tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46575985969169662782024-03-05T04:14:18.747+00:00Patience of a SaintAn insight into the life of a modern, young, wife and motherpatience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-84363496632984312262008-04-01T09:07:00.003+01:002008-04-01T09:35:21.122+01:00Seven is the magic numberI am writing this blog from the comfort of my home at quarter past nine in the morning on the day of Tuesday so can mean only one thing. These words either leave parents of school children crying or elated; there is no middle road, 'end of term'. For me I am happy (at the moment) as I have not to rush around reminding the children 'if you do not hurry up you will be late'. This fact does actually bother the older children who are at Junior School (Ages 7-11). I think that in a bid to make the children responsible at school they are told that it is down to them if they are late. This isn't actually fair really, it is surely down to parents to ensure that they arrive at school on time?<br />Anyway I do not care because at the moment because there is no school. Two whole weeks of no rushing (unless I choose to, and thank you very much but I do not). The children are fairly happy, to be honest there is always at least one of them moaning about their brother or sister but I suppose with so many of them it is an occupational hazard. I am chilling with my homies and a nice cup of Lady Gray tea (how posh!) and 'pooting' as the children call it on the 'pooter'. What can be better? Well actually quite a lot I guess; sunning myself in Barbados, chatting quietly to the handsome Peter Petrilli from 'heroes' but wake up girl this is reality and things like that do not happen to us 'normal' people so I had better just get back to life as it is.<br />Back to the seven kids then...........................................................................<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>Today's medical fact; The ears never stop growing through lifetime.</em></span>patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-34017198998579559342008-01-18T09:45:00.000+00:002008-01-18T10:00:13.096+00:00Back to realityHello there campers, how is life finding you?<br /><br />New year not so new me as a my fingers have found themselves within grabbing distance of a tin of quality streets, uh oh. I do believe that I may have mentioned the immortal words 'diet in January'. Still no sign of that appearing I am afraid and even less sign of the words 'gym' ever seeing the light of day. Not to worry there are more important things to be worrying about than the gym, (that's what I keep telling myself anyway).<br /><br />So all is back to normal, back to school and back to playgroup so peace is restored in our household. Cannot believe that christmas has gone and summer should be approaching soon. Just the word makes me feel warmer and how lovely to wake up and it not be dark. As I speak it is the typical english weather; rain and lots of it. Pixie is helping me demolish the tin of quality streets and the way I see it she could do with them more than I can considering the amount of calories a little three year old must burn off. I had always wondered that would the children literally eat as many chocolates that they could until they felt sick? So I put it to the test and instead of rationing the sweets I put a tin of sweets in front of them and just let them eat as many as they liked. I can't actually remembering what happened and I think I chickened out and removed the sweets as I couldn't risk the sick factor. My mum always tells me about the time that she spun around and around so much that she was actually sick and I think that must have been at the forefront of my mind.<br /><br />Anyway its a pleasure as always and watch this space for more exciting adventures<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">A hard working adult sweats up to 4 gallons per day. Most of the sweat evaporates before a person realises it's there.</span><br /><br />YUKpatience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-4157885732346714112007-12-04T19:57:00.000+00:002007-12-04T20:11:07.091+00:00Borstal<a name="460946088906796194"></a><br />The terrible twins strike again, well one of them anyway. After picking them up from school, twin number 1, Lucas, informed me that Mrs Murray their teacher wanted to speak to me. Never a good sign. Thankfully not only is Mrs Murray their teacher but she is also a good friend of mine. She informed me that Lucas had been told off because whilst practising for their Christmas play he had disrupted the singing practice. The reception class (ages 4-5) play the main parts and year 1 which is Lucas and Caine's year are in the choir so are just singing. So the singing commences a festive 'Jingle bells' and Lucas decides not to opt for the more traditional, 'Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way' but for the modern, 'Jingle bells, batman smells, robin flew away' and as loud as his voice will go. I tried to stifle my laughter and Mrs Murray informed me that it wasn't acceptable as it wasn't fair on the reception class as it is their first Christmas play, Obviously I agreed. Things then took more of a naughty turn and Mrs Murray told me that Lucas refused to go and sit next to her and refused to apologise. Finally after much persuasion he be-grudgingly said 'sorry' and sat in front of Mrs Murray. He then pointed out that sitting next to her was ' boring' and 'not as much fun' as sitting with his friends. I tell you, I don't know where he gets his mischievousness from but it is certainly not from me. 'I just don't know what to do.' I said to Mrs Murray after she told me what he had been up to, she tried to make me feel better by saying that he had probably got out of bed the wrong side and hence why his behaviour mirrored that of Kevin the teenager. 'What happens if he ends up in borstal?' I said in desperation. She replied, ' he will not end up in Borstal he knows the difference between right and wrong. 'What if he ends up on drugs? I asked, 'Helen, he will not end up on drugs' she said. I am still not convinced as he loves to be naughty and as soon as you tell him not to do something, his eyes have a glint and he makes it his mission to do exactly what you asked him not to.No matter how many kids you have they all have such different personalities and they are their own little people not matter how old they are. One of my old friends and I mean old as in I have known her for a long time, was at Brownies and was asked not to return and my friend Barbara's twin nieces were told that 'they had got all that they could' from a toddler group as they had encouraged the entire group of children to change the song from 'pop goes the weasel' into 'this is an evil song'. So maybe there is hope or maybe this is a twin thing. Still as demanding as Lucas maybe I would not change him for the world, although I may live to regret those words.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Today's medical fact; Pain threshold of women is 9 times stronger than men.</span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span><br />Oh yes<br />Posted by patience of a saint atpatience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-91213166285936484422007-12-03T10:57:00.000+00:002007-12-03T11:27:39.953+00:00Laughter is the best medicineMonday has found me again. I go to bed with good intentions of getting up earlier than normal to get all the things done that I didn't get done during the weekend. But as soon as the alarm goes off, getting up early is the last thing on my mind. The weekend was packed full of husband helping <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">roboeye</span> on her newly acquired allotment. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Roboeye</span> has been threatening to retire for the last two years, 'not long now until I retire, (14 months away)'. So when she actually does retire in this coming April I think it will take a while to get used to it. The allotment is top of the list of things that she will be doing when she does give work up and Husband has been helping her to make it at least look like something could actually grow on it. As to begin with it looked like our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">back garden</span> minus the toys. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Roboeye</span> invited the children to 'help' on the allotment although I did have to remind her of the time when we visit our deceased grandparents in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Gravesend</span> and the children would think nothing of bombing over the graves without a bye or leave, so maybe them joining her at the allotment is not such a good idea. That is unless allotment owners do not mind little footprints on their prize grown marrows and cabbages; I think not.