This is the Barker-family.info web site, the personal pages and projects of Nigel, Jan, Emily, Lucy and Georgina Barker.
Nigel Barker, Jan Barker, Emily Barker, Lucy Barker, Georgina Barker
Prestonpans, Prestonpandemonium, Monkey Loft Comics, Three Harbours Art Festival, Nulsh, Malcy Duff
Prestonpans, John Rattray, Book Crossing, Comics, Comics Quiz, EC War Comics Index, I Love You Toast, Toast in the Post
Prestonpans Nursery School Recipe Book
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A poisonous day.
It should have been a day of celebration and feasting. Instead, there has been squabbling and laziness. Why do I bother?
Three years and three months ago I began this blog trying to put up a gazebo. Today a broken gazebo was taken down.
Website of the day: Big Barn - a virtual farmer's market
It was my first stint at the Small World shop since the summer break. The shop has new stock from the lastest Traidcraft catalogue and I bought a mirror bangle - a bargain for only £2. I priced some stock, marked some stock down and wrote up the appropriate entries so I felt like I had been of some use today.
I met up with Nigel and the girls in the library then ate a Ford's picnic at the seafront before walking along to Sam Burns where I bought a hoe and a wide shovel (I mistook it for a garden spade!) and several books - £4 well spent!
Items I didn't buy: a scary looking stuffed lion's head (Lucy said "Mummy, please can we not get that?"); someone's diary (the most exciting entry was "Car a bit slow to start this morning" - Pepys it wasn't); a pew (It has been outside for quite a long time).
We then continued westwards to Prestongrange where there was a 'Family Activity Day'. The girls made masks while we sat outside enjoying the sunshine with Nathalie, Anna and Grant. We walked back via the campsite and took a detour via Blink o' Forth out of noisiness. On the last stretch of road before home, we noticed we were getting a few strange looks from people in passing cars. I suppose it must have looked a bit suspicious walking down the road with a giant spade and hoe!
Some of the leaves I pruned yesterday came in useful this evening when we made a toran for tomorrow's Janamashtami celebrations.
Website of the day: Pipecleaner Dance - you choose the music and the moves
Laura and Kev were round yesterday and Emily made dinner in their honour - sausage and bean casserole (with a tiny bit of help from me). The girls love seeing them, although Georgie insists that Kev is 'Auntie Kev'.
Today I broke the garden spade attempting to dig up some old roots in the garden. It's a bit of a pain because there is still so much gardening to be done.
Website of the day: The Scam Baiter - a forum documenting the ways in which 419 Advanced Fee Fraudsters are played at their own game.
Sheep made from old telephones (thanks Rachel).
Despite wearing a multitude of layers, we still got soaked to the skin on the nursery run. The rain has been torrential today but fortunately it is not particularly cold or windy.
Lucy made a very pretty glueing at nursery with lots of yellow rose petals. It looks and smells wonderful.
Another gorgeously scented thing is the play dough my brother-in-law Peter brought with him today. My clever sister Rachel made one batch of vanilla and another of raspberry.
Also included in our package of goodies was Squid Soap which I'd seen online but not yet tracked down in the shops.
---ooOoo---
When I was in the kitchen today I could have sworn I heard one of the girls yell 'Mum' from the garden. My immediate thought was how "did they get past me without me noticing?" when I realised it was actually a seagull squawking "Mwahm....Mwahm".
I wonder if the seagull is copying my girls - you hear about birds copying mobile phone ring tones and car alarms.
Website of the day: Break the Chain - Help stop the spread of junk e-mail and misinformation
Wasps! They are everywhere. As fast I get rid of one, it sends out a distress call to all his relatives.
There are more wasps in my garden than there are plums. There are more wasps than snails (and that's really saying something).
The striped menaces are however outnumbered by the sheets of paper I've received from school. I've diarised, digested, noted, actioned, responded and, this afternoon, settled down to complete the three page personal information form.
I asked Emily whether she preferred 'Scottish' or 'British'. After some deliberation she chose Team GB.
"Howabout religion?" I asked her.
"What does that mean?" She asked. I could see this could take some time.
Eventually, Emily decided she wanted "to pick Jesus" so I duly ticked the box marked Christian.
Yet another wasp came into the house so I chased it with a piece of thick cardboard and after a very satisfying 'thwack!' it transcended to wasp heaven.
Emily asked "Mum are you a Buddhist?". "No" I reply "I'm definately not a Buddhist".
If Emily was a little nervous about starting a new school she didn't let on. She didn't want me to wait in the playground, even though I offered to stand at the edge of the playground where no-one could see me and [gasp] think I was her mum or something. I reluctantly left her in the playground taking an abnormally long time to fasten my shoe laces, check buttons etc.
Lucy was glad to be back in nursery (although Georgie was a little upset at not being able to stay with her just yet). I was glad to have Christine and Alison to blether to this afternoon otherwise I think I would have been clockwatching all day. I can't remember being this nervous when Emily started Infants! Baby Eva is getting big and was 'singing' with the rest of the kids.
It was such a relief to see Emily with a big grin at picking up time. This evening I sat covering her jotter (I knew that Grauniad Greek Gods poster giveaway would come in handy) while she told me about her day. Apparently the best thing was the fishcakes...
Last night we watched The Darjeeling Limited - what a brilliant film!
It has all my favourite things: rail travel, India, Hinduism...Peter Sarstedt's music. I can think of no better way to spend Raksha Bandhan.
---ooOoo---
On this the last day of the holidays, I think we are looking forward to school re-opening. That's not to say I haven't enjoyed the holidays, I really have.
I haven't done lots of the things that I'd planned but we have done a lot and we've all had fun. As long as the girls are getting my full-on attention, they are fine. The moment I attempt to do something, anything else, then the squabbling and bids for my attention start.
Of course, I have enjoyed not having to endure the playground politics every morning or having the day broken up by endless nursery and school runs.
Website of the Day: Council of Monsters - not to be confused with Council of East Lothian
In the Ritchie household, Madonna was probably opening 'Happy 50th Birthday' cards with the Immaculate Collection playing in the background; but in the Barker household the day started with a credit card bills and a delivery from the Natural Collection.
I had bought a few items all priced at £1 in their sale including a pair of XXL shorts. I laughed when I saw them - they were enormous. I stopped laughing when they fitted perfectly.
"I think I've got the opposite of body dysmorphic disorder" I said to Nigel. "I look in the mirror and see an alright shaped person but in photos I look huge"
"Perhaps the camera isn't working" suggests Nigel.
Later, we returned library books, paid the papers, posted Nigel's expenses and did a Lidl shop. We had lunch at the Aroma Bistro on the way back. I really like their mezze. Which probably explains the XXL shorts.
Nigel did some upgrading work in the computer while I attempted to get the girls to help me tidy their bedrooms. Fat chance. Them doing their share of chores is about as likely as me finding employment as Madonna's body double.
It was really nice to see Rosie today as the kids were driving me a little Harpic. I told her about my plans to take the plants from the middle raised bed and grow vegetables there instead. She agreed that I should dig up the rue which is quite unruly and I suspect was the cause of Lucy's rash on her hand. What a weird plant - it appears to be multi-purposeful, rendering a werewolf powerless and deterring snakes (to name but two of its alleged homeopathic 'powers').
Rosie had brought with her a bag of beautiful clothes that were eagerly investigated by Lucy. I'm rarely in a position to pass on clothes as, by the time all three of my girls have worn items there is not much wear left in them!
We are keen to have a raised covered area in the garden (see 22 June) but digging up lots of plants and committing to anything permanent (and possibly expensive) is a little scary. In order to test drive our idea we have bought an inexpensive gazebo to map out the area and help us visualise the possibilities. I say 'inexpensive' but it was still twice as much as our first small plastic cheap and nasty one which we loved. The rain would pelt off it and the noise was outrageous.
Nigel is quite taken with the new gazebo and I have a sneaking suspicion this arrangement might not be as temporary as I would like.
Website of the day: PosterMenace - my favourite: "Sign here to have this poster removed"
Lucy is much perkier today. She was entertaining Georgie by pretending she had no control over her legs (you had to be there, it was very funny). The bruising is beginning to fade. She was delighted to receive a parcel addressed to "Lucy and her sisters" containing goodies from Sweet Arcade (thank you mum).
You can tell how well a person knows us as a family by whether or not they 'get' Lucy. Often, people will refer to her as being 'the shy one' when actually she is a born performer and terrific mimic. Georgie, in particular, loves the daft voices and skits she puts on. They are not always such good mates though...
Georgie hit Lucy
Lucy: "You HURT me! You're a poopoo pie and Dora Explorer is silly"
Georgie: "Lucy said Dora is silly"
Me: "Well she's cross with you because you hit her. Hitting is silly.
You need to say sorry and you can be friends again."
G: "Lucy, will you be friends with me again?"
[Silence]
G: "Mum! Lucy said she won't be friends with me again"
L: "I didn't! I didn't say anything!"
Me:"Lucy, when someone says sorry, it's best to be friends again rather
than be cross with them."
G: "Say sorry to me Lucy."
