Yesterday felt tired so went to bed at 9pm. Woke up at 5 am this morning. Still felt really tired and a bit sick and dizzy.Got J to school then tried to rest all day. A bit better this evening. Took J to get hair cut, .
Mystery of Maths homework solved - it was impossible - a misprint in book. Of course I knew that.
Wednesday 29 February 2012
Monday 27 February 2012
Maths homework
Unusually for him J was stuck on his Maths homework last night. 'Show it to me and I'll see if I can help,' I said, foolishly.
Ok. Factorise x2 - 4x + 21 = 0
Right, just give me a little bit of time to think about that one.
Ok. Factorise x2 - 4x + 21 = 0
Right, just give me a little bit of time to think about that one.
You want my tax disc?
After church yesterday went to Pierrepont (healing centre) for a dinner/update on what's happened during the last year. The people there are so caring and there's such an atmosphere of peace about the place, I just love being there. I'm looking forward to the day when I can go running in there and see the expressions on their faces. The meal was really nice too.
When we go across the Dartford crossing we don't have to pay because we've got disabled tax class. Coming back when P flashed my blue badge at the controller he said ' Disabled tax disc? I'd like one of those.'
Really? You'd really like a disabled tax disc?
When we go across the Dartford crossing we don't have to pay because we've got disabled tax class. Coming back when P flashed my blue badge at the controller he said ' Disabled tax disc? I'd like one of those.'
Really? You'd really like a disabled tax disc?
Saturday 25 February 2012
Heavy heart
It's sunny outside and the birds are singing but my heart feels heavy right now for the friend who's emailed me saying how dificult her marriage is at the moment. Her husband is being horribly verbally abusive. She lives a long way away so all I can do for her is pray. I totally believe in the power of prayer but sometimes I struggle to believe that my prayers can make a difference, when I don't know what to say and they seem so inadequate. Just have to believe that they will.
Spring is on the way
They say Spring is coming and they might be right, yesterday I actually sat outside for a while. I love the colours of the tree branches against the sky at this time of year. There's a squirrel who comes and sits on a branch just by the window, he looks like he's staring at me but I don't think he can really see in. Snowdrops are out along with what's left of our crocuses. Something eats them, whether squirrels, badgers of foxes (or all three) I don't know.
Nepalese meal
These colourful pictures are of the Nepalese meal we had before Christmas. The spicy potatoes were just yummy. Not 100% sure about the lamb dumplings - they're the grey things. I'm trying to work out what we're drinking - it looks like glasses of beer but I don't drink beer.
Friday 24 February 2012
Writing a letter
Re my post about Pastor Nadarkkhani yesterday, I've found this site you can go on to write him (and other persecuted Christians) a letter of encouragement. You select some phrases and they're translated into the appropriate language then you print it out and post it. Apparently even though the prison authorities sometimes don't let the prisoners have the letters the fact they're getting them can worry them because there's obviously international interest and it can cause them to treat them better.
I've just printed out mine. Really hope he gets it.
The link is http://www.prisoneralert.com
I've just printed out mine. Really hope he gets it.
The link is http://www.prisoneralert.com
Snowdrops and rugby kit
Sometimes I like looking back to see what I was doing this time last year. A year ago Digger had just died and now the snowdrops we planted on his grave are blooming and look beautiful. We were also looking for J's PE bag and we never found it, we just had to buy a new kit.
Talking of which my housegroup leader has gone out for a couple of weeks to help at a children's home in Kenya which is a really good thing of her to do. She wanted some boys' clothes to take so I sorted out some of J's and I found him trying to sneak his rugby kit into the bag. Not sure if 'I've sent my kit to Kenya would cut any ice with his PE teacher.
Talking of which my housegroup leader has gone out for a couple of weeks to help at a children's home in Kenya which is a really good thing of her to do. She wanted some boys' clothes to take so I sorted out some of J's and I found him trying to sneak his rugby kit into the bag. Not sure if 'I've sent my kit to Kenya would cut any ice with his PE teacher.
Night driving, a trip to the doctors and beetroot soup
P had a meeting last night so I had to go and get J after his theatre trip. I left in plenty of time, not wishing to have another late-picking-up-from-school-trip-teachers-looking-at-me-with tight-lipped expressions situation. Then half way there the traffic ground to a halt. I sat there for quite a while thinking 'I just don't believe this,' then decided to turn round and go another way. The other way involved a very twisty road and as I hate driving in the dark anyway it was quite scary and there was an impatient queue of cars behind me. Finally seeing the lights of the town ahead of me was a great relief and I made it just in time. Don't know what the hold-up was, when I went home the road was clear and there was no sign of an accident.
J had a really good time and enjoyed the play anyway.
Went to the doctors this morning as I've got a funny scabby thing on my back but he said it was harmless. Saw two old ladies from church there, both of whom had had falls and hurt themselves poor things.
It's always a bit awkward making conversation at the doctors. The words 'What are you here for?' sort of hang unsaid in the air. I thought if I said I'd got this thing on my back the next thing I knew it would be round the village that I'd got skin cancer. I remember the time I couldn't pick J up from preschool because I'd bumped into a fence which had been left in the wrong place and part of the car bumper detached itself and there were wires dangling down and I thought should I just tuck them in and carry on regardless, perhaps better not. Anyway as a result of my phone call to preschool it went round that I'd been injured in a terrible car accident. That's villages for you.
I'm having Waitrose Beetroot, Buckwheat and Tomato soup for lunch (you may have guessed there's been a special offer on luxury soups). Interesting flavour, bit muddy, but beats the Lobster Bisque hands down.
J had a really good time and enjoyed the play anyway.
Went to the doctors this morning as I've got a funny scabby thing on my back but he said it was harmless. Saw two old ladies from church there, both of whom had had falls and hurt themselves poor things.
