Making it up

…., movement of Jah people! Oh yeah!

I have just taken delivery of two rodent repellers.

I must admit I am a bit disappointed not to have little line of dispirited mice, paws over ears, little suitcases under arms, threading their way down the garden to find a quieter home.

Hmm.

Hope these things work.

On another point, I think I must be a snob. I ordered the repellers from Homebase and much to my dismay, they came in Argos Direct wrapping. One doesn’t shop at Argos. Homebase is ok somehow, because that is sort of Sainsburys, which is posher (and yes, I know they sold it in 2000). On the other hand, I love Wilkos, which is about as down market as you can get. Is that terribly odd of me?

Just when you think you’ve read it all before, you come across a new gem, like Just enough and nothing more which excels in though provoking posts and quotes like “We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are live in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive.” Really enjoyed reading through the posts for the last few days, and I’m definitely adding it to my rss

Another acceptable day - we now have a very much cleaner table than we’ve had for some time, after the discovery that our small four footed visitors had been exploring last night. Yeuch. My children are going to develop some kind of phobia - they’ve been told that they must wipe the table both before and after eating, and I’ve spent much time washing all sorts of things and trying really hard not to scream (dirt of the bacterially unpleasant kind freaks me out in the big way, and I can’t figure out a way to deal with this current situation bar moving NOW and just leaving everything behind….)

Then Small took himself off to bed for a nap - poor boy must be tired out after getting up before 7 the last two mornings! Big and I went up to wilcos to look bags to keep bedding and stuff in as like I said, I’m behaving in an irrationally phobic way right at the moment. We also bought more felt tips as I’ve just thrown out all theirs from their battered toolbox/pencilcase. I’ve washed all their pencils, but I’m not going to put them into the new toolbox until I’ve sharpened them. That should

There was a whole bag of rubbish on the table - chopped up bits of paper, envelopes, bits and pieces. I’m such a slob That’s another bag load out of the house though.

Why do plastic bags (for the keeping of bedding in) come in plastic bags? We are just so desperate to package everything aren’t we?

Small is lively now - couple of hours nap really seems to have rejuvenated him. Doesn’t appear to have improved his temper, have just had to explain (again!) that beating someone because they are doing something you don’t want them to do is not the way forward. Verbal negotiation is never his first recourse, can’t think why

Wonder how long Big is going to keep telling me exactly what time it is? She bought herself a watch in wilcos, one of those learn to tell the time ones that has -5, -10, -1/4, as well as the hours on it, and she’s absolutely fascinated by it. If she gets the hang of telling the time it’ll be worth it (if I survive being told the time every couple of minutes for the next few days anyway…). Saw the most fascinating technique for parking while we were out - guy pulled up in one of those oversized transit vans, got out, looked to see where it was, decided it wasn’t far enough back and pushed it back instead of getting in and reversing. Not a guy to argue with methinks. Given the way his passenger just stood there and waited, it was fairly standard practise too.

Right, must go and roust Tim out of bed as well (he went for a nap while we were out). Guess the boys in the house just can’t stand the pace

I’m getting to rather enjoy Saturdays

Our local library reopened a couple of weeks back - we rounded up most of the many books we’d borrowed to see us through the barren months and tootled off for a pleasant hour finding alternatives.

Quite sad to see the back of Dangles and Bangles, and Gifts for Kids to Make (must add both of those to my wishlist, well worth the investment), but we found Beadwork (Step-by-step Children’s Crafts), and Papercrafts Around the World instead. Big got herself a couple of reading books too - it’s the first time she’s been when she really could have chosen just about anything there, and she seemed a little unnerved by this idea. Small found lots of Maisie books and other things that pop out at you when you open them

We got back to find my parents here having already drunk their tea/coffee, but happy to hang around for a little longer to visit. The children bounced around a little, although Big still seems rather fragile (she greeted me this morning by bursting into tears, just the way to start the day ).

