the life and times of Mrs.B

And as the final curtain falls..........

2011-04-14T09:56:00.002+01:00

I think it is time to bring this blog to a cose. It was about my life as Mr.B's sidekick, Mrs.B. that is no longer the story.

If you still find yourself compelled to follow the roadcrash that is the story of my life you can read more here be nice to see you!

mmmmmmmmmmmm

2011-01-29T13:33:00.002Z

running on empt; physically and metaphorically speaking!

physicaly I am exhausted; this course, my family situation, winter, birthdays are all wearing me down.
my mind is empty of any thoughts other than - whats the next thing to be completed for this course and whencan I next get some sleep.

not an inspiring blog entry but thats me folks!

Sometimes

2011-01-16T21:01:00.003Z

Sometimes it strikes me how lonely I am

I could be in the house with the family

I can be in supermarket in the middle of the day

I can be on campus surrounded by chattering students

But I am alone, so lonely

I always have been

I mourn for what I have lost

When I should be celebrating what I have

Jumping on the band-wagon?

2011-01-14T18:09:00.002Z

If the writers at the BBC would have their way this is how all baby loss women would end up. Insane. Baby snatchers. Locked up.
And as for what they would have you believe midwives act, well don't get me started! mistakes about paperwork (the amazing disappearing talipes!), loss of 20% from birthweight not explored, disregarding concerns over mums mental health............................

But less of that, and back to my main point;

Am I jumping on the backlash bandwagon?

No I have decided I can not be a sheep and be sucked into the whole 'can't-miss-an-episode-of-my-soap' mentality

Eastenders writers you have let yourself, and your viewers, down badly.

I have watched Eastenders since the very beginning, I have loved the characters (not all, some grated on me!), admired how you have tackled some subjects (the Mark HIV storyline springs to mind).

But this Ronnie / Kat storyline is wrong.

So many inconsistency have been thrown up, I am not even going to start listing them as I am sure you have spotted them or read about them for themselves, but if you are unaware of it all I can recommend a read of this fabulous blog as she is very witty with her observations.

As for me I won't be watching Eastenders until they finish with this god awful handling of a very sensitive subject. I understand that originally the story was going to go on for a year, then with the Ronnie actress leaving they brought that forward to May. Yesterday at uni I overheard two girls saying its being brought to an end now.

I have complainedto the Beeb about their handling of this - and if you feel as strongly as me then please add your comments

If you want to know how this has affected someone personally please visit Jeanettes blog.

Take note BBC, women who losetheir babies are not insane baby stealers -they are human beings with feelings!

These boots are made for walking.......................

2010-12-19T10:46:00.004Z

Last year my faithful walking boots of 8 years sprung a leak, I was devastated it had taken such a long time to break those boots in and they were now like a second skin. We have been through so many exciting adventures together - RIP lovely boots.

This year I have acquired a new pair of boots - from Hotter shoes new range of gore-tex shoes for women.

And they arrived just in time - the day before the massive snowfall hit the UK!

Well, WOW! so comfortable, no breaking in needed from the first time I popped them onto my dainty (hahahhaah!) feet.

They have had a lot of use over the last few weeks from; traipsing in the garden to fill the bird feeders, battling through the slush to buy milk and even to the theatre! (OK so it was 'only' the matinee performance of a pantomime!)

Would I recommend them? yes, yes, yes definitely. I have the blue version and even my 18 year old said they are nice, and look cute with jeans. They are not great big clod hoppers, looking like a foot soldier would wear them, they are definitely more suited to the genteel female!

Skiing!

2010-12-16T19:57:00.007Z

So there you go she is a natural! apparently.

Her instructor was an absolute diamond, so patient with middle child. And incredibly encouraging

so what can I say about the Snow Centre? The staff were lovely! from helping us find out where to go to helping us work out what clothing and equipment in what size middle child needed.

once she was ready and packed off with the instructor, her Dad, me and the littliest went upstairs to watch - you can choose to watch from an open balcony (although it can be up to minus 8c) or you can sit in front of a fire, with a glass of something in your hand (or a frothy coffee from the costa) here she is ready, but not looking too happy

but its ok, she has red boots!

possibly her favourite bit was the cable that took her up!

although she was pretty good at coming down!

I guess it will be Ski Lessons now then *sigh*

How do they do it?

2010-11-26T13:59:00.002Z

Two questions I want to ask about university life;

How is it that, normally lovely and interesting, midwives can turn a two hour lecture into a complete mind numbing experience?
How do full time students do it? lectures day after day after day, week after week after week. Thank heavens my course is 60% practice based!

We are currently finishing the 3rd of 4 weeks in University, something I had been looking forward to to have a rest from 12 hour shifts. But now I cant wait to get back out there!
See you in SCBU in a weeks time!

Vitamins again!

2010-11-24T16:56:00.003Z

Blinking winter! every year winter comes and smallest child gets ill.
Now I know you cant get a cold from being cold, but why does she always catch a cold when it is cold?
And of course at rising 6 she is at THAT age, she wont eat many veggies and is very limited on her meat intake (anything that is hard to eat such as chops, chicken, bacon etc is rejected) I refuse to cook alternative meals for her, and so she often goes without (mean huh?)

So when I came across these multivitimins for kids I was impressed as they ticked a lot of boxes for me;

nut and gluten free (middle daughter has a nut allergy, the jury is still out on what the smallest child seems to react to!)
no artificial colourings or flavourings
handy one dose packs of fruit flavoured chewy objects! - the kids think they get sweets everyday mouhahahaha
contains vitamins A, C, D, E & B12
the company behind vitfits have teamed up with kidsaid and donate 10p from every monthly supply pack to them. Every little helps!

But I guess the question is do the kids like them and have they had a significant impact on their health?

The kids love them, they taste nice and the little packs are cute (although these things don't always sit easy with my reducing packaging theory, I let it slip if the kids take their vitamins!).

have they had a significant effect on their health? well that's a harder one to gauge. I think it would be fairer to say that they certainly haven't had a negative impact, but as the kids took vits anyway I haven't seen an improvement, but certainly not a higher incidence of colds and bugs etc. So yes I guess they do their thing!

I am looking forward to getting their new product when it is released, which is an Omega 3 product, as this is also something I give the girls - mainly because of the reputed benefit to children who are on the Autistic Spectrum.

Its also nice that the company have provided a bit of fun for the kids on the website with their fitvits health club.

A Dedication to my Gorgeous Mummy

2010-11-23T21:45:00.001Z

Happy Birthday
to a wonderful woman
who has given me the determination
to carry on
no matter what crap
is hurled at me
from a great height

Happy Birthday Mum, I love you

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

MMmmmmmm thought that had ended when............................

2010-11-15T16:43:00.003Z

I left school!

Eh? Teachers that don't like me!

I have a lecturer, who teaches a subject which challenges me. My thoughts about myself and my attitudes to others. Sometimes (OK frequently) I question whats being said (something the said lecturer claims she encourages). However I always feel as if she thinks very little of my opinion - or puts my opinion down in a way that makes me feel stupid. That makes me feel sad.

So today I have been to the Learning Resource Centre (library to us oldies) and got as many of the recommended books for her module as I can, and this week I will read and read - I will show her I am not stupid!

one for you and one for me

2010-11-12T21:35:00.002Z

There's a new Blogger in the Blogasphere - give her a go, lovely girl!

And now one for me (and you I guess!) tonight I have shared a lovely Indian take away meal with the teenage daughter and her boyfriend. The restaurant - New Cafe Masala, sadly, doesn't have a website but you can get their details here. The food was lovely, we got a free bottle of, chilled, passable Pinit Grigio and when we had to phone them to point out they had sent a Balti instead of a plain old chicken curry, they sent out the replacement and refunded the difference with a smile and a friendly word!

Give 'em a go, they are also lovely!

Midwifery? or mmmmmm Nursing?!?

2010-11-06T18:45:00.002Z

Never ever thought I would wonder whether I should be training to be a Nurse!

But after 2 weeks on the Gynae ward, where we have outliers (normally geriatrics) as well as Gynae patients, I found a side to myself I was amazed to find. I actually enjoyed caring for these women..........................................

but no Midwifery is definitely for me, I am sure!

A Sunday Post of Ramblings

2010-10-24T19:32:00.002+01:00

I feel I neglect this blog a lot of the times.
I certainly dont keep you up to date with what is going on in my life, what is being thrown at me and how I am dealing with it.................................................................

So maybe its about time to come clean and tell you the biggest news that has happened to me this year....................................................

Something I have been hiding from you, scared to put the words on the blog cos it makes them real.......................................................

But worse things could happen, I still have my health, my children, my parents, my home, my sanity (only just)...............................................

But what I dont have anymore is my husband............................................

Earlier this year, after 14 years together and less than 3 years of marriage Mr. B told me he no longer loved me, and wasnt happy.

So thats it, 41 with 3 kids and 2 failed marriages, some parts of me have gone so far south you need a passport to visit them. And All Alone.

Ski Sunday!

2010-10-12T19:35:00.003+01:00

the life and times of Mrs.B

OK well maybe not exactly Ski Sunday stuff. But maybe a bit of eddy the Eagle style fun for my 9 year old.

The 9 year old, you may recall, is Autistic. Part of her diagnosis is symptoms of ADHD, which in short means she has FAR TOO MUCH ENERGY! She is constantly on the going and sitting still is not something she looks upon favourably!

Although not a fantastic sportswoman she loves having a go - street dance, netball, swimming, yoga, trampolining, cycle to name a few. So when I found out about the new Snow Centre near us I thought it would be a great idea for her to try.

She is very excited about giving it a go - after we explained to her that it was actually near Aunty Judes and not somewhere in an aeroplane!

Watch this space for an update - maybe this will be her 'thing' and could lead to the excitment of ski lessons!

Just Brilliant!

2010-10-07T21:43:00.002+01:00

That is the best way I can describe my week on Triage.

I love it! So much variety, So much experiences.

So much experience at monitoring pregnant women!

And I even got to deliver a surprise baby on the ward (whoops!)

Shall be sad to leave, tomorrow is my last day - definately a cake day!

Next week theatres..........................................

totally retro, blast from the past!

2010-10-07T21:31:00.004+01:00

Don't tell 'em about the honey mummy!

If you are of a certain age like me, you might remember the excitement when your Mum actually bought something more exciting than weetabix on her weekly shop with her shopping trolley!

The honey monster is a key figure in my youthful breakfasting. So when laying eyes on a box of these I thought 'well why not!'

I brought the box arrived on Saturday morning at chez moi. After a breakfast bowlful each saturday and sunday, and also a bowful (without milk) each for movie snack instead of popcorn - and the lot was gone!

Yup a huge hit, and the games on the box have kept the kids amused for sometime.

It's October 2010

2010-10-02T19:48:00.003+01:00

And so one week into year two and...................................