L: "NO! You have to hit someone to say sorry to them. I haven't hit
you."
[Sensing the situation is about to deteriorate, I intervene "Georgie,
say sorry to Lucy and then you can be friends"]
G: "Sorry Lucy"
L: "No, like this....'I.. a-p-o-l-o-g-i-se'"
G: 'I.. a-p-o-l-o-g-i-se"
L: "No, in a voice like this:(croaks like a zombie, waving her arms
about) 'Eeeee ap oll oooooooooo gize'".
G: (croaks like a zombie, waving her arms about) "Eeeee ap oll oooooooooo
gize".
Me: "That's ENOUGH!"
---ooOoo---
I'd no sooner send an email to Betty lamenting the lack of butterflies this year when I spotted one. Not a peacock unfortunately but a red admiral (and lots of bumble bees). As I went out in the hope of taking a photo I noticed just how many hornets there were.
From my bedroom window I could see nature and industry, both of which hold equal appeal. While I'm dismayed that the only bit of land designated for business use on the local plan has been given over to residential use, I find the building processing really interesting. They are working on the roof at the moment and a crane has been lowering the rafters to the waiting builders.
I saw a coal tit and a wren both taking nuts from my bird feeder. They nibbled away (with the wren putting its head right inside the bag of nuts and seeds) undisturbed by the clankings and tooting from the building site but flee at the sound of a camera lens.
While I've been gazing out of the window, the house remains in a mess. I just hope I don't get any unexpected visitors today.
Website of the day: 99 Rooms - Looks like a game but is actually an interactive work of (morbid) art. Not for the fainthearted (hint: press the spacebar).
Happy Birthday Nigel.
The mood is still a little subdued. We celebrated Nigel's 41st/The Glorious Twelfth with vegetable bhoona, saag aloo, chana masala,naan and pilau rice from Natural Spice.
To cut a long, and not terribly interesting story short, I had intended to bake a Guinness and chocolate cake but didn't want to venture out in the pouring rain so yesterday decided to do an online shop as we are running out of everything. The earliest available slot wouldn't have left enough time to make the cake so I chose a 'shop-bought' instead. However, just as I was about to checkout, the phone rang and, when I returned to the pc, the 5.00 p.m. deadline had passed which meant I coudn't get next-day delivery (i.e. today) which meant of course, no birthday cake for Nigel. Fortunately he had been to M&S on the way home and bought a pack of teacakes into one we placed a candle.
Website of the day: Swedish Furniture Name Generatore - IKEA-ise yourself, as recommended by NIGELL, SVAN, EMMYLI, SLYKKI and, GEÖRGINN BÅRKKERD.
Original plan:
Trip to Chester
Meet in-laws for lunch
Celebrate Georgie's 3rd birthday
Home again, Home again jiggety jig.
What actually happened:
After 4 hour train journey to Chester, went by bus with my travel sick children
across the border to dragon country. Followed by a car journey.
Had pre-birthday birthday tea
Lucy was bitten by dog
Georgie vomitted pre-birthday birthday tea all over Nigel.
08-08-08 is a grey day. The rail service is still affected by the flood and Nigel coudn't get into work today. I guess the mail is disrupted too.
I've finished Swallows
of Kabul
We watched the last in Series 6 of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'. What am I going to do for belly laughs now its over?
Website of the day: International Youth Hostel Association - I'm already planning our next adventure
Despite the pelting rain, the garden looks quite pretty. While we were away, the crocosmia has come out and the buddleia is in full bloom.
I was glad when Annemarie called to see if the girls wanted to go round to play with Esme. When the weather is this awful they get a little crazy. They had a nice time while we grown ups had a catch up over a cup of tea. On the way back home the girls were delighted to see Percy the Gnome still sitting on top of the bus shelter.
The heavy rain had caused flooding at Haymarket and I felt sorry for Nigel having to battle the elements to get home.
Website of the day: Structurae - a database of mighty erections (of the structural engineering, architecture or construction variety)
We are back after only a few days away yet it feels like we've been away for ages.
We had our first family break of more than one night's stay. Staying in a hotel has been almost impossible ever since Georgie had outgrown a cot as family rooms tend to be for 2 adults and 2 children. Obviously we aren't going to book two rooms and apartment rental is really only cost effective for longer stays. The answer presented itself to us when we renewed our Family Railcard and were given free Youth Hostel Association membership. I needed no further excuse: 3 children, 2 suitcases, 1 spouse and 3 backpacks - we were booked, packed and ready to go to London.
On Saturday, the 8.35 from Edinburgh to London was cancelled so the next train was very busy and of course our seat reservations weren't valid but a kind man on his way to the Doncaster races gave us his seat so we could all sit at a table. All three girls were very well behaved. Emily was happy playing her Gameboy - in silent mode as we were in the Quiet Carriage. At least it was the Quiet Carriage until some post-holidaying blokes got on at Newcastle and were particularly rowdy. Perhaps there should be a Party Carriage or a Families Carriage - just a thought...
The thing I love most about rail travel is the opportunity it affords you just to soak in the views. I love the landmarks of Durham and York. I knew Doncaster was approaching as the grafitti read "Hyde Park Crew". Before we knew it, we had zipped through Grantham and Peterborough and were in Kings Cross.
Our first visit was to the new St Pancras to see the enormous Meeting
Place statue and then a lightning trip to the British
Library. I would have liked to have seen the The
Ramayana: Love and Valour in India's Great Epic exhibition but there wasn't
time. We did however see Paolozzi's
Newton statue in all its glory but failed to spot the promised geocache.
Lucy was especially excited to be travelling 'underground' (to her surprise there were no worms or soil). Georgie loves escalators (or 'alligators') and Emily just loves travelling. I think they would have been happy if we had spent our entire break travelling by tube.
We found our hostel quickly and easily thanks to the helpful London Underground staff. St Paul's YHA used to be the school for the choir boys of St Pauls Cathedral and is quite an imposing building. We left our luggage in our 5-bedded dorm and began our journey to Greenwich where we had tickets to see Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharoahs. When booking the tickets I thought three hours to get across London would leave us plenty of time but between cancelled trains and queuing on the underground we only just made our slot.
In addition to objects taken from the boy king's tomb (including his gold crown and canopic jars), we saw artefacts belonging to pharaohs Amenhotep ll and Thutmose lV. While looking at vividly coloured and ornately detailed items, it is hard to believe these date back to 1555 b.c. It was a stunning exhibition which I will always remember.
The O2 (formerly the Millennium Dome) and the Greenwich peninsula is a lovely place but we couldn't hang around as we needed to be on the 17:30 Thames Clipper. Sailing eastwards along the Thames we passed familiar sights like the Tower of London, HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge before disembarking at Embankment and crossing the Hungerford Bridge (why are bridges that carry both foot passengers and rail so exciting?!) just in time for our London Eye 'flight'.
Now, I'm a little nervous of heights. It would be fair to say that I get a panicky if I have to change a lightbulb and I really don't like being able to see any great distance between my feet and the earth. So, I was a little anxious about my trip on the millennium wheel. I really didn't like to see Georgie hanging from the handrail of the capsule and, even though I knew she was perfectly safe, some instinct in me was unhappy and, sensing this, the little monkey kept doing it. Not content with scaring the wits out of me she kept pushing against the capsule doors (which alarmingly had a sign reading "Do not push against these doors"). Yes, the views were incredible and I'm very glad we all went, but I was glad to get back on the solid ground.
We had ice cream in Jubilee Gardens and watched some of the mimes and performers along South Bank. The girls really loved running through Jeppe Hein's aquatic sculpture Appearing Rooms and, despite wearing a huge raincoat, Lucy was soaked to the skin.
We sat in the Terrace Bar of the National Theatre while trapeze artists performed. We continued along Jubilee Walk through Gabriel's Wharf, past the OXO Tower and stopped outside the Tate Modern where six huge pieces of artwork flank the exterior as part of the Street Art exhibition. The girls added grafitti to a purpose-built room before going across the not so wobbly Millennium Bridge and back to St. Paul's.
The last thing I remember was the cathedral bell chiming 11 o'clock.
Sunday
We breakfasted in the hostel and left London, already planning our return visit.
It was almost six years ago to the day that Nigel and I first visited York together. This time, we are back: 3 children, 2 suitcases, 1 spouse and, erm, 2 backpacks, Georgie having left hers with King Tut.
We lunched at the Judge's Lodgings then we wandered round the museum gardens where we saw the first of many priceless paintings 'set free' around the streets of York as part of The Grand Tour in York.
We took a taxi to the York Racecourse Centre where we were staying (when it is not being used to accommodate jockeys it is part of the Youth Hostel network). We were shown to our 12-bedded(!) dormitory before having tea and juice in the beautiful grounds. Although American schoolchildren were also staying in the Centre, we were the only guests in our block so it was wonderfully quiet and private. Shirley and the centre staff couldn't have been more welcoming and friendly.
