Pippa's Thoughts

Long awaited update

2011-04-02T22:34:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone,
you will have noticed we've been quiet since Christmas, well it's not that we haven't been busy, but I have been lucky enough to have been quite busy with work. Even my work blog has ground to a halt once more (another new years resolution bites the dust).

I thought it was about time I tried to update everyone.

Kai, is doing well at school, I'm surprised at how quickly his reading has improved and his his maths work coming on a treat. He's had awards recently for being able to read data from a bar chart of Smarties and also "star of the week" for being polite, well mannered and generally good behaviour in class (something strange must happen to him in the car journey home from school).
He goes to an arts activity club on a Tuesday after school (one night they painted his face for him it's supposed to be a dinosaur), It's for 4-12 yrs old and he seems to love it, although it does help his best mates from school Chris and Sarah the twins are there too. He's still into his trains, loves watching Scooby Doo and probably is fed up of his Mummy and Daddy telling him they used to watch it when they were little too.

Dino-Kai

Sun-shades

Alana is growing up fast. She loves doing whatever her big brother does but she's also into girlie stuff. She's turning a right little dare-devil, She loves to climb indoor and outdoor play centres, crossing rope bridges, the only time she needs a bit of help is when she tries climbing the bigger steps and sometimes needs big bro to help her up. She loves her dollies and is getting into Barbie. She loves watching Humpf from Nick Jr and the Barbie films. Both she and Kai enjoy watching Disney films and we're been to the cinema a few times this year to see things like Tangled, Gnomeo and Juliet and Rango.

Are you Sure Mum?

Sharing our picnic with a range of dolls

little miss dare-devil

Ain't no stopping her now!

On our way to a picnic

I'm well, been busy with Pippas Web some web design, some work on search engine optimisation and I've had a few moment to re-design my twitter and facebook fanpage.

Mark's had a bit of a rough time lately, he's known since before Xmas that his department at work was going be moving people over to another hospital trust in Stoke. However he'd also figured out they didn't need another deputy manager. However since then the trusts have been fighting over him, well over who would make him redundant. It turned out two days before the big "move" (end of march) that his HR dept said it wasn't worth fighting it out anymore (no kidding) anyway the upshot is he now is undergoing his 30 day consultation period before being made redundant, he'll be paid up to the end of May but at the moment we're still unsure if they're expecting him to actually be at work till then or give him the money in lieu of notice. He's been applying for loads of jobs all over the country, so if you know of a payroll deputy manager or manager position going anywhere please do let us know.
He's got an interview next week in Nottingham. We drove over there today, looks a nice area, there's a big country park near by which we also visited. So maybe I'll be able to indulge my fascination Robin Hood (which I've had since childhood).

So for now, all I can say is watch this space..... oh and maybe leave us a message below and tell us what's been happening to you.

Xmas goodies

2010-12-21T17:23:00.000Z

Inspired by Kirsty and Phil and their Christmas parties, the kids and I have been getting creative. We've been making polar bears and penguins for the top of our Xmas cake (OK the cake was shop bought but you can't have everything.

If you want to make you own polar bear

We had some left over marzipan and made a Santa and pressie too.

Oh and don't forget the mince pie we made yesterday, they taste amazing. Here's the recipe

Hope you have as much fun making them as we did.

Happy Christmas.

XXX

Xmas panto fun

2010-12-10T17:10:00.001Z

Have some fun and let someone else make a donation.

Here's the Haines family panto or heres the full address http://www.worldsfastestpanto.com/?guid=23730f13-c384-468d-83bf-969947c61413
After you've seen us, make your own and post the link in the comments box below or email it to us so we can share.

For all this fun O2 make a donation of 50p for every panto made upto a set amount of course. The money is going to Think big

Birthday Wishes link

2010-11-27T18:26:00.000Z

In case you subscribe to this blog you will have received yesterdays blog about My Mum's birthday. However unless you looked on the blog itself you would have missed the video. So for anyone who missed out here's the link.
Haines family sing happy birthday.

Birthday wishes

2010-11-26T16:56:00.000Z

Tomorrow is my Mum's birthday. We had planned to go up this weekend but the weather has scuppered our plans. So I thought I write this blog for her.

I just want to say I'm your number one fan. You appear cool calm and most of all confident (even if you do then fret about it after). You talk sense and give great advice, even if we don't always listen.
I would like to say a big big thank you for everything you do, my sounding board, my proof /sense reader, my concious and my guide.

I wish we lived nearer so I could repay all your help to me, when I've been ill, or at a loss what to do.

We all love you so much.

I think that you have two more little fans that have something they wanted to say something to you.

Happy birthday Grandma XXXX

Bad hair day for Children in need.....

2010-11-19T18:00:00.001Z

Kai's school decided on holding a bad hair / non uniform day. A lot of time and effort went into some of the other kids hairs, some were spray painted stripes and pipe cleaner creations, but for Kai we just about made it look messy. Mainly by gelling it last night trying to get it standing up right, then making him sleep in it, then more gel this morning.
Thought you might like a look.

Apparently Bad hair day = Monster face too.

Poppy Day

2010-11-11T12:03:00.000Z

Last week on the way to a firework display, Kai turns to us and says

"I need to get a rose, so I won't die",

well as you can imagine this kind of took us by surprise but with a little probing we worked out that his school were selling poppies, and I tried to explain to him that they were to remember people who had been in wars.
Now we don't do Guns toy or imaginary in our house, so having to explain war and why we want to remember people to a four year old was quite tricky, but he seemed happy with the idea by then of our discussion.

He got his poppy and today being poppy day I suggested he put it on. Well Kai's uniform is made up of a polo shirt under his jumper so the only button hole is front and centre. I put the poppy in and within two mins he wanted it off because it way annoying him.
When I tried to persuade him to keep it on for a bit his response was

"I can remember the people, without it"

I think this is something we should do every day. Whilst I am greatful for those who have or do serve their country I wish for a more peaceful future where guns are not a children's toy and people respect each other regardless of where they live, what religion they follow and what colour eyes they have.

