Get me off this speeding train.....................................called life!!

This week has passed with the blink of an eye!! Really I feel as though I stepped on a speeding train and forgot to get off. Lets face it life has been a bit of a whirlwind since the kids have gone back to school.

It started with Friday 23rd being my youngest sons 11th birthday. bless him he had done the 11+ test that week and was so glad to get it all over that he really couldn't wait for his big day!

Yes shock of all shocks he had to go to school on his birthday! Life is so hard.

Now for some reason he though we might let him have the day off........but we are bad parents and made him go to school anyway! But he had a great day there and had some lovely pressies from his good friends. That night he was going to milk it for all he was worth so we had present opening....

Followed by dinner out..............TGI's being his choice...............

Followed by cake..................................yum!!

Who doesn't love chocolate caterpillar cake!!

Before all this we had a discussion on what he wanted to do for his birthday. A disco, cinema with some friends, a sleepover, Quasar, all the usual stuff. But although he loves to go to a party and is extremely sociable he wanted a day with the family.................FISHING!!!!

one of his catches!

But the week didn't stop there...........oh no. We had 2 secondary school visits, a doctors appointment, a dreded dentist appointment, all afterschool classes ( scouts, boys football/youth club, dance class, drama class) amongst all the usual shopping, washing, ironing...................yes I know a familiar story to you all!!

Then came a last minute audition for my youngest up at Covent Garden which then re arranged all our plans to meet up with friends to take the kids all swimming ( while we catch up on the gossip!). So OH went one way and me and my youngest went another. Then on to friends for dinner, drinking, gossiping and far too late a night ( which was fab!) and then a hideouslyearly morning to get both boys to Scouts for a day Power Boating activity at Whitstable!!
It was the hottest day of the so called summer! The boys were away. We had the day to ourselves...........so what did we do.....................................FISHING!!!

Now this is where I know I am being mentally affected by the pace of life!! I have the choice of what to do, a day out without kids, a whole day to do what we wanted...............and i chose fishing!!!!

RIGHT, SOMETHING MENTALLY WRONG.................................you agree?

Most people get a misd life crisis, indulge in implants,face lifts, radical hair do's, wearing skirts that are too short or tops that are too low.....................................................Oh no not me..................I go fishing!!!!!

Someone save me from this insanity!!!!!!!
I need to get out more.................or drink more......................or both!!!!

What do Ghoul School, Woolworths and Jeff Brazier have in common?

Simples.............Jeff Brazier has been recruited by Woolworths.co.uk to become the Head Teacher of a Halloween venture called Ghoul School to find the scariest kids in the UK!!

Kids from all over the UK are being asked to don their best Halloween outfits including their 'scariest faces' and 'monster attitudes' for the new online event to find a 'Head boy and girl' through a series of tasks at the Ghoul School. Head Teacher Jeff with be helped by his monster team 'The Woolies' to help him on the day!

So how do I know all this?

Well I had the opportunity to interview Jeff about this venture in conjunction with Woolworths.co.uk.
I have never interviewed anyone before, so to say I was a bit nervous was a huge understatement!! But I thought that I would take note of all the 'self help' style jargon and 'feel the fear and do it anyway'!!

However, I needn't have worried in the slightest as he was an absolute pleasure to chat to. In fact he made the job easy for me as I had finally met someone who could talk as much as me!! he was really down to earth talking about the new venture with Woolworths, how he enjoys celebrating Halloween with his boys, how he tries to 'recycle' some of their sweets they get Trick or Treating and save them from rotting teeth!!


Anyway I thought I would share a few of the questions with you and then I have been brave enough to include the audio of the interview with you!!!

However, there are rules...........................

1. Don't be too critical as it was my first ever interview!!!

2. No laughing at the comedy Irish accent..........that's mine not his!!! ( OK maybe a snigger is allowed)

3. No leaving comments telling me I sound like one of the kids off 'Why Don't You' (those readers of a certain age will remember the programme!!)


Here are a few of the questions I managed to ask..........


Do you dress up and try and scare away the kids Trick or Treating at your door?

No, I dress up and go out with the kids and everyone knows that it's me where I live, if you get what I mean, and my door is probably busier than most. So I think they assume that because I work on television that I've got a shed load of sweets and a shed load of money, and neither of those statements are actually true. But no I really do need to stock up and I know where I will be going to get the sweets as well.

For the kids who want to get involved with the event what exactly do they have to do?

Ok, so what it is, is a one off event actually run by Woolworths.co.uk the Ghoul School is their creation and we've basically found a wonderful manor house, a Tudor mansion up in Liverpool called Speke hall, and we would like 10 finalists to join us where on the day we'll play lots of challenges, play games and basically try our very best to find our Head Boy and Head Girl.
Kids have until Sunday to get their entries in. What they need to do to prove that they are the scariest kid in the UK, they need to dress up and get their face paint on, and they need to be as scary looking as possible and parents need to send their picture by email to Woolworths@thebrooklandsbrotherspr.com with 140 words explaining why the kids think they are the scariest in the UK.

Are you going to be a 'wicked' Head Teacher or are you going to try and be nice to the children?

