The Curious Case of the Missing Tent

Yesterday we were battered buy gale force winds and lashing rain. A dramatic change from the day before which had teased us with the promise of an early summer.

Whilst huddled warm and safe indoors it suddenly occurred to me that I hadn't put away Amy's Pop Up Play Tent from the day before. I rushed out in the howling wind only to be met with an empty garden. I resigned myself to the fact we would never again see the tent and would have to purchase another, while explaining the disappearance with 'it's in the shed'. Lots of things go into the shed, never to see the light of day again. Your bucket and spade that broke last summer and I chucked out? It's in the shed!

Imagine my surprise and joy when upon opening the bedroom curtains this bright sunny morning I was confronted with the image of Amy's primary coloured tent nestling in nextdoor's flowerbed.

No, it's a book!

I was sat up at the dinning table with Amy when she threw something across the room.

'That's a bum smacking offence!' I teased her.

Amy gave me a whithering look and stated. 'No, it's a book!'

Happy Valentine's Day

It's Valentine's Day and again I have been showered with gifts. A single red rose, another Tatty Teady for my collection and a pair of the cosiest slippers available to man or beast! What more could a girl ask for?

Tonight I will also partake of a special dinner cookedd by Vinnie's own fair hand. If I survive I'll let you know how it goes.

An Evening With Derek Acorah!

Friday the 13th unlucky for some, but this evening I had the opportunity to go and see Derek Acorah live at the Wycombe Swan.

To be truthful I wasn't really sure what to expect, in fact once the initial excitement wore of I wasn't entirely sure that I actually wanted to go. After all when I told people that I was going I got a very mixed reaction.

Would it be a big fake plugfest? Would it be boring (I have trouble staying awake during a whole hour of Most Haunted)? Would I get there and an wish I had stayed at home and watched QI instead?

I have to say though, that I was pleasantly surprised. A very interesting and thoroughly enjoyable evening. I think that had a lot to do with the fact I was actually child free and myself for a couple of hours. Would I go again?

Yes!

Praying Really Does Work!

The power of prayer should not me underestimated! My washing machine has suddenly decided to work again. Thank you! Thank you Lord!

Washing Woes

Yesterday it was exactly a year since we moved to this house and to mark that special occasion my washing machine died. Kaput, void of life, no longer of any use to anyone!

So we're now waiting for our reconditioned rental machine to turn up sometime on Friday. After the freezer deciding to pack in just after Christmas there are no spare pennies to purchase another washing machine. So at the moment renting is the only option as we cannot realistically do without a washing machine for any length of time.

Since the thought of dragging and very ill toddler up the laundrette to sit round for a couple of hours while I got through a few loads I have been washing essentials like Ana's uniform in the bath. Ana got into the spirit of things helping me wring the clothes out over the bath. She requested to know if 'this was what it was like in the olden days'

Yes Ana, back then everyone washed their clothes in the bath.

What A Load Of Rubbish!

Whilst many of you were gazing out of your windows in wonder at all the glistening snow, I am still gazing forlornly at two weeks worth of household rubbish and recycling that is still waiting to be collected.

You see last week I failed to get my rather ample bottom out of bed in time for the usual Monday morning collection. Never mind I thought, if I squash it down a bit I'm sure it'll be alright until next Monday.

So Sunday night I decided to put my bins out so as not to miss the collection again.

Only this particular Monday it decided to snow, but not just any snow, the worst snow for the last 18 years apparently. By mid-afternoon I had gathered that the refuse workers weren't going to collect the rubbish this Monday either. However listening to the weather reports for the next day I assumed that since the worst of the snow was now behind us, the rubbish would obviously be collected a day late and they would simply catch up like they do over the Christmas and Easter holidays.

It is now Wednesday and I guess it has finally dawned upon me and most of the street as well, that our rubbish isn't going to be collected any time this week. In the mean time I have been piling up bags of rubbish and recycling in the shed, which has now acquired the heady tang of soiled nappies and rotting veg. Pretty soon I won't be able to get in there!

Mr Snowman Pays A Visit

After the first round of snow play the girls went back outside accompanied by the dog. It was then that Mr Snowman decided to visit wearing a jaunty hat and some rather fetching pink gloves.

HEY! Those are MY gloves!

Ana and Amy holding Mr Snowman's hands.

Amy holding Mr Snowman's hand.

Some minor adjustments needed

Amy giving Mr Snowman a kiss!

Snow!

