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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Key achievements today:
Completing Show Gnomercy Mission by depositing gnomes in and around the 'Pans.
Convincing Emily that the two dogs walking side by side was actually one two-headed dog.
And some other stuff.
Website of the day: 118 118 'Ask Us Anything' - I did. "When did Wolverine first appear?'" The answer came by text: "Wolverine had a cameo appearance on the last page of Incredible Hulk #180 (Oct 1974) & his 1st full appearance in Incredible Hulk #181 (Nov 1974). Thanks"
Recently, I was at a meeting where we discussed the distribution
of a school newsletter. Previously, parents had been given the choice of receiving
either an email version or a printed copy. A councillor in attendance
cautioned against this either/or approach suggesting everyone be given
a hard copy with a version also being emailed on request.
His logic was simple: don't single out kids who don't have a computer. I agree
wholeheartedly.
There was a time, when I was about 14, that I received free school dinners. Heaven knows who dreamt up this system but, 'free dinner kids' had to sit at a separate table.
The first time, a girl growled at me "What are you sitting here for?".
"I'm a Free Dinner" I replied miserably.
"You don't look like a Free Dinner" she sneered
I knew I was supposed to say something at this point
"Neither do you" I said brightly
"Yes I do" she muttered.
I hope school dinners will be free for all kids some day soon.
Website of the day: Be Nice to Nettles
Week - why you should be nice to your stinging friends.
It was so lovely to see my beautiful nieces Lauren and Martha today (and my sister and brother-in-law of course!). They have grown so much and Emily, Lucy and Georgie loved playing with them.
---ooOoo---
Poor Nigel has toothache and, despite a course of metronidazole and loads of ibuprofen he is in a lot of pain. Fortunately for him, it is International Nurses Day as well as World Fair Trade day.
---ooOoo---
Lucy is full of questions at the moment. I tried to explain to her what had happened to the people in Burma and she said "Let's ask them to come to our house for dinner then". I wish life were that simple.
---ooOoo---
Good news: Ikea have started online shopping with home delivery
Bad news: It's only in England and Wales so far.
Website of the day: Portable Pub - an inflatable pub -what a great idea (just don't hold any darts tournaments)
My rubber plant is looking much happier for being repotted into a much larger pot.
I need to a little 're-potting' myself. Today I had to say goodbye to yet another pair of too-tight trousers.
I tend to wear my favourite clothes to the point of disintegration and today I also, reluctantly, threw out a pair of well loved but threadbare trousers.
Website of the day: Home Decor for Absolute Geeks - This is way too nice for geeks.
Well, I've done it. I've finally gone to the Parents Like Us Festival. And it was fun. Organised by parents, entrance was free and there was plenty of free activities to keep the girls occupied. Even the fairground rides were only 50p.
The "Like Us" tag really put me off. As Groucho put it, "I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member". I'm not sure what I was expecting: a make your own sandals from tyres workshop and a talk about the benefits of using a mooncup, but it was just a regular festival, albeit very well organised and uber child-friendly. A few good ideas I saw were: a (regular, family-sized) tent kitted out with changing table and nappies for baby changing; Bubble solution and lots of bubble wands; lots of bins.
All tastes of food were catered for and there was a bring your picnic area although we had already had delicious seafood gumbo at the Drill Hall were we popped in for "The Sound of Muesli" (jazz and brunch).
As I've said in J-BarBlog passim, I absolutely love going back to Leith. I love to see what has changed/remains unchanged in the (gulp) 22 years since I first made it my home.
We had a lovely day and although we heard/saw thunder/lightning, we managed to avoid getting soaked. The sound of rain on Waverley's glass roof is one of my favourite sounds.
Website of the day: Trams for Edinburgh - It strikes me as tremendously ironic that 100 years after they first started in Leith, and 50 years after they ceased running, trams are now back (and giving shopkeepers a lot of grief).
Lucy is the latest Barkerette to take up amateur hairdressing. I've had to give her a makeshift bob in the garden after she lopped several inches off her beautiful long hair.
---ooOoo---
I don't seem to be getting anywhere fast today. My desk is a photo opportunity waiting to happening. There is: a broken necklace, a tub of loose change, flyers, travel tickets, Yet another non-working clock, spare keys and spex. There is a cotton shopping bag which I'm scared to look in because it has sat there for two days. There are checklists, action lists, shopping lists, wishlists and whooshlists (that's a to-do list which remain uncompleted after the deadline has 'whooshed' by).
There may well be A1 poster detailing all the SNP broken promises
(alongside a postage stamp on the reverse of which is written the SNP's kept
promises). There is a copy of Derren Brown's Tricks
of the Mind. 
---ooOoo---
Nigel and I can't agree. He thinks we should remove the moss on the bricks at either side of the garden path. I think it's not doing any harm, it's not the path itself and the so what, if the moss eats into the bricks in the garden. I think the garden could stand a little shabby chic.
It's not the first time we have disagreed (Quantum Physics: interesting or boring; Ikea: great or rubbish; Moon Landings: real or hoax). Feel free to join in the great debate. Answers on a postcard to the usual address. Please mark your entries either "Jan is Correct" or "Nigel is Wrong".
Website of the day: The Design Museum Shop - an oldie but a goodie. My current favourite is the Instant Labelling Tape.
It was good to meet with David Gilmour this morning to discuss the Parent Council's input to the school website. It's going to be a useful communication tool, particularly when it comes to advertising events like the Summer Fayre.
I'm surprised Google hasn't come up with a events function. The event listings services I mainly use are Ents24, zvents, upcoming, eventful, whatsonbritain, eventsites, eventsetter, britevents, urgoing.to and scotlisting.
---ooOoo---
For obvious reasons I was thinking about a Burmese friend MS today.
I worked near a centre for doctors visiting from overseas. Our respective offices had the same door number but I was in the Square and the Centre was in the Street. Unsurprisingly I often answered the doorbell to find a jetlagged doctor looking to check-in to his room. I simply pointed the weary travellers in the right direction but it used to drive my boss crazy.
One day, my harassed boss opened the door and, on seeing my dark-skinned lunch date, spoke very s-l-o-w-l-y "No...Wrong Door...You need to go round the corner. This... is... Square...Not Street." She was rather taken aback when MS, unperturbed asked "Is Jan in?"
Website of the day: Graffiti Research Lab - Dedicated to supplying street-artists with open source technologies for urban communication.
There is a mountain of earth in the field opposite. Needless to say the girls find this very exciting. "Volcano!" shouted Lucy when she saw it.
I managed to escape the din made by the diggers this morning when I went to Musselburgh. In Oxfam they had a crate full of vintage knitting patterns and a box of maps. I didn't buy any as I already have plenty knitting patterns from the 60s and the maps were the type tourist info gives out rather than the British ones I prefer (how nerdy do I sound?).
---ooOoo--
The April photos have been published.
Website of the day: Panic Buyers - at 2.00 p.m. on May 15th 2008, everybody needs to go out and panic buy CARROTS.
I'm not often up very early but when I am, the sound of the skylarks in the field opposite is wonderful. I hear them throughout the day too but then they are competing with cars and lorries. I keep meaning to somehow record it. I hope I'm not too late. The diggers have begun churning up the field and there is what looks like the start of a site office.
I'm a great believer in redressing the cosmic balance. I can't stop the housing development but I can guerrilla garden. This afternoon the girls and I planted some sunflower seeds (Thank you Richard) on a neglected verge. A little old lady came over and started talking to us. She was quite taken with Georgie whom she described as a "lovely wee boy". Emily could barely contain her giggles.
Lucy has been on the naughty step today for running miles ahead when we were out on a buggy walk at Morrison's Haven this morning. She can run so fast. When I asked her what she thought her punishment should be she suggested she not be allowed to go on the scooter (that she shows no interest in).
Hurummph. My kids can outrun me and outsmart me.
Website of the day: Urban Exploration Poland - this is beyond exciting (for me anyway!)
Andrew and Lynne were delivering 3 Harbours Arts Festival brochures and everywhere we visited today, we were greeted by the front cover photo of paper boats.
We had a recce at the Goth to check the room layout for Prestonpandemonium. We are now chokka, or, to quote our removal man, "Ye widnae get a fag paper in there".
After a Fords picnic by the sea and headed for Sam
Burns yard. Our total purchases (lampshade, books, cassettes & nail
varnish) came to £4. A bargain if ever there was. Georgie had picked
Quaker
Faith and Practice
The girls enjoyed an afternoon of creating modern art in the sun at Prestongrange Museum, after which we headed home via the Drum Mohr caravan park shop for ice cream.
