today was one of those fabulous days where your sides hurt by the end of it. My husband was off work today as it's a bank holiday (no idea what the reason is) and I'm on half term anyway. the day started with me waking to the tinkling of a spoon in a mug.... ah tea. only he didn't come in with tea for me! he'd made it for himself and then went into the lounge to read his book! ha! the start of the dramas. I managed to put on a good sulk while making my own tea which had that brilliant effect of making sure that he did the next 3 fill-ups. It was the start of a seriously silly day.
We've had tickling fights, towel flicking fights, shoving ice in eachothers' jeans fights, called a truce and then tried cold hands on tummy fights. Then calmed down enough to watch a dvd but had to stop in the middle for more laughing and silliness.
and then, in preparation for the start of the terry pratchett movie (part2) we went to make tea and ended up trying to slip frozen bacon onto eachother's tummies. Only in the process I wacked the back of my hand on the metal grid of the hob. it went white and then red and hurt like all hell. Laughter between the tears. what a silly git I am. but he made me hot choc. mmm
so I'm settled down to watch Terry Pratchett, with ice balanced on my hand in a tea towel and a cup of hot choc nearby.
it's been a seriously fun day.
Monday 31 May 2010
Sunday 23 May 2010
into the ether....
Today I noticed that I have those two little words at the bottom of the blog that say "older post". I have that many posts already? cool.
and still one, albeit reluctant, reader.
and still one, albeit reluctant, reader.
Thursday 20 May 2010
complete
Finally - the blanket is finished. it's been a huge task and i'm not sure how much I like it. but I'm still proud of myself. (and just in time too - the baby shower is on Saturday!)
Monday 17 May 2010
argh!
Today I had one of those really sad moments. I realised that my friend at work will be leaving. I've known it for ages - I knew when she was thinking of leaving and finding another job. But then she applied for a job, and got it (as she should have!) and it's been exciting and fun chatting about all the new possibilities, about her new future. It's an exciting, brilliant future for her and I'm thrilled. I have been the whole time...
Until today. Today at break time I walked into the staff room and her knitting (yes, she knits too) was already on the table. I sauntered through to the corner where the tea stuff is kept and she'd already set up our two mugs with teabags and the kettle was boiling. She'd gone back to get something from her classroom and I finished the tea, found the biscuits we like and settled down in my chair with my knitting... and she took longer than I'd expected. And I realised in that moment that she's leaving. Really leaving. And as fabulous and wonderful and brilliant as it is for her... it's incredibly sad for me.
we have an easy friendship - one where we can gossip about things, plot and plan stuff that needs to happen at school and talk about husbands, friends, books we write..... but we can also criticise each other and that is something I really value. We can be honest, nicely, and work with each other, and discuss things, and talk things out. I really appreciate hearing an honest opinion about what I've done. When I'm overly upset she sets me straight, and the same the other way round. It means that when she says "I think you did the right thing" or "I'm right behind you in that" I know that I can trust that completely. Because if she ever isn't she tells me so and explains why. And I do the same for her. We seem to talk every moment were together - from the moment we meet on the train to the moment I get off it at home-time.
but then today I realised, really and truely realised, that she's going. And my walks to school and trips on the train will be alone. And at breaktime I'll be with the other teachers - who are all lovely but who all have children my age! I'll be surrounded by people who smile and say "that's lovely" when actually they're thinking the opposite.
and added to that is the realisation that she and I, between us, run all the after school clubs for the older kids, we're the ones who changed the way things were being run and gave the upper school a bit of a jump start. I started campings on the field, she started the veggie garden. I started a craft club and she started a computer club. .... and now, next term, it will be just me.
and so I'm crazy excited for her, but miserable for me.
Until today. Today at break time I walked into the staff room and her knitting (yes, she knits too) was already on the table. I sauntered through to the corner where the tea stuff is kept and she'd already set up our two mugs with teabags and the kettle was boiling. She'd gone back to get something from her classroom and I finished the tea, found the biscuits we like and settled down in my chair with my knitting... and she took longer than I'd expected. And I realised in that moment that she's leaving. Really leaving. And as fabulous and wonderful and brilliant as it is for her... it's incredibly sad for me.
we have an easy friendship - one where we can gossip about things, plot and plan stuff that needs to happen at school and talk about husbands, friends, books we write..... but we can also criticise each other and that is something I really value. We can be honest, nicely, and work with each other, and discuss things, and talk things out. I really appreciate hearing an honest opinion about what I've done. When I'm overly upset she sets me straight, and the same the other way round. It means that when she says "I think you did the right thing" or "I'm right behind you in that" I know that I can trust that completely. Because if she ever isn't she tells me so and explains why. And I do the same for her. We seem to talk every moment were together - from the moment we meet on the train to the moment I get off it at home-time.
but then today I realised, really and truely realised, that she's going. And my walks to school and trips on the train will be alone. And at breaktime I'll be with the other teachers - who are all lovely but who all have children my age! I'll be surrounded by people who smile and say "that's lovely" when actually they're thinking the opposite.
and added to that is the realisation that she and I, between us, run all the after school clubs for the older kids, we're the ones who changed the way things were being run and gave the upper school a bit of a jump start. I started campings on the field, she started the veggie garden. I started a craft club and she started a computer club. .... and now, next term, it will be just me.
and so I'm crazy excited for her, but miserable for me.
