Grace in Small Things 6 - 10

#6 Re-visiting favourite childhood reads.
#7 Pudding and chips.
#8 Lovely mown grass.
#9 A happy tea time table.
#10 Being "the best mummy in the world EVER"

RIP my favourite jeans

I've been wandering around all day singing Hole In My Shoe; remember that song? Neil from The Young Ones did a cover of it a couple of erm...decades ago (?!) Anyway, instead of singing the "hole in my shoe" bit I sang, with some gusto, "hole in my jeans" (HA! You see what I did there? 'Cos I'm witty I am!). Notwithstanding the fact that d#1 kept rebuking me because "your jeans can't let in water and, anyway, 'knew' and 'jeans' don't rhyme like 'knew' and 'shoe' do mummy, so sort it out!" (OMG this is getting long winded...you just have to listen to the song to understand and this post is really not about the song - forgive me!).

ANYWAY, I have been resolutely singing my little dirge all day because readers....guess what??!!! You never will so I'll tell yer...THERE'S A HOLE, in my JEANS!!! My favourite jeans have developed a hole. It's not wholly (ha, ha geddit? I did warn you about my sharp wit) unexpected. In truth, I've been observing it's progress over a number of weeks; BUT , my comfy jeans, my favourite jeans!? What I'm I going to wear now??!! They're not particularly trendy (my thighs will not accommodate jeans of the "skinny" variety). They weren't expensive; about tuppence ha'penny in the sale at GAP, they weren't even my favourite until recently but they are now and I don't want them to die!!! I guess, even though they aren't "cutting edge", they definitely fall into the archetypal "throw them on in the morning, goes with anything, never dates" category. Plus, they're flattering and my post natal belly needs all the flattering it can get! So, now I must stalk the GAP shop until I find the exact same jeans or transfer my affections to one of my other 5 pairs of jeans.

RIP wholly jeans. Tell me about your favourite jeans; help me the smile again..


PS Here's Hole In My Shoe, just in case you're desperate to know what I was wittering on about

Grace in Small Things 1 - 5

#1The sound of my favourite tree.
#2Finishing a job.
#3Much needed cuddles.
#4The family together for a long weekend.
#5Country pubs.

To work or not to work...that is the question?

I must admit, going back to work; albeit for only 2 days a week has been a huge shock to the system. The first week I was soooo tired I crawled to bed on the Friday (actually I think "fell asleep on the carpet" was more to the point). The following week the exhaust fell off my car; a mad dash to get it fixed ended in me having to accept a lift off the my head (which was fine BUT...WHAT you gonna talk about!!!?? It was OK in the end). Week three saw me getting a bit "tipsy" on Wednesday evening; note to self; NEVER, never get "tipsy" or roaring drunk on a school night, you can't ring in sick when you only work two days and, so I found out, 25 hyper year 1's and hangover aren't the best combination.

So that's what I've been doing but it's all OK ; teaching is like riding a bike...it all comes flooding back; although, I have noticed that I address everyone as if they were a 6 year old at the moment...and that really won't do will it? Would you like me to tie those shoe laces for you?

Thank you to Rebel Mother for this lovely cup of Rosy Lee; guaranteed to make any day go with a swing (and I chance for me to LINK BACK to my POST about the restorative power of the humble cuppa).

Rules (aka the bit where I always fall down)

Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link (OK so far...just)

Pass the award to 10 other blogs that you have newly discovered. Remember to contact the blogger to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

{drum roll please} and my 10 blogs are.....
#1 Being a Mummy
#2 and1moremeansfour
#3 BLOGGER DAD
#4 Razor Kitty
#5 DADDA COOL
#6 Nixdminx
#7 Really Should Know Better
#9 notSupermum
#10Frog Blog By Frog in the Field

and, not that I wish to be accused of nepotism and all, but I would love to award my d#1; she works hard, churning out pictures day and night to supply Lily's Pictures with the very best in quality artwork.

I thank you

Got tagged a while ago....

I was tagged a while ago by Motherhood and, being new to this, had already responded to the tag BUT I really want to respond because Motherhood's blog is ace, (and as I'm sure I am the last to be tagged anywhere in the blogging community, I don't need to do the passing on. Already done that bit anyway) so here goes with the questions I haven't answered!

1.What are your current obsessions?
ref to previous answer

2. Which item from your wardrobe do you wear most often?
As above

3. Last dream you had?
I long to dream but I barely sleep at the moment!!!

4. Last thing you bought?
Previous

5. What are you listening to?
again

6. If you were a god/goddess who would you be?
Too much responsibility...sorry!!

7. Favourite holiday spots?
erm...only done the annual Scottish auntie pilgrimage for the past few years. Lets see.... Seville.

8. Reading right now?
done

9. Four words to describe yourself.
mother, daughter, sister,wife (sort of)

10. Guilty pleasure?
done

11. Who or what makes you laugh until you’re weak?
see above

12. Favourite spring thing to do?
mow the lawn and frolic (isn't that what you're supposed to do in Spring?)

13. When you die, what would you like people to say about you at your funeral?

"Really!!! Ohhhh!! She never did!!!"

