Merry Christermermas!

So I thought I would blog Christmas before the New Year hits. It was very relaxing, actually (for me, anyway). Doing dishes is SO much more chilled than actually cooking, which Elaine did singlehandedly. It was all really nice. The girls loved their gifts and shared well all day! They both got a new bike, which helped, I think!

They enjoyed having Nana and Papa around and although there was one stealth attack on Papa, they do love him. My advice is never to sit with your back to 4 year olds.

I got some lovely gifts as well. One that we all liked is my new spider catcher. It catches spiders humanely and remotely ( it's a stick about a metre long), so you can deposit them outside, instead of trying to catch them in a box, scream and drop them to the floor, to run under a bed. Mae and Lauren loved that and Lauren even tested it out!

On Christmas night the adults had a civilised game of Cranium. You can tell Geoff and I won, as it is being blogged. But Geoff enjoyed it, as much as he enjoys any board game, and there was a classic moment when we all had to watch Ross try to mime 'edible underwear'- if I had had one more drink I may have died laughing. Honestly....

On Boxing day we went to Lilian and Ross's- where Ross had set out the old Scaletrix set that Chris and Geoff used as kids. The girls had a blast. Lauren was a speed demon and Mae just smiled the whole time!! It didn't last too long before they fell out, but I think it will be used and loved for a long time yet!!

We got back yesterday and went for a brisk (and maybe one more year and its traditional) walk on Mersehead Reserve, where the Barnacle Geese come every year. It was cold but bright and I think I may have found an arrowhead! Although I think it was just a cleverly broken piece of slate....will take a pic. We took Mae's new metal detector, but didn't find anything this time. I think we should hit Residential Homes, myself, for a big catch...

And Tuesday we are off again! This time to Nottingham, which I am looking forward to- more kids to play with Mae, more friends to chill with.

So Happy New Year to all! Hopefully I will speak to you all in 2009!

Back to the Future

Great TV this week- Mae has already seen these two:

E.T.

and Peewee at the Big Top! She really liked both- a real mama's girl.

Besides almost breaking my wrist (Mae knelt on it- I actually cried), and having friends to visit, we have been baking loads. When you bake, you need groceries. The funniest thing by far this week was being at Tesco shopping, when one of the shelf-stacking dudes was walking behind me, singing very quietly (and I imagine, through gritted teeth):

It's the end of the world as we know it (REM)

Ha! I almost peed!!

surprises

Finally, it's the holidays! We all still have stuff to do but have taken it really easy today, particularly because Geoff and I were out for our Christmas parties last night and Liza had Mae sleep over, and having had about 10 vodka and ginger ales, I wasn't up to much.

We all went out this afternoon to see Madagascar 2, though, which was cute. But the real surprise was that on the way to the cinema Mae spotted a flock of starlings and we watched them dance around an old church spire in town.

If you have never seen this phenomenon, it is unbelievable. I have downloaded this from YouTube. I have seen this twice since we have moved here, and it's the kind of thing you just have to stop what you are doing and watch. It's beautiful. The flock we saw today was really small, about 100 birds, but here's what they do:

children

are so wierd. I think Mae is getting stranger by the minute.

She said tonight at the dinner table that her childminder, Liza, only feeds the kids ketchup. Obviously she doesn't - we'd be paying alot less if she did.... but I got in on the joke and sternly said I would have to have a chat with her and Mae paused and said.....'but I like her style'


The other day she was talking about a pet dog (afer Rumpole dies, which will be never at this rate) and I asked her what she would name a dog if we got one.

'Earplug.'

Are they all like this? Maybe Henry needs to have a meeting with her.

Happy Birthday Chris!!

39 reasons to be happy.

Grampy Bear (with snake tie around his neck), Arthur, Ganoonoo, Junior Bear, Garrr, Maisie, Mae, Holly, Peck Peck bird, Apricot Bear, Owen, Fifi, Nancy, Lola, Rabbit, Horton, Chicken, Big Head Dog, Snow Bear, Lucky, Flower, Purse Dog, Santa, Rosie, Shakey Chicken, Love Bear, Puffin, Millie, Merlin, Snowman, Pig, Frog, Panda, Canada Duck, Spot, Leopard, Horse, Swishy, Lamb.

Nuhin'

That's how people from Dumfries say nothing- nuhin'. It's great, and it's what I have been up to this weekend, as Geoff and Mae are away in Edinburgh.

