6 weird things about me huh? Well I asked MrV who is usually very good at coming up with my faults and he couldn't think of anything except for the whole shark thing which has been pretty well documented and we don't really need to go into that again do we.
1. Accent
Today someone asked me what part of Canada I am from. This happens more often than you would imagine, except if the questioner is Australian, New Zealander or South African and then they ask what part of their country I'm from. Oh yes and except if I'm in Chelsea then I have an incredibly posh accent. None of this is put on it just happens. Curiously when I'm taped speaking I think I sound Dutch. I have, however, never had a Scottish accent.
2. Words
I hate certain words. They fill me with a certain feeling of revulsion sort of like touching a very cheap polyester material. Ugh. Words are "fleece", "snack" and the phrases "winning hearts and minds" and "princess of hearts". There are probably others, I just can't think of them.
3. Colour
I have a compulsion to collect art and craft stuff in lots of different colours. Last year when I started doing grown-up (instead of cross stitching pictures of baby elephants, Winnie the Pooh etc) cross stitch I went out and collected samples of all the colours available in Anchor thread. I now have boxes full of them, most of which probably will never be used, but they look gorgeous. Same thing with quilting material - I have loads of squares of the stuff and I love putting them together to see which combinations work the best but I just can't bear the idea of actually using them.
4. Time
I don't wear a watch. I own wrist watches, and an old fashioned pocket watch on a chain (can't remember the proper name for it) but I never use them. It was really hard when I first stopped wearing a watch. I felt naked and was constantly worried I would be late for appointments but 10 years on, and with the advent of mobile phones that come with clocks I am fine and now if I do wear one I find it gets in the way.
5. Food
MrV holds firm that I am rather a picky eater and I disagree. OK I don't like oranges but the smell of them gives me splitting headaches so I think that to not like them is ok. I don't like fennel and nor do I like Brussels sprouts but I think I'm ok with all other veggies. Especially carrots. I love Abel and Cole carrots. I think I am picky when it comes to meat. I hate meat with fat on. Really hate it. Especially when it comes in a thick wedge such as on chops. And I don't eat pork (except sausages but only because beef sausages are not so tasty). So we live mostly on a vegetarian diet with occasional meals of chicken or fish.
6 Last one......my dream job - Air crash investigator. I don't think I need to say any more
OK I tag....Angelfeet and MrsT
30 January 2007
29 January 2007
How do you explain that?
It's been pretty quiet around here. We've all come down with this lovely cold which kicks the feet out from under you for a few days so we've mostly been holed up at home watching non-stop Charlie and Lola DVDs. MrV and the FB did venture out on Saturday to visit MrV's brother in North London giving me a few hours peace and quiet.
The FB and I were back off to nursery this morning, back along the route where the weird thing happened last week (still no police signs up, still nothing in the local press) when the FB looked up at the church at the end of the road and asked "Mummy, why is there a picture of an aeroplane taking off on the side of the church?" I looked up and saw what he meant; the aeroplane as he called it is actually a cross. So of course he wanted to know what a cross was (predominantly a symbol of Christianity he was told, and wisely he left it at that.)
After nursery was over we started off back down the hill to pay a visit to the library. Got towards the bottom and I saw a pink, long thing lying on the pavement in front of me which looked, I thought, like the handgrip off a kid's bike, until the FB started kicking it and standing on it and asking what it was.... And then I took a closer look and realised it wasn't a handgrip but a giant, pink dildo. How do you explain what that is to a three year old?
Library books for this week are
Colour (Travels through the Paintbox) by Victoria Finlay. It looks like she goes through each colour and looks at how they were made in the past, and any interesting historical info she could find for that particular colour. I read her book about precious gems in the summer and loved it.
My Father's Notebook - Kader Abdolah. Another random from the "A" shelf. The title captured me; anything to do with stationary has me hooked!
The Kaminsky Cure - Christopher New. I'm not sure why I picked this one up but I did and will have to see how it goes. The story of a German man and his love of Nazism which is understandably not shared by his Jewish wife.
And finally
Thursday at Eight - Debbie Macomber. This week's chicklit.
The "tomb" went back today but I have my own copy which is slowly getting worked through.
Am off to think of 6 weird things about myself as have been tagged by Kirsty
The FB and I were back off to nursery this morning, back along the route where the weird thing happened last week (still no police signs up, still nothing in the local press) when the FB looked up at the church at the end of the road and asked "Mummy, why is there a picture of an aeroplane taking off on the side of the church?" I looked up and saw what he meant; the aeroplane as he called it is actually a cross. So of course he wanted to know what a cross was (predominantly a symbol of Christianity he was told, and wisely he left it at that.)
After nursery was over we started off back down the hill to pay a visit to the library. Got towards the bottom and I saw a pink, long thing lying on the pavement in front of me which looked, I thought, like the handgrip off a kid's bike, until the FB started kicking it and standing on it and asking what it was.... And then I took a closer look and realised it wasn't a handgrip but a giant, pink dildo. How do you explain what that is to a three year old?