It's always a bit awkward making conversation at the doctors. The words 'What are you here for?' sort of hang unsaid in the air. I thought if I said I'd got this thing on my back the next thing I knew it would be round the village that I'd got skin cancer. I remember the time I couldn't pick J up from preschool because I'd bumped into a fence which had been left in the wrong place and part of the car bumper detached itself and there were wires dangling down and I thought should I just tuck them in and carry on regardless, perhaps better not. Anyway as a result of my phone call to preschool it went round that I'd been injured in a terrible car accident. That's villages for you.
I'm having Waitrose Beetroot, Buckwheat and Tomato soup for lunch (you may have guessed there's been a special offer on luxury soups). Interesting flavour, bit muddy, but beats the Lobster Bisque hands down.
Thursday 23 February 2012
Prayer needed
If you're the sort of person who prays please can you pray about this awful situation:
CSW is calling for urgent worldwide prayer for the life of Pastor Nadarkhani, after learning that his lawyer is trying to confirm reports that a decision has been made to proceed with his execution.
Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani is facing a death sentence for apostasy, and has been awaiting a final decision on the verdict for several months. On at least four occasions he has been offered freedom in exchange for renouncing his faith, but has consistently refused to do.
You can find more information on CSW's website - just google CSW.
CSW is calling for urgent worldwide prayer for the life of Pastor Nadarkhani, after learning that his lawyer is trying to confirm reports that a decision has been made to proceed with his execution.
Execution could be carried out without prior notification
CSW has been informed that Pastor Nadarkhani’s lawyer is trying to confirm reports that the Iranian authorities have decided to execute the pastor. There are grave concerns that the death sentence could be carried out at any time without prior notification and that the authorities will merely announce it later, a practice that is not uncommon in Iran.Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani is facing a death sentence for apostasy, and has been awaiting a final decision on the verdict for several months. On at least four occasions he has been offered freedom in exchange for renouncing his faith, but has consistently refused to do.
You can find more information on CSW's website - just google CSW.
Stop pecking at our house
P took the car back to the garage and they said 'Oh it's just the battery mate'. I suppose selling us a car with a decent battery wasn't an option.
J gone on a trip to the theatre in London today.
Just been sitting her and white flakes been floating past the window. Snow? No. Just that pesky woodpecker again.
J gone on a trip to the theatre in London today.
Just been sitting her and white flakes been floating past the window. Snow? No. Just that pesky woodpecker again.
Yummy pancakes and GCSE problems
Pancake supper very nice. Becky makes wonderful pancakes. Man next to me insisting the origins of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday was something to do with a Jewish feast but I'm pretty sure it was due to using up eggs, butter etc before Lent started.
Yesterday morning J's alarm clock went off an hour early for some reason. He'd been up for quite some time before he realised he was an hour ahead of himself.
Went to coffee morning yesterday which was ok. Very good and didn't eat a biscuit. As got back home my mobile rang. It was J's English teacher. They did a mock assessment over 2 days before half term and it's turned into something of a disaster for him. Firstly he was off sick when they had the lesson to prepare them for it. Then on the first day when he started using the laptop it ran out of battery straight away so he had to write by hand. On the second day the laptop worked ok but he couldn't save onto the hard drive only onto the teacher's memory stick. Guess what happened when she tried to load it from the memory stick? Nothing. His work has just vanished into the ether. There are now 2 options: either she marks it all on the basis of the first half which isn't his best or he does the whole thing again. Neither particularly appeals to him but he's going to have to see her today and decide. She was very apologetic. I said to her it's probably better to encounter thse problems now and not further down the line and hopefully they'll make more effort to ensure this sort of thing doesn't happen again.
This is nothing compared to some of the problems my friend's son has had with controlled assessments. As for my niece, her English teacher seems to be just plain incompetent. They haven't been properly prepared for the exams they've done so far. At Christmas they were sent home with a past paper to help them prepare and it was the wrong one. As part of English Language they have to do speaking and listening assessments and schools normally start them practising these a couple of years beforehand and they do several leading up to the date for submitting marks and they take their best ones for the final mark. J in Year 9 has already done a practice one. So can you believe that with the marks due in on March 30th my niece has not done a single speaking and listening assessment? Not even a practice. She overheard the Head of Department saying to the teacher 'You've got to get on with these assessments.' Apparently one parent who's quite high up in education has made a complaint and my brother's waiting to see how he got on.
As well as this she's one of the ones affected by all the controversy over the teachers being given information about the History GCSE as a result of which they had to scrap one module they'd already learnt and start another one.
Our kids deserve better than this, they really do.
Yesterday morning J's alarm clock went off an hour early for some reason. He'd been up for quite some time before he realised he was an hour ahead of himself.
Went to coffee morning yesterday which was ok. Very good and didn't eat a biscuit. As got back home my mobile rang. It was J's English teacher. They did a mock assessment over 2 days before half term and it's turned into something of a disaster for him. Firstly he was off sick when they had the lesson to prepare them for it. Then on the first day when he started using the laptop it ran out of battery straight away so he had to write by hand. On the second day the laptop worked ok but he couldn't save onto the hard drive only onto the teacher's memory stick. Guess what happened when she tried to load it from the memory stick? Nothing. His work has just vanished into the ether. There are now 2 options: either she marks it all on the basis of the first half which isn't his best or he does the whole thing again. Neither particularly appeals to him but he's going to have to see her today and decide. She was very apologetic. I said to her it's probably better to encounter thse problems now and not further down the line and hopefully they'll make more effort to ensure this sort of thing doesn't happen again.
This is nothing compared to some of the problems my friend's son has had with controlled assessments. As for my niece, her English teacher seems to be just plain incompetent. They haven't been properly prepared for the exams they've done so far. At Christmas they were sent home with a past paper to help them prepare and it was the wrong one. As part of English Language they have to do speaking and listening assessments and schools normally start them practising these a couple of years beforehand and they do several leading up to the date for submitting marks and they take their best ones for the final mark. J in Year 9 has already done a practice one. So can you believe that with the marks due in on March 30th my niece has not done a single speaking and listening assessment? Not even a practice. She overheard the Head of Department saying to the teacher 'You've got to get on with these assessments.' Apparently one parent who's quite high up in education has made a complaint and my brother's waiting to see how he got on.