I mention their wonderful hospitality because I have noticed that, in keeping with other tourist destinations (e.g. Edinburgh), Yorkies often seem resentful of the very people on whom its economy depends. That aside, I love York. I love the winding streets and market. I love its architecture and its quirkiness. Most of all, I love the variety of independent shops. So often, we go to a town and our heart sinks when we see yet another Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Topshop & Wallis (they should rename these towns Arcadiaville).
We walked back into town via the bar of the Elmbank Hotel. It was nice to meet up with Rachel, Peter, Lauren and Martha to go on a Ghost Trail. It was mildly entertaining but, in hindsight, it might have been nicer just to find somewhere to let the kids run around which is what they enjoy best.
Monday
As I tucked into my delicious breakfast, I tried not to dwell on the unfairness of a world where bronzed young women, clad in shorts can tuck into a plate of maple syrup covered waffles and remain slim.
We were sad to leave the lovely Racecourse Centre but hopefully will return. After checkout, we took the train to Doncaster, then an 82 bus from the revamped bus station to Armthorpe to briefly visit my nana and granda. Unfortunately, a combination of a full English, fruit juice and sitting backwards at the back of the bus resulted in Georgie being sick. Still, she revived quickly enough and no major damage was done.
Back in Donny, we paid my Auntie Jan a visit which completely bewildered Georgie and Lucy who thought their great aunt was their Grandma Edith (they are twins). We had a quick look round the shops and what we still call the Arndale Centre. There has been lots of 'development' in Doncaster: a stadium, an airport, college campus, yet there is no vibrancy in the town centre which seems to be in a downward spiral.
Back in York, we had a trip on the Yorkshire Wheel. Georgie had been getting tired and wanted to be carried so was clinging to Nigel's legs and wailing. All the passers-by must have thought she was scared to go on the wheel. I really liked the Yorkshire Wheel; the capsules were smaller than the Eye (so we got a capsule to ourselves), passengers have to sit and we got to go round four times. Perhaps the operating company could be persuaded to install a Prestonpans Wheel? After the wheel adventure, we spent some time in the National Railway Museum which we all really enjoyed.
We had a McDonald's picnic before making our way to the York International Hostel, a moderate stroll along the Ouse. The hostel is a large Victorian building set in extensive grounds. As well as a large kitchen for those wishing to self-cater, there is a restaurant and bar. It is very child friendly and has a TV lounge with small library. It has a different vibe to the Racecourse and is bustling with international travellers.
We unwound in the gardens of the hostel then watched some television while the children made new friends.
Tuesday
The restaurant was busy at breakfast time and we didn't want to linger on our last morning.
We looked around the shops and when it started to rain we had a coffee break in the Spurriergate Centre, a fair trade social enterprise in an old church with beautiful stained glass.
As part of PlayDay, the annual celebration of children's right to play, Global provided free activities for children. Emily joined other children in playing giant Jenga and got her face and nails painted. Georgie did colouring in and played with toys and had a butterfly painted on her face. Lucy declared that she wanted her nails to be pink and joined the queue. When it was her turn she actually picked black varnish and looked like a miniature goth.
All three took part in a first aid demonstration with Georgie shouting 'help, help!' on cue. They were given goodie bags from the Red Cross but of course were more pleased with the free sticking plasters than the activity packs.
We got the train to Edinburgh and arrived back home just after six o'clock:
3 children, 2 suitcases, 1 spouse, 2 backpacks (but the 02 are going to send
the lost one to us - hooray!).
Stuff that worked/Stuff I'd do different next time:
I had taken several steps to ensure a motion-sickness/stress-free trip, namely, toast for breakfast, Joyrides, stem ginger cookies and water for on the train and Aroma Dough (it releases nausea preventing peppermint, grapefruit and geranium as you squidge). I was also armed with Qeezees just in case.
I took cardboard blanks which the girls made into fairy doors one one side and a face on the other. I also packed a variety of different shaped lids which Georgie uses to draw around to make faces. These activities kept the kids occupied for an unfeasibly long time.
If I was planning our trip again I would have bought a zone 2 travelcard in advance as the queues to buy underground tickets were quite long. (It was strange to be consulting tube maps and travelling as tourists in a place we used to live. We weren't sure if kids had to pay or not - the don't, until they're 11.)
I gave each child a backpack, complete with water bottle, raincoat, tissues etc. I told them it was "to give them independence" but was in reality to prevent me from becoming a pit pony. And on the subject of independence...I think it benefitted the girls to have to make up and strip their own beds.
We invented a game for the train: players take turns to say what they can see out of the window nearest to them (e.g. horse, tree, roundabout etc). There must be no repetition or proper nouns. The game gets progressively more difficult. It encourages players to use the specific names for things (e.g. oak tree, rowan tree) or to find alternative descriptions (e.g. lake, pond).
August already.
Today, Lucy had her last session of phonological awareness and auditory bombardment (or speech therapy if you are old skool). She still needs to work on S, Ch and Sh and blending sounds together.
Although she has benefitted hugely from these group sessions I'm not going to miss sitting in the waiting room. There may be a more sweltering building on, say, the Sun or Venus, but the Speech Therapy Block at Edenhall is surely the hottest office block on Earth. According to the staff it is always boiling, perhaps it sits atop a nuclear reactor or volcano or something.
It was relief to escape to the dining room for fission chips.
Website of the day: Zineapolis - an archive of zines and comics at the University of Portsmouth
It must be a slow week in Prestonpans. A journo actually phoned to ask if I had any news. It would have been a great pranking opportunity but I didn't think quick enough.
Regardless of how little news there is, I didn't get my copies of the local newspaper again this week. When I phone to say it hasn't been delivered I'm always left feeling I'm being a nuisance.
Website of the day: Iain Gray for Scotland - the best equipped candidate for getting Labour back on its feet in Scotland. Add your support here.
Nigel was sent information about a job at GCHQ. As he isn't going to apply for it, I think Gary McKinnon should go for it. Gary is the hacker who gained access to American military and Nasa computers from his London home. He now face a life sentence if found guilty.
Yes, he broke the law but he is not a terrorist (and anyone who thinks he might have been able to launch nuclear warheads watches too many films) and a one-way ticket to Guantanamo Bay seems a tad over-enthusiastic.
Given the opportunity I would happily explore ruined old buildings, derelict factories and mineshafts undeterred by 'Keep Out' signs. Even though I abide by the Urbex code of "Take nothing but photographs. Leave nothing but footprints", I would still be breaking the law.
As the sun was setting over the field last night, we could see three youths forcing a window on one of the newly-built houses. We watched the police follow as the boys ran across the railway tracks and hid in the farmer's field.
So, which of us criminals should be dealt with most seriously? Who poses most risk to society? Who will go on to re-offend? Gary McK? J-Bar? or the Chavtastic 3? And who might actually have a part to play in the war against terror?
Website of the day: Dwanda - Handcrafted items including clothing, home decor, gifts and food items (although whether they would survive international shipping is another matter).
I'm a little down today. Due, partly I think to the arrival of the scaffolding opposite. I'm aware how pathetically self-centred that must sound on a day when the news is full of heart-rending tragedies.
When the black dog is following me I stress about everything. From the sale of human hair extensions (where do they come from? why would you want to?), to wondering how midges always navigate to my caesarian scar (where I am numb to all sensation bar a midge's bite); to "What is the point of June Sarpong?".
Georgie has pulled several keys off the laptop. I've found and reattached all but one - the letter 'V'. I'm scared to vacuum in case I lose the ability to type visceral, voluptuous, virulent, vortex, vivisection, vagrant, verisimilitude, verbose...
Website of the day: TUK - If I was a shoe...I would be an A6858 Mid Sole scallop cherry.
As a result of hearing "Georgie Porgie, Pudding and Pie" ever since she was born, Georgie thinks calling someone a 'pudding pie' is great fun. Over recent months, friends, delivery men, shop assistants have been subjected to cries of "bye pudding pie!" and occasionally, "bye poo poo pie".
To Georgie's delight, as we went our separate ways today, her wee pal Robbie shouted "Bye Poop Poop!". A match made in heaven.
Website of the day: Pot-a-Doodle Do Wigwam Village - this looks fun!
Things I was looking for today: a phone charger, the neighbour's cat and Georgie's shoes.
I was looking for a phone charger so I could keep in contact with Nigel who was off to sell at the Edinburgh Zine and Small Press Fair.
I was actually looking at the cat rather than for it. It appeared to have got its collar attached to the base of a tree and was getting panicky. The neighbours rescued it without the need for any intervention on my part.
I was looking for Georgie's shoes because, well because she always takes the bloody things off and wanders around barefoot like some feral creature (a bit like the neighbour's cat). I found a pair of gym shoes that may or may not be hers. They fitted, so she we left for the train to meet up with Nigel at The Forest.
I hadn't been in the upstairs part of The Forest before. It has a beautiful altar and gallery (the building used to be a Seventh Day Adventist church). There were some familar faces at the zinefest (e.g.Malcy and Magda) and it was nice to meet some new people: Stuart Murray (who signed a copy of his excellent book 'In Pubs'; Olly Paterson (from whom we purchased a set of fiilmographies) & Sandy Christie (a mate of Malcy's who sold us handmade badges and a copy of "Sandy Meets"). Other purchases included "I Like Birds" and "The Mallard anthology of comics and literature" from Mallard Small Press and "if destroyed still true #3" (which almost reduced me to tears) and the political thriller "Two Days" by Iain Withers & Gordon Johnstone.