I appeared in someone else's blog

2010-11-09T21:49:00.000Z

As some of you know I joined a choir in Stone, about 7 miles away. I found them on Google on a blog post saying they were looking for new members.

Well last night Jamie who writes the blog, came along to see the choir in action and take a pic.

To see what he wrote about the choir and me.

Yes I am in the photo, honest just right at the very back.

Mother and Son keyboard lessons from a book.

2010-11-09T21:08:00.000Z

We got Kai a little keyboard a couple of years ago, he liked playing the demo songs especially Jingle Bells which was set to be the first one for some reason obviously someone wanting to punish parents all year round.
The other morning he brought it in and actually tried playing a song on it.
Now I'm sad to admit but I don't actually read music or know how to play anything other that a few notes of the Eastenders theme tune on it, so went on Amazon and managed to get a Usborne beginners Piano book.
I expected being a childrens book to find very simple instructions and just a simple few songs.

We had a few spare mins while Alana napped at the weekend and Kai was so keen to play something, So together we read through a lot of information, we marked out the keyboard with the notes, and I tried to explain about crotchets and quavers. The book even tried explaining about 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 time but that went over my head a bit.

However at the end of our first session we both had played "Mary had a little lamb", which seems to have satisfied Kai's interest for now, but now I need to make the time, to read on a bit and learn for me, probably won't help my singing much but at least might be able to practice at home a bit.

Alana then got up from her nap where Kai and I had been playing with one finger, she comes along and was playing what sounded like chords. She then moved the keyboard and was dancing round the room with it, so I thought you might like to see them in action.

Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T23:19:00.000Z

Well we've have Nanna (my Mother-in-law) up for the half term week, and Mark took her back home to Surrey this weekend. This left me an the kids at home. So today being halloween turned into a very creative day.

We started by making the jack-o-lantern (something I've never seen or done before). Alana loved helping me to pull the insides of the pumpkin out but Kai wasn't too keen on the slimey feel of the seeds and raced off to was his hands.

I'd also bought some gummy sweets that can with gel pens that you could paint decorate the sweets with, which amused this kids too.

Finally we made some Thomas (the Tank engine) cupcakes which they got to decorate in the afternoon.
I brought down the bag of dressing up clothes and the kids decided on which costume they wanted to wear.

In the evening Kai decided that he would rather stay at home and give out goodies to trick or treaters than go out and about himself (although we did pop next door to show of my little cuties pies.)

As soon as people knocked on the door (and on a couple of occasions before they had a chance to knock) he'd open the door and hand over his pumpkin bucket full of chocs.
He even invented a new word rather than trick or treaters he called them "trickles".

Kai kept his costume on until bedtime, although Alana wanted her's off much earlier. I did like hearing all comments when he opened the door and was still in costume, although quite why the wrestler costume for Halloween I'm not sure.

Can't believe that tomorrow Kai goes back to school and that's the end of our half term, we've done so much, he probably needs a rest.

Chester Zoo day out

2010-10-17T23:02:00.000+01:00

Today, as the weather was still supposed to be quite nice we decided to go and try out Chester Zoo. We arrived about 15mins after it opened, even then there were quite a few people in the car park. We went into the Zoo and started to follow the recommended route. We hadn't got far before we came upon, the monorail station. Of course this got Kai very excited, and my theory was we get on do a loop of the zoo see what there is to see and then continued on our route. However that would have been too easy.

Having just forked out over £40 for the three of us to get in, (Alana was free being under three) they still expected us to pay to ride the monorail and the boat ride. But to top it off the ride was only half way round the zoo, you had to get off the monorail and re board (paying again of course) if you wanted to go all round the Zoo. So we got on (feeling a bit cheated). It was a nice ride, and great to see the layout from the tree top level, but it was obviously too cold for a lot of the animals as it took a while for us to see any animals.

The Zoo was well looked after, and the animals all had space and looked well looked after. We saw the Elephants including a baby who was born in July 2010

3 month old baby elephant

I want to hold your hand!

We went into one of the indoor areas and found the Komodo dragon, who looked rather seeply.

Komodo Dragon

We needed an ice cream break. Alana managed to make it last for a very long, long, long time, but she was determined not to let anyone else eat it.

Ice Cream Break

A painted Rhino

A giant tortoise shell.

We had a great day out, saw a lot of animals (eventually), watched baby Elephant, Orangutans, giraffe, dear and a whole lot more. OK the Zoo's a bit sneaky trying to get money from us at every turn with money press, monorails etc.but nothing that other places don't do all the time too.

They had a lifesize shell from a giant tortoise for the kids to pose in, So Kai got in and Alana was sat ontop Overall we had a great day, and we recommend to everyone, with or without kids Yong and old, everyone would have a great time

Rudyard Lake & New clothes

2010-10-17T19:05:00.000+01:00

Last week on Sunday afternoon we dashed down after football and lunch to another small railway line Mark had heard about at Rudyard Lake near Leek. (Kai's fascination with trains means the whole family spend many weekends checking out new railways, ideally steam but he''ll take what he can get).
The sun was shining and it was a fab afternoon. We pulled into the car park and there was a train sitting at the platform so we rushed and got out seats. Having paid the guard/ driver we relaxed and sat back for a lovely little ride along the side of the lake, waving to the people walking. Our engine was called Escaliber, and there was a another one running the opposite direction called Pendragon.

When we got to the end of the line Mark got out and decided to "race" us to the visitors centre station. He set off and thanks to the kids distraction half way of luring him over with a love heart sweet saying "I love you" we managed a draw.

We popped over the bridge to visitors centre for a drink and watched the boat leave before heading for home.

The next week I had to go shopping for something new to wear for an interview. For the first time in a very long time I bought myself a skirt and top (OK I bought some thin leggings to wear under the skirt but that was instead of a petticoat). I thought I'd share this with you as many of you won't have seen me in much other than tracksuit bottoms / leggings

Unfortunately I didn't get the job but never mind, there's more to apply for and I'm sure I can fill my time with Pippas Web - Web design

The Cat's Back and Kai's still Misbehaving

2010-10-11T17:35:00.000+01:00

Haven't written an update for a little while so thought I'd do a quick one now.