Shortly after they’d gone, Kirsty and co arrived to pick up their pics from the wedding. They also ended up making geckos from the beadwork book - rather a hit with all of us I think. Big has piccies - I’ll ask her for them tomorrow Kirsty and I drank tea, refereed and chatted, and I even fitted in sewing together the first two pieces of the one hour sweater, and then adding a sleeve. The more I do the more convinced I am it’s completely the wrong size, but I might as well finish it now. If it’s too small, as I suspect, I’ll either give it to Big for a doll, or ask a friend if there are any charities that want preemie sweaters

Small and M had a couple of run ins - Small is getting to the stage where he isn’t prepared to just do as he’s told any more, but he hasn’t learn to negotiate verbally. I spoke to him quite firmly though when he belted M in the face with a car, and then added insult to injury where M was concerned by removing the car in question from the game without realising it was his!

Tired children by bathtime - Small dissolved into tears when Big wouldn’t play with him - she wouldn’t play because he wouldn’t do as he was told…

And I’ve spent a lovely evening watching more tv to review, and reading the book I got from the library. Deerskin is by one of my favourite authors, and although it’s not her usual type of story at all, it was so compelling I’ve read it in one sitting (and dripped rather a lot at the end). And now to bed. I’ve done no work today - leaving myself with rather a lot to catch up on tomorrow - but I think a day off is good for me every now and then

Because I really think I need to buy someone one of these.

Jan, um, when is your birthday? I think this would go nicely with your ketchup bottle.

***You Are Red Orange***

You are a very genuine person, although it takes a while for you to show the true you.
A bit introverted, you desire respect and affection from those close to you.
You are quite empathetic, and you have a true concern for the well being of others.
Many people have warm, heartfelt memories of you - even if you don’t remember them well.

What Color Red Are You?

ht Ron

Do schools today kill creativity? (Ken Robinson, TEDTalks)

Apologies to those of you who have seen this before. I hadn’t.

There’s an advert on the radio at the moment to do with mobile phones.

“It’sYou’re hard four times to concentratemore onlikely to have two thingsa crash atwhen the you’re on same a mobile timephone.”

Rant part one - do they really think that playing this particular advert on the radio (a thing that ppl listen to in cars) is going to be improving concentration on the road?

And then it goes on that from the 27th of February, the law is changing. If you are caught using a handheld mobile phone, you will be fined and get points on your license. What, so somehow it not being handheld means you aren’t concentrating on it? I think not. But they haven’t changed the law to stop you using a phone in a car because it will be too difficult to identify and prosecute I suspect (I haven’t done any research on this).

And also, what about all these satnavs that are appearing in cars? So many cars pass me on the motorway, and they aren’t looking at the road, or holding the wheel with both hands, they are leaning forward over a little screen on the dash and stabbing at it with a finger. Have any studies been done on how these things affect driving ability? (And I don’t mean by the companies who sell them either.)

So there you go, a couple of little rants.

Don’t get me started on that email from him at no10, I need to go to bed some time tonight….

Or so I am informed by a gentleman who kindly (and unsolicitedly) sent me news of an investment opportunity this morning.

Anyway, I am blessed by a Small presence today. Having fairly comprehensively redecorated his bedroom earlier he has been just sitting looking glum this morning. Very unlike him. So we have added to the telltale washing line furniture….. quilt, cover, sheet, pyjamas, you know the drill. I wonder whether it would be feasible to track the progress of childhood bugs by satellite?

Still, Small has cheered up enough to entertain the idea of a light lunch.

Has to be one of the best quotes so far, from a series full of cool quotes.

I’m enjoying it, a lot. Almost makes me wish I wore a tie - I often feel rather drab in my office wear. Perhaps if I put on a rainbow top I’d feel more myself?

Tough times at work. The cavalry, in the form of two new recruits, arrives next week, although I’m aware that it’s going to be hectic for a while longer as they find their feet. At least it feels like there might be an end in sight.

And tonight I drove home in tears. No particular reason, except that I was sad. Some more of those waves, they do creep up on you at the most unlikely times. I dunno, I’m not wearing my heart on my sleeve, I’ve even managed to say the word miscarriage in conversation, and I’ve coped (admirably I feel) with Small telling everyone about his brother Mike who died. (I have no idea whether this is related, or just another of his imaginative interludes - how would I tell?) So why am I so unutterably sad? Why can’t I arrange to go and see my friend and her baby? It isn’t, though you might think so, because I’m jealous of her baby. That would be far too straightforward. It’s because just for a few weeks, I was hopeful of having a baby at a similar time to a friend, at knowing someone through pregnancy, and being able to share tales of broken nights. Instead, she has her baby, and I don’t have a date to look forward to.