Library books for this week are
Colour (Travels through the Paintbox) by Victoria Finlay. It looks like she goes through each colour and looks at how they were made in the past, and any interesting historical info she could find for that particular colour. I read her book about precious gems in the summer and loved it.
My Father's Notebook - Kader Abdolah. Another random from the "A" shelf. The title captured me; anything to do with stationary has me hooked!
The Kaminsky Cure - Christopher New. I'm not sure why I picked this one up but I did and will have to see how it goes. The story of a German man and his love of Nazism which is understandably not shared by his Jewish wife.
And finally
Thursday at Eight - Debbie Macomber. This week's chicklit.
The "tomb" went back today but I have my own copy which is slowly getting worked through.
Am off to think of 6 weird things about myself as have been tagged by Kirsty
24 January 2007
Let it snow
This was supposed to be a sweetness and light post about how it snowed here in South London, about how much the FB enjoyed putting on his wellies and stomping through the last few patches left as before it all melted; and how he loved making snowballs and throwing them a metre in front of him and then stomping on them on the pavement but..
On the way back from picking him up from nursery two men ran past us. One of them shouted something and the other, well the other had been seriously injured. The whole of his neck was bright red with blood. Behind them blue lights were flashing and crowds had formed to gawp at whatever had happened. What had happened I have no idea. I didn't want to hang about with the FB. I feel awful that he saw the injured man and that I didn't realise what was going on until they were too close to us for me to hide the FB's eyes.
When we came out of the supermarket 20 minutes later an ambulance was parked at the side of the High Street. I think they must have picked up the injured runner.
I don't want to live here any more. We'll be moving in the summer
PS more snow due tonight so cross fingers for a happier, fluffier post
On the way back from picking him up from nursery two men ran past us. One of them shouted something and the other, well the other had been seriously injured. The whole of his neck was bright red with blood. Behind them blue lights were flashing and crowds had formed to gawp at whatever had happened. What had happened I have no idea. I didn't want to hang about with the FB. I feel awful that he saw the injured man and that I didn't realise what was going on until they were too close to us for me to hide the FB's eyes.
When we came out of the supermarket 20 minutes later an ambulance was parked at the side of the High Street. I think they must have picked up the injured runner.
I don't want to live here any more. We'll be moving in the summer
PS more snow due tonight so cross fingers for a happier, fluffier post
22 January 2007
Reasons to be Grumpy; one..two..three
I am grumpy. I have been for several days now and it's not shifting. Why? Well...
1. My bra straps keep falling down. They are on the tightest they can possibly be and yet every few minutes I have to pull them back up. And because I had to tighten the straps the underwired bit keeps jabbing me in the armpit (yes I know you aren't supposed to wear underwired bras during pregnancy - that's the subject of a grump at a later date).
2. It is winter so guess how easy it is to find maternity jumpers.... Apparently pregnant women become invincible to cold, sleet and wind. As I can no longer do up my coat the rain/sleet rapidly makes my top become just slightly more see-through than it was intended to be, flashing the annoying bra (above) at all the passersby - poor people.
3. On Saturday I realised that two of the cross-stitch symbols for the humungous picture I am doing, when printed out, look identical. All of the work done on those symbols has had to be unpicked and restitched. And now the bloody needle's gone missing and I can't find it anywhere.
4. Our local supermarket shut their toilets for months to redecorate them. I presume they spent this time painting a small (1mm x 1mm) square on the ceiling as there is absolutely no visible improvement in the squalor. They have shut them again for repairs.
On a lighter and happier note as one must always look for the silver lining on the grey wintery cloud (even if the cloud stretches from one side of the horizon to the other)...
1. MrV looked after the FB all weekend, did the shopping, cooking, changed the litter tray, took the rubbish out, vacuumed, mopped and fixed the wonky toilet seat. I sat around and grumped.
2. The Peanut has stopped sitting on my bladder and using it as a space hopper, and has found a more comfy place to relax and do what ever fetuses do. I can now get dressed without grimacing in pain.
3. Despite being a grumpy cow I am also quite calm and stress free!
1. My bra straps keep falling down. They are on the tightest they can possibly be and yet every few minutes I have to pull them back up. And because I had to tighten the straps the underwired bit keeps jabbing me in the armpit (yes I know you aren't supposed to wear underwired bras during pregnancy - that's the subject of a grump at a later date).
2. It is winter so guess how easy it is to find maternity jumpers.... Apparently pregnant women become invincible to cold, sleet and wind. As I can no longer do up my coat the rain/sleet rapidly makes my top become just slightly more see-through than it was intended to be, flashing the annoying bra (above) at all the passersby - poor people.