Back home we had rainbow trout, chips and mushy peas. A great end to the Bank Holiday.
---ooOoo---
I'm trying to work out how to quickly raise money for the victims of the Burmese cyclone - coffee morning? book sale? It's not the easiest of countries to get aid to, although the International Rescue Committee seems to have years of experience of working in the region.
Website of the day: Free Hugs - I'm not sure I can hug a stranger, but I like the ethos
It was a day of fun, expense, productivity, missed photo opportunities and high emotion.
Our first expense of the day was a lesson in how to spend £313 in 3 minutes - in other words, we bought Nigel's monthly season ticket. Ouch.
We dropped off Prestonpandemonium flyers with our pals in Avalanche, Forbidden Planet, Word Power, Forest and Deadhead.
I wished I'd taken a photo of the masked protesters opposite the Ron Hubbard Academy of Scientology Brainwashing. I did, however, take photos of Lucy and Georgie at the Potterrow graffiti and inadvertently appeared in a few tourists' photos of Greyfriar Bobby.
It was lovely to bump into Jane, Christopher and Robyn at the Mosque Kitchen where we enjoyed dhal and rice al fresco. It's one of several brilliant and inexpensive eateries in that part of town.
After we had collected Emily at the bus station we planned to go for an ice cream and made the mistake of going to Costa's. They didn't have ice cream and our coffee, juice and wafers cost almost as lunch as our fabulous lunch had. We will not be making that mistake again.
I'm not sure whether the reunion with Emily made us all a bit emotionally needy, but it's fair to say, the mood has been quite ugly this evening.
Website of the day: Nick Jr - being a mean and horrid parent, I don't allow my kids to watch Nick Jr (because of the adverts for unnecessary and precocious tat) but I must admit the games, crafts and activities featured on the website aren't half bad.
After saying goodbye to Emily, who was off to a sleepover, we went to Forbidden Planet where Lucy and Georgie both got free comics.
We walked to the Cathedral Precinct and visited the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art. I love its zen garden and it serves the best coffee and caramel shortbread in Glasgow.
We didn't take part in the tai chi or other 'Mind, Body & Spirit' activities but I really enjoyed my visit. My favourite sections were the beautiful stained glass windows and the huge statue of Shiva. Lucy and Georgie both liked the Day of the Dead skeletons. The view of the Necropolis was so spectacular we promptly abandoned our plans to go to Falkirk and decided to visit the City of the Dead instead.
Wow! The Victorian burial ground is amazing. There was an ornate building, which I now know to be the Major Archibald Douglas Monteath Mausoleum, that had grotesque faces carved all around. It was of course locked but there was just enough space for me to slide the camera under the door and take a blind snap. The urbexer in me was thrilled but the cowardy custard in me was half-expecting a hand to come from within and grab me.
After enjoying the views of the cathedral and the sprawling
Infirmary we made our way back to the Queen Street via the Glasgow
Cathedral Not Quite New Shop (purchases: 50
Bedtime Stories,
I was suprised to to see four wild deer on the Morrison Bowmore site alongside the railway but apparently they are quite a regular sight.
Website of the day: Cacophony UK - Meaningless madness - I just hope they maintain the website and actually pull off some stunts.
On
Guerrilla Gardening: A Handbook for Gardening Without Boundaries
Website of the day: Truck Spills - Is there anything more exciting than 2,184 cases of Grolsch beer being dispersed over the motorway? Erm, 2,184 cases of Cadbury's chocolate?
Today's local paper reports that Claire Sheppard, Commercial Manager of Musselburgh Racecourse, is leaving the burgh to take up post as Chief Executive at Plumpton racecourse. Musselburgh Racecourse has flourished under her management with increased attendance, the award of 5* from Visit Scotland. Not forgetting the sell-out Ladies Day incorporating 'Fashion in the Field' which offers "a fantastic line up of prizes for our best-dressed racegoers".
Hmmm....permatanned fillies in frocks and fascinators trotting around for the chance to win a car...clarssy!
Sport of Kings? Which King? Stephen or Kong?
---ooOoo---
I saw a bullfinch this morning. Despite the bright skies, the first of May is chilly - ne'er cast a cloot 'til May is oot!
Website of the day: Pink Cat Shop - It is impossible to browse this site and not yearn for at least ten completely unnecessary but beautiful fripperies.
Poor leadership, complete ineptitude, self-serving braggarts (I am of course talking about The Apprentice).
The departure of Kevin Shaw, weakens my case that he is really an actor, planted there for entertainment value. He may look like Llanddewi Brefi's Dafydd but his management style owes more to David Brent.
Website of the day: Pilkipedia - a wiki based upon Karl Pilkington, Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais
Going down:
Oil prices (after Grangemouth refinery workers ended their strike)
Length of the grass (the shared space got its first mow of the year today)
Going up:
Statue of Fred Dibnah (unveiled today in Bolton)
Fencing in the field opposite
---ooOoo---
A long time ago, I read a very strange book called Ex
Utero
I was delighted to receive a note from that woman who is now mum to 6-week old Sam. Don't you just love happy endings/weird stories?!
Website of the day: Cardboard Cutout - a real-life sized telephone box - what's not to love?
There were feathers everywhere. As I walked across the bedroom, vacuum in hand, they swirled around my legs. I sat down after a prolonged sneezing/wheezing fit and asked Lucy where they had come from. "Here" she said, pointing at a hole in her duvet. "I just put my finger in like this..." and proceeds to demonstrate how she sabotaged her bedding. More clouds of small dark feathers appear.
I found some thread but no needle. I'm not sure sewing a quilt is a good idea, even if I was up to the job. Anyway, as I am more at home with a toolkit than a sewing box, I used some gaffer tape as a temporary measure. Who am I kidding?? I'm never going to get round to repairing it.
---ooOooo---
Flicking through my diary, I've just noticed it's a holiday weekend - and there's lots of stuff happening.
Not only is it Big in Falkirk and Show Scotland weekend but Saturday is also Free Comic Book Day and World Naked Gardening Day (before you ask...yes, of course I will be and yes, that is me 3rd from the right).
And of course Preston Lodge RFC play Dalziel in the final of the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup Final at Murrayfield. (This info comes from Johnston the only person to appear in the East Lothian Courier more often than me - not counting that guy with the strange surname who is always on the Court pages).
On Sunday, it is International Dawn Chorus Day. I strongly suspect the PL boys will not be getting up at 4.30 to witness nature's daily miracle.
Website of the day: Fun Forever - a blog of bizzare (sic), cool, funny and sexy stuff - no it's not about me.
You never can tell how a weekend will work out. Yesterday after my shift in the Small World shop, I had planned to meet the rest of the gang at the train station to go to Longniddry. For reasons too boring to go into we stayed at home and had an unremarkable day.
Today's forecast was for heavy rain yet was actually wonderfully warm. We took the train to North Berwick where the Slow Food Fair was taking place outside the Seabird Centre. The girls really enjoyed the carousel and the trampolines. Nigel and I had paella for lunch, the girls had burgers washed down with Fairtrade coffee (me) and freshly squeezed lemonade (them).
We bought Ballencrief honey & mustard sausages, Findlay's black pudding, Chocolate Tree truffles, Brie de Meaux & Morbier from the inprobably-named Cheesee Peasee.
Campaign of the day: The palm oil used in Unilever's Dove
soap threatens forests (and orang-utans).
What is it with these types who always want to pass on 'inside' information which they have received "on very good authority"???
Invariably the 'intelligence' is of the type likely to spread panic, hurt feelings, or be divisive.
Excuse me a second, my phone is ringing. Back in a moment....
...back again. That was my cousin who works at MI5. I'm not really supposed to tell you this but I happen to know that top secret chemical warfare is being tested in the bottom 'Pans. If you get exposed to it your brain will turn to mush. Anyone in their right mind should head for the top 'Pans.
Sheesh!
Website of the day: 3 Harbours Arts Festival - the 2008 site is now live and looking brilliant!
Great Understatements:
#1 Lucy was exaggerating her poorlyness - she recovered very quickly at the sight of Christine's tin of chocolate biscuits.
#2 Christine is quite busy - whoever said "If you want something done, ask a busy person" was probably talking about her.
#3 I have talented friends - congratulations Annemarie whose book, Hox, has been shortlisted for The Royal Mail Awards for Scottish Children's Books (8-11 years category).
