Mutterings from a Dark Corner

NEWSFLASH

2010-10-26T11:30:00.000+01:00

This blog will now continue here. There will be no more posts at this site.

Changes are afoot

2010-09-24T11:56:00.000+01:00

I could have blogged about my daughter trying to break her toe/foot by kicking my college bag but there's no point as this is not an unusual occurrence - she is dyspraxic and her propioception is a little off.

I could have blogged about starting back at college but, although it's all new stuff for me this year, it's just as easy as last year - so far.

I could have blogged about father-in-law's (FIL) move down to be near us and the extra workload on us but I won't because most of the issues are to do with his health rather than the bureaucracy and, therefore, personal.

This extra workload means I have even less time to keep 3 blogs running, as you will no doubt have noticed by the shortage of posts on any of them this month. Therefore I intend to amalgamate them all into one blog. This is very much a work-in-progress as I have yet to decide which of the 3 titles to keep, and which of the blog-hosting sites to use. Each has their pluses and minuses. So, it will be a week or so before I get to it.

I do have a new hobby that is eating into my spare time. I've switched off the AUTO functions on my camera and am learning to do-it-myself. This is a lot of fun, especially when friend J comes with me and we spend time over tea/coffee and cake going through the day's efforts. So, I'm going to end this post with some of the shots I took on Wednesday at Swanwick Nature Reserve.

More crazy days

2010-09-06T07:12:00.000+01:00

The last couple of weeks have seen us running about the country - to Nottingham, place of us grownups birth - on family business. Father in Law has been offered a sheltered flat in Park Gate, after being on the local council waiting list since March. So, two weeks ago, we had to go up to Nottingham to fetch him to have a look at it.

Fortunately he approved, so the council and the Housing Association whose property it is have also been busy getting the paperwork filled in. Last weekend (a bank holiday) I took him back to Nottingham to start packing and generally closing his life down up there. K came with me to help, and came back with some new bruises due to failing to use the door way as an entrance to a building. Dyspraxia rules!

We then spent all week packing up what he wants to bring with him, and taking piles of rubbish and old magazines/newspapers up to the tip. There's still plenty of tip work for us and a few more things to bring down but that will happen over the next few weeks. On Thursday I realised that K was due on scout camp at Thorpe Park this weekend (as in the following day). Needless to say, it didn't happen. I sent many apologies to the leader and explained what had happened. K wasn't overly distressed, especially after I promised her a day out at half-term to make up for being a sieve-head.

Father in Law seems to live 'in the now', with very little sense of urgency to plan ahead or remember chronology, so it has been very interesting. I left him a pile of paperwork to sort through and file - even bought a file and plastic baggies for him - but I ended up chucking it all in a box yesterday. Then, yesterday, he starts deciding what he'd like packing from upstairs. He's had all flippin' week to tell me that but waits till the van's outside (driven up from here by A, accompanied by D) and nearly all full. Minor grrrrr.

Once the van was loaded, and an early lunch was had, we all set off back down here. I tell you, my car could do the journey without any input from me; it's certainly done it an awful lot this year as we tried to sort him out. Father in Law slept most of the way down, and most of the time since he's been here.

Today we are moving into his new place. K & I have a hot date at Curves first thing - they're starting their weight management classes today so we can't put it off - then we'll head back; by which time most of the heavy lifting will be done and A will be done in.

We have to go and order/buy a new fridge/freezer for Father in Law. He assures me he bought it in the 60's, except that a) I know that style didn't exist then, and b) A can remember it being bought when he was about ready for secondary school (late 70's). Either way it was in no fit state to be taken anywhere but the tip. There was rancid milk accumulating on the bottom and going a lovely shade of blue, the drain pipe at the back was black with gunk, and it really needed a good scrub. It also stank. And don't get me started about the bag of cabbage that had turned to a vile, green liquid. Father in Law says he has no sense of smell and I believe him.

Before anyone berates us for letting things get that bad for him, it wasn't through lack of effort on our part. Up until the past 6 months or so we have been told politely but firmly to 'butt out'. There's not a lot you can do about that without alienating him completely. Six months ago he decided that he couldn't cope any more and that he thought he was becoming a bit forgetful (we'd been noticing it for a few years). Since then we have been making enquiries, plans, and generally scheming to sort him out. The local council here were happy to put him on their waiting list for somewhere suitable. I am organising an Occupational Therapist assessment to see what else 'adaptive' he'll need to make life easier - I'm hoping to get a Dementia Screening person in at the same time so he doesn't twig on. There will be plenty of home-made food in his freezer, and he WILL eat it - another issue caused by poor memory and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (too tired and breathless to eat) - as he hasn't got to walk far or use stairs to get to the kitchen any more. I will also be taking care of the laundry, making sure the pots are washed properly and the place is clean

Life is about to get a whole lot more busy for us. I'm hoping we'll see an improvement in his general health or, at least, a slowing in the decline of it.

When I got home yesterday there was a letter from the local college, where I'm going to do the Level 3 AAT qualification. Basically it was a 'you can get your course books from us on these dates, oh and by the way there was a mistake in the brochure. Your course day is a Thursday, not a Tuesday'. The brochure came out in June and it takes them till the beginning of September to tell us that we're coming on a different day. It's a good job I don't have other, unavoidable, plans for Thursdays, or have childcare to sort out. I've had issues before with this college's admin 'skills' but this is just pathetic.

Don't be fobbed off - teachers DON'T always know best.

2010-08-27T21:35:00.002+01:00

About 10 or so years ago I was told by my two's primary school teachers that a) D needed to write more, that he was bright enough but letting himself down by not writing enough, possibly lazy, and b) K was a daydreamer who could write more if she didn't spend so much time staring into space. Both kids were working at above 75% of the rest of the class so there was NO possibility of any special needs - ok, so you can see where this is going, eh.

Fast forward to 5 years or so ago, and after a year or two of home educating one or both of them the penny dropped that all wasn't well. I had many rows with D about his 'laziness'. In the end I took my concerns to my GP who referred us on to the community paediatrician - who complained that he was 'too old'. Maybe if school had said that things needed investigating then we would have been there years earlier, but hey I'm only a parent who expected the school to KNOW if things were a bit off.

D ended up with a diagnosis of dyspraxia (general motor clumsiness) and dysgraphia (issues with the mechanics of writing). We've since added some dyslexia to the mix as his spelling and pronunciation can be interesting/unique. He's happy as he has an Educational Psychologist (EP) report giving him permission to use a laptop in class and exams plus 25% extra time in exams.

K can be quite jealous of D getting my attention so at the time all his diagnostic work was going on I got a book out the library and read out some of the possible SpLD (Specific Learning Difficulties - not to be confused with learning disabilities) that were going on with him to help her understand why he needed my attention at that time. At one point I read out about Irlen Syndrome - where the written word flies around the page, rather than keeping still - and she said "You mean, writing doesn't fly around the page for you?" The poor girl thought it was normal for this to happen so, of course, she'd never mentioned it. Cue a visit to the optician for some colorimetry testing (using different colour lenses till you find out which colour makes the writing stay still) and £100+ for the right pair of glasses. Not long after, I took her out of school as she wasn't coping with changing classrooms and the work load.

K has always been 'different'. Even now I'm not sure which planet she's on but it's not always this one. Her take on reality is not typical either but she tries hard to stay in this one - when it becomes too much, look out! Anyway, K found cursive writing too hard. All those flicks and ticks to get in the right place, especially when you have to work out how to join it to the next letter in the word. So, once she was out of school, I 'made' her print instead. She was much happier, and even more so when I passed her my laptop and told her to do it that way. She thought we were cheating till I told her I'd rather she'd be able to edit it till it looked right without any 'messy' comments that her teachers were happily doling out. Besides, who'd know. Plus her confidence needed a boost, and the ability to produce good, neat work was important to us all.

K also qualified for 25% extra time and the use of a PC/laptop in exams. This enabled her to get a C at Cambridge IGCSE English (similar to the old English Language O-Level in content) a year early. I only entered her to give her a taste of what was required. We were all gobsmacked with her result. By 16 she had added Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry (C), Edexcel GCSE Maths (A) and OCR GCSE Biology (C) to her tally and off she went to college, full of nerves (lots of people) and high expectations (AS's in Double Science, Philosophy and ICT). She soon made friends and her confidence and self-esteem grew.

I'd pre-warned the college's Learning Support Unit (LSU) as to what to expect. They were willing to help her with support in and out the classroom, essay writing workshops, etc. Unfortunately K decided that she was fine and didn't need the help. In January K had a full EP assessment done which she told me suggested dyslexia and dyspraxia - no mention of the Asperger Syndrome which I suspected might be in there somewhere. At parents evening her teachers gave me the impression that whilst she wasn't A grade material, she wasn't totally useless either. Unfortunately her AS results brought her crashing down to Earth big time (an E and 2 U's).

So I have spent the last week holding her and drying her tears. She was ready to quit college because she was stupid (something I hadn't heard in a while). To be honest I was very worried about her, hence another reason it has been quiet on here. On Tuesday of this week she had her course choice morning at college. Whilst she was in the hall having some lecture or other (Welcome back, here's how to fill in your UCAS stuff, etc) I collared the head of LSU and asked if I could see K's EP report as I hadn't had a copy. She said that Kshould have had a copy to give me but for whatever reason I never saw it. Anyway, we sat and went through it (I have my copy now) and it was a real eye opener. K's verbal and non-verbal skills are up above 90% (as in 90% of people her age are equal or worse than her). Her processing skills (as in what her brain does with the information she reads/hears) is 2% (as in 98% of people her age are better than her at processing the information). That is one hell of a discrepancy - in fact, less than 1% of the population would have this size defecit. Bl**dy H*ll!!!

It's no wonder she made such a bad job of her exams. To be fair to the college the LSU are not allowed to frogmarch needy students into extra support, unlike at school where they can (but getting them to admit there's a problem in the first place is damn near impossible if you're smart with it). As it was explained to me recently, if you are predicted C's then schools won't bother as you're hitting the league table requirement. It's only if you are predicted D's/high E's will they make an effort to boost you to the magic C and that all important tick in the 5 A* - C box in the charts.

We are currently researching assistive software/hardware that will enable K to get the most from her next 2 years at college. She needs something(s) to help her organise her written work (intro, middle, end), take notes in class (dictaphone, pre-made notes from the teacher, notetaker in class), make sure she has correctly interpreted what she is supposed to be doing (class assistant, follow-up in LSU), and honest feedback from her class teachers instead of "oh, she's lovely". K has totally changed her courses. Now she is doing a Level 3 BTEC in IT (continuous assessments that she can re-write to improve) and AS Photography (she's decent with a camera but time will tell whether she's arty-farty enough). Both teachers are aware of her individual needs - one of the teachers is dyslexic too so says she understands (we'll see) - so I'm hoping that things will be better.

The college has a policy that for each subject you drop you have to replace it. The double award Applied Science counts as 2 courses so she was expected to replace it with 2 new AS's. The head of LSU and I both agreed that, for K, this was NOT an option. The head of LSU said that if the curriculum management team wouldn't budge then she would play the disability discrimination card and to send them to her if they were awkward. Needless to say, all is now well for K and she has replaced 4 AS's with the equivalent of 3 AS's plus plenty of time in the LSU for dyslexia assistance/confidence building/essay skills/show us what you're doing and we'll make sure you're on the right path help/etc.

The EP report suggests possible assistive stuff and we are looking to try before we buy. I'm also hoping the LSU might have some to play with. Now I've had time to digest the report I'll be contacting the head of LSU to see if I can get an appointment for a week on Tuesday (K has to go in to get her bus pass/timetable/etc) so that we can start the ball rolling on some of this stuff. I've looked it up on the internet and some of it seems a very good idea - shame it's so darned pricey, which is why I want to get K to try it first. If it really is going to benefit her she can have it, I'll make the necessary sacrifices, but I'm not forking out hundreds of pounds to find it doesn't help her.

So ladies and gentlemen, should you find yourself in the position I found myself in all those years ago - kids aren't producing the work at an appropriate level/volume but are very clever and therefore can't possibly have special needs (according to the teachers) - make sure you get them assessed. Fight the school, LA, go to your GP. Whatever you do, don't think that the teachers know what they're talking about.

I feel that, in a way, I wasted the 4 years K was home educated as I didn't push a lot of dyslexia therapy at her. With D, all he needed was an alternative recording method (typing) and he was able to play on a level field. With K, she needed more and I missed it! Don't let guilt get you.

Crazy days

2010-08-23T20:00:00.000+01:00

Did you miss me? I've been away for a couple of weeks. There's plenty to tell.

K turned 17 and is ready to start driving lessons - gulp!

Exam results have been mixed. More on these as and when I get more information as to why.

Father in law has been offered a flat in a sheltered housing complex. As he lives 200 miles away and cannot pack for himself, I'll be clocking up frequent driver miles lending a ~~controlling~~ helping hand. Any tips for keeping my sanity in amongst all the mayhem will be gratefully received.

Because of this, I am giving up on my temp job with the NHS. As things stand in the medical world at the moment it is impossible to be physically in two places at once (don't get me started on mentally), so I can't be driving off to sort out FIL and be at my desk. So the desk has to go (shame). At least until the beginning of October. After that will depend on how he settles. He knows and loves the area so it should go smoothly. But his health isn't good and will only get worse. I've never imagined myself as a carer so this could get very interesting very quickly. So if you see me out and about and I look haggard you'll know why.

HOLIDAY!!!!

2010-08-08T19:44:00.000+01:00

Before you all get excited I'm not actually departing Dark Corner for anywhere else. We are staying at home and having some days out. Today we went to Brighton & Hove (both bits). A parked in Hove and we walked along the very nice promenade to Brighton. Hove seems genteel and really unspoilt by the tourist tat, preferring to save that accolade for its sister town Brighton. We found a nice little cafe in Brighton, The Bucket, where they make their burgers by hand from scratch. A bit of a wait but well worth it for the taste. The weather was very 'Mediterranean' with lots of sun and a blue sea, which looked very inviting.

We then mooched around the shops for a while. I managed to get A into an Ann Summers shop but we only looked at the lingerie. Nothing really took our fancy. Some of the phone shops have some appealing offers in right now. We might investigate those this week.

On the way back we followed the A259 and passed through Worthing. It also looks like somewhere we might like to visit for the day. There was an interesting-looking restaurant that served Chinese, Japanese, Singapore, Malay, Thai, Indian & Italian cuisine. That just about covers our family's culinary desires, so we will definitely give it a try. I'll let you know the name and a review afterwards.

Later this week we intend to go over the the island (Isle of Wight) for another day trip. In between all this galavanting around we will be doing more mundane things like finishing up in the garden (spray painting the shed and the rest of the fencing, moving a couple of bushes, taking out some ivy that is encroaching, reminding the clematis and the jasmine that it grows in THIS garden and not over the wall by the footpath, etc), making a start on getting rid of the carpet moths (not nice as they loosen the pile in your carpets, leaving bare patches - their favourite places are in the dark and rarely disturbed), and de-cluttering the study (just how many old PC towers can a man need?)

K & I will continue to fit in 3 visits to Curves each week. Our exploits there can be followed at another one of my blogs.

Been a bit busy

2010-08-03T20:37:00.000+01:00

Partying, that is! The weekend saw a birthday here in Dark Corner so I saw it as my duty to give my liver a good workout. It has now forgiven me. A bought me a Bon Jovi DVD. The jury is out as to whether I am in heaven or not. The lip synch seemed a bit out in places, some of the instruments hit the odd wrong note, and Jon sounded more out of tune than in. All in all, not the best DVD of theirs I own, and I own plenty. We did wonder if it was recorded at the end of the tour (Madison Square Gardens 2008) and if they were all tour weary. However, I did my best to make it rain, yodelling along to the tracks and thoroughly annoying the rest of the household.

Last week, friends of ours left to go home to the US (waves madly at Ann). Hopefully they will soon find a house and life settles down again. They'll be missed.

D goes on camp next weekend for a week. Unfortunately K chose not to so we parents won't get as much peace as we deserve. We are having the week off and will be alternating between de-cluttering the house and doing day trips. We might head to the island for a day.

My parents came down for the weekend. I now have a tidy back garden - thanks, folks. I need to go and buy a job lot of slug pellets and growmore, as well as a bucket of long-acting weed killer for the patio and drive.

On the job front, my official finishing date is the end of August but, as per usual here, I may be needed a bit longer. I'm not bothered either way but it'd be nice to have something concrete. Oh the joys of being a temp! I've applied for a few jobs but not heard anything back.

Roll on tomorrow. No work for 2 weeks. My job share fellow temp wanted to swap some days with me so I am working Monday - Wednesday this week. Then I'm off next week before returning to my normal Wednesday - Friday the following week, so for 3 days off work I end up with 1 day short of two weeks not working. Excellent!!!!!

Let them be bored

2010-07-26T18:00:00.000+01:00

I know some of my readers are home-educators but there may be some of you out there who are dreading the next six weeks, having to listen to your little angels scream "I'm bored!!!" all day long. Either that or they're making your life a misery because you won't take them to a theme park twice a week, as well as swimming, bowling, ice skating, a trip to the beach, and other money-consuming wants.