We had a fab veggie wrap (tofu, carrot & apple), chocolate brownie and coffee in the cafe before popping in to the gallery to see Robin Kydd's "Ochone" exhibition.
In the newly opened shop we purchased some coffee (you can also get a snip+sip:
haircut+vodka for £10). In the free shop I picked up a copy of Organic
Gardening Basics: 5 Easy Steps to Growing Organically
Sadly (!), we couldn't stay for the screening of "The Cockettes" or the post-fest party which promised "deformed chorus girls/elevator boys in bondage/tinsel tarts in a hot coma/buckets of smut".
Happy Sys Admin Day.
Despite having loads of new clothes, Emily emerges this morning wearing a top that long ceased to fit her and which for the past year has been worn by Lucy. I tell her to change and she re-appears, this time in a t-shirt I received free with some ink cartridge. It is of course unironed and the transfer bearing the company's name is peeling off. I'm sure she does it to drive me nuts. I am not going to say anything. Of course anyone witnessing this spectactle will be convinced she doesn't possess any nice clothes. No, I am not going to say anything.
Lucy was awake before her sisters and early this morning we sat together quietly watching a pair of small birds in the plum tree. It was a nice start to the day but of course it didn't last. As long as I'm giving the girls my undivided attention, everything is hunkydory. The moment I divert my eyes for a second, the squabbling commences.
I was attempting to wash dishes when Georgie came through crying "Lucy hit me".
I summoned Lucy through. "Lucy, did you hit Georgie?".
"Yes, but I spilled my water and Georgie got a towel to wipe it up
and I wanted to get the towel. I didn't want her to get the towel"
she tells me through sobs.
"So you hit your sister because she was being helpful?!"
I say incredulously. "Hitting is naughty. Now be friends again while
I wash these dishes". They totter off only for Georgie to return
asking me to help her fasten a belt, which I do. From the sitting room I hear
Georgie taunt "Lucy, Lucy, I'm wearing your belt Lucy".
---ooOoo---
Questions in my head:
Why can't I cook? Nigel was late home this evening so I popped a frozen pizza in the oven - it was a far cry from yesterday's puttanesca (penne, garlic, anchovies, tomatoes, olives).
Why am I getting multiple versions of the same email?
Will we have another power cut this evening? - it went off again last night.
A scorcher of a day.
We had an email problem so anything sent between approx 10:00 and 23:00hrs today won't have reached us - sorry.
Emily, Lucy & Georgie got their hair cut this morning. Sharon was incredibly patient when Emily got into a bit of a strop and all three now sport lovely new hairdos.
It was good to see my brother-in-law Peter this afternoon who was in Scotland on a job. He stayed long enough for a cup of tea in the sunshine and was duly despatched with several old copies of Fortean Times to take back to Rachel. Peter's father had a fleeting appearance on this evening's 'F Word' programme. When the programme finished, Nigel turned off the television...and all the lights went out. We fiddled about with the fuse box before realising that the whole street was without power. There were no lights to be seen, so perhaps the whole town was down.
I couldn't light the gas as the ignition is electric-powered so we tracked down some matches from the garage with the help of a solar light from the garden. We lit some candles and made a cup of tea.
As it was lighter outside than it was in our sitting room, we took our cuppa outside. We were just about to light the chiminea when the power returned.
With the electricity restored I took the opportunity to put batteries in my torch so I'm a bit more prepared the next time.
We took the bus to Edenhall where Lucy was going for speech therapy. Edenhall is such a peculiar collection of long, thin buildings set a beautiful woodland where squirrels run around.
We had lunch in the canteen afterwards followed by a roll down the steep bank and a play in the nearby swingpark and an icecream each from the Farm Shop (which is a farm shop in name only!).
I intended catching a 124 home but, as so often happens, our plans changed....nestled near Levenhall roundabout was a clearly abandoned bike. We decided to walk to Wallyford train station with Emily riding the bike and caught a train from there to Prestonpans. We dropped the bike off with Annemarie for Esme and made our way home.
The first week of last year's school holidays were spent getting soaked to the skin ferrying Emily back and forward to the summer playscheme in the torrential rain. This year, the weather has been much kinder and the showers, though heavy at times, have been short-lived. But...to hear some people moan you would think we hadn't seen a bit of sunshine! I'm weird though - I'm looking forward to running through Jeppe Hein's ornamental fountains at the Southbank Centre next month.
Good ticks:
Emily - for thinking of her friend
Lucy - for being great at speech therapy
Georgie - for wearing pants and not being sick on the bus
Me - Action 17 - Try watching Less TV - I'm listening to Bob Dylan on the
radio.
We took the train to North Berwick this morning, had a look
in some shops. Purchases included: David
Livingstone
Walking down to the harbour my eye caught sight of a lovely carved wooded duck in a window bearing a 'dcuk' label. I'm guessing this is a parody of French Connection's 'fcuk' (why would anyone want to wear an anagram of fuck on their t-shirt??).
The Slow Food Fair was buzzing and I found it ironic that people were getting impatient waiting for their food to be cooked. It's s..l...o...w.. food for dcuk's sake - if you want something quick, take your precious Arabella/Tarquin and dcuk off to McDonalds (but the queues were quite long - one horse-faced woman sprouted a moustache while waiting).
The girls had roast pork and stuffing rolls, while Nigel and I had paella - which was well worth waiting for. We all had fantastic fruit ices from Belhaven Fruit Farm and the UK's first fairly-traded cola - Ubuntu Cola. I bought some handmade truffles from The Chocolate Tree. The kids were at their happiest leaping about on the trampolines and going on the carousel but I just enjoyed sitting out in the sun and being able to see the newly installed jawbone on the Law.
The only thing missing was coffee. However, on the way back to the station we noticed Abbey Church was having a coffee morning. We were given a warm welcome and delicous homebaking and coffee. It was nice to see Mary Graham again, whose husband David is the Minister there.
Arriving back in the 'Pans we saw Anna and her family and it occured to me that if it wasn't for today's trip being spontaneous, we could have invited some friends with kids along.
We walked back from the station past our guerrilla sunflower which I'm pleased is getting quite big.
We weren't quite up and organised early enough for me to spend much time in Musselburgh with the rest of the Barkers. So, after buying a very bonny vintage pinny in Cancer Research I left the rest of them there while hopping on a bus back to the 'Pans in time for my haircut at 202.
Sharon was pleased to have a 'real' hair cut to do (rather than 'just a trim, please') and declared her scissors to be very happy. I had a load chopped off and now have red bits although next time I'd prefer a whole block of colour.
Tea tonight was simple yet delicious. Breaded haddock from David Gay's in Musselburgh, peas and potato (salad) from the vegetable garden and homemade bread (made using the 'French' setting).
Website of the day: Trakkies - for kids who like trains
The builders appear to have ceased working in the field opposite. What can be going on?
I love the open view over the fields. I love being out of doors. However, I am a city girl, of that I have no doubt. While I can appreciate hills and lochs, I'm afraid they hold no attraction for me in terms of being a holiday destination. Is that terrible of me?
---ooOoo---
I enjoyed chilling out with Nigel this evening and watching Duran Duran in concert on tv.
Website of the day: Map of Strange - odd images that appear on Google maps (The UK's claim to fame is the word 'poo' in a field - a crap circle?)
We saw Rosie again this morning when she dropped off a wild strawberry plant on the way to her work in the Infant School vegetable garden. She took Emily with her returning later with carrots, potatoes, celery and peas.
This afternoon we went to the library where I enjoyed looking
round Musselburgh Camera Club's stunning exhibition. I read Rapunzel
Cuts Loose (Happy Ever After)
After carrying out a few errands I returned to the library, had a coffee and a blether with Erica while Lucy and Georgie joined Emily in bookmark making. We returned via the school to look in on the wildflower meadow and vegetable garden which are really flourishing.
---ooOoo---
For some reason my East Lothian News hadn't been delivered but the Courier had. For absolutely ages the News has carried a small ad for "For Sale: Ladies Turquoise Leather Jacket". I've become so used to seeing the ad I was shocked when it stopped appearing. Maybe I should place an ad for "Wanted: Ladies Turquoise Leather Jacket".
There now follows A shameless plug for our entry in the Instructables Contest - please vote for our Wall Art.
Rosie, Esmé and Max came round this afternoon. Because the weather was so nice the kids all played in the garden. At any given point one child would be on the roof of the playhouse, another hanging upside down on the swing, another climbing a tree, while another was foraging for fruit - it was like a scene from the monkey house of the zoo. They all ended up covered in scratches, stings and raspberry juice but were very happy.
---ooOoo---
Nigel had his behind-the-scenes visit to Natural Spice today and brought home a wonderful dinner of vegetable pakora, chicken madras and Bombay aloo.
