{quilt} while you're ahead

- 1 - Happy New Year

I've just stripped the tree.  It's always sad when the house goes back to normal.  Ok it does feel good to have less clutter around... but... it seems like an awful long time to the next Christmas season...

Normally I wait till the 6th January but this year we were delivered a really crappy tree that started shelling needles so soon (and so much of it too!) that it really had started to look like a sorry specimen.  AND we're having a BIG weekend for Mr M BIG birthday so... I need the house clear.

(BIG birthday folks!)

What I didn't need was to wake up in the middle of the night having done who knows what stupid movement that left me a totally stiff neck.  I walk around straight as a broom and can't turn my head, I must look ridiculous.

AND it hurts.

AND I have so much to do!!!

This is how I left my desk yesterday... half a journal entry, thank you cards to write, magazines to read... I have however finished the 2016 phonebook (which turned out to be two books because I couldn't cut too many photos out, we had such fabulous times).  

I used to print photos and put them into albums, but it got really expensive and time consuming and the albums took up so much rooms I now print yearly books.

(If you're interested I use www.photobox.co.uk and am very pleased with the service and quality).  

It's always totally exciting when you receive them and we all look through them for days!

 

I must stop using so many 'and'.

 

So, what about you? busy? kids back in school?

Mine aren't, but tomorrow they're having pre-season hockey training and (sorry) pre-county cup rugby training and (sorry) I haven't been to IKEA yet so it's going to be bonkers and (sorry) I don't want it to be bonkers I want it to be holiday time again and (sorry) go for walks and (sorry) knit with my mum and (sorry) drink tea and (really sorry) chat...

 

Sigh.

 

I want to read too.

 

*120**

I'm back.

All the men in the household are watching the football.  Boring.

(All bar one: No 1 is shooting insurgents in his bedrooms whilst skyping his mates and snap chatting girls.  Who says men can't multitask when it's convenient to them?)

 

So.... nice Christmas? lots of food? snow?

yes, yes, and no.

 

Nice Christmas lunch out.  No washing up.  Genius idea.

Walking back home in the cold, through empty streets was strangely Christmassy...

No Downton Abbey Christmas Special... sadly, so we watched James Bond instead, because I'm sure it's illegal not to watch JB on Christmas Day.

 

On Boxing day we hit the shops... but I wasn't inspired and came back with nothing.  Richard Attenborough after dinner, of course.

 

Today we hit the woods.  My sister in law has a really lovely piece of woodland and we spent a lovely afternoon eating bacon sandwiches cooked on the fire and sat on logs whittling.

I made a crochet hook

!!

It's rather large.  Tomorrow I'll test it on some chunky yarn... if it doesn't work... it's still pretty.  And 30 minutes earlier was a stick... do you know what I mean?

They boys swung from rope swing

(I want you to notice his boots... they're mine.  Sigh)

 

The men yielded a chain saw and filled the boot of the car with wood.

 

Tomorrow I'm having to get my sorry bottom into IKEA to buy lots of crockery for Mr M 50's dinner party... Wish me luck.

 

I finished the seed stitch cowl I was knitting.  It's gorgeous.  I'll try to take pictures tomorrow.  

 

If I survive IKEA that is.

*110**

I'm still alive!! Still alive. Still

The jet-lag was bad, or as the boys would say my jet lag game was strong.

Real strong.

But I made it through... kind of.  The test will be the school meeting tonight... why oh why are all school halls so badly lit? Is it me?  The lighting always puts me to sleep; kind of yellow/old neon/not strong enough.  Do you know what I mean?

Oh well, my problem right?

So what's happened in the last week... well, it got bloody cold around here, that's what happened and I was not psychologically prepared for that. I had the boots and the gloves ready, not the winter brain.  Still beautiful though... blue skies and red leaves everywhere, in fact it's been quite a visually spectacular Autumn (Fall... for you lot over there.  Good luck for tomorrow by the way... geesh... let's hope good triumphs over evil, eh?)

This is Lilli the ferocious beast on our daily way to the park in front of our house.  It's the only place she wants to go to.  You try walking the other way and she plants her short little paws and looks at you like 'I ain't moving sista'.  Kind of annoying.  And boring.  And the thing is if you sit on a bench and get a little distracted she does her thang and then walks home and you can hear her barking by the front door to be let in.  She genuinely leaves you in the park by yourself.  Stupid dog.

They boys went back to school after half term.  (Hurray) (They're not thrilled) (the washing pile has tripled)

No 2 removed his cast and scored three goals on his hockey come back game (come back hockey game? game hockey back come?).  (Would you care if I told you it rained the entire game and the back of my jeans was so wet that water trickled inside my boots???)

My parents went back to Italy.  Miss them already.  It's always interesting opening drawers after my mum has been for a visit... you never know what you find!

Anyway, I have a few things to show you which I'm trying to photograph but when the light is right the boys are at school and nobody can hold things up for me and when they're home it's dark.  It's pants.  So you'll have to bear with me.