Today's children seem to have the instant gratification bug, wanting everything today and more tomorrow. To their parents I say this, did your parents do all that for you when you were a child or were you encouraged to make your own entertainment. And that didn't mean being stuck in front of the TV (or in this age, a computer or game console) all day, every day either. Tell your parents that you were bored and I'd lay odds on the response being "tough!" or "so what?".

If you are already wilting at the thought of keeping them entertained and amused all holidays without having to take out the mortgage required to cover all what they'd really like to do, I have a few suggestions.

Let them be bored. With a bit of luck they might actually (re)discover their imaginations and make up their own games.
If they say they're bored, give them a household chore to do and make them do it. Next time boredom strikes they'll either ask if they can help with anything (you can hope) or they'll have hated it so much they'll put more effort into finding something to do that's more fun.
If they ask to go somewhere and you are willing to consider it, tell them that there are certain things around the house that need to be done first. If they leave it all to you it will take too long and you won't be able to go. If they help it will all be done very quickly and you'll have more time to spend doing that fun thing.
Limit those big days out to one or two for the whole holiday. They'll appreciate it so much more (eventually).
Explain to them how much all these days out and activities cost and that you don't have all that money just lying around waiting for them to spend.

If they're old enough suggest an 'entertainment budget' figure for them for the entire 6 weeks. If they go and blow it all on a day out, DON'T GIVE THEM ANY MORE. This is a life lesson about budgeting and will do them good in the long run when they start to live an independent lifestyle. You are doing them no good whatsoever by encouraging them to think that what they want is the only thing worth spending money on.

A good number of children expect their parents to just hand over cash for anything, and unfortunately there are a good number of parents who do - whether that be from guilt for both parents working, or to keep the peace because of the temper outbursts that follow if the parents say no. If this is your child, ask yourself how they learnt to kick up a fuss to make you give in. That's right, it's because that is what you have been doing since they were tiny. "Ah, it's not nice to see him/her so upset" so the child gets rewarded for making a scene. Whereas if you had stuck to your guns when they were tiny they would now understand and accept that no means no.

This is not a dig at anyone in particular, but a kick up the backside that some parents need to remember that their children are just that, children, and that whilst their wishes will be considered, the FINAL say is the parents.

Who am I and what have I done with my real self?

2010-07-24T20:18:00.000+01:00

For many years I have had little interest in my feminine side. Hair has had to be functional - wash, a quick blast with the hair dryer, brush, and go - and clothing has had to be comfortable - and stuff the 'fashion' of the season. So it is with some shock and excitement that I find myself becoming more interested in the clothes side. The hair still has to fit those criteria so I am going to get my hair cut shorter and have some highlights put in.

Clothes, however, are beginning to intrigue me. Today I even caught myself looking at skirts and dresses. Earlier in the week I was contemplating shaving my legs for the VERY FIRST TIME!! I haven't plucked up the courage yet but I think I might have to if I'm going to wear more feminine attire. I've got the shaver; my armpits get a short back and sides every so often. This is increasing as I have a new shaver that doesn't pinch and nick. I also have had a re-fit at M&S - and I hope the upcoming exercise and weight loss regime takes a bit off the cup size.

I've been told what colours are good for me, and they certainly seem to work for me. These are the summer colours - fuchsia pink, purple, teal, and things like that. I have to avoid earthy tones, including orange and terracotta.

Maybe it's a midlife crisis.

What I did today

2010-07-20T17:30:00.000+01:00

I went clothes shopping with Ros. The original spec was to find a 'business' top to go with my black jacket and trousers. We eventually (read several shops later) found some nice tops but realised that the jacket's cut and style just wasn't 'me'. Coincidentally in that same shop there were some lovely purple short coats which, although outside what I was looking to pay, was absolutely perfect. We ummed and ahhed over lunch then went back and bought it, along with 3 nice workwear t-shirts for £12. Then we decided to look for a simple business-style white blouse. Do you know how hard it is to find one?! We drew a blank.

Ros told me she thought I was 'summer' colours and after trying some of them on today, I have to agree. These are nice bright pinks, purples, certain reds and blues and a little bit of black. I'm to avoid orange tones.

Also, what is it with the sizing of clothes. In Bon Marche I needed size 16, which was one heck of an ego boost. In Peacocks I would have needed a size 20!! Tell me girls, which place would you rather shop in? Right, the one that allows you to wear the smaller size. So I shan't be going to Peacocks again in a hurry.

Another first

2010-07-18T20:22:00.000+01:00

My daughter's first love is now, as of this week, her first ex - which explains why she has moped around the house in her pj's all week. She is a little upset about it and has had a cry in my arms. Now she's downstairs eating my best chocolate (with my permission) and watching Harry Potter (No.6, I think) with her Dad.

The perennial question

2010-07-14T19:58:00.000+01:00

It's heading towards that time of year again and A, being the caring, thoughtful husband that he is, has asked me what I want for my birthday. As usual there are two sets of answers to this. One runs to 'ha ha, stop kidding around' things like finish revampin en-suite, a new kitchen, a 'no snoring ever again' medication so we can share a bed every night (ok, so this isn't kidding around but no-one has invented one yet), my very own Ferrari 360 F1 Modena (with flappy paddle gear box), or a sprawling house in the country with acres of land between me and my next door neighbours ('cos I'm the sociable sort, you know). The other usually goes something like 'dunno, nothing's really took my fancy'. This is not strictly true as there's always ONE thing that takes my fancy ;-) but why wait till my birthday hehehehe.

I'm after a new camera BUT as I know absolutely nothing about digital SLRs I am going to make a nuisance of myself at the camera club in September and see if the some of the boys will let me play with their toys. The new camera will have to wait till next year some time. It would be a VERY expensive mistake to get the wrong one. (We are talking £500+ here so I need to be very sure I'm getting the best one for me).

So, I've settled for a serious session at a hairdressing salon. The goody bag that I brought home from the Ball on Saturday had a 20% off voucher for somewhere that charges silly money (to me who would make Scrooge look profligate with money for things like clothes or hair) to do even the simplest of things. I want a new style and some streaks of colour putting in. Just the sort of thing to make me feel summery and cheerful. It has to be low-maintenance as I don't have the time or the inclination to spend more than 10 minutes each day making it look presentable. It would also have to look good whether I'm wearing shorts and a t-shirt or formal business wear. Picky, picky, picky.

I've already shown the kids what I want and, between them, it comes in under budget. Let's hope they remember.

Common sense is beginning to prevail

2010-07-13T14:56:00.000+01:00

I was going to post yesterday about the ~~Wrestling~~ World Cup Final except that Blogger wouldn't let me in for some reason. As most of the world has already commented on it I won't waste time.

Instead I'll turn my attention to this. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is considering banning self-certification mortgages. About time too!! When these 'modern' mortgages were announced a few years ago I said that it would all end in tears. I mean, where is the sense in lending people hundreds of thousands of pounds without them having to prove they can pay it back?

The 'old-fashioned' multipliers were there for a reason. They made sure that you had some money left to live on after paying the mortgage AND made sure you could continue to afford the payments if the interest rates rose. These days people have mortgages that they can barely afford, let alone heat their property and feed themselves. I don't know what they're going to do when interest rates do rise again - and they will. A rise of 0.5% is going to catch a lot of people out and start a whole raft of repossessions. When we got our first mortgage interest rates were about 10%. We asked our advisor to work out what the repayments would be if rates rose to 15%, something he said wouldn't happen. Well it did, and we could still afford it (just).

Look at what has happened to energy and food prices in the last couple of years. Prices have rocketed, beyond what most people (experts and jo public alike) would have expected. It isn't just the traditional poor and/or working class who are having to decide whether to eat or heat their home. This is spreading upwards through the other social classes too. I wonder if this is what Labour meant by 'social mobility'.

More sensible mortgage lending will have a downward impact on house prices as less people can get a mortgage to afford the current silly prices; though there may be an increase in price as less people can afford to move (supply and demand at work). Hopefully, prices will settle to levels that are affordable for our young people.

Let's look at an example. Average starting salaries for graduates are between £20,000 and £25,000 (and assume that those without a degree will have an average start of much less). The average price for a one bedroom shared ownership flat (part buy-part rent) seems to be about £40,000. Owning your flat outright averages at about £100,000. This would be unaffordable to the graduate under the 'three times your salary' rules. The graduate would need a very large deposit AND have some to pay the legal fees. Like I said, prices are probably going to come down until they reach a level that people can sensibly afford.

I'll be honest and admit I have no idea how the part buy-part rent system works. Obviously the total outgoing must be considerably less than the mortgage would be on the true value of the property, but I do wonder how the difference is made up. Rents can only be lower than the mortgage outlay if the money borrowed (by the housing association) to buy the property is much less than it's value.

The rise in the number of properties available by this method shows how unaffordable property has become to vast portions of society. Maybe we should be doing like our continental cousins, where renting is the norm. It's only in the past 50 years or so that owning your own home has been attainable by the vast majority of the population. Before then this was only for the rich. Are we back to this? Do we want to be back to this?

I must admit that, having sampled renting and ownership, I prefer ownership. We can decorate how we want, rip out a fireplace that we don't like (or a kitchen or a bathroom) and, unless we are being repossessed (or compulsorily purchased to make way for a new road), we are not beholden to our landlord's whim as to how long we can stay there. My home is my security blanket (apart from my family, of course). It is here waiting for me when I get back from work. It is somewhere I can shut the door and keep the world out. I can put my feet up and relax. It is comforting, and I'd hate to lose it. That doesn't mean I'll never move from here. Far from it, I have some very definite ideas of where I'd like to live. It's that I am not constantly aware that the next letter from the landlord could be the 'adios' letter. This place is mine for as long as I want it.

Well, this has been a meander through the world of property possession, hasn't it. I hope you followed it.

Take me to Vegas!

2010-07-11T11:57:00.000+01:00

Last night hubby and I, accompanied by 4 friends, went to a Charity Ball. My friend, and ex-Pampered Chef boss, Debbie Casey is raising funds for Women for Women and last night was the finale in her fundraising efforts so that she can go on a bike ride through China to raise money for and awareness of this charity's work. If you would like to donate, click here.

Back to last night. The food was very nice. I discovered I like melon, the yellow-skinned green flesh variety, and creme brulee. During the evening there was a 'spot prize'. One chair in the whole room had the W4W logo tacked under the seat. Me, me, me!!!! For that I 'won' a bottle of pink fizz. That'll go down nice at my birthday next month. During the meal Debbie's girls were doing a tombola. They had a bag of home-made tickets, carefully sealed, and some had prizes. We had 3 tickets and won a bottle of pineapple Malibu and £30 of vouchers for a Mediterranean restaurant. The latter will go down nicely on our week's holiday next month. We weren't quite so lucky in the auction. The bidding for 4 tickets to watch Hampshire v Durham AND a signed Hampshire CC shirt went beyond our limit, so we didn't win anything there. Then the raffle was drawn. I had my eye on the 'Finger Buffet for 25 people' as it would come in very handy for said birthday. Unfortunately it was not to be. Instead I won a one night stay in an Executive Suite at the Hamble Retreat, 2 miles from home. Very nice, indeed.

Fortunately that was it; it was beginning to get embarrassing. There must have been 100 people there, many of whom left with no prizes at all. And then there was us with a bagful. But it would have been just as much fun if we'd won nothing at all.

What's going on at the moment

2010-07-07T20:02:00.000+01:00

Yesterday afternoon I had another session with my life coach friend, R. We talked about my future plans with particular respect to job-hunting. I told her that it was on hold for now as I was having difficulty dealing with the constant knockbacks/no replies. She helped me to see that there is nothing wrong with making big efforts to find a job then taking a few weeks off when the constant failure gets too much.

We also discussed my personal brand - or, the image I need to project to get what I want. We have made plans to go shopping in a couple of weeks to look at, and maybe buy some 'sharp and professional' business attire. Needless to say, A is already going a bit pale at the thoughts of it all. I have promised to be good and be more Primark than boutique. I am also considering getting my CV professionally done.

The plan was to start job hunting towards the end of September, assuming that my current contract finishes at the end of August. Well, this afternoon I got a call from an agency asking if I was prepared to look further afield for jobs - as in Poole or Andover - and the answer was 'not that far'. Anyway, the job they sent me for 3 months ago (the one I never heard back from, and they never phoned me back about) became a different role, one which I wouldn't have gone for (and neither did anyone else who they interviewed). This business have decided to fill this vacancy in-house from their sales ledger team, leaving a vacancy. So, I asked this job agency to get me in for that one. This agency don't generally handle jobs paying less than £14K (lucky them that they can be so choosy). I explained to them that this is an unrealistic wage for someone with AAT Level 2 but no proper work experience; somewhere around £12K is more appropriate. I repeated that I was interested in the position and could be negotiable on salary - apparently the company likes a bargain. We'll see what happens. I might just go on to the company's website direct and see what's what. Looks like I'm in the job market again.

I am a good mummy

2010-07-06T17:36:00.000+01:00

Why? Because I have made waffleberry pie for pudding. If there is one dessert guaranteed to get my family's attention and undying affection, then this is it! D has decided it must be a healthy pudding as it has berries in it. I countered that with it must be really bad for you as it has loads of cream in it. Are you drooling yet? Here's the recipe.

And to thank me for my largesse K is cooking dinner - ham and mushroom pasta bake. I might suggest some garlic bread to go with it, but might not having just been shooed out the kitchen.

A is working late tonight, and doesn't read this blog, so he doesn't know what he's missing.

Did you see......

2010-07-01T19:30:00.001+01:00

....... The Bionic Vet last night?

This is the man who operated on Scoobs nearly 4 years ago, performing a dorsal laminectomy to help my boy walk properly again. It was a rather intense convalescence, as I was supposed to limit his activity for a few weeks yet the stupid mutt decided that trying to jump a 2 foot garden wall was much more fun. AARRGHHHH!!!!!!! It DID fix the lameness and occasional stumble but left him with a slightly wonky tail. Compared to the alternative - accidental severance of the spinal cord - it seemed a small price to pay.

This was taken about 6 months after surgery. Isn't he happy?!

All was well for a couple of years before the symptoms returned. Another visit to Noel showed that not only was scar tissue forming at the old op site and compressing the spinal cord again, but that a pinch point (caused by a bulging vertebral disc being directly under a bony overgrowth of arthritis) just below the neck was also causing problems. Given that Scoobs was 9 by then we all decided that his age was definitely against him and we should, instead, take a palliative approach to his care. A & I must have done something right as we had another fun-filled (and very expensive) 15 months with our wonderful hound.

Noel can come across as a bit gruff but his heart is most definitely in the right place and he is dedicated to the animals in his care. I have seen him become distressed after being unable to help a dog (and having to PTS on the operating table). I have seen him pull an 18+ hour shift (at the old place) when the portable - on the back of an artic - MRI broke and it took several hours to get a replacement. Did he cancel everyone? Nope, he stayed there till past midnight making sure every animal got the scan they were there for. He understood the anxiety being there was putting on the pets and the efforts we owners went to to be there in the first place, not to mention the nervous fits caused by our beloved animals going under a general anaesthetic. General anaesthetic is inherently more dangerous for animals than humans, especially the elderly kind like our pooch was.

So, hats off to the man!!!! If I ever have another dog, not that I'm planning that right now, and it needs neuro-orthopaedic help, he will be the one I expect to see.

Fats - the good, the bad and the downright ugly

2010-06-29T17:33:00.000+01:00

Two posts in one day! Scary, huh?

I know my blog is daily reading for ~~thousands~~ a few of you, so here's my latest health warning. (Or rather, my only one apart from be safe in the sun). There was an article in The Times on Saturday, in their Weekend supplement (I can't link to it as they expect you to pay these days), concerning trans-fats and their closely related cousins hydrogenated fats. Apparently these are the seriously bad boys of the fat family, being blamed for the dramatic increase in levels of heart disease, certain cancers, strokes and diabetes. These are only the things we know about at the moment; this list may well grow over the next few years.

Now I'm normally quite sceptical about government advice on what is bad for me to eat, but if you could read this article you would see that our government, unlike the US, aren't saying much about banning these fats. In fact, the UK Food Standards Agency thinks that legislation would be "unlikely to deliver any significant health benefit" as our intake levels are "approximately half that of recommended levels". Hmmm, the government want us all to eat healthily, lose weight, get more exercise, reduce type 2 diabetes and heart disease, yet there's no reason to bring in legislation to ban the stuff.

Over in the States, whole areas have outlawed these fats in restaurants, whilst in California (ever the extremist on the health front) has intoduced a state-wide ban. Any food manufacturer who wants to keep their market share over there has removed it from their products. Are you outraged yet?

Trans-fats are made by processing polyunsaturated fats. These types of fat are runny at room temperature and quickly go rancid. By adding hydrogen to them - no you're not getting a complicated chemistry lesson on how this happens, it just does OK - their structure is altered and they become partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. This gunk can be found in many processed foods including, but not limited to, popcorn, chips, cakes, biscuits. If you want to avoid it, and who wouldn't, look for products that are labelled 'all butter', or are made with a different fat. You should avoid anything that has 'vegetable fat', 'shortening', 'margarine' or 'partially hydrogenated vegetable oil/fat' in the list of ingredients.

