Rollercoaster Mum

Feb 29th.net - The World's Biggest Blog Project

2012-02-29T11:47:00.000Z

I found out about Feb29th.net on the BBC news show 'Click' a few days ago and I rather wish I had found out about it earlier as I would love to have persuaded my oldest daughter's school to take part. It is not just for schoolchildren, although the project was started by a headteacher of a primary school from Bolton in North Yorkshire who discovered that blogging improved his pupils writing scores enormously when he introduced the idea of blogging to them. You can read more about this here.

The idea of Feb29th.net is to record one special day across the globe with the site open from when the first country's times zone enters Feb 29th to when the last one leaves it and it becomes ordinary old March 1st across the world. If you would like to join in simply write a blog post - long or short and load it into their form on Feb29th.net.

So on to my post. What am I going to write? Well I wasn't too sure at first and then I thought about what was special to me this year - the answer is that I have had a big landmark birthday this year as anyone who reads my blog will already know (I know I'm banging on about it again!). This got me thinking and I decided that I would write about 29 things that I should do this year (easier than *ahem* 21!). Some of these things I know I am definitely going to do - others may be harder, although I have tried to be realistic (it's not a bucket list!). Here goes - 29 things to do this year - before Feb 28th 2013.

1/ Get a job or start a business
2/ Go on a cruise
3/ Get an allotment
4/ Make some money out of my blog!
5/ Go to Britmums or Cybher or Blogcamp
6/ Stay in a yurt
7/ Sort out my wardrobe
8/ Read at least 12 books (I used to read loads but have got out of the habit)
9/ Make some real craft (as opposed to just the kids stuff!)
10/ Cycle around the local ranges with my eldest daughter
11/ Go to an exercise class regularly
12/ Have a big party for all the neighbours
13/ Go to a summer festival with the kids
14/ Learn a new skill or sport
15/ Decorate youngest daughter's bedroom
16/ Do Race for Life (quicker than last year)
17/ Have a weekend away with my husband
18/ Go to an Olympic event
19/ Get my eldest daughter to write a blog post
20/ Sort out our garden and make it pretty again!
21/ Find a family activity we can all do together regularly
22/ Have a reunion with some of my old school friends
23/ Sell some stuff on Ebay
24/ Complete another section of the South Downs Way
25/ Take my youngest daughter on a bus
26/ Sell at a car boot sale
27/ Put up some more nest boxes for the wild birds
28/ Get my (21 year old's!) check up at the doctors
29/ In summary - declutter, get organised, get fitter and spend more time with the family!

That was harder than I thought! I'll let you know how I get on on my blog Rollercoaster Mum. In the meantime what things would you like to do this year?

Listography - Top 5 things that make me happy

2012-02-27T13:47:00.002Z

After joining in with Kate Takes 5 Happiness Project which was all about finding out what makes your kids happy I really wanted to join in with this Listography. What are the 5 things that make ME happy? It was surprisingly easy - so here they are:

1/ Sunshine
I think like most people I just feel naturally happier when the sun is shining, it doesn't matter if it's bright, cold winter sunshine or hot, sultry midsummer sunshine it never fails to lift my spirits and make me feel happier.

2/ Spring Flowers
I like other flowers too but there's nothing quite like spring flowers peeping through the ground when the branches on the trees are still bare to bring hope and a smile to my face. My absolute favourite are daffodils which I just love - they are so happy and I never fail to have some in the house throughout the daffodil season.

3/ Planning a holiday
I LOVE planning holidays. In some ways this is the best bit. It probably harks back to when I worked in travel and planned other peoples as well as my own (and we had many more opportunities to travel too!). It doesn't really matter though whether it's the Isle of Wight, France or Sri Lanka, I love the whole research into what we can do, what the weather's going to be like, where we should stay and of course, crucially, if you have a holiday booked you have something to look forward to!

4/ A clean(ish) and tidy kitchen!
This is a bit of an odd one really as I detest cleaning and housework with a passion but if I go to bed with the kitchen dirty and untidy (washing up piled up etc - you get the picture!) it is sooo depressing the next morning. Go to bed leaving it clean and tidy and it's lovely to come down to the next morning. Even in the middle of the day (usually on a weekend after OH has been cooking - very lovely of him but he does make a bit of a mess!) it's just depressing looking at it untidy. The rest of the house bothers me less somehow and I imagine some people would think my 'clean and tidy' kitchen wasn't that clean and tidy but it's all personal - right?