No, I'm going to get rid of Jeff Brazier for the day. I'm going to be the Head Teacher of the Ghoul School, I've yet to think of a name, my alias. I'm going to make it my personal mission in life to scare them all the time and really put them to the test!

But to hear the interview in full just click on the link below to download and listen. He talks about all things Halloween, his kids and sweets!!!!


http://files.markettiers4dc.com/28af3236a5b9c01c21640fc91c046d71053b139c

Jeff is currently working with Woolworths.co.uk to find the nation’s scariest children to attend the world’s first ever Ghoul School which Jeff is head teacher of. Ghoul School will be held at Speke Hall, Liverpool on 8^th October 2011 where Jeff will help Woolworths.co.uk name a Head Boy and Head Girl of Ghoul School.

 

Visit Woolworths.co.uk for further details and to meet The Woolies.

 

**REMEMBER CHILDREN ONLY HAVE UNTIL SUNDAY TO ENTER**

Typical male attidute...........at 13!

I think it must just be in a male set of genes ( and I don't mean the denim type). I'm no worried that I have inadvertently reared 'another typical bloke' and he's only 13!!

Or it may just be the fact he has just soooo much still to learn ( like most blokes!).

Conversation went as follows:

Teen ......' hey mum they have one of those *nudge nudge* machines in the mens toilets'.

Me..........' oh yeah, which ones?' *cough* OMG what is he going to come out with now!

Teen........' You know those random ones : Condoms
                                                                    Condoms
                                                                    Condoms
                                                                    Condoms
                                                                    Tic Tacs
                                                                    Condoms

                  'I mean (he says laughing) how random is that!! Whats the point?'


Ahh bless .....................................................as a bloke he has a lot to learn!!!!!






                                                       

Curious case of the 'open door'!!!

 It was Monday evening, the last night before the holidays for the weekly cub/scout meetings. Both my boys are in scouts however my OH helps in cubs and my youngest likes to go in to show off to his mates help also.

My eldest hates going up early (so bloody lazy) and so we tend to let him stay behind and this week he was getting a lift from a friend with his son. Not a problem we thought. He often opts to stay at home while I nip out with my youngest. A bit of responsibility or sneaky PlayStation/computer time. We were all young once so I know all the tricks!

Anyway the above mentioned teenager was left the responsibility of closing the door behind him and locking it. Not a major issue I hear you say. This is the boy who is going into year 9 in September, a boy who walks to school and home again on his own.

SO WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

The fore mentioned teenager had the security issues explained to him and I was even kind enough to write it on a note as he has some short term memory issues. Nothing major he's just a bit of a Dory ( you know from Nemo???). It's kind of funny on occasion.

Anyway, he arrived at the scout hall to give me his keys and mention that he forgot to double lock the door!!!! SEE WHAT I MEAN!!!!
However he laughingly said to me ' Don't worry mum I shut it I just forgot to double lock it like you said'.  Ok I though not a major problem, I will be home in about 45 mins.

So we finished the cubs meeting and headed home about 8.15pm.

It was chucking it down with rain so I jumped from the car and opened the porch...................

THAT'S WHEN I FOUND MY FRONT DOOR WIDE OPEN!!!!!

Not just opened a bit, or closed but not properly (if you know what I mean) but actually wide open as though a furniture delivery had turned up and were about to try and fit a sofa through the door!!!

That's when the freak out occurred.

Shit..........what if someone is in there?
Shit..........what if someone has been in there and left us with nothing????
Shit..........what if squatters have taken residence and we cannot get our home back ??

SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT..............Like I said that's when the freak out occurred!

Thankfully my OH is 'Plod' and very level headed. Thankfully he was there otherwise I think I would have hyperventilated on  the spot........as you can tell I'm not great in a crisis.

He went in and we were relieved to find our telly still there, my son's laptop was still there, my bloody fridge freezer was still there.................oh and the moggy was still there too!!!!!

Thank God it had been raining ( I'm sure burglars must check the weather forecast before going out) I will never complain about the rain again...........honest.

 As predicted words were had and low and behold ' It wasn't me' followed by a huge meltdown!!!
 Followed by ' I don't care'!!

Disappointed doesn't even cover it.................................so what happens now?
How do we get him to take responsibility seriously?
This is a boy who has lost..............his phone on a school field
                                         ...............a full PE kit at school
                                         ...............a wet weather coat
                                         ...............a lab coat
                                         ...............his new Ipod touch (8 weeks old)
                                         ...............and now our trust!!!!!
 All in the space of a few months, so where do we go from here?

Any help or advice would be most welcome........please.

That was the week that was...........

............exhausting but brilliant.

From last Saturday I feel as though I haven't stopped. Don't get me wrong most of you will read this and think 'Man Up ' however as an M.E sufferer it's been a long haul ( like running the marathon).

It started Saturday with a trip up London with 5 other girls to celebrate a friends 40th birthday. We had decided to keep what we were doing a secret from her so that she had no idea on the day. For a few months before lots of emails had been flung around wondering what we could do. It all started with a spa weekend or Glamping which we couldn't get organised ( dates/ childcare/ travel etc). Then we decided to go up town so our options were open............theatre show, dinner, London Eye, boat trip, etc etc.