I feel no different, but I have had a brilliant week visiting GOSH, spending a night shift with the paramedics and observing a consultant in his fetal medecine clinic. Yes I am knackered!

Next week is a week on maternity triage, which will be the last maternity related placement I will have in 2010 - after that its general nursing!

Trying it on for size

2010-09-26T22:01:00.000+01:00

About this time last year I was very excited about starting Uni.

and tonight I go to bed as a first year midwifery student............................

and wake up tomorrow as a SECOND year midwifery student!!!!!!

Woohoo!

2010-09-15T20:36:00.002+01:00

Finally

I came home from work today and I have something that promises to be a lovely bathroom!

All the issues I raised with the chappy yesterday have been adressed!

And I have floor!

And the work downstairs has started, a new loo and sink (the smallest sink in the world!) and the tiles have been removed - could it mean that the end is in sight?!

I do hope so!

Pictures soon I promise

So Who's Insurance Should I Claim On?

2010-09-14T21:02:00.004+01:00

Yes the bathroom situation has got that bad!

And I am so glad I sorted out my buildings and contents insurance!

What I should be doing, is sitting in a beautiful - very almost - finished bathroom. With candles, bubbles and wine.

But what I have is a disaster! the decorator has made such a bad job I have had to call in the site manager - who was also appalled at the workmanship and finish. Hopefully things in that quarter will be rectified - AND VERY SOON!

But just to put the icing on the cake - tonight I tried to pretend that the deorating wasnt so bad, and ran myself a lovely hot bath - and as I was a bit chilly decided that I would pop the heating on.

Pah what a mistake that was. There I am lying in a lovely bath, washing away the aches and pains of the day, listening to that lovely gentle trickle of water going out of the overflow.

Then suddenly - splosh, splash as water - somewhere - hit the floor - somewhere?!

After a bit of investigating I found the puddle, under the boiler - coming from the pipes *sigh*

So what is it? My home buildings insurance? contents (the flooring is damaged)? I do have cheap home contents insurance, but thats due to no claims in years - would this bump my premiums up?

I don't want to talk about it

2010-09-10T20:20:00.002+01:00

Things I wouldn't do if I was decorating a bathroom;

I wouldn't paint over unplastered wall
I wouldn't paint new copper pipes with emulsion
I wouldn't put woodchip up on one wall
I wouldn't put woodchip up in little bits, like a patchwork
I wouldn't paint the woodchip before the paste was dry
I wouldn't put woodchip up at all actually!
I wouldn't paint over a lovely freshly plastered wall that had been damaged by the clumsy tiler
I wouldn't paint over rawplugs and holes from the old fixtures and fittings, without them being removed and filled
I wouldn't put a screw into a new skirting board so tightly it split the wood, made the corner of the skirting seperate and then paint over it
I wouldn't paint the ceiling without taking down the old light fitting, knowing the knew one is smaller

That is why I don't want to talk about it, I am not a happy person and when the project manager picks up his phone messages he is really going to know that!

*sniff*

blooming laptop!

2010-09-08T21:18:00.002+01:00

I have photos for you
Of my bathroom
It's looking good
But my laptop won't let me upload them!

days 2 & 3 were the weekend, so no bathroom progress
I came home from work on day 4 to find that NOTHING had been done!
Day 5 I was promised a plasterer and a carpenter, no sign of a carpenter, but the plasterer had managed to do about half a wall!
Day 6 (today) I came home unsure of what I would find - WOOHOO progress indeed; tiling done, bath panel done, hole at bottom of dirt stack covered over and the floorboard covering put down in readiness for the flooring!

And yes I have had a bath tonight

And so the bathroom

2010-09-04T19:05:00.006+01:00

Inspite of the workmen arriving an hour later than promised, and the office chappy not coming out to take my door key the work is well underway! They have decided to do the downstairs loo next week, so here are a few before shots of the upstairs bathroom.

the new suite was delivered first thing, whilst I was still dropping the kids at school - very amusing to walk round the corner and see my new suite left on the grass verge opposite my house!

The first thing they did was wrap my stairs carpet in bubble wrap! honestly it is - such fun walking up and down stairs now, and no way Mr.B or the teenager can sneak in late at night!
I did go out for the day, as I suspected it would be a very noisey day - and I was right by the looks of it on my return - the suite had been completely changed and all the tiles had been ripped
off the walls, as well as the flooring and woodchip removed!

I have had a bath in there already, and even managed to wash my hair despite there being no shower attachment, good old jug! Monday I shall be going out to work before they arrive, and by the time I get back they will be done, and as they tidy up so well behind themselves it will be like having bathroom fairies in!

strange dreams indeed

2010-08-30T19:30:00.002+01:00

I have been having some very strange dreams lately.
Admittedly I am going through some huge upheavals in my life lately.
But all the same they are weird.

A few nights ago I dreamt that I was a lot younger than I am now, and I had just started teacher training, but as a 6th form teacher - the kids were only a couple of years younger than me. Then it starts getting odd, these kids also want to be teachers - but only at Great Ormond Street hospital!
Suddenly we are looking for a ghost, a girl they knew who wanted to teach too, but died and now haunted the corridors of the school *shakes head*
the whole thing went on and on with odd things, that I cant really put a finger on - and we ended up visiting a lady with a baby, which turned into a trip to a farm and the lady had 25 kids!

Then last night I dreamt I was entering a baking contest - but I was told I would lose points if I got ANY crumbs on the cooling rack?!?!!? I have no idea what happened in the dream, although I do know that at one point I was carrying a baby in a hug-a-bub ( lovely purple one) but when I looked down I couldn't find the baby, I put my hands inside to feel it and it had slipped down, so I put it back in the right position, but it slipped down. This kept on happening until eventually the baby wasn't there anymore. However I felt no sadness or remorse or fear. All very odd happening's.

Any dream analysts out there?

Funeral Planning

2010-08-29T09:41:00.004+01:00

I am 41, less than half a year away from being 42. potentially half way through my life, I have done a lot with my life – 3 kids, lots of work experience, twice married and now at uni doing a degree.

There are 3 things in life that are guaranteed; being born, paying taxes anddying!

How many of us give much thought to any of those? We may celebrate the birth of a baby, grumble at the amount of tax we have to pay – but the dying bit, do we think about it? Maybe in so far as writing a will.

Who is going to pay for your funeral? And that’s something that I have been thinking about – maudlin maybe, but ever practical that is me!

So I thought I would look into funeral planning and a prepayment plan. During my research I have found out some fascinating stuff;

You can plan what you want, poems, eulogies, music, cars etc
You can hire a casket - seriously! you can hire a posh coffin to be viewed in and then swap to the more basic cheaper version for the burial / cremation! and why not, after all we hire wedding frocks
You can pay bi - annually, annually, monthly, quarterly - basically however suits you!

So just like you plan the arrival of your baby, your wedding day or a family holiday you canplan your funeral exactly how you want it ensuring your funeral is a unique reflection of your life and your wishes are fulfilled.For someone as anal as me that is a blessing – now pass the cheque book please

Here we go again

2010-08-29T09:17:00.002+01:00

Loyal (insane?) readers of this blog may remember a couple of years ago when we had our kitchen done.

Well on Friday its the turn of our upstairs bathroom and downstairs loo. I am facing this with some trepidation!

Kitchens can be avoided (after all thats what restaurants and take aways are for) but bathrooms...........

O well it will be worth it in the end!

In these shoes? I don't think so!

2010-08-12T12:52:00.002+01:00

If you are like me you possibly have little, or no, interest in the lives of the 'Celebs', but when it comes to the choices they make for their children, or allow their children to make for themselves - my mind often boggles!

For those not in the know, the picture above is of 4 year old Suri Cruise (daughter of Kelly Holmes and Tom Cruise) yes 4 years old. Apparently the choice of footwear was hers. I am all for giving children freedom, independence and choice. But surely as parents we should guide our kids?

Interestingly Clarks Shoes have offered to step in and fit Suri with a pair of shoes which would be better for her feet!

Here is their press release of the matter

Clarks offer to step in to save Suri’s feet

As Tom Cruise defends his daughters’ choice of high-heeled shoes in an interview with GMTV this week, leading footwear specialist Clarks, have offered to expertly measure & fit Suri Cruise with shoes.'

With recent trends highlighting the addition of a heel as the new ‘must have’ accessory for girls under the age of ten, Clarks has offered to step in and provide Suri with equally fashionable party shoes that are also well fitted, comfortable and promote healthy growing feet. Their hope is to make parents aware of the potential health issues that high heeled shoes can cause for their child’s developing feet.

With around 70% of foot problems coming from wearing the wrong footwear or ill-fitting shoes, Clarks is concerned over the negative effects this new trend may have. Bob Hardy, Foot Fitting Manager for Clarks International comments:-

“Children’s feet are made up of pliable bone that is not yet fully formed, which unfortunately means that they’re prone to being bent out of shape without parents even noticing.

Unsuitable or badly fitting shoes can prevent natural growth and cause discomfort, leading to health problems in later life that could adversely affect a child’s walking development.

We urge all parents to get their children’s feet expertly measured & fitted for shoes so they can be sure their child’s foot bones are developing in the correct way.”

Clarks also recently offered its support to the Mumsnet ‘Let Girls be Girls’ campaign, which asks retailers to pledge that they will only offer products that don’t play upon, exploit or emphasise children’s sexuality.

On GMTV Tom Cruise replied to the query over Suris footwear by pointing out that in Spain children wear heeled flamenco shoes from a young age. I wore plimsolls from a very young age (you got to love growing up in the 70's) but I know its not good for my feet to be enclosed in them all day!

I wore Clarks shoes as a child, I hated it. They were boring, plain and the same year in year out. But have you seen them lately? Very pretty, and there are some more 'grown up' styles for the older kids. Yes I am concentrating on girls shoes, but then I have only daughters myself and lets face it do boys really care whats on their feet?

OK so you can now order Clarks kids online, although they can only be picked up in store so the fit is checked properly, but if you already have an idea of the child's foot size you can order a couple of pairs in ready to get fitted - thus avoiding said child's disappointment of there being nothing in their size.

You could always use this video on youtube which Clarks have created to check to see how your child's shoes are doing - might even avoid the stressful trip to the shoe fitters!

I Love Melatonin!

2010-08-10T20:41:00.002+01:00

At least I love what it does to my 9 year old!

Middle child has a diagnosis of ADHD and Aspergers syndrome (although I am not convinced of that, I do know she has *something* that affects her behaviour). She sees a couple of specialists and has been prescribed a medication called Risperidone. this is to calm her down and to make 'the voices' in her head stop telling her to do bad things (her words!).

At her specialist appointment a couple of weeks ago I spoke about middle child's sleeping problems. She goes to sleep okish, but wakes very early and will often wake up every couple of hours during the night. This in turn leaves her tired and washed out which has a big impact on her behaviours, I asked about the possibility of giving her Melatonin.