3. On Saturday I realised that two of the cross-stitch symbols for the humungous picture I am doing, when printed out, look identical. All of the work done on those symbols has had to be unpicked and restitched. And now the bloody needle's gone missing and I can't find it anywhere.
4. Our local supermarket shut their toilets for months to redecorate them. I presume they spent this time painting a small (1mm x 1mm) square on the ceiling as there is absolutely no visible improvement in the squalor. They have shut them again for repairs.
On a lighter and happier note as one must always look for the silver lining on the grey wintery cloud (even if the cloud stretches from one side of the horizon to the other)...
1. MrV looked after the FB all weekend, did the shopping, cooking, changed the litter tray, took the rubbish out, vacuumed, mopped and fixed the wonky toilet seat. I sat around and grumped.
2. The Peanut has stopped sitting on my bladder and using it as a space hopper, and has found a more comfy place to relax and do what ever fetuses do. I can now get dressed without grimacing in pain.
3. Despite being a grumpy cow I am also quite calm and stress free!
17 January 2007
Rain
It was a beautiful sunny day in South London when I stomped up the hill with the FB in tow on our way to nursery. Ahh so many untruths in that one sentence...rained today but unusually the raincover on the pushchair actually managed to keep the rain off and not attempt to smother my son; staggered up the hill is probably closer to the truth than stomp, mostly because the FB was sitting in his pushchair safe from the elements whilst I, his poor mama, got wet and cold.
It rained yesterday as well which, as MrV had the day off, was rather annoying. Yesterday was also scan #5 (hopefully the last one) day and we got to see the Peanut again. He's grown a tad since our last viewing and become a little less bashful about showing off his bits, indeed we have a photo of them for embarrassing him with later in life. But he's fine and there wasn't any sign of anything that could have caused the increase in neuchal fluid that was there previously. Oh and Ann they warmed the gel up!
It rained yesterday as well which, as MrV had the day off, was rather annoying. Yesterday was also scan #5 (hopefully the last one) day and we got to see the Peanut again. He's grown a tad since our last viewing and become a little less bashful about showing off his bits, indeed we have a photo of them for embarrassing him with later in life. But he's fine and there wasn't any sign of anything that could have caused the increase in neuchal fluid that was there previously. Oh and Ann they warmed the gel up!
16 January 2007
Was meant to be A Meme for Monday
A - Available/Single? – Neither, been with MrV for centuries now.
B - Best Friend? – Following a very furious email exchange in October I am currently bestfriendless.
C - Cake or Pie? Cake definitely. Chocolate sponge cake with chocolate icing and lots of whipped cream.
D - Drink Of Choice? Diet coke closely followed by chocolate milkshakes.
E – Essential Item You Use Everyday? My diary Snobbery Personified.
F - Favourite Colour? Don’t have one but I prefer bright colours
G - Gummy Bears Or Worms? Gummi bears.
H - Hometown? – Edinburgh, Scotland
I – Indulgence – MrV says chocolate, I think it’s a necessity.
J - January Or February? February – because it has Pancake day in it.
K - Kids & Their Names? A big problem in our house as the Peanut still hasn’t got a name. All the names I like MrV hates and vice versa. The FB thinks we should call him Postman Pat George, both parents vetoed this one.
L - Life Is Incomplete Without? Chocolate
M - Marriage date? 2003 and was very heavily pregnant at the time. Never ever get married when pregnant.
N - Number Of Siblings? 1
O - Oranges Or Apples? Apples. The smell of oranges makes my head hurt.
P - Phobias/Fears – Great White Sharks in swimmng pools, ponds, rivers, streams, lakes……
Q - Favourite Quote? Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
R - Reason to Smile? There is a cream cake in the fridge all for me, hurrah!
S - Season? Autumn. Not too hot, not too cold. All the leaves changing and falling, and a autumnal smell in the air.
T - Tag people? Aunty Evil
U - Unknown Fact About Me? I was an arms smuggler when I was 12. We (me, my sister and some local expat kids) found some bullets in the desert in the UAE and I took them back to Qatar in my handluggage
V - Vegetable you don’t like? Kale, brussels sprouts, fennel
W - Worst Habit? You mean apart from my chocolate compulsion?
X - X-rays You’ve Had? Right knee, right hand, teeth, and chest. Have broken my right big toe, 3 fingers on my right hand and a bone in my right hand. Hmmm right side does not have much luck!
Y - Your Favourite Food? Leaving aside chocolate as one must occasionally, my favourite savoury food is Pollo con Fungi from Strada
Z – Zodiac Sign? Virgo
B - Best Friend? – Following a very furious email exchange in October I am currently bestfriendless.
C - Cake or Pie? Cake definitely. Chocolate sponge cake with chocolate icing and lots of whipped cream.
D - Drink Of Choice? Diet coke closely followed by chocolate milkshakes.
E – Essential Item You Use Everyday? My diary Snobbery Personified.