Last week we were quite sad ad Buffey our eldest cat ( and first baby really) went out on the Friday night, only the second time she'd been out since the move and didn't come back. She's used to having the luxury of a cat flap but there isn't one here, so the door had been locked, and we think the neighbourhood cats chased her off. We saw nothing of her all week until Saturday morning, while trying to get kids dressed, I looked out the window and saw a small black cat on the fence at the end of the garden. I sent Mark out to check and it was Buffey but she wasn't too keen on coming in. She'd found a nice hiddy hole between the fence panels to our house and the one to the house behind, so Mark spent a lot of Sat trying to coax her out, she'd pop out for food then run straight back.

However on Sunday he tried again and managed to coax her further out of her hole and grab her and bring her in. She was never a big cat but she's lost weight (maybe I should go hide out in the garden for a week or two see how much I could lose).

Kai's behaviour hasn't improved lately. He says "I don't know why?" if you ask him. (Same answer if you ask him what he's done at school strangely enough). So having established that his behaviour gets worse when he's tired, we asked him about his extra classes at the weekend.
The upshot is that as we'd just got to the end of the first four week block of his football (which is paid in 4 week blocks luckily) he won't be continuing with it. Supposedly so he can have a lay in on a Sunday. So Saturdays after Ballet we're going to have a quieter day???? Then we've got Sundays to go out or do something if we want, (after our lay in of course).

Just aside thought it was 10/10/10 this weekend, which brought with it changes in the energy. Did anyone feel totally wiped out at all this weekend, (OK I know it's a normal state for me but any feel it more so than normal)? I know Kai friend at school had similar behaviour issues to Kai over the weekend which he doesn't usually do, so perhaps this latest burst was just in response to this latest energy change? If so roll on Ascension and Dec 2012

Pony Rides and Mood Swings

2010-09-25T17:36:00.000+01:00

Today being Saturday we started with Kai's latest classes and ballet. His teacher greeted him and said he'd done well last week. At the end of the session Kai announced his shoes were in. I'd asked the Ladies who deal with all the money when I'd paid his terms fees about them when we'd arrived but they told me next week. I was a little concerned to find that elastic to hold them on was only attached on one side. OK I know I'm dense but didn't realise I'd be left to sew elastic into his ballet shoes, my Homework for the week.

After a brief interlude into town we went to a craft fair at Aston Marina near Stone, there were a few nice little stalls, but not worth the drive over there for us. The one nice thing was there were a few horses and Shetland ponies doing rides. Kai and Alana got to ride in the little cart behind the pony. Alana's welly fell off a couple of times and she slipped down trying to get it, luckily the man with them was keeping and eye out. But the did have fun.

The next stop was at the Fire and Rescue HQ, opens day. I think it was about here we started with Kai refusing to do what we asked, generally getting in strop if things didn't go his way. Like he wanted a toy police helicopter, I'd said no we got stroppy, I said what about a helmet "I don't want one of those" ten mins later of please can I have a helicopter he gives up and wants a helmet, by which time I've had enough.

By the number of strops and yelling sessions we've been having lately he's obviously tired from school, but if we put him to bed earlier he just wakes earlier, so what's the point.

This week, we'll try a week of going to bed earlier and no sneaky late bedtimes. See if we can persuade nice Kai to come out and play again, as we know he can be lovely manners (at school) but shame about what happens when he gets home.

Star Awards

2010-09-25T09:06:00.000+01:00

While trying to load Kai and Alana back into the car, on Friday afternoon after school, the little girl from next door yells hi to us from the playground. She told me that Kai had won a star award. I thought it was just something she and her friends were playing, but on investigation in his reading folder I found a certificate.

It said

Star Award
presented to
Kai Haines
for
fantastic manners and following school rules

On investigation (probing Kai is quite hard work). I found out he'd been given this in class assembly, in front of the whole school. They seem to do this every Friday in Assembly. Wow how proud do I feel. Well I feel proud and then I fell cheated because he's so good at school he wins awards yet home the rules are there to be ignored.

For a treat to celebrate we went ten pin bowling. Kai has been a few times now but Alana had never been but she enjoyed it, and Kai was thrilled because he got a strike. All I can say about my performance is say that I'm very glad that we had the bumpers up. Considering Mark had been bowling with his friend in Worcester the evening before I ended up only being about 10 points behind him in the end.

What clever, well mannered(?) children I've got.

How do you know when I've written something new?

2010-09-17T20:00:00.000+01:00

There are several ways of being told I've added a blog / post on here, some of you will see a link to it on facebook, or you can subscribe using igoogle or google reader. However the one I think I've now fixed and probably the easiest to do is to add your email address to the box on the side and you'll recieve an email in your inbox to let you know. (To be honest this post has been written for me to test it's working so unless another message appears saying there's still a problem then hopefully it should work).
Let me know if you want to subscribe but can't or if you have any problems.
cheers

New hair cut

2010-09-17T15:40:00.000+01:00

New hair cut

I've even treated myslef to a new hair cut to go with our new life here in Stafford. Although it's straight now, it's designed to allow it to curl as I just can't straighten it by myself.

Alana was such a good girl sitting in her buggy while I had my hair done too.

1st Days

2010-09-17T15:05:00.000+01:00

Obviously new town means lots of new things, but the two biggest for our family were Kai starting school and Alana starting at Nursery.

Because of the move all happening durring the school holidays, we couldn't do much about visiting the school or even speaking to anyone about it as there was no-one in. We'd spoken to the council who'd given Kai a space at Tillington Manor about 1.7miles from home (according to Google maps). We were told the teachers would be in on the 6th Sep and the kids go back on the 7th (fab for them, short notice for us). So first thing on the 6th we rang and arranged to pop over and see the school and meet Kai's teacher (Mr Tucker), he seemed very nice and the class was all laid out ready for the next day so we go a sneak preview.