So 2 weeks ago we started her on a small dose each evening at dinner time. and tonight even though she was told she could go to bed at 7pm, and have 'quite time' before lights out at 7.30pm she asked to go to bed, with no quiet time at 6.45pm!

She also seems to have a better handle on her temper and reactions to things. The bags under her eyes have diminished and she doesn't look as drawn out.

Hooray!

Doesn't sit easy with me, drugging my child up. But it makes her life an easier place to be. And this can only be a good thing.

phew

2010-08-01T18:01:00.002+01:00

What a year.
A year of mixed emotions
A hard year on a personal, academic and work level.
But a year thats over! I survived, about to do my last few shifts as a first year student!

Its been hard, bloody hard - and if you are thinking of doing it you better have fire in your belly because you wont survive without it!

My fellow Student midwives have felt the same. There have been amazing highs (my first water birth, my first delviery, a mum saying thank you , passing my exams) and some incredible lows (births more like blood baths, women who are scared, women who do not educate themselves, failing assignments) but I live to fight another day

Here's to being a year 2 student midwife!

less than 60 days to go

2010-06-02T21:38:00.002+01:00

and so much to do, reflections, portfolios, practice hours to keep up with, 2000 word assignment, A+P, OSCE's, PBA's and placements in community and the delivery suite - blimey.

and then I have a 6 weeks inter-semester period - so need that!

During my break (1 week personal development, 3 weeks annual leave and then 2 more weeks personal development)hope to not have too much practive time to make up, however - I am going to read (strictly chic lit), knit (I have a throw for my bed to do, and would love to knit for my neplet - did I tell you I was going to be an Auntie soon for the first time?), I will tidy the loft, I will tidy the garage (including selling all my fleeces and snaps), fill up the freezer with good home cooked food for next winter.

AND rest, rest and enjoy the respite before the second year starts!

wow nearly a 3rd of the way there already - scarey stuff indeed.

Loving the Weather

2010-05-23T21:08:00.005+01:00

well to look at, I don't actually like being out in it - the humidity makes ME frizzy! some folk get frizzy hair in the humidity but I just become frizzy all over - especially my Brain!

But it has brought me out into the garden, yesterday was a productive day at the garden centre, and then planting out all the lovely veggy plugs we bought
I bought a couple of these fab planters, they are fabric bags - just brilliant this one is the smaller one designed for veggies and herbs.
and this one is deeper, with carrots and onions in it - with a row of Mange Tout against the fence next to it.
and of course no English garden is complete without Strawberries - My middle daughter chose 3 different varieties to put in this lovely new tub

dont think I have ever shared a picture of my mad cat, he is old beyond old - we got him about 13 years ago as a rescue cat, we don't know how old he was then, just that he was an adult cat. So he must be at least 14 years old - but is insane and acts like a kitten!
recently we treated our guinea pigs - Apricot and Brandy - to a new outdoor hutch and run from a really good online pet shop
They have lived indoors since we got them last February but felt they deserved a good romp around in the garden this summer

and finally I have to share these with you, on friday night I went to a Uni friends house to do some studying, only it turned out to be a bit of an impromptu hen night for another student who gets married in a couple of weeks

yes they are indeed jelly willys!
O dear I ahve just realised they are on a Charlie and Lola plate -t hat is so wrong, on many, many levels!

Aha

2010-05-21T17:16:00.004+01:00

The first day of the rest of my life!
not the life I planned and certainly not the life I want.
But this is it, this is the one I have been given!

and as any of you who have been regular readers of my blogs for the last 3 years or so, will know that I love lists! Here is my 'this-is-what-is-left-of-2010-list'!

get a new tattoo (maybe 2 if I am feeling indulgent)
have my tongue pierced (yeah I am scared of that!)
pass my motorbike test (watch out world!)
get a bike to enjoy said licence
lose 20 pounds (damn married life!)
start an exercise regime.

Of course that is on top of getting on with this course (is it nearly the inter-semester break yet?!) and looking after the kids.

Today I met with a dear friend, Caroline. We had a mooch around the Vintage Emporium, where I treated myself to a pretty scarf, an unusual watch and a hat pin to hold my naughty beret in place (it is naughty because it slides off my head!)

We then had lunch at The Beech Tree, which amusingly used to be a toilet block! I have decided they do the best Chai Latte locally!

Caroline instructed me to make sure the flowers I was buying on the way home were bright, well Caroline I tried I hope these are bright enough - even if the beautiful bunch of lilac and pink flowers called me! And although I wanted to get an unusual vase in the Vintage Emporium, I ended up getting this twisted one from the supermarket!

Now I am getting ready to go to a friends house for a study night with a few of the girls - Anatomy and Physiology you will be mine!

I do miss you all!

2010-04-16T16:51:00.001+01:00

And my blogging

but just now I have something going on in my life that is sapping all my energy. anything I blog would be sad, bitter and horrible.

I will be back..................................................... I hope

Behind my ear!

2010-02-28T18:31:00.003Z

(yes she does sleep with it over her face!)
Mr.B has often managed to pull 'missing' things out from behind the smallest child's ear, she is utterly convinced by this. The item most often found behind her ear is the precious 'dolly' often lost, and an important bedtime companion.

Tonight I have overheard a conversation between smallest and Mr.B

Mr.B - where is dolly
smallest - behind my ear
Me - snigger
Mr.B - no smallest, where is dolly
smallest - behind my ear
Mr.B - *sigh* where did you last have it?
smallest - be-near my ear!
Me - giggle giggle giggle
Mr.B - O go to bed!

The Day a Pair of Red Shoes Arrived at my Door!

2010-02-27T20:56:00.002Z

Click here and take a look!

I am very lucky to be offered a pair of these to try, so I duly popped to the HOTTER SHOES website and started looking. It didn't take me long to fall in love with PENNY in a lovely striking red leather.

They arrived a few days later, and I can truthfully say I have never, ever tried on a more comfortable pair of shoes!

The leather is soft and welcoming, the heel of the sole is padded, the sole of the shoe is a lovely
non-slip affair. I am loving them and finding any excuse to pop them on!

I am going to invest in a pair of GLEE for work! They may seem expensive, but they are British made and superb quality.

Take a look and maybe treat your feet to a bit of shoe love!

a test for vitamins!

2010-02-19T17:36:00.002Z

I have been sent a bottle of multivitamins from Seven Seas called 'energetic mum' and as I am about to start 7 weeks of night shifts (erratic ones at that!) I thought it would be a good idea to give them a run for their money.

I anticipate, feeling run down and emotional at times, I will be working 'long nights' which is 7.15pm til 7.45am, which means very little sunlight to help keep me going, combine that with the kids and things could get fun.

lets see if these little tablets can make me an energetic mum!

The Brilliant post

2010-02-19T09:37:00.002Z

first night shift Wednesday night - brilliant!
I have a brilliant mentor! I had a brilliant time!

I was able to give lots of breastfeeding support - which was brilliant!

I learnt new things - which was brilliant!

I was able to spend time with the women, listening to them, talking with them, helping and supporting them - which was Brilliant!

all in all it was Brilliant - roll on Saturday!

A sense of worry and dread!

2010-02-14T21:33:00.003Z

This week I start my next placement, this time on the ante natal ward. I haven't worked in a hospital setting before, so I approach this with some trepidation......................

or I did until today! I asked another of the students, who has been on the ward for a week now, how she was finding it and what sort of things did she do. O dear her mentor spent a lot of time crying,and then on day 2 her mentor handed in her notice! apparently wrong drugs being given, notes going missing and equipment is a bit thin on the ground - so now I am worrying a wee bit about how the heck I am going to fair!

Wish me luck for my first shift which is a long night shift (12.5 hours!) on Wednesday night.

Reflections

2010-01-19T18:25:00.002Z

reflecting on being a 9th of the way through my course! just 8 more semesters to go ~ so not long then?!

I really enjoyed being out with the community midwifes, I felt *at home*. I learnt so much and was able to put a lot of theory into practice. not just what we have learnt in uni, but also the bits and pieces I have picked up over the years with my own, and my friends pregnancies. daft as it sounds, it felt 'real'.

then we had a long break! 2 weeks off for Christmas, which I won't deny was lovely. Back in Uni for a couple of days and then *bang* the flaming snow! and everything since then has been postponed. Tomorrow we have formative presentations, I am presenting with a fellow student, we are covering the third stage of labour. Not so good when my darling middle child has given me a bug from hell!

Saturday is an exam, least said about that I think.

Then its make into Uni for a couple of weeks, mostly learning skills. Then back into placement; one week doing bits I have organised - so far I have secured a couple of days in a specialist mother and baby unit buts that all *whoops*. Then I have 3 weeks on the Ante-Natal ward, and finally 4 weeks on the delivery suite (very very exciting!) then a thankful 2 weeks off for Easter.

Mr.B's Birthday coincides with Easter this year, so to avoid having to buy cakes for his work colleagues he has taken the week off and we have hired a cottage in Herefordshire - very much looking forward to that!

O M G!

2009-12-20T21:56:00.002Z

How are you? I haven't seen you around for ages, how are things with you? are you feeling well? o that is good news I am glad the ointment cleared that up! and the kids? No she hasn't has she, that is a bit embarrassing! But good news that they are settling in a bit better now. Is the other half still making that long commute to work? must be tough for you all -but good that they have given a pay rise to cover the extra expense!
Are you all sorted for Christmas? I have been fairly well organised this year,and last night we wrapped all the presents and placed them under the tree (that only went up yesterday!), the girls are really excited about it all! how about yours? I know you would think they would behave a bit better knowing Santa Claus may call this week!
I am kind of enjoying the snow, sorry you had that little mishap ~ I hope you *ahem* bottom will be less painful soon! Do you think the snow will keep coming over Christmas? won't it be magical if it does, I am not sure I can remember a white Christmas, Pardon? you cheeky so and so I am not THAT much older than you. teehee
Yes thank you Uni is going really well, its all so interesting out on placement I have seen, done and learnt so much ~ everyone is so helpful and patient.
OK well its been lovely bumping into you, these bags are heavy so I must make tracks. We must catch up properly soon over a cup of tea, OOOOO I know I am hosting a fundraising evening for HannahBanana. Its on Monday the 11th January 2010 at Champneys in St Albans from 6 - 8 pm. the tickets cost £15 each, for that you will get refreshments, a mini facial, a make up demonstration, a goody bag and discounts on purchases and treatments! do let me know if you wish to come; you can email me of leave a comment ~ I need a deposit of £5 asap. It would be great if you could join me!

(p.s ~ I am indeed hosting a fundraiser - do come I would love to see you!)

MMMM that went well then!

2009-11-30T06:03:00.002Z

Last day of November and how did my blog-a-day go?
between you and me, I think really well! O.K so I didn't make an entry EVERY day - but I averaged 1 every other day, pretty good going for a woman with 3 kids, one Mr.B, study and now full time work.