Website of the day: Wall Glamour - beautiful wall stickers
Emily enjoyed her birthday. She received lots of Dr Who/High School Musical/Harry Potter-themed gifts and had lunch at The Longniddry Inn.
I enjoy the Longniddry Inn but made a mistake in choosing the Thai Green Curry which was a rather confusing mix of Thai and Indian. Served alongside the Thai curry were poppadums and chips! In future I will stick to the tried and tested traditional fayre. We strolled along to the beach and whiled away some time on the sand before heading home for birthday cake.
Website of the day: Keaggy - a collection of visual indiscretions from a fellow compulsive
Happy
Birthday Emily!!!!!!!!
Happy
Birthday Emily!!!!!!!!Happy Birthday
Emily!!!!!!!!Happy Birthday Emily!!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday Emily!!!!!!!!Happy
Birthday Emily!!!!!!!!Happy Birthday
Emily!!!!!!!!Happy Birthday Emily!!!!!!!!
I'm a bit manic at the moment.
I've finished three books this week: The
Fred Dibnah Story
Land of the Living is a thriller by Nicci French. She's not an author I'm familiar with and it's not exactly high brow stuff but I enjoyed it and found it quite thought-provoking.
Briefly, Abbie Devereux doesn't know where she is or who is holding her captive. She is restrained, gagged and hooded. She manages to flee her abductor but cannot assist investigators as she can't remember being snatched or events leading up to her abduction. The very fact Abbie is alive (rather than more conveniently been found strangled) leads various professionals to conclude she is either delusional or a liar. The friends she had assumed would support her come to view her as an embarrassment.
Eventually, through her own resources, she manages to confront the captor (and save another girl) and then receives the support she had rather assumed would be offered unconditionally the first time.
---ooOoo---
On Saturday we went to The Drill Hall Arts Café for Hip Kipper’s Bruncheon featuring The Sound of Muesli. Our kippers and scrambled egg were accompanied by mellow breakfast beats from DJ Mungbean and a folk trio.
Today we painted the kitchen in Summer Pudding and Pea Pod.
Nigel made tuna and rice fishcakes which we had with chips and pease pudding followed by Tesco's version of Angel Delight and guava halves. I've never had guava before. It was like eating a rhubarb flavoured mango - yum.
---ooOoo---
I have seriously contemplated stopping this blog because I cannot trust myself not to publicly lambast some imbeciles. Perhaps I will start another blog elsewhere and let off steam there.
Proverb of the Day: An opened(!!!) packet of mixed nuts with a use by date of April 08 does not a gift in July make.
I managed to escape the madhouse by going to B&Q with Christine. I used to live near a B&Q and on one memorable visit I marvelled at how many women were there, fully made up and in their glad rags hanging around the Customer Pick Up Point. I remarked on this to a colleague who said "Don't you know Thursdays are single nights?". I was gobsmacked. Today I related this tale to Christine who was equally surprised and then pointed out that today was Thursday.
The only thing I picked up was paint, rollers, brushes and a plant.
---ooOoo---
Someone was remarking on how much Emily has grown. "She's going to be tall and slim, just like her mum... used to be". A backhanded compliment if ever there was one.
It didn't stop there though. I have warned Emily that if she continues to scuff her shoes I will buy her big robust boys shoes next term. This has obviously been playing on her mind, resulting in the following conversation:
Emily: "Are you really going to buy me big ugly shoes?".
Me: "Yes, I'm going to buy them from biguglyshoes.com".
Emily: "Are they going to have pictures of your face on them?"
Touché!
Website of the day: Sandow Birk - site of the Southern Californian artist who work deals with social issues such as the war in Iraq.
We had quite a lazy day today. I have no energy and the squabbling is getting to me.
---ooOoo---
On the same day as the BBC reported that a teenager found a bat in her bra, I read a former colleague's anonymous blog in which she alludes to being particularly endowed in that department. I very much doubt a bat would have much room in her sports bra, unless it was a pipistrelle. She's not the only person I've discovered to give themselves a virtual makeover though...chunky friends become 'althletic'; the vertically challenged become 5'11 etc etc.
Website of the day: Pig Latin Generator - Feeden o reeden teeden heeden o seeden e u needen feeden o reeden teeden u needen a teeden e seeden weeden heeden o deeden i deeden needen o teeden heeden a veeden e teeden heeden e beeden e needen e feeden i teeden o feeden a ceeden leeden a seeden seeden i ceeden a leeden e deeden u ceeden a teeden i o needen (For those unfortunates who did not have the benefit of a classical education)
Yesterday all three Barkerettes had a go on the sewing machine. They also made books using my binding machine. If yesterday was a 'machinery day' then today is an outside day.
It is very warm and sunny so we took the opportunity to spend some time in the garden picking redcurrants, playing and weeding (or in the case of Georgie, weeing - 3 pairs of pants by lunchtime).
I'm pleased that my lavender is thriving. I've never had any success previously. My wildflower patch now has yellow and orange flowers.
---ooOoo---
I've updated the Kids Stuff pages with some activity sheets. The website still needs an overhaul though.
Website of the day: (The Customer is) Not Always Right - to balance yesterday's anti retail rant, here's the other viewpoint.
I awoke with a headache, possibly the result of oversleeping, low blood sugar and certainly not helped by the kids' squabbling. I thought the best course of action would be to take some painkillers and get out of the house so we all trooped down to Somerfield.
We'd planned to get a home delivery and shopped accordingly only to discover at the checkout that they didn't do deliveries on a Sunday. The checkout assistant pointedly pointed out that they had never offered a Sunday delivery service (but stopped short of saying "Are you idiots or something?").
(At this point I am reminded of Lily Savages' joke about being given a row for smoking in Heathrow Airport. "Can you not read?" the cleaner says. "Yes, I can read...which is why I'm not sweeping ******* floors in Heathrow". OMG, I'm not turning into Paul O'Grady am I??).
Fortunately we had lots of bags with us as we had originally intended to go to Lidl but were deterred by the rain. To lift the mood we went for lunch at the Aroma Bistro. One of these days I will order moussaka because it looks so nice but today I had the lentil soup which was divine. Bobby popped his head around the door to say hello/goodbye.
We trudged up the hill Nigel carrying 3 bags, Me with 2, Emily with one and Lucy and Georgie carrying a handle each of one bag.
My headache developed into a full blown migraine - wobbly hands, nausea - the works.
Migraine scale: 8. Sympathy: 0.
I've finished The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. Wow.
The story begins with a group of painters and decorators blaming their economic misfortunes on immigrants. Today we were in Carlisle where the BNP is perpetuating the same myth 100 years after Tressel's characters.
We were in the city for the Festival of Nations. We picked up some Show Racism the Red Card posters (West Ham of course), stickers and bought a Stop the Nazi BNP pamphlet from the friendly folks at the Carlisle Against Racism stall.
There was a troupe of dancers performing an amusing square dance. Judging by their traditional dress, they may have been Ukrainian but I couldn't be certain. The dance involved the men wagging their finger scoldingly at the woman and then moving on the kiss the hand of the next woman.
We had fantastic fish, chips and mushy peas at the Fryery in Scotch Street. Looked round the abundant charity shops, bought yet more hats to keep the rain off, bought wee toys in Hawkin. There are so many little lanes leading off the main drag and wonderful old buildings.
We even had time to indulge in our respective hobbies - Nigel: a record fair at the County Hotel on arriving; me: a quick geocache near the beautiful Victorian station before leaving.
The people of Carlisle are so friendly! From generally stopping to chat to helping the kids with their coat, everyone was so nice. And the accent is nice too.
I had been looking forward to the journey because I haven't been on that route before. We left Waverley and stopped at Haymarket before passing through Slateford and Kingsknowe. Almost immediately after Kirknewton, we branched off to the south and made our way to the Carstairs East junction, taking the south fork down past Lockerbie (I can't help it I'm a geek).
The train journey itself was a nightmare. We were on a Virgin Pendolino - those things really tilt. Even I felt sick. Next time we will make sure we travel First Transpennine. And there definately will be a next time.
We got home almost in time for Doctor Who - what was that all about?!
Over in the field a digger is eating away one side of the mountain and loading up the earth into a waiting truck. When it is full, the truck sounds its horn twice and moves off, after which a waiting truck takes its place.
On this side of Mid Road huge piles of soil are also being moved. By Georgie. From my rubber plant. She was covered in soil. Even the turnups on her trousers had soil. I pulled out the sofa and switched on the vacuum which unfortunately was configured in the 'blow' setting. A quick fix later it sucked up the earth (and the other rubbish which has accumulated in the less than 24hrs since it was last done). Tears ran down Georgie's dirt-streaked face. "Do you have something you want to say to me?" I asked. She nods and hangs her head. "Well, come on then" I say impatiently "What do you want to say to mummy?". "Television on" she says.
It's been a trying day involving papier mache, poop and a peacock feather. You don't want to know...
---ooOoo---
The June photos are up.
Website of the day: Talking Tables - stylish and co-ordinated partyware to get your guests giggling and mingling.