5/ Cuddles from my girls (and OH!)
I do like a good cuddle, and coincidentally this is also one of the things that Little Miss Star listed as making her happy. I'm not big into cuddling people I don't know though so it really only counts if it's from my girls or OH. The best cuddles are when it's a big family cuddle and everyone is happy - they're not so good if it's a 'sorry I shouldn't have done that' cuddle or one of them's cuddling and the other one is shouting so has to be a happy, peaceful cuddle!

So there you go - my top 5 things that make me happy. What makes you happy - I'd love to know!

For lots more happy thoughts head over to the lovely Kate Takes 5.

A Happy Sunshiney Spring Daffodil!

Silent Sunday

2012-02-26T00:30:00.000Z

Saturday is Caption Day!

2012-02-25T00:30:00.000Z

What would I do without Little Miss Sunshine on #SatCap? What is she up to this week?

For more #SatCap fun head over to Mammasaurus

Spring is on it's way! - 52 Photo Project - Week 8

2012-02-24T06:00:00.000Z

I've been rather busy this week working on the 'jobhunt' - all to no avail so far but that's another story. What with this and half term being over I haven't taken as many photos as usual but I did get out yesterday to take a few photos of the crocuses (or should it be crocii) in our garden. Since it seems that spring is just around the corner - or it felt like it yesterday I thought a picture of a spring flower was ideal.

CubbyKit - What a brilliant idea!

2012-02-23T13:15:00.000Z

Some of you in the blogosphere may have heard recently of a brilliant new company called CubbyKit. It's one of those ideas when you think doh - why didn't I think of that. Well actually for me it's fairly obvious as I have two craft mad girls and I am totally rubbish at thinking up ideas for them. CubbyKit solves this problem - you sign up for a monthly box and they send you a themed kit with a picture guide and all the crafty stuff stuff you need to make things to go with that theme. Oh and it's not just for girls they do themes like Outer Space and the Great Outdoors that appeal to both sexes and are also brilliantly educational.

We've been picked to test out a box and apparently it's on it's way and I'm ridiculously excited about it - there's nothing like getting a parcel is there? I will let you all know how we get on when we get it - mean while here is what CubbyKit have to say about their brilliant boxes:

Ifeither a lack of inspiration or a lack of pva paint, glue and glitter preventyou from doing arts and crafts with your little ones, CubbyKit is here for you. All boxed up and with free delivery, the hardwork has been done for you, so that you can get straight on with the businessof creating fun projects with your child. CubbyKit themes have been carefully selected and our activities aretried and tested.

Sohow does CubbyKit work?

Joinup at www.cubbykit.com by selecting which age range you’d like. CubbyKits come in two age groups: 3-4 yearsand 5-6 years. Every month your CubbyKitarrives at your house addressed to your child and contains 3 separateactivities with all the materials you need. Everything is measured especially for your kit, saving you time andreducing waste. Our themed pictureguides enable you to produce creations you and your child will feel proud ofand play with for hours. We includeextra crafts bits and bobs and plenty of ideas.

Drawingon memories of fun from their own childhoods the creators of CubbyKit havedesigned Kits with a different theme every month: it might be Outer Space, theOlympics, Kings and Queens or the Great Outdoors. All ideas are inspired byprojects children will revisit when they start school. So you’ll be giving them an introduction tothose ideas whilst enjoying easy, hands-on fun together. You can be assured that before CubbyKits aresent out, they have been reviewed by advisors and tested by childrenthemselves.

Lisa,mum of two and CubbyKit creator says she believes that the educational aspectof CubbyKit is what makes it so exciting. “Each CubbyKit encourages children to immerse themselves in somethingnew which will complement what they learn in school. Whether they are exploring the wonders ofOuter Space or playing traditional (but home made) instruments from around theworld, they’re using their own imaginations to get there”.

At£19.99 a month or £199 for 12 months (a saving of £39.89 or 2 months free),CubbyKit is great value.