I feel I need to put in an explanation of what PLACEMENT means, I have been making the sorts of assumptions that the Uni tells us we mustn't do! (assuming that everyone knows the terminology we use). 40% of my university course is studying to be a midwife, this is known as block, when we are in uni doing the theory. The other 60% is doing the practical side of the training, this is known as placement. At the moment I am on community, I am working with a team of midwifes who work out of local surgeries, visiting mums at home who have had their baby's and in the clinics to check the pregnant women and occasionally post natal mums and baby's.
In February I start a 8 week placement, the first 4 in one of the hospitals I am attached to, on their ante natal ward. caring for pregnant mums who have had to be admitted to hospital for care during pregnancy. Then I will be at the other hospital I am attached to working in their delivery suite - where the babies are born!

Makes it all sound so simple doesn't it? Of course whilst I am on placement I still have the learning stuff to do, lots of reading on what I am learning during the day, my lovely mentors make sure of that!

Ouch!

2009-11-26T20:49:00.002Z

How stupid do I feel?

VERY!

today I fell out of a house!

seriously! right in front of a patients husband!

collapsed into a pathetic heap on his drive!

oh boy am I in pain, grazed knees and sore hands.

but worse is the sprained ankle. I can barely move it, and putting weight on it is a no no.

Please don't let this get worse, I want to go out on placement tomorrow!

I am having too much fun to miss it!

Bloody Brilliant!

2009-11-24T20:53:00.002Z

Seriously, it's been bloody brilliant the last few days!

I have had the most excellent community midwife mentors who want to teach me so much. I have taken blood, done blood pressures, palpated women ante and post natal, measured bumps, helped with breast feeding, checked babies, weighed babies and so much more.

It's a rush! the lovely Midwife I was with today, took a back seat and let me take the clinic on my own! she told me she thinks I am great and will make a brilliant midwife - she wishes I were 'her' student (my mentor is on annual leave for a fortnight, so this one is looking after me!)

Now I have finished blowing my own trumpet I will also tell you of the young woman, only in this country 1 month - pregnant, ill and scared. Of the woman whose only hope to have a baby was through IVF, and although pregnant is now so anxious about it she can't allow herself to relax and enjoy it.

This job is going to really have its highs and lows!

YAWN SNORE

2009-11-23T21:04:00.001Z

I have had the best couple of days - midwifery experiencewise

But right now I am exhausted having not slept properly since Friday night, so I am not going to blog about it tonight.

Tomorrow I will try to tell you everything I have been up to!

Signed

Student Midwife Mrs.B!

Introducing................................

2009-11-20T17:16:00.001Z

Student midwife Mrs.B!

I'm not at all jealous!

2009-11-18T20:23:00.003Z

Of the student midwifes who are coming to the end of their first placements, and have not only witnessed their first 5 births (we have to witness 5 births before we can start delivering) but are now doing their first deliveries (with the help of their mentors hands!)

Me I am not out of Uni until Monday - and then it will be community, which is fab in its own way - but doubt I will see many, if any, births!

The one with no title

2009-11-17T08:04:00.004Z

Had I not been so tired last night I would have blogged this then. The day we nearly had Niagra falls in our house!

It all began when........................................................................

I noticed a rather 'squidgy' feeling under foot in the bathroom when I went to the airing cupboard, this rang alarm bells, and true enough on inspection of the ceiling in the hallway I was faced with a huge bulge!

Cue mad panic clearing of hallway incase of cascade! Then phonecall to our landlord (the local council, some times I am soooo grateful to be a tenant!) for a plumber to come out. He was here within the hour and checked boiler (newly fitted in April) seems some condensing pipe or other was fitted properly and so has probably been slowly leaking since April. with that sorted and the ceiling bulged drained the best we can, we are left with a ruined flooring upstairs, holes in our celing downstairs, a bucket of murky water in the hallway (catching drips) and sodden squishy floorboards in the bathroom. Now I have to wait to see what our landlords are going to do about it - I will be jiggered if I am going to make a claim on my household insurance!

May Contain Nuts

2009-11-15T09:02:00.002Z

Warning on our recently purchased bottle of Calamine lotion:

Possible side effects

most people will not have problems, but some may get some of these:

skin rash
skin irritation

I'm sorry, but is it just me?????

wow is it that time already?

2009-11-12T16:20:00.003Z

Getting close to Christmas *shudder* and so the Christmas cake is made, wrapped up and ready for its weekly 'feed' of brandy!

Now when I say *shudder* to Christmas, don't misunderstand me, I love Christmas. The magic and excitement, the happiness and the fun. But I can not stand the way the pressure is put on, the commercialism and the greed. I used to buy into it - my children had more toys than they could possibly need, we had so much food we would eat ourselves silly and then throw lots away, and we would take the next year to pay off the credit card.

Now we have a far more subdued affair, in fact Christmas dinner last year, at the children's request was Macaroni cheese! and it will be the same this year, although we will have turkey and the trimmings on boxing day when my parents visit.

And I am at peace with this lovely quiet way of doing it - so why is it I feel guilty when I don't buy every Tom, Dick, Harry and theirs great Aunts a present!?!?

New shoes

2009-11-10T11:05:00.003Z

Aren't they a thing of beauty? and a billy bargain at £9! AND killer heels!

Not a lot else to add this morning, except to thank the lovely ladies who came out in the cold last night to support my fundraising card and book sale. YOU ROCK!

Fantastic day @ Milton Keynes

2009-11-08T19:21:00.003Z

Yesterday I had a lovely day shopping with my sister in law. We went to 'The Centre MK' ~ SIL's second home and my favourite shopping centre.
mission (for me) was an outfit for mother in laws 60th birthday, a particular style of bag for placement and a notebook from paperchase.
achieved the first and last (in fact ended up with two lovely tops to choose from for party) couldn't find a bag, but did get some gorgeous shoes!

whilst there I saw a shakeaway~ have really fancied trying one for a while now, wow what an experience - not just the drink but the whole thing! I had a hot Norah and SIL had a hot Janet!
although to be totally truthful I couldn't drink it all it was a bit sickly (did I mention that a few hours earlier I had a hot chocolate at starbucks!??!)
I do believe all the walking I did during the day possibly counteracted the extra calories from the Norah mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Really worried

2009-11-06T13:30:00.002Z

that I will be punished for breaking a promise!
I didn't make a blog entry yesterday, even though I had a newsworthy day!

it was a long day though, and that is my excuse.

My day at Uni was spent in the 'skills lab', a building in Hatfield where health care students can practice their practical skills. Yesterday I palpated a pregnant mannequin, and listwen to the fetal heartbeat through a Pinard stethescope. We also learnt how and why to do urinalysis on artificial urine! and then we had a manual handling workshop - where we were able to take apart and try out a birthing bed, and push each other up and down the corridor on a hospital bed!

However throughout the day I was feeling worse and worse and by the time the children went to bed I was feeling awful - burning eyes, constant sneezing and a banging headache, the lack of blog entry can be mainly blamed on that!

Today I am having a duvet day with middle child as she is also suffering with this yucky bug. Lets hope we both feel better tomorrow (mainly for me as I am supposed to be going on a shopping trip with my lovely sister in law)

If you like a lot of chocolate on your biscuit

2009-11-04T20:09:00.003Z

join our club!

I really wanted to do something exciting today so I could tell you about it, but I am not well (all together now ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh)

I managed to drag my sorry butt to uni for a 2 hour lecture, and then in to town to run some errands - but that's about it!

So the kids are in bed, Mr. B is at scouts ~ and my evening consists of knitting my new hat, drinking tea, listening to a podcast or two - and maybe eating a club biscuit!

Tomorrow I have a really exciting day at uni, which I am determined not to miss, early night for me then! although I really wanted to stay up to watch the first episode of the new series of spooks but ~I will have to see how I feel.

Thought of the day

2009-11-03T19:49:00.002Z

Is there a thought today? lots of them really, but do I want to share them? More to the point do you really want to know want I think about when I am alone?!

Making an entry every day isn't that easy, well it would be if I wasn't worried about boring you or waffling on!

today I made arrangements, wrote cheques, did some Uni work, changed beds etc etc.

nothing of any great magnitude.

on a plus note I had consultation with the smallest child's teacher today. Smallest is only 4 so I do expect any amazing academic achievements, however I was very pleased to hear how well she was doing and there have been big improvements on her behaviour (thankfully! as she had a difficult start to reception)

sorry about the mundaneness of this entry ~ I will try to do something exciting tomorrow!

weyhey!

2009-11-02T14:52:00.005Z

reporting in for day 2 of the blog-a-day-in-November challenge!

this is the result of the pumpkin carving - all lit up to welcome our ancestors

today was cold, when I picked up smallest from school (middle one chose to stay at after school club) we were very chilly. When we got home we snuggled up together on my bed to watch tiny pop I have to confess to dosing off for a few minutes!

Smallest child then had a lovely warm bath, and afterwards I wrapped her in towels which had been warmed on the radiators, sometimes you just got to love the 'cosiness' of winter. On our way out to pick up middle child, it was getting dark - the full moon was covered by clouds, but still visible. Smallest child asked why the moon was all 'smudged' - what a charming way to describe it.

Blog a DAY!

2009-11-01T11:06:00.004Z

During the Month on November I am going to TRY and make an entry everyday!

O blimey those are bold words!

So here we are 1st November 2009, last night was Halloween or all Hallows eve and the celebration of Samhain for the Pagans out there.

the 2 littlies went out trick or treating to a few friends houses, but we did forget to carve the pumpkin - So Mr.B has done that with the girls this morning and we will use it to welcome our ancestors to the table tomorrow - all souls day

its a really miserable ( did I say miserable? read that as disgusting!) day out there today, lots of side ways rain. But the littlies are full of energy so Mr.B has dressed in puddle busters and gone for a splashingly good walk!

feeling a bit sad today

2009-10-16T15:47:00.003+01:00

A couple of days ago I was walking home from the school run (don't get a chance to think on the way to school, let alone look around!) and I saw an amazing formation of fungus (is that the right phrase?) it was growing on the side of the stump of a tree which had been felled earlier in the year. It was beautiful, almost like someone had loosely laid some fabric down in folds.
I made a note to myself to go back and photograph it so I could show you what I was talking about when I blogged it.

But when I went back - some mindless fool had destroyed it, it was in pieces all over the grass - perhaps kicked apart? I don't know, but what a terrible shame that someone can look at something created by nature, something beautiful, something useful and all they can think about is destroying it.

very sad

Reflections

2009-10-02T19:56:00.002+01:00

And so the end of my first week as a Student midwife comes to a close, although I feel a lot of student and less of the student midwife right now!
It's been a hectic week, but a real buzz! Today we were told about one aspect of our first year, which is grandly called 'case loading', we are required to 'pick up' a woman (tutors words not mine!) and follow her journey to motherhood. At a booking in appointment I will have to approach a low risk newly pregnant woman and ask if I can follow her through her pregnancy, this will involve attending appointments and scans, hopefully getting a call when she is in labour, and if I am really lucky be with her for the birth. I will be able to be involved in the post natal checks of mum and baby too. This is very exciting and I am really looking forward to starting this.