#4 Photos from litter picks are never flattering - today's East Lothian News has a photo of Annemarie, Malcolm and myself with our MSP, Iain Gray.
#5 I see strange sights from my bedroom window - in the field, three boys were transforming a fourth youth into a mummy with the aid of long strips of white material. It was hilarious to watch.
#6 My husband & I have different interests - Nigel has changed the StumbleUpon preferences and now, instead of getting pretty frocks, eco-tips and pictures of cool apartments, whenever I hit 'Stumble', I see pages with titles like How to Bypass Internet Censorship, The Most Incredible Ways to Improve Thyself, and video-instructions about ethical hacking.
Website of the day: The Open Road Blog - utterly fascinating article about Linux desktop market share rising by 61% (sorry folks, normal service will be resumed shortly).
The plan was: Celebrate St Gorgeous Day with traditional English fare of bangers n' mash before going out to Labour Club.
Owing to a combination of migraine and Nigel's late homecoming only the bangers sans mash happened.
Well done Heather for raising £720 for the school. I reckon that makes one sandpit, umpteen library books and, now about five digital cameras and printers that will have been provided as a result of her efforts over the last three years.
Christine, Heather and I had a productive morning putting together raffle prizes for tomorrow's school fundraiser.
In the course of requesting product donations, I inevitably receive a few "unable to help due to the overwhelming number of requests for assistance" replies. I'm know just what they mean - with the work I'm doing on behalf of other organisations, I'm falling behind with Barker-Family Inc. and am feeling a little overwhelmed myself.
I managed to burn dinner while answering the 87th phone call of the day and was grumpy with the kids when it wasn't really them I was with cross with. Their routine has been upset with Nigel getting home two hours later and it's going to take some time to adjust.
---ooOoo---
I'm extremely annoyed that my 70s flip clock, doesn't (flip, that is). Why is it proving so difficult to source an accurate timepiece for the sitting room?
Tomorrow I think I may stick a Do Not Disturb sign on the front door and take the phone off the hook - except I won't.
Website of the day: Seabreeze - hand crafted items from vintage fabrics. Too sweet.
I ordered Georgie into the bathroom to wipe her dripping nose rather than licking it. Two seconds later I raced to the bathroom to see why she was screaming. I caught Lucy in the middle of some experimental type of piddling involving both feet standing on the loo seat. Georgie is standing in a puddle.
This day can only get better, I think. Mistake #1.
Mistake #55 was telling Emily her recorder was arriving between 12 and 6. At noon exactly she began pacing the floor. Shortly after 3 the much longed-for instrument arrived. Emily informs me that the cacophony wailing through the downstairs is called "The Chatter of Angels". A soundtrack to today if ever there was one.
Website of the day: TV Turnoff Week - "Why Don't You Just Switch Off Your Television Set and Go and Do Something Less Boring Instead?"
There are some things you never think you will say (e.g. "I'm sorry about my kids - they've just been to yoga").
And some things you never think you will hear..."John Prescott's Bulimia Battle".
I like to think of myself as a sympathetic, compassionate person so I am bewildered at my own response to this news, i.e. supreme irritation.
Website of the day: Rhymestars - vote for your favourite nursery rhyme - 50,000 votes needed to raise money for I-Can. Free to enter.
Menu:
Italian Tart/Broccoli, Tomato and Roast Pepper Soup
Chicken in a Cream Mushroom Sauce/Chilli and Rice
Apple Pie and Cream/Raspberry and Marshmallow Mousee.
Today's lunch with five other families was the culinary culmination (culination?) of six evenings of cookery class. Nigel looked resplendent in his chef's whites. His chicken was delicious and we were very proud of him.
And for the purposes of balance...
Annoying things Nigel does: Not opening the curtains wide enough; putting the alarm on snooze; and putting a cricket ball in front of Buddha.
Website of the day: Natural Death Centre - The London Green Funeral Exhibition takes place today
Reasons to be cheerful:
Blossom on the trees
Fill a bag for £2 at the library
National Rail's Pocket Timetable feature
Linda McCartney quarter pounders on BOGOF
Coco chocolates (thank you mum)
Clouds fleeing across a nearly full moon
It's Friday!
Few Zimbabweans have reason to be cheerful. Today, the country's national day, there is still no resolution to the disputed Presidential elections; poverty is endemic and life expectancy is 44.
Website of the day: Quinish Garden Nursery - situated on the north-west coast of the Isle of Mull, it benefits from Gulf stream warm air currents. Mail order service.
I learned today of a wanton act of fiscal vandalism. No I'm not talking about the Bank of England's handling of the global credit crunch but an appalling decision which will undoubtedly cost an already badly off organisation thousands. 'Nuff said.
The reverse of my Labour Party membership card reads "...by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone,...". I believe that absolutely, but all too often egos get in the way of the bigger picture.
But back to global economics...Apparently in this time of financial crisis we will all cut back on luxuries like holidays. I'm no economist, in fact I failed Higher Economics (although sitting the exam might have helped) but I predict that when people start feeling the pinch the first thing they will do is book a (heavily discounted) holiday and head for the sun. You heard it here first.
Website of the day: StyleWillSaveUs is an e-zine of stylish, organic, ethical, fairtrade, eco-friendly, vintage, recycled and sustainable.
Our gerbil Reggie died today.
He looked in a very bad way so I carefully explained to Lucy and Georgie that I thought Reggie was poorly and that he might die. Lucy was absolutely distraught. I suggested we talk to him and the next few minutes were heartbreaking. Lucy wanted to draw a picture for him which we taped to his cage. Unfortunately, she got it in her head that the picture would aid his recovery.
When Emily got home I prepared her for the worst and we went to see Reggie but he was already dead.
We said goodbye to our little pal in the garden and buried him in a pretty spot beside some bluebells. When I began replacing the earth, Lucy got very upset and asking when he would be better. All three girls have reacted in different ways. Emily's response was very ordered and methodical. She wanted a laminated photograph of Reggie and wrote him a message on a stone and elected to break the news to Nigel. Lucy has asked lots of questions about death and Georgie is (I think) copying her sisters' behaviour declaring "I miss Reggie soooooooooo much" and then immediately turning her attention back to CBeebies.
I miss him too.
I won a box of fresh, hand crafted truffles from The Chocolate Tree in a raffle at Patchwork today. Oh my giddy aunt! They are toe-curlingly good. And much too good for children. Well, my naughty children at any rate.
Lucy continues to be wilful. Last night she managed to get both feet lodged in between the bathroom wall and a handrail. Lord knows what she was attempting to do but I managed to rescue her without dialling 999. She keeps running too far ahead on the journey home from nursery and today made a big fuss about sitting in the booster seat of Heather's car.
Website of the day: BoingBoing - just in case there is anyone in the world who hasn't heard of 'The Directory of Wonderful Things'...
What started as a grey day brightened into a lovely sunny afternoon.
In the absence of braying wifies, I could actually hear myself think and sat
in the playground reading Shame
I was introduced to the acting Depute Head. Seems nice although I suspect I own tights that are older (probably the ecru ones).
At teatime tonight both Vaisakhi and Rama Navami were marked by dishes of potato & spinach and lentils.
Website of the day: Classic Modern - I'm looking for vintage curtains and this site has some amazing Panton Eames textiles.
Happy birthday Rachel.
I spent a lot of time in the garden today. Why do horrible jaggy, thorny things or nettles or dandelions have enormous roots while pretty flowers are uprooted with the slightest of movement? I know we have to Be Nice to Nettles so I left the ones in the central bed alongside the mint, roses and peonies and just removed the ones where the kids play/get stung.
Website of the day: Blipfoto - a daily photo journal - I'm not worthy.
Yesterday I took Lucy and Georgie to Tatty Bumpkins, a yoga- based class movement class at the Pennypit. They spent more time running around than lying down. I hope they settle down.
The rest of Friday was spent waiting for British Gas to carry our their annual service of the boiler. And waiting. At six o'clock, I phoned BG who informed me that the engineer couldn't find the address (what in the six hour window?) and couldn't reach me my phone (because they had a totally different telephone number). I was livid, especially as I had to switch off the hot water and heating all day. To add insult to injury, they offered me a two hour time slot for a future appointment - why couldn't they just have done that in the first instance?
Emily picked the wrong time to cut her fringe. She came downstairs with an extremly short, uneven fringe, looking like some heroine of a manga novel. Every time I looked at her I felt angry.
The kids were packed off to bed, Nigel and I listened to Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour (theme: Youth and Age) with a bottle of rioja.