So that's the ugly out the way. The bad could be attached to saturated fats, and until recently it was. Although it still shouldn't be consumed in great quantity it is less harmful than trans-fats. Saturated fats can be found in goods such as milk, butter, meat, some nuts and cocoa butter.

The good fats are the unsaturated fats, both poly- and mono-. Poly-unsaturated fats are the omega-3s and omega-6s. The ideal balance is 3 x 3s to 1 x 6s. Polys can be found in seeds, nuts and oily fish. If these aren't prominent in your diet it might make sense to take a supplement. Monos can be found in avocado, olive oil, eggs and lamb, amongst other things. Here at Dark Corner we do all our stir-fries in olive oil.

I've already discussed it with he who thinks he's boss (unless it's Sunday when it IS his turn) and I've bought some butter today, along with a butter dish - a proper pot one. All I need now is to work out if I can fry chips in olive oil, or whether sunflower oil is ok. Don't anyone mention oven chips, not unless you can recommend ones that taste like the real thing instead of cardboard/sawdust sweepings.

I hope you all find this of some use.

Hi there

2010-06-29T17:08:00.000+01:00

I've been very busy living life - again. Sorry, but it keeps getting in the way of the blogging.

Anyway, I have news on the job front. I have lowered my hours to 3 days per week. Now the balance feels right; I can get my housework done, see friends, not feel guilty for vegging on the sofa for a few hours if the mood takes me, etc. This has made me much happier in myself, though I still get stroppy at the others if they don't pull their weight. (It took me a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get them this far. I'm not letting it slide now).

I also have news on the studying front. After much discussion with my nearest and dearest (and his dad) I have decided to go back to college in September to do AAT Level 3. I'm even going back to Fareham College! Some of my friends from this year's course are going back so I decided to join them.

Oh and my dad turned 70 on the 18th. I'll put up some photos when I get a chance.

New Blog

2010-06-28T15:13:00.000+01:00

Hi all

I have started a new blog for my annual skin problems. You can find it here.

Thank goodness for that!

2010-06-28T13:55:00.000+01:00

I shall probably get lynched for this but can I be the only one who thinks that the standard of play by England at the World Cup was abyssmal. Everyone seems to be calling for the coach's head. Yes, it was his tactics and strategy planning, as well as some questionable squad selections, that didn't help but, at the end of the day, there were 11 men on that pitch, wearing the England colours, who are supposed to be the best this country has to offer.

Don't make me laugh! I've seen more enthusiasm at a Saturday afternoon kick-around on the local park. They all looked as though they had better places to be. I suppose when you earn tens of thousands of pounds each week no matter what the result is there's not much incentive to put heart and soul into it. I wonder what sort of win bonus would get their attention.

The people I feel most sorry for are those fans who spent thousands of pounds, possibly that could have been better spent elsewhere, to travel to watch the squad. I bet some of them spent as much as one of our 'footballers' earn in a week, PLUS these fans had to make their own travel arrangements - none of this first-class all the way malarky our boys expect and receive.

The media have their part to play. Not, though, for criticsing the team - because that was right and proper given the display - but for whipping up the public (like they do with every British sports man/woman/team who show even a hint of ability) into believing that the World Cup is ours for the taking. England were very good during their qualifiers so maybe this hype was deserved this time. The only criticism the media made that I think was out of order was their castigation of our poor goalie who fumbled the save against the USA. We all make mistakes. Do you hear them making the same hoo-haa about Wayne Rooney, who can't find the back of the net (his primary role in the team) with a map? No, of course not.

And who in their right mind picks players who are still recovering from injury, or are injury-prone? It's hardly rocket science, is it, to pick people who are on top of their game. You have to wonder what was going through Capello's mind:- let's pick strikers who haven't scored in 3 months; let's pick a goalie whose team has just been relegated - and as the last man before the net must have had a part to play in their losing so much; let's pick players who haven't played for their country in a while - because they have loads of international experience. If those sort of decisions are the 'right' ones then here's a quick note to the FA - if you would like to save a shedful of money AND allow the coach to make howlers like this, then pick ME. I promise not to ask for more than £50,000 per year plus expenses. I also promise to drop the big names if they play like they did in the World Cup, I don't care who they are. You'll find that this will give them an incentive to do the job they are paid to do.

Out here in the real world we get sacked or demoted if we apply ourselves to our jobs in that way. Maybe there should be a (very) basic salary with the rest of the pay made up of performance bonuses. That would also provide an incentive to 'get on with it', and would make the vast majority of the rest of us feel a little less aggrieved when, once again, our team is made to look less than ordinary.

The things you see

2010-06-13T15:28:00.000+01:00

This week hubby and I took a walk along the sea front at Hill Head. We parked near Titchfield Haven and walked right round to the main carpark and back. On the way back hubby spotted a hawk hovering just behind some beach huts. By the time I'd got the camera switched on, zoomed in and the focus on the hawk it had dived. Muttering naughty things under my breath I put the camera away only to have the hawk fly not 10 feet from me, with its prey, and land about 50 feet behind me on the stump of a breakwater.

Being the brave soul that I am I got the camera out again, switched it on and started snapping, moving forwards 5 feet or so after a few shots. Eventually the bird spotted me and shot me a nasty look so I stayed still and took a few more shots. Here's the best one - if you don't like to see half-eaten corpses don't look.

This image has been much fiddled with, using Paint Shop Pro, to bring out the clarity and sharpness as my camera lens isn't powerful enough to get up close.

I'm beginning to pine for a camera with changeable lenses, so that I can get really close to nature. At the moment the blue tit parents are feeding their fledged babies in the trees around my garden. Those birds NEVER keep still for more than a second or two, barely long enough to focus in. And it's a pain trying to get close enough to get a close-up without them seeing you and flying off. Anyway, here are my best efforts.

The top image was taken just as the parent bird took off. The bottom image is of a baby. Amazingly, the babies can fly but still need their parents to feed them.

Then to cap it all, yesterday I saw this.

They flew right past me, far too busy playing at piggy-backs to notice my presence. The one on top was really buzzing his wings. The pitch kept changing and got quite high at one point before stopping completely for a few seconds before starting again. All I can say is, lucky them!

Doing too much, and other interesting insights

2010-06-11T20:14:00.000+01:00

Maybe I was trying to do exactly that. Needless to say, thanks to a good chat with hubby, things are a-changing. I am reducing my hours at work down to 3 days and, once the exam is done (this coming Tuesday), 2 weekdays at home. This gives me a 4 day 'weekend' to get caught up on all the chores. It also means a return to some lovely home-cooked-from-scratch dinners. And I'll have more time to catch up with friends. And I might be able to find the time to keep this blog up, instead of letting it drift like I have for the past few months.

You see, there was a rumour at work that my services would be required up to September and there's no way I can let my outstanding 'big' chores list (total spring clean, decorating, etc) go on till then. So tomorrow, for the first time in many months, I will NOT be going shopping tomorrow (Saturday). I've never liked doing that - too many people. So I'll start going on Mondays (or Tuesdays). I might even stop feeling guilty for having a lie in at the weekends.

I've also decided to stop job-hunting. It's soul-destroying to get no joy. I've had 2 interviews this year out of nearly 50 job applications. Once the economy picks up, and there's not so much competition, I'll try again.

I have enjoyed my time at college and I'd like to do the Level 3 course at some point in the future. However, I think I'd like a job in that field so that I can have some experience of what I'll be learning. Plus the distance learning version will set me back about £800, once you've allowed for things like books, exam fees, AAT annual fees, etc, etc, etc. Makes you wonder what you're paying the course fee of £670 for, doesn't it?! (Yes, the £800 includes this £670). For a mere £650 I can go back to the Open University and do the next course on my list - M208 Pure Maths. No extra fees (apart from posting some tutor-marked-assignments back). Plus I LOVE pure maths.

Right now I want to spend the next 6 years or so finishing my Maths degree. The only issue is, what do I do with it? Most people assume I'll go into teaching. Not a hope! I'd rather go into a research role - being left alone to discover new and wonderful things in the world of numbers. Not much money in that, though, but a heck of a lot of job satisfaction, not to mention the absolute delight at going to work each day.

Anyone want a middle-aged, enthusiastic, willing to learn, number cruncher?

This working woman's lot is not a happy one

2010-05-10T20:14:00.000+01:00

I feel worn out. It's not tiredness - as in could fall asleep anywhere. It's a total loss of energy/go/drive (call it what you will). Let me give you a bit of history to help put it all in context.

I last worked outside the home full-time in June 1991, which is when I quit to be A's company secretary - aka money for nothing much. Since then I have done the full-time housewife/mother routine, and let no one tell you that it is the easy option. You work just as hard but don't get paid. Then in April 2004 I started home educating D and we were joined, in October 2005, by K. Our life had a certain routine - certain activities happened on certain days, etc. Then in September 2009 I had no kids 'at home'. They were both at college. I was left to find a new role. I dabbled at finding a job but my heart wasn't really in it. A couple of friends suggested I take up a local job agency's advert for exam invigilators. After all, I was doing it for free for the local home education group. This led to odd days of basic admin work. Then, the NHS job came along.

I was originally sent in for 3 hours a day for 3 days. No problem. The money wasn't as much as I'd earned previously but it would be a new experience. That was in early February this year and I'm STILL there, doing 4 full days per week (the 5th day being at college doing AAT). Suddenly I had to find time to do the housewife/mother stuff. The kids are helpful but pretty much only when told what needs to be done. And, for the most part, the same can be said about A. Admittedly he's finally worked out how to use the washing machine - assuming he remembers to do any - but he's never voluntarily dusted or hoovered (dust allergy so unfair to expect it), cleaned the bathroom, ironed, taken on the weekly shop (unless I am not in a fit state, when I usually go for a delivery service), made sure the kids are doing their chores properly (ok, maybe occasionally but usually when I have nagged him to make an effort); and hardly ever worried about things like making sure we are ready for Christmas, birthdays, etc.

Some people were quick to point out that he works SO hard and I (until February) was at home all day, so therefore it was my job to do all that. And I did it all with barely a moan. But now I WORK TOO. And to be honest it just feels like if I don't ask someone to do something then no-one else but me can see it needs to be done.

In recent times (the past few years) I have been having a few issues with my memory and processing - things slipping my mind, and using the wrong word or getting them the wrong way round - and things have been getting worse in the past year or so. Stress seems to make it worse. I've had a few stressors at work lately. A suggests that if work is getting me like that I should quit. Now, I know he means that exactly as he says it, but there is a part of me that wonders if his subconscious would then feel less guilty about relying on me to remember everything/notice everything that needs doing. He'd deny it, and I'd feel bad about accusing him of this; honest, it's just me feeling a misery guts. A has never been any good at remembering things. I know that but my issues are getting to the stage where I can't be trusted either, and I can feel myself getting more worked up trying to make sure that I don't forget things (because A is bloody useless at it).

Hands up who can see who's going to deal with the lion's share (or even all of it) of when FIL moves down here. And keep those hands up if you think that, whilst I'm up in Nottingham sorting that end out, bugger all housework-type stuff gets done down here.

Good things come to those who wait

2010-05-09T18:13:00.000+01:00

Today, amongst other things, I decided to make a start on 12 gallons of home-made wine. That's right, 72 bottles of the stuff for less than £20. I didn't have enough demi-johns to put all 12 on at once but figured I could get 6 under way. I started 4 gallons about a year ago and kind of fell out of love with the whole idea so left them to their own devices. Today, two of them had no water in their airlocks - important for keeping the air out and stopping the contents turning to vinegar (wine + oxygen = vinegar). So imagine my suprise when all 4 gallons are perfectly palatable! They do need racking (filtering) off their sediments and leaving to settle for a few weeks, then bottling and leaving to settle for another week or three. Should be ready for drinking by end of June.

The ones I started today are 'quick' brews, meaning about 8 weeks from start to finish. So I should have at least 35 bottles to see me through July/August. I will have to get some more demi-johns to make a start on the remaining cartons of fruit juice. A friend has a birthday in mid-August and I have been asked to provide the booze!

Between a rock and a hard place

2010-05-04T17:08:00.000+01:00

Please bear in mind that I have a cold and am feeling less than 100%, and the knock-on effect on my ability to ignore/dismiss annoying people.

There is someone at work who is getting on my nerves. This has been getting worse over the past week (which is roughly how long I have been coming down with/suffering from this cold). She is constantly whinging about how she doesn't like her job now her team have merged with ours; this, that or the other isn't right; doesn't like all the phone answering/door buzzer answering/myriad other things that interfere with her ability to concentrate on what she has to do. However, she doesn't whinge when the current acting Admin Co-ordinator is in the office. She, and her colleague from the same previous office, can't cope with all this so when they have something that requires total concentration they go off to a different office for some peace and quiet.

Now yes, to a point, I can understand it BUT not for one second does she consider that we others are in the same boat (and by buggering off like that our disturbances are increased). There have been times that I have been doing something that I could really do without having to deal with incoming phone calls. Does that count? Does it hell! I still have to deal with them and then try to re-focus on what I'm doing.

This morning I was doing something clerical with some client files and she knew I wasn't at my best. However she was far too busy whinging to her colleague about how she hates her job now and doesn't want to come in (interspersed with actually doing her work), whilst I was answering the phone, taking messages AND e-mailing said messages to the correct recipients, all the while with a client's file 'in bits' all over my desk (burying my keyboard/mouse/pen/paper to boot). Let's just say that by lunchtime I had had enough, burst into tears, played on feeling rotten and asked to come home. We all have gripes about the 'new order'. It doesn't help when the senior manager keeps taking systems that work and making changes, without considering the knock-on effect to our workloads. If I'm honest my workload is the least hectic - it has its moments though - as I am not fully trained on all the in-house systems and therefore cannot do some of their work for them. Plus my primary role is as phone answerer. But I have just about had enough of keeping my mouth shut when she starts her whining.

I really don't want to go back there, purely because of this. Yet it looks so much better when applying for jobs if you already have one than if you are unemployed, so I don't want to quit. It's a temp position which will last for who knows how much longer and I'd really like to see it through to its conclusion if I don't land a permanent role elsewhere first.

So, do I stay and try my best not to blow a fuse big-time or do I walk and, although still with my temp agency, deal with maybe being between positions when applying for jobs. I don't like the idea of walking as it can be seen to be taking the easy way out, plus what do you say when asked at interview, but it's playing havoc with my nerves.

A quick catch up

2010-04-27T20:08:00.000+01:00

My UV-induced rash has started up. That'll be me looking like a case of measles (hands and arms only, hopefully) till towards the end of October. Hey ho! Hence the feeling slightly miserable.

There's no news on the job front. Not even a phone call to say "we don't know anything", which is quite rude seeing as I have been sending e-mails and calling only to be told that someone will call me back later the same day. This is through a different agency to the one that currently employs me, not the company that was advertising the job in the first place. Hence the feeling slightly miserable.

My brother has the results back from his mole biopsy. Whilst not the worst news, there are definitely cells that have changed from 'normal' so, like me, he has to be careful. Hence the feeling more than slightly miserable.

Normal service might be resumed this week. (And before anyone gets excited I'm not THAT miserable, just bl**dy tired).

What a lovely weekend

2010-04-12T12:16:00.001+01:00

The weather was warm and sunny. Not sure if I've had a skin breakout - probably, but let me kid myself for just a few weeks more, eh?

We got a load of jobs done in the garden. I had 2 wonderful labourers. They did a lot of lifting and breaking (old terracotta plant pots to make drainage chips for my new planters). K & I filled said planters and planted seeds in them. A then set up the watering system. Fingers crossed, we will have loads of vegetables.

Yesterday A & I went down to the sea front. There were lots of yachts out doing their thing, and one whose owners were enjoying the view.

Today, whilst not strictly the weekend, I was up at 7.00, in Makro by 8.15 and home by 9.10 to put the second load of washing out. Then I put away all my Makro shopping, tidied the cupboards under the sinks in the bathrooms, hoovered the stairs, and hoovered and tidied the big cloak cupboard by the back door. By 11.30 the third load of washing was out.

Then I decided it was ME time so got out the camera and played with some of the settings.

I think Spring is here

2010-04-10T18:24:00.000+01:00

Finally! The weather has chosen to be more seasonal this week. I have been going on walks at lunchtime as I always feel in a better mood after. This afternoon all 4 of us got stuck into some gardening. Earlier K and I had decided that some big planters would go nicely under the kitchen window. They're big enough for me to put carrots, lettuce and peppers into. The carrots and lettuce are sewn directly into the planters. The peppers are in seed trays in the house - in my new plastic mini-greenhouse. It's too cold at night to put them outside.

Speaking of the mini-greenhouse (which K managed to put together pretty much single-handedly today), the kids planted broccoli, tomatoes and French marigolds earlier this week, along with the peppers. The broccoli are already through.

I'll probably have too many plants so if anyone locally has too many of their plantings and would like to swap form an orderly queue - otherwise known as LET ME KNOW.

And to round off a lovely day A got the BBQ out to cook tea on. Mmmmmmmmm. Did I ever tell you how much I love that man.

A quick update

2010-04-06T19:30:00.000+01:00

Cos there's not really much happening. The kids are on Easter Break from college. I'm still slaving away. Hubby is too.

