Making it up

grief, nearly half of the active blogring is away this week, at one camp or another. Those of you who are still around had better talk a lot!

Right, off to get organised. Honest.

Tim and I were up horrendously late for no apparent reason, so having his car alarm go off sometime after 7 didn’t start the day well for me, although I did my best to ignore it and go back to sleep.

Made it on my eco-nappy quest fine, and was managing an under hour round trip - until I came around the corner to where the police car was blocking the road. Apparently someone had tried parking upside down One three point turn and scenic road trip round lesser known parts of Derbyshire (didn’t have the right A-Z in the car, ended up back where I’d started and had to try again!) and I’d been out nearly two hours. Missed the phone call from the agency - but you all know the result now.

Emailed with the woman who was sending the basket kits - they *are* in the UK now, but they are manifestly not here and I would have thought unlikely to arrive in the morning. Fear not though, I have located a cane supply store on the way to Kessingland, who is open tomorrow and helpful, so I *will* bring supplies.

Sarah came round to be supportive, and brought chocolate muffins - she can come again Children basically entertained themselves, either running round the rather damp garden, or playing endlessly on cbeebies and adiboo. Big appears to have learnt an awful lot about computers in the last couple of days

Jayne popped in as the kids were eating tea with a beautiful new hat for Small. I’ll blog a piccie of it as and when, *if* I can persuade him to wear it!

Oh, and it rained on my very nearly dry clothes.

Tomorrow is going to be a hectic day, what with one thing and another I’m not really organised. Now there’s a surprise. See those of you I’m seeing later, possibly much later I suspect.

Not in a good mood now.

Oh, and the basket weaving kits haven’t arrived, and the store owner is now denying that I mentioned any kind of deadline or that there is any tracking number attached, so I’ve no idea where they are. Sorry all - will try the sorting office in the morning, but it’s not looking good

ETA - have located cane supplies shop on way to Lowestoft, who is now expecting me to call to pick up basket weaving stuff tomorrow. We will weave!

and I think whatever was going on with my head the other day is atmosphere related - because it’s going on again. Horrid, feels like I’ve got my head under water, and my ears are throbbing with loud noises. Very difficult to concentrate

Which is going to make today very complicated, as I have rather a lot to get through. Can’t wrap my head around a list just now - may manage in a minute.

Hoping it isn’t raining like this in Kessingland though, or we’ll need to bail out the campsite before we can pitch!

Saw the health visitor this afternoon, as planned. Had been back *just* long enough to open the doors so that we could be in the garden, but not long enough to change the smelly nappy

Can’t recall at which point in the process we’ve mentioned home education to this woman, but we obviously had, as it did crop up later in conversation. First though, she spent lots of time talking to me and Small and observing him, playing games with him, reading a book together, piling blocks, doing jigsaws. He also demonstrated how close he is to pedalling the little trike, and Big got some paper out so he showed off his pen skills too.

As anticipated, he is judged to be forward in all areas apart from speech. Could be something, could be nothing, but the first port of call is a re-referral to the hearing clinic, just to double check that there is no glue ear developing. This could take a couple of months to come through. We are also getting a referral to a specialist speech and language therapist who concentrates on speech development as well as chewing. I’m not 100% sure, but Small has a self limited diet, and I think that he mainly avoids chewy foods. I can put them in front of him, then I am screamed at, he doesn’t eat them, and I get to take them away again. This could also take a couple of months to come through, so in the meantime, she is going to bring a nursery nurse round, who now works with them, to see if we can come up with some games, songs, rhymes and so on that would interest him enough to join in. He dances to Bob (bom!) the builder, but he doesn’t join in with anything much. I do nursery rhymes, usually at bedtime, and he likes them a lot, but never makes the slightest attempt to accompany me, or the tweenies, or Big.

And where Big is concerned, I need to get her to stop doing things for him! There is little motivation to make yourself understood when you have this extra mummy taking care of your every wish…

As L was leaving, we talked a bit more about home education. She thinks it’s great, and completely understandable, especially in this age of testing and exams, just wasn’t sure that she could do it herself. There are many days when I feel exactly the same

She rang to make next appt within minutes - we were still in the garden and I didn’t hear the phone! So we’ll be meeting with the nursery nurse after Kessingland. Quite happy to give it a go, you never know!

Rest of the afternoon, what little there was of it, disappeared in a dash to ballet, and they are only just eating tea now.

Real nappy event was rather good - (cloth, obviously!) goody bag included a lovely board book, as well as some baby wash stuff from Avent. Filled in a survey to get a free low energy lightbulb - we like free. And touched base with Kate from pumpkinwraps who was demonstrating the art of knitting on four needles (the item was on four, she was actually knitting with a fifth). I’d always assumed she used a circular needle thing as her wraps are knitted without seams, but no, it’s little straight ones. Sarah was there as well with Dino, and looks like we might get to see her tomorrow - she’s going to come over and help me organise myself!