That night Kai went to bed as normal. But after we went to bed he kept coming up to us. So I took him back down and he asked for a story, I explained it was late and we talked for a little while, I leaned over to kiss him and SNAP the bed broke. Great, just what he needed.
So Kai had to sleep on the spare matress in our room. So at least we did eventually get some sleep.

The next morning we all got up, washed and dressed, had breakfast. Kai looked very smart

There's only one market stall in Stafford that sells Tillington Manor school uniform, and that was closed on the Monday after our visit to the school, so his first day Kai just went in his polo shirt. We took him into his classroom, found his peg for his coat. Parents were allowed to stay for a few mins, Kai and I looked around at al the activities he could do and once he found the train set he was ready for us to go. I couldn't stop the few tears, my little boy was growing up and I knew this was the end of lazy mornings, kiddie classes and Mummy and Daddy being the centre of his world.

We then had three hours to fill, so we went to town to buy him a school jumper, then had breakfast in Asda before going to buy him a new bed, which would be delivered on the Friday afternoon.

Waiting for him to come out at lunch time was an anxious time, would he have enjoyed it, would he have made any friends?, would he even want to come home?

He came out of school looking all disheveled, trousers undone (at least we know he used the toilet by himself ok) shirt untucked (well so was his teachers, so can't have eveything). He had a certificate for surviving his first morning, some raisins and a big grin on his face. Ok Kai being Kai we'll never know exactly what he gets up to at school as his super memory always lets him down when it comes what he's done during the day, but he'd had fun and wanted to go back, so who could ask for more.

New full uniform

The next day he had his jumper, and while we were waiting for the door to open another boy in the class announced that Kai was in the same class as him. Since then they've been inseparable. They've already played at ours and us at their house.

action shot

One week on I decided Alana needed to make some new friends too. So we went to speak to the childrens centre near to Mark's work. They do a child care option, and had spaces for her to go on mon and tuesday mornings, which will allow me some time for working on Pippas Web, and maybe even a spot of house work, you never know.
We arranged a few settling sessions, after all Alana's never been left with someone else without us or her big brother there before.
We had a quick look round her new room and got the guided tour, with the plan of going back the following week to meet her key worker and seeing how she got on with out me.

Alana ready for her first day at nursery

So after droping Kai off at school we went to the nursery. She acted all shy to start with and held on tight to me, we filled in the paper work and eventually with a little coaxing she went of to bounce on her own on the trampoline. I think she worried the key worker that she was so clingy to me.
The next morning, she played painting in puddles and then I went out to the reception and she played without batting an eyelid. When I went back in 20 mins later she'd been out side playing all the time.
Wed morning, I left her to it after only 10mins and apparently she'd got a little upset when they stopped play and sat in circle time (I don't think it was because she missed me, but because she had to stop playing and sit down for a min).
She's got some more settling sessions booked for next week, then the following week hopefully she can start properly. I'm sure given a week or two she'll be bossing them all around, as long as she has fun that's ok.

Two holidays and a house move

2010-09-17T11:23:00.000+01:00

This summer, to allow me time to pack, Kai went on holidays on his own to visit his Nanna first, and then he and Alana went to Grandma and Uncle Lee's.

We drove to Mark's Mum's convinced there'd be a scene at the end of our stay and that Kai would want to come home with us, but in fact he was thrilled to be stopping with his Nanna.

We'd made the mistake of telling him about a visit he was going to make to see a friend of his Nanna and her Granddaughter, and despite the fact it wasn't due to happen until the end of the week Kai start the usual questioning when we go to ......?

It was a bit strange not having him around for such a period of time (1 week) but we spoke every day ( well Kai's idea of talking to people). However I did notice I was generally less wound up by him on his return which made me happier and I'm sure he would agree.

He'd just got settled home when it was decided that he and Alana would be going up North during the move. We were waiting for our completion date.
I drove them to the halfway point at Charnock Richards services on the M6 arriving after Mum and Lee. As it was the day before my birthday Mum had even brought some birthday cake for us to share.

Unfortunately after we went our separate ways, Mum, Lee and the kids got held up in static traffic, thanks to the M6 Jumper (who didn't). Even with the additional delay they were really good for them in the car.

While they were there they did things like cake making and Kai had lessons from Uncle Lee. Kai even got a train ride. My Mum couldn't get on the train with him so she asked on of the train enthusiasts that were there, I think he would have appreciated it more if he was a bit older.

Kai at the park

Alana and Upsy Daisy

Kai got a ride on the train, and made a new friend.

Lessons with Uncle Lee.

On Wed 25th Aug after over a year of being on the market, we finally moved house.
The removal men arrived just before 9am, and while I was still packing around them we managed to load everything onto the lorries. We left a few cleaning things behind so Mark could come back to tidy up the next day, then retrieved the cats who'd been locked in the loft, did one finally run to the dump and then away we drove up the M5 / M6 to Stafford. We had to go to the letting agents to get the keys then make our way to the house where the removal guys were trying to catch 40 winks waiting for us.

They unloaded everything. Our Divan bed and wrought iron headboard of course wouldn't go up the second set of stairs to the loft room that we'd decided would be ours. The number of boxes piles in the lounge meant you had to squeeze through between them and the sofas (which looked way too big). So our first job after the removal men was to go bed buying about 4:30pm. We checked several shops and several beds, we needed a flat pack one to get up the stairs but also quite sturdy to take our weight. We managed to find one but it would be over a week till it could be delivered. Luckily we had some flat packed single beds from the old house that had been in the attic there. So Mark spent his first night setting the beds up.

That night I awoke at 3am and started to panic about the house and all that needed doing and got my self in a right stew. So I went downstairs and started to right to do lists and a welcome letter to the new owners of our house in Worcester.
Mark got up at 6 by which time I'd stopped panicing he went back to Worcester to sort out cleaning the house, handing over the keys etc. which left me to sort the new house. Not too much got unpacked between phone calls to the agents about the stuff that needed sorting and calls from Mum and the kids, calls to say tradesmen were coming to sort the house etc.