These last two are quite important as we have seen a really nice kitchen. It's not on ~~his~~ our list of things to do this year, but I live in hope. I've been living in hope for 12 years. And, strangely enough, we saw it in IKEA. Now, we don't do IKEA. We had a look round one some years ago and were unimpressed with what was on offer (and the price they wanted for it too). Yesterday we were wandering round Southampton when hubby decided that it might be nice to see if they're still as bad, given that EVERYONE thinks they're fantastic/must have. So now we are of the opinion that they do have some nice stuff at a reasonable price but some of their stock is still 'not us'.

I did see a nice dining table - £159 and can sit up to 10 people - but the chairs are extra (£35 each). I reckon I can get away with just 6. Our current dining table, which we've had for less than 10 years, has warped and the knots are becoming proud. Also it doesn't clip together very well, both adding and removing the extender leaf. And it's too big really. It didn't look that big when we bought it.

Oh and yes we did buy something in IKEA, a new loo roll holder to replace one that broke off.

Not the best news

2010-03-27T08:02:00.000Z

Remember this post? Well, Susan got her results yesterday and her IBC is back. Why not go over to her blog and learn more about this most aggressive form of breast cancer, and give her a virtual hug at the same time.

Follow up

2010-03-24T19:36:00.000Z

Remember my post from a couple of days ago about drowning my mouse? Well, today we tried it and IT HAS DRIED OUT AND IS NOW ALIVE AND WORKING!!!! Forgive the shouting but at least the management will now have one less excuse to be mad at me. (They do have one or two - lack of reverence to their position being the main one (just because you're a manager doesn't mean ALL your decisions are righteous).

Army of Women

2010-03-24T19:31:00.001Z

Are you, or do you know of, someone who has been affected by breast cancer? Maybe you don't but would still like to 'get your hands dirty' helping out with research into the causes of this killer. If one of these fits you, go to the Army of Women website and register.

They're a research group looking for volunteers for studies into the causes and treatments of breast cancer. At the moment the vast majority of the studies are based in the US. However, they are looking to expand round the world so spread the word. This nasty disease kills thousands of women each year. If we all did our bit, just think of how many lives would be postively affected by this - the women afflicted, their families and their friends. Millions of people's lives would no longer be blighted.

Go on, you know you want to!

I did a silly thing today

2010-03-18T19:23:00.000Z

I drowned my mouse at work today. I managed to tip a full mug of tea all over my desk, and my mouse and keyboard got most of it, closely followed by my trousers. The mouse is now defunct. The keyboard and my trousers are redeemable. So, it turned out, was the new employee information that was on my desk ready for posting to personnel by recorded delivery. Fortunately the ink didn't run, making it illegible, and the Senior Management type who had given it me to take care of wasn't unduly upset either. PHEW!

I call it the flip side to me having a bright idea and acting upon it, receiving praise all round.

Hugs for a friend please

2010-03-14T19:40:00.000Z

I've been following this blog for a couple of years now. Susan had both breasts removed due to inflammatory breast cancer. This past week she has had a PET scan - clever machine that shows up where lots of cellular activity is happening - due to pain and discomfort. Six lymph nodes showed up. It could be an infection or yet more cancer.

Go on over to her blog and give her a hug.

That's my fix for a while

2010-03-14T12:16:00.000Z

What a night!!!!!! Absolutely fantastic!!!!!

If you ever get the opportunity to see The Bon Jovi Experience you should. Two hours of hits and it cost us a tenner each. Be warned though, it's very loud. We both have varying degrees of deafness today.

The lead singer has more than a passing resemblance to the real thing. Scary, huh?!

The rest of the band, really not so much like their counterparts.

Ooh I'm so excited!!!!

2010-03-10T08:02:00.000Z

Hubby and I are going out on Saturday night. We're going to see Bon Jovi on the cheap. Bearing in mind Jon and the boys are coming to the O2 arena in June and the tickets are £45 - £200+, the £10 each we're paying for Saturday's gig in a little club in Southampton is better value by far. Of course we're not actually seeing Bon Jovi themselves (boo, hiss) but we ARE seeing a decent tribute band. Decent enough that Jon Bon Jovi has sung with them. Click on the link and go to the audio/video link.

Can't wait.

ps D is recovering nicely. The black eye is almost gone. However out dentist is on holiday this week so that's all on hold till Monday 15th.

Can someone tell me why?

2010-03-07T19:43:00.001Z

On Friday D was coming home from college on the bus when he got into a discussion with another college student (A - nothing to do with his name) over whether yet another student should sit down.

A: Sit down, will you
D: Maybe she doesn't want to sit down
A: Whoever said that can suck my d*ck
D (standing up to his 6' 2 height): Wanna say that again?
A grabs D up near the throat
D grabs A similarly ready to push him away, having the longer reach
A thumps D in the face, once
Queue stunned silence on the bus
A immediately realises the OTT of his actions and apologises

D makes it home with a badly bruised eye and cheek, a cracked lower middle tooth and a broken off leaving a third of the original length tooth.

(photos taken today, 2 days after. On the top one yes that is more bruising between the eye and the ear. The lower one shows the tooth after the temporary patch/rebuild - 2nd from right - now at two-thirds its original size)

The dental bill is likely to be £500 - £1000. I think, as D is a full-time student, there'll be nothing to pay. However, I'm wondering whether to send a copy of the paperwork to A and try to make him pay.

Some out there may think we're being soft by not involving the police but, and you KNOW how warped some of the police actions have become, we wonder whether D's "Wanna say that again?" comment may be construed as incitement. Besides D is not interested in pursuing it.

Oh shit!

2010-03-02T19:28:00.000Z

It's my blog and I'll swear if I want to!

At the weekend I learned that my baby brother - 8 years younger than me - has a dark mole that itches and that he's having it removed tomorrow. It was very quick from him seeing his GP to seeing the specialist to getting the date for removal - 3 weeks as far as I can work out. This is the first time he's ever had to deal with his skin going off on one. Me, I live with it due to dysplastic naevus syndrome. Click on the link and scroll down the page to the relevant bit, but humour me and read ALL the page.

So far, I haven't had the dreaded words "I'm sorry Mrs B but it's malignant" despite having 3 moles removed on the 'better safe than sorry' principle - mine not the dermatologist's.

If you have any spare prayers, positive vibes, or similar going I'm sure he and his family will appreciate it. He has a wife and 2 young children.

Thanks muchly.

A fairly quiet half-term (or at least for part of it)

2010-02-13T17:25:00.000Z

I'm down to one child till next Saturday (20th). K has gone skiing with Explorers. They left last night and will arrive in resort - Bad Kleinkircheim - some time around now (5pm). I have my fingers very crossed that she manages to stay upright at all times and I don't get an emergency trip to Salzburg. K is dyslexic and dyspraxic so the chance of her misinterpreting an instruction or just plain falling over her own shadow are reasonably high. However you have to let go sometime, and the scout leaders are all fully aware of her uniqueness, so I'm doing my best not to worry. No doubt she'll have a blast.

I'm taking D up to Nottingham this week. We're going to visit family and have a big family lunch on Wednesday. Why? Well D turns 18 next Saturday (20th). OMG where did the time go!!!!!! In the blink of an eye my little boy went from this

to this

He doesn't want a party so we're giving him some money to go out with some of his friends. I am getting OLD!

Harlie

2010-02-13T17:04:00.000Z

Harlie is a sweet little girl who has so much going against her. At birth she had only a 5% chance of surviving but she's still here, proving everyone wrong. Her heart stopped during her latest surgery on Thursday but she was revived. Please could you keep her in your thoughts. Click on her name to read more about her.

What do you buy.........

2010-02-10T19:06:00.000Z

........ a young man about to turn 18!

D, my little boy, has a birthday a week on Saturday. He doesn't know what he wants. Or rather, the one thing he does want he knows he can't yet have. He wants his own car which we are happy to buy him, but HE has to run it - pay the road tax, insurance, service, MOT, petrol, etc. Seeing as he is at college full-time he doesn't have the money for that. So we're all stumped. He's not long bought himself a new phone; he's got an MP3 player, he has a PC, he has enough clothes - he's not a fashion junky; he doesn't want his bedroom decorating - it probably needs it but he's quite happy as it is; his hobbies are messing about on his PC and ten-pin bowling - and no he doesn't need a new ball. Oh decisions, decisions.

We did consider a driving day at Thruxton but then decided that he probably needs another 2 - 3 years on-the-road experience to get the most from it. We're giving him some money to go out with his friends - he doesn't want a party - and I'm taking him up to Nottingham to visit family and have lunch with them.

I should probably be counting my blessings that I have a teenager who doesn't have a wish-list a mile high, but I do wish he'd want something.

PS As for me, I'm working hard.

MPs Expenses - or one rule for them........

2010-02-06T17:59:00.000Z

Some years ago, when we were living in Nottingham, A got a job in Hastings. The money wasn't to be sniffed at and the bungalow we found to rent was none too shabby either. He asked the tax office if he could claim the rent back as a legitimate business expense and was told that it would be ok. So we did. We all lived there as a family (not that it would make any difference).

Several months later the tax office decided that claiming back this rent was NOT OK and they'd like us to pay the tax on what we'd claimed back from our business and they wanted it NOW. I don't know about you but suddenly laying our hands on about £2K just like that was impossible. The tax office begrudgingly gave us 3 months to pay it. We were understandably upset but managed to do so.

We had to rent somewhere so that A could carry out his work. He was then, and still is, an IT contractor so, to all intents and purposes, employed himself. So we ended up paying a mortgage on our property back home - we didn't want to rent it out as it gave us somewhere to stay on our regular trips back to visit family and friends - and rent on this other property, AND two sets of bills - all out of our personal money. None of it was claimable.

So tell me, why should our MPs be able to get all expenses paid for their second homes? We had to have a base for work-purposes 200 miles from our current house, yet WE had to fund it ourselves. MPs don't need some flash pad in a posh area of London. Westminster should build their own hotel with 600+ identical flats in there. That should keep things down a bit.

And, yes, I think those 4 MPs/Lords members should be prosecuted. If something feels morally wrong then, despite someone saying it's OK, you really shouldn't do it. Their defence, that the Expenses Office approved them, is really no defence. After all, we didn't let all those SS guards from the concentration camps use that sort of thing as a defence in their trials, did we.

Getting on with things

2010-02-02T17:07:00.000Z

Just a quick post to let all my loyal followers - there's more than two of you, right? - know that I'm still alive. I've not fallen out with anyone; it's just the job agency I'm registered with (for temping) has suddenly decided I'm a useful asset. Therefore what starts out as a fairly low key week rapidly turns into a mad dash between contracts.

I love it! So if I'm overdue a visit to you I apologise profusely. You're on my list of things to do, honest. Alongside revise for up and coming AAT exams, get stuck into some of the tedious but essential NVQ stuff associated with this course, give my CV the WOW!!! factor, housework (again, tedious but essential), sorting out who owes what at the home ed group (and finding the time to remind them - work keeps getting in the way), and sorting out the last few items of clothing for K's half-term ski trip to Austria with Explorers. And if I'm really lucky I might find time to move this blog to Wordpress. It takes a lot of setting up - for technonumpty me - but the usability is a lot of fun. It took me all afternoon (at the weekend) to get the Running From Trouble blog set up, and 10 seconds to copy across all the posts from the blogspot version.

So if you see a demented woman, running between Fareham and Whiteley with a manic look in her eyes, it'll be me.

PS Jill, the jacket is great! Perfect image of the business woman.

A Lisa-ism

2010-01-30T17:48:00.000Z

You can never have too much money, yet you can have enough.

Confused? Then let me explain. Enough money is when you can pay the bills, feed the family, keep a roof over your head, heat/power the home, keep your car going, go on holiday once a year, have the odd treat. If there's anything left over (too much) then you can either save it or spend it. By spending it I don't mean buying things necessarily, I mean paying off more of your mortgage/adding more to your pension fund/making a donation to charity (or more than one)/putting some aside for your kids or grandkids.

There are loads of charities out there, doing great work, from the big nationals to the locals. All of them will be eternally grateful to receive anything you can spare. I mean, it sounds like fun to earn the sort of money footballers earn in a week - I personally would like to earn that in a year - but it must get boring after a while to know you can just buy what you want. Where's the sense of achievement, the feeling of 'WOW' when you can finally afford it and buy it? Yes for a few months it would be fun to splurge on absolutely everything that takes your fancy, but it must lose it's glamour eventually. You can build up a nest egg/safety net for the future, plus your pension pot, but then what do you do with the remaining £20K - £30K per week? Like I said above, there are plenty of good causes for whom that amount would keep them running for a year.

Did you know that Cancer Research is ENTIRELY funded by donations. They get NO money from the government, yet it is largely down to their research that cancer is not always the automatic death sentence it was 30 years ago (therefore making it easier for the government to hit their cancer-curing targets). The RNLI is the same. It really is amazing that 2 big names that everyone knows are entirely funded by donations.

Gosh, that turned into a bit of a rant, didn't it? I didn't pick those charities for any particular personal reasons. They were just names of organisations that I knew you'd all know. For these, and all the other charities, there is no such thing as enough money.

Busy, busy, busy

2010-01-30T17:36:00.000Z

On Wednesday I had a Pampered Chef party - I love that stuff. We all had a good time, with Chicken Tikka Masala cooked in the Deep Covered Baker .

On Thursday and Friday I worked all day, stuffing envelopes with 'heads-up' leaflets for the business's training seminars, and making various folders to be given out to the attendees. None of it was particularly hard. I spent most of both days in a world of my own, putting finishing touches to Plan J from the last post. The distance learning aspect for AAT Levels 3 & 4 is looking very good. I can work as fast or as slow as I like, the only fixed dates are the exams (June & December). I'm also going to apply for a job advertised at Portsmouth University, helping to admin/organise business conferences/events there. The pay is excellent (to me) but the only sticking point is they want you to have experience in a busy office environment. I'll apply and see how it goes.

If that goes pear-shaped, which I fully expect, then I shall be setting up a database of local (10 mile radius for a start) accounting firms. Once I've revamped my CV and designed the killer covering letter I'll be sending them out to all these unsuspecting businesses, asking for a training position in return for a low wage, and if nothing's available please remember me when there is. Ten out of ten for a proactive approach; unfortunately I expect hundreds of others have thought of it. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh?

Next week is looking busy. College on Monday, nothing on Tuesday (yet), working the following 3 mornings till 1pm at a different place to this week. However this week's place may want some more help next week so I've told them when I'm available, so I could be charging between 2 different jobs each day. I'm not turning it down because it's all more pennies in the bank.

More work!

2010-01-26T18:10:00.000Z

Just a short one.

I'm a happy bunny this evening. Earlier my agency rang to offer me 2 days work. This should bring in about £100 so of course I said yes. Unfortunately it means I can't attend the Home Ed session on Thursday wearing my Treasurer's hat. I've e-mailed the group list offering them all an alternative way of paying me. Fingers crossed they actually follow it.

Plans

2010-01-25T21:28:00.000Z

OK so I must be at about Plan J for the future by now. My 'butterfly' brain looks for new solutions if the current plan doesn't instantly yield the intended result. This is something I need to work on.

All the previous plans 'failed' because none of the jobs I've applied for in the past 12 months, quite a few, haven't even offered me an interview. Yes, the economy is in the sewer, but for someone who's previously got the first job she applied for this is a whole new game. I need to learn patience and understand that it's not the fault of the plan; the plan just needs time to come to fruition.

I still want to be an accountant, I still want to continue studying for the AAT qualifications. But I'm BORED!!!! College is creeping along at a very slow pace and we're not allowed to go on ahead as then we'd be too far ahead of the others, so we have to twiddle our thumbs waiting for them to finish that chapter. I've tried patience, really I have, but I am just fed up. Part of me would like to quit but then I couldn't get on to the next level so I've got to tough it out. My frustration isn't helped by more NVQ portfolio work which, although it isn't related to accounts, is required to pass this level. This time I have to provide evidence of what I do at work - I'm allowed to use what I do for the Home Ed group - and how I manage my time, how I cope with deadlines, etc, etc, etc. Oh and the best one is The Advantages/Disadvantages of Teamwork. Me, I prefer to be left alone to get on with it, only occassionally conferring with anyone else. Hardly the stuff of positive teamwork, eh?! So you have been warned. The next few weeks will probably see the most amazing outbursts of temper this side of your average 2 year old.

I'm already pretty much decided (hence Plan J) to change to a distance learning provider for the next year's Level 3 course. This is subject to being allowed to race ahead when the going is easy AND that the NVQ stuff in that is covered by all that I have done/will do for this year.

This Year's Goal

2010-01-20T19:22:00.000Z

Apart from finding a job, that is, is to eat more healthily. It got off to a shaky start but I've finally got my act together a bit better.

And not before time. On Sunday I weighed in at 13st 6lbs!!! I haven't been that heavy for nearly 2 years. Today I found I'd lost 4lbs which made me feel a bit better but it has all been the required kick up the bum to get on with things. I know you shouldn't weigh yourself so often because of such crazy fluctuations but I was scared the weight was still going up, and I don't want to return to the 14st I was carrying 2 years ago.