Have another Autumn photo instead:

The maple by our front door is glowing red.  I can't stop staring at it.  (You could say that its red game is strong... but they you'd be overdoing it... your overdoing game would be strong... aaaarrrggghhhh.... see what kids do to you? they sneakily get in your head and take over.)

 

Sigh.

 

I must go and pick up Mr M and drag him, I mean, take him to the school meeting.  That's what marriage is all about after all.... sharing... right?

 

*98** what a day (again)

So yesterday...

Drove the kids to the school bus, drove back, cleared the kitchen, filled the dishwasher, made my bed, emptied the drier, emptied the washing machine, filled the drier, filled the washing machine.

Took my big car to be serviced and got a tiny car in return for the day which was soooooo hard to get in and out after the double exercise classes of yesterday it wasn't funny at all.

Not one bit.  I must have looked like a right idiot taking 45 seconds each time

Ridiculous.

Then I went to the supermarket because apparently the universe might have imploded without Nutella for another day... obvs.

Then I drove to school (45 min of roadworks) to pick up No 3 and take him to the specialist for his back.  He's fine.  He'll live.  He's most excited to have an MRI scan in a couple of days.  Weird child.

Then I drove him back to school (45 min of roadworks) and did my 'Italian lesson' to the pupils and teachers who are going to Florence next month.

Then I grabbed (figuratively speaking of course) No 2 from the same school and took him (45 min of roadworks) to fracture clinic where they put him in a 'soft cast' which we'll be able to remove without supervision or doctor checking in 5 weeks. 

MMmmmmmhhh.

What if it's not fixed? of badly fixed? or not fixed enough?

The doctor did NOT look like a doctor.  I know, I know I shouldn't judge a book by its cover... but I've seen bin men dressed smarter.  Call me old fashioned, but... sweaty forehead and creased t-shirts?  Yuck.

Sigh...

Then I dropped him back home and I drove to the bus stop to pick up the other two.

Back home for home cooked Bolognese pasta (... she says smugly)... and THEN back to school for a meeting (45 min of roadworks).

 

I was dead.

The dog didn't get walked, but I did remove my make up before bed.

And I did finish the book...  which is totally brilliant until the last two pages then... well I'd like to say it's genius and I just don't get it... but actually it's probably just wrong and nonsensical and the author had lost the plot...

Read it and let me know what you think.  I'm seriously interested.

The highlight of my day:

... the Boss...

Sigh.

 

 

*97** what a day

So yesterday was quite an insane day.

In the morning I put my body through TWO exercise classes because I'm a klutz who can't even manage her diary obviously.  Oh boy.  Let's just say that if anybody mentions 'planks' or 'burpees' in my presence I won't be responsible for my actions. (Truth be known that not much will actually happen because I'm way too sore to do anything meaningful at all).

I then attended TWO school meetings TWO hours apart and had to go back home in between and feed my children some dubiously nutritionally balanced microwave lasagne for dinner.

The shame.

Italian mother's guilt and all that followed, but I told myself that it could be put down to a life-lesson for when they'll be in college and let's face it... they will most definitively not be cooking lasagne from scratch. 

The 'smell' certainly brought me back to my student days!!  Alarmingly Tesco still sells lasagne ready meal for £1.00 a pack.  That is an increase of only 0.01 pence since 1995.  That can't be right... right?  It's scary.  Either we were over charged (if you'd tasted them you'd see the irony of this statement) or today's price/ingredients should be investigated.  For real.

So two classes, two meetings, one visit from the cabinet maker, one from the glazier, one from the builder/contractor.  Numerous coffees were brewed for all of them.  The dog was walked.  

The hem was sewn on the Esme tunic from yesterday's post.

I went to bed without taking my mascara off which is as bad as feeding the precious fruits of loins microwave food.

I also started this book:

After my' two Popes in one day' day I couldn't resist it.  It's intriguing.

 

And don't you love a book with the bookmark/ribbon thingy?  What can I say... I'm easily pleased!

*90**

Sunday.

Still warm.

Sunny.

I guess Autumn is tiptoeing in softly this year.

 

I spent the morning catching up with the ironing whilst watching "inside British Vogue" on iplayer and dreaming of Mr M and I next vacation (sans boys, if you must know... )

Needless to say I can't wait.

I've booked an architectural tour and my American sister will fly in from San Diego (her husband has a pilot's licence, how cool is that!) to spend a day with us... but I need more!  I want cool places to shop and eating recommendations.  What should we not miss?

The theme of the holiday is well described by the candle on the table ... part of the new range of products by Mr M's company for 'Zoella'.  

We're going to chillax (don't tell the boys I said that, it's not a cool word.  Sooooo last year) by the pool and drink Martinis. I'm quite partial to Martinis in my old age.

Anyway, suggestions welcome.

Have a good Sunday.

*56** a village walk

ok, I'm gutted by today's referendum results.... but don't want to talk about it.

I've decided I'm going to become a middle aged woman who takes pictures of flowers....

Yesterday I went to see a friend and had a lovely walk around her picture perfect village.

It was relaxing and just what was needed ahead of the last two crazy weeks of school.

 

Apologies for the photobombing...  I'm trying to distract myself.

And don't ask for the names of plants... I took pictures of the ones I likes!