Tomeet the creators of CubbyKit, see inside a sample Kit and to subscribe today,visit www.cubbykit.com or email cubby@cubbykit.com formore information.

and here's a little video they made to tell you all about it :

If you want to find out more click the cute bear button here:

The Happiness Project - What makes you happy?

2012-02-21T00:29:00.024Z

As soon as I read about this on the wonderful Kate Takes 5 (she of the mugs fame!!) I wanted to join in. I loved the idea of getting my girls to tell me what made them happy and I set out all enthusiastic at the beginning of half term.

So what happened ? Well we've not had the best of half terms - fairly miserable to be honest and certainly not very conducive to happy. Nothing bad has happened it's just been one of those weeks where my eldest daughter in particular has stropped, tantrumed and on occasion lied. In fact if these were Olympic Sports she would be getting a medal. Such a shame after her wonderful ending to the term when we were so proud of her for doing well at school, swimming and rugby. If anyone has any top tips for improving the behaviour of a nearly 7yo girl it would be appreciated!

However I digress, I did manage to ask them what made them happy and I loved Kate's idea of the pictures so I did it too. Even this created issues - eldest said 'cuddling' which was lovely but threw an enormous wobbly because she couldn't draw cuddles and whatever I suggested was wrong. Eventually with the help of her younger sister we persuaded her that taking a photo of them cuddling could be used for her list - phew! So here they are - here's to the happiness quotient improving in our household now that half term is over!

Little Miss Sunshine :

Being with Mummy and Daddy and her sister
Birthdays (she's big on all things birthday!)

Little Miss Star:

sunshine
having cuddles
having kisses
flowers
cake
birthdays
playing
when other people are happy

As you can see once she got going she really ran with it! My favourite is when other people are happy. I think maybe I should take some clues from these too - maybe if she had more cuddles and kisses and we as a family were all a bit happier she might be a happier little girl. (However any tips and hints still appreciated!)

I see now that Kate has extended this little project and her Listography this week is all about what makes us Mums and Dads happy so I will be having a go at that in the next day or so (too late now and I need my bed!)

Here's to lots more happiness - what makes you and yours happy?

PS - this is my first Blog Hop!

Silent Sunday

2012-02-19T00:39:00.002Z

Birthday Cake - 52 Photo Project - Week 7

2012-02-18T01:54:00.000Z

It's all birthdays in our house at the moment - this week it is the OH's turn to turn 21 again (he catches me up at last- haha!). Of course with children in the house no birthday is complete without cake and after last week's disaster I thought I should show you that I can make a cake that looks reasonably OK. So here it is - I have made fancier cakes but it was very chocolatey - yum yum!

If you would like to see more of my little Photo Project take a peep here.

And if you'd like to see more photos from fellow 52ers or the brave 366ers click the badge below:

Saturday is Caption Day!

2012-02-18T01:08:00.002Z

We were out having lunch for Daddy's birthday and Little Miss Sunshine once again provides the inspiration ...

For more #SatCap fun head over to Mammasaurus.

Snap Slappers Love Edition - Valentines Toast

2012-02-14T13:19:00.002Z

Now I'm not really one for Valentines Day and now I'm doing two posts about it in one day. This one is thanks to Fivegoblogging's Snap Slappers theme this week and that my OH was actually quite romantic this morning. I got a lovely card and came downstairs to find my toast had been made - here it is - thanks to photobucket.

and here is the original photo. Thank you OH - love you xxx

You can take a squiz at some more pimped up photos over at Snap Slappers:

Something I Love

2012-02-14T01:13:00.002Z

To celebrate Valentines Day (not something I really believe in much to be honest) the lovely people at Albelli and Love All Blogs have launched a photo competition to win a print up to the value of £100. Now I love a good comp and I liked the subject 'Something I love' (despite being a Valentines cynic).

The question was what should I have a picture of? My husband - no go as he remains anonymous, my kids - too obvious for me, flowers/cake - well I like these but I don't truly love them. Then it came to me - my home. I love travelling and seeing new places but I also love coming home - the familiar smells, the comfy bed, proper mugs of coffee and just having my things about me. I have always loved my home and I still love the house that my parents live in and where I was brought up but now this is my home where I have my little family - a place to retreat to, to love, laugh, cry and feel safe in. It's not as big as I would like, it's certainly not as tidy and it's not in the perfect spot but it is ours (well the mortgage is anyway!).