F - Favourite Colour? Don’t have one but I prefer bright colours
G - Gummy Bears Or Worms? Gummi bears.
H - Hometown? – Edinburgh, Scotland
I – Indulgence – MrV says chocolate, I think it’s a necessity.
J - January Or February? February – because it has Pancake day in it.
K - Kids & Their Names? A big problem in our house as the Peanut still hasn’t got a name. All the names I like MrV hates and vice versa. The FB thinks we should call him Postman Pat George, both parents vetoed this one.
L - Life Is Incomplete Without? Chocolate
M - Marriage date? 2003 and was very heavily pregnant at the time. Never ever get married when pregnant.
N - Number Of Siblings? 1
O - Oranges Or Apples? Apples. The smell of oranges makes my head hurt.
P - Phobias/Fears – Great White Sharks in swimmng pools, ponds, rivers, streams, lakes……
Q - Favourite Quote? Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
R - Reason to Smile? There is a cream cake in the fridge all for me, hurrah!
S - Season? Autumn. Not too hot, not too cold. All the leaves changing and falling, and a autumnal smell in the air.
T - Tag people? Aunty Evil
U - Unknown Fact About Me? I was an arms smuggler when I was 12. We (me, my sister and some local expat kids) found some bullets in the desert in the UAE and I took them back to Qatar in my handluggage
V - Vegetable you don’t like? Kale, brussels sprouts, fennel
W - Worst Habit? You mean apart from my chocolate compulsion?
X - X-rays You’ve Had? Right knee, right hand, teeth, and chest. Have broken my right big toe, 3 fingers on my right hand and a bone in my right hand. Hmmm right side does not have much luck!
Y - Your Favourite Food? Leaving aside chocolate as one must occasionally, my favourite savoury food is Pollo con Fungi from Strada
Z – Zodiac Sign? Virgo
11 January 2007
Books for a blustery day
Very windy day today with lots of rain chucked in for good luck. The FB and I stopped in at the library on our way back from nursery and got some rather good books
- Fear and Trembling by Amelie Nothomb. Found this on DomesticAli's blog and thought that it sounded rather good. All about a Belgian girl working for a year in Japan. I read Hokkaido Highway Blues: Hitchhiking Japan by Will Ferguson during the Summer and loved it. Japan is somewhere that has always intrigued me so am looking forward to reading this one.
- Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alistair McCall Smith. During my pregnancy with the FB I lost my ability to concentrate but found that I could read Smith's books and loved them.
- Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey. Part of my plan to read books I wouldn't ordinarily pick up - I pick up a book at random from a shelf in the library. Currently I'm on A. Have found some real gems this way, and of course some utter crap.
- 1001 Books you must read before you die by Peter Boxall. The other part of my plan to get out of my chicklit reading rut. Will take a few hundred years or so but I would like to read most of the books listing in this tomb.
- Cents and Sensibility by Maggie Alderson. With so many worthy books I needed something trashy to balance them out and Alderson does the trick perfectly.
- Arthur and George by Julian Barnes. Next month's book for the library reading group. My future brother-in-law read it and really enjoyed it.
10 January 2007
Normality resumed.
Everything is back to normal again today. The FB has reinstated his constant request for the tv to be on, and worries that he will miss some vitally interesting programme, so I know he is his usual self. He tried to convince me that he still had a headache this afternoon but as he was grinning at me at the time I think he was trying to pull a fast one.
Fabulous brother-in-law sent me a copy of the Beiderbeck cd down. The original one, that I listened to weeks ago was actually for my father for Christmas - I was listening to it just to check it worked ok as it was bought second hand off Ebay. BiL has copied it just for me and now I have some fantastic music to listen to, and for the FB to boogie around the living room to. Yippee!
Fabulous brother-in-law sent me a copy of the Beiderbeck cd down. The original one, that I listened to weeks ago was actually for my father for Christmas - I was listening to it just to check it worked ok as it was bought second hand off Ebay. BiL has copied it just for me and now I have some fantastic music to listen to, and for the FB to boogie around the living room to. Yippee!
09 January 2007
The House of Pain (and Puking)
Flylady and all my other plans for the day had to take a breather. The FB has a migraine. As I type he is lying on the couch asleep which I hope (cross your fingers) that that will get rid of it. He had magic yogurt (yogurt mixed with calprofen) at 10.30 but promptly threw it back up again. Poor little guy. I feel so sorry for him. He threw up in the supermarket all over himself and his pushchair and then had to ride home in the vile pushchair but sitting on his coat. And he's been so brave despite the pain and the vomiting.
many hours later....he woke up, looked about him and then complained that he had already seen whatever programme that was showing on CBeebies aka he was feeling much better. One day we will work out what exactly triggers his migraines and avoid it but nothing at present leaps out as an obvious candidate.
many hours later....he woke up, looked about him and then complained that he had already seen whatever programme that was showing on CBeebies aka he was feeling much better. One day we will work out what exactly triggers his migraines and avoid it but nothing at present leaps out as an obvious candidate.
