The 3 p's for getting ready for a holiday.
We are only going camping, but there are so many things to remember, and of course, not just for me only....the two little people and the other big 1.
I have had fun making lists, and going through all the essentials, and then buying things on a whim cos they look good. Typical...
The tent is a sunncamp prism which we partially erected in the garden, so I am quite happy with it. Provided it does not rain whilst putting it up, or the kids don't try and tamper with it. Campsites need to provide a holding area for kids whilst parents are putting up tents, you can't expect 2 under 4's to HELP. I know Derbyshire is only just over 2 hours away, not as far as I was thinking. People keep asking me is it near the lakes, I think not, in fact I do not know what is there!
Hire car arrives tonight and I am keeping everything crossed they accept my drivers licence that has the wrong name, and wrong address on it. Deep breath. Otherwise there is no way of getting there. Walking/Public transport is not an option. The ka is too small to transport all the stuff we need to travel with.
I just hope when I get there I can relax properly and start to enjoy myself.
I am trying to think positively about everything.
Positive thoughts, I will go and finish packing now.
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Giving, Making and Creating.
Yesterday I tried my hand at making some money at a nearly new clothes sale over in Binfield. What a waste of time that was! It was fun doing it with my friend, but really hardly anyone turned up. So glad I did not pay to do that.
Today had GX Church picnic, nice to see old faces and meet the new minister. Long haired with guitar rather hippy like but cheerful enough. He looks quite radical, but sounds like what the church needs.
In the week I gave a bit of stuff away on Freecycle, I felt so good doing it seeing the joy on the peoples faces. That was satisfying.
I experienced Parchment in the craft class which was quite challenging as sitting down for 2 hours and concentrating on something rarely happens. Also drawing is something I have not done since school. After 2 hours it is still work in progress!!!!!!
Friday there was a fancy dress party (Noahs Ark theme) at the playgroup, so I decided to take V out of nursery and send her and S to it with "I" as it was his day off and I thought it would be great bonding time. I made my children into bees. V wore an old outfit of mine, a black and yellow chiffon skirt with ruffles, and halter neck top. I managed to borrow a roll of hazard tape from the local charity shop and cut out black bits to stick onto the skirt to create the bees stripes. S wore black trousers, and the yellow bits formed stripes on that, and the black membrane from the garden was his top and I transformed that also.
I really enjoy projects like this.
Whilst the kids were busy with Daddy I was at an ASD meeting learning how to make a visual timetable, so created one of those also. It was definitely worth my while going.
I tried my hand at making some money through advertising the pushchair and highchair but no joy as yet. My friend and I have decided to do a couple of car boots this year to try and get rid of these things. I guess people don't have a great deal of money at the mo so getting shot of stuff quickly is hard unless you give it all away.
I am enjoying my creativity this week, but am conscious that I want to start making money seeing as last week I made a small amount.
Today had GX Church picnic, nice to see old faces and meet the new minister. Long haired with guitar rather hippy like but cheerful enough. He looks quite radical, but sounds like what the church needs.
In the week I gave a bit of stuff away on Freecycle, I felt so good doing it seeing the joy on the peoples faces. That was satisfying.
I experienced Parchment in the craft class which was quite challenging as sitting down for 2 hours and concentrating on something rarely happens. Also drawing is something I have not done since school. After 2 hours it is still work in progress!!!!!!
Friday there was a fancy dress party (Noahs Ark theme) at the playgroup, so I decided to take V out of nursery and send her and S to it with "I" as it was his day off and I thought it would be great bonding time. I made my children into bees. V wore an old outfit of mine, a black and yellow chiffon skirt with ruffles, and halter neck top. I managed to borrow a roll of hazard tape from the local charity shop and cut out black bits to stick onto the skirt to create the bees stripes. S wore black trousers, and the yellow bits formed stripes on that, and the black membrane from the garden was his top and I transformed that also.
I really enjoy projects like this.
Whilst the kids were busy with Daddy I was at an ASD meeting learning how to make a visual timetable, so created one of those also. It was definitely worth my while going.