Today, I met up with fellow litterpickers, Annemarie and Malcolm. It was really nice to meet Pat Gordon and Iain Gray who came along to help for a bit. The woods behind Meadowmill sports centre are horrendous, with bottles and cans strewn everywhere. I think we filled about seven bags in total and Malcolm recruited a new litter picker. On my return walk along the railway path The Northern Belle passed me on its way to Edinburgh (from Liverpool). A good two hours work by any standards.
And I was really pleased with Georgie. Without Lucy's wayward influence, she was patient, sensible and generally good company.
Nigel had taken Lucy with him to the Glasgow Comic Fair. It was a good weekend to be in Glasgow as the first Subway Festival was in full swing. Lucy apparently played up for her dad and ran amok on the train on the homeward journey. Nigel was not best pleased with her telling her sternly that she next time she had to stay at home with me. Now there's a punishment...
Website of the day: Museum of Linoleum - also incorporating vinyl....
The Dean of Southwark Cathedral, recently banned Jerusalem from a private memorial service. The Very Rev. Colin Slee (anagram Silence Lo!) reckons it is not "to the glory of God" and is too 'nationalistic'.
Of course, Jerusalem is not a hymn and was never intended to be such - Blake dissented from the established church and the verse is considered by some to be satirical reference to Britain's Druid origins - but this ban at a private service speaks volumes (excuse the pun) and sums up my own relationship (or lack thereof) with the church.
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire.
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.
Website of the day: Waitress Pie Maker - comfort-food recipes based on Fox's film
It's been a day of small steps, big bums and sore arms.
I took myself out of my comfort zone today by phoning people I hadn't managed to reach by email. Three people. All positive phone calls and I don't think I came across as a blithering idiot. A small step for most, a giant leap for my confidence.
My fat body burst out of my combats revealing substantially more flesh than is considered acceptable (thankfully I was indoors at the time).
Lucy had to get two boosters jabs today - MMR and DipTet. She was not happy.
Website of the day: Stoats Porridge Bars - Mmm. Raspberry & honey porridge...too good for Goldilocks.
Just as I reach a point in my life where I will shortly no longer require a buggy, I finally find the perfect one.
A couple of years ago, Nigel told me about a colleague's new bunk-bed style double buggy. The newborn was put in the lower level with the big brother in the upper seat. I was convinced the new father must have put the baby in the grocery bag (he did work in I.T. after all). But no, it was of course a Phil and Ted. Today's uber-cool perambulator was being modelled by the sleeping fortnight-old Thomas. And very beautiful he is too.
Life is all about timing. Perfect timing, bad timing, about-bloody-time timing...
I'm not a patient person. After waiting months for people to work out what is required of them, they step up to the plate way too late to be of much use.
Website of the day: Reiko Kaneko - I love the Burrow Cushion - a cushion you can tunnel your feet into.
I thought Patsy Palmer (or 'Pasty' as Emily calls her) did a brilliant job of portraying down on her luck Bianca Jackson (née Branning; previously Butcher) in last night's Eastenders.
Bianca returns to Albert Square with four kids (Whitney Dean, Liam Butcher, Morgan Jackson-King & Tiffany Dean) in tow …just as her mother Carole did 15 years previously (with Bianca, Robbie, Sonia & Billy). She berates Pat Evans (née Harris; previously Beale, Wicks and Butcher) for not having kept in touch but where was she when cousin Bradley got wed to Stacey?
Perhaps she simply forgot they were related. It could easily happen in Eastenders where people move to the far off land of 'Sarf Landon' never to be seen again. Rarely do they return to attend the hatches, matches or dispatches of their relatives. This is probably a good thing, bearing in mind a) the rate at which people get bumped off (usually those related to Ian Beale) and b) the sheer amount of weddings (usually to do with Ian Beale) and c) the fact that everyone is related (usually to Ian Beale).
Two hundred miles up t'north, Coronation Street's Gail Platt (née Potter; previously Tilsley and Hillman) is, as always, having problems with son David. She has decided that it is all the fault of her mother Audrey, from whom she has inherited her parenting skills.
---ooOoo---
Nigel's Monday cookery classes have come to an end. The Easter holidays are over. Postal prices have gone up. In Barker-Family Mini City, 6 people are looking for a job, 2 are criminals and with a population of 304, we now have our own police force. Things change, things stay the same. The world keeps turning.
Website of the day - The Japan Centre - a wide range of hand picked Japanese food items, drinks, books, magazines, accessores, gifts and cookware.
I did my first stint at the Small World Shop today. I'm always amazed that more people don't know of the Fair Trade gem that is right on their doorstep.
As well as the coffee, tea and biscuits which I have been buying for a couple of years, it now stocks pasta, rice, herbs, spices, dried fruit, cereals and conserves.
The gift range has also expanded and includes jewellery starting from just £4 for a bracelet and wooden toys for just £2.50.
My favourite is the range of stationery - you would be hard pushed to find a more beautiful array of handcrafted cards and notebooks - all at prices you would expect to pay for something mass-produced and not nearly as memorable.
It's going to take me a long time to get my head around the paperwork and sale or return side of things but the other volunteers are very patient and kind.
Website of the day: Traidcraftshop - transforming lives through justice, not charity.
I've spoken with Lynne Schroder more in the last two days than I have in the past two years. She is finalising the diary pages for the 3 Harbours Arts Festival so needed some information about Prestonpandemonium. The National Library of Scotland are very kindly supplying a bus at the end of PPIII to take punters for a guided tour of their exhibition, 'Local Heroes: The Art of the Graphic Novel'. You heard it here first.
---ooOoo---
Lucy has stepped on something sharp that is now lodged in her foot. When I tried to clean the red mark she vomited everywhere. She wouldn't let anyone at the health centre look at it and clung to me saying "I don't want to be dead". She finally let Cindy put on a rubbery plaster thing which may sook the splinter (or whatever it is) out. If not, it will be another Barker Family day out to the sick kids.
---ooOoo---
Nigel has been offered a fabby new contract which involves a longer commute but will be a good use of his skills.
---ooOoo---
Exhausting day. Interesting times ahead.
Website of the day: Give or Take - a shopping portal where you can choose to receive cashback or donate it to charity (thanks Jane for the info).
I sprinkled some seed mix in the garden today. I've never tried this before but if I get a tenth of what is promised on the container I will be very happy indeed.
It contains a mix of exotic-sounding wild meadow flowers: Yarrow, Corn Cockle, Bishop's Weed, Snapdragon, Granny's Bonnet, Pot Marigold, Safflower, Cornflower, Siberian Wallflower, Painted Daisy, Chicory, Clarkia, Chinese Houses, Tick Seed, Cosmos, Hound's Tongue, Wild Carrot, Larkspur, Sweet William, African Daisy, Coneflower, California Poppy, Indian Blanket, Bird's Eye, Summer Azalea, Gypsophila, Sweet Rocket, Candytuft, Flax, Germany Catchfly, Mallow, Alpine Forget-Me-Not, Five Spot, Love-In-A-Mist, Evening Primrose, Flanders Poppy, Californian Bluebell, Scorpian Weed, Blackeyed Susan, Sage, Soapwort, Campion, Sweet Alyssum, Prince's Feather, Love-Lies-Bleeding, Golden Marguerite, China Aster, Knapweed, Painted Daisy, Chrysanthemum, Ox-eye Daisy, Corn Marigold, Viper's Bugloss, Summer Azalea, Sunflower, Morning Glory, Marvel of Peru, Pincushion Flower, Campion and Zinnia.
Website of the day: Goodz4kidz - a one-stop shop for children's toys and equipment - and they take Paypal
Lucy and Georgie have been testing the boundaries...literally. Today they escaped under the fence and under the neighbour's leylandii emerging with twigs in their hair.
This is not what I meant about wanting to 'bring the garden in to the kitchen'. I have been searching for just the right shade of green to do exactly that. So far the tester pots I've bought have been too zesty and trendy looking. I'm looking for something more retro - somewhere in between mushy pea and olive.
---ooOoo---
Seven of us were meeting in the train station with John Yellowlees from FirstScotrail to discuss 'adopting' the station. This basically means FirstScotrail provides big planters and reimburses the group for money spent on flowers.
Website of the day: Bounce - award-winning protein balls - Wheat/Gluten/Dairy/GM/Cholesterol-Free, Low Carb, Naturally Sweet, 100% Natural
I have a saying: "Accidents only ever happen when someone doesn't do as they are told".