<br /><br />Sunday I had inspiration to join Husband on his weekly jaunt to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Tesco's</span> to do the food shopping, something obviously not working right in my head. It wasn't too bad I guess, although will not be repeating it for a while, Husband commented on the time that when the terrible twins were being their <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">mischievous</span> little selves and hid inside one of the big milk crates and when a man on a motorised scooter passed to pick up a pint of milk, a little hand reached out and as he zoomed past he collected his milk from an outstretched twin hand, 'that's handy' he commented. Another customer noticed how cheeky they were when they were in stitches, pushing each over into a crate of toilet rolls and rebounding back. Needless to say that they have been banned by us from attending <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">tesco's</span> together and have to take it in turns each week. There is only so much twin fun that we can handle.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Today's medical fact; As we get older, the brain loses almost one gram per year. </span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">That <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">explains</span> a lot</span>patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-88768545123176972972007-11-29T10:14:00.000+00:002007-11-29T10:44:40.319+00:00Nobody puts baby in a cornerHello there campers, I hope life is finding you well. Lots obviously has happened since my last post and I cannot believe how quick time flies. This time next month, Christmas will be done and dusted and New Year will be upon us. Usually I am kind of sick of the thought of Christmas before it has even begun; don't get me wrong I absolutely love Christmas as it truly is the time of goodwill to all men, but with decorations being put up at the beginning of November it can be over before it has begun. This year for some reason is different. For a start I am not pregnant, this final pregnancy was the icing on the cake. I had severe complications resulting in a life threatening condition for myself. So from my 22 week scan we all had a lot of pressure put on us and I made sure that Christmas presents were bought well before Christmas as I was told that if I had any bleeding the baby would be born regardless of how many weeks. I had a condition called placenta percreta where the placenta of the baby was fused to my bladder which had basically resulted from too many Cesarean births. Luckily enough beautiful Indiana was born at 36 weeks at a very healthy 7lbs and I had to have a hysterectomy Cesarean section with bladder repair. All's well that ends well and that is probably why I feel so much more energetic this Christmas time due to the fact that I do not have a little person literally attached to me.<br /><br />Very organised I am, Christmas presents have been purchased and wrapped and I am just waiting to write out my Christmas cards. All bets are on for which house down our road will be the first to put their decs up, I think that it will be a tough one and that there will be a race on the 1st December. The kids are all very excited and especially little, nearly three year old Pixie. I caught her last night trying to remember the words from 'when Santa got stuck up the chimney', which she must have learnt at Playgroup. Her eyes lit up when I sang to her last night, I am unsure whether it was from my singing or if she was in disbelief that I knew the words to the song. Cute Indiana has just properly starting to crawl and she is rather partial to putting her entire arm in the dog's water bowl, oh the joys of a mobile baby. Three times I had to change her yesterday as I 'forgot' that crawling babies will grab anything especially cups of coffee strategically placed on the floor and dog bowls.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Today's medical fact; Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour.</span><br /><br />That's good enough for me.patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-29908613147128759582007-10-12T21:04:00.000+01:002007-10-12T21:25:45.733+01:00Don't bank on itHello one and all, cor blimey it has been precisely one week since my last post, I cannot believe how time flies.<br /><br />Not too much excitement to be had, I am helping to organise a year 6 leavers party as our babies are moving on to pastures new in the form of secondary school, (Caitlin will be 11 next year). So I have been roped into organising it, it isn't until July next year but like everything it requires some planning. It makes me laugh, my good friend Denise who has a child in the same year as Caitlin mentioned that she was organising the party as her son started secondary school this year and she had helped with the party last year. She mentioned that she needed to type a letter asking parents if their child would be interested in attending a leavers party. She said in passing that she needed to write the letter but she didn't have a printer. I piped up with 'oh I have one, would you like me to write it for you?'. Needless to say I have now moved on from the secretarial and found a suitable venue for the party so I really have been roped in. Not that I mind.<br /><br />Our 'little' doggy has a poorly paw, she cannot walk on it so a small but expensive trip to the vet was required today. She hasn't walked on it since yesterday afternoon, she didn't walk on it when I took her in the car, she didn't walk on it walking into the vets. When the vet asked me to walk her up the corridor so she could get a better look she walked on the paw in question. I could not believe it, it was like she was calling me a liar. Not to worry as it isn't serious, painkillers and bed rest was what was prescribed.<br /><br />Please take a moment to read the letter that I sent to Abbey National regarding my debit card. I know that it is not a priority when you think about how hard some people's lives are but it is important to me and I am just so upset and angry at them.<br /><br /><em>Letter to Abbey National</em><br /><br />I am writing in reply to your letter; reference AC1/CARDC1/1119.<br /><br />I am certainly not satisfied with your investigation and I do not feel that you’ve offered a fair response to the issues I have raised at all.<br /><br />I do not think that you could possibly understand the problems that I have as I have no readily available access to cash. I have spent countless times on the telephone trying to transfer money and even more amounts of time in branch queuing to withdraw money. Apologising for my inconvenience is not enough, not nearly enough. I have been without access to my money for 42 days. My multifunction card expired at the end of August and whilst being told on numerous occasions by two people in telephone banking and people in Romford and Hornchurch branches that ‘it was on its way’, only one person thought it necessary to check my address. If any of the people had though of checking they would have seen that the replacement debit card had been sent to my old address. I have been at my new address for over a year and all my statements are sent to my current address so I do not understand why my replacement debit card was sent to my old address.<br /><br /> I cannot use the automated service on the telephone as it will not accept my expired debit card and I cannot check my accounts online as once again it will not accept my expired debit card. I am still waiting for my card, I cannot withdraw money without going into a branch and I can only transfer money by spending time and money speaking to your telephone banking.<br /><br />I certainly do not see how ‘Abbey strive to provide excellent customer service’, only today I have been in tears as one of your staff at telephone banking refused to allow me to transfer money as my multifunction card had expired. Although the lady could ‘understand my frustration’ she refused to help me. The lady that I spoke to was extremely unhelpful and only when I asked to be put through to customer complaints was my money transferred. This is certainly not the way to deal with loyal customers like myself. I do not think you realise the seriousness of the matter at all. I have no other accounts to access money and I have no credit cards. The only positive points that I can raise from this are that; you should not have one account with one bank and that Abbey do not care about their customers.<br /><br /> I will be taking up my father’s offer of a loan to repay my overdraft, I will find another company to provide me with House Insurance and I will take my business elsewhere. I am only one person but I have many friends and I will be telling all of them that Abbey do not care about their customers. There are plenty of other banks who do appreciate their customers and I will be joining them. Please take a copy of this letter to the managing director and tell him or her that this is the view of an average person, an ex customer.<br /><br />I will also be sending a copy of this letter and all other correspondence to the Financial Ombudsmen Service and Watchdog.<br /><br /><br /><br />So that is that, I am sure that nothing more will come of it but it certainly helps when you vent your anger and I do love letter writing.<br /><br />Today's medical fact; <em><span style="color:#ff0000;"> You can only smell 1/20th as well as a dog.