So here it is I am sharing an image of something I love with Love All Blogs and Albelli - my home.

There is still a little time to enter as the competition finishes at midday today - Tuesday 14th Feb. As a bonus Albelli are offering every entry a free photobook worth £15.95 so it's worth a try!

Snap Slappers Snow Edition - A Snow Penguin

2012-02-12T01:04:00.002Z

Ever since I found Picnik I've wanted to join in with the Five go Blogging's Snap Slappers - a linky for those pimped up photos. I have now pimped a few photos but never got around to joining in and now of course Picnik is closing :( - so I had a go at photobucket for my snowy pics and this was the result. Photobucket has some good effects but is not as easy to use as Picnik so I may have to have a go at a few others.
Here is Little Miss Star's Snow Penguin - taadaa!

Saturday is Caption Day!

2012-02-11T01:16:00.000Z

Little Miss Sunshine was dressing up again this week in her usual unique style - can you think of a caption?

Our Little Star - 52 Photo Project - Week 6

2012-02-10T23:55:00.004Z

At one stage this picture was going to be snow (obviously) as even though it hasn't snowed as much here as some places we have been enjoying a bit of the white stuff but you can see some of my snow pictures on here already.

So what is it to be this week? Well apologies for the boasting to anyone who can't stand the 'my kids are so wonderful posts' but Little Miss Star really deserves this weeks post. She won the half term Star award (appropriately enough!) for Most Improved Person in her class at school, she has moved up a swimming group AND she got player of the week at tag rugby #proudmummy (for anyone knows twitter!) and besides you can all have a good laugh at possibly the worst looking cake I have ever made (but it still tasted quite yummy!)

If you would like to see more of my little Photo Project take a peep here.

And if you'd like to see more photos from fellow 52ers or the brave 366ers click the badge below:

Country Kids - snoooow!

2012-02-07T01:07:00.000Z

I can't believe I haven't found the Country Kids linky before. It is run by the lovely Fiona from Coombe Mill and it is a weekly linky promoting outdoor play. I could have submitted so many photos for this in the past but this week is an exceptionally good one to start after all the snow! Hopefully this will be the first of many.

We, like many others in the UK, waited with baited breath for the much forecast snow. Unlike quite a few we did get some but not nearly as much as if we had only lived a few miles further east. However we still managed to get out and enjoy it, Little Miss Star even managed to do her homework out in the snow - along with sledging, snow angels and making a snow penguin - real country kids!

Silent Sunday - snow!

2012-02-05T02:07:00.000Z

Around the World In 80 Words - Sri Lanka

2012-02-05T01:37:00.016Z

As an inveterate (although currently frustrated) traveller having heard about SAHDandproud's travel linky 'Around the World in 80 Words' I had to join in. This is my first attempt on Sri Lanka. Some of the eagle eyed may have realised I am rather fond of this place for reasons that I explained a few months ago in my post on happy memories. So here goes 80 words on Sri Lanka - bit more of a list than literary genius I'm afraid!

Teardrop island in Indian Ocean - chaotic, hot, steamy, spicy. Horrendous roads but beautiful beaches. Colourful buses, noisy tuk-tuks, snaking bumpy trains, enormous elephants. Cool misty mountains, spectacular views, orderly tea plantations. Colourful, friendly people, smiles, saris and white school uniforms. Hot curry and roti, curd and treacle, heavenly pineapples. The LOUDEST thunder, torrential rain and hot hot sunshine. Peacocks, monkeys, lizards and turtles. Buddhas, stupas, ancient sites, Getting married, riding an elephant and ten years later a family adventure.

the beach in Galle, Sri Lanka

Ladies that Lunch - 52 Photo Project - Week 5

2012-02-02T13:10:00.000Z

I know you are probably all more than aware/ fed up of my birthday by now but as it was a big year (21 again - ahem) my best friend from my schooldays and I decided to meet up for a posh girlie lunch. As we were at school together she is also celebrating 21 again and the lunch was also to make up for me being terribly slack and not being able to make her wonderful party. We live about 100 miles or so apart so we usually try to meet up about half way. Generally we have to find somewhere kid friendly but this time it was just us - what luxury!
We met for lunch at the Beckford Arms near Salisbury. Neither of us had been there before but it is a gorgeous pub (with rooms as well I believe) and we had a scrumptious lunch complete with a glass of bubbly on a cold, wintry, snowy day. The life of ladies that lunch!
Here was my food - pork belly with celeriac and spelt mash and other lovely goodies - it was seriously yummy and there was none left by the end!