I tried my hand at making some money through advertising the pushchair and highchair but no joy as yet. My friend and I have decided to do a couple of car boots this year to try and get rid of these things. I guess people don't have a great deal of money at the mo so getting shot of stuff quickly is hard unless you give it all away.
I am enjoying my creativity this week, but am conscious that I want to start making money seeing as last week I made a small amount.
Thursday, 9 July 2009
An unusually busy day
Had a 5 hour meeting at the council offices today in relation to the parent participation project I am working on. We discussed the groups finances and how we will spend the 10k in the next 9 months. I also learnt about SPICE on ice for children with special needs, and no doubt will be taking V there when she turns 4. Hopefully they will have someone to help her as I cannot ice skate. I can't bear it. Great thing for her to do. Heard that my local rink are looking for a team of special needs children to go to Canada next year for a tournament. Apparently there is only one other such group in London that does skating for special needs, so we are quite lucky having this facility right on our doorstep.
Then I went to a market research evening for feminax tablets, it was quite fun and a good way to make money for your opinions. I earnt £35.00 that is the first bit of money I have "earnt" since 2006. Very odd! Interesting group of people, 2 single mums, 1 newly unemployed girl, 1 part-time worker, and 1 hr person from honda. 6 including me. Hopefully I can do more of these as and when they come through. I really enjoyed pulling these ads to pieces, did not realise how much my media degree made me so critical of ideas and concepts! Perhaps I should have gone into advertising, I have always been more of an ideas person and that is why I enjoyed the drama side of the degree more. After doing that degree for 3 years, I never really enjoyed watching films again. I rarely go the cinema these days, as nothing seems of real interest to me. I have seen 1 film this year on the tv, "An Unfinished Life", which despite having Jennifer Lopez in it, was a good film, well written, and well directed. I never seem to want to watch a film, or I catch it half way through, and then there is no point.
Then I went over to a craft evening (average age 65) where I made 4 envelopes and used the scraps of paper to make cards to go with them. Such escapism from my day to day life, and nice to hear them all moaning about their grandchildren!
Children were at nursery from 9-3 and S did not have a nap, when he got home he was so grisly. "I" had the pleasure of looking after his children for the evening. When I got in at 10pm S was crying, "I" fast asleep so did not hear him, S had a wet bum.
Just changed to size 5 huggies seem massive to me the 4+ were making marks around S's legs. He does have very chunky legs, I do love squeezing them!
V made me laugh this evening, "Oh mummys doing her lips, thats nice" she rarely sees me putting on make-up in front of her!
Tomorrow being ripped off again for a retest MOT. £48 last Friday for an MOT that failed, then £80 on Wednesday for 1 shock absorber, and so tomorrows retest will be £28. So the money I earnt is already accounted for. Such a shame, wanted to put it towards the camping trip.
Never mind.
Trying to get rid of some stuff on freecycle but the person did not turn up, not a good start.
Then I went to a market research evening for feminax tablets, it was quite fun and a good way to make money for your opinions. I earnt £35.00 that is the first bit of money I have "earnt" since 2006. Very odd! Interesting group of people, 2 single mums, 1 newly unemployed girl, 1 part-time worker, and 1 hr person from honda. 6 including me. Hopefully I can do more of these as and when they come through. I really enjoyed pulling these ads to pieces, did not realise how much my media degree made me so critical of ideas and concepts! Perhaps I should have gone into advertising, I have always been more of an ideas person and that is why I enjoyed the drama side of the degree more. After doing that degree for 3 years, I never really enjoyed watching films again. I rarely go the cinema these days, as nothing seems of real interest to me. I have seen 1 film this year on the tv, "An Unfinished Life", which despite having Jennifer Lopez in it, was a good film, well written, and well directed. I never seem to want to watch a film, or I catch it half way through, and then there is no point.
Then I went over to a craft evening (average age 65) where I made 4 envelopes and used the scraps of paper to make cards to go with them. Such escapism from my day to day life, and nice to hear them all moaning about their grandchildren!