As well as this she's one of the ones affected by all the controversy over the teachers being given information about the History GCSE as a result of which they had to scrap one module they'd already learnt and start another one.
Our kids deserve better than this, they really do.
Tuesday 21 February 2012
Pancakes
We haven't got the Fiat taxed yet which is why I can't drive that.
Had housegroup this morning where I was determined not to eat anything but there were homemade pancakes so I had to eat some really and they were very nice. This evening I'm going to Becky's church's pancake supper which should be good. P and J got the hump a bit about me going out but they could go if they wanted to and I'll be there with them while they have their pancakes and I might nibble a little bit to keep them company.
Having got a special deal on BT cos I'm a shareholder we've now got unlimited internet. Yippee. J thinks this means unlimited computer games. In his dreams.
Had housegroup this morning where I was determined not to eat anything but there were homemade pancakes so I had to eat some really and they were very nice. This evening I'm going to Becky's church's pancake supper which should be good. P and J got the hump a bit about me going out but they could go if they wanted to and I'll be there with them while they have their pancakes and I might nibble a little bit to keep them company.
Having got a special deal on BT cos I'm a shareholder we've now got unlimited internet. Yippee. J thinks this means unlimited computer games. In his dreams.
Orange light
Yesterday on the way back from school an orange light came on on the dashboard. This was a bit disconcerting. Not having a manual I went on Google and found out it was the engine warning light which was really encouraging. I found out how you could do a diagnostic test by pressing the odometer button then switching on the ignition then letting go of the button then pressing it repeatedly until the screen says DTC then reading the code and looking it up on Google. Right. Feeling quite clever I managed to do this and came up with code 9318 which means low battery voltage. So is it a duff battery, is the alternator going or is it a faulty engine warning light or is it something else? Have suggested to P that he takes car back to garage where he got it on Thursday when he's off. Meanwhile he charged the battery this morning and I'm hoping I don't have a break-down between now and then.
Praise Him anyway
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.
(NIV)
I love this passage from Habakkuk.
I've found that still praising God when times are tough just somehow works, if you know what I mean.
Monday 20 February 2012
Icy morning
Very, very icy on roads this morning. Managed ok in new car, it's a bit less powerful which takes a bit og getting used to.
I keep thinking about that coach crash in France and what it must be like for the family of that teacher and the parents of the children and everyone at the school. It's just awful.
I keep thinking about that coach crash in France and what it must be like for the family of that teacher and the parents of the children and everyone at the school. It's just awful.
Crisis in the bath and a nice present
Yesterday morning woke up feeling awful - rib was painful, right hip and leg painful, feet painful, really tired, didn't want to get up. Seriously considered not going to church but as it was Communion decided I'd force myself. Had a hot bath to try and get muscles going and enjoying wallowing in the bubbles when suddenly the left lens fell out of my glasses and the screw was nowhere to be seen. Panic! Thankfully when I got out and the bubbles cleared a bit I spotted it at the bottom of the bath and P got it back in.
At church I felt miserable and sorry for myself but my friend Emily sat next to me which was nice. After the service someone from my housegroup gave me a really nice present she'd got from Grenada - it was a pretty little box made of banana leaves with lots of different spices inside. That's so nice of her.
J was quite hyper after Sunday School. 'Did they give you something to eat?' I asked. 'Mini eggs,' he replied. E numbers for Sunday afternoon just what we need.
At church I felt miserable and sorry for myself but my friend Emily sat next to me which was nice. After the service someone from my housegroup gave me a really nice present she'd got from Grenada - it was a pretty little box made of banana leaves with lots of different spices inside. That's so nice of her.
J was quite hyper after Sunday School. 'Did they give you something to eat?' I asked. 'Mini eggs,' he replied. E numbers for Sunday afternoon just what we need.
I'm not a sloth
On Saturday night we went to the family housegroup at 'other church'. We had a nice meal, jacket potatoes and cake. Then we did this thing which was meant to be about encouragement. We got into groups of 2 families together then each family was to say what animal each member was, the idea being it was something encouraging. This all went a bit wrong with J and me and I can't really say that either of us was being particularly encouraging. I will say though that I wouldn't have said I thought he was a sloth if he hadn't first said he thought I was a sloth. Anyway after we'd calmed down we discovered both dads were considered to be lions and both mums were felt to be terriers because we're determined and never let go. J however felt I should be a goat because I'm 'smartish' (what do you mean ish?) and good with my hands (???). Daughter in other family was a flamingo and son a dolphin. J we decided was a gibbon - orangish, clever and long arms. Not sure I like that game.
After the kids went into another room we were sharing more about our problems. The people hosting it are having real problems with their 16 year old daughter, which seems to be caused by bullying at school. Why are kids so horrible to each other? I feel really sorry for them, they're such a nice family and really trying to be good parents. Life is so hard sometimes.
Trying to explain to J that the reason I don't do much is because I can't. I want to but I can't. Not sure he gets it. This morning he was asking why I don't go out to work. Apart from the illness bit I've been a stay at home mum and always been there for him all these years and he wants me to go to work. Sigh.
After the kids went into another room we were sharing more about our problems. The people hosting it are having real problems with their 16 year old daughter, which seems to be caused by bullying at school. Why are kids so horrible to each other? I feel really sorry for them, they're such a nice family and really trying to be good parents. Life is so hard sometimes.
Trying to explain to J that the reason I don't do much is because I can't. I want to but I can't. Not sure he gets it. This morning he was asking why I don't go out to work. Apart from the illness bit I've been a stay at home mum and always been there for him all these years and he wants me to go to work. Sigh.
Saturday 18 February 2012
A wet Saturday
What the previous post was hinting at was that I've lost a bit of weight. Yes! I'm on my way.
Today we went to a town 50 miles away to meet someone in Tescos car park from whom P had bought
a saw on ebay. Stopped off for lunch on the way which saved it from being a totally dismal experience.