Didn’t manage to get new hat for Small - Adams only had age 3-6 yrs, and they seemed to be the same size as the hat he’s currently wearing. Dunno if that means this one has stretched a lot, but did make it a bit pointless buying a new one. And didn’t have time to get to the camping shop, so guess I’ll be stubbing my toes on a non-flat peg for the bedrooms.

Right, must yell at the children to eat and see if I can process them into the bath…

oh, and no, no news yet.

Wanted to use this title yesterday, but we didn’t have the latter. This morning we have though Tangrams I picked up yesterday at the Gizmo shop (no relation to the gadget shop according to a sign in their window ) for 75p per cotton bag of wooden bits, and Small loves them. Tantrums courtesy of the other child.

It’s hot! But I don’t think that is the real problem here. I’m feeling stressed - I’m reasonably sure that I’m *not* going to hear about the interview today, and I should be getting on with a whole load of stuff that I need to do before we go away (like getting everything ready to go away with, for one) and instead I’m just kind of pottering around doing nothing much.

So, I shall give myself a quick mental shake, and get on with it!

We’ve got a couple of things with times attached - want to get into Chesterfield to see Sarah doing her ethical thing at the Real Nappy event. While we’re in town I need to get a new sunhat for Small - noticed last night while he was bathing that his current one had sort of left a groove round his head I’d also like to try to get some special tent pegs, somehow I contrived to lose all but one of the flat ones at Hesfes although I think I might be pushing my luck at millets with those.

Health visitor is coming out to do Small’s two year health check between 2 and 3 this afternoon, so I can be back here doing housey things then. Would like to include some reading with Big - she is making very sound progress right atm, but it’s a fine line between pushing her and making sure that she’s got the opportunities for practise without stress. Tim is out for the afternoon and evening so will be on tea, bath and very possibly bed duty on my own, which will curtail the computing activities early evening.

Oh, and before tea, and bath, it’s Big’s ballet.

Right, that sounds like quite enough to be getting on with, so I’ll get on.

so thanks have to go to Merry for contriving a minor crisis on Beadmerrily to take my mind off it

Went to the interview, don’t know the results yet.

Spent afternoon snapping at hot bothered children - did I mention I *hate* waiting?

Did do this and then had to go messing around with my blog template to make it show up. But there’s a camping list Lou

it would appear that other ppl’s books are *much* more interesting to read than our own, so I guess I’d better stop buying books

Small has learnt how to play aeroplanes, and is running around the house making zoom noises with his arms out. Cute.

Big, having read half of The Green Queen, has gone back to play on Adiboo some more. She loves that game.

I’ve done washing up, got washing on, reorganised the health visitor, and avoided my paperwork. Will now go deal with incredibly smelly rear end of younger offspring, then come back to a new cup of tea and GET ON WITH paperwork. Crack the whip, someone!

To do list also includes:
post cheque to ds bank account
get rid of these blasted crochet squares!!!!!
make list of things to do before holiday.
post camping list link on my blog so that other ppl have their packing list
Ooh, nearly forgot! Deal with make poverty history bands!

oh, and Merry, did you want nappies? Moltex? If so, what size, and did you want a full box (3 carry bags), and I’ll pop it on my shopping list for Thurs morning

Finally got around to updating dear, you can have your weather page now.

Oh, and welcome to several comments, mainly from Gill that were inhabiting moderation for no apparent reason. Sorry about that folks.

A new toilet

Absolutely essential!!!

Don’t miss the Cyclone Flush Streaming Video in the downloads section!

Today at our group we did a Make Poverty History activity. We got an old sheet, some fabric paints, I did a very quick spiel along the lines that there is going to be a meeting of some very important ppl, and that lots of other ppl are sending messages to them about ppl who haven’t got enough food, or money or places to live and we have a friend who is going who will take our messages.

Big put a picture of holding hands and then wanted to write something to go with it. We talked about it, and she settled on Help Them. She spent ages painting it on very carefully. In the car on the way home, she wanted to know if I thought her banner was good enough to make a difference. I nearly cried.

Whether Make Poverty History is a stunt or a political movement, I’m not sure. But I am impressed that my five year old can empathise enough with ppl she has never met to want to take her time to make a picture that could change things for them. And now I have about 12 bands to finish drying, iron to fix the paint, sew up and get in the post

before I somehow contrive to forget.

Small used an appropriate sign for what he wanted without any prompting - he signed “drink”.

Wahey - communication!

So good, that Big cried with joy when she found the missing computer game at her place at the table this morning Or so she tells us - I was still in bed!

Small is also still in bed. I’m assuming that this is because he was hot and uncomfortable and didn’t get to sleep til late, and leaving him to it. Besides, at least this way I know he isn’t breaking anything

So, like many others (hint, hint!), I need to do a recap. Let’s see. Can’t remember Friday - suspect it involved plenty of time in the garden. Ah yes, Tim cleared off to shop for stuff for camping and I pottered around being stressed - I’ve got an interview on Weds, did I mention it

Saturday was a party in the Raine garden - morning was spent getting ready to go, and we didn’t leave there til nearly 7, so that was the day sorted.