Children were at nursery from 9-3 and S did not have a nap, when he got home he was so grisly. "I" had the pleasure of looking after his children for the evening. When I got in at 10pm S was crying, "I" fast asleep so did not hear him, S had a wet bum.
Just changed to size 5 huggies seem massive to me the 4+ were making marks around S's legs. He does have very chunky legs, I do love squeezing them!
V made me laugh this evening, "Oh mummys doing her lips, thats nice" she rarely sees me putting on make-up in front of her!
Tomorrow being ripped off again for a retest MOT. £48 last Friday for an MOT that failed, then £80 on Wednesday for 1 shock absorber, and so tomorrows retest will be £28. So the money I earnt is already accounted for. Such a shame, wanted to put it towards the camping trip.
Never mind.
Trying to get rid of some stuff on freecycle but the person did not turn up, not a good start.
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
July already
I cannot believe it is July already, I feel bad that I have not blogged since June. So much has happened. We have lost a cousin who was 39 and passed away in her sleep. I told "I" how much I liked her, and he said that she really liked me. I felt sad that I did not get to know her well enough, but I had only seen her a few times in Anguilla, and at brother in laws wedding in Trinidad. Mother in law described how her best friend was standing over her, shaking her saying "wake up T"because she looked like she was peacefully sleeping. Death is so hard for all concerned. I worry for "I" as he takes each death in the family so badly. Life is so precious.
When MJ died I felt sad and watching his memorial 12 days on showed how much he was loved. How do we cope when they are gone, their memory lingers on and you can feel their presence around you. I often feel my maternal grandmother near me. I have felt and smelt her presence when driving once, I felt loved and reassured she was near me. I strongly believe in the afterlife, my faith competes sometimes with the psychic forces I feel inside me. A medium once told me that I had healing hands (and that gift had been passed on from my mothers side going back to GGrandma), but I have chosen not to follow this road.
The road I am on is sometimes a rocky one, but held firmly in my grasp is the Lord. I don't say it much, and don't often make it to Church but he is always there for me.
V's hole in her head has closed some more since the neurosurgeon said it was closing. If that is not a miracle then I don't know what is! We have been told she has GDD (Global Development Delay) and Disordered Language Development. It has come as a shock for us, as things seemed to be going so well, but I guess these things are on paper only. In reality V is V and not what her diagnosis is, sure the diagnosis can go some way to explaining her "differences" but it is an opinion only based on medical examinations, once a year or twice yearly are not nearly enough to understand the truth about her and how she operates. We are also having a referral to clinical psychologist, occupational therapy, autism assessment unit, and social services. I have received no respite for her, and feel it is time that some was given. I hope I am not opening up a can of worms with all this. Getting everyone involved can only help her in the long term. I still have hope for the future for her.
When MJ died I felt sad and watching his memorial 12 days on showed how much he was loved. How do we cope when they are gone, their memory lingers on and you can feel their presence around you. I often feel my maternal grandmother near me. I have felt and smelt her presence when driving once, I felt loved and reassured she was near me. I strongly believe in the afterlife, my faith competes sometimes with the psychic forces I feel inside me. A medium once told me that I had healing hands (and that gift had been passed on from my mothers side going back to GGrandma), but I have chosen not to follow this road.
The road I am on is sometimes a rocky one, but held firmly in my grasp is the Lord. I don't say it much, and don't often make it to Church but he is always there for me.
V's hole in her head has closed some more since the neurosurgeon said it was closing. If that is not a miracle then I don't know what is! We have been told she has GDD (Global Development Delay) and Disordered Language Development. It has come as a shock for us, as things seemed to be going so well, but I guess these things are on paper only. In reality V is V and not what her diagnosis is, sure the diagnosis can go some way to explaining her "differences" but it is an opinion only based on medical examinations, once a year or twice yearly are not nearly enough to understand the truth about her and how she operates. We are also having a referral to clinical psychologist, occupational therapy, autism assessment unit, and social services. I have received no respite for her, and feel it is time that some was given. I hope I am not opening up a can of worms with all this. Getting everyone involved can only help her in the long term. I still have hope for the future for her.