In the end we went with a Rib Ride along the Thames and then a posh lunch! A Rib ride for those of you that don't know is a speedboat ride that starts of quite leisurely as all the touristy bits are pointed out to you, then turns into something from the latest James Bond film!! Actually as you pass Tower Bridge the speed increases and the James Bond music is played as you are thrown around the Thames as though some terrorist is in hot pursuit!!!

My friend loving it and her friend (nearest) not!!

Being 'Ladies that lunch' we had gone fairly dressed for the restaurant and so took the easy option of huge coats to keep us from getting wet and preserve the hairdo's!

I'm taking the pic and being the shortest the coat looked like a dress on me!!

NOTE TO SELF: having long curly hair on a speedboat ride does not bode well. GHD's could not have done a better job straightening it!!!!

Anyway, moving on. Then we popped to Covent garden for a wander and a beer, stalling before we went to the restaurant. Then we went the Christopher's where we were treated to champer's ( lots of it) and had a table arranged for lunch.

That's where it got messy!!!!!
3 bottles of champers............................check
2 bottles of rose......................................check
something containing tequila.................check ( not sure what it was called but bloody lovely!!!)

After these...........

It  went from this.........

To this!!!!!

Food was yummy too.

So inevitably Sunday was spent in bed ( not hungover surprisingly - I think my Tramadol worked wonders) absolutely exhausted.

Then came Monday......................My Birthday!!!

My OH had arranged to go to Windsor for the day while the kids where at school- GENIUS!
A friend did the school run and we set off early and were able to get there for the changing of the Guards.

I'm ex RAF so love the pomp and ceremony!!

Then we popped outside for a lovely pub lunch before heading back in to wander around the chapel and the Dolls House and Staterooms.

It's truly a beautiful place to visit and wouldn't be complete before sneaking up to the Guard for a quick picture before we left!

And no they really don't talk to you!!!!

Returning home we indulged in pizza ( kids choice) and birthday cake and pressies!!

Pink festival wellies for Rewind in August- fab!
Dolly Parton cd....sad I know but secretly I love her and going to see her at the O2 in September!

Oh and did I mention..........A BLACKBERRY!!!!!!!!

This is a huge deal for me as my old phone surely has earned it's place in the Science Museum!!!!
Seriously, I am sooooo happy.............Internet at my fingertips. I feel as though I've just been invited into the 'popular gang'.

Moving on and Tuesday was spent mainly in bed recovering.

Wednesday evening I had a meal out with some friends at a local Italian restaurant. Food was lovely again, and the southern comfort and then the wine just seemed to slip down too easily! It was great to catch up although we hear more about their lives than what's happening in ours- but that's another post altogether!

Thursday was spent mostly in bed but I did manage a catch up and a cuppa with a friend before school pick up.

Friday was my youngest son's sports day! So went back to bed in the morning and the attended in the afternoon. Luckily the weather stayed quite nice and as a dutiful mum I cheered him on ( much to his embarrassment) and took lots of pictures too.

Now I feel as though no part of my body is connected to my brain.........or in fact if I have a brain as stringing words and sentences together has become a full time job!!! One I'm not doing very well at and will possibly be sacked at any given moment.


So tonight we are having a Harry Potter night watching the 1st installment of the Deathly Hallows to get into the mood for going to see part 2 tomorrow!!!

Hopefully I will manage to stay awake- although I cannot guarantee it.

S**t, puke and Rock 'n'Roll !!

Yep, that just about sums up my weekend.

It all started Friday evening when I was feeling rather sorry for myself as I WAS NOT going to the big Cybermummy 11 party. So the self wallowing set in and a post was written to try and make myself feel better...........see previous post Cybermummy 11....I wish!

Anyway I soon got over that (fickle I know) on Saturday, as I organised my eldest son and OH as they were heading to the Hard Rock Calling Bon Jovi concert in Hyde park. They eventually left armed with enough food and drink to feed a small nation!

Those rucksacks are full of food!

So it was just me and my 10 year old, and we had our afternoon/evening planned. He was going to practice his 'Consider Yourself' song for an Oliver audition he was due at on Sunday and his LAMDA poem for an audition on the same day for a Jungle Book production. Once that was done it was going to be homework and then we were heading to the shops to get some treats for our movie night, which we had decided to watch Mission Impossible 2!!  You can tell we know how to live.......NOT.

We had several calls from my OH and son from Hyde Park updating us to who was on stage and giving us a listen and we promised to tune in to the radio as they were playing the whole concert live without interruption. And we both felt more than a pang of jealousy as the crowd went mad as Bon Jovi appeared on stage, but we were happy that hopefully the boys were going to have  a great time.

Loving it!

Anyway that's when the above mentioned plan went to pot!! First of all we were enjoying our treats ( flake ice cream and Pringles....not at the same time you understand) while watching our film. We were about half way through (the film not the treats) when the dvd decided to freeze!!! Not a problem said my 10 year old sometimes this happens 'I know how to sort it out mum' he said. Great lets get it sorted and get on with the film.