I was only joking about buying flowers yesterday but P got me some - lovely carnations. I went with him into town. One shop in the precinct closed down, the one next to it about to close down, the one next to that got a 70% sale on but no-one in there, one opposite closing down. Where's it all going to end?
Bought some new towels, I chose some nice dark green ones then P chose some for himself. You know when you get really sick and keep vomiting until there's bile coming up, that pretty much sums up the colour. I won't say the word J used to describe them.
Pouring with rain today, at least it's not snow I suppose.
Got our other car (as in Dorothy's) back last night, we're actually a 2 car family at the moment.
Today we went to a town 50 miles away to meet someone in Tescos car park from whom P had bought
a saw on ebay. Stopped off for lunch on the way which saved it from being a totally dismal experience.
I was only joking about buying flowers yesterday but P got me some - lovely carnations. I went with him into town. One shop in the precinct closed down, the one next to it about to close down, the one next to that got a 70% sale on but no-one in there, one opposite closing down. Where's it all going to end?
Bought some new towels, I chose some nice dark green ones then P chose some for himself. You know when you get really sick and keep vomiting until there's bile coming up, that pretty much sums up the colour. I won't say the word J used to describe them.
Pouring with rain today, at least it's not snow I suppose.
Got our other car (as in Dorothy's) back last night, we're actually a 2 car family at the moment.
Friday 17 February 2012
To do list
J just read my blog and he says he's not a couch potato, he walked to Tim's yesterday. Ok, ok I take it all back.
The boys did everything on the 'to-do' list yesterday. P says he likes me making him a list cos otherwise he can't work out what to do. Personally I just wouldn't like someone else making me a to do list but each to his own.
Anyway here's today's list:
1) Take dead flowers to compost heap.
2) Rinse out vase and put on shelf in utility room.
3) Buy some new flowers.
4) Hoover car (it's a bit doggy - a few hairs and muddy paw prints).
5) Change J's bedding.
6) Change Mum and Dad's bedding.
7) Pick up anything that's obviously rubbish and put in bin (a bit open to interpretation that one).
8) Collect dead newspapers and put in recycling sack.
9) Tidy games and dvds in living room.
10) Tell Mum you love her.
1, 4 and 10 have already been done. Yay!
J came back quite late from Tim's last night having dined on gammon steak while we'd had soup. We had tinned lobster bisque which was on special offer at Waitrose and sounds like it should have been really nice but actually tasted like seawater.
Waiting for the insurance company to fax us a form so P can go and tax car then we can drive it and I can get out of the house again. Yippee.
The boys did everything on the 'to-do' list yesterday. P says he likes me making him a list cos otherwise he can't work out what to do. Personally I just wouldn't like someone else making me a to do list but each to his own.
Anyway here's today's list:
1) Take dead flowers to compost heap.
2) Rinse out vase and put on shelf in utility room.
3) Buy some new flowers.
4) Hoover car (it's a bit doggy - a few hairs and muddy paw prints).
5) Change J's bedding.
6) Change Mum and Dad's bedding.
7) Pick up anything that's obviously rubbish and put in bin (a bit open to interpretation that one).
8) Collect dead newspapers and put in recycling sack.
9) Tidy games and dvds in living room.
10) Tell Mum you love her.
1, 4 and 10 have already been done. Yay!
J came back quite late from Tim's last night having dined on gammon steak while we'd had soup. We had tinned lobster bisque which was on special offer at Waitrose and sounds like it should have been really nice but actually tasted like seawater.
Waiting for the insurance company to fax us a form so P can go and tax car then we can drive it and I can get out of the house again. Yippee.
Thursday 16 February 2012
Got a car
P went out and found a cheap Ford Focus Estate this morning. Will keep us going until can get a better car. This one's just a bit on the old side although 3 years younger than the Mondeo. It's the same colour as the Mondeo which is weird cos I keep looking out and thinking it's the same car. Having a load of hassle sorting out tax, it's more complicated cos it's disabled class.
Have a bit of a cold which together with rib discomfort kept me awake last night.
Today we were going to go out but couldn't cos of car. I've hardly been out at all for the last few weeks. This afternoon Becky came round for a while, nice to have someone else to talk to. J gone round to Tim's now.
This morning I made a list of 10 household tasks that need doing and J actually went and cleaned the bathroom basin, with my supervision and then emptied the bin. I'm sitting here hoping P is working through the rest of the list. I hope they realise that's the list for today not for this week or this month.
This is a picture of Godstone in Surrey where we stopped for lunch on our way to our healing course. Pretty isn't it?
Have a bit of a cold which together with rib discomfort kept me awake last night.
Today we were going to go out but couldn't cos of car. I've hardly been out at all for the last few weeks. This afternoon Becky came round for a while, nice to have someone else to talk to. J gone round to Tim's now.
This morning I made a list of 10 household tasks that need doing and J actually went and cleaned the bathroom basin, with my supervision and then emptied the bin. I'm sitting here hoping P is working through the rest of the list. I hope they realise that's the list for today not for this week or this month.
This is a picture of Godstone in Surrey where we stopped for lunch on our way to our healing course. Pretty isn't it?
Wednesday 15 February 2012
At home on a rainy day
Our car didn't just fail its MOT it was described as 'dangerous to drive'. Yikes. Just trying to find someone to take it away. Contacted 'We Buy Any Car' who said they'd get back to us but they haven't. Think they may be lying about the 'any car' bit. Perhaps it's any car except a beat up dangerous to drive Mondeo.
P & J gone to London today to look round museums. I'm at home where I've wasted nearly half the day trying to do stuff on a computer which hates me. I mean I spent hours trying to order some stuff and every time it crashed at the 'verified by visa' bit so in the end I phoned them up and they said 'You're not using firefox are you because we're having trouble with the firefox browser try google chrome instead'. Of course that was really obvious wasn't it.
P & J gone to London today to look round museums. I'm at home where I've wasted nearly half the day trying to do stuff on a computer which hates me. I mean I spent hours trying to order some stuff and every time it crashed at the 'verified by visa' bit so in the end I phoned them up and they said 'You're not using firefox are you because we're having trouble with the firefox browser try google chrome instead'. Of course that was really obvious wasn't it.