We are in the throws of 'freshers week' so not much learning is going on, lots of orientation - including today's 'freshers fayre' everything I hate the most in one afternoon. OK well maybe not everything I hate, but a lot of it - young people with no spacial awareness, loud rap music, leaflets being shoved in my hand and just general chaos! But I did get a nice little goody bag from Asda (angel delight yum yum) and joined the midwifery society!

Lots of information to read over the weekend, and gather my thoughts ready for the new week - because then the 'real' learning will begin, and I can start to like a Student Midwife!

Real quicky!

2009-09-30T21:48:00.001+01:00

as I am exhausted! day 3 of uni and I am dead on my backside (well we are sitting down a lot!)

Yesterday was just the best day!
first I get an email - my bursary has been sorted!
then tutor says is Mrs. B (or words to that effect) here? would you still like to swap your placement? would I? would I? yes please! I got my first choice placement woohoo!
then we have our uniforms fitted (OK so they aren't something you would wear to club in - but I am soooooooooooooo proud to wear it!)

mind you the emotion of it all must have done for me - bed at 8pm, asleep by half past!

today was a half day *phew* and tomorrow is a self directed study day *ahem*

gush gush gush

2009-09-28T16:57:00.002+01:00

Kirsty, Miss Jacques, Mrs Mclean, Mrs Burfot, Brown Owl, Red Squirrel, Kirsty Bird, Mum, Daughter, Wife, Friend, Lover, enemy (not too often I hope) - these are some of the 'hats' I have worn in my time, today I got a new one 'student midwife' - wiv a pinard and everyfink!

Yes, you guessed it, I survived my first day at uni *woohoo*.

to be fair the day was about meeting the rest of the year group and the tutors and finding out about the course, the school, the faculty and the university.

we were given booklets and timetables, tea and biscuits (with the advice it was a one off!), our log books and the - now famous - pinard!

Yesterday my stomach was in knots and I felt sick. This morning at the park and ride car park I wanted to get back in my car and go home, on the bus I had the shakes, on campus I lost all feeling in my fingers! (and breathe!) and then I heard a friendly voice call my name, one of the lads who was on the access course with me was there for his first day too - suddenly everything felt better, especially when he described how he was feeling, and is was exactly the same as me!

obviously I have to go back again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day and it will get harder but what a buzz! tomorrow we are measured for our uniforms and meet our personal tutors.

so I have 3 years to delivery 40 babies, palpate 100 women, examine 100 babies post natally, complete a degree course - and have a life!

ack doddle!

As promised

2009-09-26T21:58:00.002+01:00

I have started working my way through the blogs I subscribe to and have fallen woefully behind with in the last few months.
the first one on my list is Being a Mummy. Claire is Mum to toddler boy and baby fifi, she lives in the same city as me and we originally met through the local toy library. She writes about her life surviving as a mummy to 2 young children and her trials and tribulations as she manages to get (just about) through each day!

I love reading Claire's blog, she makes some very interesting observations!

keep up the good work Claire (please?)

A funny vitamins story!

2009-09-21T11:54:00.003+01:00

My 4 year old is a funny soul, and she often wanders about in the night - I am not entirely convinced she is always fully awake!
last night Mr.B put her to bed whilst I was in the shower, but an hour or so later the little dot wandered down stairs, muttering something about dolly not sticking!
The first thing I noticed was a multi vitamin tablet stuck to the elbow of her pj's! after a bit more of her vocal ramblings ~ I finally work out what the problem is. She has a 'dolly' a little handmade doll that she loves a lot and 'needs' it to sleep, she often loses dolly during the night so her plan was to put a half chewed multi vitimin (which is very sticky) into her hand and stick dolly to it!
Of course as soon she is asleep and wriggling around the sticky tablet becomes unstuck and dolly falls off!

the things the kids do!

in a mere 7 days

2009-09-20T12:37:00.002+01:00

I will be packing my bag, checking my pencil case, shaking with nerves
and getting ready for my first day at university!

o boy I am excited! (and scared!)

I did NOT kill the pigeon!

2009-09-20T10:00:00.002+01:00

If you happened to be at Notcutts yesterday afternoon, and you happened to be in their coffee shop at around 4pm, you may have witnessed a terrified pigeon fly over the hedge from the main road and fly slap bang into the window (with enough force to leave an imprint behind!), then fall to the ground.
I was the intrepid soul who scooped up the visibly injured and stressed bird in a cloth and held it firmly and gently in my hands until the lovely lady from the pet department arrived to help.
~Unfortunately whilst I was holding the poor thing, it started twitching and it was obvious it was about to meet its maker (it wasn't struggling just twitching its head) and as we had 3 children with us, I turned my back and walked to the corner of the garden - when the bird had died I turned back and gave it to the pet lady.
It was only after this happened that I realised that turning my back may have looked like I was surreptitiously putting it out of its misery THIS IS NOT THE CASE! the pigeon died quietly and peacefully in my hands.

Big thumbs up to the lovely pet lady who was concerned for the bird and took it away, and to the young lad in the coffee shop who offered me some anti bacterial hand cleanser - well done, quick thinking!

one for the yanks!

2009-08-31T19:42:00.003+01:00

Mr. B has a lovely aunt and uncle who live stateside. This is a 'hello' post to Auntie Alison and Uncle Ed.

They haven't had an easy time of it lately - Ed has been very poorly and Alison has had surgery, and I wanted them to know they are ALWAYS in our thoughts and we all send our love.

We haven't seen them for a while (since the wedding in fact) as a trip out to them is just too expensive, and the same for them (and of course Ed being ill)

So hey guys, hang on just waiting for Alison to wheel Ed in to read this too - we love you and miss you loads!

Pleased to report

2009-08-27T17:56:00.003+01:00

Another satisfactory Dentist visit! a thorough clean for Mr.B and Me. A fissures sealant on middle daughters poor tooth (her far back bottom molar, an adult tooth, has no enamel!) and nothing for the other two small people!

lots of smiles all round, a few stickers and once again we walk away happy smiley people!

thank you Mr.Jones!

Now Mr.B has gone off to Reading for the weekend (the music festival for those NOT in the know!) can we keep everything crossed for dry weather and unblocked toilet blocks please?

When

2009-08-24T21:09:00.000+01:00

the girls go back to school (3rd and 7th September) I am going to take the time to knit a bit, read a bit, sew a bit and most definitely make a cup of tea and drink it hot whilst catching up on a bit of blog reading - I may even share some of the better ones with you (as long as you promise to come back to me please?!)

our weekend away

2009-08-24T21:07:00.005+01:00

I can hardly believe that it is our 2nd wedding anniversary already! the day is as fresh in my mind as it was 2 years ago, we really enjoyed ourselves.

This year we celebrated our anniversary with a lovely long weekend away at Hanbury Manor, a Marriott Hotel in Ware.

We save up our Tesco clubcard points throughout the year so that we can have a weekend away, this is the 3rd time we have done it and I had really wanted to go to Hanbury manor. Of course, I was terrified the place wouldn't be everything I hoped for - but it was, and more. the building is lovely (if a bit of a mishmash!)

Our room was cosy, its a Marriott hotel so you can expect a typical standard, but this was a little bit different, a bit more sympathetic to the fact it is an old building, with quite a history. It even had its own little entrance hall (sorry Mr.B it had to be mentioned!)
the only sound we could hear at night was the breeze swaying the trees and the crickets singing.

Breakfast was taken in the Oak dining room, which has a lovely large brick balcony which overlooks the balcony - we were able to sit out there on Monday morning, that is quite something on a lovely day to be eating melon and croissants, drinking freshly squeezed orange juice overlooking such an amazing landscape - how the other half live eh?!

the weekend was spent just lazing around, making full use of the spa facilities by swimming a lot and using the steam room (swimming at 10.30pm on Sunday was fun, especially being the only folks in there and being able to mooch back up to our room in our robes!), we took lovely walks in the grounds and found a nice pub to walk to on the Sunday for a yummy roast dinner.

On our Sunday evening stroll we passed one of the function rooms, lights on and doors wide open, a poor little hedgehog had got confused and wandered in.
Mr.B - my hero - whisked a tablecloth from one of the table and scooped the poor mite up and placed him safely outside, I shut the doors so he didn't wander back in!

I think the most fun we had though was on Monday, we discovered a secret pass time whilst walking along the river Lea on Sunday - Cray fishing! Its seems that stretch of the Lea has a swarm of American Signal Crayfish, carrying a plague which is killing our native crayfish. Of course it is illegal to catch crayfish without a licence, but it is also illegal to throw an American Signal Crayfish back into our native waters.
So Mr.B and me whiled away an hour or so before going home dangling bacon on the end of a piece of thread in the water, every now and then one of the greedy buggers would grab hold and was lifted out - about a dozen in total! Tea was yummy that night, although the girls came dangerously close to naming them all! It took me a while to get my head round cooking them - and Mr.B had to put the first couple in!

yummy chewy multi vits?!

2009-08-24T21:06:00.010+01:00

just over a month ago I was asked if my younger children would be willing to try out some vitamin tablets for Haliborange.

my kids have a multivitamin tablet everyday already (our usual is boots own) as well as a couple of omega 3 tablets (from eyeQ), so substituting the different multivit in wasn't a problem.

Kids Multivitamin fruit softies, look like sweets - a good thing for children who don't like tablets I guess. My kids LOVED them! and rather than eating those ones first (as they do with the boots ones to get rid of the flavour with the omega3 tabs!) they have decided they are definitely worthy of the 'last-tablet-to-be-taken' honour!

so well done Seven Seas, a tablet with all the vitamins they need (always a worry when kids can be so picky when eating), attractive to the kids, and taste nice!

my only issue is how sticky they are when the 4 year old takes it out of her mouth to give me a kiss, then puts it back in, then takes it out to drink her milk then puts it back in................... cue hand wash!

A great day out!

2009-08-24T21:06:00.008+01:00

Way back at the start of August, we met with some friends from swimming classes, they have a daughter who is a year older than middle child and a son the same age as smallest child.

We decided that if the weather was good we would visit an indoor play centre in Garston called Gambados, we figured if the weather was good it wouldn't be too crowded, and we were spot on.

At first I thought the entrance cost was ridiculously high. To start with you have to pay a £5 registration per family, this is a one off cost though. Then each child has to be paid for and adults are charged at £2.50. This took the total of the visit for me and the 2 smaller children to around the £25 mark!