We had a few days to try and get things a little straighter, the kids bedrooms and the lounge were our priority before they were brought back on the sat by Mum. I showed them their new rooms. Alana also had to contend with the fact that we had made her cot into a bed, something she hasn't had a problem with at all.

I'm so proud of my brave children they've been off on holiday with out me or Daddy, and have taken to Stafford life as thought they've always lived here. Although Kai misses his friends, he's been busy making friends with the two children next door and at school (more to come)
So really all that it leaves me to say now is Hello Stafford, Bring it on.

Buying the first school Uniform.

2010-08-14T20:01:00.002+01:00

Well with the move to Stafford on the cards, we have been trying to get Kai a place in a school ready for September, the problem of course is it's now August and the schools are closed for the summer. I've spoken to the county council in Stafford and they've got him into Tillington Manor. Having searched on the Web For the school, I'm still none the wiser.

Because of the move we wanted to get some uniform sorted before hand and Mark had to go find a uniform shop in Stafford just to find out what they wear. Ok so now we know the jumper has a logo for the school and it's Navy Blue.

So off I went to Tesco's and bought some plain white polo shirts, and grey trousers (which we were also informed make up the uniform). Ok as my Mum say's he does look rather like he's wearing his big brothers clothes, but he is only just 4 and he only has his little legs.

Whatever I think he looks quite smart, and he was really proud about getting his uniform and lunch box. Still need to get the jumper, pe kit, reading bag and shoes, but at least we've made a start and he'll have something to wear on his first day.

Oh and of course Alana HAD to get a look in too.

The Blog is resurrected

2010-08-14T20:00:00.001+01:00

Well if all goes well we should be ready to complete the sale of our house and move to Stafford in under 2 weeks. This is a big deal not only because it's now 14months since we put the house on the market, and nearly 9months since Mark moved into the Dr's accommodation at the hospital in Stafford during the week. But it's the end of our Worcester experience, (Mark and I are gradually making our way back up the country) I was brought up in Hampshire, moved to London and then Surrey, then over to Worcester, now heading North (of Birmingham, lol) to Stafford.

Mark knows his way round quite well now, but the test will come when we get up there and he has to find all new places likes schools, classes, activities etc. I see me developing a very close relationship with "Sexy Shaun" my SatNav.

I feel, we've been living in a kind of limbo for the last year, with everything on hold, waiting for this move to happen, and now it's almost here I know I'll be gutted about leaving our friends behind. So I thought I'd try and give my non-work blog a another go, in an attempt at being able to share our new life with you all. Feel free to leave comments, and I hope you enjoy.

Santander Cards

2010-02-14T09:21:00.010Z

Sorry for not posting, for the last few months but ill heath, Xmas and then writers block have all got in the way.
However something arrived in the post yesterday that makes me angry.

I have had an Evans account / card for at least 15years - I think, with varying amounts of money owing, at any given time.
Last month I didn't make the min payment (£4) and when my new statement arrived I now owe two months (oh and a late payment fee of £12). I didn't make the payment this month as I was having to juggle some finances to get back within my overdraft, so this will really help, thanks, but not a big problem.
I got a letter, a day or two later from Santander Cards to tell me I missed the payment. However the link on the letter to make payments didn't appear to work either, so I put it to the side, to make a payment in the normal manner later.
Yesterday when I got in from a lovely day out I looked at the post and there was another from Santander Cards! Apparently my card is coming up for expiration soon and because they have a "commitment to ensure they are lending responsibly" they won't be renewing my card, unless I correct the status of the card. So for missing £4, I now owe an extra £12 and am branded as being unable to use credit responsibly!!!!!

In case you don't know we're trying to sell the house and move to Stafford, at which point I will need to go an find some work, so will need to adjust my wardrobe to get some work clothes. Under normal situations I would probably get some using the card. I'm so annoyed I would prefer to pay off my card and close my account. So how many millions do I owe them, that has sent them into this panic that I will bring their company down, I hear you ask!!! Well including the late fee, I owe a grand total of £40.

While I'm all for banks and money lenders finally being responsible for their actions and checking things like this, I do feel that an automatic letter (like this one appears to be, having been sent out to everyone who happens to not be in credit that month) ought to have some sort of limit on it. Santander have only been looking after the cards for a short time and they've wiped out years of contentment with the service with one letter. A little common sense people, especially in the current climate, where things are tough on everyone.

Craft Kits

2009-10-22T08:32:00.006+01:00

Kai likes being crafty, in more ways than one. Since he was about 1yrs old he's had a go with aqua draw, crayola pens that only draw on special paper, felt pens, pencils, crayons, stickers, paints, gluing.

We don't have a dinning table just TV tables, so giving him the art stuff is always a big deal, getting everything ready and finding him somewhere to do it. So we like little craft kits that come with everything you need in the pack.

In the past we've made a small picture of a cat looking into a fish bowl and we've done a bigger decoupage type one with a princess and castle, made from foam stickers cut into shapes from Hobby craft.

These kits generally work for me because being controlling Mummy I like all the elements in just the right place. Stickers Kai's used to but gluing is still something relatively new to us at home.

Over the last few days we've been crafty, after Kai wakes from his nap and before Alana stirs we've been busy.

First of all we made a foam reindeer from Hobbycraft. It came in a small pack to make about 6 although Kai's interest wains after 1. He loves the googley eyes like his new fav programme on the BBC in the afternoon Ooglies.

However the draw back to this kit, was that there was nothing to stick them on. I suppose it's so you use you imagination where they go, but the drawback to this is you need to spend more money on the cards, or foam shape you mount it on.

Yesterday we worked on a calendar kit provided by @NEDayCrafts / http://www.nedaycrafts.co.uk/ who I met on twitter.

I cut out all the pieces, and I was very impressed that there was a glue brush and a little plastic bag of pva glue included. Now with hindsight, this should have been when I said over to you Kai, but controlling Mummy lay it out as per the pic for him to see and then handed him each piece in turn, showing him where to put it. He enjoyed himself, I got a very pretty calendar and now I feel guilty for stifling his creativity. Never mind he can always be crafty tomorrow.