There were three accidents today all because Georgie wasn't doing as I told her.
"Georgie, don't lean out of the window" - Accident #1
"Georgie, you can't carry a box of 12 eggs" - Accident #2
"Yes you can play in the garden but don't go in the Monkey Loft" - Accident #3
Which is that country where you still allowed to smack your children? Ah, yes, England. I might accidently catch a train there soon.
Website of the day: Throx - three socks for the price of two.
Migraine!
I don't know why I get so stressed taking the kids out but I do. I needn't have worried though, Lucy and Georgie behaved much better than many of the adults I encountered today.
While waiting for the train to Edinburgh, a grown man and an older child made a 'game' of shoving each other near to the platform edge.
Once onboard, the usual station announcements were made and a child asked their accompanying adult what 'mind the gap' meant. The adult chose to demonstrate exactly what this meant at Musselburgh train station - much to the confusion of the several people attempting to board the train.
I was taking Lucy and Georgie to meet up with Nigel and Emily who were selling comics at the Out of the Blue Arts Market in Dalmeny Street so left Waverley by the Calton Road exit and made our way down Leith Walk.
I always loved living in Leith and it was really nice to be back strolling down the Walk. People talk about its gentrification but it was always changing, always vibrant. The former bus depot Shrubhill is no more. Old-style cafe's have been replaced by trendy coffee bars and the smallest slivers of retail space have become Internet booths. I noticed several Polish delis. Some things never change: shops that can't quite decide what they are selling (the famous one being Borland's Darts & televisions but I noticed others: CDs & shoes); windows of beautiful saris, bangles and jewellery; roadworks...
I popped in to Elvis Shakespeare which epitomises everything that is great about Leith.
The former Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street is now a fantastic venue. The Arts Market was very well organised with a refreshment station selling bacon rolls, home-baking, soup and drinks. In addition there was self-service tea and coffee available on an honour system. A very clever idea which I might borrow.
There were lots of interesting stalls. Textile jewellery still seems to be the in-thing. Our stallholder neighbour Amy was selling unusual pieces of jewellery crafted from slices of 35mm film canisters and across from us was Dirk Robertson who sat knitting carrier bags...out of carrier bags. Lucy took a shine to Lynsey Walters felt rings and then helped herself to a pack of notelets, possibly because I was helping myself to the various business cards on each stall. When I realised I took it back and Lucy was heartbroken. I would have bought it for her but it was £6 (and we were there to sell small press comics, not buy more stuff). Lucy wailed "I want a flower picture' all the way back up to station, pausing only to ask "What's that?" when we passed a grocer's shop. It was a coconut - for a mere 67p.
The sunshine on Leith had turned to drizzle. Lunchtime drinkers were now drunk and weaving in out of my path. Lucy continued to wail. Georgie was asleep in her buggy so I carried the buggy up the steps at Waverley. Despite the chivalrous efforts of fellow passengers we missed the train by one minute which gave a whole 29 minutes for Lucy and Georgie to fight over the coconut.
Animals spotted: Giraffes (outside Omni), Cow (inside Drill Hall), Rabbits (real ones, at Wallyford station)
After an unsettled night, Georgie seems much happier today.
My friends in waste management (the Council ones, not Tony Soprano et al) dropped off more refuse sacks.
The girls and I made fairy doors.
I helped Nigel price comics.
And that was my day, more or less.
I'm having the literary equivalent of 'I haven't got a thing
to wear...". Despite having as many unread books as I do unworn frocks,
no book seems to fit my current frame of mind. I couldn't get into Kathy Reich's
Grave
Secrets
Fortunately, Annemarie emailed me the next three chapters of her new book so I now have something I'm actually looking forward to reading.
---ooOoo---
There was a yummy surprise in today's mail in the form of a pack of Cranberry, hazelnut & orange Eat Natural bars (thank you Marcella!).
---ooOoo---
I had earmarked this evening to work on Prestonpandemonium but it's just not happening. My equilibrium has been upset over the past couple of days. Amongst other things, Georgie has been unwell and I've been worried about her. Then there are the army of halfwitted, pious and irritating who add to my stress levels.
Website of the day: Wilkinson
Plus - I'm not familiar with this chain as they don't have shops in Scotland
but their online shop is very handy for household essentials.
I'm not sure which is taller: the Easter egg mountain or the washing mountain. I have so much washing I can actually do a yellow wash. Pink (or grey), I can understand, but yellow?
We all went to Edenhall for Lucy's speech therapy review. We trundled back through Pinkie, stopping to buy fish from a van and then some essentials (mushy peas and beer) from the Farm Shop. Our neighbour gave us a bag of Easter eggs.
Peter arrived in time for tea (fish, chips, mushy peas, ice cream and broken up Easter egg).
We had a whale of a time watching the Apprentices flounder in their attempts to sell £600 worth of fish. Rather than selling fish to, say, a restaurant, Nicholas instead sold his remaining shellfish and crustacians to a firm of lawyers (caviar emptor?). Will I be watching the rest of the series? You'd batter believe it.
Website of the day: Toys from Trash - simple to make, science-based activities. I like the Newspaper bin.
I'm not sure what is greater: my calorific intake today or the washing mountain.
Patchwork EH32 were having a strawberry tea in aid of Marie Curie this morning so, I took a break from domestic drudgery to partake in scone, jam and cream at the Pennypit.
When Heather dropped Emily off this afternoon, she brought with her the world's largest muffin and a copy of Asco's catalogue of educational resources. Interesting stuff.
Website of the day: Aref Adib - satirical musings from London-based Iranian Mehrdad
A quiet day. We had a spring clean of the garage this morning. It gets in a mess quite easily and I really wanted to have all the gardening things within reach. Uncovered a quite ridiculous number of cordless screwdrivers and masking tape.
Carmel and Andrew popped in to say hello.
It is very reassuring to hear yet more positive things about the incoming head teacher.
Emily's blog has been updated.
Event of the day: Out
of the Blue Arts & Crafts Fair, Saturday 29th March 12 - 7, Drill
Hall, Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh.
Erica delivered chocolate
eggs
Ate hot cross buns
Sunday lunch
Trailed through Newhailes
Early night for sleepy heads
Relax & recuperation...
Website of the day: The Apprentice - the latest series of my only guilty TV pleasure starts on Wednesday
It was a brilliant party which spilled out into the beautiful garden. Wine flowed. People smoked. The Rolling Stones sang.
As birthday parties go, Esme's sixth rocked!
Website of the day: Rosa
Rose - community garden in Berlin Friedrichshain which suffered extensive
destruction earlier this month
Hooray, Hooray, it's a Holi Holi Day!
The actual date of the Hindu Festival of Colours is tomorrow but you know how it is....you want to throw something at your husband and can't find the mallet...
It's proving quite difficult to remove the paint. Thank goodness for the sleet.
Happy Good Friday, Purim; Naw-Rúz, Benito Juárez Day, Namibia National Day, World Poetry Day, Bach's birthday or whatever else you are celebrating today.
Website of the day: Dad Can Do - an inspirational site, particularly aimed at single dads but of interest to all parents and carers.
I thought Georgie was a little too quiet in the Parents Room today. While I was busy stocktaking (alright, I was chatting), she was covering her face and arms in red ink. Perhaps she thought today is Holi.
The schoolchildren looked excited as they made their way to church carrying daffodils. I skipped the Easter service on the grounds I don't 'do' Church, or Chapel, or Synagogue, or Mosque (but show me a Temple and I'm removing my shoes quicker than you can say Govinda Jai Jai).
Website of the day: Saltire Driver Training - the website of the Lothian's newest driver training school launched today. Congratulations Kevin. Well done Heather.
Things that amused, entertained and generally pleased the Barkerettes today:
An enormous green crane
A streetlamp bulb being changed by a man in a cherry picker
Choosing Easter eggs
Lunch al fresco
Making a luggage tag
Wearing a pig dressing up outfit
Website of the day: Tings wot i have found on teh intarweb - an amusing blog of quirky websites
Friend X, doesn't get on with Friend Y. I understand, really I do. People can get on your nerves, friends can be shallow, others can be inconsiderate. I had put it down to either my uber-tolerance or casual door policy. To put it another way, I hadn't considered the feelings of X (Y is blissfully ignorant of X's animosity). Until now.
When it emerged that X, a person whose opinion I value, was good friends with Z, I was utterly gobsmacked. Z is a gossipy self-serving troublemaker without a single redeeming feature. X is an intelligent person, how could they be friends with such a person? I was confused - which I guess is how X had been feeling.