Yesterday, it was rather hot, you may have noticed ? I woke up feeling very odd - as if I had water stuck in my ears. Balance was shot and I had a horrendous headache. Mooched around feeling sorry for myself in the morning, then spent ages in a slightly warm bath with eucalyptus, and that seemed to help a lot. Enough for me to go off and do the shopping anyway.

Kids had painted in the garden in the morning, and when I got back, Tim was laid out in the shade reading. Big fetched the portico bob books that she hadn’t finished and read 4 of them in (reasonably ) quick succession. Coming along there I feel. She’d also had a session with Tim on times tables (I don’t know why) and the glorious thunderstorm that evening led to a discussion about speed of light v speed of sound. And I think I need to turn myself into a tv program - she can remember something she’s seen once on Bob the builder (the time that he got it wrong and counted elephants from the thunder til the lightning flashed!) but half the time she can’t even hear me!

Had family dinner of pre roasted chicken (bit of a brain wave, rather than having the oven on for two hours in this heat, buy one that someone else already cooked!) and I chucked myself a mushroom stroganoff together. Was inordinately proud of that.

During the storm, although we kept electricity, the world kept disappearing, so I gave up on the puter and did some paperwork. Now I have it down to one pile of paper, binned a load of envelopes and stuff (why can’t you recycle envelopes? I keep all the ones that are sent to me and use them with a label, but half the ones that stuff come in get ripped open by small ppl so just end up binned ) and put another pile to recycling. Very proud of myself. Also discovered that Small’s HV check is at the same time as my interview, doh, was convinced it was the next day, so Tim and I need to plan that.

Right, must go get dressed and organised for puddlers this aft!

Now if someone upgraded her blog, we could put this on a PAGE instead of having it as a blog post.

Not the MMR then…

Salon.com News | Deadly immunity

Apologies for the politics, and the vaccine talk, but I think this is important. The implication is that it is *not* the vaccines that cause the damage, but the mercury based preservative that some of them carry. MMR does *not* contain this preservative. I’ve linked to a google cache as getting to the real article involves sitting through an advert. Feel free to do so if you like, it’s free once you’ve done the ad.

Mr. Potato Head You have your ideal of how things
should look, but youre flexible enough to allow
for change. You are not bothered by changing
methods, mid-course if necessary. You use an
eclectic combination of curriculum sources.
Visit my blog:
http://www.GuiltFreeHomeschooling.blogspot.com

What Type of Homeschooler Are You?
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Or changed at the very least.

Salvador Dali Melting clocks are not a problem in
your reality. You are an unschooler. You will
tolerate a textbook, but only as a last resort.
Mud is your friend. You prefer hands-on
everything. If your school had an anthem, it
would be Dont Worry, Be Happy. Visit my blog:
http://www.GuiltFreeHomeschooling.blogspot.com

What Type of Homeschooler Are You?
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A year ago, I was a potato head!

Anyone else up for checking how/ if they’ve changed?

I was up very late last night, and then early this morning, as I wanted to dash to Lidl for one of these . Small got some money for his birthday and I’d been drooling over the expensive version - when I saw this for so much less I couldn’t resist. Was worried that there would be loads of ppl after them, but there was no one else showing any interest - suspect in a week or so they might even be reduced further (at which point I may get another for Big as she appears to have purloined Small’s!).

Also got Tim a camp bed - we’re trying to work out the best way for him to come on some of our camping breaks this summer. So back here sometime after ten, and the day seemed to evaporate in providing food, drink, trying to catch up on the washing, washing up, ballet lesson, more puter games.

Big seems to very much enjoy her ballet, but I am wondering what is going on there. Small and I were out in the hall, and I heard the teacher say “Big you can jump higher than everyone else because you’re bigger” and that is becoming painfully obvious - she towers over these tiny children she is in a class with, and I don’t know why. Trying to nerve myself up to ask about her progress, but the bottom line is that she enjoys it, and while she enjoys it, she gets to keep going.

Small was a little so and so tonight - very tired, but utterly determined not to go to sleep. I’ve had lovely evenings with him recently, singing him to sleep, but tonight he pulled my hair, kicked me, hit me and then fell over on purpose, headbutting me in the process. It hurt. Tim took over and did the singing to sleep bit that took minutes. Grrr.

And now I’m going to bed myself - I’m bushed. Night all.

Probation for naked interviewer
Baby Man
Gator Wrestling

I’m adding blogs, and I’m about to go round and hibernate anyone who hasn’t written for over a week - for new ppl, this is something I try to do weekly just to keep the ring looking fresh and current! When I do it, I also try to remember to add hibernated blogs to a watch list so that I get notified if they are updated, but I don’t always remember to do that, so if you do update your blog and it doesn’t get reawakened, feel free to ping me! (Unless of course, you still have your username and password and can wake yourself up )

New blogs are at
Nikki at Happily Home Edding, Angela at Daily Rant and hopefully very soon Carol at Me Against The World when we get her ring code sorted out.

Louise, I’d love to get you sorted out as well! Drop me a line