No, it was not to be, there were gremlins in our dvd player who really didn't want us watching the rest so we couldn't get the bloody thing to work!! Please tell me we don't need a new machine...I can't face paying out for anything else.

So anyway we tuned the computer into the radio station to listen to the concert for a while and then I noticed my son had been, and was still eating the pringles!!
'That's probably enough or you will end up being sick' a true mummy saying came out of my gob before I could stop myself.

'I do feel a bit queezy' came the reply...........................understatment of the century as he proceeded to puke up in the bathroom. Actually I was very impressed he had the sense to make it up the stairs.

So the rest of my evening was filled with cleaning up poo and puke complete with Bon Jovi playing in the backround! ..........us mums get all the best jobs!


Eventually he managed to settle into bed with a bucket and a huge towel placed beside him just in case. And low and behold he went to sleep.

That wasn't long before My OH and son called me to listen to the live 'Living on a prayer' being sung with their dulcet tones helping of course. Which was the highlight of my very sad night as I loved hearing my 13yo singing his heart out to one of his favourite songs ( he doesn't tend to show to much interest or excitement with anything, so it truly was a rare occasion).

If you look closely Mr Jovi is the little red dot on stage on the far left of pic!

Anyway the wanderers returned and told me all the gossip from their adventure. This was somewhat overtaken by the fact that my house now smelt of a badly run old peoples home! Poo, puke and pine disenfectanct can have that effect!!!  ( Oh yes I've watched those damn undercover NHS/ care home programmes to know what 'smellovision' would be like)

But it didn't stop there.....Oh no it went through the night. We were woken up suddenly by my youngest saying he had been sick again, so gracefully my OH said he would go. BIG MISTAKE

I thought by the noise of the retching that my son was being sick all over the place so I rushed downstairs to find a great sight................my OH in his boxer's retching as he is trying to clean up the puke which this time made it's way all over the toilet, down the walls, onto the floor and into the hand basin!!!!!!!!!!!!  ( I know too much information...sorry)

God knows where it all came from! Anyway sent him away in disgrace whilst I cleared up........again the mums get all the best jobs. Then I found my son up in my bathroom with stuff coming out of the other end which had made it's way onto my cream carpet!!!!!! AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!

ONLY A MOTHERS LOVE STOPPED ME FROM KILLING EVERYONE!!!

Don't worry I have spared you from any pictures as I do not want to be held responsible for a nationwide 'mexican puke' wave crossing the country.

Today he has recovered slightly and is able to keep very bland food in, in small doses...thank god as I was going to have to make an emergency trip to stock up on everything anti bacterial that I could lay my hands on.

However, he has had to miss two auditions today ( damn them for being on the same day anyway) which he is not a happy chappy about........he takes his acting very seriously!

So there you have it. A typical weekend in our household where nothing really goes as we plan it. I'm sorry the excitement here cannot match that of all you Cybermummy peeps ( I've been following on twitter you know) but I'm quite sure this was one party you wouldn't want to be part of!!!!!

So definitely going next year if only to miss the S**T, PUKE and ROCK'n'ROLL.

What do you mean there's no tooth fairy!!!

I love all the sneaky mystery behind things like the 'Tooth Fairy' ,'Santa' 'Birthdays', and even the ' Mum will kiss it and make it better'!!!!!

But my boys are older now, one a tween and one a teen!!! (Surely I can't be old enough)

Now although my oldest now knows there is no 'Father Christmas' or 'Tooth Fairy' he plays the game, not for him you understand but for me!! There comes a point when they no longer need these things but they become increasingly more important to you. ( I think it has something to do with DENIAL of my children getting older)

However, my youngest is not so helpful to his mothers cause. We have never as parents sat our boys down and blatantly told them that these wonderful people don't exist, they just find out by questioning what happens and putting logical thinking into place ( I mean, 1 man able to visit every child's house in 1 night and leave a gift!!! GET REAL they barely remember to get our gifts let alone anything else.....Xmas dinner, their parents pressies........NEED I GO ON?)

Anyway, I digress, My youngest will just do his best to get you to admit that all these things come from you.........Well I refuse to do it.

He lost a tooth 2 days ago and decided to put it in a small envelope with a message on it that read......

'Dear Tooth Fairy

Please may I have an extra £1 so I can afford to buy the Walkie Talkies that I want.'


OH REALLY!

1st of all, I have never risen the price of a tooth with the years or the inflation and don't intend to start now.

2nd of all, I know this reverse psychology crap as I have used it for years to get them to think that doing the things they don't want to do was their idea in the first place.

3rd Don't play me at my own game, and don't try and kid a kidder.........I have been there, seen it and done it, with the T shirt for proof!!!


Now with that said I truly think he's a chip of the old block and will go a long way. As the saying goes in my house when they try to have me over but fail miserably.........

10 out of 10 for trying!!! ( positive parenting and all that ) LOL

3 day reprieve for good behaviour

Today my youngest headed off to school early, just so excited to be going on his 3 day School trip. Although he has been away camping before with cubs my OH has always gone with him. This time he was given the choice if he wanted one of us to volunteer to help on the trip.