We listened to the severe weather warnings last night, Russian snow was on it's way. But we thought nothing of it. By the time we went to bed at 10:00pm, there was nothing more then a sugar dusting and the odd flake blowing on the breeze.

This morning however was a different matter. We woke to find ourselves in an overnight winter wonderland as 4-5 inches had silently fell as we were tucked up warm in our beds.

Wintery scene from our front garden.

The annoucements came over the radio that all schools were closed, no local bus services and the chances of getting a train or taxi were pretty slim. So there we were at 8:00 in the morning bundled up and out in the snow.

The girls in a blizzard!

Ana in the snow.

Amy in the snow.

Shen was having a great time running about, rolling around, sliding and barking at the snow. After a while however he decided that the cold stuff wasn't all that and went inside to warm up by the radiators.

Shen having a good ol' roll in the stuff

Covered in the white stuff!

The girls then had fun making snow angles and throwing snowballs. Then Ana started on the construction of a snowperson

Ana making a snow angel

The snow angel

Ana and Amy making snowballs

The start of a snowperson

Then it was time to come in and warm up with some 'Hot' Chocolate. Yummy!

I Don't 'DO' Sleepovers!

Tonight was supposed to be Amy's first sleepover. At nearly three years old I did have some corncerns that she didn't fully understand what sleeping over truly meant. Bearing in mind she still doesn't fully understand what sleeping means. Still, she seemed pretty excited by the idea and helped me pack her overnight bag. She chose to take her Upsy Daisy pyjamas, Iggle Piggle blanket, Neigh Neighs and her toothbrush.

4:30pm on the dot I dropped her off at her friends' house with the promise that should anything change their mother would be straight on the phone. I went home and basked in the bliss that was silence and no Wall-e on the TV.

However that blissful silence was shattered at 7:00pm by THAT call. Someone wanted to come home.

Amy then informed me that she, 'doesn't want to do sleepovers anymore.'

Oh well, there's always next year I suppose!

Like My Moustache?

Amy has been at the chocolate cakes again!

Hama Time!

This afternoon after school we broke out the Hama Beads. Now these have always been banned from my house to the point I actually threw away a small set that was given to Ana a few Christmases ago. Somehow the idea of thousands of little plastic beads clogging up my hoover and choking my toddler didn't fill me with joy.

So imagine my forced smile of gratitude when Ana ripped the wrapping from her birthday present to reveal a box of 7500 of the bligthers. How bad can it be? I suppose under strict supervision a place for the Hama Bead can be found in our home and in our hearts. So that's just what we did. I watched hawk like as the girls made their bead pictures.

Ana decided to start with a rabbit.

Amy decided on a butterfly.

Amy started off well, but got bored one minute into the build so mummy finished it.

The finished pieces.

So have I changed my mind about Hama Beads? Perhaps, but for now the box is staying hidden from little fingers.

It's Party Time!

Scooby Dooby Dooooooooo!

Tomorrow at 09:50am Ana will be eleven years old! So today we threw a surprise birthday party for her with all her family and friends there to make the day special.

Hama Beads!


Amy apparently making the jelly in her tummy wobble

Ana enjoying jelly and ice cream. YUM!

Gung Xi Fai Cai! Happy Chinese New Year!

Gung Xi Fai Cai! Happy Chinese New Year!

Monday 26th January 2009 will be the first day of the Year Of The Ox. So today I took the girls into town to watch the celebrations and of course the dragon dance.

The girls ready to go watch the dragon dance

The celebrations were due to start at The Boy and Boat statue at 1pm. We arrived with half and hour to spare, or so we thought. There was a lot of standing around and waiting, Amy and Ana got quite figity but thankfully some girls in tradtional chinese costume were handing out fortune cookies to all the children.

Amy's fortune said. "Life to you is danshing and a bold adventure." Very fitting I thought

Ana's fortune said. "Advice, when most needed, is least heeded."

Everything was fine, until the the banging of the drums and the dragons started dancing, then Amy was completely terrified. She was convinced the dragons were going to eat her or roar loudly and breathe fire.

Dragons dancing

We followed the dancers down the high street in a huge procession. It was then that the dragons came closer and fluttered their eyes at the all the children. This did not help to improve Amy's terrified mood.

A lovely lady tried to tell Amy that they were nothing more then men in costume and pointed out their legs, but Amy was having none of it. She didn't believe any of us until the dragons removed their heads at the end dance. Of course then she wanted to see the dragons dance again. Maybe next year!

Afterwards we went to the free arts and crafts stall set up in the shopping centre and had a go at making our own paper Chinese lanterns.

The girls with their paper lanterns