14. Best thing you ate or drank lately?
done

15. When did you last go for a night out?
Really can't remember....'bout two weeks ago?!

16. Favourite ever film?
done

17. Care to share some wisdom?
done

18. Song you can’t get out of your head?
The advert for Calgon (s#1 keeps singing it) and "Pictures of Lily" by Pink Floyd ( d#1 keeps singing it).

19. Thing you are looking forward to?
A tidy house...baby sleeping through...next bar of choc/cup of tea

20. If money were no object, which shoe designer would you wear?
I don't know!!! Ohhh something comfy (I only like my wellies and Converse at the moment).

I thank you

Wah, wah, wah

Remember the voice of Charlie Brown's teacher in the Peanuts cartoons? Goes a bit like this




Anyway, although I realise the lovely Peanuts characters seemed to understand the majority of what the lovely Miss Offmore said; I don't and I am sure that I must sound like this to my kids. Why, otherwise, would I have to repeat myself over and over and over and.....you get the picture. Apparently, the sound of her voice was made with a trombone and a plunger; that's what I must sound like to my kids. A trombone and a plunger. Although, when I whispered, the other day, that the front room was overflowing with chocolate, they came running (a bit mean but I was only testing their hearing you understand!!). Soooo, in conclusion; waah, waah, waah, waah; wah, wah wah.....

PS Any tips on "doing as you're told the first time" greatly appreciated. I thank you!

I'd like to thank my......!!

Thank you, thank you and, once again, thank you to Amy for reading my blog and passing on the fab award; it made me SMILE :). I've been meaning to write this for a while BUT once again have been caught up in the daily grind: starting back at work was one HUGE shock to the system; as was realising how out of touch I am with teaching in general! Letters and sounds...hmmmmm; book banding..ahhhh..mmm; WALT and WILF...????...Never mind things tend to go in 10 years cycles so, I only have a short while to wait, and I'll be cutting edge again!!

I also spent a few hours in Trafford General with my lovely, danger d#1 who managed to slice her knee open at a party (poor party mum was so mortified, even though I tried to explain how we fly very close to the edge at times with our dainty, little fairy who is as tough as old boots and has no fear...of anything). She's very proud of her seven stitches, mainly because she has beaten her friend across the road, who "only had 3 when HE cut HIS head open!!" I'm really, really hoping they're not going to turn this one into a competition!! Anyway, she has her own blog and, for obvious reasons I cannot present her with this particular award, but check out her pictures; it's Lily's Pictures, she has 2 followers me and Kestrel and feels " very popular, probably famous really". Soooo, my obsessions? Gosh, Do I have time for obsessions? Probably, yes, in fact too much time really. Here goes (apologies if they're boring though!):

#1 Heritage paints. I hate (hate, hate hate) decorating but love looking at colour charts. When I was little I used to cut out the little coloured squares with a view to "making stuff", not sure what; my ma probably got rid of them through stealth. Anyway, in keeping with owning a period house, I'm looking at heritage paints. Lovely, yummy colours BUT, OMG the names!!!!!! The names these colours carry with them leave a lot to be desired. Now, I'm wondering; do I really want to paint my lounge a nice shade of gruel? What exactly is "Julies Dream" and why does she dream in a nice shade of beige? Invisible green? Eh?? Why can't green be pale or mint, or even lime, if you like that sort of thing? Mister David? It's a colour, it's yellow. Why not call it yellow? Enough! Think I'll just go and paint my room a nice shade of Tobacco stain...luuurvely.

#2 Google Earth. For some reason, I love diving just below the surface of the Arctic Ocean (prefer it to the Antarctic). I really have been working on the subtle art of procrastination for a long, long time.

#3 School yard gossip. Actually, I don't go in for the gossiping, I'm the one who'll you'll find uttering "oohhh", "oooo", "Ahhhh" and "NO, REALLY??!!" at all the appropriate moments. It's like Cissie and Ada and, to be honest, it's a "you'd have to be there" thing.

#4 The Royle Family. Filled with nuance and outstanding comic timing. It's supposed to be "very Northern"; it's certainly familiar to me, plus it's set where I was born/ now work, so there's a little opportunity display some civic pride in the plethora of talented Mancunians out there.

#5 Trying to finish a book. An ongoing quest, a work in progress but I have had some small successes and, in turn, have discovered the joys of the public library. The one thing I continually tell my kids; you'll never be bored if you can read a book!!

Right, I believe I now past this on to 5 more blogesses and...

On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them. When you post your five winners, make sure you link them as well. To add the award to your post, simply right-click, save image, then “add image” in your post as a picture so your winners can save it as well. To add it to your sidebar, add the “picture” widget. Also, don’t forget to let your winners know they won an award from you by leaving a comment on their blog (nicked your instructions there Amy. Soz!).

I'm probably one of the last to get this, so I will pick and can only apologise if you've done it already.

Kestrel: I love your blog, you pictures are amazing and I love your kind comments both on my blog and Lilys Pictures (that's Lilys Pictures folks!!)
Jo Beaufoix: you are hilarious; would love to spend a night out drinking with you!
Mothership: keep on with that novel/writing, I would definitely purchase!
3kidsnojob: A fellow teacher and a very funny Bloggess
It's Not Just Me: 'Cos I like it, that's why...
and a cheeky one Adventures of a Sleepless Toddler: Again, a lovely, insightful read (and, like Amy, a fellow Manc: it's that civic pride again!)

Anyway, hope it's all ok; over and out...