As you walk through the front door you are greeted by a loud noise - this could be a hen clucking or a baby laughing! Then you are taking up to the main entrance on an escalator with the sweet scent (some could say sickly) of bubblegum! at the top there is another gadget with noise making buttons for the children to press.

once the paperwork and payments are sorted the children (and adults) are released into a fasmantagical (OK its not a word, but don't you think it should be?!) world of wonder. Inside there are bumper cars (children under a certain height can not go on alone, what a shame I had to ride with the demon smallest child!), stationery bicycles which, when cycled fast enough, light up a string of lights on the ceiling. There is a climbing wall (supervised) a soft play area with wavy slide. A soft ball shooting range, a musical area. Giant chalk boards, a sensory room and a dance stage.

A separate room has been supplied for adults, with glass walls so you can see your lovely offspring having fun, inside is a TV, comfy chairs, WiFi for your laptop, or Internet enabled PC's for you to use and magazines and newspapers to keep you occupied.

and on a hot day we were grateful for the air conditioning.

However not very grateful for the completely ruined socks, children have to wear socks but as there are folks walking around in shoes the floor is 'invisibly filthy' and as a result the socks were black by the end of the day.

I have to admit the one thing letting them down is their coffee shop - 'yum yums' - the tea was insipid, the coffee tasted like the kettle needed descaling and, at 12.30, the children's lunch box section was not filled. But we did have lovely jacket potatoes, but again we were lucky we got the last 2. A strange thing to happen at lunchtime!

so was it VFM? My experience was yes, although buying lunch there bumped the price up by another £15! the cost of entry is 'supposed' to be for 2.5 hours, but we were in there for 6 hours! and the children still did not want to leave. It was quiet when we went, but if it had been busy and we were on a timed entry I would have smarted a bit at £25 for 2.5 hours, but I guess its relative to your expectations. The children did not have to queue too long for the climbing wall or the bumper cars, which is always a good thing!

Would we go again? yes but only using one of the many offers available (check their website) or by buying an annual ticket which works out at around £2 per visit if you go weekly. Something we may well think of investing in when my bursary comes through, alongside the annual Whipsnade passes we already have.

To the 'lady' in Morrisons carpark yesterday

2009-08-16T19:20:00.001+01:00

I may be a fat cow, but I can go on a diet.
you my dear are stuck with that face forever!

more conversations with a 4 year old

2009-08-01T14:19:00.002+01:00

me to her 'whats your favourite vegetable?'
her to me 'little round cabbages'

ahhhh Brussel sprouts then?

Good Game, Good Game!

2009-07-31T22:13:00.002+01:00

take one messy bedroom
two stroppy children
and a packet of starburst (opal fruits to all the over 35's!)

count out 'x' amount of starburst, depending on how many jobs to be done.
give each colour sweety a 'task'.
place sweets in a bag.
ask first child to pick a sweet without looking, refer to task chart to see what colour job they have.
when child completes that job they get to eat the sweet and pick out the next one.

result? two happy children, one tidy bedroom and not too many tantrums!

I love it when a plan comes together!

Interestingly

2009-07-26T10:09:00.001+01:00

Said small vomitty child is currently running around the house with a Halloween pumpkin bucket on her head.....................................................

Sweet Morning, Sweet Smell?

2009-07-26T09:37:00.003+01:00

A morning of two smells, one far more pleasant than the other!

I was awoken at 6.30am by smallest child informing she had been sick. Again. this time all down side of the bed, and over the bedroom floor *sigh*.

Having dealt with all that, I decided that at 7am I would be daft to go back to bed, only to wake again 2 hours later feeling groggy and the kids causing chaos downstairs, so I came downstairs and started ironing - and started to watch ' a beautiful mind' with Russell Crowe. A very good movie, yet quite distressing in places.

I popped out into the garden whilst the iron was warming up and saw that the one remaining sweet pea plant that the slugs had not eaten, had produced some flowers, and of course we all know its important to cut sweet pea flowers to encourage growth. So those four pretty little flowers sat beside me whilst I ironed. The smell is amazing, just four little flowers producing such an intoxicating scent. thank you mother nature!

Cardiff, but couldn't find Capt Jack anywhere!

2009-07-23T21:10:00.006+01:00

I want to make this an upbeat blog entry, because we had a fantastic day in Cardiff on Wednesday. However when I logged on to the internet last night I received some heartbreaking and devastating news about a friend. It is personal and I don't feel right sharing it with the world, I couldn't post this entry without giving a mention. they are in my thoughts.

and so Cardiff, very nice place is Cardiff. Although they (Cardiff City council) arent very helpful when it comes to finding somewhere to park!

after finally parking in a car park that cost less than £12 for the day, we set off to find Cardiff Castle to pick up the sight seeing bus. mmmmm easier said than done, Cardiff has an amazing amount of regeneration going on which = lots and lots of building work, which in turn = lots and lots of diversions, paths closed and general confusion!
At least it wasn't raining and eventually we saw the castle in the distance and arrived with only a short detour for a toilet stop and a buy-some-packets-of-crisps- stops!
Aboard the bus (top deck, open air!) we see some of the lovely sights Cardiff has to offer

some fantastic examples of how wonderful everything looks now
and reminders of Cardiffs industrial past.

we were only caught in one downpour on the bus (how surreal, sitting on a bus with your umbrella up!)
but it was so very windy!
We had lunch at the famous Harry Ramsdens (but weren't impressed, and for the only time on the holiday I complained, but that resulted in 50% off the bill which I really cant grumble at. I wont go back to them though!)
We had ice creams looking over Cardiff Bay
We tried to get into the Torchwood unit

and were deleted by cybermen (and exterminated by Daleks, resulting in tears from the small child!)
We admired the magnificence of the millennium centre
and wondered at the beauty of the modern architecture of the welsh assembly debating rooms

strange sights were seen at the Cardiff National Museum

But we struggled to see what all the fuss was about with the millenium stadium
So much was seen and done in Cardiff its hard to remember all of it. Cardiff is a very beautiful city, with amazingly friendly residents. New and old sits side by side with ease

yes all in all Cardiff was a wonderful city, I need to go back - it wasn't possible to see everything in one visit.

the Children were exhausted and slept like angels!

Tuesday

2009-07-22T21:18:00.004+01:00

The next day should really have been Wednesday, and then I could have called it a wet Wednesday in Wales. But it wasn’t, it was definitely Tuesday, and the rain was coming down in stair rods, the tops of the hills weren’t visible and it was obvious a steam train ride into the mountains would be a waste of time (and money).

First stop of the day; the good old swimming pool for another hour plus splash around, and a small amount of swimming practice. I sit so far away from where middle daughter has her lessons I hadn’t noticed how good she had got (hard to see what a little pink dot is doing at that distance!) I was amazed to see her whizzing up and down the pool, and swimming under water so well – what a star! Smallest child has now mastered the art of swimming on her back, all be it with arm bands on, but watching her swim with her face under water is a sight to behold; she kind of puts her face under, pushes her bum in the air and pedals her legs like she is on a bicycle!

Hoping the rain would have stopped as the morning wore on, we came out of the pool ready to head off to the train, only to be disappointed to see the rain even heavier than before. With no idea what to do we dashed back to the hotel, I thought perhaps to look on the interweb to see if there are any indoor play barn type thingies around. But as we whizzed past cinema I noticed that they have a morning movie session, just £1.70 a ticket and adults free! Monsters vs. aliens, something we hadn’t seen – and it started in 15 minutes! This was smallest Childs first trip to the cinema, and apart from being a bit scared at the movie was a little star.

Now what do you think would the weather have changed whilst we were in there?! Nope even heavier! A dash across the road to Frankie and Bennies for lunch (yum-blooming-yum) I have never been to one before and was very surprised at the lovely food, good service and fun atmosphere.

Tummies full, we made our way out into the afternoon hoping to get to the train – guess what? Yes you got it still raining!

At this point desperation was setting in (for me) and an excess of energy was setting in (for the kids!) a quick scout round the web found a castle not far from here, which was free to get in Cyrfarthfa castle.

Mmmmmmm rather an interesting little place; lucky it was free as it only killed about 30 minutes! The gardens were lovely (and soggy)

and the views were fantastic (would be better still on a sunny day, you would be able to see top of hills!)

The kids had a great day, middle child thanked me frequently for cinema trip, so not a disaster, but not really the sightseeing day on a train day I had planned!

What did Monday bring?

2009-07-20T19:58:00.005+01:00

A panic in the middle of the night, leading to a text message to Mr.B at 3 am about the MOT on our car!

I mentioned briefly in yesterday’s entry that we are in Wales on holiday. It was *supposed* to be, Mr.B and me, and the 2 smallest. Or me and all the girls and no Mr.B. I booked the Travelodge room in Merthyr Tydfil back in November when they had their £9 a night sale on. Then Mr.B couldn’t get time off, and the eldest daughter got a job working Sundays and Mondays! So with much dread I approached the few days away on my own with the girls (who are at a particularly bothersome squabbling stage).

Plans were made for the journey, one in the front with me and one in the back. The one in the back had the iPod to listen to (with audio books downloaded from iTunes chosen by said child); child in front got to keep me company! Halfway through journey seats are swapped.

The journey was amazing, the girls were well behaved and the traffic wasn’t too bad. Can’t say I enjoyed driving over the Severn Bridge, a combination of a fear of heights and a fear of dying! And then to pay £5.40 for the privilege!

Our Travelodge is a new one, and the room is very nice and spacious. Love the funky uplighter behind the headboard!

Flat screen TV on the wall; bathroom in red and white; even trendy bucket seats (but no bedside tables or drawers for clothes?!).

Anyway back to Monday, Mr.B confirms that the MOT has indeed expired – so I have my usual chicken-without-a-head-panic until I manage to make an appointment at a local garage (recommended by lovely receptionist here), but of course without a current MOT I can’t drive the car. Luckily the motel is situated in a new leisure park – complete with a lovely leisure centre with swimming pool. So that’s where we spent the morning in the pool (bargain at £2.90 for me and kids go free!) with a Jacuzzi, flumes, slides and toadstool waterfall. The girls had a blast and we were exhausted and very pruney when we came out.

Back to room, to watch a DVD and have lunch. Then out for an hour’s walk to burn off a bit more energy we crossed a lovely river on a foot bridge.

Then off to the MOT station, I felt so nervous (no reason for car to fail but I do like a good panic!) full of what if’s. I mean how would I get home from Wales if the car was a write off MOT wise? (Car is only 4 years old and very low mileage!)

But of course it passed now problem. We took the long route back to motel and found a mountain steam railway, which we are going to go back to tomorrow.

Good old MacDonald’s for tea, and now I have 2 very tired little girls in bed dosing off.

Looking forward to another swim tomorrow, and an exciting train ride.

managed to update today to add photos, more later

My Garden

2009-07-19T21:56:00.003+01:00

We have an allotment, and until this year I have really enjoyed being there and growing things. Eating what you have grown yourself, from seed, is incredibly satisfying (not to mention cheaper than paying Mr. Tesco for it!)

During this year, whilst I have been doing my access course at college, I have found I have had less and less time to spend there, which makes me feel so guilty.