So for lunch today I had a jacket with cheese and beans, and a piece of garlic bread. Very good, huh! Then for dinner tonight I had this:

Yes that really is lettuce, tomato and peppers you see on my plate, along with some potato wedges, homemade pork curry-burgers and cucumber raita. I ate most of the salad but only some of the burgers (they were small) and no wedges. I was stuffed!!!!! (And, no Joy, I didn't smother the salad in Balsamic dip like I said I would, the raita was enough).

Those of you who know me well will probably be climbing back into your chairs whilst checking if your heart has stopped. Those of you who don't will probably be bemused as to why a plate with salad on it is cause for such merriment. Well, I HATE salad, the texture, the taste, the whole shebang. Or I did. Today it really called to me to eat it so I did. Admittedly it was in a mini pitta bread with raita and a mini pork burger. BUT I ATE IT WITHOUT GAGGING, which is a very big thing. There are going to be a lot of people all over the country who are going to be seriously gobsmacked.

Most of my 'get healthier, get fitter' stuff will be posted on my other blog. You'll find the main body of this post repeated there, along with my weight loss tracker widget. I want to keep this blog for 'life'.

Anyway, post a comment to let me know you're out there and still reading.

A New Year, A New Start

2010-01-20T19:17:00.000Z

I've been off blogging for a little while, in fact I've been off a lot of things lately. Blame the weather, blame the stress-filled year I've had (not much of it made the blog), blame me if you really want to. And if I've upset you or hurt your feelings please forgive me. I've really not been myself. I'm hoping that things will continue to improve with this New Year.

Some real money for Christmas

2009-12-13T19:01:00.000Z

You remember my blog from the other day, about a day's work from my temp agency? Needless to say it didn't run quite as smoothly as I was expecting.

I arrived for my hour's training on Thursday afternoon only to find that they were expecting somebody who had been there before and had an idea of who was who there. It would probably be too stressful for someone to work that out whilst getting used to the brand new switchboard that was 'going live' on Friday. I wholeheartedly agreed, so it was decided that I would sit there for the hour and man the reception whilst the lady who was doing that, from the same agency, got the training AND the work for Friday. Ah well, you win some and you lose some. At least I got some money for my effort.

Anyway the following morning I staggered out of bed about 9am - I am such a lazy mare. I was munching on some toast and knocking back my first pint of tea of the day when my mobile rang. It was the agency. There was a day's envelope stuffing on offer as the original temp just hadn't turned up and hadn't called in. I was there and at my large table by 10am and, apart from making myself some tea and taking time out for lunch and potty breaks, I was there till 5.30pm. Still, £7 an hour to collate 4 bundles of paper, put them in an envelope, seal it and add the address label is not to be sneezed at. Rumour has it there may be another day there this coming week, doing something similar. Needless to say I'm interested, despite my shoulders having only just stopped aching.

Positive thoughts/vibes/prayers please

2009-12-13T18:52:00.000Z

Whatever floats your boat.

For the past 4 weeks or so K has been suffering with eye pain, at first in the bone around the eye but lately also in the eye itself. It got steadily worse and on the day she had a doctor's appointment she was sent home early as she had a bad headache and felt sick. The doctor decided that she had a minor ear infection - they did look slightly pink down near the ear drum (yes I got a peek, without asking) - and a sinus infection (but K said he pressed so hard on the left maxiliary sinus it would have hurt anyway).

One week of antibiotics later and we were back at square one. So I made another appointment, this time with our own GP Dr D. Unfortunately I was working so A had to take her. K was also sent home again today, suffering from a bad headache. On the plus side K's confidence is blooming and she was able to handle all the history taking herself - that and she is up-to-here with the pain and discomfort. After much chat and testing Dr D said that he thought the most likely option would be migraine (A's mum and I have both been known to be floored by them), but he also wanted her to see our optician to check for visual defects and, particularly, glaucoma. Strictly speaking, K is too young for this disease but occasional cases have been know. She is also having increasing difficulty with blurring and focussing, though I'm not sure if that's all the time or just when the pains are playing up. So we are off to see our eye man on Tuesday. K has to take propranolol, a mild beta-blocker, for two weeks to see if that helps with the pain. So far the answer is no but we'll keep going for the course to see if it needs to accumulate in the body.

If the optician can't find anything and the propranolol doesn't work then she gets referred to the opthalmology department at the local hospital.

Go figure

2009-12-13T18:38:00.000Z

There was an interesting section in yesterday's Times (Weekend section) to do with alcohol and middle-class, middle-aged consumption, as in how we are all drinking too much too regularly - more than half a bottle a night apparently will lead to future health problems.

One particular article grabbed my attention. You can find it here. Those of you who know us will understand which bit grabbed me, those of you who don't will possibly find it interesting anyway. I told my husband this relevant bit of the article - and no, I'm not going to enlighten you - and those of you that know us will probably guess what he replied. The reason he is still breathing is that he said it with a smile on his face.

The first of many, hopefully

2009-12-09T18:51:00.000Z

I had a phone call at lunchtime today from a job agency. Was I interested in going for one hour's training tomorrow and a full day (8 - 4) on Friday to man a company's reception. Now normally I'd have said 'no way'. I have some very poor memories of reception work back from when I last 'properly' worked full-time. I wasn't allowed to take any of my real work with me to do, which was a shame because there was time to do some and it would have saved me the late hours/weekends I did to catch up. All I had to do was smile sweetly and answer the phones, oh and tannoy people to call people if they weren't at their desks.

However, the hourly rate of £8 made me consider that I could at least try it. After all, the equipment these days must be easier to use than that of 20 years ago. Plus this could be the little acorn that my mighty oak of full-time, paid reasonably, employment would spring from. So I said 'ok, yes'. This company would like to build up a bank of people to step in to cover holiday/maternity/illness for their regular reception team, so there's a chance of repeat work - the next 10 days before Christmas sound rather nice ;-).

Now all I have to do is find something suitable to wear - and work out how to pick up my dry cleaning from Fareham before the weekend. For those of you who don't know me, my Thursday mornings are ring-fenced in stone. My good friend Julie is likely to commit murder if I left, though she knows that is my intention in the long-term.

How lemon curd can seriously ruin your evening

2009-12-08T20:46:00.000Z

This post WAS going to be titled "What is it about Christmas that makes me want to bake" (and I bet you can see where this post is going). Today I got the culinary urge to spoil my family with home-made offerings. However my pastry-making abilities are, well, pants! My MIL will attest to this. So I cheated and bought some Jus Rol frozen shortcrust pastry, 2 lots of jam and a jar of lemon curd.

After tea (home-made pizza) I set to with a vengeance (and my Pampered Chef Deluxe Mini Muffin Pan). All was reasonably well until the 2nd batch came out the oven, the lemon curd batch. As usual A, D & K were like bees round a honey pot waiting to sample the wares - I have a great quality control department. Unfortunately one of the tarts split apart and landed oven-hot lemon curd on mine and A's hand. He seems not too bad. My little finger has a bright red patch and is throbbing merrily. Fortunately this means the damage is superficial and not needing a mad dash to A & E. It also means that the 3rd batch - blackberry jam - will have to wait till tomorrow. A is watching the snooker and the kids have homework so there's no-one to take over.

This is after the cake I made yesterday decided to crumble apart instead of easing out of its tin like it was supposed to. Maybe I should hold off making the double chocolate pudding (chocolate, bread waffles, cream, eggs).

Making friends, or my reputation precedes me

2009-12-07T20:03:00.000Z

Last Monday saw the first exam of my AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) course. It was a 4 hour paper. I finished it in about 2, and that was including a quick tea break to give the brain a rest. Gemma (afternoon tutor) wondered why I was loitering outside the classroom at lunchtime - I was talking to a fellow student - and then asked if I'd finished. I gave her my best 'Roger Moore' eyebrow and said "You really have to ask that?"

Today was the second paper (Unit 4), a 3 or 4 hour paper. I cracked it (I think, I hope) in an hour flat. Jim (morning tutor) asked me what took me so long. The rest of the class raised eyebrows/smiled/said enjoy the rest of the day.

Before leaving Jim wanted to go through last week's paper. He said he got sick of writing the same comment next to each question (good job, sort of thing) so left them blank. I managed to get 2 answers wrong on the legal/technical questions in the back but that was about it. We haven't officially been taught that stuff yet so I'm not concerned. Hopefully I'll find out in the next few days if I've made any howlers today.

I've always been quick with exams, with one or two notable exceptions (like when I make a huge horlicks of it).

FOR SALE

2009-11-19T10:33:00.000Z

One body - although only half-way through its expected life span, this body is already failing its owner.

The latest breakdown involves a sprained left ankle, causing the owner to have to rest with feet up when owner actually has a full day (hell, a full month so far - hence why there's been no blog posts recently) of life to lead. Owner would be happy to exchange for one - size 12 - 14, full working order (apart from womb) with no hidden surprises, capable of dealing with life at full speed without needing hours of maintenance each week.

Recent breakdowns include:- sprained right ankle (August) which is about 90% fixed, dodgy skin which limits owner's sun exposure from Spring to Autumn, general tiredness (not enough hours in the day/week/life), achilles tendon/plantar fasciitis pain in both ankles/feet (October '08 to June '09), recurring headaches, constant catarrh (all year round).

Hence reasonable asking price of £0.00

Please register your interest in the comments section. Form an orderly queue, no pushing now. The lucky winner will be chosen at random.

Bognor's nice

2009-10-29T16:24:00.000Z

Today I took K to look round the Bognor Campus of Chichester University. It's a couple of years early (she's planning to do 3 years at college) but she wanted a look to see if it really was for her. Bognor is a small campus, focusing mainly on Business and Education courses. There are only 3 halls of residence and it really is a very small site.

Anyway she thinks it's lovely. The rooms in the halls are bigger than hers. There are no big lecture halls; lessons are given in classrooms similar to those used in schools and colleges. She also likes the idea that it is less than a mile's walk to the beach. And the strangest thing of all, according to her, is how far it is to the horizon at sea when there's no Isle of Wight in the way. She couldn't get over it. It was very warm so we sat on the sea wall, eating ice cream, as the sun came out.

K reckons she gets the same positive vibes about Bognor Campus as she did when she looked round St Vincent (where she is now at college) - warm, inviting, friendly, welcoming, etc.

So look out all the other universities, you've got your work cut out to convince her to come to you.

It's over!!!!!!

2009-10-26T20:18:00.000Z

Yesterday was the Great South Run 2009 around Portsmouth and Southsea. The weather was pleasant - sunshine and clouds, a decent breeze and 16 C. Once again the intrepid Great South Stumblers assembled at the start line in various stages of preparedness. Chuck and Tom did it in 1:15 and 1:19 respectively, leading us home, with Kamila and I bringing up the rear (of the team and just about the whole field) in 3:02, crossing the line together.

We backmarkers have our excuses. Kamila's knee has started hurting if she runs too much and I sprained my ankle 2 months ago and it still twinges occasionally. It had been nagging a bit last week so I decided to wear my ankle support. This was a good thing insofar as the ankle didn't hurt once, but it was a bad thing as the rest of the leg went off in a huff. Kamila thinks that although the support is just fine for general day-to-day stuff, it's far too tight for any serious exercise. First of all the plantar fascia (smooth muscle that runs from heel to toe under the foot) couldn't flex properly when I jogged (only a bit, and only over the mile markers). This set up a chain reaction. The muscles along the shin bone joined in the nagging, then my knee started. I was ok at 4 miles. By 6 miles I was seriously considering quitting. By 6.5 miles it had worn off and by 7.5 miles we were walking at a fair clip to keep ahead of the clean-up crew. At just after 8 miles the course returned to the front near the Marines Museum. And of course, being right by the beach, the breeze was blowing well - straight into us. By 9 miles my whole right leg felt almost numb. Various bits of it took turns to spasm with each step - sometimes more than one bit. Believe me if there had been a first aid crew there I probably would have stopped. But it was still a fair trek back to the flat so I figured I might as well carry on.

Just after mile 9 we were joined by Richard, Clare and Alex, who were spectating and there for moral support - THANKS GUYS!!!! The breeze kept blowing me about - it wasn't that strong but I just couldn't brace against it enough. I weeped and hobbled my way to the end, barely able to put one foot in front of the other. But I finished. Special thanks to Kamila for all her support. I'd definitely have quit without her.

Then the muppet on the mike at the finish line asked for big smiles and waves as we approached the line. HA! Fat Chance! Then he told us we needed to try harder, put more effort in. If I'd had the energy to climb his gantry the mike would have disappeared where the sun don't shine. I mean, we'd just done 10 miles and I was obviously struggling and there was he (thick eejit) wanting happy smiles!!!! Plus all the first aiders just stood by the finish line. Not one of them offered me assistance, just because I wasn't weaving about. No, it was taking me all my remaining energy to concentrate on the immediate road surface in front of me and avoid any changes in direction and foot orientation because that was sheer hell. Then to add further insult all the medium t-shirts had long gone and I had to have a large (really not a big ego boost).

I daren't stop moving as it was over half a mile to the flat. At some time Rich had phoned hubby (who was just about to hit the shower after his race) and told him he was needed. I have never been so happy to see A in all my life. I collapsed into his arms and couldn't stop blubbering. He immediately ordered me to put my fleece on and, after a few feeble protests that I wasn't cold, I did. Looks like the almost-hypothermia got me again (got it last year). I was still cold at 9pm last night despite a lovely hot dinner and loads of hot drinks. And I'm still on the cool side today.

My knee was definitely the worst bit of me. It got well-acquainted with the ice pack, yet was still very sore when having to lift the rest of my leg. I was expecting it to be murder today but it's gone away. Shame the hips and fronts of the thighs have taken its place.

Will I do it next year? I really don't know. Last year was tough but the day after I knew I wanted to enter this year's. This year it felt more like an ordeal. Today I have been feeling a bit down, my medal is just hanging with all my others on my wardrobe door handle. Last year's was hanging in the living room for months. I'll have to see how the training's going when the entries open next year.

And to cap it all I weighed myself this morning. I didn't lose a thing - NOT ONE SOLITARY POUND!!!! Now that really is depressing.

Is there really a swine flu epidemic?

2009-10-15T21:43:00.000+01:00

We all know that there are people out there who think anything above a slight sniffle must be the flu. If I had £1 for every time I've heard someone say that they were off work for ONE DAY because they had the flu I'd be rich. Flu doesn't lay you out for just one day. Trust me, it can put you out of it for a week or more - I know, I've been there.

People exaggerate their symptoms and, given that, why did someone decide it would be wonderful to turn the diagnosis of swine flu down to some website that asks such simple questions the diagnosis is seriously questionable. (Deep breath). It gives you a list of a dozen or more symptoms and asks you to tick yes if you have 2 or more, or no if you don't. These symptoms include: a headache, sore throat, blocked or runny nose, fever, earache, etc. Now it doesn't take Einstein to work out that these symptoms can also indicate other infections besides our friend H1N1 - glandular fever, common cold, tonsilitis, ear infection, etc. So how come if you have two of these this faceless, brainless website issues you with a prescription for Tamiflu?!

You're probably wondering how I know this. My daughter K has been decidedly poorly since Sunday. Yesterday afternoon her fever started to get higher. She spent an uncomfortable night, swinging from freezing to boiling and back again. This morning her fever had hit the magic 100 F. By lunch time she was at 101 F. I asked for advice from a local pharmacy this morning, where the nice ladies behind the counter decided that it sounded like possible glandular fever to them and that they thought a call to the GP was in order. (You can see where this is going, can't you?). Of course, Thursday afternoons our surgery closes so I waited till 4.00 to phone. I'd barely mentioned some of her symptoms when the receptionist (who has NO medical training whatsoever) told me I needed to go to the Pandemic Swine Flu website and do their diagnostic quiz. I didn't really get chance to tell her what the pharmacy had thought.

Surprise, surprise, given the above information, we now have a course of Tamiflu. K now has to decide whether she'd rather feel as ill as she does or feel slightly better but run the risk of nausea, vomiting and nightmares (common side effects). She's decided to wait till morning as she doesn't want to decide to take one tonight and then spend all night chucking up and disturbing the rest of us.

I'm not really sure about Tamiflu. You're supposed to take it within 48 hours of the symptoms starting (K has been ill since Sunday, it's now Thursday), it shortens the length of suffering by a whole 24 hours (careful, don't get too excited), and it has wicked side effects which can make the sufferer feel worse than they already did (just what you look for in a medicine, eh!). So why did I go and get it? Well, this online diagnostic quiz gives you a special code number that is linked to the patient's name. You can only get Tamiflu once, so I figured I might as well get it in and if she wants to take it she can.

Given the ease with which Tamiflu is given out, and therefore you MUST have swine flu, is it any wonder that the number of cases is rising. At this time of year all sorts of germs are out and about, making people's life uncomfortable. The vagueness of the questions mean that anyone with a cold will get Tamiflu and be chalked up as a swine flu statistic.

So tell me folks, is there really a swine flu epidemic?

The boy finally did it

2009-10-15T21:23:00.000+01:00

On attempt number 2, D has passed his driving test (yesterday). I've notified the insurance company, who don't offer no claims bonus building for additional drivers so will not be getting my renewal come November 14th. Now I need to find some 'P' plates that are magnetic like his 'L' plates were.