'No offence' came the reply ' but I want to go and enjoy myself'!!! Says it all really.

So after a hectic day yesterday ( see previous post)we started to gather his kit together on the bed, checking it off the kit list as he went. He's actually very organised for a 10 year old. At the same time he;s very picky and so we had disagreements over the towel he took, how many pairs of shoes/boots were actually needed, the necessity for spare clothes and the fact he would actually have to change his pants!!

Eventually we mutually agreed that the stuff you can see on the bed would suffice.


Surprisingly he slept well but was up at the crack of dawn washed, dressed, had breakfast and brought his bags downstairs. Wonders will never cease and I will remind him of his quickness next week when he suffers from 'sticky mattress' syndrome.

He wheeled his own bag to school and sorted himself out with what he had been told to do by the teachers........I was shocked at the fact he can actually, when he wants to, do what he is told.

We all waited for them to start getting on the coach and I was pleasantly surprised that not only did he look in my direction, but I got a wave too. Even more surprised when he waved and blew me a kiss from inside the coach!!!! He does love us after all.

Then they were away.......3 days......not returning until Friday afternoon..........no school runs.........no constant arguing with his brother.........no answering back........no music blaring at full pelt...........no tormenting.......and no watching the behind the scenes of Titanic for 100th time!!

BLISS.....................but still miss him, now I know I must be mad.

What a day!!!

Today got off to a normal start, kids off to school and me back to bed for a while ( due to cubs/scouts last night, my M.E body cannot cope).

OH woke me up later in the morning and when I was sorted I had list of things to get from shops, and packing to do as my youngest is going away on a 3 day school trip tomorrow!!!

However, that was as normal as it got. My phone rang and it was the Agency my youngest belongs to, asking me to sort paperwork for a 'Performance licence' for an audition and call back for an advert campaign!! This would be the one we thought wouldn't go ahead as we hadn't heard anything from last Wednesday!!! How wrong can you be.

So armed with all the paperwork, forms and letters from both school and Doctor I headed of to my local council offices to get the licence in process.

I was met by the most unfriendly, rude, jobsworth going!!!

' School letter won't do'! was the answer I got.
'When is it?' was the next question to which I didn't have an answer ( I know it will be possibly over sat/ Sun or Mon but not definite on which day).

OMG......you would have thought that I had just asked her to donate a kidney!!!!!!!

'I can't do nothing until I know the date. The agency should know by now!! Bloody useless' ....I was gobsmacked and believe me it takes a lot to shut me up!!

I offered to call the agency to which the reply was ' I haven't got time for that do you know how backed up I am with all of these'!!

Then she went to wander off.............' Excuse me.....do you want me to actually try and get another letter from the school or shall I not bother?' I said on the brink of thumping her, although I know violence isn't the answer, it would have made me feel better for sure.

So she relented and gave me her email as I offered to try and email a copy to her......I know too nice.

Off I went to the school and explained what I needed which was met by......' it won't be ready until tomorrow'. A 3 line letter to approve time off school when I already have a cover letter with overall permission from the school. So after a bit of pleading and explaining that the 'dragon' would need it today or she would have great delight turning down his application!!!

Eventually I had it and emailed it to her.............do you think I heard anything back????

DID I HELL......

In between times I'm getting calls to say he will have to go for a fitting in London on Friday after his trip and filming in Clacton with an overnight stop!!!!!

My god if after all this he doesn't get it I will need a large bottle of ice cold wine just to take the edge off the insanity!!!

In fact I don't think I can wait until then...........................what time is too early????

Terrorist Zero Tolerance Zone....

I'm not talking about the recent Bin Laden death, possibly not dead, conspiracy theory type thing...........NO I'm dealing with a terrorist more close to home!

Tilly the Terrorist ( as she has become known by the neighbours).

Please do not be fooled by the cuteness ( I know it's hard but stay focused here), she terrorises the neighbours 4 guinea pigs! She stalks and chases next door's 2 cats from their own garden so she can sun herself on their 'sun drenched' doorstep! She stalks the poor unsuspecting tortoise in the next door neighbours garden ( other side) and I often hear it scrabbling along the fence trying to hide in a safe place. The garden next to that has actually removed their bird table as she was eating all the bread they left out, while all the time we were feeling sorry for her as she wasn't eating her own food very well!!!!!


NOT ANY MORE.

We have brought in our own 'Zero Tolerance' Anti Terrorist Squad......

This came in the form of my brother's cute but lunatic dog called Scully!!!!

She arrived Thursday ( as my mum and brother came to stay so they could see my youngest in his play) and Tilly scarpered never to be seen for the rest of the day.

She either retreated upstairs and wouldn't even come down for food or she disappeared outside and would not come back to the garden!!!!

Which only reinforces the old saying, which I firmly believe in.........

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND!!!!!!

Break a leg........

That's what the 'luvvies' say in the theatre world isn't it?