If you would like to see more of my little Photo Project take a peep here.

And if you'd like to see more photos from fellow 52ers or the brave 366ers click the badge below:

The Gallery - Me Right Now

2012-02-01T11:05:00.001Z

Tara over at Sticky Fingers challenged us to take a picture of ourselves right now - right then - at the moment we read the prompt. Well I couldn't possibly show my face - it was 10am on a Saturday and I was still in my jimjams and had NO make up on so there is no way on earth you were ever going to see my face. So here you are - my wonderfully attractive Pyjama bottoms, mummy type fluffy slippers and the ubiquitous cup of coffee. And yes the TV is on - I think it was Mister Maker! To be fair this is quite often how I am dressed when blogging but it's usually late at night not in the morning so coffee is swapped for Chamonile Tea!
The photo is heavily edited (ahem Picnik addiction!) as it was a very bad photo in the first place due to me forgetting to turn off the mode it had been in the previous night when I was attempting photos of the night sky - oops!

Listography - Top 5 Biscuits

2012-01-28T01:47:00.000Z

I haven't done a Listography in a while as I have problems just managing to blog once a week with the 52 Photo Project so that's not too much of a surprise but when I saw it was about biscuits well I had to join in - late as usual though. Well not so much late as just making it by the skin of my rinny tin teeth - story of my life really - certainly happens nearly everyday on the school run.

Anyways I digress - back to biscuits:

1/ Chocolate Gingers
These have to be my absolute favourite - dark chocolate and ginger - heavenly combination!

2/ Boasters - or anything similar
Chunks of chocolate and nuts in yummy biscuits - mmmmmm!

3/Digestives
Yeah I know a bit boring but I do like a good digestive - plain or with plain chocolate. The plain ones just have that hint of saltiness as well as the sugar and they are fandabulous with blue cheese. (Plain ones do really need to be McVities blue/white doesn't cut it here!)

3/ Party Rings
I'm with Kate on this - although only my youngest child agrees - oldest won't touch them (weird child!). They are a childhood memory on a plate

4/ Chocolate Bourbons
Favourite every day biscuit that's always in the biscuit tin 'cause we all like them and they are cheap (well when you buy the blue and white ones they are anyway and they taste pretty much the same!)

So there you are my favourite biccies to have with my copious cups of coffee - what are yours?

Saturday is Caption Day!

2012-01-28T00:15:00.000Z

For once this is not the kids. It was taken on our recent weekend away to Greenwich and is probably the only pic you will ever see of OH!

Weekend Away - 52 Photo Project - Week 4

2012-01-27T01:07:00.004Z

I haven't taken so many photos this week - for one the weather has been shite and I have been trying (and mostly failing) to get my act together and get organised (New Years Resolution fail). No more excuses - Christmas is over, birthday is over - need to get off my arse and get on with it. Unfortunately this seems to have come coupled with a malaise of just not managing to get anything done - must do better next week. Did manage to contact Tax credits people and job centre today so have started - trouble is all that stuff is so depressing I just find myself putting it off again and again.

Anyway on a lighter note OH and I did manage a weekend away in celebration of our birthdays (his is next month). We ditched the girls with Grandma and disappeared to a rather lovely weekend in Greenwich - stayed at a great hotel - the Devonport House - you do get flasher ones but it was amazing value for money and a perfect location. We mooched around the market, had a bracing walk in Greenwich Park, saw a Guardian Ad being filmed (it involved people with pigs heads on - no really!), had meals out, read the paper and drank too much wine and whisky. I guess it's no wonder I feel a bit down this week - nothing to look forward to and shitloads to do. I would thoroughly recommend Greenwich and the Devonport House for a weekend away (with or without kids). Anyway the photo had to be from the weekend - so here it is - had to be Picniked too of course (can't believe this is closing and I've only just discovered it - grrr!)

