be good for the environment.
Yesterday
Yesterday J's school was closed due to strike. He & 3 of his friends arranged to meet up at one friend's house. J asked if we could pick up one boy on the way which was quite a detour. I looked up address online & was quite pleased at how well I'd memorised map - until I realised we'd somehow ended up in Tesco's car park. Anyway I was driving nearly 2 hours altogether. Glad that friend's mum brought J home. They had a good time, made cookies & went out to MacDonalds for lunch, although J would rather have gone somewhere else as thankfully he doesn't like MacDonalds.
P's suggestion that as it was meant to be a school day they could spend the day studying seemed to fall on deaf ears. Surprising that.
(Poor Tsonga, can hardly bear to watch).
P's suggestion that as it was meant to be a school day they could spend the day studying seemed to fall on deaf ears. Surprising that.
(Poor Tsonga, can hardly bear to watch).
Today
I'm typing this while watching Wimbledon. I want Tsonga to win because I tend to support the under-dog as in the one who on paper seems to have less chance of winning. However at 1 set & 2-1 down it's not looking hopeful.
We are having such trouble with our broadband at the moment, if it stays on 5 minutes we're cheering.
Lovely sunny day today. Went to new housegroup this morning & watched Joseph Prince dvd. Group is going to close at end of term. Shame. Not sure what I'll do then.
J is going round a friend's after school, picking him up 6.30 then dropping him home & I'm going to a healing service by myself. In addition Becky asked if we could mind her children so we're (or hopefully P so I can watch tennis) picking up her daughter from school at 3pm then her son is getting off bus at 4pm & coming here. They'll come with me to get J then after P has fed them Louise will pick them up & take them to youth club party. What I hope is that things will work out so I get to church on time to get a parking place close to door.
We are having such trouble with our broadband at the moment, if it stays on 5 minutes we're cheering.
Lovely sunny day today. Went to new housegroup this morning & watched Joseph Prince dvd. Group is going to close at end of term. Shame. Not sure what I'll do then.
J is going round a friend's after school, picking him up 6.30 then dropping him home & I'm going to a healing service by myself. In addition Becky asked if we could mind her children so we're (or hopefully P so I can watch tennis) picking up her daughter from school at 3pm then her son is getting off bus at 4pm & coming here. They'll come with me to get J then after P has fed them Louise will pick them up & take them to youth club party. What I hope is that things will work out so I get to church on time to get a parking place close to door.
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