Gonna have to share my car now.

The future's bright.......

2009-10-12T20:55:00.000+01:00

...... the future's mine for the taking.

I blame Ros - yes Ros, if you're reading this, I know I'm not allowed to really. Ros is someone I've known on and off for a few years. She is a life coach, amongst other things, and she offered me some sessions as I was at a crossroads in life (no more HE) and not sure which way to go. Thanks to Ros and her probing questions I now know exactly what I want and, thanks to research and Gemma (one of my AAT tutors) I know how to get there. Blood, sweat and probably tears appear large in the next 5 years or so but, oh my, it will be worth it.

You see, many years ago I started an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Level 2 course. Unfortunately life, and moving house/counties, got in the way and I didn't finish it. Years passed and I was quite happy as a stay-at-home-mum, then home education (HE) became our way of life so working outside the home became awkward. So this August I took the plunge and re-signed on to the Level 2 course, now run as an NVQ award (sheesh!!!) with the intent that I would earn a few pennies playing with numbers - and I adore maths so numbers don't scare me.

So, the AAT run three levels of courses (2, 3 & 4), after which you can either a) go on to university and do whatever else needs to be done to get an accounting degree (the AAT courses mean you don't have to do all the years), or b) get a job at some point during your AAT studies and hopefully your employer will encourage you - and fund - the rest of your AAT studies as well as your Chartered Accountant/Management Accountant studies. All in all option b), the one I shall be following, should take 5 years or so. After that, and a few years experience, I have been told by Gemma that Financial Accountants can earn £120 per hour, and Management Accountants can earn £160 per hour!!!!! Not being the totally greedy type (yeah, right) I've kind of decided to go for the £120 per hour job.

Financial Accountants deal with what has happened - they have a paper trail to build a picture of how the business has been doing in previous years. Management Accountants deal with the future - crystal ball accounting if you will - projected profit and loss over the next few years, likely investment required, income/expenditure forecasts. Hence the higher pay packet.

Ros's life coaching has helped me realise that I am money-oriented. Reward me enough and I will work like a slave. Also I value financial freedom (don't we all, I suppose). I like the idea of being able to afford the nicer things in life - not necessarily being able to afford everything (that's no fun), but certainly a decent standard of living - including a nice home in a very rural setting with a pool and several acres between me and the neighbours, oh and a Ferrari 430 of my very own. Yes, a lot of it is probably pie in the sky but if you don't dream you can't set yourself a goal. I'm also concerned that A's health may be a factor in how long he works before retiring - he already has achy joints (arthritis runs in his family) and a back problem - so I want to be in an earning position so that if he has to cut his hours or stop working completely I can take up the slack.

And besides, the way this government has cocked things up and put the country in a mountain of debt that will take years to clear (don't get me started on borrowing to make up a shortfall) I don't want to rely on the state pension provision. I want to be able to retire when I'm ready, not when some faceless bureaucrat in Whitehall decides I can.

So, watch this space, this girl is going somewhere!

Where does the time go?

2009-10-12T20:31:00.000+01:00

Another month has gone sailing by! A & I have had rotten colds, and they're still loitering in the background. D has had a sniffle but seems to be coping fine. K has just started with the first bout of sore throat/loss of voice and general cold symptoms of the winter. All in all we're a grotty lot!!!!

I've also been busy making decisions and getting the next phase of my life planned - more in the next post. It's been very strange, this transition from a HE parent to a not HE parent; it's almost like when they first went to school at 4 years old. I have found it quite strange and a bit disconcerting to suddenly have the house to myself all day. In fact it's so strange that I am usually out at least once a day, and I can count on one hand the number of weekday lunches I have had at home since 18th September. Yes, that's right, I crave social interaction. Best scrape yourselves off the floor now. Fortunately I can usually find an accommodating friend or two or, failing that, I'm not afraid to eat alone - in between various errands. Changes are afoot!

What a day!

2009-09-06T20:10:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I went to London to see Jill in Bart's. My bus ticket cost £18 return, a bargain (or so I thought). What a palaver!!!!! It took us from 8.50 till 10.25 to get from Fareham to Winchester, via Southampton Central and Southampton University. Then we headed for Heathrow, and that takes some driving round these days. Oh and they've replaced Concorde with an Emirates Airbus A380 (on the roundabout).

Afterwards we headed on the M4 into London. All was well and good till we got to Hammersmith. Then it was a lot of stop and a bit of start all the way to Hyde Park Corner. By the time we made it to Victoria it was 13.08, 45 minutes late. Now my return bus left at 17.50 so I didn't have much time to waste. So I headed for Victoria tube station.

Now Victoria tube station is right next to Victoria train station, but both of these are a bit of a walk from Victoria bus station. Then I had to get a ticket from the automated machines, and of course there was a queue!

I eventually got on to a tube and even got a seat after the next station. I got off at Mansion House (Blackfriars would have been easier but it's closed till 2011) and, trusty map book in hand, made my way past St Paul's to Bart's. Just to make life interesting I hadn't got a clue which ward Jill was in - never thought to ask her - and Bart's isn't great at making it easy. I ended up phoning A in a state of fraughtness asking him to text me the ward phone numbers.

Eventually I found the right floor of the right building. Of course I chose the wrong ward at first before getting it right. Jill was asleep but I'd barely got in her room when she woke up. She was very pleased to see me. Her room was a little warm, though that could have been me after the panic of getting into London and then finding her. We laughed and giggled, and chatted.

Then it was time for me to leave. As I had an hour before my bus left I figured I could walk it back. It didn't look far. Down Giltspur Street to Ludgate Hill. Along Fleet Street and Strand. Into Whitehall to Parliament Square. Then down Broadway and Victorial Street. Well of course I just missed the bus!!!! It was pulling out of the bus station as I was waiting to cross the road. Cue much swearing. That meant I would have to loiter around for a while before the next bus, plus pay for another ticket. So, being tired and weary and bloody fed up, I caught the tube back to Westminster, walked to Waterloo, where a train to Portsmouth left in 10 minutes. And this is where my day finally improved. It was the express service, so I was in Havant (where A came to fetch me) and then home before the bus I missed had made it into Fareham. Needless to say I slept well last night.

Next time I am definitely going by train. I don't care how much it costs!

And so it goes on

2009-09-02T13:05:00.003+01:00

I had an appointment this morning at the dermatology clinic for a review of my polymorphic light eruption (PLE) and a check on how the UV desensitisation was going. A came with me as his memories of the last couple of summers are different to mine - one of us is obviously getting Alzheimers LOL!

Before we went I had more or less decided to take next year off the desensitising just to see how effective it had been. Last year I had the treatment in the narrowband UVB machine, starting early February and finishing early-mid March. I had my first proper break out on May 11th. Yes, I had been 'foolish' insofar as going around in warm, sunny weather without long sleeves or sun cream. When I reacted I was devastated. However it never got as bad as the previous year (pre-treatment). Yet as the summer went on I slowly but surely reverted to that previous year's sensitivity levels.

This year I had the treatment in the 'other' machine (UVA & UVB), starting early March and finishing just before Easter (mid April). I broke out on Whit Sunday. Again it was probably my own fault for sitting in my friend's garden (too hot in the house, it was a sauna-like day) for 4 hours. I sat under an umbrella as much as possible but it was probably asking for trouble really. That evening I felt exhausted (could be down to the alcohol consumed or not) and very spotty, and a little itchy. This year I'd been a bit more careful and not taken so many chances, so I was particularly put out that although the treatment had started a month later it had only bought me 2 weeks extra freedom. And, like last year, as the summer has progressed I have once again reverted to pre-treatment levels of sensitivity. In fact in August my skin got spotty just from putting the washing out (grump!).

This is why I'd like a year off treatment to see how next year goes. The weather is rather an important, and uncontrollable, variable but if going into Southampton 3 times a week for 5 weeks for 20 minutes at a time (from entering to leaving) is not really going to get me more than 6 weeks or so's freedom is it really worth it? I think not, especially as all that radiation treatment ('cos that's what UV is) could possibly upset one of my moles and turn it cancerous.

So, after having a good cry in front of the SHO this morning, I got a chat with Dr Ardern-Jones himself. He is having second thoughts on the diagnosis of PLE. I have got to provide samples of my pee and poo, AND have blood taken (needles!!!!!!) all on the same day - yes I HATES needles, but if having regular jabs would calm all this down I'd do it. Oh, and none of them can be exposed to light. I have to catch them in foil covered containers, otherwise they will be contaminated and not be testable - any bright ideas on a postcard please.

That lot will get sent away and tested, mainly for porphyria with some blood being tested for lupus. If that lot come back negative I get a trip to Amersham/High Wycombe for some in-depth screening - they have better kit than Southampton. I had a choice between there, Cardiff and London. If I was on my own I'd probably have opted for London but, as A was with me and will be taxi driver on the day, he chose that one. What would I do without him!

Of course, I've been researching these conditions and, although I have no training whatsoever and therefore should not tell an expert he's looking the wrong way, I think it seems more likely to be lupus - certainly fits better with some of the non-skin issues I've had in recent years. If it does turn out to be porphyria (and there are 7 to choose from), please can it be one of those that doesn't have liver involvement. Me, no booze ever again?! Yeah, right.

A lull in the storm

2009-08-31T16:59:00.003+01:00

My friend Jill has iris melanoma - skin cancer in the eye. Yes you really can get it in the eye, search for it on the 'Net and see. She goes to a place in Gosport, HARBOUR CANCER SUPPORT GROUP, for a cuppa and a natter with people who understand her fears and she also gets free alernative therapies (donations gratefully received).

Jill goes into hospital tomorrow, ready for an operation on Wednesday, in London, to sew a radioactive disc into her eye to kill the tumour. She wanted to raise funds for the Support Group as, after 3 years, their lottery grant has run its course. As her house is quite small, and neither of us being sure a) when her surgery would be and b) if she would be having a good day or a bad day, we decided to hold the Open House/All-day Coffee morning here at mine. I printed loads of flyers and posters, and roped the kids into delivering them.

On Wednesday I shopped for the ingredients for some nice puds, cakes, and savoury nibbles. The kids and I spent Wednesday afternoon making sponge cakes and quadruple chocolate brownies (recipe shamelessly nicked from ITV). On Thursday after the chaos of getting exam results, we got stuck into making savouries - creamy ham puffs, and pitta crisps - and a rather nice chocolate, toffee and peanut torte (a little heavy on the peanut butter but nice). By 9pm I'd gone way past the end of my tether so A kidnapped me from the kitchen and forced me into the hot tub, pressganging the kids into finishing off and tidying up.

Friday dawned bright and early, I was up by 7.15 rearranging furniture and wondering how I was going to get everything done before the start time of 10.30. My kids were stars. They got up early, got fed and dressed without too much nagging, and got on with making some dips - hot broccoli, and creamy sun-dried tomato - whilst I went to Jill's to pick her up, as well as her youngest child. We didn't get as many guests as I'd hoped but we did manage to raise about £50! And of course I'd catered for too many so the 3 gannets that I live with have had plenty of pudding options this weekend. Another friend of mine came round with a bottle of fizz, so once it got to a civilised time (7pm) we cracked it open and proceeded to 'relax'. Slept well that night.

Anyway, if I could ask you to do whatever it is you do to mentally/spiritually offer good fortune to someone in need of it, please remember my friend Jill. Her cancer shouldn't be terminal, but she will need positive thoughts to deal with the pain and discomfort her operation will bring for a few weeks.

Thanks, friends!

And this week promises to be equally manic as tomorrow I have to take K to finalise college arrangements, plus pop into Harbour Support, plus pick up Jill's youngest for a couple of nights sleepover here; Wednesday I have the derm clinic for my skin (more on that soon); Thursday is the start of the Home Ed group at the hall, I am now Treasurer; Friday is a deep breath kind of day until going out in the evening with friends; Saturday, all things being well I am off to London, maybe with Jill's middle child, to visit her in hospital.

Clever child - part 3

2009-08-31T16:47:00.002+01:00

Now it's K's turn.

We spent a chaotic day last Thursday running around Hampshire, rounding up results from 2 different exam centres. Normally this wouldn't have been a problem but, as you'll read in the next post, I had other things that I really needed to be doing.

First to Portsmouth to meet a friend outside a private school that allowed our Home Education group to enter Maths GCSE private candidates. Friend went in to collect the envelopes whilst those of us who'd made the trek waited nervously outside. Not sure who was worse, us mums or the kids. Good news!!! K got an A!!

Then off to Hilsea to another friend to get a haircut - am now sporting a quite short 'do'. No more hair in food - other than what falls out naturally while I am cooking.

Then we called in at Cosham Tesco to grab sandwiches and drinks from the chiller - not the best form of nourishment but it's not something we make a habit of. Then into their Krispy Kreme outlet for some donuts to take home.

Then calling near home to drop D off so he could go to Iceland and get some frozen chicken for tea, and he walked home from there.

Then it was off to Southampton, right in the centre, to fetch K's ICGSE Chemistry results - IGCSE is international GCSE, a little harder than GCSE and a 'no coursework' option. This was the make-or-break result. Her college courses depended on her getting a C or better. So our nerves were stretched near to breaking point.

AND SHE DID IT, SHE GOT HER C!!!!!!! K was leaping around, squeaking, and nearly in tears of relief. I was numb, also with relief. Remember, I was marking her mocks and I could see how she struggled to remember the facts. I was not convinced she would get the grade. Once again she proved me wrong (she got a C in English last year when I predicted an E). She has been gracious enough NOT to rub my nose in it.

So tomorrow we are off to her chosen college to present her grades and confirm her courses for the coming year.

Am a student again

2009-08-25T15:49:00.003+01:00

I've enrolled on a college course, one full day a week. I'll be doing AAT Level 2 - the first level of an Accountancy qualification. I started it 15 years ago but, due to moving to a different part of the country, never got round to completing it. Of course, it's now too late and I have to start from scratch. It won't be an issue though as I need to refresh, especially as everyone seems to be computerised these days and some of the rules/laws have changed.

So I'll be off to college on Monday 14th September for a whole day - bet I'll be a bit tired that evening - with my briefcase loaded with paper and pencilcase, and my laptop just incase I need to do some serious writing. I just can't write fast enough to keep up with my brain, and besides if handwriting was a guide to future career prospects I'd be a senior consultant doctor person. Seriously, no one can read my writing unless I make a conscious effort. Should be fun.

I'm hoping this will increase my employability, and also hoping that some business somewhere will set me on and pay for the next 2 years.

Sometimes 'progress' isn't always good

2009-08-25T15:41:00.002+01:00

We have a gas barbecue. We've had it for a few years now. It was a good price - end of season, shop display model, slight ding in the metalwork, etc. A liked the idea that we could get food on it within 10 minutes of making the decision to light it. And I admit, that was what attracted me to it so, against my desire to 'keep it real', I agreed we'd buy it.

The downsides are - the food doesn't taste the same as a good old-fashioned charcoal, light it at least 40 minutes before you want to cook on it one; I don't feel confident about connecting the gas bottle to the grill. This last one is quite important don't you think, especially in light of my recent run of 'accidents'. I have NO IDEA how it should be done and don't trust myself to do it right.

Today is a gorgeous day and, knowing the weather in this wonderful country of ours, I'd like to fire it up and get some serious carbon in my diet LOL!!! Think I might have to send D into the garage and see if we still have any of those dinky disposable ones. Them I am comfortable with; there's a nice Freudian thought, someone who is happy with open flame but not at all comfortable with a gas bottle. Might just go and make some potato wedges to go with it.

Cya later.

We've won!

2009-08-23T18:55:00.002+01:00

England have regained The Ashes! For some inexplicable reason the pitch at The Oval was not its usual flat self. It was dry and dusty, balls breaking through the surface on Day 1 - guaranteeing a result. When we were all out in the first innings for under 350 I thought 'hmm, could be a tight match'. Then when the Aussies were out for 160 in their first innings, that was it, that was when I knew it was on. Yes, some of the umpiring decisions were wrong but I think it evens out over the series.

So now I have to find something else to watch. Oh yes, the one day series starts soon. Poor A is beginning to feel like a cricket widower.

Clever child - part 2

2009-08-21T11:41:00.002+01:00

Yesterday was AS results day. D drove to college, me being on strict ankle rest (ha ha ha). He got the grades we expected, B in Chemistry and Geology, and C in Computing. Now he has to decide whether he wants to continue with Computing or start a new course. You see, he has a bit of an attitude problem with his teachers (a little knowledge is a dangerous thing type of attitude) and he doesn't really enjoy the theory side - programming is fine - so he'd like to find a different course. Unfortunately there isn't much choice - can you see him doing AS English (ROFLOL) - so he may have to swallow it and behave.

BTW, he has his driving test on 10th September. Clear the roads in the afternoon - you have been warned!

My unlucky streak continues

2009-08-19T18:27:00.003+01:00

Today we went on a picnic to a local woodland with some friends. D drove us there and all was good. Then less than 100 feet away from the car park I decided to step on a piece of branch and roll my ankle over. I don't think it's anything serious - it certainly didn't stop us staying in the woods till 5pm. However, it now aches a bit and bruises seem to be appearing in various bits of my ankle/foot where it doesn't hurt!