When the invoice arrived in March for this year’s rent I decided to give up half the plot to make it more manageable, and also to give it over to Mr. B to take care of.

As a result we haven’t been bogged down with veggies. This is for 2 main reasons;

1. We did nothing with the plot during last autumn and in the early part of this year, and I didn’t sow any seeds in the seed trays so nothing was ready to go in
2. Mr. B is an amateur gardener (like I was 3 years ago) and as a result doesn’t know his kohl rabi from his hogweed! Hopefully next year we will get some more results.

In his defence I should add that Mr. B has managed to bring home some potatoes, 1 radish (!?!?) and some leeks, lettuce and onions (hang on though those last 3 were given to him by other plot holders!)

So back to my garden, it is very small and is used by all 5 of us to varying degrees - from the 4 year old who whizzes up and down on her scooter, through the 8 year old who occasionally joins in and at other times reads, the 17 year old who sometimes ventures out to sunbathe, me to hang the washing out and Mr.B to make a mess and cut down my plants in the name of strimming! We also have a cat who likes to invite his mates around to poo in it!

I was missing my home grown veggies and decided to utilise what little space we have, admittedly too late to grow things from seed I took the cheats option and bought some ‘plugs’ from the garden centre.

WOW! I made the right choice; the plants have been doing incredibly well. The lemon balm smells gorgeous, we now have cucumbers growing, runners making an appearance, pumpkins flowering and pepper and chilli plants putting in an effort. Even the aubergine and melon plants are trying to do something. The carrots are looking bushy (although not sure if anything orange is happening underneath) and the cut and come again lettuces are abundant (so maybe 12 heads was quite a lot – although middle child has discovered a liking for it!). On Thursday I added some climbing French beans to the collection – which I am hoping Mr.B will plant for me against the garage wall whilst I am away in Wales (which is where I am doing this blog entry from, a lovely Travelodge room in Merthyr Tydfil! – whilst the littlies sleep) and some lovage which I still need to find a home for.

So feast your eyes on my plants (and weeds!),

admire my lavender (planted in a row under the washing line so as the rotary dryer goes round it brushes against the flower heads letting off a lovely scent),

wonder at the snap dragons (very pretty colours)
and admire my wee froglets (nurtured from a dollop of spawn, gathered from the allotment pond and placed in a tank in the garden, about a dozen froglets taken back to plot pond, along with about a dozen tadpoles sprouting legs and getting ready to be frogs!)

I am a bad, bad blogger!

2009-05-12T21:00:00.002+01:00

And have really been a slacker when it comes to blog posts this year.

Am I forgiven?

I have been really busy!

For anyone who missed it I have been doing an Access to higher education course at the local college.

That's one educational year, 4 psychology assignments (roughly 1,500 words each), 4 biology assignments (roughly 1,500 - 3,000 words each)including a power point presentation. 1 'independent' assignment for biology (3,000 words) and an extended assignment in psychology (5,000 words + experiment and research)
add to that a maths assignment, an IT assignment, and another maths assignment. the various bits and bobs for my portfolio (CV's, personal statements, reflection etc etc)

Add to that 2 exams (I know that doesn't sound much, but it has been 24 years since I last sat any exams!) and you might start to get the picture.

This week I am on work experience at the Lister hospital, which is just fantastic! yesterday I was on the ante and post natal wards, today I was out in the community with the community midwifes and tomorrow I am in the hospital ante natal clinic (my only complaint is that I am paying £6 a day to park!?!) I will be doing an assignment based around my work experience and a reflective diary.

So what can I say? I am busy - I also still have the family to look after (have had no luck finding somewhere else to put them!)

but it is worth it - I have passed the exams, and achieved the levels in the assignments I needed (except the final maths and IT assignments and extended assignments which aren't finished yet)so - yeah - that's it I am on my way, nothing should stop me now - 28th September and I will be student midwife Kirsty at Herts Uni

weyhey!

I like days like today

2009-04-19T16:21:00.002+01:00

The sun is shining
Mr.B has been to the allotment with the kids, brought them back muddy and then bathed them!
We have had a lovely roast lamb lunch
I am up to date with College stuff
Laundry is on the line
the kids bags and uniforms are ready to go back to school tomorrow
I even managed to clean the living room, have a shower and was my hair.
now Mr.B is outside making bird boxes with the girls, whilst I fill out my Bursary forms

Yes today is a good day indeed!

and finally....................................

2009-04-08T16:17:00.001+01:00

I received my THIRD offer of a uni place, and the one I really wanted. I have accepted a place at Herts Uni! shame about the uniform - but hey you can't win 'em all!

yeah great!

2009-04-08T16:10:00.002+01:00

For 18 months we have had a problem with our boiler, even though it is only 4 years old. For 18 months our boiler has clanked and whirred, wobbled and shook, vibrated and roared. At times sounding like there is a harrier jump jet taking off in my airing cupboard!

For 18 months we have had an unreliable hot water supply, it will suddenly run cold – if we are lucky this happens after the boiler has made a huge noise, but sometimes we are unlucky and end up with a blast of cold water when we were expecting hot, particularly bothersome when you are standing under a shower!

For 18 months the council (our landlords) have been sending out heating engineers (well one engineer, poor love he has tried so hard!) and various bits of our boiler have been changed, tweaked, thumped and generally abused. But still it clanks and whirrs, wobbles and shakes, vibrates and roars.

4 weeks ago I reached the end of my tether and begged a surveyor to come out from the council to assess this stupid piece of machinery. 3 weeks ago a lovely man (funnily enough another Mr.B!) came to my house along with some boss type blokey from the heating engineer company, they agreed that considering the trouble I have had, and the fact they no longer use these boilers that I would be entitled to a new boiler. ASAP!

Did I want it now or am I ok to wait until the new financial year? Happy was I to wait a few weeks – we would be one of the first few done – hooray.

Fast forward to this morning at 9am, I am in my pj’s thinking of getting in the shower and making my way over to my mum’s with the kids for the day. The phone rings – ‘is that Mrs. Burfot?’ ‘Yes is it’ ‘We have had a cancellation, can we do your boiler today?’

Yes, say I (after all its only 2 days into the new financial year, how often do you get service like that?!) how long till he gets here? Half hour is the reply! Half an hour? Half an hour? Half an hour to get showered, get teen daughter up and in the shower, empty out airing cupboard, make access to radiators.

Anyone who knows me, will know my house is the tidiest of houses – we don’t live ‘minimalist’ – so needless to say when the boiler men arrived I am still in my dressing gown with a towel wrapped around my head running around like a blue arsed whatsit! And as I run back and forward across the landing (in aforementioned outfit) carrying piles of towels out of bathroom into bedroom, and the engineers are laying down dust sheets whilst trying to avert their eyes (teen daughter had joined me by this point wearing same fetching ensemble) all I could think was

THANK GOD I HAD MY LEGS WAXED LAST WEEK

100th post and a fabulous blog award

2009-04-08T15:30:00.002+01:00

I have come over all swooney (is that a word?!)

zooarchaeologist of Being a Mummy blog has given me this award, I feel very honoured as her blog is fantastic, she makes me laugh with her take on mumming in our *posh* city. She thinks very much like I do. my only advice to her is 'give the kids a drop of whiskey at bedtime - you need to blog more'!

Now the rules attached to this award are; list 5 things I am addicted to and pass the award on to other bloggers who's blogs I enjoy. Here goes, my addictions

Chocolate (such an original thought!)
buying pretty things - shoes, bags, nicnacs for house, hats for the girls...................
new projects - I am a serial new project starter, sadly not a finisher though!
sleeping - cant get enough of it!
all sorts of crafting - knitting, sewing, felting, card making, the list goes on!

and awards to blogs I enjoy - wow there are so many. Here's a selection of the best

sajona's small world a very creative lady, but she doesnt blog enough!
you couldn't make it up bound to make you laugh, this lady has a fantastic way with words - I so want to meet shouty Grandad.
Phyllisphamily a very very prolific blogger!
the lazy seamstress (who is nothing of the sort!)
bonzablue incredibly busy crafter and blogger!
are we nearly there yet? another outrageously funny blog

the rules of getting an award? Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it. Don’t forget to mention the person who gives you the award. Write 5 things you are addicted to. Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like Don’t forget to notify the award receivers and put their links in your post.

ahem

2009-03-17T20:52:00.001Z

This is a post I couldn't even have dreamed of writing a year ago, but I am very very excited to be able to say that I have been given the offer of 2 university places for the midwifery course, at Middlesex and Bedfordshire.
I know of those two which I would prefer, but am waiting to hear about the 3rd one I went for an interview with before I make an announcement.

but I am now talking about when I go to university, not if. very exciting stuff!

wooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

For a Lovely Cat and his lovely owners

2009-03-10T19:28:00.002Z

This blog entry is dedicated to Clemens - probably the worlds daftest cat.

many many years ago, in the days when I had just one child, I had 3 cats Dreyfus was our first - got her as a kitten. Sadly she passed away 2 years ago aged 13. Bobby was another one, and although getting very old (rescue cat no idea on age but at least 14) and has a memory issue he is still with us.

the other cat was Clemens an amazing ball of crazy fluff, he had huge feet and always looked like he was wearing big fluffy slippers, he was very vocal and mewed a lot (mostly to demand food) he was a big boy - but always looked worried, and he sprayed a lot around the house (another rescue cat spayed as an adult). That became a problem in 2000 when I fell pregnant, Clemens had a habit of spraying anything new in the house - not ideal with a new baby!

And then a lovely couple we know, Ian and Bekie, saved the day by offering him a new home with them. they have no other cats and no children - Clemens was in his element. they lived in a flat so he was allowed to be lazy and use a litter tray (unheard of in my house!) and he settled in a thrived.

Recently the lovely three moved into a house with a big garden, ideal for Clemens' twilight years. Sadly Clemens had a stroke but seemed to recover ok.

I didnt see him again after he left us, I was too upset to. I couldnt bear the thought of seeing him somewhere else. But now I really regret that. Because last night the lovely ball of fluff passed away in his sleep. I know no more than that as I havent spoken to B & I yet.

But the Burfot house is thinking of you both, and feeling the sadness of Clemens' passing. We will always remember him chasing Dreyfus up the stairs thinking it was his 'girlfriend cat' (Dreyfus and him did not get on!) and getting a bop on his nose for his efforts and the time he attacked the left overs of a kebab in a carrier bag, got the bag hooked round his neck and ran out the cat flap, up the fence and onto the garage roof - leaving a trail of kebab bits behind him, and facilitating Mr.B to have to climb onto the garage roof to remove what was left of the bag from around his neck!

I O U

2009-02-26T16:15:00.001Z

a very indepth blog post

involving school holidays
40th birthday celebrations
interviews at University

and many other things

but just now I am up to my eyeballs in assignments (right now its psychology!)

but I hope to post soon - Watch This Space

Bless Her!