---ooOoo---
Morag, Dean, Lucy, Georgie and I had a fun time at the Pennypit today. The kids made Easter bonnets and cards and received a Cadbury's Button Easter egg from the Easter Bunny (a.k.a. Patchwork Committee wearing floppy ears). Morag won a Green & Black's hamper in the raffle. I won an assortment of Snackylicious crisps. Nice, but dried fruit is no match for chocolate.
Event of the day: An Evening of Clairvoyance with Roberta Gordon, Prestonpans
Labour Club, 23rd April, 7.30 p.m. Tickets, priced £5, available here
As Morrissey would have said if he ever had to do the school run: The playground is full of crashing bores.
I find myself zoning out from the inane chatter and my eyes begin to glaze over. Occasionally I'll say "Really? Fascinating..." or "Uh huh, yeah, hmmmm" to give the illusion I'm paying attention but really my mind is far, far away.
One of these days someone is going to say "...and then my entire family fell into the ravine" and I'll be going "Uh huh, brilliant, yeah...". Or maybe not.
Website of the day: Made in Design - contemporary design at very reasonable prices - when I looked there were 264 items under £15.
We met up with the Allans and the Bonnars for a walk around the Gosford Estate. What a great place. Within 30 minutes we had encountered cows, wild boar, horses, deer and hens. We hadn't seen either family in ages so it was nice to catch up over a Guinness at the Longniddry Inn.
Website of the day: Shit Tip Island - a reminder that the Prestonpans Spring Clean will take place on Saturday 12th April. Meet at the Train Station at 10.00 a.m.
Happy St. Patrick's Day! No, I haven't gone wrong, today, really is St Paddy's Day brought forward from the usual 17th as to avoid a Holy Week clash. The last time this happened was in 1940 (when it coincided with Palm Sunday) and it won't happen again until 2160.
I got a card through the door to say delivery of a parcel had been attempted. Grrrr. We were in, we were just having an impromptu disco in the Monkey Loft.
It is just me and Georgie today, the others having gone to Glas Vegas. Georgie is such a happy wee thing. She tackles the gardening with as much relish as I do the Creative & Media section of WorkGuardian.
Website of the day: Favourite Website Awards - a gallery of cleverly designed sites
The skylarks are back! At least I thought I could hear an exaltation.
I made porridge oats bread today which was a big hit.
It has been a lovely sunny day and the girls have been playing well together, finding leaves and petals for their treasure hunt.
Things returned to abnormal five minutes later when Emily ran into the kitchen shouting "Mum, Georgie's doing a poo in the garden room and it's EVERYWHERE".
Website of the day: Nothing To See Here - this site is a bit special, being a celebration of the overlooked, ignored and everyday.
We raised a modest £70 at this afternoon's coffee & homebaking thingy. Although this is probably enough to buy a photosmart printer or digital camera I can't shrug off the feeling that as much effort was put into it as events which raise ten times as much.
When you take into account that the committee bought raffle tickets for prizes they donated, and then paid for the priviledge of eating cakes they baked, the tiredness I feel is out of all proportion to the amount raised from non-committee members.
This might sound very negative but it was actually a pleasant afternoon - it just reinforced my belief that fundraising via events is a long slow haul.
Someone who is having great success at raising funds is Ross Cargill who is running the Edinburgh Marathon on behalf of Christian Aid.
Website of the day: Edinburgh Marathon - volunteers required for Sunday 25th May. It only takes a few hours and your chosen charity gets £25.
In looking for a child's birthday present I found myself browsing BrightMinds website. They have some interesting things but I'm not sure I want to meet any child who wants a CD-Rom of 'An Introduction to Stocks and Shares'.
Nursery has issued the children with a treasure hunt sheet containing 20 squares in which are written the 'treasure' to be found. Given the current state of the garden I could mock up a similar sheet substituting white petal, a feather, blade of grass etc for Walkers Crisp Packet, Polystyrene, carrier bag etc etc. Lucy can't wait to get hunting but it was a bit too windy today.
I can't wait to spend some time in the garden but there just isn't enough time at the moment. Ideally I would like to reinstate the filled-in pond and waterfall to encourage frogs like this couple did in their similarly-sized pond, but I suspect it is too large to make safe with a grid.
Website of the day: The Common Place -Leeds-based autonomous anti-capitalist non-hierarchical volunteer-run DIY venue, cinema, cafe and community space.
Storms may be battering the south of England but it was a wonderfully crisp morning here with beautifully clear views across to Fife. I could see a cruise ship making its way through the Forth and felt happy with the world.
I'm a bit too laid back today to put together something 'short and snappy' so took time off from events and PR and had a thoroughly lovely morning of dressing up, baking and, erm, litter picking.
We had Nigel's homemade burgers for tea which went down very well with the girls. I adore Nigel's cooking and yesterday's yellow pea soup with bacon and dumplings was out of this world.
Joke of the day (thanks Annemarie): While attending a Marriage Awareness Weekend, Robert and Mary listened to the instructor declare. "It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other."
He addressed the men. "Can you each name your wife's favourite flower?"
Robert leaned over, touched Mary's arm gently and whispered, "Self raising, isn't it?"
Thus began Robert's life of celibacy.
Today, is Commonwealth Day, which I'm celebrating with a Common Cold. Nigel reckons I sound like Mariella Frostrop. I reckon I sound more like Marge Simpson.
One of my favourite Simpson's episodes is "Homer's Enemy" featuring Frank Grimes "the man who had to struggle for everything he got in life". Beleaguered Frank finally snaps and acts outs Homer's moronic behaviour, which includes stuffing doughnuts into his mouth before finally being electrocuted. (You probably have to see the entire episode to appreciate the comic genius/darkness.)
I sometimes quite often fear I am going to have a Grimey-style meltdown
and run amok in Greggs (or Alan
Patridge style breakdown and run down Ayres Wynd with a huge piece of
cheese).
---ooOoo---
In today's mail was quite the prettiest piece of direct mail I've ever received. It contained a free sample of Comfort Tropical Freshness fabric softener.
Pretty in a very different way is Fran Crowe's collection of 46,000 pieces of plastic rubbish she picked up in a year from the Suffolk coast. Fran's exhibition will be at Landguard Fort in Felixstowe from Good Friday 21st March until 5th May Bank Holiday (open daily 10-5).
Thanks Christine for the Lidl shop. It was all going swimmingly until the bargain 5 litres of bleach for 69p started to leak...
Lucy was very pleased to receive Paddington
Rules the Waves
Website of the day: Bus
Tracker - Track your (Edinburgh) bus here.
We've had quite a creative day.
Nigel and I created a polystyrene 'island' from old maps.
The kids created havoc.
Website of the day: Geek-ware - blog of a woman who creates beautiful things from old electronics.
According to my mum, when I was a baby I was asleep outside in my pram when the pit band marched past. I never so much as fluttered an eyelid.
38 years and 215 miles northward later, I again live in a former mining town but don't sleep as soundly. Pipe bands tend to be more popular than brass here and today I was at a coffee morning to raise funds for the Prestonpans & District Pipes & Drums. It was quiet, probably because of the rotten weather, but we were made very welcome and had a pleasant time.
We also stopped in at The Small World shop where complimentary fair trade coffees and biscuits were being served. The shop doesn't get nearly as much trade as it would if it had a High Street location and the ladies told me they do as much trade at events further afield as they do on the premises. Their real challenge though is finding volunteers (Tues, Thur, Fri 10-12 & 2-4 and Sat 10-12).
Our real challenge at the moment is getting the kids to sit still. We sat down to watch Monsieur Hulot's Holiday and the moment it started Emily groaned "Why is there no colour?". Then Lucy joined in with "where has the colour gone?", closely followed by Georgie whining "why the colour gone?". I told them all to be quiet as they would miss the multicoloured unicorn (I know, I'm cruel and unusual). The littlest two fell asleep and Emily got bored and played her gameboy until bedtime. Hourra for Jacques Tati!
Website of the day: International Women's Day - remembering the 15,000 women who, one hundred years ago today, marched through New York City demanding better working conditions and equal voting rights.
Logic dictates that when the house is a tip, my most houseproud friends will drop by and when I look grotesque my most glamourous mates call in. I shouldn't have been suprised that when both the house and myself were in less than glorious condition uber-mum Donna popped in.
She stopped by to see if she could help with a litter pick.
This statement is completely untrue and if she's reading this she's probably spilled her v&t all down her latest Boden outfit.