Anyone have an isolated cocoon I can hire for a month?

Back in circulation

2009-08-18T16:13:00.002+01:00

Did you miss me? I've been on holiday, nowhere exotic, visiting family in and around Nottingham. And of course I continued to wreak mayhem for the early part of the week. On Monday I managed to splash myself with hot fat. Fortunately the dish had been out the oven for a minute so the fat was no longer sizzling, and most of it went down my clothes instead. There's just a tiny mark on the inside of my forearm. Equally fortunately MIL (where we were) had a copious supply of aloe vera so the blister that began to form soon went away. Almost immediately afterwards I tried to fall over the table leg and almost ended up head first in A's lap (bad visuals, huh?!). I decided that my issue was being stone cold sober so MIL plonked a glass of wine in front of me which seemed to help.

On Tuesday we went to Skegness for our annual jaunt. For me it was a day of NO mishaps, breakages, electrical issues, etc. We all had a blast and came home tired but happy, until that is Mum told us off (in fun) for not bringing home any candy floss or brandy snaps.

Wednesday was K's 16th birthday. We went to lunch at Mum's local golf club, and were joined by all K's grandparents and cousins. The cousins came back to Mum's for the afternoon and tea. All 4 children - cousins and my two - played outside nearly all afternoon, so it was quite quiet in the house. We also realised that D sounds exactly like my brother, even down to tone of voice and his way of pronouncing certain words. Scary, eh!!!!

On Thursday A helped Dad to fit a new internet wireless router. D, K and I went into town to buy sweets - there's an old fashioned sweet shop - and call in at Tesco to pick up some ingredients for tea on Friday. D drove home via the back country roads, and handled himself very well. When we got back Mum's washing machine packed up. It looked like my jinx was back by proxy. She blamed A, as it stopped soon after the router was switched on. That afternoon she and Dad bought a new one. Then K and I went for a manicure and full-body hot stone massage respectively. Very nice. That evening A and I went to the pub with A's Dad for a few beers. I was deemed safe to drive and therefore designated taxi for the evening.

On Friday we went into Nottingham, and had lunch at an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. A took K ice skating whilst D and I went bowling. K loved it and is now insistent that Daddy take her skating every week. Sounds like some serious daddy/daughter bonding time.

We came home on Saturday, followed a few hours later by my brother and niece. Niece had a special riding session in the New Forest, a present for her birthday from some friends.

Since then, I've sorted out (finally) a fundraiser - 28th August 10.30am - 8.30pm if you're local enough - for a local cancer support group that do a great job, taken delivery of next season's stationery and some of the new product for my job. Still working on where to put it all. I've also received all my paperwork from the tax office, so have to get that sorted out this week.

This week is just as crazy. I shall be delegating the driving to D, as he has his driving test on 10th September. He's more than up for it. Good job my nerves are. ;-)

You know you're running your own business when....

2009-08-08T13:44:00.003+01:00

..... you're packing for your holiday and the first thing you do is make sure you have packed all your business paperwork needs for the week.

I mean, I used to laugh cynically at all those news reports of big (or those who think they are big) business men lying round the pool with their BlackBerry or i-phone permanently on, keeping in contact with the office back home. And yet, within 3 months of launching myself on an unsuspecting public I am doing a less extravagant version of the same thing.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This week I have launched a website - sorry the rules state I may NOT link to it from my blog, nor may I advertise it in the public domain (talk about limiting your ability to make contacts) - sorted through my customer contacts and entered them on to a database, used said database to send business e-mails, will be using said database to print address labels off for those customers whose e-mail addresses I don't have, started planning a fundraiser for a local charity (more info later), helped open a bank account for another group (for whom I am Treasurer), laid out the Aims of said group on paper, and now just have to type up the Rules for a sub-group of this group. All this over and above the usual mundanity of laundry, cleaning, tidying, shopping, etc.

If you really want my business website address, contact me by e-mail. G'wan, you know you want to.

One of those weeks!

2009-08-07T18:25:00.002+01:00

This has been an interesting week, techonology-wise. On Wednesday I finally plucked up the courage to get myself a Pampered Chef website. I'm not allowed to post a link to it on here but if you want it, e-mail me and I'll send it to you (strange rule I know, but.....). I then spent 3 hours playing with the settings, viewing the finished article to make sure everything was fine - most of the work is done for you, it's just the personalisation bit that you need to sort out. Then, suddenly, the website wouldn't come up any more. I assumed it was a case of waiting for final approval from on high, so I started playing with the content aimed only at us consultants.

Yesterday there was still no sign of a 'live' site so I started adding my customer information into the site's database, along with notes on what they'd bought and what they'd like if it ever came up on special offer. Then, suddenly, that bit broke - crashed completely. Cue one frantic phone call to the helpdesk. The nice man unblocked whatever I'd broke and I had a live site and a working database. :-))))))

Today I picked up the phone to call a friend. Bet you can guess what happened? Yep, the phone threw a hissy fit and refused to work. Soon got it sorted out but A has banned me from touching the new oven.

That's 3 technological hiccups. Ya think I've had my allocation?

And there's more!

2009-07-31T20:05:00.004+01:00

Another box arrived to day with more freebies in, just over £238 worth this week. Fortunately I don't have to re-organise the kitchen yet again.

D is off to Explorer Camp tomorrow on the Isle of Wight. A has to have him and a friend down to the Red Funnel terminal in Southampton by 8.15am. Not too bad you might think, except tomorrow is the first day of Cowes Week and the ferry terminal is likely to be packed. Hence why A is taking him and not me.

K's back is slowly improving. She can get her hands behind the small of her back but still has trouble reaching up to brush her hair. She fell off a tyre swing and landed on her neck and shoulder. Fortunately we have an osteopath friend who could fit her in on Wednesday. She has a follow-up appointment for Tuesday morning as friend couldn't do a full treatment due to the pain level. K is being good and doing the exercises that were set.

I hit the meaning of life tomorrow - 42 to you non-Hitchikers people.

Oh, and the hot tub is back to full working order. It's so quiet. I'm sure it was never this quiet at all in the 6 years we've had it. I'll be in there later (again), watching the stars come out as the sun goes down, possibly with a glass of wine.

And you know what really got my goat today?! Yesterday was supposed to be THE day to get your washing done, and it gave us heavy showers. Today was supposed to be cloudy with showers, and we had lots of sun and some clouds. No rain whatsoever. Big deal, you might think. Well, I had plans to get the washing done yesterday and have been out all day today. So the laundry pile is still taking over the bathroom. And what's tomorrow's forecast - cloud and showers! HUH!!!!!!

Need a new kitchen

2009-07-29T20:39:00.004+01:00

... to go with the new oven we needed last week, after the old one's thermostat threw a hissy fit and cremated a tray of brownies in 10 minutes flat. Seriously this Pampered Chef job is pretty good at giving us drones freebies. In the past two days I have had 2 boxes of stuff for free, currently totallying £178, all for hitting various sales targets in my first 8 weeks. And there's another box of freebies due because I did 4 or more parties in June.

Today I went through the kitchen sorting out what we never used from everything else - still got another couple of cupboards to do. Then I unpacked my 'work' bag into the small cupboard I'd managed to empty. Now all I need to do is find space for today's box AND the one I am expecting. And this is before I order the new stuff from the Autumn/Winter catalogue. Think I need to get earning so I can afford a brand new, redesigned, all whistles and bells kitchen with TONS of storage.

A keeps casting a critical eye on my stock and wants to know if I really need all the new stuff. Well, of course I need the new stuff. Got to have something to show the customers. I did offer to quit completely but he told me not to be silly. I think he enjoys the free stuff as much as I do.

Next on my list of 'want it now' perks is the Hamper. I earn it by having loads of parties and loads of sales in September and October. I wouldn't mind earning enough and getting 5 recruits by the end of February 2010 so I can go to Greece with A - all free and dead posh. Now that's a perk and a half!

Did I tell you I love my job!!!!!

Clever child part 1

2009-07-28T20:08:00.002+01:00

Part 1 because AS/GCSE results come out towards the end of August.

D passed his driving theory test today! And once again I didn't see much evidence of revision. Next in line is the practical test - not sure when but he's not far off ready.

Then he can taxi himself to all his social events in the evening, as long as I'm not working.

It's not rocket science

2009-07-27T18:32:00.002+01:00

Someone at A's workplace was moaning about how his wife's car is having trouble. It keeps cutting out and the manufacturer isn't being particularly good at getting to the root of the problem. A asked him if it was a ************ (no don't count the stars, they're a random amount) - I can't mention names as it is likely to leave me open to legal action (stupid as all I'm going to say is true and can be found by a search of the internet). His friend was astounded to hear that A knew that. A then explained our history with them.

My parents had one of their larger models pretty much from new - an M plate. They had issues with the car cutting out, thereby rendering the power-steering and power-brakes totally useless. It even happened at speed on a motorway. Many moons later I owned an estate (V plate), one size down from parents. Within months it started cutting out at slow speed, which is not a lot of fun when you are approaching a junction or a roundabout - and even less fun when you have your kids in the car with you. Our local dealer had the temerity to suggest it was the way I was driving it!!! I then pointed out that I can drive Ferraris on race tracks and Golf GTIs on off-road tracks, both with a certain flair beyond the average punter, so their excuse was pathetic. Well, they weren't my exact words but you get the gist. A ended up threatening to drive it through their plate glass showroom window unless they found out what was going on, as the fault wasn't leaving a message on the car's on-board computer. Within a couple of days the car stalled on their driver. I was SO pleased. Funnily enough it was fixed PDQ, except that they put the part on upside down and made a mess; I didn't find this out till this part needed replacing again. That's right, the fix is only temporary. It'll last for 11 - 18 months before needing replacing again.

Now, you'd think that a manufacturer of such popular renown would have got it sorted out, if not between M and V plates then at least from V to now. Apparently not as A's friend's wife's car (phew) is having the self-same issues. Obviously this manufacturer doesn't give a damn about us the customer.

If you really want to know which one I'm talking about, it was the car I had before the Merc (same colour but smaller). Still none the wiser, drop me an e-mail, especially if you are looking to change your car.

Swine Flu

2009-07-14T20:17:00.003+01:00

My SIL has just been confirmed as having swine flu, having caught it from a co-worker last week. Fingers crossed (prayers, positive vibes - whatever floats your boat) that it doesn't pass on to other members of the family. Her daughter H has asthma and my Mum has heart issues (remnants of rheumatic fever from her childhood) so both are on the 'at greater risk' list.

Because of this we won't be going up to visit next week for our annual 'cheap' holiday. D is also asthmatic, though you wouldn't know it to see him, and therefore doesn't really need to catch it either.

My heart goes out to those who are losing loved ones to this virus. Not to belittle their loss, but more people die on this country's roads each day and we don't get our undies in a knot about that and start avoiding driving do we. Which brings me round to just what IS worth getting into a panic over. I dunno. I suppose driving (and it's inherent dangers) is an acceptable risk, something we accept whenever we turn the ignition key. It's a choice we make. However to be infected by a potentially fatal virus by someone who is 'toughing it out' is not something we can easily avoid. And I think that is the difference between the two - CHOICE!

So we choose not to get any closer to the virus than we strictly have to, and seeing as I had a particularly rotten bout of flu over Christmas I think I am justified in not wanting to feel that ill again for a year or ten.

Hold the front page

2009-06-29T10:18:00.003+01:00

D has shaved his beard off!!!!!!!!!!

Apparently the weather is a bit too warm for a chin overcoat. Those of you who know D will know that he hasn't been near a shaver since his uncle's wedding at the end of November. So, his beard grew slowly but surely. It was an inch or so long. Various members of the family had mentioned a passing resemblance to Shaggy (from Scooby Doo).

Now 'tis no more. (Except that he couldn't be bothered to do the moustache bit).

Did you know they let blind people drive these days?

2009-06-12T14:45:00.002+01:00

K & I were on our way to Asda this morning - the larder was empty and, as the weekend is upon us, it needed filling. We were travelling along Longfield Avenue, a wide road between Titchfield and Fareham, chatting about nothing in particular. There are a couple of gentle bends along Longfield, near Bishopsfield Road. Coming towards us was a car (on its own side of the road) which looked to be doing the speed limit of 30mph. Behind it was another car half on its side of the road and half on mine. This car's driver decided that all he had to do was get his offside wheels nearer to the white line but still on MY side of the road and all would be well - and Longfield Avenue is wide enough. I moved over towards the gutter just to be sure. The driver looked like he was totally fed up being stuck behind someone ONLY doing 30 and was trying to overtake.

OK, so starting your manoeuvre before you can see what's coming isn't very clever; neither is still having some of your car on the wrong side of the road when there is oncoming traffic. Wanting to overtake a driver doing the speed limit is not really very clever BUT doing all of this with not one but TWO police cars directly behind you certainly sets this guy up as a possible Darwin Awards winner (search for it - you'll be surprised at just how stupid people can be). Needless to say that both police cars put their blue lights on as they passed me. Coincidence? I don't think so, especially seeing as they didn't go tearing past the cars in front to get anywhere quick. I wish I could have found somewhere to park up and watch as they pulled him.

So far, so good

2009-05-29T13:09:00.002+01:00

I've now done two Pampered Chef parties and earned myself £65. It doesn't sound much for 3 weeks work but when you realise that it was less than 8 hours work in total, the hourly rate is much more interesting - somewhere around £8 - £10 per hour. Certainly worth my while! June is already busy with 5 parties (but I can certainly squeeze in one or two more), and I've already started booking for July.

Today is a beautiful day. The kids are in town with friends, and A is at work, so the house is all mine - a rarity till September when both D & K are at college. So I'm sat at the computer listening to Bon Jovi and catching up on reading some blogs. I may even drag up Civ IV shortly. Oh, the decadence! I probably should point out that there are already 2 loads of washing on the line and all the paperwork from last night's party is dealt with, so I'm not being a lazy toad all day - though it does have its appeal.

Last Sunday friend E had a house-warming party. Her back garden has very little shade but some kind soul had brought along some umbrellas to act as parasols, so I borrowed one - not a perfect solution but better than nothing. I survived in short sleeves for a few hours until the rash started. I'm not downhearted about it this year, as spending 4 - 5 hours in direct sunshine is probably asking for trouble. However I am feeling quite smug about it as the rash didn't develop into full-blown red spots - it was more bumps in the skin. Now all I have to do is wait for them to clear off (up to two weeks from flare up).

The kids have finally spotted themselves a nice little earner - unfortunately it is me that is coughing up. They've twigged that voluntarily doing chores round the house and helping me with my PC stuff will probably trigger financial remuneration. D, in particular, has been most helpful in the last few days as he has too much month at the end of his allowance (as usual).

A is working hard but seems to have his hayfever under control (so far!). I've probably jinxed him now. We're making a slow but steady effort in sorting out the garage so that - GASP! - we can get to anything in it from the internal door instead of having to open the main door to get to the fuse box. Wonder if the local tip will start charging us business rates for all the clutter we're getting rid of.

How many managing directors?!

2009-05-18T10:35:00.003+01:00

My wonderful darling husband is a managing director of his own limited company. It has worked well for us and given us a life that we might otherwise not have had. It enabled me to be a stay-at-home-mum - you know, one of those people who are envied and pitied in equal measure. I'd rather have your envy; you can stick your pity - hang it alongside your Prada suits and Gucci handbags.

Except ..... now I am a managaing director too!!!!!! I have my own business that is just getting started. Will it support us both in the future? Maybe. It won't be through lack of effort on my part. I just have to get the selling side organised, the paperwork is easy enough.

I adore The Pampered Chef. Once I've got my initial 6 parties done and dusted I can work as much or as little as I want (as long as I make £150 worth of sales every other month). The harder I work, the more I earn. And there's no limit to how high I can go. On Saturday I met someone within the organisation who earns £12,000 per MONTH!!!! And yes, she does earn it - doing parties, training talks, workshops, etc. I'm not sure I'd want quite that much work but I'd definitely settle for that amount per year.

If anyone wants to join me, let me know.

I have a job!!!!!

2009-05-09T18:30:00.002+01:00

And I didn't need to attend an interview to get it. I've been trying to find paid employment since October last year. I've had 4 interviews and no success, out of upwards of 50 applications. Now I have one. Like I said, no interview, no competition for the coveted role, no set hours, no office politics and all the holidays I want. Sounds good, eh?!

What am I doing, I hear you ask. Well, last week I went out with friend A to a Pampered Chef party. Now I've been a fan of their Stoneware for a year or two, so I took the plunge and signed up to be a Kitchen Consultant. My kit arrives on Monday (my first official day) and my first party is on Wednesday, held here at Dark Corner Towers (those of you who know me know where that is). D is hosting it and I get to practice my patter and cooking skills.

I'm keeping away from the rings, wreaths and plaits for a while - need to get them sorted out before I let them loose on an unsuspecting public - but am game to try anything else. The rest of the household are salivating at the thoughts of having to 'road test' my efforts - it's a hard life they lead.

So, if there is anyone out there who is interested in Pampered Chef, wants to come to my party on Wednesday, wants a party of their own, or fancies being their own boss, get in touch. I'll be more than happy to see you.

My bad!