Well for the last few months my youngest has been rehearsing for a local play ( 3 times a week) due to open tomorrow night until Saturday. It's the story of CS Lewis ( Narnia man) in his later years, when he meets and marries and American lady ( who dies in the end.........sorry to ruin it!) My son plays her son ' Douglas' ( complete with American accent).

This is his first 'proper' role in a full play not children based etc. He has done really well to fit in and be around adults without messing about too much. They all think he's funny, charming, adorable ( but what do they know!!!!), and love him to bits.

Tonight we had the last dress rehearsal before opening tomorrow, and as far as I can see he is not nervous at all. I think I will be more nervous for them all by the time the curtain goes up!!!

I  never really understood how much goes into putting on a production like this, and totally have a new found admiration for the people that not only act in the play but also all those who help in the back round ( costumes, set design, props, backstage organisation etc etc). I will never look mockingly at amateur dramatics societies again!!

I take my hat off to my 10 year old son who seems to take it all in his stride, but seems to pull off this acting malarkey very well. I think I would rather stick hot pins in my eyes than to put myself in front of an audience and try to 'entertain' them.

Not stopping at that, he has also received a call back from an audition he attended last week for an advertisement, which he has to attend in London tomorrow before his 'opening' night!!!!

I truly don't know how he does it, for me it's enough to bring on an episode of IBS!!!!!! (Yes I know too much information).

Anyway good luck to them all..........and break a leg! ( just not literally.......please)  

Bargain buys and 'bustin low' !!

 I'm not normally a person who gets a great bargain with things. Today I had to trawl the shops to find an old style pair of PJ's for my son to wear in his production next week. You know the sort, your grandad would wear them if he had to go into hospital. I could not find a pair anywhere and so ended up in the charity shops. I still had no luck with the PJ's but found a complete bargain for my older son, who loves books and X files at the moment!!

 All these ( 3 hardback and 3 paperback) for a grand total of £2.90 !!!!!
And believe me he is a happy bunny today reading through these after school.

CONCLUSION: I might just be popping into the charity shops more often.

My youngest though does not start back to school until tomorrow so he came to the shops with me, mainly as a bag carrier, but he found a pair of boxer shorts that he really wanted, Top Gear no less! Even they were a great bargain at £3, so I decided to treat him as he was being so helpful with the bag and above mentioned book carrying!!


He was so chuffed as tomorrow is PE day and he will be able to be 'bustin low' with his new boxer's!!
 What the hell is that I hear you cry!! Well apparently that would be showing the top of your underwear with your trousers hanging low...................Bloody hell the thought of my scabby pants showing to anyone is enough to bring on an anxiety attack for me, but he tells me it's the fashion!!!!!!

By the way he's only 10......................what on earth is he going to be like as a teenager!! My intro venous wine is ready and waiting LOL

Guilty as charged ....with Blog neglect!

This week has just flown past in the blink of an eye, or so it seemed.

Without real intention I haven't paid much attention to my blog this week, which I promised myself when I started it wouldn't happen.

However life this week has just completely taken over.

It all started when my eldest son turned 13!!! on Saturday. We had a day that consisted of a  birthday breakfast, golf, a trip to Bluewater laptop shopping, dinner out at Ed's Diner and then home for cake! To be honest with you I haven't really got over the shock of it yet. My little baby a teenager already.

Then on Monday he had a friend come round to play and they all went swimming including my youngest and his friend, with pick ups and drop offs then the above mentioned friend ended up back at ours for tea before dropping him home on my way to play rehearsals with my youngest.

Tuesday was spend initially with a trip to a dance studio in Fulham for an audition for a part in Matilda ( that was for A not me!) Where he managed to leave his bag on the tube and we listened intently to the news for any bomb disposal alerts. He was there for 3 hours but unfortunately was not what they were looking for. A trip home then packed him up for a sleepover at a friends house before picking up C's friend who was sleeping over at ours. Not before taking the 2 older ones to Bluewater for an organised Warhammer game ( don't ask).

Wednesday C's friend stayed all day so popped them down to swimming pool, picking up another on the way before collecting my youngest and delivering home. Pick up at swimming pool and dropping all friends home. Tea then straight over to play rehearsals again!

Thursday had C going to a friends for the day whilst my youngest helped with the tedious job of food shopping!! Then picked up C and when straight to shops to replace the PE kit he had lost a few weeks before at school........................including trainers...........Aaaaarrrrrgggghhhhh!

And today we have spent a fab day in Whitstable for a picnic lunch on the beach and a mooch around the great little shops there. Then on to Herne Bay for a walk along the pier with an ice cream, a play on the beach and then fish and chips before coming home!!!!!

Kids are now in bed and my sunburn is now a fantastic glowing red!! But well worth it.

But where are the pics of all this???????????
They are still on my new camera that for some reason will not load onto my very, very old computer.............so frustrating, bloody thing.

So for now you will have to take my word for it

And I promise not to neglect my blog for so long next time  xx

Chocks away....................Destination Duxford!

What a great day out. If you haven't been there and live close enough it's well worth it.
This is where we went yesterday and would have posted yesterday had I not needed to go straight to bed when I got home.These are the days that I am very thank full for having 2 boys and no girls (although girls will enjoy it too). My 2 love running around looking at the biggest 'boys toys' that you can get.