07 January 2007
A series of unconnected thoughts (part one of many)
I think I may have been slightly over-ambitious with the cross stitch and hoping to have it done by the time the Peanut makes his appearance. It is hard going. I think the problem is is that there is so much detail that I am changing thread colour every few stitches which is slowing me down no end. So don't be surprised if you see that one on my to-do list for next year.
Yesterday bliss of bliss, AuntyH and SuperUncleG took the FB away on an excursion. They were meant to visit a children's petting zoo but it rained and so instead they went to our local gym so the FB could play in the soft play area. We (being MrV, the FB and myself) were all a little nervous about him going away so it was good that it turned out they only went down the road; and as it was the FB missed us not a jot. In fact he refused to come home until it was dark so he could see all the street lights. I believe that SuperUncleG had to accompany the FB and his favourite teddy Cedric the lion to see what a gym looked like, with G carrying the lion....a sight I wish I had been there to see.
Over Christmas the Peanut stopped kicking. He's been at it since the evening of the day after the CVS, well more a squirming feeling rather than a kick but it has been a regular occurance, and then just before Christmas Day it stopped. Don't panic, he started back up again about 3 days later but it's been pretty irregular until 2 days ago when instead of the wriggling, squirming feeling there have been some pretty violent boots to my tummy, diaphragm and bladder. I guess he was just lazing about, taking in the whole Christmas vibe and going through a massive growth spurt. Only 9 days until the next scan and we get to see him and see how much he has grown etc.
Yesterday bliss of bliss, AuntyH and SuperUncleG took the FB away on an excursion. They were meant to visit a children's petting zoo but it rained and so instead they went to our local gym so the FB could play in the soft play area. We (being MrV, the FB and myself) were all a little nervous about him going away so it was good that it turned out they only went down the road; and as it was the FB missed us not a jot. In fact he refused to come home until it was dark so he could see all the street lights. I believe that SuperUncleG had to accompany the FB and his favourite teddy Cedric the lion to see what a gym looked like, with G carrying the lion....a sight I wish I had been there to see.
Over Christmas the Peanut stopped kicking. He's been at it since the evening of the day after the CVS, well more a squirming feeling rather than a kick but it has been a regular occurance, and then just before Christmas Day it stopped. Don't panic, he started back up again about 3 days later but it's been pretty irregular until 2 days ago when instead of the wriggling, squirming feeling there have been some pretty violent boots to my tummy, diaphragm and bladder. I guess he was just lazing about, taking in the whole Christmas vibe and going through a massive growth spurt. Only 9 days until the next scan and we get to see him and see how much he has grown etc.
03 January 2007
To resolve or not to resolve, that is the question.
I'd rather not if it's alright by you, instead I'm compiling a list of things to do this year.
- To get some sort of housekeeping routine in place before the Peanut is born. I rather like the Flylady and when I don't get sidetracked, her system works. What doesn't work for me is having a Control Journal but writing a list every day in my diary does, so I'll do that instead.
- Get the finances under control and get saving. After all the Peanut needs a trendy expensive pushchair you know (and I found out yesterday that you can use the carrycot as an overnight cot for weekend aways MrV so very useful for the Stripy Twins' wedding.)
- Because I am going to have so much free time on my hands this year I've stupidly begun a new cross stitch picture. This one is a monster - 600 x 400 (stitches, about a 1 metre by 70 cm landscape) and is taken from a photo I took in August in one of the Commons near here. The FB liked to spend hours standing on the bridge throwning acorns into the pond and in August MrV was on his sabbatical, so the picture has meaning for us.
- To log all the books that I've read this year. Don't expect to see that much worthy literature or indeed that many books read after June.
- To learn how my sewing machine works and make something with it. My problem is is that I tend to leap in at the deep end; rather than start with something simple like making a hanky, I'd rather make a baby's changing bag complete with adorable picture thingy on the front.
- And finally, develop patience and a more calm disposition to life.
too much do you think or doable? We shall have to wait and see!
31 December 2006
28 December 2006
"just what I always wanted, a thing"
Hello. Welcome Back. How was your Christmas? Was Santa good to you? How was the food?
We had a lovely time. The FB let us sleep in until 7.30 and had to be prompted to check his stocking which he then dragged through and insisted on opening on our bed. The highlight of his stocking was a torch, though he was very chuffed that Santa had brought him two satsumas and a banana.
Eventually he was allowed to start on the huge heap of presents Santa had left under the tree (which was decorated in time for F. Christmas' visit). I thought he would get through the loot in about 20 minutes, but an hour and a half later he had finally unwrapped the last present. There were a lot of stops to play with things as they appeared. So he is now the proud owner of his very own till and a doctor's set, which is good because he's decided to be a doctor when he grows up - I guess he realised that being a doctor, a builder and a traindriver during the week, and a street cleaner at the weekend was just going to be too much work.