At the moment the only news in Prestonpans is the appointment of a new head teacher at the school. There will be a chance to get to know her after the Easter break. In my more surreal moments I imagine making her complete those annoying questionnaires I get sent on a daily basis ("forward this to 12 people and your dreams will come true"). Obviously I'd substitute "What are you listening to right now?" and "have you ever loved someone so much you cried?" (bleurggghh) with something much more revealing like:
Punchline to your favourite joke? - "I
dunno but it hurt like buggery"
Facebook or Myspace? - Myspace
Have you Ever Kissed an Idiot (or wished that you could)? - Reader,
I married him
Granny Murray or Mama Mirabelle? - Mama
Mirabelle in small doses but I dislike most children's TV
Would you rather...wear a shell suit or pick up dog poop? - oops
that last question was for Donna
Website of the day: Wallpaper
from the 70s - it's like wallpaper, from the 70s, man.
Happy Maha Shivarathri! I'm still full of cold and just want to slob about in cosy jumpers rather than salwar kameez. But I have decorated my hands and I plan to make Bhang Thandai (without the bhang).
Another cause for celebration is of course World Book Day. I think some people might have thought I was marking the occasion by looking like Jeanette Winterston. Don't get me wrong, I admire her as a writer but she's not exactly my idea of a style icon. I really must get my hair cut.
Curiously, on WBD, I am in the unusual position of not having a book on the go. I have given up on Londonistan - Melanie Phillips's rant about Western liberalism being the cause of (Islamist) terrorism. I'm sure Daily Mail readers love this stuff but I found it hysterical (not in a good way).
I might read a Christopher Brookmyre's Boiling a Frog next. I have an unfeasibly large collection of unread books next door in the Monkey Loft but nothing that I've been particularly looking forward to. I think I might have a clear out soon and sell some on Green Metropolis.
---ooOoo---
The Barker Family World Domination Plan is picking up the pace - there are now 100 residents of the mini city (thanks Christine) but we could do with some transport links.
And, on a very exciting note, my polystyrene wall art is being featured on the the Instructables home page (which means I am officially awesome). My ego is suitably massaged.
Website of the day: - Dwanda - Unique creations by talented folk - prices shown in Euros so you might want to convert with xe.com
After weeks of resisting any sounds practise, Lucy and Georgie are now very keen to ' hay hounds'. Unfortunately, I've lost my voice. Fortunately, Jolly Phonics uses actions:
t - Turn head from side to side as if watching tennis and say
t, t, t.
p - Pretend to puff out candles and say p, p, p.
m - Rub tummy as if seeing tasty food and say mmmmmm.
d - Beat hands up and down as if playing a drum and say d, d, d.
g - Spiral hand down, as if water going down the drain, and say g, g, g.
l - Pretend to lick a lollipop and say l l l l l l.
f - Let hands gently come together as if toy fish deflating, and say f f f
f f f.
b - Pretend to hit a ball with a bat and say b, b, b.
and the one they have most trouble with...
s - Weave hand in an s shape, like a snake, and say ssssss
I can imagine how frustrating it must be for them not to make themselves understood. I had a hard enough time this morning conveying my wish to register for Home Delivery with the Somerfield staff (rather than completing a form each time). The problem was exacerbated by the fact they couldn't find the relevant forms (and don't give a stuff about customer service).
The last time we got a delivery from Somerfield the delivery guy still hadn't been an hour after the delivery slot had passed. We phoned. They knew nothing. He turned up several hours later explaining that he thought the order was for a similar-sounding street and "the woman there doesn't get in from her work until after 4".
Website of the day: The Ecologist - Tells it how it is in a non-preachy way. If anyone still needs convincing about the dangers of plastics to marine wildlife, take a look here.
There was only one reason we were late this morning and it begins with E.
Emily finally appeared downstairs 5 minutes before we were due out the door. It was only after she had wolfed down cornflakes that I saw she was wearing a school skirt, winter boots and...bare legs. "Other children have bare legs" she yelled. I resisted screeching back "yeah, the one's whose parents are junkies" and instead frogmarched her upstairs to change.
---ooOoo---
A wee while ago when Rosie and I were chatting about returning to work she mentioned talking to a careers adviser who had identified her various skills which she herself hadn't previously considered particularly marketable. This afternoon, I had a similar blether with Christopher who listed the qualities and experience I have which would be useful to a prospective employer. This bolstered my confidence enormously and I couldn't help thinking that he would be fantastic at advising others wishing to return to the workplace.
---ooOoo---
One of my neighbours, Kathleen, said that the previous owner of our house used to organise a clear up of the shared area of greenery. I'm not sure I want to take over this organising role but today I removed loads of debris that has become lodged in the branches and was pleased to see that more guerrilla crocuses popped up.
Website of the day: Shari Elf - bonkers website from thrift artist extrordinaire plus strange songs.
Today is House Day - the anniversary of our moving day. Two years ago it was snowing heavily. Today the skies are blue.
I had wanted to have a day of house cleaning and maintenance but am absolutely full of the cold and spent the majority of the day curled up shivering on the sofa, unable to stay warm.
---ooOoo---
Emily came home from school declaring that "everyone else has a more interesting weekend than us". I asked for evidence. Apparently B "had chicken nuggets" and P "went to Disneyland". I pointed out that she too had chicken nuggets in Burger King the previous weekend and that the Disneyland trip was most probably a figment of P's lively imagination. She looked unconvinced.
"Aah, but did anyone else win a colouring-in competition?" I ask, presenting her with a Cadbury's Crunchie Easter Egg. I do believe she smiled and it only took 10 minutes cajoling and bribery.
---ooOoo---
My Mother's Day present arrived today. A breadmaker with a jam-making function. I'm really looking forward to using it. Thank you girls.
Website of the day: Earthship Fife Visitor Centre - low impact living.
All I really wanted was a Mother's Day minus moaning; a Sunday dinner sans squabbling; a walk without whingeing. It wasn't to be.
On the plus side...Nigel's sausage and bean casserole was wonderful. In Burns Yard I picked up a bundle of old maps (which I plan to use as wallpaper); two mugs and some books - all for £2.50.
We are all a bit sniffly which has contributed to the above average grumpiness levels
---ooOoo---
A few website updates:
The Prestonpandemonium site has been updated to include Nigel's Radio Scotland interview.
As Alanis Morissette might say, 'Thank You India' for visiting the J-BarBlog. I was delighted to see a red dot appear there on my cluster map.
Website of the day: Dirty Pig - as part of an anti-litter campaign you can add a snout and ears to your photograph.
There is a saying that March 'comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb'.
It was quite windy this morning as we raced down to the Town Hall (It is advisable to be prompt at church fundraisers - Rosemary's teabread is legendary).
Emily and Georgie drew pictures of Easter Eggs while Nigel, Lucy and I had a browse. Bargains included an Allegra Hicks washbag and a Gameboy Advance, complete with Mario Kart Supercircuit game.
With a bit of acting out that would have made Marcel Marceau proud, Elaine indicated that Georgie was far from happy. Order was restored after some juice and biscuits. There was no teabread at the homebaking stall but we did buy an apple tart and some fairy cakes (which I felt obligated to buy after Georgie touched them all).
Emily was not happy that the tombola had ended before she got a chance to have a go. I was secretly relieved. I'd just seen Betty win a bottle of washing up liquid. If Emily had won that I think tears may have been shed.
---ooOoo---
Sarcasm is utterly wasted on my husband.
Picture this scene of domestic drudgery. I have rolled up my sleeves and am about to tackle the dishes. Everywhere I look is a scene of chaos. Nigel strolls into the kitchen and announces he is going to watch football.
"Would you like me to bring you a cup of tea and massage your feet" I quip.
"Ooh, that would be lovely" He replies.
I switch the kettle on.
Website of the day: St David's Day - Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus!
Christine was running a fundraising pamper session at the Infant School so came by first thing to exchange Emily (7) for Andrew (4) + Sarah (3). Lucy and Georgie were beside themselves with excitement to have their respective best friends to play and we spent the morning playing zombies, hide and seek, I-spy, drawing, reading, singing and watching CBeebies.
Sarah makes me laugh. She said "Jan, Jan, I'm hungry" and as it was only 8.40 I asked if she had had breakfast. "No, I haven't" she replied. "Would you like some toast or cereal?" I ask. "I've already had toast and cereal" she answered glancing towards the biscuits her mum had given me.