When asked which bit he liked best: "I like the sun and all of it". I asked him which kit he preferred doing and he said "the calendar" so perhaps I am being too hard on myself, he still enjoyed himself, and got to spend quality time with Mummy, so it's all good.

What's "UP" at the cinema.

2009-10-12T16:22:00.008+01:00

A few months ago Kai and I went to the cinema to see "Ice Age 3" he loved it and considering he's only 3yrs old way remarkably well behaved. So as a treat for him doing so well with his toilet training the last few weeks, I thought we'd go back and see Disney Pixars new film "Up".

Ok perhaps I should have moved when the ads came on and the music was loud enough for Kai to put his hands up to cover his ears and said he wanted to go home before the adverts had even finished.

Before the film started there was a short animated film "Partly Cloudy", which was funny, and Kai even started to relax and enjoy himself. I should have given up while the going was good.

Then came the film itself began. The first few minutes are all about how the main man, Mr Fredrikson met his wife and about their life together. Unfortunately at the end of this section she dies, and me being the soppy thing I am, was sitting there bawling my eyes out. I knew she had to die (ok it's the natural order of things, but) it's also the point of the film, she dies and he goes on the big adventure they'd always planned. So there's me bawling and Kai wearing just the hood of his jacket to try muffling the loud music from the film.

The film progresses and main characters befriend a big bird that looks like a big peacock crossed with a dodo. The baddies capture the bird in a net and take it away with them. Well poor Kai got really upset and started crying / screaming because they caught the bird. I gave him big hugs, whispered reassuringly, not to worry they'd rescue the bird, all the time he's screaming as though I was killing him. In the end I went for the tried and tested method that Mum's have used to stop crying for years, BRIBERY. I offered him a little bit of my coke if he stopped crying, this worked, for a while at least....

In true Disney fashion, the good guys rescue the bird, and all live happily ever after but Kai started to cry / scream again and this time continued while I got his coat on, we left the screen and even leaving the cinema. One of the poor guys who came in to clean the screen said "It wasn't that bad was it?". When I eventually got him calmed down he said he was crying because "they left the bird behind" with its family, and then "because the film ended". Poor little dude got close to starting again everytime we mentioned the film for the rest of the day.

I went to the cinema expecting lots of laughs, and although the film was good, I wouldn't say it's a kids film or for soppy people like me (at least not in public).

Remote Spirit Release~Things That Go Bump in the Night

2009-09-22T13:46:00.003+01:00

Having been brought up with a Mum who was spiritualist from around my early teens, I am not unaccustomed to stories of Ghosts or Spirits. I have sat in development circles to develop my own abilities, but I still struggle when it happens on my home ground. Since my eldest was a few weeks old, I’ve been fortunate enough that he has always slept through the night. We always know that there is something the matter if he wakes. In the past he has proven to be sensitive to spirits by being unable to settle in a room that on closer inspection had a spirit entity in that wasn't best pleased to have been discovered. We know that this is what made Kai unable to settle because once the presence had been moved on, Kai went straight to bed without problem and slept through. Every now and again we have weird things happen, or a series of nights when Kai wakes during the night. We've had the microwave turn itself on, lights flashing while we're sitting watching the TV and toys turning themselves on. Enough about the past, the recent events are what I mean to talk about. Last week after warming Alanas’ breakfast milk in the microwave, I went into the lounge to give it to her. I heard the microwave turn itself on in the kitchen, Kai was in the room with me and no-one else was in the house. As I said earlier, we have had this happen before, over a period of a few days the microwave would turn itself on, with no-one in the kitchen or the timer would change with you standing beside it. It hasn't happened though for a good few months. So back to the recent events, I went into the kitchen and opened the door, knowing it couldn't turn itself on, if the door was open. So on my way back in the lounge, I hear the timer increasing as though someone was upping it. We were in a rush to get breakfast eaten ready to go to dance class, so I just unplugged the microwave and left it. In the evening I spoke to my Mum who does Remote Spirit Release and has in the past helped to clear my house of its extra visitors. As she was heading out, she said she would scan the house and get back to me. Remote Spirit Release is helping earth bound spirits, who for whatever reason have failed to pass over. There are a number of programmes on the telly like “Ghost Whisperer” and “Medium” or “Living with the Dead” that show the Medium helping the spirits to cross over by actually being there. Remote spirit release works in the same way, however there is no actual requirement for the medium to be present, they can link into the energy of a building, location or person from anywhere in the world, for more information please check out Elen’s site. That night, I tried in a quiet moment just before bed to visualise my house and see if there was "anybody there", as I was trying to move through the downstairs of my house in my minds eye I saw a series of cartoon scary faces, this to me meant I was either very imaginative (I can be when the need arises) or there was someone or more likely a number of people around. So I decided to leave it to Mum. For a second night in a row Kai woke and came downstairs only an hour after going down. Kai was becoming more and more challenging in his behaviour and the way he spoke to me each day, not his normal self. The worst night we had before it was sorted, Alana could be heard before we went to bed, she'd cry out once, then go back to sleep calling out again a few minutes later. Mark, who rarely remembers his dreams enough to tell me about them, dreamt he'd driven the car off the road into a field then crashed it. I had an ongoing waking dream that was a cross between my art software I’d been using and a game. A new layer in the artwork I was working on kept appearing called ghost (amazing the subtleness of the human subconscious huh.) I got so worked up by this waking dream that when I woke needing to spend a penny I didn’t want to go out in the hall. Kai woke before 5am, got taken back to his room by Daddy, (who says there aren't benefits to not being the favourite parent). He returned within 30mins claiming to want his potty but not wanting actually go on it. Daddy then gave up put Kai in bed with me and went to sleep downstairs. Kai kept trying to talk to me about going down to see his Dad, while I kept trying to get him to go back to sleep. He did at around 6:50 and then the alarm went off at 7am as we had plans for the day. So a very tired, disturbed bunch of people got up for the day. We went out for a while and had a late lunch when we returned about 2pm. Mark made himself a microwave burger and didn’t unplug it. True to form the microwave turned itself on again. I spoke to my Mum and she said she'd been through the house; there had been a number of entities there. One spirit had been reluctant to leave, but she felt she'd managed to help a lot of spirits pass over (head into to the light). I asked when she'd worked on the house and she said during the morning so I told her about the microwave. She told me about the spirit who'd been reluctant to leave and that it has been quite draining on her, but when she felt better she would try the house again. A few hours later I got a call back, saying she'd cleared the house again, there had been a ghost, who'd been so reluctant to leave, and a couple who he'd been intimidating into not crossing over too. I plugged in the microwave and since that last call not once has it turned itself on again of it’s own accord. Since then we've all slept better, no electrical disturbances, Kai's behaviour has settled down a bit and almost back to his normal self. To the sceptics out there they could say it was a fault with the microwave (that suddenly happened to correct itself once a scan and clearing had been carried out). The dreams were because we’d been talking about “ghosts” in the house. I know that individually these things don’t seem to indicate a problem or a ghost in the traditional sense, but to me I know how they tend to try and attract my attention. So if you’re experiencing anything a little unusual, that you can’t find a “rational” explanation for, be open to investigating the possibility of a supernatural cause. The presence of a ghost / entity may be identified by certain symptoms: • Change in a person’s behaviour or mood • Thoughts that don’t feel like your own. • Unusual smells in a room • Sudden change in temperature/atmosphere in a room • The feeling of being watched • Child or animal’s dislike of a certain room • Disturbed sleep, waking up feeling tired • Light bulbs blow frequently, lights flashing on and off, or electrical equipment malfunctions • Objects that move on their own or go missing, or go bump in the night. I know what I believe in and it works for me and my family. If you don’t believe in ghosts and an afterlife then you can ignore this blog and have a good laugh at my expense, but if you are experiencing similar things or just want to talk about your beliefs, feel free to contact me or even better speak to an expert. So “who you gonna call??? Ghostbusters!”