</span></em> <br /><br />And boy can they smell sometimespatience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-36888894435759834812007-10-05T20:51:00.000+01:002007-10-05T21:07:16.534+01:00Wedding bellesHello one and all and thank <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">XXXX</span> it is Friday, and I mean it. I do love school days as you all know but it is nice not to have all that running around in the morning. I have some good news we are now the proud owner of a new, not brand new but new to us, dishwasher and I do not mean my husband. Am very very happy and it has cut down the clearing time by absolutely loads, obviously.<br /><br />In the news recently has been the story about a mayor in Ireland who has injured a woman by leapfrogging over her. Hello? I cannot believe that this story has dominated the headlines. Is this what the world has come to? Don't get me wrong, I am sure that the poor unfortunate woman dressed as a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">tomato</span> (yes I have typed correctly) is in serious amounts of pain due to her <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">vertebrae</span> being dislodged by the mayor's knee but should this really be headline news? I don't think so, although it does beat the normal depressing, death and destruction headlines.<br /><br />Anyway, have no real plans for the weekend apart from the norm of washing, cleaning and tidying and flicking through the wedding magazine in honour of my best friend's wedding. I just love weddings especially those of whom are close to you. Before I know it, Monday will be upon us again, life is just flying past far too quick for my liking.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Today's medical fact; You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching T.V. </span></em></strong><br /><br />Both sounds good to mepatience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-86594765573007525482007-10-01T12:58:00.000+01:002007-10-01T13:25:28.770+01:00The doctor will see you nowHello there one and all, today is a teachers training day so I have been subjected to a little taster of what half term will be like. Let's be honest though one week is nothing compared to 6 weeks so it should be a breeze. The kids are fine but just like normal very noisy and continually after food. It barely gets to 9am and they are requesting lunch, when they can't have lunch focus turns to crisps and if all else fails a biscuit will suffice.<br /><br />The weather is dismal especially as today is the 1st October. I absolutely love Autumn it is my favourite season and my fave is Halloween, such a child I am. There is nothing of any real interest to report, I am still extremely annoyed and frustrated at my bank 'Abbey' as I am still waiting for them to send me my replacement debit card which expired at the end of August exactly one month ago. I have no other credit cards or accounts with other banks so I really am stuck, best not even to go there as I am sure that certain parts of my body have steam coming out of them. Anyway I am going to repay my rather large overdraft and then take my custom elsewhere. No-one seems to know what is going on and each time I speak to someone; generally after waiting for half an hour on the phone something else has <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">happened</span> to my card, the way I see it I should have about 5 debit cards stacked up somewhere.<br /><br />Pixie has been let off of playgroup today as she doesn't like it at the best of times let alone when all of her bros and sis aren't at school. Louis has sustained a massive injury to his foot, he is unsure how it happened but it hurts when he treads on it so I told him not to tread on it and off he went limping, happy enough with my medical diagnosis. I knew that all that time I was meant to be studying at college but was in fact watching Quincy ME would pay off. So that in fact is that from me, I have more washing to attend to and more patients to medically assist so I bid you a fond farewell.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Today's medical fact; The sense of taste is the weakest of the five senses.</strong></span></em><br /><br />Good job with my cooking.patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-86303162483283462862007-09-28T20:02:00.000+01:002007-09-29T06:57:49.868+01:00Spaghetti armsHello there everyone, sorry for the delay in posting a new post but a lot has happened. Currently I am looking at secondary schools for Caitlin, which is hard work. Everyone tells you it is hard choosing the right school and even harder waiting for the results of which school you have been given. I am now finished looking and have the arduous task of selecting 6, yes 6. Not sure that there is 6 in the area let alone 6 that I would choose.<br /><br />I am a governor at the Infant school which the terrible twins attend and Tuesday we had the call that we have all been waiting for, yes the one which all schools shudder at the name of; OFSTED. Even the name sounds scary. For those of you not in the know and to my understanding that is most of you except my mum the honourable roboeye, they are the school inspectors, a tad like the child catcher in Chitty chitty bang bang. They ensure that the school is; doing all that it should, that is running effectively, that it knows its strengths and weaknesses and it is doing something about them. No stone is left unturned and no-one is safe from its prying eye. Years ago inspections could take up to 5 days, 5 long hard days. One day was all we had and believe you me that was enough. OFSTED have the power to shut schools down and obviously prospective parents will be checking and double checking the OFSTED report before they choose the school. Believe you me this school lark is big business as less kids applying to the school means less money for the school. So we were all very nervous especially me as I am the chair of governors know less, and if I am doing my job properly I should be monitoring the school properly and I am held accountable for. So, I had to spend 30 long minutes 'chatting' to the nice man from OFSTED. I was actually fine as I did not stop talking. In the end I had a sore throat and he was itching to get away. Poor man did not know what he had let himself in for.<br /><br />This Thursday was also the start of the Latin American dancing course that me and my friend have decide to start, it runs for only 15 weeks, that is if we last that long. After many, many phrases from Dirty Dancing, we have learnt well kind of the art of the 'cha cha cha'; get a load of us. Funny is exactly what everyone thought we were and we had to agree with them. As you can imagine the mean age of the students was 60 and when the instructor told the ladies and men to separate we found ourselves opposite two dapper gentlemen and my friend whispered, 'we pulled here'. Not sure their wives were too impressed. Needless to say we tried, and we looked like two elephants instead of seductive Latin American beauties, well there are 14 weeks left so there is definitely room for improvement.<br /><br />All is good in the big brother house and I cannot believe I am saying this but there is only 2 weeks until half term. Oh my god I had better stock up on the Valium and the vodka.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>Today's medical fact; An average human drinks about 16,000 gallons of water in a lifetime. </em></span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em></em></span>patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-41890045321193433892007-09-11T16:03:00.000+01:002007-09-14T16:44:48.684+01:00Time flies when you are having FUNSo sorry I have left it so long but a lot has happened. I cannot believe that after 6 long weeks they are back to school and little Pixie has and some what nervously started playgroup. It feels like my last blogs were from a different life.<br /><br />So we had a lovely two nights in a caravan which was situated a stone's throw from Great <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Yarmouth</span> at a charming place called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hopton</span>. I booked it through a company called Haven because we have outgrown most of the other places. Not too impressed with Haven this time especially as I upgraded the caravan. The first thing I have to get to grips with is that I am on holiday but I have to make all of the beds as the linen comes in plastic bags and not on the beds. Not holiday as we know it. I have used Haven before but not at this particular park. We were right next door to a kids playground, complete with cocky, swearing teenagers, my temperature rising I lowered my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">heart rate</span> and bit my tongue. I had talked myself down from the ledge and all was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">OK</span>, my crutch was that if they were still there being noisy when the children were trying to get to bed I would call the security number, nice.<br /><br />Three beds made later and I noticed that three young men were taking items into the caravan next to us. Items being crates of beer. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">OK</span>, time to finish the tongue completely off. 'It's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">OK</span>, it's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">OK</span>, it's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">OK</span>' I chanted like a crazy woman. Husband was very calming and he told me to worry until there was cause to. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">OK</span>, I thought that makes sense but in my mind it was 1.30 in the morning, they were drunk and trying to steal the children whilst fighting with the swearing teenagers.<br /><br />Anyway we are all safely back home, all in one <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">piece</span> and the children are settled back at school like the 6 weeks holidays were a figment in our imaginations and before we know it, it will be the October half term. So the little matter of the greyhound which has settled nicely into our manic lifestyle. Everyone that I have spoken to have been so negative about having a dog, actually a bit like when I was expecting again. Lady or her official name; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Randalls</span> Legacy is no trouble at all, in fact the children are more trouble. The only thing I am having trouble with is wiping my floor about six times a day but I have found a solution and it is not doggy shoes. I just wipe her paws when she comes in and all is sorted.<br /><br />So that is a compacted version of my life since my last posting, a lovely evening out if not a tad accident prone was had with a flying pink elephant and a midwife. We ventured out to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Oxo</span> tower (nice), went to a nice bar, motion. Lost the midwife's glasses, got a parking ticket and a few other ups and downs, nothing is ever simple is it?<br /><br />Anyway I must dash and once again I apologise for the delay, but I am sure that by next school holidays all will be back to normal and let's face it, we never know what a new day brings and that is what I like about life.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>Today's medical fact; The eyelashes shed by a human in his entire life is of 30 m of length.</em></strong></span><br /><br />You couldn't make some of these facts up could you?patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-37121505952821086722007-08-29T17:45:00.000+01:002007-08-29T19:32:45.880+01:00Them bonesI am unsure about all this '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">facebook</span>' lark. I was introduced to it by my 14 year old friends daughter. At that point and still, I thought of it as, and at the risk of sounding 'old', childish. She had led me into a life of throwing pies and other unsavoury items. I have spoken about it to my flying pink elephant blog friend and another midwife friend and we are all slightly unsure. My friend Louise came round today with her daughter and she logged me onto it under her name and, as well as throwing pies I noticed that you can 'poke' people. So, I gave her boyfriend a 'poke' in the strictly finger prodding sense and not in the sexual fashion as we are both dubious of what this means. Maybe I am expecting too much and to 'poke' someone just means that. Who knows? And who cares?<br /><br />Although I am indeed a lover of new technology it amazes me how quick things are picked up. A bit like Friends Reunited and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">eBay</span>. I am not a member of friends reunited as I believe that if you have not stayed in contact whilst leaving school/college/uni than that friendship surely did not have staying power. My best friend and I have known each other since playgroup. We went to the same Infant and Junior school but different senior schools and we are still as close then as we are now, these friendship bonds are not made to be broken. And if there surely is a time to move on to new friend pastures green then senior school is that time.<br /><br />I just wish I had the forward thinking to be part of this new technology, I mean <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">eBay</span> must have made the owners billions. I think that if you are that way inclined then you have always been interested in making money. Richard <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Branson</span> (Virgin empire) was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">apparently</span> told at school that he would amount to nothing and so it reads on his school report. Well how wrong could that teacher be? I will just stick to all the boring things I think, like cooking and cleaning as we are all lucky in different ways. We are lucky to have our beautiful children no matter how noisy they are, as I am sure that some people long to hear the laughter of children echoing through their house. Some people must long for a husband or wife to share their lives with, and no matter how much money you earn and in the words of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Beatles</span> 'can't buy me love' I will stick with what I know as I think I am the luckiest person alive.<br /><br />Today's medical fact; <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>At birth we have over 300 </em></strong></span><a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink0" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,0);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,0);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,0);" href="http://www.medindia.net/facts/index.asp?page=11&startpage=11#" target="_new"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>bones</em></strong></span></a><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>. As we grow up, some of the bones begin to fuse together as a result an adult has only 206 bones. </em></strong></span><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></em></strong><br />That is alot of bones.<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em></em></strong></span>patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-84678224166294882742007-08-28T16:04:00.000+01:002007-09-14T16:45:22.823+01:00tHe PoSt WiTh No NaMe7 more days until the kids go back to school, I don't mean for that to sound as desperate as it does. It hasn't been<strong><em> that </em></strong>bad and like everything in this world it does have some up sides. Like, no lunch boxes to make or wash up, actually that's just about all there is so roll on Tuesday.<br /><br />So today I have been mostly making a pink football kit for a youngster in Surrey. That is my little sideline, pink football kits for girls with their name on the back, their name emblazoned (not sure if I have made that word up) with pink <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">blinging</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">diamantes</span>. Very nice indeed and that is Tuesday nearly over with, all but the god forsaken dinner. Sometimes I just cannot bear to make dinner or clear up.<br /><br />I have been looking over other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">blog's</span> and I have come to the conclusion that mine is quite boring compared to others, but that is my life I am afraid just my little old life with the 7 kids just buzzing in my ear, one after the other. They won't be happy until I am sitting on the floor rocking. Sorry about today's blog it is a tad on the depressive side so god help anyone that is on the brink, this site is enough to tip you over. Let's hope that tomorrow the sun is shining and all is good in the big brother house.<br /><br />Today's medical fact; <em><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.</strong></span> </em><br /><em></em><br />7 minutes is hardly anything. Without knowing the number 7 has appeared in this blog 4 times; its facts a minute here.patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-50529557873875824402007-08-26T14:43:00.000+01:002007-08-26T15:18:03.266+01:00Anger ManagementI have had a very social weekend, much to my husbands annoyance. Friday night was a lovely evening, enjoying birthday drinks with my friends from school (where the children go) and to make it even better I bumped into 2 very old friends. When I say old, I don't mean that they are old but that I have known them for a serious amount of time, in fact you get a shorter <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">sentence</span> for manslaughter (only joking girls). It was like fate though, I had no idea that they would be both out and when we left the first venue (much to my annoyance) I bumped into them again at the later venue, what are the chances? It made a good night a fantastic night. Then last night I enjoyed fine wine with my best friend and her common law husband, absolutely the best food with the best service. A small country pub just out of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Reigate</span>. So two nights out in a run, I do believe that is grounds for divorce in my household and his mood was not lightened when I informed him that next weekend I had a date with a flying pink elephant (the blog title obviously, as we all know elephants are not pink and neither can they fly). So I am not popular at the moment.......oh well.