I was determined not to be a clichéd mum who is driven crazy during the school holidays...so instead became the clichéd mum who made pasta necklaces and collages. I also made a bracelet from laminated postage stamps. My efforts were not nearly as well crafted as others I've seen but Nigel reckons mine is cool (philately gets you everywhere).
We also went to the park which was good because the kids thought
I was giving them my undivided attention when I was actually reading The
Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
In the very early hours of this morning I was settling Georgie back to sleep. "Go to sleep and I'll put nail varnish on you in this morning" I said. There was an almost imperceptible nod as she drifted back off to sleep. From across the other side of the room a sleepy little voice said "Me too".
So, on the first day of the holidays, the big treat was nail varnish. Scarlet red for Emily, glittery green for Lucy and a russet for Georgie. It kept them quiet for all of 5 minutes and they have spent the rest of the day squabbling and generally being unpleasant. Ho hum.
Thankfully, I was booked in for a massage with MG Therapies which was a birthday present from my sister Rachel. I floated back up the road feeling more relaxed than I have been in ages.
Website of the day: Urban Prankster - why do I love this stuff so much?
With the help of Robert and Heather I collected a beautiful bookcase from a freecycling Panner (thank you Sandra). I now need to carry out at least four random acts of kindness in karmic payment.
This afternoon we went to Annemarie and Jim's house for a cuppa, a blether and some Scottish wine while the kids ran amok with Esme. Which, in addition to being very pleasant helped me tick off Action #14 - spend time with someone from a different generation.
Action #15 - Register online as an organ donor - TICK! I want any of my organs and tissue to be used for transplantation after my death.
Website of the day: Domestic - I predict decals, murals and wall art in general are going to be huge.
Happy Birthday Martha!
---ooOoo---
Marching season has begun. I was awakened from my slumber by the sound of flute playing.
Our plan was to go to Canongate Community Forum's Street Party in East Market Street but when we got there there was nothing to see. It turned out it had been cancelled at the 11th hour because of an Orange Lodge march.
We found ourselves at the Scottish Storytelling Centre - a fabulous place which I hadn't visited before. We had a nice lunch in the cafe. The kids 'picnic bag' was especially good value: cheese/ham roll, apple/banana, teddy crisps, freddo bar and a fruit smoothie £3.50. We were just in time to catch the last few minutes of Ewan McVicar performance of "You cannae shove your granny aff the bus". I enjoyed The Royal Mile: a hidden history photography exhibition and the girls really liked the permanent exhibition 'Scotland's Stories'.
We then took a trip across the Greenside Place Link Bridge (what are those deep excavations on the car park side?) and wandered down to the Omni Vue where we saw Kung Fu Panda. It was the first time all five of us had been to the cinema together. I needn't have worried about the kids' behaviour - they were miles better behaved than the teenage girls behind us who left the place strewn with popcorn.
Back in the 'Pans we went to Barbara and Andy's bbq, admired their new decking, ate fab chilli and sang along to The Proclaimers. Well, we had to drown out the sound of those damned flutes and the strains of God Save the Queen (not the Sex Pistols version) wafting over from Rigley Terrace.
Action of the day: Recycle your old mobile phone - if I upgraded my phoned every five minutes I would certainly recycle it...but as I don't it will probably be a long time before I manage to ....TICK!
Website of the day: Graham and Green - nice things I can't afford...
Lucy and Georgie were very excited at the prospect of seeing their cousins Hollie and Hannah at breakfast so were more than a little agitated when they hadn't arrived by lunchtime. It took a lot of persuasion to get them to leave the house to go and collect their sister from school. Emily was of course disappointed that her auntie wasn't there to meet her on her last day at Infant School but her joy at being awarded 'Best Girl' more than made up for it.
It was lovely to see how much my nieces have grown. They are very cute and curious and when it was time for them to go, Lucy was heartbroken. She is quite sensitive and when we only see people once a year it makes for a particularly emotionally-charged visit. It isn't about physically seeing someone, it is about the simple matter of keeping in touch and I'm afraid we aren't very good at that.
---ooOoo---
A group of women coming home from a conference were asked by the airline if they would 'volunteer' to come off an overbooked flight in exchange for £170. They took the money and waited for the next flight. They used the next four hours getting to know one another better, looking at ways to improve their business, improve themselves as individuals and generally make the world a better place. And they came up with an idea of pooling their £170 that would achieve their shared objectives. A true story.
Website of the day: Ind.ecisions - roll the dice to make the choice
It was Emily's leaving concert today. The rainforest-themed performance was lovely and I especially enjoyed 'Never Smile at a Crocodile'. After being presented with their Leaving Certificates the P3s left the hall singing "Moving On" and I had quite a lump in my throat.
---ooOoo--
Two shards of tooth appeared in the gap site where my tooth was extracted 28 days ago - no wonder I was in pain.
Website of the day: Martin-Munoz
- the creators of the world's eeriest snowglobes. Very dark, very disturbing.
Why would you?
A happy day.
I went to Lucy's indoor garden party this morning. The homebaking was wonderful and it was nice to see them all so happy. Across the road I can see the children from St Gabriel's Primary School queuing up to go on a bouncy castle.
I saved £9 on my Tesco shop by using code XXM4G6 which I found at Tesco Voucher Codes. I think of it as getting the gin free ;-)
The postie brought a Kids Go Free leaflet but we are having difficulty take advantage of FirstScotrail's offer. Nigel has a season ticket so doesn't need a ticket on the train yet the accompanying adult requires a ticket in order to generate the free child's ticket. To date, FirstScotrail haven't replied to explain how my Kid can Go Free.
Also in the post were some colour swatches from Dulux. We've already bought some bold foxglove wallpaper. - Planning and choosing the decor together is a first for us and we are having great fun (even if we don't actually get round to lifting a paintbrush for another two years!).
Today's mail also included some yellow poppy seeds from a fellow Freecycler (thank you Jen) which will help tick off Action #43 (Grow Something With a Child).
Today's action is #12 Turn off Applicances at the Mains. As usual, my children are already one step ahead of me.
This morning there was no power in the Monkey Loft. Then I remembered yesterday's Hide and Seek game when Georgie hid in the cloakroom and, sure enough, the main switch for the 'west wing' was switched to 'off'. Little monkey.
Website of the day: Web Urbanist - Eye candy for armchair urbanist
The above video is the work of French prankster Rémi Gaillard. Haha, C'est très d'une manière amusante. Je souhaite que j'aie utilisé le Tenalady™ pantalon.
I haven't laughed that much since Dom Joly's Trigger Happy series. I love (harmless) pranks. I love the idea of groups of people doing something utterly pointless.
I got a 35% discount from my La Redoute order today by using code 0864. Ooo la la!
Website du jour: Nimportequi - More candid camera style pranking from M. Gaillard
The last week of the school term begins.
I'm still working my way through my list of actions to change the world: Learn basic first aid. Tick! It was probably about 10 years ago I went on a baby rescusitation course so I have been reading up on it. You can even dowload advice from the St John's Ambulance to your MP3 player and learn on the move.
Action #5 Smile and Smile Back is a bit tougher because I'm reluctant to show my tombstone teeth but I have been smiling, so, Tick!
Action # 6 Take Public Transport When You Can is a Tick! As is, #7 Plant a Tree. I have planted a kiwi tree (do kiwis grow on trees?) and a sort of stick-shaped tree. Perhaps it is just a stick. Er, (s)Tick!
Action #8 Have A Bath with Someone You Love. None of your business.
Action #9 If it Says 30mph do 30mph. N/A
Action #10 Turn your thermostat down by 1 degree. I'm going to have to wear a cardi, but, Tick!
Action #11 Get fitter, feel better. Erm, does walking to the thermostat count? I'm beginning to feel quite tired. I'd better go for a lie down.
Website of the day: Secret Scotland - If it's in Scotland, and it's a secret, then its here.
We had lunch at Poonthais yesterday and the garden dining area had been substantially changed since our last visit with the addition of a raised walkway and pergola. It was really very lovely and today we were trying to envisage how we could incorporate something similar in our garden.
I'm afraid our DIY skills won't stretch to a garden structure - they didn't even stretch to building a small arbour - so the cost may be prohibitive but we're enjoying thinking about the possibilities.
One of the many, many things I think about more often than I do is travel. I can sit for an unnatural length of time reading an Amtrak timetable or browsing boutique hotels in Iceland. So, today, it was with some excitement that I renewed our Family Railcard (half price if you quote 'DAILYM12') and discovered that we automagically get free Youth Hostel Association membership. Ooh, I'm going to have such fun planning imaginary visits.
---ooOoo---
Lunch was brown rice, courgette, mushroom, bacon & cashews followed by pineapple upside down cake and ice cream - do I have the best husband or what??
---ooOoo---
The smell of peonies fills the house.
Website of the day: Mark Pawson - ungeneral disinfotainment from the mail art dude
Because Lucy and Georgie were at a birthday party on Friday, I arranged for Emily to walk the 300 yards from school to the party venue with a friend. This involved crossing one road with the lollipop man and one quieter road on their own. When they got to the Pennypit they were both on a high with Emily declaring she "felt brilliant!!!".