The obstetric consultant appointment was yesterday. It's not common to see a consultant in the UK during pregnancy; most of the care falls on either the GP or Midwives, but my midwife felt that I needed to see a consultant because of the ectopic, so we saw him yesterday and it was obvious that none of us knew why I was there, but never mind. He's testing my thyroid, liver and kidneys to see if he can figure out why I can't keep my eyes open in the afternoon.
Today, like most of London, we went to the Natural History Museum, followed by the Science Museum. We were under orders from a certain knee high dictator to go and look at the dinosaur exhibition but our little Castro chickened out when it came time to see the huge roaring T-Rex. Then it was off to the Science Museum to find Stephenson's Rocket (one of the first steam trains).
We've weaned the FB off his Underground Ernie fetish only to replace it with a Charlie and Lola DVD watching compulsion. However, there has been a breakthrough, he has permitted us to put Chorlton and the Wheelies on twice! and watch ToyStory, though he did spent most of it telling us that he didn't like it and could we put CBeebies on please.
We had a lovely time. The FB let us sleep in until 7.30 and had to be prompted to check his stocking which he then dragged through and insisted on opening on our bed. The highlight of his stocking was a torch, though he was very chuffed that Santa had brought him two satsumas and a banana.
Eventually he was allowed to start on the huge heap of presents Santa had left under the tree (which was decorated in time for F. Christmas' visit). I thought he would get through the loot in about 20 minutes, but an hour and a half later he had finally unwrapped the last present. There were a lot of stops to play with things as they appeared. So he is now the proud owner of his very own till and a doctor's set, which is good because he's decided to be a doctor when he grows up - I guess he realised that being a doctor, a builder and a traindriver during the week, and a street cleaner at the weekend was just going to be too much work.
The obstetric consultant appointment was yesterday. It's not common to see a consultant in the UK during pregnancy; most of the care falls on either the GP or Midwives, but my midwife felt that I needed to see a consultant because of the ectopic, so we saw him yesterday and it was obvious that none of us knew why I was there, but never mind. He's testing my thyroid, liver and kidneys to see if he can figure out why I can't keep my eyes open in the afternoon.
Today, like most of London, we went to the Natural History Museum, followed by the Science Museum. We were under orders from a certain knee high dictator to go and look at the dinosaur exhibition but our little Castro chickened out when it came time to see the huge roaring T-Rex. Then it was off to the Science Museum to find Stephenson's Rocket (one of the first steam trains).
We've weaned the FB off his Underground Ernie fetish only to replace it with a Charlie and Lola DVD watching compulsion. However, there has been a breakthrough, he has permitted us to put Chorlton and the Wheelies on twice! and watch ToyStory, though he did spent most of it telling us that he didn't like it and could we put CBeebies on please.
24 December 2006
Merry Christmas
The Christmas tree is up, the presents are (almost) wrapped, the final run to the supermarket has been done and the fridge and all the cupboards are fighting the childlocks to open, so all that is left to do is to bid you all a Merry Christmas and may Santa be good to you all. It has been fantastic reading all your blogs and having you come back to my place and read mine, so here's to 2007 and many more posts to come.
Karen
xxx
Karen
xxx
22 December 2006
The Christmas Meme
From daysgoby
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
I don’t drink alcohol or hot liquids, but I do love chocolate, so it would have to be a chocolate milkshake. Not very Christmassy I grant you, but very yummy
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Definitely wraps them but not very well. And if Santa was a little better prepared he would use different wrapping paper than the non-Santa presents.
3. Coloured lights on tree/house or white?
I think they are white on the tree (none on the house) but we haven’t had them up for years.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No
5. When do you put up your decorations?
Christmas Eve due to small boy and 2 cats. All three have a deep love of Christmas decorations.
6. What is your favourite Holiday (Christmas) meal include?
Chipolatas, stuffing, gravy and either turkey or chicken I’m not fussed. This year we’ll have delicious carrots too.
7. Favourite Holiday memory as a child?
My sister and I making a pact when in bed on Christmas Eve that the first to waken would wake the other up.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
My sister and I had suspicions for a long time. We used to count the fruit in the fruit bowl on Christmas Eve and then tally it with what was in there on Christmas Day morning. We also took to marking the fruit and seeing if it was appear in our stockings.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
No.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
With whatever decorations we have. I would love to have a tree that looked like it was out of a magazine, well it does, but as the “before” horror shot.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
I love it until it melts into slush and then freezes. I hate ice.
12. Can you ice skate?
Yes!
13. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Spending time with my husband and son, and watching my son’s face when he opens his presents.
14. What is your favourite holiday dessert?
Stollen. It’s German cake and absolutely delicious, and now I am calling MrV to ask him to bring some more home (from the supermarket, he didn’t bring anything back from Germany except himself.)