<br /><br />I have made contact with my stunning sister and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">roboeye</span> having it large in Australia. So far so good and they having a lovely time, like that would be hard not too. (I am sorry but I cannot stop myself from seething jealousy). Anyway the sun is shining temporarily so all is good in the world for me, but Husband is a different story. On the way to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Reigate</span> I had the hard task of informing him that the clutch may well have gone on the car that he has only just fixed. I don't know what I may have done to upset this car but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">every time</span> I use it, it breaks. So he was not a happy man. We are two very different people, I am a halfway full glass, he is a halfway empty and 'life is bad enough already' type of person. So last night after hearing that he once again had to repair the car I had the job of talking him down from the ledge and telling him that it is not the end of the world. I told him that we are lucky, we have each other, our children and a home. I can understand his anger, after all it's not me that has to repair the car but I don't see how screaming and shouting will make anything better. No-one tells you that when you decide to get married just which tactics you need to survive a relationship but I suppose that is what marriage is all about, I support him in his car repair anger and he supports me in my going to throttle the children anger, it's all about give and take. Shouldn't be called marriage should be called give and take and I am up for as much giving as is needed.<br /><br />Today's medical fact; <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">If Barbie were life-size, her measurements would be 39-23-33. She would stand seven feet, two inches tall and have a neck twice the length of a normal <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">human's</span> neck. </span></em><br /><span style="color:#333333;"></span><br /><span style="color:#333333;">Not a good look</span>patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-46720025949030626982007-08-23T15:09:00.001+01:002007-08-24T09:57:11.610+01:00Age concernAll is noisy in the big brother house, in fact the word 'noisy' does not do justice to the level of sound in my house at the moment. Nothing to report, sun still is not shining and the days are just slipping away until the children go back to school, shame. I tell you, modern technology just leaves me in wonder. I am the designated travel agent at the moment and I have just learnt that you can 'check in' online, my god.<br /><br />Whilst trying desperately to slip back into a state of sleep after feeding the baby at some ungodly hour my thoughts turned to me getting old. I know that I am <strong><em>ONLY</em></strong> 32, but I desperately tried to work out what year it would be when I would be 80. I remember when I was at senior school and back in the day when it was just 1st, 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nd</span></span> third year and not year 7, year 8 and so on, there was a lot of discussion about space stations. It must have been big business because we were all asked to decide what profession we would have aboard this huge space station. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Apparently</span> the government would be asking a select few to drop everything and live forever in space and I could think of a few people I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wouldn't</span> mind sending in to space. The best job at the time I could come up with was a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">hairdresser</span>, what high expectations I had of myself back then, (absolutely no offence meant to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">hairdressers</span> at all, and you certainly have your work cut out on my mop). It just goes to show that although technology does move very quickly we are still no nearer to creating a space station. The year will be 2057 (I think) and I wonder how much further advanced we will be then. Its funny just how much dreams and night time thinking does affect you. I think that because you are in a kind of state of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">unconsciousness</span> you are much more susceptible and dreams do feel so real. Anyway me ageing is obviously firmly in my mind and it still is. I know that I am still 32 years young but there are still things that you can only do when you are younger and not suffering from hangovers is one of them. As well as eating house loads of food and it having absolutely no physical affect on you. Whilst I am reminiscing I would also be able to join the RAF, qualify as a firm possibility as the new Dr Who's sidekick and wear very short shorts because I would have the legs and the age to pull it off. Anyway I just have to think that Angelina Jolie is 32, looks fantastic and is doing all of her own stunts in her latest film and what is good enough for her is good enough for me. Where's Brad Pitt when you need him.<br /><br />Today's medical fact; <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>Before their first birthday, average </em></strong></span><a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink1" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,1);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,1);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,1);" href="http://www.medindia.net/facts/index.asp?page=9&startpage=1#" target="_new"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>babies</em></strong></span></a><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em> will have dribbled 255 pints of </em></strong></span><a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink2" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,2);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,2);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,2);" href="http://www.medindia.net/facts/index.asp?page=9&startpage=1#" target="_new"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>saliva</em></strong></span></a><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>. By the time they're two years old, they will have crawled 93 miles. </em></strong></span><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></em></strong>patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-46311425424454905662007-08-22T16:10:00.000+01:002007-08-22T16:38:11.585+01:00'FORE'I have had to shut the kids out, not of my life, just out of the dining room as they are just too noisy. <br /><br />Nothing exciting has happened today not unless you class sorting washing and ironing exciting, and if you do then you need to get out more. The weather is terrible, more like November than August and that does not make one feel much better.<br /><br />Last night I ventured out with my mum, the honourable <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">roboeye</span>, to a vast shopping centre as she and my stunning sister are going away to Aussie on Friday. They are going to attend my Brother's (who lives in Australia) Wedding. I did ask my husband if I could go but all I got out of him was intense laughter and the ultimatum if I go then I had not bother coming back....tempting. When I spoke to my friend last night she said that he was being unfair as it was a chance in a lifetime and it was only 10 days away. Then we were in silence for 5 secs and we came to a mutual understanding that; a man being left alone with 6 kids and one baby, well 5 kids and two babies was a lot to ask of. She said that I could leave the two older ones with her but anymore than that and she would be in the Priory for every addiction going and various mental breakdowns.<br /><br />Whilst we were at the shopping centre it made me think of all of the hilarious times me and my mum have spent together, the best one being and at the same shopping centre a few years back;<br />I noticed that the pushchair that I was pushing had become rather hard to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">manoeuvre</span>, nonetheless I just continued to push it. After deciding to investigate why it was being so difficult I bent down to see what was stopping it from moving. I bent down to remove a golf club from under the wheels, yes a golf club. Not a blanket or a child's toy but an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">adult's</span> golf club. It was like a scene from Mary Poppins when she takes the lamp out of her carpet bag. Obviously we were in fits of laughter, fits of laughter and wonder about where we could have managed to pick up such a hitchhiker. Whilst picking ourselves up off the floor, tears rolling down our faces and people looking at us like we were insane I managed to see that the recent visit to the Warner Brothers store had resulted in me taking one of their 'Superman' golf clubs for a trip with us. Absolute classic, me and my lovely mum at our best. I will miss my mum and sister lots, Jealous? Too right I am.