For me, keeping my children healthy and happy while helping them become responsible, fulfilled citizens is one of the most challenging aspects of parenthood - especially as it seems I'm out of step with the rest of the world a lot of the time.
I loathe this constant pressure to make kids grow up before their time. I detest excess. I hate sentences that begin "Other people are allowed...".
I have thus far resisted TVs in bedrooms but now Emily has been promised a mobile phone for her birthday. Quite apart from my several concerns about giving children mobile phones, are the practical considerations of looking after it.
Emily simply does not look after her possessions which frequently get broken because they are left lying around. This makes me very cross, but...she is just seven years old, and I don't think she will learn about the value of 'stuff' by being given yet more 'stuff' just because "other people are allowed...".
Website of the day: Neave Television - prepare to be bamboozled, bewildered, bemused...
A sight you don't see every day: A bus being towed away. It had broken down at the corner of Preston Road and West Loan and was there for over 3 hours.
A sight I'd like to see in more shops: Those wheeled shopping baskets with an extending handle in Somerfield (I never even knew it did that until Elaine showed me).
A sorry sight: Lucy sitting on the First Aid chair at nursery (another child had forgotten the 'be kind to people' rule).
An unpleasant sight: A dead bird by Robert de Quincy place (the crow had been there for 3 days and I didn't fancy using my litter pickers on it).
A sight for sore eyes: A street-cleaning unit which picked up the aforementioned bird (but not before it annoyed the driver and passengers of a 124 by going so ..s..l..o..w..l..y..
Website of theday: Goosh - an unofficial google shell.
YEEEEEESSSSSSS!
That's the sound of a happy girl. Georgie is better, the sun is shining and I've got a new breadmaker.
I was very impressed by Morphy Richards customer service. My replacement model is sleeker and faster than the original version (which is out of stock till October) and arrived very quickly.
I'm working my way through Change
the World for a Fiver: We Are What We Do
That's the first 3 challenges sorted, only 47 to go. I'm going to struggle with 36 - Take time to listen. I'm going to try really, really hard to listen more and talk less. So do try to be interesting.
Website of the day: Text 2 Mindmap - a web app that creates a mind map from your inputted list of words
Nothing got done today except for cuddling Georgie who is running a temperature and has a poorly tummy. We are all feeling quite wiped out after a rough night.
Website of the day: The Lancastria Association Scotland - an estimated 4000+ souls were lost aboard the troopship on this day 68 years ago.
I had two breakfasts today, the second of which took place approximately two hours after the first and was considerably nicer than my toast. Breakfast chez Knox consisted of an unfeasible amount of fruit scones with strawberry jam and cream. Yum.
Have you noticed how many Lidl brands sound like something out of Dr Who? The Granarom are engaged in a battle with the Vitakrone in the W5 district of the Bella rom galaxy...
Website of the day: Bob
by Post - quirky goodies you'll want to keep yourself - I love the whimsical
wonderballs
A British Gas engineer was round early this morning to see why we had no hot water or heating. He was around so early that Nigel was still in bed finishing the rest of his Father's Day breakfast in bed. While the engineer was replacing our faulty pump, Nigel had to have a longer than anticipated lie-in to preserve his modesty.
The girls got him a new watch, an MP3 player/camcorder thingy, and a tie (if using Ties Planet be sure to check out their offer of the day - at the time I placed my order the offer was for a free £10 voucher and now they are offering free delivery).
After a short walk, we spent the rest of the afternoon in the garden which really needed a tidy up. Every year I get 'buddleia anxiety' when I think I have cut back too hard but so far it has always bounced back. I suspect I should have pruned the wisteria this spring and it is not going to flower this year. I feel terrible for not keeping on top of it, especially as the only reason I have such a beautiful garden is because the previous owner put years of hard work into it.
But...as I sat weeding, I saw a bee in the patch of wildflowers I sowed in April. If I have nothing else horticulturally speaking, I've at least made one bee happy. And everyone knows how important bees are, don't they?!
Website of the day: Caffeine Crazy - A fun game for the Systems Administrator in your life
Gala Day in Prestonpans is one of the few times nowadays I feel like an 'incomer' but it is nice to see the decorated houses and feel the excitement in the air. On the way to the Small World shop I saw Julie and her little one Hannah who looked absolutely beautiful with her hair pinned up ready to be a flower girl.
The Small World Shop was very quiet with only one visitor but it isn't actually the lack of trade that is the most pressing problem. There is a serious need for volunteers and I'm going to see what I can do to drum up some helpers.
Meantime, I have been trying to plan a train trip in the school holidays. It sounds simple. But it is not.
There are 4 places we want to visit: Middlesbrough Reference Library; The National Media Museum in Bradford; relatives in Doncaster & the Magna Centre in Rotherham. And, when we are in t'area we might as well go to 'Arrogate and see Rachel and the Forteans.
Now, do we take the train to Doncaster and work our way back up the East Coast Main Line, trunking off as necessary, or, do we take the train to the more central York which would act as our base?
Do we book a series of singles or a more limiting return? Or do we buy Rover or Explorer tickets for the individual train lines (of which there are at least 3)?
And that's before we get into the vexatious issue of when we will go/where we will stay.
Website of the day: Museum of Conceptual Art - all sorts of weirdness here including Things Other People Accomplished at Your Age - depressing or inspirational?
It's been a lovely day.
Nigel was off today and we collected Emily from the Primary School where she was having a look around. She had a really nice morning but I was surprised how bare the playground was, not to mention the amount of litter.
Yesterday, I served something called 'Seaside Shapes' for lunch, prompting Lucy to ask what the anchor shapes were. The guilt of not being able to sum up in a word or two what was on their plate made me determined to cook 'real' food today. I made the world's greatest cauliflower cheese with bacon, enjoyed by everyone except Emily (who would probably have wolfed down the anchors, starfish and fish-shaped vegetable thingies).
It was actually a really foodie day with caviar on barley crackers for snack and lobster for tea in celebration of National Lobster Day. We had the lobster with chips - a lobster supper, you might say.
We spent some time tidying up the front garden which is looking much improved. Everything got a trim apart from the rowan. I don't consider myself to be particularly superstitious but cutting a rowan tree on Friday 13th is just asking for trouble...
Webpage of the day: Lucy the Photographer - the undedited results of a 4-year old let loose with a digital camera.
I'm pleased that our blue box scheme has been extended to include envelopes (but not padded ones) and cardboard boxes (but not food and drink cartons). You can also recycle Yellow Pages but I suspect our old copies found their way to the Yellow Woods Challenge that the school was taking part in.
Over in Barker-Family MiniCity, the population has reached 500 and now has statistics for Pollution, as well as Unemployment (23%), Transport (100%) and Criminality (5%). You can improve the environment of Barker-Family by clicking here.
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Emily went to look round the 'big' (e.g. middle) school today. Exciting times.
Website of the day: The Happy Puzzle Company - Great multisave offers and the puzzle parties look interesting.
It was Emily's sports day today - rescheduled after being rained off last week. It was pleasant and Emily did very well but today's sports days are quite subdued affairs with no three-legged race, rallying calls from house-mates or braying parents. Apparently old-skool style sports days are now all the rage for corporate hospitality and team building events.
The race for the Apprentice is now over with Lee McQueen being Sir Alan Sugar's latest recruit.
Website of the day: Claire Young - Holding her head high and going forth.
I'm desperately trying to clear my desk and turn my attentions to the house but it just isn't happening.
Today I popped into the Pennypit where Patchwork were holding a fundraiser on behalf of St Columba's. I was delighted to win a pair of tickets for the Royal Yacht Britannia and some Eat Natural bars and Heather and the committee raised £110 for the hospice.
My busy friends are always supportive and happy to lend a hand, so I'm happy to return a favour whenever I can. Helping each other is what it is all about. Unfortunately there aren't enough people willing to put their egos aside for the greater good. One person springs to mind who would feel no compunction in asking for dogsbodying despite the fact their numerous pledges of support never materialise.
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I am going to have to get in the habit of switching off the washing machine. Georgie has again started a newly-finished cycle by pressing a button. Almost as annoying as discovering a full cafetiere of cold coffee.
Website of the day: Pedlars - an old fashioned looking webshop with bang up to date products like flower wall stickers.
Reasons to be cheerful:
I found a voucher that knocked £5 off our Love & Rockets order - on the day before it expires.
The sun is shining.
The madness is over...
Website of the day: Playdale - in an ideal world, every playground would have at least basic modular play equipment which each PTA/Parent Council could add to.
Retrospective blogging is becoming a habit.
What have I been up to?
Lucy had a favourable nursery report, Lucinda got fired from the Apprentice (why is Helene still in it?), I had a tummy bug, Nigel had a couple of days off, I spent too much time on school fayre stuff.
Oh and, I had a night out involving body shop products, swingball and an escaped dog (it was a J-Bo fundraiser). The three of us ended up sitting in Ammree's garden and I smoked my first (and last) cigarette in five years.
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We had great weather for yesterday's Summer Fayre and it looks like we raised over £1,500. I had a ride on the infamous Cosybike which will be the talk of the town for weeks to come.