2009-04-30T16:30:00.002+01:00

Apparently, my daughter hates me. This is not your typical teenage angst. My crime? Getting her interested in possibly studying AS Maths at college as well as her other choices. (You know how she is with decision-making).

K is on course to get an A at least at Maths GCSE, and this will be her best grade at this level. To me it seems a little strange to not go on and study something that you have an ability at. Admittedly, she is not as naturally intuitive as her brother.

Yesterday we were sat in a cafe having a toasted cheese and ham ciabatta sandwich each when I told her about such things as number theory, remainder theory, and group theory - and the attendant things like Cayley tables. These things are part of the Open University course MS221 and are a lot of fun. They can also elicit some swearing. Last night I was looking at Bletchley Park, a possible trip during half-term in May. They have some maths resources, looking at how maths is used in making, and breaking, codes - from genetic fingerprinting through encryption to how ISBN numbers are created for books. I showed it K and she is now working through the units (her choice). These units are aimed from KS2 (7 - 11 yrs) all the way to A-Level (18 yrs).

Hic!

2009-04-19T18:39:00.004+01:00

Remember last August when I started some home-made wine? I've just bottled a gallon of tea wine and a gallon of 'fruit punch' - frozen fruit salad from a farm shop. Very nishe!!! (Because you just HAVE to sample, don't you).

Tomorrow I shall have a look at what is 'living' in the airing cupboard, see if it is salvagable, and start some more. If it takes 2 - 9 months to go from raw to ready I shall need to start some new stuff every couple of months or so. I will definitely be starting some more tea wine (9 months +) and some apple (from cartons, 2 months-ish). If the government are going to keep increasing alcohol duty then I'll just have to make my own permanently. Just don't let them up the tax on brewing supplies.

Long time, no write

2009-04-17T20:19:00.004+01:00

I've been too busy living life to write about it.

The job-hunting front is a 'bad' topic. A says I can go to college and get some qualifications if I can decide what I want to do. Unfortunately I CAN'T decide. Do I get some proper office qualies or do I do something different? Decisions, decisions! For now we have decided that I should do some voluntary work. It'll give me some current references and experience, just no pay. But, you never know it might morph into a real job.

A has got his hayfever/snuffly sinus allergies under reasonable control. He's been taking Hayleve (cheap OTC remedy) and it seems to be working. Fingers crossed for tonight as we are going to try sharing a bed, something that's not happened regularly for the better part of 7 years or more. You see, he snores. It's loud enough that if he goes up for a nap during the day I can hear him over the tv. No amount of prodding or changing of position helps. None of these anti-snore devices make a difference either. So we have separate rooms on different floors of the house (with an old external wall between us), otherwise we'd probably be divorced by now. He wants to take me away for our wedding anniversary this year (20 years) so we have to start being able to share a room first.

K is a clever girl. She has just got the results from her latest Maths module exams in March, an A in each paper - 50/60 in the multichoice and 52/60 in the structured. I am so proud of her as she doesn't really like the subject. She's refusing to study it at AS level yet it will probably be the best of her GCSE grades. She's off on a sleepover tomorrow night.

D is considering his university choices for September 2010. D & I have spent 4 days this week visiting Aberdeen and St Andrew's. Don't think Scotland likes us though as it was sunny when we arrived and sunny when we left but cold, wet, and/or foggy for the rest of the time. These visits also raised as many questions as they answered. Yes, he'd be quite happy going to either of them but, thanks to St Andrew's, he might also want to do a single honours in Chemistry rather than a joint honours in Geology and Chemistry. Cue more soul searching and changing of minds. He has been trying to make his mind up between Oxford and Cambridge too. Both do interesting courses but their entry requirements might be a bit too much. The silly boy didn't revise for his January modules and got high Bs. Just got to hope that he works hard enough to turn those into As in summer.

As for me, I survived the Scotland sojourn. D might not be as bad as his Dad for snoring but he's certainly in training. I've finished my 'medical microwave' sessions for this year. Of course since then I've had minimal opportunity to keep topping up in sunny weather! D & I played golf at St Andrew's - there's a pitch & putt right next to the 18th fairway on the Old Course. You just have to, don't you. I won by one hole!!!!!

There, I'm more or less up to date again. No more moaning when you see me.

Did you miss me (again)

2009-03-19T18:21:00.003Z

I've been busy - again! This time I'm decorating, with help from A of course. A new lounge carpet is being fitted next week and the current decor just wasn't suitable for the new colour scheme. So I've been sanding, washing, dusting, hoovering, painting, and swearing a little.

Swearing? Why? Well, you'd swear if you kept catching your flesh on carpet gripper-rods. The gripper-rods were exposed because I wanted to get as far down the skirting board with the gloss as possible. So now my hands have a few new scars. Fortunately the blood didn't get on the woodwork.

The walls? They're a rather nice shade of dry sand. The woodwork is glossy white, except for the doors - they'll be taken outside during the summer (we WILL get one, I have decided) and painted then.

And you can tell the difference! It's amazing how the sun fades white gloss, especially as we haven't painted it in the nearly 12 years we've lived here. (Sorry, MIL).

My next project is the kitchen. The cupboard doors are dark wood and, as the kitchen gets very little direct sunlight, they need lightening. A is unsure as to whether this would look nice or not. One day he'll come home and find out the hard way.

The job-hunting is still slow and labourious. I am applying for apprenticeships - there's no maximum age - even though the wages aren't great. At least I'll get paid to get current qualifications.

Tomorrow A & I are off to Nottingham to visit the family. The kids are staying here to show how they can be responsible and trustworthy. (I've already had to tell them NO SLEEPOVERS!).

The boy done good

2009-03-12T20:35:00.002Z

Today D got the results from the AS modules in January - both Grade Bs (Chemistry and Geology). Then he told me that if he'd actually done any revision he might well have got As.

Sigh!!!!!

Am unloved!

2009-03-12T14:56:00.003Z

At least in the working world. That's right, I didn't get the Trainee Accountant job. However I now have another half-dozen or so irons in the job-hunting fire.

Apparently these Modern Apprenticeships have no upper age limit so I'm applying for 3 of them. Why not! It's getting paid (seriously low money) to get bits of paper that say I'm competent at certain administrative procedures. These are instantly marketable and should stop me being ignored for people with more current experience.

Then there's a Science Technician required at a school in Southsea, 15 hours per week. Again the pays not fantastic but no experience necessary so what the heck. It's right next to Fratton station so I don't even have to drive in.

There's a Dispensary Assistant required in Wickham's doctors surgery, again no experience necessary but must be prepared to study for Dispensary qualifications. Must make sure I don't confuse eye drops with ear drops, as happened to poor D once.

Also there's an opening to work for my local MP as a full-time caseworker, sorting out constituents issues by liaising with the necessary government branches and hopefully finding a mutually satisfactory solution. All I'd need to do then is work out how to secure a £200K handshake when I make a complete horlicks of it. LOL!!!!!!

I am also considering taking up something I've always thought about but never had the nerve to try for - midwifery! I have experience on my side. Apparently the NHS pays your course fees, assuming you can bag one of the few well-sort-after positions. Southampton University has 25 places and 25 applicants per place. Probably no worse odds than I usually battle when job-hunting. I have to make enquiries as I am a mature student and the entry requirements are sometimes different to the straight from A-levels brigade. Plus I think it might be a bit late for this year.

This leads back to the beginning of this post in a way. If I have to take courses to get bits of paper to get a job, do I go for courses that bolster what I can already do or do I go for something new and very different (but no less interesting)? Because the way it's looking I am going to be very lucky to get a job as most require recent experience or relevant qualifications. Hence the reason I feel unloved and unwanted by the wider business world. To be fair to them it's a hirer's market at the moment and why should they take a punt on someone whose skills are rusty at best when there are so many people around who are up to speed.

Bye bye, Merc. Hello Focus

2009-03-06T20:55:00.004Z

After 3 years of faithful service, and right before it started to get expensive to keep going, the Merc has gone. Now I have my Ford Focus and it is much more comfortable to drive. I picked it up this afternoon and drove round the corner to Asda to fill it up. No problems there, a mere £41. Coming back through Asda's car park on the main through way and some dozy bitch decided to pull out of a side road right in front of me - she was busy seeing to her lipstick. I would like to report that the brakes, horn and seatbelt tensioners work just fine, and the silly woman doesn't have a bright blue streak on her minibus. She didn't even apologise or look sheepish, just peered at me and carried on her way. That would be close to a record wouldn't it; you pick it up, fill it up and write it off, all in 5 minutes!

The interview yesterday went well, or so I think. I had made it to a shortlist of 6 out of the many applicants. Now I have to wait to see if I'm in the last two. I really want this job - the money is fine, the perks are perky, and the prospects are eye-opening once I've got all the necessary qualifications (which they are paying for). Fingers crossed.

Oh and two of my wines are about ready for bottling. It's gonna be a great weekend ;-)

It's snowing!

2009-03-05T07:52:00.001Z

The weather forecasters were right again. It's not going to settle though, as it has rained for most of the night.

A selfish post

2009-03-04T18:44:00.002Z

This one's all about me and none of the others are going to get a mention.

Yesterday I started broadband UVB desensitisation for my P(M)LE. It was only a small patch test to find out what dose would give me a burn. I ended up going pink in two of them, and applying copious amounts of aqueous cream to soothe the stinging.

Today I had my first proper session. They started me off at 50% of the dose that caused the pinkness yesterday. This evening my whole back is slightly pink and quite warm, as is one elbow. A (the only mention, honest) has had a pleasurable few minutes slapping E45 all over.

Also yesterday I got a reply from a job I applied for last week, the Junior Accounting Clerk one in Eastleigh. I have an interview tomorrow at 2pm. Fingers crossed I do alright. They are proposing to send the lucky person to college in September to start their accountancy qualifications.

Oh, and I got a haircut today at the local college.

New addition to the household

2009-03-01T20:10:00.003Z

No, not a puppy. Hands up all those who thought that's what I meant.

Today A & I bought a new car. Now, by new I don't mean brand new 09 plate. It's new for us and relatively new compared to our current ones. Hopefully on Friday I will take the Merc and trade it in for a Ford Focus 05 plate in Aquarius blue with 38,000 on the clock. I took it for a spin today and it is very nice. It's been years since I have driven a manual car but this one feels good and I didn't 'kangaroo' it once - unlike when I drive A's and have a lot of clutch issues in low gears.

We went looking for either a Fiesta or a Fusion but the deal was right for this one so there we are. It is the same make as the one D has his lessons in but ours is a 1.4 LX. It is quite responsive to the accelerator, not taking much effort to hit 55mph.

He's not a natural

2009-02-27T21:10:00.002Z

D spent all Wednesday morning getting more and more agitated about his driving lesson. So by the time 1pm rolled round he was a bit of a wreck. Two hours later he and the instructor, and the car, were back in one piece with no bumps or scrapes. He'd managed to get the hang of changing gear and steering but tended to go to pieces when turning at junctions - thank goodness for dual controls. He was not entirely sure whether he wanted another lesson but we booked one. Now that a couple of days have passed he's quite pleased with what he could do and feels ready to tackle the next stage. He definitely doesn't take after his parents, as we took to it like a duck to water.

So anyone in our area should avoid us between 9 - 11am on Wednesday. You have been warned.

Strangely enough my insurance company were quite happy to insure D to drive my Merc (E240 estate) for only an extra £480 till November, with £800 excess. This is scary as the day before my 25th birthday I couldn't get insurance to drive A's Granada Scorpio, even though I'd been driving for nearly 7 years. Needless to say we will NOT be letting D near my Merc as it is automatic (and the size of a tank).

Amateur commentators

2009-02-27T21:02:00.002Z

Or how to wind up the wife!

A knows I like to watch the cricket. Or to be more precise I like to have the TV on when England are playing whilst I do things like iron, dust, or mess around on my laptop. I can very rarely just watch TV, I'm weird like that.

Recently he has decided to copy my father and try to outdo the commentators, saying out loud his opinion on every ball. And, like my father, he still hasn't learnt that it's not appreciated by us women-folk. Yes, you fellas are entitled to your opinions but no, we women do NOT want to hear them. We have been watching the game from the start and are much more likely to have a grasp of what's going on than you do. You wouldn't really want us to return the favour when it's your favourite sport, would you?

And Again!!!

2009-02-25T11:19:00.002Z

I can't believe it's nearly 3 weeks since the last post. I really must give up this life stuff, it gets in the way. LOL!!!

D turned 17 last week. My baby has his first driving lesson today, so those of you with a PO postcode would do well to avoid the western reaches of that code this afternoon. He may also venture into the eastern reaches of the SO code. You have been warned!

I have just had to turn down 2 weeks paid work. It's full-time with a 7.30am start. I really don't do early starts - would much rather have a late finish. I've also applied for some trainee/junior positions with sound interesting. One is for a trainee accounting technician; another is for a trainee legal administration assistant. With having nearly 18 years out of the job market I figured I'd be better off starting at the bottom again. I have every intention of losing the trainee tag ASAP but really need some current experience and references. Also RSH (hospital) has called me in for my annual UV desensitisation treatments starting next week so I'm not really in the market for full-time work for the next 5 - 6 weeks, unless it's in Southampton.

Oh, and I have a cold again. I enjoyed the 6 weeks break from germs. Now if I could just get 6 months or more break before the next lot I'd appreciate it. More on the driving lesson later.

Playing Catch Up - again

2009-02-07T18:22:00.003Z

The snow has been and gone - for now. We are all getting back to normal. Most of the downstairs of the house is fur free - it's amazing how much he shed. The running routine is coming back and the weight-loss is progressing slowly.

D has decided that being home educated for the past 4.5 years has given him the edge over his classmates at college, as he is used to finding things our for himself and not waiting for the teacher to come along and help him solve his problems. Now I just have to hope he continues this at university.

K has a bit of a sniffle and a lot of attitude today. She reckons she didn't sleep well last night so I've told her to get her light out earlier tonight.

A is also sniffly, and feeling quite sore this evening. He came out for a run with me this afternoon and now his knees and back are letting him know they exist!

I have a serious urge to spring-clean - no I'm not pregnant! This has caused a few aches in the neck and shoulders but my osteopath friend is on the case.

We were supposed to be going to Nottingham this weekend. However the snow that has fallen between here and there has put this off for a couple of weeks or so. It's a shame really as we adults were hoping that it would be just the two of us. The kids are getting to that age where they don't always want to do what we do and we think they are ready to be left overnight (having been babysitting for themselves for at least a couple of years now).

Grief stricken

2009-01-21T16:18:00.007Z

It is with great sadness that I must announce the passing of a dear friend. Today our wonderful companion of 10 years, Scooby Doo, will leave us. His life, of late, has been difficult. He has had to deal with hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative disc disease (and one operation to relieve compression of the spinal cord caused by this), arthritis, recurring superficial pyoderma, and a non-specific allergy giving him a drippy nose and gummy eyes. Add to that the suspicion of chronic degenerative retinal myelopathy (look up CDRM online to find out how much fun that is), which can't be definitively diagnosed pre-mortem.

I think it's 10 years ago next week since I fetched this bundle of fluff from a local breeder. He instantly settled in, hardly crying at all at night. However we soon realised that he was easily bored and tended towards destruction if not supervised. He was also very sociable and thought that everyone loved him and was his friend. Somehow he worked out how to open the door on our 6 foot upright freezer, the one with the killer vacuum door seal that we need two hands to open. So everytime I went out I would come back to a freezer full of semi defrosted food. A dog crate cured that.

Scooby was loved by most who met him. After all, not everyone is impressed by a large German Shepherd coming bounding over to say "Hello!". Yes we went to training, but that was the one thing we couldn't break the habit of. He loved running around and catching his frisbee or ball. He enjoyed playing tag and hide and seek with the kids, and was ecstatic when the hose was turned on. He learnt new tricks very easily, loving the thinking involved as much as the action.

In recent years his health issues caught up with him. Since New Year this year he has had difficulty controlling his back legs. We were hopeful that, as in previous occasions, it would right itself after a period of rest. Sadly this was not to be.

On Monday of this week I took him to the vets, using the car for a journey of less than a quarter of a mile. He managed to half fall off the ramp out of the car, reversed back into the boot and refused to budge. The vet came out to see him and make sure there was no obvious damage. Then we had 'that talk' about how we were counting in days and maybe weeks, rather than weeks to months. I crossed my fingers and hoped that once again he would prove her wrong. Last may the vet had predicted that making his birthday in October would be pushing it and Christmas was really hoping. My boy proved her wrong then but not this time.

Yesterday he seemed to get worse but I put it down to jarring himself the previous day. Today he cannot walk at all. His back legs won't hold him up and he can just about manage to stagger/drag himself a couple of feet before it becomes too much effort. He has eaten his food wherever he is lying, but has now stopped accepting liquids. He hasn't been outside for toiletting since 6.15 this morning. He is just about managing to roll from one side to the other, by the radiator 'cos it's warmer. It is time!

By 6.15 this evening he will be chasing around that big field in the sky, pain-free and with all the stamina in the world. We will be grief-stricken to lose an amazing friend. Goodbye my gentle giant!

Scooby Doo

R.I.P.

28/10/98 - 21/01/09