Sunday 9 May 2010
progress...
one more stripe to go... and then neatening the backs of each stripe, and then sewing them together, and then crocheting the border. Actually I still have a long way to go... and the baby shower is in 2 weeks. gulp!
Saturday 8 May 2010
on being 30
No issues have emerged apart from the realisation that 5 years ago I used to have good muscle tone, was strangely sports-oriented and was rather fit - managing to run 5km without worry (and used to do so two mornings a week with the cross country team at school.)
now.... only a mere 5 years later i have realised that muscles, a flat tummy and the ability to put my hands flat on the floor with my feet together and legs straight...... are a far off memory!
and so i have decided that being 30 is the year for me. totally, selfishly me. (let's see how long that lasts!)
so - I'm going to go back to crazy exercise. I shall have bubble baths and I will get my body back to where I want it.
I sigh and realised that I do this every year. And every year I give in to reading in bed, knitting infront of tv and pondering the fact that my clothes seem to shrink....
watch this space!
now.... only a mere 5 years later i have realised that muscles, a flat tummy and the ability to put my hands flat on the floor with my feet together and legs straight...... are a far off memory!
and so i have decided that being 30 is the year for me. totally, selfishly me. (let's see how long that lasts!)
so - I'm going to go back to crazy exercise. I shall have bubble baths and I will get my body back to where I want it.
I sigh and realised that I do this every year. And every year I give in to reading in bed, knitting infront of tv and pondering the fact that my clothes seem to shrink....
watch this space!
Wednesday 5 May 2010
On turning 30...
a couple of weeks ago I turned 30. I had prepared myself for huge issues - getting older, not having achieved anything on my list of "Things to do before I Turn 30" (apart from get married to the man of my dreams! - can you tell the list was written when I was about 15?)
I never take much stock in birthdays - I spend ages before hand shrugging my shoulders at friends who want to know if I'm doing anything, and asking what I want.....
And so this year, being the big 3-0, I decided to make more of a deal about it.
Phone best friend, ask whether she's free on weekend before or after said birthday. She's busy on both - dinner and babysitting The Nephew.
Phone friend number 2, same questions. She hadn't thought I'd be doing anything so they'd made other plans.
So I quit phoning people!
Enter issues. Nobody loves me, it's my BIG birthday and no-one kept the date.
Enter husband: Why should people make plans for this one when you never do in any other year...
he had a point!
so I gave up on birthday plans. I would issue about it all by myself! I would celebrate quietly with a glass of wine, a good book and a deep bubble bath. I would be one of those amazing free spirited women who doesn't mind about These Things. I would be Grown Up about it all.
Only the husband had other plans. I was told to be dressed up on the day of my birthday and he whisked me off to see WarHorse (which I had been trying to get tickets to for ages) and at interval he'd organised champagne for us. I loved every moment of the evening.
The weekend hit and I started issuing again about No Friends Having Kept The Weekend Free. He reiterated his previous arguement and offered to take me to dinner and a movie. Dinner at Ninos - my bestest restaurant ever!
It was quiet - except for the roudy crowd in the corner.
second glance at the crowd - looking very familiar
Third, rather long hard look, thinking "what are that lot doing here?"
wait for it....
"bing" light bulb!
it was fabulous - they'd all come - all of them. My husband had organised it two months ahead, as it turned out, and it was brilliant. Lots of chatter, great great food, lots of laughing. And then the waiters brought out a cake with "HB" written on it in cream - assuming happy birthday! lovely!
and then, (there was more), when we got home, he handed me a rolled up wad of paper with a ribbon.... letters from my family - cousins, aunts and uncles, parents and my little brother! I read them while sitting on the livingroom floor crying. They were beautiful letters. They were letters of love, of promise, of inspiration. They were letters that filled me and strengthened me.I know some truely amazing people.
And my husband had quietly and carefully planned it all. I had the most special birthday possible and behind it all was this smiling, loving man who had known exactly what I needed. How lucky am I that not only am I married to the man of my dreams (tick the list!) but he knows me that well and loves me that much.
And so, with confidence, I have crossed out the 3 on the title of the list, and replaced it with a 4.
Here's to another ten years. Perhaps I'll get to tick off some other stuff....
I never take much stock in birthdays - I spend ages before hand shrugging my shoulders at friends who want to know if I'm doing anything, and asking what I want.....
And so this year, being the big 3-0, I decided to make more of a deal about it.