If you would like to see more of my little Photo Project take a peep here.

And if you'd like to see more photos from fellow 52ers or the brave 366ers click the badge below:

The Gallery - Eyes

2012-01-20T12:42:00.000Z

I love joining in with the Gallery over at Sticky Fingers but was a bit slack towards the end of last year so I eagerly awaited the first theme of the New Year from Tara but I was to be disappointed as it was a photo taken on your 'phone. I don't have a fancy 'phone - mine does take pictures - just - but they are truly crap and I have no idea how to get them from 'phone to computer anyway so I couldn't join in :(

This week however I think the theme has been inspirational - I discovered all sorts about my little compact digital camera and had a good play with it as well as a good play on the Picnik site which I have been longing to do for ages so here are my photo's - both undoctored and doctored. Like a lot of people my children's eyes feature heavily - who doesn't like gazing into their children's eyes? I have also included a pic of one of our chicken's eyes as well as it made a fascinating project trying to take photos of a chicken's eyes - I had to pick her up and tuck her under my arm eventually and the photo was taken with one hand! (thank you for your patience Balti!) Oh and I was required to take pics of Teddy's eyes too!

So here you are - the photos Picniked first:

Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Star

Little Miss Sunshine and Teddy


Balti - our Speckeldy Chicken

And now for the undoctored photos:

Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Star

Little Miss Sunshine and Teddy

Balti the Chicken

Birthday - 52 Photo Project - Week 3

2012-01-20T12:11:00.001Z

With the beautiful frosty weather this week I once more took loads of photos and it was really hard to choose (again) but I ended up with this photo as although it is more ordinary than a lot of the photos I took I think it is probably the event that my girls will remember. It was my birthday this week and this of course means cake has to be involved when you have kids. OH had made some cupcakes as he wasn't brave enough to make a big one (bless!) but the cake had to be had without him as he was at work. We did have a great Thai takeaway later though and he did get me a really lush pressie so I'm not complaining!
By the way I warn you I will be doing a montage of beautiful frosty days next week - I have so many photos I want to show off and I have at last managed to have a play on Picnik (as you can see even this photo has been doctored slightly) so there's no stopping me now!!

If you would like to see more of my little Photo Project take a peep here.

Life's Ups and Downs

2012-01-14T03:01:00.000Z

As I said in my 52 Photo Project post it's been a funny old week with lots of ups and downs. Last weekend was mostly down in that it felt like we were back to being a sad family with everyone shouting but we did manage a wonderful winter walk and OH did fix the tiles in the kitchen that have been needing fixing since last March - yes March!!

On the upsides this week:

I accomplished loads on Monday on my first time alone in the house since Christmas - heaps of cleaning and tidying was done. Little Miss Star's bedroom finally looks clear again, I chucked loads of stuff out (there is loads more to do but it's a start) and she passed on some toys to her little sister. New Year's resolutions started!

Our poorly chicken is better and laying eggs with the best of them - we are now getting 4 eggs a day most days and now we don't know what to do with so many!! I managed to sell 3 half dozen yesterday - yay!

We finally got a new piece of furniture that OH had ordered. We have been looking for something to put a much longed for aquarium on for literally years - the aquarium will be OH's birthday pressie - it is big birthdays for both of us this year so he deserves it and he has wanted one ever since I met him over 12 years ago and there has always been a reason why not - he should finally get his wish at for... I mean 21!

I met up for a coffee with a good friend and had a good old natter and had another natter with another friend when her little girl came to play with Little Miss Sunshine. Always good to talk,

We've had some gorgeous sunny winter weather - and there is more to come according to the weatherman - love it like this cold and bright.

This all sounds good but the downsides have knocked me for 6 a bit.

The main one being Little Miss Sunshine's sleeping habits. She is 4yo and has always varied between a good to average sleeper but in the last few weeks has been waking more and more for absolutely no reason - not ill, not nightmares or night terrors - just lost teddy, lost blankie, sort my covers out or other random unnecessary requests. This culminated on Thursday night in her waking me about 10 times - consequently I have been knackered and bad tempered too say the least and so has she. This results in much shouting and general unhappiness for everybody in the house.

What with tiredness and busyness I have not done what I wanted to do in the continued clearing of the house and keeping up with the blog so it all went rather downhill from Monday.