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
June Already
June is here. Life is passing by so quickly. Been very active with the children lately, so my knee is on the mend (I hope).
Also been to an Anguilla Day celebration where I was practically running after S all the time. A nice day out, but could not relax as there were so many people and could not see the children all the time which always makes me panic.
Speech and language began again today for V and she found it hard to concentrate and sit. Hopefully over the next few weeks she will grasp the routine again.
Last night went to a yummy mummy night organised by my friend who is a member of Downs Syndrome Assoc, and the other charity the money went to was Rosies Rainbow. I meet Carolyn, the mother of Rosie who died a few years ago. The charity provides music therapy for children at John Radcliffe, Oxford and also in Thame.
I have been on the hunt for a music therapist for a few months now so will be calling them tomorrow to discuss this for V. It is amazing that this kind of service exists. I plan to use it. The SALT lady is hoping to get a practitioner from Nordolf Robbins along to advise us on strategies to communicate with V. She suggested that we don't have 2 music therapists working with her at one time. I may try and get V enrolled on a course in September with RR people in Thame. It is hard finding suitable therapies for her because she is so vocal but I want it to help her anxiety and communication which can sometimes be patchy.
We ended up eating out tonight as we went to Ascot to visit a friend in hospital.
Piccolino has great food and a nice relaxed atmosphere although no kids menu, was pretty kid-friendly. It makes all the difference to find somewhere like that. S was wondering around making friends with the diners on the terrace giving them high-fives, never seen him so sociable! He is changing loads and is getting sweeter every day despite his bogeys!!!! V was in the mood for eating they shared spicy sausage arrabiata pasta, she ate virtually all of hers and S's. This is highly unusual for her to eat so much, maybe she is having a growing spurt or trying to tell me she does not like my cooking....
It was also nice to catch up with my parents this week who are making a visit to friends and family in the area.
Lastly I was saddened to hear of the news of the couple who commited suicide at Beachy Head with their son who had died previously. They are in my prayers tonight.
Also been to an Anguilla Day celebration where I was practically running after S all the time. A nice day out, but could not relax as there were so many people and could not see the children all the time which always makes me panic.
Speech and language began again today for V and she found it hard to concentrate and sit. Hopefully over the next few weeks she will grasp the routine again.
Last night went to a yummy mummy night organised by my friend who is a member of Downs Syndrome Assoc, and the other charity the money went to was Rosies Rainbow. I meet Carolyn, the mother of Rosie who died a few years ago. The charity provides music therapy for children at John Radcliffe, Oxford and also in Thame.
I have been on the hunt for a music therapist for a few months now so will be calling them tomorrow to discuss this for V. It is amazing that this kind of service exists. I plan to use it. The SALT lady is hoping to get a practitioner from Nordolf Robbins along to advise us on strategies to communicate with V. She suggested that we don't have 2 music therapists working with her at one time. I may try and get V enrolled on a course in September with RR people in Thame. It is hard finding suitable therapies for her because she is so vocal but I want it to help her anxiety and communication which can sometimes be patchy.
We ended up eating out tonight as we went to Ascot to visit a friend in hospital.
Piccolino has great food and a nice relaxed atmosphere although no kids menu, was pretty kid-friendly. It makes all the difference to find somewhere like that. S was wondering around making friends with the diners on the terrace giving them high-fives, never seen him so sociable! He is changing loads and is getting sweeter every day despite his bogeys!!!! V was in the mood for eating they shared spicy sausage arrabiata pasta, she ate virtually all of hers and S's. This is highly unusual for her to eat so much, maybe she is having a growing spurt or trying to tell me she does not like my cooking....
It was also nice to catch up with my parents this week who are making a visit to friends and family in the area.
Lastly I was saddened to hear of the news of the couple who commited suicide at Beachy Head with their son who had died previously. They are in my prayers tonight.
Sunday, 24 May 2009
The only way is UP?
I am on the mend. Been hobbling around for days but knee is getting stronger. Taking less pain relief for this.