Phone best friend, ask whether she's free on weekend before or after said birthday. She's busy on both - dinner and babysitting The Nephew.
Phone friend number 2, same questions. She hadn't thought I'd be doing anything so they'd made other plans.
So I quit phoning people!
Enter issues. Nobody loves me, it's my BIG birthday and no-one kept the date.
Enter husband: Why should people make plans for this one when you never do in any other year...
he had a point!
so I gave up on birthday plans. I would issue about it all by myself! I would celebrate quietly with a glass of wine, a good book and a deep bubble bath. I would be one of those amazing free spirited women who doesn't mind about These Things. I would be Grown Up about it all.
Only the husband had other plans. I was told to be dressed up on the day of my birthday and he whisked me off to see WarHorse (which I had been trying to get tickets to for ages) and at interval he'd organised champagne for us. I loved every moment of the evening.
The weekend hit and I started issuing again about No Friends Having Kept The Weekend Free. He reiterated his previous arguement and offered to take me to dinner and a movie. Dinner at Ninos - my bestest restaurant ever!
It was quiet - except for the roudy crowd in the corner.
second glance at the crowd - looking very familiar
Third, rather long hard look, thinking "what are that lot doing here?"
wait for it....
"bing" light bulb!
it was fabulous - they'd all come - all of them. My husband had organised it two months ahead, as it turned out, and it was brilliant. Lots of chatter, great great food, lots of laughing. And then the waiters brought out a cake with "HB" written on it in cream - assuming happy birthday! lovely!
and then, (there was more), when we got home, he handed me a rolled up wad of paper with a ribbon.... letters from my family - cousins, aunts and uncles, parents and my little brother! I read them while sitting on the livingroom floor crying. They were beautiful letters. They were letters of love, of promise, of inspiration. They were letters that filled me and strengthened me.I know some truely amazing people.
And my husband had quietly and carefully planned it all. I had the most special birthday possible and behind it all was this smiling, loving man who had known exactly what I needed. How lucky am I that not only am I married to the man of my dreams (tick the list!) but he knows me that well and loves me that much.
And so, with confidence, I have crossed out the 3 on the title of the list, and replaced it with a 4.
Here's to another ten years. Perhaps I'll get to tick off some other stuff....
Monday 3 May 2010
friend
so yesterday I drove for an hour to MK to visit my friend. She's one of those people you just admire and love and think the world of. She's a great believer in "sucking it up" and even though the universe has thrown a seriously crap set of dice for her, she smiles, and laughs and takes such joy in things.
a couple of years ago she was diagnosed with MS - her skin itches all the time unless she remembers to take a pill at the right time. And every day she injects herself in sensitive spots around her arms, legs and tummy with some magic stuff that's meant to slow the MS, but may have other long term effects but who knows for sure?
She's had a string of awful jobs, living in a house share with a couple fondly known as Cock and Cock's girlfriend - who seem to scream and swear and yell at eachother non-stop.
But yesterday we walked round a park near her new, fab job. We watched the birds, talked about how good things are and where we're headed. We wandered into Waterstone's and inevitably bought books (we seem to do that every time we see eachother!) and had tea and lunch. She squealed with delight when we spotted some fungi- she immediately took photos and then we hunched over her fungi book to try to figure out what we'd found!
She smiles, helps out, smiles, rejoices in sunshine, smiles, laughs and sprouts some seriously funny jokes, which I can never remember long enough to repeat! She spends days braving wind and rain at car boot sales to help raise money for her sister and brother in law. She counts out the last of her salary and buys her nephew presents.
She is the strongest, bravest, most determined woman I know. And I left her yesterday rejoicing in the sunshine, the fields of yellow mustard rape, and thinking about how lucky we are to know her.
a couple of years ago she was diagnosed with MS - her skin itches all the time unless she remembers to take a pill at the right time. And every day she injects herself in sensitive spots around her arms, legs and tummy with some magic stuff that's meant to slow the MS, but may have other long term effects but who knows for sure?
She's had a string of awful jobs, living in a house share with a couple fondly known as Cock and Cock's girlfriend - who seem to scream and swear and yell at eachother non-stop.
But yesterday we walked round a park near her new, fab job. We watched the birds, talked about how good things are and where we're headed. We wandered into Waterstone's and inevitably bought books (we seem to do that every time we see eachother!) and had tea and lunch. She squealed with delight when we spotted some fungi- she immediately took photos and then we hunched over her fungi book to try to figure out what we'd found!
She smiles, helps out, smiles, rejoices in sunshine, smiles, laughs and sprouts some seriously funny jokes, which I can never remember long enough to repeat! She spends days braving wind and rain at car boot sales to help raise money for her sister and brother in law. She counts out the last of her salary and buys her nephew presents.
She is the strongest, bravest, most determined woman I know. And I left her yesterday rejoicing in the sunshine, the fields of yellow mustard rape, and thinking about how lucky we are to know her.
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