15. What is your favourite holiday tradition?
Making the Christmas cake. Everyone has to stir the mixture before it goes into the cake tin, and make a wish.
16. What tops your tree?
I think it’s a really tacky star. I keep meaning to replace it and forget every year.
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
I don’t drink alcohol or hot liquids, but I do love chocolate, so it would have to be a chocolate milkshake. Not very Christmassy I grant you, but very yummy
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Definitely wraps them but not very well. And if Santa was a little better prepared he would use different wrapping paper than the non-Santa presents.
3. Coloured lights on tree/house or white?
I think they are white on the tree (none on the house) but we haven’t had them up for years.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No
5. When do you put up your decorations?
Christmas Eve due to small boy and 2 cats. All three have a deep love of Christmas decorations.
6. What is your favourite Holiday (Christmas) meal include?
Chipolatas, stuffing, gravy and either turkey or chicken I’m not fussed. This year we’ll have delicious carrots too.
7. Favourite Holiday memory as a child?
My sister and I making a pact when in bed on Christmas Eve that the first to waken would wake the other up.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
My sister and I had suspicions for a long time. We used to count the fruit in the fruit bowl on Christmas Eve and then tally it with what was in there on Christmas Day morning. We also took to marking the fruit and seeing if it was appear in our stockings.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
No.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
With whatever decorations we have. I would love to have a tree that looked like it was out of a magazine, well it does, but as the “before” horror shot.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
I love it until it melts into slush and then freezes. I hate ice.
12. Can you ice skate?
Yes!
13. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Spending time with my husband and son, and watching my son’s face when he opens his presents.
14. What is your favourite holiday dessert?
Stollen. It’s German cake and absolutely delicious, and now I am calling MrV to ask him to bring some more home (from the supermarket, he didn’t bring anything back from Germany except himself.)
15. What is your favourite holiday tradition?
Making the Christmas cake. Everyone has to stir the mixture before it goes into the cake tin, and make a wish.
16. What tops your tree?
I think it’s a really tacky star. I keep meaning to replace it and forget every year.
21 December 2006
Fog in Channel; Europe cut off
And boy does it seem a long way off. MrV is now, I think, in Zurich. The flight he was meant to be on earlier was cancelled, so they all flew to Zurich to catch a flight to London City where flights were still landing. They boarded the plane and then.....it was cancelled. City is now closed. Where MrV is I don't know. His phone's battery has died and I don't know if he is still in Zurich, or on one of the few flights due to fly to Heathrow. Everytime the phone rings or a message comes through on my mobile I think it is him but no; and I'm becoming very compulsive watching the realtime departure board in Zurich, the Swiss Air departure website and arrivals at Heathrow.
After a brief panic this morning about my father-in-law's present it got sorted. I had to wake my brother-in-law up to get his stepmother's email address but then some amazon vouchers were winging their way over to her.
And finally our daily postal update.....are you ready for this? The material turned up today (the replacement parcel) and it is gorgeous. I think I will take it all out tonight and start thinking about patterns to make; then my downstairs neighbour knocked on the door. He had been to the post office to pick up a parcel for him and they had given him two for us. They aren't supposed to do that, and they are supposed to leave cards and they hadn't; in addition we have been in every day for the last 2 weeks when the postie's been. I'm wondering what other parcel cards have failed to slid through our door. Tomorrow I go to complain. The tally of the missing post stands at one bouquet, and one parcel.
Oh and an update on the FB. Despite another tedious day indoors (first waiting to lynch the postman, and then waiting to hear what was going on with his father) we have had a good day. No arguments nothing. Fabulous! Perhaps Santa will bring his presents after all
Heathrow is taunting me. We are under their flight path and I can hear the planes going over. Keep your fingers crossed that one of them is carrying my MrV
on edit found him. He's in Paris. Going to get the Eurostar home tomorrow.
After a brief panic this morning about my father-in-law's present it got sorted. I had to wake my brother-in-law up to get his stepmother's email address but then some amazon vouchers were winging their way over to her.
And finally our daily postal update.....are you ready for this? The material turned up today (the replacement parcel) and it is gorgeous. I think I will take it all out tonight and start thinking about patterns to make; then my downstairs neighbour knocked on the door. He had been to the post office to pick up a parcel for him and they had given him two for us. They aren't supposed to do that, and they are supposed to leave cards and they hadn't; in addition we have been in every day for the last 2 weeks when the postie's been. I'm wondering what other parcel cards have failed to slid through our door. Tomorrow I go to complain. The tally of the missing post stands at one bouquet, and one parcel.
Oh and an update on the FB. Despite another tedious day indoors (first waiting to lynch the postman, and then waiting to hear what was going on with his father) we have had a good day. No arguments nothing. Fabulous! Perhaps Santa will bring his presents after all
Heathrow is taunting me. We are under their flight path and I can hear the planes going over. Keep your fingers crossed that one of them is carrying my MrV
on edit found him. He's in Paris. Going to get the Eurostar home tomorrow.