I have been reading the paper, doing a bit of shopping, watching movies (The Darjeeling Ltd- very good.), snoozing, getting Geoff's windscreen replaced as he busted it last week, baking a bit, having a bath, wrapping some Christmas gifts and ordering a few on the net. Nuhin'.

What haven't I done?
Got a christmas tree, decorated the house, mopped the floors, cleaned the bathrooms, shaved my legs, dusted, recycled, washed windows, cleaned out car(s), watched anything of cultural significance on tv (although, remember, I did read the paper). There's a lot I haven't done and I feel great about that!!

So it was a good weekend, although I am looking forward to seeing my little family later.

Advertisers are bad people

The desription on the website spoke about number reognition, bedtime routine trainer, concept of time, etc etc.

The television ad?

'So you and mummy can both get your beauty sleep!'

Not buying it.

Sorry I am on a bit of a rant at the moment. It was pink sparkly glue for girls that has finally pushed me over the edge. I will calm down next week.
Plus I didn't get my beauty sleep...

Blog Fest

From nothin' for ages to this!!





But today this happened. I know I am being unreasonable.





Mae and I went to Dalscone Farm (you've seen the pictures, lots of play equipment, slides, etc) and I ordered her a lunchbox, which consists of sandwich, piece of fruit, crisps and drink.





The woman said ' for a girl or boy?'





I said, why are you asking me that? (I knew why). She gave me a perplexed look and so I said 'are you asking me if she wants a girly looking box?' She confirmed this.





I snapped, my daughter can have a boy's lunchbox, as if it really matters.





Gifts for girls- it's everywhere. And consists merely of pink shit. It drives me crazy. Geoff even came across some said pink shit on the internet, but even better! Covered in the playboy insignia!!!





I could go direct action on this.

He'll be back...

Wow! We had Mae's friend Beck over this weekend and we weren't up all night! Crazy!

These two are so cute together. It's all about farts. You should hear them laugh....

And he'll definetly be back- we introduced him to maple syrup on pancakes. The ultimate Beck compliment 'It's better than cocopops!'

Bagels or Houses?

I had a dream this morning that Geoff and I took Mae to Montreal for some bagels. The backstory:
In about 1995 when I lived with Tanis, we decided, on a whim, with Renee and Bethanne, and this crazy guy we lived with called Relic (enough said, that part went really bad...) to go to Montreal for a night to get some bagels. My mom, conveniently, was in Newfoundland, and had left her car with me. We were going to set off in the morning but were so excited we left at about 2 in the morning, passing moose in very dense fog in New Brunswick and getting in mid-morning the next day. It's about 1200 kms each way. I can't remember where we stayed or really much of what happened, all I remember was getting bagels, then waiting for Renee, who was out doing an all-nighter with her friend Brian. Did we go to old Montreal? Did we sleep in the car? Someone enlighten me!!
Mom didn't notice the 2600 kms I put on the car, just that I scratched it slightly when pulling a 12 pack of beer off the boot.

I am thinking that this dream was symbolic though, as running away from responsibility, as Geoff and I may put an offer in this week for a house. Maybe we should just go to Montreal and get some bagels instead........

Sheese!

Aubrey's caustic remark on my last blog gave me the push I needed to do another post, however besides visiting Aberdeen and the fab Reid family last weekend, nowt has been happening.

Although I have been informed today that for our Christmas party at work, we need to bring in a baby photo of ourselves for a game. I didn't think I had one, but I think someone must have forwarded this one to me when Mae was born. Look how alike we are! That's all I have. Apologies.

Proper Old!?!!!

Oh dear- when listening to (BBC) Radio One the other day they were playing Durna Duran. It brought back fond memories, as usual, of playing in the junior high track with Sharon, Natalie, Calla, Linda Robinson et al. The young presenters then said 'great band, even better video (it was Girls on Film, male presenter) but let's bring it back up to date with some Lethal Bizzle, that was PROPER old!!'







So I felt slightly put out and wondered what acerbic wit I could use to reply to that on my blog. Then I am looking for images of the band and they were coming up 1977, 1980, 1982, etc. And I thought, yep, it WAS proper old. This picture is from 1981!!!





Maybe I will have a midlife crisis. Thank god I am not 40 yet.

The only other thing I have to day is (and I know no Americans read this blog), please vote Obama. McCain? Not another one. I know, it shouldn't make any difference but somehow it does. Look at Bush. He's another one ready for the Holy Jesus Hospital.





Should be interesting....

Hallowe'en is one thing....

You know, with the dressing up, the pumpkins,

The sweets, kids at the door.

But when sock puppets start going bad? I am locking the doors and turning off the lights...