When Lucy waves to me from the nursery window, crammed in beside other children clamouring for a view of their departing parent, I am reminded of zombie films.
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I have been laminating "I [heart] Prestonpans" signs. Over and over again. I'm sure it's not just that the message (or the fumes from the laminating pouches) has been seeping into my brain - I really do heart Prestonpans.
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It's been nice having Nigel home today.
Website of the day: Paul Villinski - Butterflies from beer cans and other wonderfulness
I thought the garden looked very pretty today, albeit in a soggy, overgrown sort of way. The foxgloves are out (as are the dandelions).
I went to the exhibition at Library today. There was jewellery, ceramics and textiles - all extremely reasonably priced. I really liked Ros Parkyn's ceramics.
I've got lots of non-toothache today. The space where my tooth used to be is incredibly painful.
We braved the weather to go the photography exhibition at The Pennypit. My favourite was that of David Gough whose photographs of urban & industrial North America were really beautiful.
Website of the day: Lanka Kade - fairly traded children's toys and gifts (thanks Heather)
Everyone who came to Prestonpandemonium seemed to have a good time and it was nice for us to catch up with old friends. I had hoped the silent auction would attract loads of competing bids because people had been so generous in donating auction lots. However, we won the majority of items, despite only bidding a nominal amount but we still raised £176 for Oxfam to help the victims of the Burmese cyclone.
The weather was fantastic, Drumatik were playing across the road and there was generally a good buzz about the place.
We stocked up on Oliver East's Trains are Mint and sold the first one in minutes. I bought a copy of the Forest's Golden Hour book and CD and Magda's Toasty Cats.
It is difficult to convey just how tired Nigel and I right now. Not just from carrying boxes of comics or being up early, we are mentally exhausted after spending every spare moment for weeks organising the comic mart.
Website of the day: Reusable Stationery - cards and envelopes you can write on again and again (thank you Rachel)
I had a third tooth extracted on Monday. It was a lot fiddlier that the previous two and broke mid-procedure. My jaw is still quite painful and I'm not convinced the crater is healing up properly.
I can't remember what happened on Tuesday but I suspect it involved comics.
Wednesday was pleasant. I had fab stovies at Christine's house. She kept Lucy occupied while I took Georgie on her nursery visit. She really enjoyed it and played happily in the sandpit while I talked to Mrs Nicolson. When I went to get her another little girl was beside her at the sandpit and asked her what her name was. Normally she would look to me for reassurance but she said "Georgie" and I was very happy. I'm relieved she has a morning place with Lucy. Having them in separate sessions would have been problematic to say the least.
I'm going to pinch some of Christine's ideas for fundraising. She has been busy with her laminator making "Best Teacher" and "Happy Father's Day" bookmarks. I reckon a luggage tag or phone charm would be good too (possibly using Moo sticker books or Vista labels).
The funniest thing that happened on Wednesday was going to the 3 Harbours Arts Festival Box Office to pick up Malcy's comics and being given instead copies of Hamish McHaggis.
Malcy is just one of several people who have donated items to the Burma Cyclone Silent Auction. Actually, we've been overwhelmed at the support PPIII has received in general. The DFC have sent us a box of teaser issues and The Beano have given lots of goodies for the kids.
And the second funniest thing was at the Parent Council meeting when we heard that there will be no 'funding cuts' - just 'efficiency savings'. Oh, that's all right then.
Today has been busy.
From:Lady Martha Stirling,
4 Old Church Street, Chelsea, SW3, England.
Here writes Lady Martha Stirling, suffering from cancerous ailment. I
am married to Engineer Dennis Stirling an Englishman who is dead. My
husband was into private practice all his life before his death. Our life
together as man and wife lasted for three decades without child. My
husband died after aprotracted illness. My husband and I made a vow to
uplift the down-trodden andthe less-privileged individuals as he had
passion for persons who can not help themselves due to physical disability
or financial predicament. I can adduce this to the fact that he needed a
Child from this relationship,which never came.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of 10 Million (10
Million Great Britain Pounds Sterling which were derived from his vast
estates and investment in capital market with his bank here in UK.
Presently, this money is still with the Bank. Recently, my Doctor told me
that I have limited days to live due to the cancerous problems I am
suffering from.
Though what bothers me most is the stroke that I have in addition to
the cancer. With this hard reality that has befallen my family, and me I
have decided to donate this fund to you and want you to use this gift
which comes from my husbands effortto fund the upkeep of widows,
widowers, orphans, destitute, the down-trodden,physically challenged
children,barren-women and persons who prove to be genuinely handicapped
financially.
It is often said that blessed is the hand that giveth. I took this
decision because I do not have any child that will inherit this money and
my husband relatives are bourgeois and very wealthy persons and I do not
want my husbands hard earned money to be misused or invested into ill
per ceived ventures. I do not want a situation where this money will be
used in an ungodly manner,hence the reason for taking this bold
decision.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the
bank in UK. I will also issue you a Letter of Authority that will empower
you as the original beneficiary of this fund via my Lawyer. My
happiness is that I lived a life worthy of emulation. Please always be
prayerful all through your life. Please assure me that you will act just
as I have stated herein. Hope to hear from you soon and God bless you and
members of your family.you can contact me through my private email
address:I_am_a_crook@hotmail.com
Lady Martha Stirling.
Emily is miles better today - hooray!
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Today I saw two Wombles, Wonderwoman, Spiderman, a rhino, someone dressed as a banana - and that was just in North Bank Road. I jest, it was the Edinburgh Marathon.
Mo and I saw lots of unusual sights from our vantage point of Water Station 4 including a pair of false teeth plummet to the ground and be reinstated by the runner without so much as missing a beat.
When our volunteering stint was over, we walked to Musselburgh racecourse for our long-awaited pamperng session. I missed out on last year as we had visitors and, this year, we were determined to make it along. There was a carnival like atmosphere from Levenhall onwards with people lining the streets cheering and playing instruments.
Inside the racecourse it was a bit of a melee. Morag and I were wearing our (lovely purple) 'Volunteer' t-shirts and, despite our protestations that our roles extended only to giving out Lucozade and water, several people wanted us to assist them in one way or another. One runner became very cross when I wouldn't accept her 'chip' (it wasn't made of potato otherwise it might have been a different story).
We discovered that the pamper sessions and barbecue were a couple of hours away so made our way back to Prestonpans without our treats but having had a really nice day.
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In the red glow of the setting sun, the 'mountain' in the field resembles Ayres Rock.
Website of the day: Found Magazine - I could start my own version based on stuff littering Preston Road.
"I warn you, I'm obsessional" said Bernice in the Small World shop referring to her love of paper-based record keeping. As well as being obsessive, she is also very witty. She claims her appalling handwriting runs in the family. At a Parents' Evening, a teacher mentioned her daughter's poor penmanship. When she replied "Ah, that's because she suffers from familial graphia" the teacher was extremely sympathetic.
According to Bernice, people often mistake the fair trade shop for a charity shop and turn up with bags full of clothes. That didn't happen today though and I made up my first Sale or Return order and felt I had been reasonably useful.
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Jane came round in the afternoon to pick up traybake. She is going to sell refreshments from her garden to marathon spectators on behalf of Oxfam.
Website of the day: Maths is Fun - is it flippin heckers like, but as my ability to help Emily with her homework has come to an end approximately 4 years earlier than anticipated, this site might come in handy.
Yesterday took an unexpected turn when school phoned at lunchtime to say Emily was feeling sick.
When I got to school, Emily was ashen-faced and complaining of a sore head and neck. The pharmacist recommended a visit to the doctors. By this time, Emily was also complaining that her fingers felt like they had disappeared (and her hands were cold to the touch). The GP ruled out anything serious but suggested a trip to the Sick Kids if she got any worse.
After a couple of hours deep sleep, she perked up enough to meet Nigel off the train. With the exception of the sore neck, the symptoms reminded me of my own migraines.
However, this morning, Emily's first words on waking were "I can't go to school today my neck really hurts". I hastily arranged to have Lucy and Georgie looked after while Emily and I took the train and then a taxi to the Sick Kids.
The staff were very thorough and eventually diagnosed nothing more serious than a sore throat and inflamed tonsils - probably the result of a viral infection which should clear up in a couple of days.
I attempted to expedite the recovery process by buying two ice creams from Brazilian Sensation before catching a train home. Heather dropped off Lucy and Georgie who had throroughly enjoyed their time at Jo Jingles with Kimberley and Ryan.
Emily is a little happier now but sad to be missing Rebecca's birthday party.
Now, this has got me thinking....it was the mention of a sore neck which triggered alarm bells (being a symptom of Meningitis). What if she simply meant a sore throat?
Website of the day: ZeFrank - I like.
Quick recap: my mum and Alan came to visit. My breadmaker stopped working. Julie had a birthday. I had two teeth extracted. I had a day without email connection.
And tonight I attended a Parent Council Cheese and W(h)ine evening which made the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill look straightforward and calmly debated.
You have to be careful what you wish for. I always hoped that the Parent Council would be a bit more like Soroptimist International or at the very least more Rotary than Rural. The Soroptimists have consu