20 December 2006
Merde!
It was so cold here today that I couldn't face going out in to the big wide world, so the FB and I spent the day cosied up inside winding each other up. We're going through major power struggles right now and yes, as the grownup I should know better, but when it's in full swing I just don't see what's going on and it took watching a Canadian show - Yummy Mummy - tonight to give me the kick in the head I need to get this situation under control.
How is the Christmas countdown going? I think that's all the presents bought and with a sick sense of horror I have just realised that I have forgotten to buy my father-in-law and his wife their present. OH SHIT! OK I think the FB and I will be taking a trip to Wimbledon tomorrow. Bugger bugger bugger. So one present left to get then. Cake is baked and just needs its covering of apricot jam, marzipan and icing but I'll have to wait until MrV is back from Germany before I can do that as the mixer to make the icing is too high up for me to reach. And yes, you read that correctly, MrV is in Germany, on training. I'm going to be incredibly diplomatic (just in case anyone from his company is reading this) and not say exactly what I think of sending a family man on training the week before Christmas. Tree is still resting on top of the wardrobe; however I have just finished making an incredibly tacky garland-type thing of gold beads and coloured plastic letters spelling out several variations on Merry Christmas. OK I'm bored. I've run out of chocolate within hand reach, there is nothing on TV worth watching, and the FB has lost the DVD remote control.
And I know you are all desperate to hear the latest in our missing post saga. Well....some of it is starting to arrive! Hurrah! But am still one bouquet and three parcels down. When they arrive I promise to take back some of the horrid things I've been thinking about the postal service.
How is the Christmas countdown going? I think that's all the presents bought and with a sick sense of horror I have just realised that I have forgotten to buy my father-in-law and his wife their present. OH SHIT! OK I think the FB and I will be taking a trip to Wimbledon tomorrow. Bugger bugger bugger. So one present left to get then. Cake is baked and just needs its covering of apricot jam, marzipan and icing but I'll have to wait until MrV is back from Germany before I can do that as the mixer to make the icing is too high up for me to reach. And yes, you read that correctly, MrV is in Germany, on training. I'm going to be incredibly diplomatic (just in case anyone from his company is reading this) and not say exactly what I think of sending a family man on training the week before Christmas. Tree is still resting on top of the wardrobe; however I have just finished making an incredibly tacky garland-type thing of gold beads and coloured plastic letters spelling out several variations on Merry Christmas. OK I'm bored. I've run out of chocolate within hand reach, there is nothing on TV worth watching, and the FB has lost the DVD remote control.
And I know you are all desperate to hear the latest in our missing post saga. Well....some of it is starting to arrive! Hurrah! But am still one bouquet and three parcels down. When they arrive I promise to take back some of the horrid things I've been thinking about the postal service.
5 songs of Christmas
tagged by Daysgoby
1. Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel. Reminds me of singing in the school choir in a freezing cold church at the end of the term at Christmas time, but it also has an incredible grandeur about it.
2. Once in Royal David's City - some of the notes put a shiver up my spine with their perfection.
3. All I want for Christmas are my two front teeth - my father's two front teeth on the top row are false (knocked out playing rugby as a boy) and he has denied having them for years. One Christmas years back they fell out in the middle of a meal. He tried to glue them back in but to no avail and retired to his bedroom to sulk when my sister and I began to sing "all i want for christmas......" He now claims that he was playing a practical joke on us and we fell for it. Yeah right dad!
4. Santa Baby. Once it gets into my head that's it it's stuck there for the rest of the season.
5. Winter Wonderland.
1. Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel. Reminds me of singing in the school choir in a freezing cold church at the end of the term at Christmas time, but it also has an incredible grandeur about it.
2. Once in Royal David's City - some of the notes put a shiver up my spine with their perfection.
3. All I want for Christmas are my two front teeth - my father's two front teeth on the top row are false (knocked out playing rugby as a boy) and he has denied having them for years. One Christmas years back they fell out in the middle of a meal. He tried to glue them back in but to no avail and retired to his bedroom to sulk when my sister and I began to sing "all i want for christmas......" He now claims that he was playing a practical joke on us and we fell for it. Yeah right dad!
4. Santa Baby. Once it gets into my head that's it it's stuck there for the rest of the season.
5. Winter Wonderland.
18 December 2006
Don shades NOW!
Ok here it is. The completed piece of cross stitch known as the Peacock in the Tree. The colours are far brighter than in the photo but this is basically it. Today I find myself missing sewing!
The tally of missing post continues to rise. A further two parcels and possibly a bouquet of flowers have disappeared. I think after Christmas I shall be wandering down to the post office to complain. On the plus side, the Ebayer who sold me all the cotton to make the quilt is sending more down by registered post and claiming the money back from the PO.
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