2009-02-18T13:37:00.001Z

this morning my youngest 2 girls were moaning they had nothing to do, in the hallway there is a pine chest full of board games.
I suggested they took all the boxes out, and all the bits at the bottom of the chest and sort them
out - which they have been doing. I told them I should never hear them saying they are bored again with all those to play with.

a bit later, after they had cleared away and had a game out the 8 year old said to the 4 years old 'if you are ever bored again, into the box you go' (referring to pine chest)

I looked up and saw the 4 year old with her face in the lid of the games box and singing 'into the box I go, into the box I go'

*sigh*

Excited? Me?

2009-02-10T10:31:00.002Z

O YES!

I have been offered an interview at Bedfordshire University for the BSc (Hons) Midwifery course.

I know that isn't actually a place, but an interview is good.

So, yes excited, and perhaps just a little bit scared!

Computer says?

2009-02-06T11:15:00.003Z

Herts county council directive - all schools should be open

hooray - say the parents of St. Albans.

BUT

for those poor molly coddled kids that need to travel to school by car - would not a bit of salt on the trecherous roads be a good idea?

We commandeered the use of a sledge today from a neighbour and got the kids to school that way, but I was shocked at the amount of coaches and lorries (with professional drivers) slipping and sliding all over the place - the result? car drivers (the non professional drivers) panicking and causing chaos for vehicles and pedestrians alike!

stay off the road unless you are working, or going to work - today is not the day for a leisurely drive ANYWHERE!

So, the weekend away?

2009-02-02T11:30:00.002Z

it was a much looked forward to weekend break; Me, my eldest and the youngest on a bargain travelodge break to the new forest.

we left full of excitement on Friday night and were amazed at the lovely smooth journey, with only a small amount of traffic around Heathrow (to be expected really!)

we arrived tired and hungry, so whilst the girls got themselves sorted for bed I popped out for fish and chips. doesnt this sound like an idillic scene?

full tums and tucked into warm beds we drifted off to sleep (still idillic?) only for me to be woken a short while later by smallest child wanting to get into bed with me, no problem after all I do have a king sized bed to myself!

But, at midnight, said smallest child started crying in pain. Earache has struck, and of course I have no calpol! what a night, I dont think I got more than half an hours uninterupted sleep. and then at about 7am she threw up, and carried on throwing up large mouthfuls of bile for the next couple of hours! got some clean sheets from housekeeping (lucky them!) and phoned NHS direct, spoke to a lovely nurse who advised us to make our way home incase it was a tummy bug and Iwent down with it.

but she slept for a bit and was much better so we made the decision to stay, despite being knackered! dosed her up with calprofen and went for a trip into the new forest to see some ponies, didnt get out the car as we were too tired and cold!

As the day rolled on littliest started complaining of a sore throat as well as a earache. But really it was too late to drive home.

We went out with high hopes of a pizza hut supper, but the wait was an hour and they had no waiting area?!?! so macdonalds it was! nuggets, burgers, fries, milkshakes all went down a treat.

Back to the motel, and we are really tired and I am the only one to stay awake to the end of Casualty, then my light is off and I am zzzzzzzzzzz away with the rest of them...................................

and again the midnight hours strikes and littliest has lept out of my bed and vomitted big time all over her not slept in single bed! for the next hour I am rinsing bits of the days food out of sheets in the bathroom! eventually settling back down (after waking up Mr.B and discussing driving home then!) but poor little soul had a temperature through the roof, heat was radiating from her and she wouldnt let me touch her (very unusual).

we came home early on Sunday with a thankfully non eventful journey which she slept through, couldnt really be bothered with going on a visit anywhere after that night!

Poor little mite, Sunday was her Birthday as well. I am hoping she is going to go down with Chicken Pox (its going around nursery) so she can get it over with now. other than that I have no idea what can be wrong!

Pay it forward

2009-02-02T11:04:00.002Z

I won a draw on this lovely blog

and so to fulfill my part of the bargain I am now offering to 'pay it forward'

I am giving myself 12 months from the date of the draw to complete my tasks
I will pick the winners out of the hat
entrants must post a comment under this post with the following details; your blog URL and a joke that will make me laugh!
I am not a professional seamstress or knitter, but we can decide between us what I can make for you

so there you go this will stay open until the end of February and I will make the draw before the end of the first week in March

Enjoy!

laugh? nearly wet myself!

2009-01-28T11:30:00.002Z

that a sign of my age that is! this morning I went into town with the eldest child, we had time to kill and as she hadnt had breakfast we went into BHS
for a cup of tea and toast.

whilst sitting there in comfortable silence eldest daughter said

'what I want to know is why has that door got signs on it saying 'plant room' and 'staff only''

'aha' says I, leaning forward in a conspirital way 'thats where they grow their cannabis.'

guffaw guffaw guffaw

'seriously though' says I 'do you not know?'

so I went on to explain about machinery and computer banks etc etc.

and a moment later a chappy went towards the door so we both watched intentently as he opened the door. And then split our sides laughing at the fact that inside this dingy, windowless room, on top of a piece of ugly machinery was a beautiful vase full of flowers!!!!!

oh yes this truly is a plant room!

Seventeen years ago

2009-01-26T14:49:00.004Z

17 years is a long long time, but I do remember that I slept in until noon, that I had a bath and hairwash (my hair was very long, it was a big deal!), I remember that I wore denim dungarees and white trainers, I remember that it was foggy. Oh and I remember I had a sausage sandwich for lunch.

And I definately remember this happening!
please forgive the photo quality, it has been scanned in - it is very old!

Happy Birthday, eldest child!

normal service has now resumed

2009-01-21T22:42:00.001Z

And I didnt mean to worry anyone
life can deal some terrible blows sometimes
but what doesnt kill us, makes us stronger

more of the normal stuff to come in due course!

sometimes

2009-01-09T22:45:00.002Z

Sometimes it seems that nothing can go wrong, that life is sweet, that you are walking on air

then everything comes crashing down around you and you future is changed forever

the bottom dance

2009-01-04T14:37:00.001Z

smallest child is leaping around the living room, in the manner of a 3 year old who desperately needs a wee.
do you need a wee, Daddy asks?
no, small child replies, I am doing the bottom dance!

stupid moments in my life

2009-01-02T22:08:00.002Z

over the last 48 hours in fact!

whilst watching Sinbad the movie I commented how I could not see how it had anything to do with 'ack ack ack ack', eh says mr.B. you know, says I 'I'm sinbad the sailor man, I live in a caravan'. No, says Mr.B thats POPEYE!

and cleaning the living room? empty the bin and grab a new carrier bag to line it - then stand there wondering why I have a bin inside the carrier bag?!

and celebrity big brother tonight (yeah I know) Davina comments about Coolio spending most his life living in a gangsters paradise, but now living in a house in Hertfordshire just off the M25, ooo says I just up the road from us then? a withering look from mr.B as he reminds me the big brother house is in hertfordshire just off the M25.

O dear, I need a holiday!

cooey

2009-01-01T22:47:00.002Z

I haven't forgotten you, I am just so worn out with the constant round of bugs (mine and kids) crafting for Christmas, baking for Christmas, doing an assignment (yeah nice one biology tutor!) that I seem to have had all my energy sapped away from me.

I won't wish you a happy new year (or have I just done it?) because if you are like me you may not hold much stead by the magic that new years eve is supposed to bring. We bring our own fortune (or misfortune) we have the power within ourselves to change how our lifes are (you wouldn't believe it when you listen to how I moan on at times!). So I hope today has been a lovely day, and you haven't had too much of a hangover (I haven't!, as I was in bed by 11 last night, with a lovely cup of tea) and I hope you have many more happy days ahead of you.

But we are here, we are alive, and we are most definately kicking!

In fact Mr.B is kicking his way back to work tomorrow - a real job, not a temp affair!

hooray for Mr.B and 2009

Todays post is brought to you by the letter R

2008-12-04T14:26:00.002Z

and lots of love!

I am very picky about my purse, it takes me a long time to find the right one. it has to be a certain size, have a certain amount of pockets, it has to be black leather and be a certain price!

My last purse was from John Lewis, and prior to that I had one from Clarks (bought from their outlet store in Street, in October 2006) I never really liked the Clarks one, after the initial flush of love, as the coin part wasnt completely closed and coins would disappear into the lining.

so when I was given some JLP vouchers as a leaving gift from Brownies I decided to replace the Clarks purse, this was in September. a couple of days ago I noticed the lining was tearing, in a part of the purse I dont even use - so off I trotted today to replace it, sadly faced with a whole display of purses I could not find one that suited me. Just as I was about to give up I found one! and there was 20% off to boot (mind you the purse I was returning was now reduced due to VAT changes so whilst I paid £30 I only got £29 back - mmmmmmmm) the difference between my purse and the new one was a *mere* £14. after a quick phonecall to mr.B to confim it was ok I bought it.

I am now the very excited and proud owner of a RADLEY purse! not quite a Radley handbag, but it will do!

the life and times of Mrs.B

And as the final curtain falls..........

mmmmmmmmmmmm

Sometimes

Jumping on the band-wagon?

These boots are made for walking.......................

Skiing!

How do they do it?

Vitamins again!

A Dedication to my Gorgeous Mummy

MMmmmmmm thought that had ended when............................

one for you and one for me

Midwifery? or mmmmmm Nursing?!?

A Sunday Post of Ramblings

Ski Sunday!

the life and times of Mrs.B

Just Brilliant!

totally retro, blast from the past!

It's October 2010

Trying it on for size

Woohoo!

So Who's Insurance Should I Claim On?

I don't want to talk about it

blooming laptop!

And so the bathroom

strange dreams indeed

Funeral Planning

Here we go again

In these shoes? I don't think so!

I Love Melatonin!

*phew*

less than 60 days to go

Loving the Weather

Aha

I do miss you all!

Behind my ear!

The Day a Pair of Red Shoes Arrived at my Door!

a test for vitamins!

The Brilliant post

A sense of worry and dread!

Reflections

O M G!

MMMM that went well then!

Ouch!

Bloody Brilliant!

*YAWN* *SNORE*

Introducing................................

I'm not at all jealous!

The one with no title

May Contain Nuts

wow is it that time already?

New shoes

Fantastic day @ Milton Keynes

Really worried

If you like a lot of chocolate on your biscuit

Thought of the day

weyhey!

Blog a DAY!

feeling a bit sad today

Reflections

Real quicky!

gush gush gush

As promised

A funny vitamins story!

in a mere 7 days

I did NOT kill the pigeon!

one for the yanks!

Pleased to report

When

our weekend away

yummy chewy multi vits?!

A great day out!

To the 'lady' in Morrisons carpark yesterday

more conversations with a 4 year old

Good Game, Good Game!

Interestingly

Sweet Morning, Sweet Smell?

Cardiff, but couldn't find Capt Jack anywhere!

Tuesday

What did Monday bring?

phew

YAWN SNORE

ahem