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Valentines Day
This morning P gave me a lovely Valentine's card he'd made. He was going to give me chocolates but I'm being good. This is actually our 30th Valentine's day since we met. I could say since we started going out together but that happened very soon after we met.
I just asked him when he fell in love with me and he answered 'Dunno'. Think it's better not to ask.
I just asked him when he fell in love with me and he answered 'Dunno'. Think it's better not to ask.
Quiet day
Had a really quiet day today.
Highpoint was a little scoot round our wood. P has cleared a path behind the rhododendron (is that how you spell it?) bush so I can get to it now. I just love our little wood, having it as our back garden is amazing really.
J working towards a career as a couch potato. I wonder what I could do to get him to move. Did get him to do a bit of Maths today which is something. He needs to do extra Maths to improve his chances of getting to his choice of university, not because he's bad but he needs to be able to show he's good.
Had quite a lot of rain last night which has cleared most of snow, just a little bit left.
Highpoint was a little scoot round our wood. P has cleared a path behind the rhododendron (is that how you spell it?) bush so I can get to it now. I just love our little wood, having it as our back garden is amazing really.
J working towards a career as a couch potato. I wonder what I could do to get him to move. Did get him to do a bit of Maths today which is something. He needs to do extra Maths to improve his chances of getting to his choice of university, not because he's bad but he needs to be able to show he's good.
Had quite a lot of rain last night which has cleared most of snow, just a little bit left.
Bye, bye car
Our car has failed its MOT. Abysmally. It's Goodbye Mondeo. It's been a very good car. We haven't had a single breakdown in it aprart from punctures and the accident, none of which it could help really.
Not fish and chips as it should be
Actually I took this a while ago on our way back from Ireland. Honestly it's just not how fish and chips should be, is it?
Monday 13 February 2012
Playing games
Apparently on Saturday night we had 'super-cooled rain' which froze as it hit the ground so yesterday morning was very icy. J got up just in time to go to church. Surprisingly the snow hadn't been cleared in front of the church door. Probably everyone thought someone else doing it or else they were all scared of being sued if they cleared it and someone slipped.
2 people at church had birthdays yesterday so they had bought in cake and chocolates. Just had a little bit as it was a Sunday which is treat day. Bit put off by old lady next to me putting in her false teeth and showing me the appointment letters for her bowel investigations.
We had mutton for lunch whcih I'd never had before. Had been slow cooked so quite tender.
Played Star Wars game with J yesterday and lost. Star Wars games are his latest thing. I suppose there will come a time when I manage to understand the rules.
Yesterday I managed the whole day without painkillers. Yay.
Had a bit of a lie-in this morning. J had a lot of a lie-in, up just in time for lunch. I don't mind, it's a break from all the years he'd wake up at 6am every morning.
Now it's raining. Might get rid of the snow I suppose.
Have to go and play wii game with J.
2 people at church had birthdays yesterday so they had bought in cake and chocolates. Just had a little bit as it was a Sunday which is treat day. Bit put off by old lady next to me putting in her false teeth and showing me the appointment letters for her bowel investigations.
We had mutton for lunch whcih I'd never had before. Had been slow cooked so quite tender.
Played Star Wars game with J yesterday and lost. Star Wars games are his latest thing. I suppose there will come a time when I manage to understand the rules.
Yesterday I managed the whole day without painkillers. Yay.
Had a bit of a lie-in this morning. J had a lot of a lie-in, up just in time for lunch. I don't mind, it's a break from all the years he'd wake up at 6am every morning.
Now it's raining. Might get rid of the snow I suppose.
Have to go and play wii game with J.
Saturday 11 February 2012
It's cold
Temperature in the caravan this morning was -4. So, so , so glad not to be living in it.
Still quite a lot of snow on the ground. My mum always used to say that's a bad sign: when snow's lying around it's waiting for more to join it.
J now on half term. Haven't got anything in particular planned. Just going to take it easy.
Still quite a lot of snow on the ground. My mum always used to say that's a bad sign: when snow's lying around it's waiting for more to join it.
J now on half term. Haven't got anything in particular planned. Just going to take it easy.
A weighty problem
I don't know why I thought it was a good idea to plot our 'weight loss' on a graph. In fact I think it was one of the worst ideas I've ever had. P's weight basically followed a horizontal line ie he hasn't lost anything, well half a pound over 7 months but I don't think that's anything to be proud of. As for mine - it was a 45 degree line going upwards. I've gained 9 pounds over 7 months. Yikey, yikey yikes!!! This is terrible, it's beyond terrible. If I go on at this rate I'll be a mountainous blob of flesh.
So this is it. Serious weight loss starts here.
So this is it. Serious weight loss starts here.
Friday 10 February 2012
A cold day, some starlings and dough balls
Have I said that J is a lot better health-wise? He's lasted a whole week at school in fact.
Today was meant to be P's day off but he went into work for a few hours so I went into town with him. The word 'cold' wouldn't even begin to describe what it was like. Bought some thick tights, some odds and ends from Tescos and some bird food. Got some fruit flavoured suet sticks which birdies love. After a bit of a relax at home we went to get J then went round Waitrose then back home where I was excited to see a group of starlings on the birdfeeder cos we don't normally get starlings. Then P and J made J's 'favourite meal' - spaghetti carbonara, doughballs and garlic butter and chocolate cheesecake. I never quite get the doughballs thing, they're just lumps of bread to me but J likes them.
Note to self: before driving scooter always check if it's still plugged into charger.
Today was meant to be P's day off but he went into work for a few hours so I went into town with him. The word 'cold' wouldn't even begin to describe what it was like. Bought some thick tights, some odds and ends from Tescos and some bird food. Got some fruit flavoured suet sticks which birdies love. After a bit of a relax at home we went to get J then went round Waitrose then back home where I was excited to see a group of starlings on the birdfeeder cos we don't normally get starlings. Then P and J made J's 'favourite meal' - spaghetti carbonara, doughballs and garlic butter and chocolate cheesecake. I never quite get the doughballs thing, they're just lumps of bread to me but J likes them.