 

The majority of the under 30 voted to stay.  The over 50s voted to leave.  Young people will have to live in a world they haven't voted for...

I'm sure we'll be fine.  Maybe things will be even better... maybe they'll be worse.  Eventually things will settled.  Still... I feel let down.  Being born in a different country I feel personally rejected...

(which is ridiculous I know.  Still...)

 

My boys? Well...

No 1 this morning wanted to know all about the effect it'll have on business and economy.

No 2 was worried about the falling power and his decreasing purchasing power when we're in Canada next month.

No 3 was worried we'd be kicked out of the European football Championship 'now that we're not in Europe.

 

Horses for courses.

*36**

My poor neglected blog.

Here have some flowers as a sign of my gratitude you're still here with me... (are you?)

 

So what's been happening...

... well No 3 has gone of a week long school trip, and let me tell you when you go from three children to two the difference is huge.  Also he is the little one.  (Don't let him hear that).  And the fact that the little one is no longer that little anymore it's kind of hard to take.  When No 1 went on the same trip five years ago it felt like a victory,  like a milestone reached.  This time? It feels like a loss.  Loss of what I'm not sure... youth? for a time when I was essential in an everyday essential kind of way in their lives? It's hard to put it down in words...  

I'm a firm believer that you raise kids so they can fly away, strong and independent and ready to conquer the world... but it's not easy folks.

(Disclaimer:  I'm totally over-dramatic here... he's only ten!)

More flowers:

So... the weather has turned... it finally feels like summer... I'm wearing short sleeves and flip flops and because I like wearing dresses when it's warm (note I said warm and not hot... I do live in England after all!) I was conscious of my extremely white legs and bought myself some self-tanning lotion.

Oh boy.

I bought some tinted creamy stuff so that I could see where I was applying and how much.

Oh boy.

Let's just say this: when/where I did it right... it looks fab.  When/where I didn't manage to get it right or was a little over exhuberant... mmhhhh less so.

Basically I have one orange foot and very orange toes.  On my right.  The left one is ok.  Which means it's shoes not sandals for me for a few days!

Doh.

Have some more flowers:

We've booked our holiday to Western Canada for this coming July... I need any recommendations for cool places/walk/restaurants/museum/off the beaten track stuff so put your thinking cap on!  We're doing a whistle stop tour of Vancouver-Tofino (Vancouver Island)-Whistler-Jasper-Lake Louise.

(Fabric and yarn shop always welcome too, of course.)

 

Have a good Tuesday.

*20** life lesson

It's getting late on this unseasonably cold Saturday afternoon in March and I'm having a nice cup of tea...  it's been an interesting day, I'm flying solo this weekend, Mr M is away on business, and things look different when you're on your own...

I've driven more than 80 miles today without going anywhere.  I mean, I did go places, you know... school and football pitches and hockey pitches and cricket net places... but I didn't go anywhere as such.  It's a weird world.

And I love driving... 'the road' was one of the great themes of my teenage years... the myth of the road... Kerouac... and Springsteen... my favourite holidays are driving holidays...

I don't think Jack would have written such a great masterpiece if his travelling had been between the football match and the hockey match whilst drinking cold tea out of a portable mug.

Thunder Road?  It definitively wasn't about the road to the cricket nets.

My life was going to be full of adventures and I was going to be a citizen of the world and super cool with the wind in my hair and the sun setting in front of me... there might have been a motorbike in there too... oh and a great tan.  Yes definitively a tan and really well fitting jeans.  Not 'mom' jeans.

 

It's funny really.  

But actually you know what? even if reality has turned out completely different... I'm more than ok with that.  'My road' is still good, it's brilliant in fact.  I'd drive double the distance for my boys to do things they like.

Today whilst No 3 was hastily eating his lunch  before the next activities he answering online quizzes  to see which Hogwarts house would best suit him (still hoping his latent magic skills might appear soon, bless)... I said something on the lines of "it's ok, if we're not magic, we can be normal and be happy"... he looked at me and said "there's no such thing as normal mum, we're all different, normal doesn't exist"

Oh well, that told me, right?

Lightbulb moment.

My ten yr old taught me that my life is not 'normal'... it's MY life, different from anyone else's and therefore special.  Which is cool by me because that was what my teenage self always wanted: to be special, to be different, to be me.

Who would have thought.  

I have been 'on the road' after all...

 

 

On a completely different not I've been obsessing about this song:

 

I really want to buy a pair of cowboy boots now.

Sigh.

 

(I managed to finish my third 'Acer' shawl.  As soon as I finish here I'll go and block it.  Big reveal soon)

105-2015

My dearest children,

I can see an improvement.

I can see some thoughts for 'the next person' has gone into your action and for this I'm truly grateful.  You are all obvious maturing and thinking about others and not just yourself...

Now let's see if we can add a little bit of effort and finish the job.  It's not hard.  It won't take too long.  I'm sure you can squeeze the last bit in between snapchats messages and instagram posts.

It can be done.  And the world will be a tidier place.  And I'll be a happier mum.

I'm sure you appreciate that alone is worth it, right?

 

Sigh.