The Youngest Pessimist ever?

Today has been rather a long day to end what has been an exceptionally long week....darn Powys Education Authority for allowing a 9th January 2012 start to term.

Following a trip to Crickhowell Library to register and take some books home (great range and good quality, i.e not too many with teeth marks and pull out flaps long gone to paper heaven), we proceeded to the local optician to both register and arrange an optician appointment for myself.  I noticed that the two eldest were suspiciously quiet whilst I was doing this and on the way home, #2 announced , "I want the Star Wars glasses Mummy."  I explained that wearing glasses on a permanent basis is not all its "cracked" up to be and that its much better if she ends up having eyes like Daddy, who is still blessed with 20/20.  God knows some of  our children deserve to be blessed with his "good eye gene" given the irritation of his hereditary "asthma and eczema" gene.

So, back at home and #1 has now decided that he wants "good eyes" because all his friends who wear glasses always have to keep mending them because they break at school.

We had already arranged for cousins to come for lunch and play and when my brother dropped them off, I also ended up with an extra, which was no problem as 5 out of the 6 I was now responsible for, are toilet trained and can say what they need......and 4-6yr olds can say a lot.

The lunchtime hell was punctuated with  permanent references to POO, WEE, WILLYS, POO, BOOBIES, SICK, FARTS, POO, DEATH, SMELLY BUMS, POO and even my last post reference - FOOFS!
I gave up trying to point out that we could talk about something else like, flowers, football, and even what Father Christmas brought them for Christmas, but I was totally outnumbered and giggled over.
Even #3 was adding to the mayhem with screeches of delight and was herself a source of great amusement as #2 managed to balance carrot sticks on top of her head. (Thankfully she had the courtesy to lick the houmous off first).

I  had to GET THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE and after quickly showing them the contents of grandad's wormery, which resulted in initial silence and then what felt a bit like fear (I was a bit naughty and said that if you fell into it, the worms could probably eat you up in about 10 seconds), we headed off to the park.

You are probably wondering when I am going to get to the point regarding the post title and here goes.

A final flurry of football resulted in the boys displaying some excellent professional fouling potential and #2 running away to sulk on the swings because she could not kick the boys (their legs or the ball). When walking home, she initially trailed behind and then decided to run up to my nephew and his friend to berate them about not letting her have the ball.  She uttered the immortal phrase "ITS NOT FAIR" and before I could even open my mouth to reply, my nephew, with a practised weary sigh, looked at her, shrugged his 6 year old shoulders and said quite simply....."LIFE IS NOT FAIR".

What do you call yours?

I am currently reading Caitlin Moran's book "How to be a Woman" and its laugh out loud material which I defy anyone (of either sex) not to find amusing.

I am currently reading the chapter that deals with HAIR.......a problem I have struggled with since puberty due to the following:

• I am my mother's daughter
• I have the English Rose complexion 
• I have pig hair tendencies - they are ridiculously course and sometimes could be used for wiring.
• I don't work for Gillette 
• I refuse to "wire" myself up to electrodes and blast hair follicles away

Anyway, Caitlin moves on to talk about where HAIR lives and how us ladies have spent many a moment thinking of how best to reduce or totally remove it and she then goes on to discuss the best bit.....The Muff.

I have always believed that the medical term "Vagina" is without doubt the most hideous word ever concocted to term ones important bits and thank the lord that Caitlin is in agreement......I must be a feminist after all!  

What made me laugh out loud was the sheer array of descriptive variety that the book imparts, based on female responses from the "length and breadth" of the UK.   I was pleased to see that the term I use "FOOF" (for myself and my daughters) is placed in the acceptable range which can be used publicly and privately without fear of causing shock to any passer by who may happen to be sharing the toilet area in any given high street store.  

Sadly I cannot repeat Caitlin's personal favourite as I still find the word too aggressive for my taste...(ooohhh a rude pun!)   I think the "Cee U Next Tuesday" just reminds me of that old social prank, you know the one, where someone calls the tannoy user and asks for "Michael Hunt"......