Despite the fall, cutting my finger on a drawer handle, and the fridge door trapping my other finger nothing else bad could happen. I caused a mirror to drop from a windowsill (by accident) and unbelievably it stayed in tact. Maybe my luck is changing. I can but hope.
In the week I got a call to say I had won a holiday (obviously there were strings attached) but I am not going to follow up on this as it will involve a lot of harrassment from the company concerned so much so that I doubt I will enjoy it.
I may even start playing the lottery again, I have not done this since it first started. I am furiously entering competitions at the moment. A few years ago I had a winning spell of pretty minor things but it was fun receiving things through the post.
Went to Camp Mohawk for their open day. A very enjoyable day it was V&S did not want it to end. The weather was perfect for swimming, ice cream eating and watching the puppet & clown shows. Shame there was not enough time to watch the animals, turtles, shetland ponies. S managed to stroke an owl called Jagger and was very fascinated by this strange creature. The next day he pointed to one in a book and I am sure he said owl. He is starting to talk an awful lot more, he is saying No, Door very clearly now. I am still concerned about his molar tooth that is coming through but it has what looks like an abcess on the side. I will try and get an appointment with the dentist on tuesday just to check it out it just looks very odd to me.
Despite the fall, cutting my finger on a drawer handle, and the fridge door trapping my other finger nothing else bad could happen. I caused a mirror to drop from a windowsill (by accident) and unbelievably it stayed in tact. Maybe my luck is changing. I can but hope.
In the week I got a call to say I had won a holiday (obviously there were strings attached) but I am not going to follow up on this as it will involve a lot of harrassment from the company concerned so much so that I doubt I will enjoy it.
I may even start playing the lottery again, I have not done this since it first started. I am furiously entering competitions at the moment. A few years ago I had a winning spell of pretty minor things but it was fun receiving things through the post.
Went to Camp Mohawk for their open day. A very enjoyable day it was V&S did not want it to end. The weather was perfect for swimming, ice cream eating and watching the puppet & clown shows. Shame there was not enough time to watch the animals, turtles, shetland ponies. S managed to stroke an owl called Jagger and was very fascinated by this strange creature. The next day he pointed to one in a book and I am sure he said owl. He is starting to talk an awful lot more, he is saying No, Door very clearly now. I am still concerned about his molar tooth that is coming through but it has what looks like an abcess on the side. I will try and get an appointment with the dentist on tuesday just to check it out it just looks very odd to me.
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Down down and down we go
On tuesday I had an accident. I fell down the stairs whilst holding S in my arms.
He was fine, thankfully. I was a quivering wreck and in shock for several hours. "I" took over all kiddy duties whilst I hobbled around like an old dear. Resting made it worse, walking made it worse. A day later the doctor looked at it and said it might be a torn ligament and an orthroscopy may be needed if I am still in pain after a week. At the moment it feels like it is getting stronger every day. I can't afford to be out of action I have too many things I need to do. "I" has been very good coming to my rescue. We were even walking arm in arm round the shops today. What with his bad shoulder and my dodgy left knee we are a right couple....................
It seems like such a bad run of luck for me personally of late. I must regain my positive thinking and pick up The Secret again to read. I am sure it will help my state of mind. Think good thoughts and good things will happen. I guess I have been thinking bad thoughts too often and that is what is happening.
He was fine, thankfully. I was a quivering wreck and in shock for several hours. "I" took over all kiddy duties whilst I hobbled around like an old dear. Resting made it worse, walking made it worse. A day later the doctor looked at it and said it might be a torn ligament and an orthroscopy may be needed if I am still in pain after a week. At the moment it feels like it is getting stronger every day. I can't afford to be out of action I have too many things I need to do. "I" has been very good coming to my rescue. We were even walking arm in arm round the shops today. What with his bad shoulder and my dodgy left knee we are a right couple....................
It seems like such a bad run of luck for me personally of late. I must regain my positive thinking and pick up The Secret again to read. I am sure it will help my state of mind. Think good thoughts and good things will happen. I guess I have been thinking bad thoughts too often and that is what is happening.
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