As both my OH and myself are ex forces ( Royal Air Force) and I personally am ex Air Traffic Control (assistant only) we tend to morph into 'spotters' for want of a better expression! Sad I know but I can't help myself.I won't mention the fact I have been strapped to the top of a 'Crunchie' ( now Utterly Butterly) old style bi plane on an open Air day- TWICE, they call it wing walking!!!   So having 2 boys who share our mental sadness for touching these things is great ( also it's like encouraging them to do something they shouldn't- which they love).

Anyway, we got there around 11ish and didn't leave until almost 6 (closing time) so we got our full quota of 'anorak spotting ' in and our youngest got one of there 'spot it' books to help us along.

It's reasonably priced as children under 16 go free so costs about the  £25 mark. If you bring a picnic like us your only expense after that is ice creams or cuppa's and possibly something from the shop , which again some of the toys are only around £3!

Be prepared for a very long walk to the last hangar which has all army stuff.

Thankfully there is a great mobility bus that will transport you all around if you have someone with you that needs it. And I was sooo in need of it by the end of the day!!

They also have some older aircraft taking off and landing throughout the day, which the kids loved watching as we scoffed our lunch. And my 'Apache helicopter' loving son was chuffed to bits to see one fly over as we waited for our transport back to the Visitor centre.



So all in all a great day had by all, they even managed not to argue too much during the day!!! So we will definitely be going back taking our anorak's and spotter's books.

And I won't mention the haunted Vulcan aircraft at one of my bases or the Tornado cockpit that my OH and partner in crime got stuck in before an International air day, or the fact I used to get winched out of helicopters on a daily basis to be abandoned and then rescued from cliff tops or life rafts!!!  The things they don't tell you in the small print when you join up!!!

Boys and their toys!

This week is the countdown to my eldest son's 13th birthday ( Saturday). It started with a Quasar party with his friends. Unfortunately one of the boys couldn't make it in the end so he kindly asked his Dad to fill in.

At first Dad was happy to oblige until he got there and saw that they were against a bunch of 10 year olds ( and he probably didn't want to look a bit sad). Luckily for him another independent group turned up, much larger boys around the 15/16 age group.Another dad was also taking part we then found out. The game was on!!!

In they went and I sat watching the scores fluctuate hoping that they were on the winning team, as my eldest doesn't tend to deal with losing very well!

When the time ticked over to zero they piled out checking their scores and a huge cheer erupted as they realised they had won. However they then get a rundown of the scores with a little 10 year old being 1st and my OH coming 3rd!! He was disgusted.................beaten by a 10 year old. Then the competitive streak kicked in and he was going to take no prisoners on the second game.

I did try to remind him that we were there for C's party and it shouldn't matter who wins as long as everyone has fun. That fell on deaf ears.

In they went, second game discussing tactics as they went. The clock ticked over to zero and once again they all piled out with a momentous cheer as the score ended up 790- -30!!! With sounds of disgruntled 10 year old shouting CHEAT CHEAT CHEAT!!

Oh God what had he done was my instant thought. But thankfully they were just too good for the younger group. Although there were stories of kids running into his gun, and him picking off the weakest as they went past- much to my son's delight as his team of mates had won both games.

I really don't know who's worse ( actually I do but don't want to admit it). And he showed no remorse as we went to the car passing one of the boys who had started crying with stories of cheating!!! I couldn't get into the car quick enough and the look I gave to my OH said it all.

Did he feel bad?  Did he hell!
Character building he called it.

I think there must be counselling for that sort of thing.

It's official Summertime!

How do I know this I hear you ask?

Well today I managed to get my packed away from last year summer clothes out of hiding. I know it's disgraceful that I don't live in a big enough house to have an all year round walk in wardrobe..........the shame.

Also I didn't trust the weather to actually last as it has , I was playing clever so I didn't get caught out and be left freezing with only flip flops to wear. Believe me once they are packed away it's not easy to get to them back.

So my winter warmers have gone into hibernation for now and the 3/4 lengths are out!!
However I wasn't banking on my expanding waistband making them a bit of a squeeze to get into ( muffin tops are definitely more noticeable). This is not good news as I have already been tempted by the Easter choc's in the shops already and we have't made it to the Easter weekend yet.

Dilemma is:
Give up chocolate...............................are you f**king kidding me???????????
Or excercise....................with ME ( thats not lovely ME myself and I time pampering bits of body, that would be the medical ME -don't ask me to spell it just call it Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, it's easier) pretty much out of the question at the moment.


Guess it's option number 3.
A few charity clothes bags have come through the door this week so most of it will end up there!!
Not fun clothes shopping on a budget............but I can't resist the chocolate, it keeps me from the edge of insanity. Here's hoping my OH likes muffin tops in a range of designs!!!

Barbeque or bust!

The sun is shining and after sitting in the garden and listening to the lawnmower's making gardens presentable and kids playing out in the back park, BLISS.