<br /><br />Today's medical fact; <span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>Our eyes never grow, and our nose and ears never stop growing.</em></span><br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></em>patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-68955011569931081902007-08-21T08:05:00.000+01:002007-08-21T09:16:52.764+01:00AttackBlimey what a weekend that was. Our trip to sunny Eastbourne went very well indeed. After much anger raised to the insurance company and me trying to find insurance elsewhere I requested my insurance documents to be e mailed direct to me. Now why didn't I think of that earlier? Off we trotted to the post office and under the scrutinous eye of the Post master; what a fab name, it is like something out of dungeons and dragons, nearly worth opening your own post office so that you can be referred to as 'the Postmaster'. We were awarded our car tax disc........hoo(bloody)ray. So we set upon our journey early Friday morning, it goes without saying that about half an hour in we started on the 'are we nearly there?' route. Well I suppose that it goes with the territory.<br /><br />Anyway, the airshow was fantastic we had the pleasure of experiencing displays from the red arrows, Team Guinot wing walkers, Chinook and my favourite the Euro fighter typhoon, to mention a few. It really was fun for all of the family and no entrance fee, so you just can't beat that. The children also enjoyed looking at the tanks, tents, motorbikes and I managed to persuade them to stroke the rather scary looking RAF police dog. The army man who was looking after the police dog was answering questions and he joked that the dog was really 'vicious' as he was lying on the floor chilling out. I said to the RAF man, ' Yes that is until you mention the special word that will make him attack, like 'ATTACK' '. The RAF man looked at me completely serious and said 'No we can't do that in case a member of the public hears it and uses it.' I looked at him, 'I was only joking' I said. I thought about maybe explaining the joke but didn't see the point.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.eastbourneairshow.com/">http://www.eastbourneairshow.com/</a><br /><br />Yesterday was third oldest child's 7th birthday. If I ever need reminding about how useless I am following instructions all I need to is to try to put together toys suitable for children under the age of 8. I mean if they are meant for kids then surely they should be made easier to put together? Then again I think that it maybe me, my friend Claire came round and helped the very stressed Louis to change the transforming helicopter to a scary looking robot. Claire gets on my nerves, whatever she puts her hand to she can do as if she has been doing it for years. As I watched in awe she said, and I quote, ' I don't need to look at the instructions, I just look to see where the bits go'. Well get you Miss Clever Clogs. Bet you can't make 5 packed lunch boxes in 10 mins can you?<br /><br />Today's medical fact;<br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">From the age of thirty, humans gradually begin to shrink in size.</span></em></strong><br /><br />Bet all you over thirty's people are glad to hear about that.patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-73905527319825863152007-08-16T14:10:00.000+01:002007-08-16T14:49:26.879+01:00RabbitI am still waiting for the insurance documents to arrive so that I can tax the coach in time for our jaunt to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Eastbourne</span>. Several times I have spoken to the Insurance Company and with each different person I speak to I hear a different version of events. I don't know whether I am paranoid or if they are telling the truth but I am sure as they say they are going to 'Check the computer' they are trying to fabricate some lie. Needless to say I am patiently awaiting the postman. Don't even get me started on that one; is 3pm any time to receive post? I don't think so. In anticipation and hope that the 'recorded delivery' sent post I am due to receive a few days ago will actually arrive I have printed out a form via the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">DVLA</span> website.<br />When it printed all that has come out is a load of nonsense, it looks as it should but in the part where it should read 'Your details' it reads '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Zpvs</span>!<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ef</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ubjrth</span>!!'........OK. The funny thing is, where the notes section is about 'Applying for a tax disc', there is a stamp from the Plain English Campaign and it has supposedly been clarity approved. Not in this world.<br />All is fairly quiet in the Big Brother house, one child has escaped - no need for alarm, and the other 6 are playing 'nicely'. God knows what the hotel where we are staying has let themselves in for.<br /><br />We are debating re-homing a greyhound, not any old greyhound but from a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">reputable</span> charity association not far from where we live. Not sure whether this is a good idea or not; firstly because of how freaked out the children get when there is a dog on the opposite side of the road and secondly because of my cleanliness <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">OCD</span>. So the plan of action is to visit the kennels and let the children 'grow accustomed' to the dogs. When I spoke to a very nice lady at <a href="http://www.greyhoundhomer.org.uk/">http://www.greyhoundhomer.org.uk/</a> she said to let the children stroke the dogs and then if we still want to go ahead and re-home one, the dog will choose us. I seriously doubt it, all the dogs will probably run away. One week with us and the dog will probably wish it was back at the race track.<br /><br />Today's medical fact;<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em> When we touch something, we send a message to our </em></strong></span><a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink0" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,0);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,0);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,0);" href="http://www.medindia.net/facts/index.asp?page=2&startpage=1#" target="_new"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>brain</em></strong></span></a><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em> at 124 mph</em></strong></span><br /><br />(or in my case 4mph)patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-20655219166677619562007-08-15T08:43:00.000+01:002007-08-15T09:17:39.261+01:00Tea and SympathyI may not be the most sympathetic person and that is a fact. About 2 years ago I received a call from my husband informing me that he was on his way to accident and emergency at the local hospital. After asking him why, he told me that he had cut his finger using a tile cutter. Me, being my 'positive' self asked him if hospital was really needed and would a plaster not suffice? His answer, slightly angry; NO, it would not stop bleeding. I still questioned his need for medical intervention. My mum was in the car with me at the time and she was far worried than what I was and I told her that he would be OK and I thought he was a being a bit of a drama queen. This was until I arrived home and the kitchen looked like an episode from ER, there was a trail of blood leading from the tile cutter to the sink. From the sink to the medicine cupboard there was another trail of blood and countless discarded blood soaked plasters. Then a final trail from the medicine cupboard to the front door. OK, I thought to myself maybe hospital was the best idea and I promptly phoned him on his mobile to play the doting wife. 10 stitches and 3 hours later he was home, nursing his poorly digit.<br /><br />Yesterday Caitlin, oldest child stubbed her toe on one of the bunk beds in the boys room. Oh my god, anyone who have thought that she had lost her whole leg. I bit my lip and proceeded to take the frozen medical pack from the freezer (steam rice in a bag). I placed her on the sofa to investigate her injury (wiggle it, if it hurts when you touch it get slightly worried), she was still wailing but no more so when I touched it. 5 minutes had passed and wailing was still being heard so I promptly informed her that she has not lost her leg and some people in the world have actually had their legs blown off so she should get a grip. This did the trick and she limped off the sofa. Needless to say that when she showed me her toe an hour later it was not a pretty sight and it did not look like a toe as I know it. It did not look any better when Louis, third oldest child trod on it. Injury to the toe, duly noted and I became her sympathetic nurse attending to her every toe need.<br /><br />Today's medical fact, apart from me not being very sympathetic is;<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Our heart beats around 100,00 times every day.</span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span><br /></em></strong><span style="color:#333333;">Very informative indeed, I know now that every blood cell lives for 120 days, (I remembered that without looking) and that our heart beats around 100,000 times every day. Get Me.