Bugger, it hurts.

Thieves may be specifically targeting Staffordshire Bull Terriers, a report obtained by the BBC says….. The report, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, says some criminals may be using the dogs to guard “criminal assets”.

Must be tricky….

I have stolen a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, how shall I guard it?

I know, I will steal a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

repeat

the appeal

Big is signed up to rspb wildlife explorers, courtesy of Barbara and co. This year their appeal is on behalf of albatrosses - she’s made up the money box and already put some of her own pocket money into it. Now she’s making bracelets, in both children and adult sizes. What we’re stumped on is how she is going to sell them.

Any suggestions? Or takers? I’ll blog pictures when she has a few made.

A pair of fairy wings. A dolls house doll. An episode of CSI, most of a romantic Saturday evening.

I had plans for last night. Lots of plans for last night. Most of them went by the wayside when Big decided to redecorate the bathroom floor. Shortly after she’d done that, obviously convinced by the new colour scheme she had a go at her bed and bedroom floor. Hence the first two casualties

Tim turns a funny shade of green where vomit is concerned, so I tend to step up and deal. Not that I’m not green as well, but I’m less likely to add to the quantity concerned.

So that was my evening. How was yours?

As we’d had a very late night, we had a very late morning. I was pleased to hear that Big sounded much better today - right up to the point where I got tired of listening to the pair of them fight. And then I was very cross to hear that she had used the emergency bucket later on but not felt it necessary to let either of us know, so there was a very fragrant bucket perfuming their sleeping area.

Sorry, tmi? Tough!

Today has perforce been quiet and relaxed. I am broadening the children’s musical education by playing them all three Bat Out of Hell albums in chronological sequence I am broadening my crochet horizons by completing the second piece of the one hour sweater. (Basic afghan stitch, I have no idea whether I’m doing it right). Tim is about to go and pamper himself in the bath, and has just watered my valentine’s present for me. I ask you, did anyone else get compost as a valentine’s gift? No? Thought not. Still, my pot plant will thank him for it - I’d better go repot it.

And another exciting weekend potters past.

The title is by Tim

The shrug is by me, for Big.

It’s based on the bamboozled shrug I linked to a week or so back, and I got it out of the Crochet pattern-a-day calendar.

I’m quite chuffed with it - I used the king cole pure baby dk I bought before Christmas. It only used one ball, so I’ve several left over (hm, wonder if there are any other little girls with birthdays approaching who would like one….)

And now I’ve started on a one hour baby sweater, as we still haven’t met RJ and I’ve nothing to give him or his mother yet. I think the pattern should be renamed several hour baby sweater though - maybe it’s that I’m not familiar with basic afghan stitch yet, but I’m well over an hour in, and I haven’t quite finished one front piece yet. Probably means I’m somewhere between a quarter and a third of the way through, so guess it’ll be nearer 5 hours by the time I’m done.

Oh well.

If you’re looking for non crochet related stuff, like life or education or some such, you’ll have to wait til tomorrow.

Jebs Jobs

Call Center The Movie

We have probably posted these somewhere before…… but they are both very good.

ht Helen

Two it would appear.

One to go and get the jar opening device, attach it to the lid, and then stare at it glumly as the jar turns as well.

The second one to say “you need to hold it” and then proceed to do so, as the first turns the lid on its own this time.

I’ll leave it to your imagination to work out which child did which though

The UN has come up with a new warning sign for radiation. Nods to The Register

Seems to go a little far, and I am wondering if other warning signs need to be redesigned to match.

Here is one I thought might be good…..

Warning, supermarket car park ahead.

…or thereabouts. I have just stripped Big’s latest efforts from her camera and she seems to be getting better. I liked this one of Small very much.

I do think photography is a great thing for them to be doing - elements of art, science and craft all rolled into one. Aren’t digital cameras wonderful? I used to hate waiting for stuff to be processed and have to pay so much for each film.

Small seems to be much keener than Big, and his results are coming on too, some are even in focus! We have pictures of hands, knights, me, whatever is on tv, the floor, the ceiling……

Introducing the book

Per request, here is the mermaid/kit doll, complete with sustifficate. ….and various other bits of stuff.

Sorry, needlecraft is pretty much totally lost on me, the only thing I can say about crochet and sewing is that they are a lot less annoying than knitting.