Like Hunt, the WORD just reminds me of animal carnage, only with added teeth, big bushy tails (and beards) and copious amounts of blood......we hardly need reminding of that monthly pleasure.....

Comments and reaction on"Your Personal Nick-muff" and the"C-Word" most welcome.

Blown away....literally!

Went for another walk up and actually onto the Table Mountain today with a small gang and it was well worth the squally rain shower that assisted us as reaching the top was awesome!
The wind was so strong that we could lean right over and be kept buffered up by a natural wind tunnel.

Unknown to the children (which were kindly looked after by grandparents) we packed our rucksack with a load of their Christmas stocking chocolates....I felt I was doing them a favour....and their teeth.

Held up by nature!

I am Elizabeth Bennett!

Merry Christmas All - or Nadolig Llawen pawb!

After a relatively respectable start to Christmas morning and the search for presents left by Father Christmas (0715), followed by a morning carol service at the chapel in Llangattock, a mince pie post service at my Nan's and a lovely Christmas dinner created by my in-laws......I felt the need at 1600 to get some fresh air and burn off some calories.

The joy of being able to literally turn out of the house and belt up towards the mountain was so liberating. It was great to get out, be on my own and be "me"!  Not that I am not really ever me but I did have to laugh to myself whilst slip sliding up towards the Table Mountain in my ridiculous purple flower wellies, a spotty dress flapping around my knees (Hell - me in a dress!) and my new pink necklace from the children.

As I splodged through mud, glided through water courses and teetered next to the beautiful waterfalls , I really did feel that I was Elizabeth Bennett although I was unlikely to meet Mr Darcy as it was getting quite dark and to be honest I was up against it, to get to the top of the main footpath to the mountain before dislodging my ankle in complete darkness.

However, I made it back in one piece and now have to think about how to entice the children up there sometime over the next week (I am thinking rucksacks of Xmas chocolate) and the means to take a lovely photo at the top so that they can send it back to their old school friend in Cardiff.

Oops - only a few minutes left on the laptop battery so best sign off.....

Whooo Hooo - we are IN!

Its been a manic past few days but I can confirm that we are finally now living in a house that can comfortably accommodate us all for Christmas!

The actual move last Thursday was a mixture of usual packing up stress, doors open, myself smuggling peanuts as the house was so cold and frenetic cleaning once the removal guys had left.  (We used Vale Removals and Deliveries and would recommend.)

I was also taken aback with how sad I felt at leaving a home which has seen the arrival of all our children and many fond and happy memories of the start to our married life.  We arrived at that house as "young pups" and left as "proper grown-ups!"

The children decorated the Christmas tree with Grandma on the weekend and presents are slowly gathering around its base in preparation for the BIG DAY and we have assured them, that Father Christmas does know that we are now living at a new address.

And that's another thing about moving....the sheer faff of contacting all the organisations that need to know you have moved on....thank the lord for the internet.  Just imagine how slow the process would have been only a few years ago!

Right ho ho ho ho.  So tired I could sleep on a chicken's lip (one of my best friends sayings) so off to get some shut eye.

Will we stay or will we go?

Ahh - the joy that is the house sale.

We are now into week 4 of the sale process and whilst we have signed all the bits and bobs necessary, we are still waiting for the essential "Exchange" of contract which is looking more and more unlikely as the days creep towards the original anticipated completion date of the 16th.

I now have the unenviable task of packing but at the same time, it might all be put on hold until after Christmas.  Thankfully we have left some Christmas decorations up in the loft...(I think?!) or it will be a quick trip to Asda or the like for some cheap tat for the children to put up in our "shell" of a house this weekend.

As I glance across the room at #3, (who is trying desperately to mount the sofa to the remote control,) I realise that this festive period could well see the start of some serious crawling movements!

That is just not allowed at the moment so I'm off to sit her back up and put the kettle on for a cuppa to warm up  as I refuse to put the heating on with just two of us in the house.

Besides, I think I read somewhere that shivering helps you to lose weight??!!

Christmas cheer?

Ah - that will be shopping in Cardiff......