I am also now completely unemployed again as the temporary packing job I was doing before Christmas kept us on for a bit but they have now given us notice - so back to the dole queue - really fucking depressing that one.

Anyway to end on an up note - Little Miss Sunshine decided she wanted to go to bed at 5.30pm tonight and touch wood seems OK and next Monday is my birthday and I am hopeful I am getting the pressie I want and I plan a fab weekend and a shopping trip all to myself - just me - only me on Monday - can't wait!!

Saturday is Caption Day!

2012-01-14T02:28:00.000Z

Got so many photos to use this week and thought this was perfect for a caption - it was actually taken this week- if you'd like to see more head on over to Mammasaurus.

I'd love to know what you think would be a caption for Little Miss Sunshine's dressing up antics...

Winter Walk - 52 Photo Project - Week 2

2012-01-14T01:29:00.001Z

Well it's been a bit of a funny old week really and I have taken lots of photos - so many I almost began wondering if I should join the 366ers until commonsense took hold again. However it has been hard to choose which photo to use for this post - inevitably you tend to take photos of the up stuff not the down stuff and right now as I am writing I still don't know which one I am going to choose!

Last weekend felt a bit like the family was slipping straight back into pre-Christmas ways - moany kids, angry husband etc but the girls and I (minus OH) did manage an 'expedition' across the ranges with their bikes. The ranges are often out of bounds as it is MOD land used for exercises and if the red flags are flying (which is most of the time) then you can only go round them and not across them. They are a fairly bleak but I think a beautiful and rather magical landscape with a certain Narnia or Tolkienesque character and the kids love them. It was a bright sunny, cold winters day with that wonderful winter light and it has to be one of these pictures this week.

So here it is - this is the one - the girls on their bikes on the ranges on a cold, bright winter's afternoon.

(I have a feeling you may get quite a few more photo posts later this week to use all those other photos!)

If you would like to see more of my little Photo Project take a peep here.

Twelfth Night - 52 Photo Project - Week 1

2012-01-06T00:33:00.000Z

Well it's twelfth night (6th Jan - although some people think it should be the 5th Jan but that's another story) and the Christmas decs must come down. I hate this moment each year as the house looks so bare afterwards and it signifies another year gone by in my children's lives. Next Christmas my baby will be a schoolgirl and that is just so scary.

Anyway on that last night, before I must put the decorations away, I like to turn out all the lights except for the fairy lights and just chill thoughtfully in front of the tree and this is what I'm looking at tonight. Farewell tree for another year - I'm sure you'll look even more sparkly and beautiful next Christmas. x.

This is my first post in the 52 Photo Project - a photo posted every week for a year. I have put up a special page for these on my blog so you can look at them all together if you want - you can find the page here. If you would like to see some of my fellow compatriots - many far more dedicated than me and doing the 366 Photo Project (a photo a day every day for a year - I kid you not!) the you can find the links here on the Love All Blogs 366 and 52 Photo Project Group.

Happy New Year - my (sort of) New Years Resolutions

2012-01-01T23:30:00.001Z

Now, I'm not normally one for New Years Resolutions. I don't think I have ever decided to go on a diet, start running or any other of those get healthy type of New Years Resolutions. I think I would like most people fail within the first couple of weeks so what the hell is the point? But stuff has happened in 2011 that made me think that I would have a couple of resolutions - whether I keep to them or not is entirely another matter of course.

So here goes - in no particular order as they say:

1/ Be nicer to my children and not shout at them so much - this will be a tough one but I'm hoping if I shout less they might shout less too! They can be little shits sometimes too (quite often actually) so much as I love them it can be hard to be nice sometimes but we have had a pretty good hols (apart from the first day which was HOR - REN - DUS, but time has dulled the memory already) so feeling warm and fuzzy about them.

2/ Sort my emails out - if I could get them down to less than 100 I would feel I had achieved something!

3/ Sort out the piles and piles of crap in our house - OK this one is soo likely to fail but it soo needs doing, our tiny house is getting tinier by the week - desperately need a clear out. I plan to do one room at a time - I'll start with the smallest - bathroom it is then! You never know I might even find enough stuff to do a car boot sale.