Note to self: before driving scooter always check if it's still plugged into charger.
Staying Alive
After our pizza we went back to school for the 'upper years' school play. J had a free ticket for this as he was involved in painting the scenery so we thought we'd go along and see his handiwork which was very good. The play was 'Night Fever' and it was really good. Apparently in the original film there was a lot of swearing but they'd cut it out.
Only trouble is J and I have got BeeGees songs going round and round in our heads.
If I can't have you I don't want nobody Baby, oo oo oo...
That night I had a seriously bad night with my rib and just couldn't get comfortable and ended up on the sofa at 12.30 and then taking a sleeping tablet at 2.15 am. Was like a zombie yesterday.
Tragedy, it's a tragedy, when the feeling's gone and you can't go on, it's a tragedy...
Only trouble is J and I have got BeeGees songs going round and round in our heads.
If I can't have you I don't want nobody Baby, oo oo oo...
That night I had a seriously bad night with my rib and just couldn't get comfortable and ended up on the sofa at 12.30 and then taking a sleeping tablet at 2.15 am. Was like a zombie yesterday.
Tragedy, it's a tragedy, when the feeling's gone and you can't go on, it's a tragedy...
A careers fair and a loud pizza
On Wednesday we picked up J from school and went to a careers fair. This was quite interesting. J knows what he wants to do: engineering at university, just a matter of which course at which university. And the small matter of getting some GCSEs and A levels. There were displays by a few universities as well as lots of other careers as well. There were even some live farm animals. Interesting when talking to admissions officer from one uni, he said 'We don't care what GCSEs you do as long as you do Maths and Science at A-level'. So we needn't worry too much about GCSE options then.
It only seems 2 minutes since we were wondering which senior school.
We did pick up a leaflet about an organisation that lets them try out some short engineering courses to see if they like it which would be a good idea, if he agrees.
After that we popped back into town (as in town where H's school is) as he wanted to buy some books and look round the secondhand games shop. Then we went into Pizza Express again (had a voucher to use up). Had a nice meal, we all had pizza and dessert, I don't think their chocolate fudge cake is the best I've ever had though, wish I'd stuck to semifreddo which is delish. Only problem at Pizza Express was a child who kept running around yelling in a very loud voice. Ok I've been through the small child in a restaurant thing and I still shudder at the memory of what happened with the coffee bean dispenser but this child was LOUD. Every so often his mum would explode and yell 'I can't take any more of this and you're not getting any ice-cream and we're never coming here again,' and she was LOUD too. She had an older boy who was sitting there quietly and suddenly put his head on the table. At this point his mum turned on him and said he was old enough and clever enough to know better and it was no wonder his little brother was being so naughty, he was just copying him. At this point the first-born child in me rose up and I really felt like shouting at her to leave him alone. It's not fair when older children get blamed for everything and told they've got to be responsible while the younger one can get away with murder. (At this point little brother I will discover whether you read my blog or not). It would probably have helped as well if she'd brought along something to occupy them.
Anyway the loud little boy knew and his mum knew and everyone else in the restaurant knew that however he behaved he would still get his ice cream and he did. And we all know that they'll be back again. Just hope it's not when we're there.
It only seems 2 minutes since we were wondering which senior school.
We did pick up a leaflet about an organisation that lets them try out some short engineering courses to see if they like it which would be a good idea, if he agrees.
After that we popped back into town (as in town where H's school is) as he wanted to buy some books and look round the secondhand games shop. Then we went into Pizza Express again (had a voucher to use up). Had a nice meal, we all had pizza and dessert, I don't think their chocolate fudge cake is the best I've ever had though, wish I'd stuck to semifreddo which is delish. Only problem at Pizza Express was a child who kept running around yelling in a very loud voice. Ok I've been through the small child in a restaurant thing and I still shudder at the memory of what happened with the coffee bean dispenser but this child was LOUD. Every so often his mum would explode and yell 'I can't take any more of this and you're not getting any ice-cream and we're never coming here again,' and she was LOUD too. She had an older boy who was sitting there quietly and suddenly put his head on the table. At this point his mum turned on him and said he was old enough and clever enough to know better and it was no wonder his little brother was being so naughty, he was just copying him. At this point the first-born child in me rose up and I really felt like shouting at her to leave him alone. It's not fair when older children get blamed for everything and told they've got to be responsible while the younger one can get away with murder. (At this point little brother I will discover whether you read my blog or not). It would probably have helped as well if she'd brought along something to occupy them.
Anyway the loud little boy knew and his mum knew and everyone else in the restaurant knew that however he behaved he would still get his ice cream and he did. And we all know that they'll be back again. Just hope it's not when we're there.
Wednesday 8 February 2012
Should we get another pet?
Somwone we know just move into a flat with her 2 cats when one gave birth to 5 kittens. J and I seriously thought about having one but P isn't keen although he did seem interested in designing an eco-friendly cat flap. Probably isn't practical for our house.
I miss having a pet but can't think what would be suitable. A dog is too much responsibility. Hamsters have such a short life. Not keen on J's idea of a snake.
A rabbit?
Guinea pig?
What about when we went away?
I miss having a pet but can't think what would be suitable. A dog is too much responsibility. Hamsters have such a short life. Not keen on J's idea of a snake.
A rabbit?
Guinea pig?
What about when we went away?
Lovejoy
Very tired this morning, overslept but got to school just in time. Can't go into school as they haven't cleared car park so tried turning round in side road which is up a little hill. One car at top stuck in snow, another half way up seemed to be frozen in fear, difficult for me to reverse back because of stream of kids crossing road behind me so had to sit and wait for them to go past.
Now it's snowing again.
Can't believe I'm sitting watching Lovejoy on Yesterday. Can't believe how much I used to like this programme. Can't believe how dated it seems now. Can't believe the clothes we used to wear in the eighties.
Now it's snowing again.