At last my hubby has uncovered and cleaned the garden furniture so we can sit outside comfortable instead of cramped alond the back door step!! Then unfortunately he had to go off to work ( believe me he was not impressed) but he managed to grab the BBQ out of the shed before he went, loving his priorities.

As the boys and I were chilling out in the sun we decided probably a great day for a BBQ. Ok Dad would miss out but I though the boys would love a go at cooking their own tea!!! They love doing things like that at Scouts and Cubs so they jumped at the chance. So up we got and toddled of to the shops to buy the last packet of manky rolls ( wholemeal to their disgust) and some burgers.

Great, all sorted. so we got back and went into full force uncovering the BBQ and get it all sorted. That was when we discovered the copious amounts of Penicillin growing both on the coals and the grill itself!!!!! Guess who was obviously really lazy last year and shoved it away without cleaning???

'Just give it a wash' was their solution......no problem.
'Are you kidding.......it will take nothing short of a bloody jet wash at the garage to get that clean!'  was my response. Although I did leave out the expletives obviously.

All is not lost.........................we have a George Foreman grill!!
Although not quite the same I can add the required amount  burnt bits and grass to make it authentic!!

And who said I wasn't  a 'Be prepared' girl scout.....

Bad hair day

Ok so I though with having 2 boys that I wouldn't have to worry about what they were wearing. I wouldn't have the tantrums over 'bad hair' days. I stupidly thought boys  would be much easier........short hair cut at the Barber's and jeans and a T-shirt.....sorted!

WRONG!!!!


This morning I had an introduction as to what my youngest ( only 10 at the minute) is going to be like in his teenage years..........................I did not like it.

 I had decided to drive to school this morning ( yes LAZY I know, but give me a break I have ME/CFS) to which he spent the entire journey there looking in the mirror 'fixing' his hair. At the moment his hair is shorter than normal for a part in a play he is doing in early May. So I appreciate it's not his normal haircut, which is normally way too long and dishevelled. So trying to be nice I offered some help in fixing it, brushing it back slightly and straightening the front....as mum's do.

Well you would have though I had asked him to go out and kiss the next random girl that passed the car.
HIM    Do you honestly think I'm going out like that? 
ME      I'm just trying to help
HIM     Well don't you make it worse that just looks awful, I'm not going to school like that!

So I decided to tactfully let him do it himself and look like an eejit, after all I wasn't going into school, I was going home. So he ruffled it all up again until it looked like a 'bowl cut' ( people of a certain age will remember those with dread) and I got out of the car.

I then waited about 4-5 minutes while he continued to sort out the mop until, in my most calmest voice ,NOT, I asked him to get out of the car and let's get going. Even as he was closing the door he was still looking in the side door mirror....................God help me!!!!

If this is him at 10 he will be a lucky boy to make it to 11!

Friday-itis

We've all had it at sometime.
Today was the turn of my oldest son. First of all it was ' I didn't sleep very well', then a little while later it was 'I have a headache'. After that it was ' I keep shaking' and when all else failed it was ' I don't think I've ever been this ill before'!

That was before I reminded him of his Flu at Christmas, which he was ill for about 2 weeks with several of those days spent in bed sleeping. Then I gave him what I considered to be helpful solutions, you know the common sense stuff that obviously only women know....

Try and eat some breakfast and have a drink....
Have some paracetamol in case you have a cold coming on...
Take some throat lozenges to school in case you develop a sore throat...

All of which were met by serious disdain as though I had just made him walk in some dog poo!!

I don't have very much patience with malingerers as you can tell. I've had ME for the past 2 years were a good day for me is feeling like I have Flu without the head cold and a bad day is spent in bed for hours on end unable to put one foot in front of the other. Throw in the constant muscle pain that is there everyday without fail and you get start to get the picture.All dealt with through gritted teeth and lovely pain relief.

So I decided to pull out the big guns and go for a bit of bribery.
'Well if you really don't feel well when you get home from school you will have to miss your youth club tonight'
The look on his face said it all............' I might feel better by then mum' was the reply.


I bloody knew it .....FRIDAY-ITIS!

MAN UP...............................maybe not quite the right phrase needed here.

Kamikaze cat!

Our little cat is a total cutie pie. She has just turned 1yr old and has trained us to get exactly what she wants on her terms! We just can't resist the angel face.


However, we cannot work out whether she is incredibly brave or just bloody stupid. She manages to scare next door's cats ( who are trained killers themselves) out of their own garden! And then will lay basking in the sun on their doorstep whilst they can only look on from afar.

But she has completely outdone herself this time when my neighbour called, slightly panicked, saying she was on the roof. Initially I was thinking 'big deal she always sits on the kitchen extension roof- so what', but no she meant the real roof ( and we have a loft extension which meant 3 storey's up). Apparently she clambered up via the neighbour's pebble dashed chimney stack!!
LIKE I SAY INCREDIBLY BRAVE OR BLOODY STUPID.......I suspect now it's the latter.

She is back safe and sound but the experience has changed her due to the fact that when she was on the fore mentioned roof she realised there was a whole other world out the front door!

So getting out has become a well organised, executed with military precision, life or death mission.

I think I preferred it when she was just terrorising the neighbours pets!!