4/ Get a job - or start making money from this damn thing - just need a small income - please!!

5/ Get my blog a bit more 'sorted' - design wise and post wise - I found NaBloPoMo too much so will not be blogging everyday however it would be good to be a bit more organised and plan to do say twice a week. Do I need to be a bit more focused on subject matter and many other questions to be answered...

6/ Not blog, tweet, facebook too much and make time for my family - including my OH - who now knows about the blog (but seems v disinterested - phew!) - we did not have a good year and I think we have made progress in the last few weeks and I really really do want us to stay together as a family. If I'm being serious this is probably more important to me than anything else - so not so many stupidly late nights on the 'pooter', or twittering over tea. I need to concentrate on my family when they're around and leave all the rest (however fascinating you all are) to other times. Need to be more organised - again!

Well that turned into quite a list! All things I have wanted to do anyway - maybe writing them down will make them happen - I can but hope. I have also just noticed that they are mostly to do with being more organised - so that's it in 2012 I will be more organised! (maybe).

Happy New Year to you all!

Twas the Night Before Chickmas!

2011-12-24T08:00:00.000Z

I know I haven't blogged much this month - in fact I have barely been here but what with birthday preparations earlier in the month for Little Miss Sunshine, Christmas preparations, Christmas events and working every hour that I have been child free helping friends with an internet games business (they are just a tad busy at this time of the year) I just haven't found the time.

But now Christmas is nearly here - nearly all presents are wrapped and I'm reasonably ready here is a chicken related poem that was posted on facebook earlier this year by The Chicken Coop. It is just perfect for today and I love the original poem anyway so here you are - Merry Christmas everybody!

'Twas the Night Before Chick-mas

T'was the night before Christmas ... and all through the coop
Not a chicken was stirring, not even to .......
The feeders were hung by the nestbox with care
In hopes that St. Chickolas soon would be there

The henlets were nesting, all snug on their eggs
with visions of earthworms 'round all their legs.
The chicks under mama, the roos on the roost,
(They managed to get there without e'en a boost!)

When out in the pen there arose such a squawk!
Louder than even an owl or a hawk!
Away to the henhouse I flew like the quail,
With broom in hand as to protect some tail!

The moon on the breast of the new-laying hens
gave a shine on the eggshells to be shared among friends.
A basket on runners showed up in the night
pulled by eight pullets, a marvelous sight!

With a big rumpless rooster in that unlikely sleigh
Proclaiming his presence by just crowing away!
As quickly as cockerels who've just spied a worm,
He chuckled and cackled and called names in turn ...

"Now Henny! now Penny, Now Fluffer and Puff!
On Brownie! on Sweepy! on Buckbuck and Duff!
To the top of the coop! To the top of the netting!
None faster than you, on that I am betting!"

As feathers that fly in the wintery breeze,
Aloft they did go, landing with ease!
Up to the coop-top, the cluckers they flew,
with baskets of chick-treats, and St. Chickolas too!

Then, with an inkling of how they would go
I heard pecking, and scratching from each little toe.
As I held up the broom to click open the lock,
in through the chick-door he came with a "BAWK."

He was adorned like a Silkie, from his top to his tail,
The comb on his head left no doubt he was male!
A bag full of scratch he held in his beak,
Which he shared with the girls when they ventured to peek!

His cape how it glittered, his head held so merry!
His tail shone like snow, how proud it did carry!
His wattles hung down like a beard bright and red,
and his comb stood up straight from the top of his head!

The wisp of some hay he held tight in his beak,
and it waved in the air when his head gave a tweak!
He had a broad chest, and a round little crop,
Which he filled all the way till one thought it might pop!

He was proud and high steppin', a fabulous roo!
Clearly he'd never end up in a stew!
A dance to the side and the drop of a wing,
had hens a'swoonin', the cocky old thing!

He plucked not a feather from the sleeping hens,
just sprinkled some scratch as if making amends.
He cooed to them all, to assure all was well,
The message he left, not a human could tell

He leapt into his basket-sleigh, to his pullets he clucked!
And up they did flap, as their load had been chucked.
But his head he did raise, crowing bright as a match

"MERRY CHICK-MAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD HATCH!"

Silent Sunday

2011-12-11T00:50:00.001Z