A morning in A & E

2009-09-12T14:16:00.004+01:00

Well it's not quite been the morning I planned. We were going to the Safari park but I guess little Alana had plans of her own.
It all started on Thursday night, when Alana started to sound a little hoarse and got a barking cough. She seemed OK in herself and slept well as usual through the night. Then on Friday although still a little croaky, she was OK. We went off to our normal Jo Jingles class and it was then I realised she had developed a temperature. The temp settled with Calpol, but during the afternoon her breathing got noisier, although she still well in herself. She was eating and drinking normally, just breathing noisily.

This morning Kai snuck into our room early, and between telling him to lay down and go back to sleep and trying to listen out for Alana, she decided to wake early too, but now she seemed to be struggling to catch her breath. We decided it was best to get her checked out. Mark tried to contact our GP to get the out of office number, but even though it should have been an answer machine at that time in the morning it just kept giving him the engaged tone. He even drove round to the surgery just to see the sign giving the same number.

In the mean time I had run the bath and was in the bathroom with Kai and Alana. Trying to explain to a three year old why he needed to play on the floor and not get in the bath, all the time trying to get Alana near to the steam but not in the position where if she suddenly threw herself around, she would touch the hot water.
Mark came back and we decided to just take her up to A&E, quickly throwing drinks and breakfast on move food for the kids into the change bag. We are lucky that we only live around the corner, so it didn't take us long.
I got us registered and got told to wait in the children's waiting area. After being triaged and made to feel silly by my little madam her oxygen saturation level was 100%, but she was still breathing noisily.The Dr eventually got to us (a couple of more urgent cases had come through the door first), he examined her in the waiting room, and the two cubicles were in use. He then walked off, no explanation, or anything.
The nurse appeared a short time later with some steroid in s syringe and a nebuliser. Now for those that don't know I was a children's nurse until about 7yrs ago, which at that moment in time felt a lifetime away. The nurse assumed I understood what was going on and what I was doing. The nebuliser helped ease her noise a bit and made my little girl suddenly very energetic, she was ready to go playing back in the waiting room.
We sat around a little longer, until the Dr came back, asked after her and decided she could go home. Now going by the fact it's Sept I presume that the Dr was from the latest intake of Dr's (SHO's). So I hope for the sake of his future parents he learns to explain what is going on, or at least knows to get the nurses more involved in his care.
I'm fortunate enough to have my medical experience, so I know they were treating Alana for croup, but if it had been anybody else???

So the lesson for today is when dealing with a client, another Mummy or anyone, explain everything, never assume and although it's useful to know someone’s background and past experience, it is the experience of the now that is most important. Do they understand what is going on, don't assume...

We are now home, had lunch and a nice quiet three hour nap, she looks so much brighter and happier, still a little noisy, but not as much as before. She got to take another dose of steroids tonight and hopefully that'll help settle her.

Kai, did get to see his animals as Mark took him to the safari park this afternoon anyway. But because of the sudden burst of summer, we're currently experiencing so did a lot of other people. Which meant they were stuck in the car for quite a lot of the afternoon, oopps at least he's now having his turn on the rides he loves so much.

Dressing up.

2009-08-19T13:54:00.007+01:00

In the spirit of not trying to be to Stereo-typical with my children (OK so I was dying to get Alana her first dolly/baby) Kai has recently talked a lot about wanting to be a princess to wear the big dress. At first I just giggled with him. But the conversation has cropped up a few times now, so decided to go along with it as much as possible. The other day he heard the story Goldilocks and then we decided to act it out. which went down really well.

We repeated the process with him, being Goldilocks, and the narrator and he loved it. Amazing what a bit of material and a headband can achieve. However while browsing through eBay I found someone selling lots of dressing up dresses for 1-3yr olds, which I thought Alana might like at some point for trick or treating etc.
Well today they arrived, Alana being only 13months old, was more interested in exploring the lounge, now she has discovered how to crawl forwards. Kai however wanted to try on the ring, bangle hair clip and wand, to start with...
Then the skirt that looked like Peppa Pigs tutu was put on. Finally he wanted to try on one of the dresses to. He just looks so cute as a fairy couldn't really say no. Some people might think is this a sign of things to come cross-dressing, or homosexuality when he's bigger, but I believe that if I told him it was wrong or bad for him to dress up in dresses this might cause more problems than actually let him try things out. To be honest with a Dad who loves musicals and has seen Starlightexpress about 20+ times and a Mum who has been on stage, loves going to the theatre, and who helps with a local youth theatre group. I have a feeling the Goldilocks won't be Kai's last

show.