Independence Day

Mae has left for her first fully fledged sleepover tonight, at her friend Beck's place. Beck's mum is her childminder so I think it'll all be fine but she was pretty clingy when I tried to leave!!! I hope we don't get a call at 2am!!!!

Here she is on her way. I couldn't decide which picture was cuter so I put both on!

Well, we're back from a great weekend in Newcastle, where we stayed at the Hilton to celebrate our anniversary- I left the accomodation up to Geoff which paid off- he booked us into an executive suite, which was great, and gave us access to the executive lounge, with free drinks, breakfast (not in that order), afternoon tea and canapes in the evenings, which spared us alot of cash when we went out!

Here's the Hilton, right on the river, and the view from the lounge.

Walking across the green bridge we came upon this rooftop garden! It was so close to the bridge it must have been incredibly loud out there but the view would have been great!!

Newcastle is a fantastic city! I wouldn't have thought, but the architecture is a crazy mix of medieval, tudor, georgian and modern, done very well. There were all these little pathways through the city which then led onto art installations. It was amazing!

We came upon this old hospital, probably for people who couldn't pay- it was closed when we were there so didn't find out too much about it; although for those of you who know my aunt Patsy you will be laughing as much as I was when you read the name....

We went to the Baltic, which is a contemporary art space, and saw some wonderful art including one installation by Steve McQueen.

The Baltic is just on the Quayside by the Millenium Bridge, which is beautful in the day and at night. Here's another art gallery, and if you look closely you'll see the paving on the ground butt up against the building as if it was carpet; the benches looked as if they were cut and folded up- beautiful! And right across from it the little building tucked away was dated 1600's and was the lying in hospital for married women. We will have to read more of the history of this place- all these treasures!!

And to top it all, the day we get back, John and Sharon stop in on their way home from Greece and we scored this- the best baklava I have had in years!! Look, Renee!!!!

Good Luck Bethanne!!!

I always felt that Geoff gave the best advice when I was pregnant:

Hang in there.

Actually....

tin foil can be fun.

(and no, this is not my butt. The things you can find on the web...)

Tin foil for 10 years

What the hell? We have been married for almost 10 years so I looked up what the symbols for this anniversary are.


Tin foil.


Aluminum.


What the hell? How can this be? The first 10 years you have to get used to being married and then settle into it. Plus starting a family. New jobs. Buying houses. Surely to god you ease into it after this? I assume that after this is turns into nice wrinkly love. Like the adverts for coffee, and Saga travel. Okay, we are not yet 40 but I always thought that you need to be tough for the first 10. NOT aluminum. Something tough, like titanium.





Then I thought about it. Tin foil.




Take-aways.



Oh yeah, makes sense.

Face Painting

Absolutely nothing has been happening so we spent Monday night painting each other's faces.

I got a flower.

Mae got a duck with ducklings.

And Geoff....

What do you think this is? We saw one of these in Carlisle.

Yep- Chowchow!!

I love this guy- he is the only reason I have any idea what is happening in the states/ with the economy.

I am also currently hooked on etsy- look at it, it is fab.

And the results are in.....

So here I am in a tree, three days after starting my 'Sumatran Tiger diet' (see below). It works, wouldn't you agree? Now buy my book for only £49.99

HA! It's not me. I know, I know, very similar. But it's one of Bethanne's friends, who climbed her cherry tree! If I looked like that I would climb a cherry tree too.....

We like to move it, move it

For those of you who have watched Madagascar you would have loved the South Lakes Animal Park! We turned up this weekend after a sodden night camping. The next night was so windy I thought we would take off, and land in the next field. The five minutes we saw the sunshine are shown at the bottom of the post- by the time I took these three pictures the sun was gone. Poor Mae continually says 'I hate camping'- because she never gets out! It's always so wet- hopefully next summer will be better.

But we did it- and the aquarium and animal parks that we visited were amazing. I have never seen a giraffe before and they were magic. So cool. And we fed lemurs and watched the cool sumatran tigers getting fed. The meat was placed on a pole and they had to pull it down- maybe I should start doing that at home. OH MY GOD! What a great diet that would be! Turn your self into a sexy beast with this wild animal diet. I really need to sell these ideas.....

ANYway, it was cool. But the best part of the weekend? The pilgrimmage to Windermere, home of Lakeland Ltd- the best storage/kitchen/home solution shop in da world. Where you find all of life's essentials. Like 4 banana split dishes in pastel. These are for when you are on a short break from your Sumatran Tiger Diet.