Can't believe I'm sitting watching Lovejoy on Yesterday. Can't believe how much I used to like this programme. Can't believe how dated it seems now. Can't believe the clothes we used to wear in the eighties.
On the bus
Teenage version of chatting to your friend on the bus:
Sit next to each other
Put in earphones
Switch on music
Text each other
Sit next to each other
Put in earphones
Switch on music
Text each other
Monday 6 February 2012
Go away snow
Finally got J back to school, following a last-minute panic in which he was printing his graphics homework and ran out of ink. I'm trying to be a bit more of a tough-love mum these days rather than a walk-over so pointed out it wasn't my problem and I'm not much of a dab hand at changing ink anyway so he could phone Dad for advice and if we were late so be it and did he think there was anything to be learnt about when was the best time to print out homework?
Bit tricky getting out of drive but made it. Main roads ok but side roads icy and was a bit foggy. Got there just in time. Hoping snow thaws quickly. It's very pretty but don't like driving in it.
Have spent all morning not really doing anything productive. Need to finish typing up church meeting minutes. Volunteered to do these as wasn't always happy with how they were being done, now have discovered how hard it is.
J enjoyed film last night, kept complaining restaurant had hardly any options for vegetarians which is a bit confusing seeing as he isn't a vegetarian and had chicken fingers and chips which he enjoyed.
We're going to do this thing where one person in the family says what their favourite meal would be and the others make it for them. P's is mushroom stroganoff and spotted dick or tiramisu, J's is dough balls, spaghetti carbonara and light and dark chocolate cheesecake, mine is home-made pizza with seafood, mushroom and pineapple topping followed by tiramisu. Don't feel at all confident about making spotted dick. Wonder if I could cheat and buy it.
Bit tricky getting out of drive but made it. Main roads ok but side roads icy and was a bit foggy. Got there just in time. Hoping snow thaws quickly. It's very pretty but don't like driving in it.
Have spent all morning not really doing anything productive. Need to finish typing up church meeting minutes. Volunteered to do these as wasn't always happy with how they were being done, now have discovered how hard it is.
J enjoyed film last night, kept complaining restaurant had hardly any options for vegetarians which is a bit confusing seeing as he isn't a vegetarian and had chicken fingers and chips which he enjoyed.
We're going to do this thing where one person in the family says what their favourite meal would be and the others make it for them. P's is mushroom stroganoff and spotted dick or tiramisu, J's is dough balls, spaghetti carbonara and light and dark chocolate cheesecake, mine is home-made pizza with seafood, mushroom and pineapple topping followed by tiramisu. Don't feel at all confident about making spotted dick. Wonder if I could cheat and buy it.
Sunday 5 February 2012
Bye Bye Caravan
Something good happened yesterday which was that somebody bought one of our old caravans. This was an old gypsy type one which we used to use when P was working on the house before we moved. After we moved and had the other caravan to live in it ended up full of stuff. Then the roof leaked and it all got in a bit of a mess. Glad but teeny bit sad to see it go. At one point we had 6 caravans but now we're down to 3. Yay!
J gone to party
Pictures below taken by P on his way to church this morning.
After car dug out it wouldn't start and poor J was panicking as he had a party to go to. A bit of charging to the battery and all was well and we got him there on time. Went to watch 'Man on a Ledge' followed by trip to local restaurant. Friend's dad dropping him off.
On way back got text to say school will be open tomorrow. J will be so pleased. It seems like ages since I've had the house to myself. Could do with a bit of a rest really plus got a couple of books to read.
After car dug out it wouldn't start and poor J was panicking as he had a party to go to. A bit of charging to the battery and all was well and we got him there on time. Went to watch 'Man on a Ledge' followed by trip to local restaurant. Friend's dad dropping him off.
On way back got text to say school will be open tomorrow. J will be so pleased. It seems like ages since I've had the house to myself. Could do with a bit of a rest really plus got a couple of books to read.
Snow!
Woke up to lots and lots of snow. Unusually I woke up before the others and got up as I wanted to eat something so I could take my painkillers. Looked out and there were poor little birdies flapping round snow-covered feeder like they couldn't work out what had happened. Decided it was time for Suet Treat had been saving for cold weather.
Snow had drifted in places so couldn't get car out. P walked to church and J and I stayed at home. Had embarrassing episode before P went when I decided to scoot up the drive on Monster Mean Machine to look at the snow and got thoroughly stuck. Good job I had mobile in my pocket.
J seems a lot better. He and P are outside now working on digging out the car. Apparently the bendix is still stuck.
Have just had a plain Bounty, yum, yum.
Snow had drifted in places so couldn't get car out. P walked to church and J and I stayed at home. Had embarrassing episode before P went when I decided to scoot up the drive on Monster Mean Machine to look at the snow and got thoroughly stuck. Good job I had mobile in my pocket.
J seems a lot better. He and P are outside now working on digging out the car. Apparently the bendix is still stuck.
Have just had a plain Bounty, yum, yum.
Thursday 2 February 2012
Thankful Thursday
J still off school, hopefully will go back tomorrow. Rib still painful. Piano teacher has said he's finding journey to our house too much now doesn't have other pupils in same area.
Still today is Thursday and I'm going to have a 'Thankful Thursday'. 10 things off the top of my head to be thankful for:
1) It is lovely and sunny today, cold but sunny.
2) We don't live in the caravan any more, in there this morning the temperature was -1.
3) J seems to be getting better.
4) The birds who come to our feeder - robins, blackbirds, great tits, blue tits, long-tailed tits, dunnocks... I love them all.
5) I've got a washing machine, right now I can't lift the washing to get it in or out, but I've still got one.
6) P who has helped with the washing this week.
7) P who does the cooking every day.
8) I've got a dishwasher, I really, really appreciate my dishwasher.
9) Books. I love them.
10) My laptop, I like that too.