</span>patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-56900846433701423842007-08-14T08:51:00.000+01:002007-08-14T13:49:08.686+01:00Mrs MedicineToday is not a nice day and from about 3am this morning it has not stopped raining. We have been lucky because we have had sunny weather of which we were told that we should not be having so maybe this is summer other and done with. I have decided to encourage some intellect into my blog and it has to be something of which I am interested in. I never really had a set career before I had the children and when I do eventually go back to work I know that what I used to do is not something that I can go back into. Jobs have changed so much now, when I was young a lot of jobs were careers that you could learn whilst actually doing the job but now you need to study and learn the profession before going ahead and working. I have decided to enrol into an Open University course, just a taster to begin with to see how I would fare. I always wonder what life would be like if I hadn't of had the children and don't get me wrong, I would never not have them but I have always been a very ambitious person. I said to my friend that I wished I'd have gone to University, and then I would have better qualifications than I have now. But she said that you would not be the same person and I seriously doubt I would have had the kids or be where I am today (heading towards <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Warley</span> Mental Home). Anyway all will be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">OK</span> I am sure and I can have my career when all the kids are older. Let's be honest you always think the greener on the other side and 9 times out of 10 this is not the case.<br />So from now on you lucky readers, you will have a medical fact to contemplate about and this is the first one. Did you know?<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><strong><em>The average red blood cell lives for 120 days. </em></strong></strong><br /><strong><strong><em></em></strong></strong><br /></span>Well I certainly did not, and I am extremely glad that I now know it, can't say for sure how long it will stay in my long term memory, so I won't hold my breath. Actually that is a bit of a boring medical fact so let's hope that tomorrows medical fact has a little more bite to it; pardon the pun.<br /><p><em></em></p><blockquote><p></p></blockquote>patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-769921874950065102007-08-13T08:19:00.000+01:002008-11-15T10:51:57.423+00:00Double vision<div>My doesn't time fly when you are having fun? We had a very pleasant weekend, Sunday was the best as I went shopping with my mum (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Roboeye</span>) and naughty baby. If you have ever wondered if you could in fact put two contact lenses in one eye, I can confirm that it is indeed possible. In my haste to stop the song <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Goldigga</span> by Kayne West coming on and the explicit lyrics heard by all the children (someone doing something rude to Usher) I forgot which eye I had already put my lens in and placed it into the same eye. So no, that eye was not up to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">roboeye</span> quality it was impossible to see anything. All was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">OK</span> in the end thankfully and I managed to prise one lens out and put it into the relevant eye. There is three weeks and 1 day left until the children go back to school and all is quiet in the house. Last night we had the pleasure of watching The Blues Brothers, what a fantastic film. I have seen it before but not in all of its glory. I was reminded of it by way of an episode of Drake and Josh (Kids programme on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Nickelodeon</span> replay) in which Drake and Josh do a tribute to them in a Talent Show. Husband said that the children would like it but it is a 15, and with the amount of expletives, I can understand why. On Thursday we are venturing to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Eastbourne</span> to watch the air show which is near the beautiful area of ill fated <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Beachy</span> Head. <em><br /><blockquote><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Beachy</span> Head, with its dramatic white cliffs and gently undulating downs, is<br />an area of outstanding natural beauty and tranquillity which belies its<br />proximity to the busy south eastern towns of England.</em></blockquote></em>Although stunning views can be seen from all areas it is tainted with some heartbreaking situations. As you walk around you can see letters and flowers scattered around from where people have jumped and taken their lives. Very sad and it makes you realise just how lucky we are and how life is not easy for some people. On a lighter note we have now acquired a new vehicle (new to us, unfortunately we were not successful in winning the lottery) albeit a very big vehicle, 12 seats. Which is a few extra in case we have stragglers on a day trip somewhere. So all being well should be up and running in time for our trip to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Eastbourne</span>. So far so good with how the day is going today but then I must remember that it is only 9:32 <strong>AM</strong>, so I shouldn't get too excited just yet, by lunchtime I will probably be in a state of mental breakdown.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZoDMCOs9wj2n4YJ5bO9msBctDLDLDCB368l9M_WOgR-iA5TaWkdczVlEWL0wXBNaQGAJbJTdF4h9f1bZKKEtTpaFgzIEHyh5DhJ_2STsJ8tL1im6x-GeZu9KaTSRkyNFnrWvzMpWVes/s1600-h/beachy+head.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098160802005162786" style="WIDTH: 382px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 167px" height="167" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZoDMCOs9wj2n4YJ5bO9msBctDLDLDCB368l9M_WOgR-iA5TaWkdczVlEWL0wXBNaQGAJbJTdF4h9f1bZKKEtTpaFgzIEHyh5DhJ_2STsJ8tL1im6x-GeZu9KaTSRkyNFnrWvzMpWVes/s320/beachy+head.jpg" width="685" border="0" /></a></div><div>Beachy Head</div><div> </div>patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-10191835358233410602007-08-09T13:53:00.000+01:002007-08-09T14:14:00.281+01:00Tissues and IssuesI shouldn't actually be here, I should in fact be ironing, but when there is peace and quiet to be had then ironing is the last thing that you want to be doing. Peace and quiet was interrupted momentarily by my mobile phone ringing and a particularly annoying lady asking if I wanted half a million pounds worth of accidental damage cover. I must admit that when she mentioned half a million pounds I got a lot more interested but then bored when she mentioned insurance. She tried then to tempt me by saying that I would be covered whilst abroad but abroad is a word that I barely remember since having the kids. Anyway after telling her twice and most politely I may add, that I was not interested, she left me alone to stare at the ironing and dwell on my anger. Surely if I wanted insurance I would look for it myself? I promptly then registered my mobile number on the Telephone Preference Website <a href="http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/">http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/</a>, which is marvellous you will never receive another marketing call again, and should you then you can appear all angry and inform that you have opted out off all sales calls and you will be alerting the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">TPS</span>. At this stage they are worried and you are happy that you have scared them, oh little things please little minds. Yesterday was a lovely day, I was invited around another friends house (yes I have more than one friend) with the children, I did tell my friend that if she woke up the night before having a panic attack about having us all round then she can promptly cancel, but she did not. Today is mother-in-law day, like every Thursday rain or shine. I love my mother-in-law, and I realise that not many people can say that but I do and it has nothing to do with inheritance or gritted teeth. My mum also popped round and her <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">roboeye</span> is on the mend, I asked how far she could see with it and if she could identify any casualties but alas she could not, I am still hopeful that full robotic use will happen eventually.All is quite on the eastern front and the children are momentarily happy playing with the tents kindly provided by my friend (yes, another one) who in a moment of guilt about forgetting all of the kids birthdays (easily done, even I have trouble sometimes and husband has no idea really) purchased two tents. When she asked my how the holidays were finding me, I told her that I was holding on to my sanity by the skin of my teeth and how she laughed, oh well as long as someone else is laughing and if we don't laugh then we cry and we will never stop until they all go back to school. I am seriously considering a party