First climbing accident.

2009-08-16T20:56:00.012+01:00

Today we were all set to go out for the day. Daddy asked Kai to get his socks, which had been left in our room. He went upstairs and next thing there is repeated loud bangs and screaming from Kai. We both ran upstairs and we found Kai with the chest of drawers falling on the back of his leg. Daddy grabbed the chest of drawers but I had to squeeze past them and stand it all back upright. Kai understandably was very upset but was surprisingly easy to calm. He was guarding his leg and not standing on it. We went downstairs and he sat on the sofa with his Daddy. I rang Grandma and she carried out a remote scanning of his leg identifying the area where the largest bruising on his leg came out. We both gave him some healing. He was happy to just sit, so we thought we'd give him the benefit and see how he went.

As far as we can tell he pulled out the bottom drawer to stand on to reach his socks in the top drawer. He is normally so good getting his chair to reach higher, he just thought this way might be quicker, I guess. Well he won't be doing it again for a long while as you can imagine.

After lunch he was walking on it, (all be it with his heal raised), but he was still guarding it. In the evening we went out for Chinese and he walked flat footed back to the car while he was distracted with lollipop and his own reflection in the window, he would only start limping again in between windows .

Alana ever the lady was happy to go with the flow showing off her pretty dress, we even managed 10secs or so with the hat on.

Alana has had her 4 central teeth for so long it looked like that was all she was getting. Well at the moment she has at least three more if not five, which have all broken through the gum together in the last week.
What an eventful yet quiet day, wonder what tomorrow will bring.

Coughs, Birthdays and Tidying.

2009-07-26T21:12:00.001+01:00

Well the theme in our house for the last week has been coughs. Kai and Mark have both had bad coughs. Having been to the Dr's they we both given inhalers to counteract the bronco-spasm Post infection. Basically they had a cold / flu or something and now their chests keeps going into spasm making the both cough. I was unsure how Kai would react to the spacer, but he thinks it great. He likes to blow to make it move, He then wants to give Daddy his via the spacer too.
Alana had her first birthday this week too. It was very much a quiet affair compared to Kai's first. We went to go to the indoor play centre but Kai became unwell coughing and we had to leave. She enjoyed looking at her presents, and ripping the paper a skill she practices whenever she gets hold of anything she shouldn't have.
This weekend has been about getting the house ready for the publicity photos for when it goes on the market hopefully next week. Wow didn't realise just how much stuff was sitting around waiting to be binned, recycled or to go to the car-boot sale. I even tried to get Kai involved by getting him to pick which of his soft toys would say and which would go. One teddy's head came off as I picked him, that one went straight in the bin.
Well I can get one more area tidies before bed if I get on with it now. So off to bed.

Days out with an Ostrich and "the Sword in the Stone"

2009-07-10T22:48:00.001+01:00

Yesterday I drove us down to Langwathby in Cumbria to Eden Ostrich Farm. Having been shown their website, we were rather excited about what to expect. The arrival was a little strange; in the middle of a village. Thank goodness for Sat Nav for these poor city slickers. We drove through some lovely country and windy roads to get there but would never have found it without it.
Having paid to go in, we went out into Ostrich world. To me it was a little strange, it was a "normal farm" to some degree with some goats, sheep, calf's, piglets. Also some chipmunks and guinea pigs and rabbits. But they also have a cross between a pony and zebra "Pozee" which was very sweet, and of course the Ostrich's which watch you from their paddock at the back of the farm. There is also a selection of play areas indoor and outdoors, which of course Kai loved exploring. Although we did have a have a small scare when he claimed he couldn't climb out of the indoor area where there was no hope of us getting to him. But he stayed calm and managed it "all by himself" much to his own pleasure and our relief. There were plenty of spaces for picnicing but as we'd not taken any lunches, we ate there which was lovely.

Kai loved trying to ride bikes, mini jcb diggers etc. and of course seeing the animals. He even managed to hold out his hand for a goat to nibble some food, rather than throwing it at them like he normally does.

Today we went out into Carlisle City centre and to Tullie House. The last time I went there Kai was probably about the age Alana is now. After sitting through lunch and even managing to get Kai to eat some of an egg mayonnaise roll, we then went in to explore. Arriving at the station / train area first of course was Kai's favourite. We then went off to explore the different areas. We managed to get Kai to try on some hats and coats, which made him, look so cute. We did a big rubbing all together showing Kai how to use the side of the crayon.
Kai also enjoyed trying to pull the sword out of the stone and his face lit up when he first pulled it out. Mum took loads of pictures trying out her new camera, mainly because Kai looked away just before the photo was taken. But out of all of them, this is the only one with an orb.

Well I think we all enjoyed our days out, although legs achy by the time we headed back to the car. I'm sure it won't be long before Alana is out of the buggy and terrorising her brother. We just hope that she gets over this aversion to animals, or that could be quite a challenge.

Hello and welcome

2009-07-08T22:39:00.000+01:00

This is my newest blog. I run one to support my web design Business, but this one is going to be much less business lead and just discuss my family, what we get up to. What I think and what I believe in. At the end of the day this site is about my truth.

I'm married to Mark and we live with our two amazing kids Kai (3) and Alana (nearly 1). We currently live in Worcester, UK but because of Mark's work it looks like we might be moving to Stafford, but we're still just watch this space about this.

I've got some things I want to cover but it'll take a me a little while to get to grips with the blog and what I want to do with it, so bare with me, while I experiment and things will settle down.

It does seem nice to have somewhere to put all these thoughts that randomly float around, lets see if I can organise them in future.