When Christine got back she told me £160 had been raised for the school's digital camera fund. Excellent! I got my own pamper session when school finished. Emily massaged my hands, feet and head. Lucy and Georgie attempted to help but it all got a bit messy. Emily even made lunch (peanut butter sandwich, grapes, orange kitkat and traybake). Later I had a bubble bath and all three girls poured water down my back. Bliss.
Leap Day is an extra day, a freebie, a bonus track in the calendar of life. I'm really glad that mine was so nice.
Website of the day: Children on the Edge - the Body Shop at Home's Fundraising page.
The thing about having a large extended family is that there is a birthday every week (or it feels that way). Ever since I discovered kitsch-tique it's been the first place I look for inexpensive gifts for little girls. The latest purchase was a cute little ring made from a button - a bargain at £2 and the lovely Emma even popped it in a gift bag and sent it with a message direct to the birthday girl.
Another thing about extended families is that some of them are
bonkers eccentric (I'm including myself of course). Proof,
as it were needed can be seen here. I like eccentricity. Who in their
right mind would want to be concentric?
Unfortunately, I encounter all too few Arthurs and too many dullards. If your main hobby is yourself - you have an exceedingly dully hobby.
Website of the day: QDOS - I'm already suffering from socal networking overload and don't really understand the point of it all. However, if you are feeling terribly self-important you can see how you rate in cyberspace.
Lucy has been a little monster today.
Ever since she turned four she has been suffering from the Terrible Twos.
---ooOoo---
The night sky is full of stars this evening.
From the sofa I get a really good view of aircraft and thought it was more than a little odd that, despite it's flashing lights, one plane didn't appear to be moving. A few minutes outside with the binoculars ruled out extra-terrestrial craft and we decided it was either a very twinkly star or planet. But what a joy to look heavenward and see so many stars.
Website of the day: Playpump Water System - is it a merry-go-round or is it a life-saving water pump?
While waiting for the train to Edinburgh we could see Adele painting her mural on the other side of the platform.
First stop in Edinburgh was Avalanche Records to give Ali a Prestonpandemonium flyer. You would never think that only a week previously he and Malcy were performing in a skip at Instal.
We had lunch at the Forest Cafe followed by look round Total Kunst Gallery where Andre Stefan White's 'Nostalgia' exhibition runs until 1st March. We then dropped in on Deadhead Comics (Candlemaker Row, 10-6 Sun 12-6). I made an emergency dash to Shelter where I bought a jumper cos I was flipping freezing. I also picked up a copy of the Edinburgh Charity Shop Map.
The gang were reunited shortly after 3 and I was so glad to see Emily.
When we arrived back at Prestonpans Station, Adele had gone but we took the time to admire her work which includes hardboard figures of a guard, and a small child sitting reading a book. Very nice. I don't like all the murals in Prestonpans (or rather, I don't like the siting of some of the murals) but this one enhances the former ticket office no end.
Website of the day:Su Blackwell - librarians, look away now...
I knew we would miss Emily when she went on a sleepover. We
watched Keeping
Mum
Website of the day: Design
Milk - One woman's blog of beautiful things. I will never tire of looking
at beautiful things. Fortunately I own lots of mirrors have a beautiful
family.
I was very impressed that my Oxfam deliveries arrived today - one day after placing the order. Last mother's day I bought ethical gifts from Oxfam Unwrapped and, as both my mum and Brenda really liked them, I decided to do the same this year. As previously blogged, Oxfam now sell a selection of donated goods online. Best of all, postage is a flat £2.85 which was a real bargain as my order was being sent to three separate addresses.
I bought a 60s mantlepiece clock and a couple of graphic novels for resale at PPIII once Nigel's read them. It's definately worth a look if you have a particular thing in mind. My clock arrived carefully wrapped in pages from Worthing Property Guide - a reminder that I've a lot more scrimping to do before I can buy a house on the south coast.
---ooOoo---
I broke my tooth today. The remaining bit looks like the Old Man of Hoy. After being temporarily patched up by the dentist we braved gales, rain and hailstones on the way home. The moment we got changed out of our wet things the sun came out.
Website of the day: Improv Everywhere - causing mayhem globally, which reminds me....flashmob Sunday Waverley Bridge/Princes Street 15:30hrs. Shhhhh....it's a secret.
I can see a beautiful full moon tonight with clouds scuttling past. It seems like a good point to reflect on my day.
I am still a tap short of a bathroom but I had the looooongest soak in a bath thanks to the skills of Lynton Services.
Prestonpandemonium III continues to gain momentum and there have been some very exciting developments. Emails are arriving faster than I can reply at the moment (including one from someone who think our comics are of the stand-up variety. Now there's an idea....).
Things may be a hive of activity in Barker Towers but in Barker-Family minicity, residents are leaving because unemployment has reached 17%. Who's running it, Margaret Thatcher? You can help bring industry by clicking here.
Our local paper reports that neo-tories aka the SNP/Libdem administration plan to axe 1500 jobs from local government. What next, increase class sizes? Hang on, they've already done that...
Website of the day: Books from Scotland - "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde" (Alan Grant and Cam Kennedy) is launched today.
I'm having a manic episode. Symptoms of mania include:
* Increased activity, and restlessness
* Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
* Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity (Nowt new there then)
* Extreme irritability
* Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
I hardly slept last night but I suspect that was something to do with each child waking up at different times with different complaints (Earache/Grumpiness/Georgieness).
To bring me down to earth I've been looking at these images. Like the rogue spy satellite, I haven't come down yet, but when I do I hope it's a soft landing.
Website of the day: Colour Lovers - to say you can play with colours and patterns doesn't do this site justice (but that's what most visitors will do)
It occured to me while making lentil soup that lentils are a lot like rawlplugs. I used to be scared of both until I realised how embarrasingly easy they are to use. Profound thought over...I now bring you a bulletin from the bureau of boring observations:
Somerfield has changed. The old tobacco kiosk has turned 180 degrees and is also an express checkout. (Which explains the recent price slashing. I'm glad I stocked up heavily discounted filter coffee when I did.)
---ooOoo---
When she's not telling us how horrible we are and how she would rather live somewhere else, Emily can actually be really good company. She was telling us about a supply teacher who told the class her name was easy to remember "just think of your favourite chocolate". Despite this tip, Emily forgot the teacher's name, prompting a flurry of increasingly bonkers suggestions (Mrs Coco Bean? Miss Curly Wurly? Ms Fruit N Nut?). It transpired the lady in question in called Mrs Thornton.
Website of the day (for Emily): Bembo's Zoo - a menagerie of animals made from letters
After a loud pop, followed by a burning smell, the kettle joined the 'to be replaced/repaired' list.
The weather has been lovely this weekend so we spent some time al fresco. I really ought to do a little tidying in the garden every day. In addition to the carpet of snowdrops, I now have crocuses. It won't be long before the daffodils start appearing.
Unfortunately, Emily's disposition has not been so sunny. She's been sullen and rude and generally unpleasant to be around. Very trying. That's not to say the other two have been perfect - Lucy has been testing the boundaries and is full of new expressions and attitudes. And, as for Georgie, well...she gets away with a lot because she is cute. e.g.:
At dinner, Nigel stood up and exclaimed that his chair was wet. Emily said that Georgie had "swapped chairs". "Georgie, why did you swap chairs with me?" Nigel asks. "Nothing!" replies Georgie, her sodden pants revealing the real reason.
Website of the day: Groups Near You - a brand new website from those clever people at MySociety.org
Today is Parinirvana day which marks the death of Buddha and his attainment of complete nirvana.
I've had quite a blissful day. There's been nothing particularly remarkable about today, rather it has been an unremarkable day of simple pleasures with my girls.
I was pleased to be able to turn a negative into a positive by transforming a huge piece of polystyrene that blew into my garden, into a work of art prompting Emily to remark "Mum, you're a genius!". Now there's something you don't hear every day.
---ooOoo---
Before Google became a verb, my search engine of choice was Magellan. It had a 'Search within results' feature which I found useful. Today I noticed this same function at the foot of my Google results page. How long has that been there?
Website of the day: Topfoto - gallery after gallery of wonderful photographs. I especially like Alternative Housing
I'll be the ticket if you're my collector
I've got the fare if you're my inspector
I'll be the luggage, if you'll be the porter
I'll be the parcel if you'll be my sorter
(chorus)
Just for you here's a love song
Just for you here's a love song
And it makes me glad to say
It's been a lovely day
And it's okay
I'll be the mail, you'll be the guard