involving silence and alcohol and lots of it, interested anyone?patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-41988830952957228292007-08-07T08:18:00.000+01:002007-08-07T08:42:56.514+01:00Mistaken IdentityThank god I am back to my normal self, my sanity has returned and it seems a trip to Warley was not needed. Although it is extremely noisy here still it is a little less manic. Sunday was spent walking into town and the money the terrible twins received for their birthday was burning a hole in their pockets so one purchased a hot wheels number and the other a transformer toy. We then visited the local ducks at the park and sat in the sun for a moment before dragging our sun drenched bodies back home. I just cannot believe the weather at the moment it is glorious big time, and to think that we were tainted by fools leading us to believe that there would be no summer, pah. Although in my 32 years I have learnt that as soon as you mention something happening it ceases to continue, can't be coincidence as it happens to frequently. If the summer finishes rather abruptly don't come knocking on my door. So here we are and before we know it it will be the weekend again, that's the thing with school holidays the days all roll into one. I went out with my friend last night and we were discussing the adult college prospectus that we had received through the door, I had already chosen ballroom dancing as an option, (nobody puts Helen in the corner) and did not care, whereas my friends eye's lit up when I said it as she didn't want to say it for fear of being laughed at. When we were waiting to be seated at the restaurant of our choice, I thought I recognised a lady eating her dinner, smiled and realised that I didn't actually know her. She looked at me, giving me a polite smile but not recognising me, which makes sense considering I didn't actually know her. Thankfully there were no tables for 45 mins, (No tables on a Monday evening?) and when we said we would wait, the waiter looked put out so we decided to take our custom elsewhere. I seem to have a habit of making a fool of myself in public; waving at people I think I know but don't, nearly went to hug some man but realised he wasn't the person I thought he was. The best one was when I was walking past the local fishmongers, busy looking in my bag and I walked into someone, looked up and said sorry. As I looked up to see the person I had bumped into I realised that I had apologised to a 6ft giant replica fisherman. Things like that you can never live down, no matter how much therapy you have.patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-29871798883888756582007-08-04T15:45:00.000+01:002007-08-04T16:08:31.160+01:00They are coming to take me away, ha ha, he heToday I feel a trip to Warley mental home is necessary. I am slowly beginning to look like the lady at the top of my blog. Mainly it is child number 7, the naughty baby. Naughty but oh so cute and very noisy. I treated the children to an ice-cream at the little shop at the top of my road and then thought that we would gradually stroll towards the park and that is all we did. Child number 3 decided not to eat his 'magnum' using the stick like any normal person but by the actual ice cream, I just don't know where that one came from, I would say swapped at birth but he is a mini me of my husband so that is not the case. So needless to say not only was he extremely sticky but the wasps were very fond of him and it was a one sided relationship. He was like a child possessed. I was beginning to get calm courtesy of my 'almond magnum' but watching him freak out, I could feel the anger return. Then he said to me 'mummy I know I'm a big boy but I just don't like wasps.' My heart melted just like his ice cream and all screaming was forgiven. Everyone keeps telling me, and to be honest they seem to enjoy it, they all tell me to wait until they are all teenagers, and that is when the smug look is wiped all over their face. So I have to tell myself to take in every moment and enjoy it because there is no going back and before long child number 3 will not mention being a big boy again. Yesterday courtesy of my friend was a lovely day and to be honest put me to shame. She is not paranoid about shoes inside her house or food and drink eaten in her living room, unlike me. She cares not for water pistols or mammoth trampolines with no net for protection. I believe myself to be a overprotective, hater of dangerous fun. I just cannot help myself, a bit like my OCD, my mind just goes overboard and I imagine the children playing on the trampoline and them being boinged into next door, head first. I am sure that it would not happen, but it could. She tried to discourage any doubts that I had by telling me that in the 3 years she has had the trampoline none of her children have had any accidents - it did not help. I just chose not to watch. So on the way home I vowed to ease up and not be so strict, but you cannot undo 10 years in one walk home, so just like many things; slow and steady wins the race. I have instructed husband to buy water pistols and I promise not to freak when they come in first thing in the morning, only minutes after getting dressed soaking wet. If you hear stifled screaming it is me being carted away to Warley, I hope I get visitors.patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-84844529053430442832007-08-02T18:42:00.000+01:002007-08-02T19:19:49.464+01:00JawsDay 13 in the big brother house. Today I had the pleasure of 2 filings courtesy of my dad. When I say courtesty of my dad he isn't a dentist but he paid for me to go private. Had I have waited, not only would I probably need root canal but I would have to wait til November seeing as that was the next available Nhs dental appointment. So thankfully all feeling has returned to my mouth but £85 has left my dad's pocket. £85 I tell you, that will nearly buy you a new engine. The children have been slightly mad today so I definitely think that we need to get out tomorrow. My friend has kindly invited us round hers but I think that she may have seen the error of her ways as I haven't spoken to her since and there is a for sale board outside her house. Only joking, well there is a for sale sign outside her house but that is nothing to do with me. When she had a party for her son who is the same age as the terrible twins, they ran up to her door full of excitement, that is until they heard the sound of the dog barking and then they both legged straight back to the car as fast as their little legs would carry them. For some reason the children are terrified of dogs, even if they are on a lead. There are two conditions of my getting a dog, firstly it would have to wear socks or shoes when it went outside and secondly no licking of specific body parts, no way, not happening thank you very much. So the chances of us getting a dog are probably on a par to us winning the lottery, and I won't be holding my breath just yet. We have a fairly tame weekend planned seeing as the next birthday is 18 odd days away so just the norm of washing and ironing, how the other half live, I say.patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657598596916966278.post-13842617757885721042007-08-01T14:58:00.000+01:002007-08-01T17:58:36.699+01:00Jingle bellsI have very bad news, the thick black smoke that our eBay purchased car decided to emit is in a bad way. It requires a new engine, which in any language is not a good thing. Although my husband is a car mechanic, we still need to purchase parts. On the up side husband has located required engine for a fair price of £100, the only problem being we don't actually have £100 so I hope that he doesn't require payment soon and never would be ideal. So we are going from having two cars, one which was too small and sold and the other ill so rendered useless; I don't know.<br />Not to worry though worse things have happened at sea I am sure. Husband, like most men I am sure, was not best pleased when I returned only 5 minutes after leaving to pick my friend up to the news that there was no way I was driving the car, when you could see people coughing their guts up in the wake of the smoke coming from the exhaust. It is seriously not a good look.<br />So it is midway through another week and today we have mostly ventured in the garden and around my mum's house. Still feel bad about not doing too much with the kids but having the excuse of not having a car makes me feel better than having a car but no money to do anything with them. A week has passed since the two older children's birthdays (born on the same day but 2 years apart) and not even one week has passed since the terrible twins birthdays and we are now talking about what they want for their birthday's next year; oh my god. Technically I blame my dad, as he gave me the latest edition of the Argos catalogue which they are busy thumbing through, eyes alive with the excitement. I dare not tell them that Christmas is closer because before I know it I will have to suffer Christmas movies in the height of summer and 'when we wake up will it be christmas?' No thank you.patience of a sainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687683092014312073noreply@blogger.com2