The trouble is when I start making a thankful list all sorts of quite trivial things come into my head and I know there are all sorts of mega things I should put like God loves me and Jesus died for me and that I've got a Bible and we'e not persecuted for what we believe and we're not starving and we've got clean water to drink and good health care but I'm grateful for all that all the time and it does go a bit without
saying and sometimes I like to be thankful for the things that are right in front of me. Being thankful is a good antidote to self-pity I find.
Where is that MOT certificate?
Still today is Thursday and I'm going to have a 'Thankful Thursday'. 10 things off the top of my head to be thankful for:
1) It is lovely and sunny today, cold but sunny.
2) We don't live in the caravan any more, in there this morning the temperature was -1.
3) J seems to be getting better.
4) The birds who come to our feeder - robins, blackbirds, great tits, blue tits, long-tailed tits, dunnocks... I love them all.
5) I've got a washing machine, right now I can't lift the washing to get it in or out, but I've still got one.
6) P who has helped with the washing this week.
7) P who does the cooking every day.
8) I've got a dishwasher, I really, really appreciate my dishwasher.
9) Books. I love them.
10) My laptop, I like that too.
The trouble is when I start making a thankful list all sorts of quite trivial things come into my head and I know there are all sorts of mega things I should put like God loves me and Jesus died for me and that I've got a Bible and we'e not persecuted for what we believe and we're not starving and we've got clean water to drink and good health care but I'm grateful for all that all the time and it does go a bit without
saying and sometimes I like to be thankful for the things that are right in front of me. Being thankful is a good antidote to self-pity I find.
Where is that MOT certificate?
Wednesday 1 February 2012
Another cracked rib and a cross country crisis
P and I spent the weekend at a healing course at which we had a very good time and really felt God showing me the way forward. Am going to go back some time for more ministry.
J stayed at Tim's house and sent regular updates via text. I couldn't help feeling at times that life was less stressful before texting. On Saturday night he went out with his Sunday school class to Pizza Hut and sent me a text to say he'd eaten too much and felt sick. So there I was having visions of him throwing up over someone else's car or in Becky's house. Thankfully he didn't.
On Sunday morning as we were hastily eating breakfast we had a text saying Tim and family were going to visit his grandma who lives several hundred miles away and he didn't want to go with them. At this point I thought perhaps there was a crisis and grandma was sick but it turned out it was other grandma who lives about 10 miles away. I think never having had 2 grandmas J hasn't quite got his head round the fact that that's what most people have.
On Sunday morning while on our course I banged the side of my chest into a chair and am pretty sure I've cracked a rib again and it's very painful. In fact this morning it's very painful and I can feel the bones grinding together. Thank God for ibuprofen.
Yesterday morning I was in a lot of pain and it was a major struggle to just get out of bed and out of the door so somehow I didn't manage to engage my brain with whether J should do cross country or not and he didn't suggest that he should miss it and he'd been fine at Scouts the night before so he just went off to school with his PE kit. I wasn't sure if I'd go to house group but in the end after soaking in a hot bath for a while and some painkillers I managed to turn up 20 minutes late at which point I found there wasn't a parking space outside the door so someone had to come out and move their car. As soon as I'd sat down and started sipping my tea my mobile rang. It was the school nurse in a real state over J who had nearly collapsed after cross country and was lying on the bed in the medical room under a pile of blankets looking very pale and freezing cold. After assuring her that he had had a good breakfast and we do feed him vegetables I rushed to school and she said to take him to the walk-in surgery. This I didn't do because there is a bit of an issue with the word 'walk' for me and I called in at our doctor's instead. One of the doctors saw him at the end of surgery and she said there was nothing obviously wrong but is referring him to the hospital for tests to make sure there isn't an underlying problem. I'm hoping it's just due to the after effects of the virus and getting very cold. It was snowing at the time and he said he was walking not running for quite a lot of the time. Until he's been to the hospital I'm going to say no PE.
Anyway he still says he feels a bit rough and is in bed this morning and not at school. Really, really hope he's better soon.
J stayed at Tim's house and sent regular updates via text. I couldn't help feeling at times that life was less stressful before texting. On Saturday night he went out with his Sunday school class to Pizza Hut and sent me a text to say he'd eaten too much and felt sick. So there I was having visions of him throwing up over someone else's car or in Becky's house. Thankfully he didn't.
On Sunday morning as we were hastily eating breakfast we had a text saying Tim and family were going to visit his grandma who lives several hundred miles away and he didn't want to go with them. At this point I thought perhaps there was a crisis and grandma was sick but it turned out it was other grandma who lives about 10 miles away. I think never having had 2 grandmas J hasn't quite got his head round the fact that that's what most people have.
On Sunday morning while on our course I banged the side of my chest into a chair and am pretty sure I've cracked a rib again and it's very painful. In fact this morning it's very painful and I can feel the bones grinding together. Thank God for ibuprofen.
Yesterday morning I was in a lot of pain and it was a major struggle to just get out of bed and out of the door so somehow I didn't manage to engage my brain with whether J should do cross country or not and he didn't suggest that he should miss it and he'd been fine at Scouts the night before so he just went off to school with his PE kit. I wasn't sure if I'd go to house group but in the end after soaking in a hot bath for a while and some painkillers I managed to turn up 20 minutes late at which point I found there wasn't a parking space outside the door so someone had to come out and move their car. As soon as I'd sat down and started sipping my tea my mobile rang. It was the school nurse in a real state over J who had nearly collapsed after cross country and was lying on the bed in the medical room under a pile of blankets looking very pale and freezing cold. After assuring her that he had had a good breakfast and we do feed him vegetables I rushed to school and she said to take him to the walk-in surgery. This I didn't do because there is a bit of an issue with the word 'walk' for me and I called in at our doctor's instead. One of the doctors saw him at the end of surgery and she said there was nothing obviously wrong but is referring him to the hospital for tests to make sure there isn't an underlying problem. I'm hoping it's just due to the after effects of the virus and getting very cold. It was snowing at the time and he said he was walking not running for quite a lot of the time. Until he's been to the hospital I'm going to say no PE.
Anyway he still says he feels a bit rough and is in bed this morning and not at school. Really, really hope he's better soon.
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