Hubby taught the kids the phrase 'saddo music' which he basically dropped in conversations when I was listening to anything he didn't care for.  I never really listened to music when I was very young - we didn't even have a car let alone have anything to listen to on journeys.....

I had a 'record player' as a teenager and listened to music a lot and was one of those people who would tape the Top 40 to listen to through the week. Yes, very pathetic I know but I wasn't the only one doing it, was I?

I had a boyfriend who got a CD player when they first came out and I remember vividly sitting (SITTING) on his bed as he explained to me what the big fuss was about- how they were so hard to ruin - you could really be quite rough with them and scratches were not a problem.  I have often passed on this wisdom to hubby who moans when I scratch CDs and DVDs...it doesn't go down so great.

Anyhow...I remember people telling me that they remember certain music their mums and dads  used to play in the car and they had to endure.....hubby remembers Jim Reeves......another friend told me his mom had them all listening to Neil Diamond.  Maybe its just as well I was spared.

In my car I always have something on.  Recently I have been driving around a lot with the younger two and I have been quite easy in letting them watch DVDs in there through the main speakers - I prefer it when they are headphoned up for the movies etc but Rory is still not quite there with the concept of headphones...so I am almost word perfect on Charlie and Lola discs 1 through 7 and not too bad with Kenny the Shark.  But sometimes I just want music - my music - much  to their disgust.  Mac will put his fingers in his ears in protest but he actually knows a lot of the words to a lot of songs. 

The last few days have been Oasis days and I wondered whether my kids will refer back to this as the crap they were forced to listen to as kids?

Oasis - Half The World Away (Live)

I would like to leave this city
This old town don't smell too pretty and
I can feel the warning signs running around my mind
And when I leave this island I'll book myself into a soul asylum
And I can feel the warning signs running around my mind

So here I go still scratching around the same old hole
My body feels young but my mind is very old
So what do you say?
You can't give me the dreams that are mine anyway
You're half the world away
Half the world away
Half the world away
I've been lost I've been found but I don't feel down.

So here I go still scratching around in the same old hole
My body feels young but my mind if very old
So what do you say?
You can't give me the dreams that are mine anyway
You're half the world away
Half the world away
Half the world away
I've been lost I've been found but I don't feel down

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I am thinking I may be a tad under the weather.  Sick.

"The reason?" you all cry with worried expressions on your face...

I don't want to read.  Not at all.  I have book club on Tuesday and we are supposed to have finished this pile of shite book by then......

The Nightingale's Song

but even the gal who suggested it, mortally embarrassed with her choice - has confessed she hates it and isn't going to keep on with it.  I hate giving up.  But it is dull dull dull. I have little interest in Military boot camp in Annapolis...and don't remember Iran-Conta affairs too much.  I am only on page 54 but doubt I'll read much more.  One thing is for sure - it is not singing the praises of John McCain as of yet.

I have picked up another couple of the 400+ books sat here waiting to be read...a few pages in and my mind is wandering.  This is so unlike me.  I currently have the attention span of a newt (not scientifically proven but you get where I'm coming from)....is it guilt that I am not trying harder here?

I have read some bloody fantastic books recently...maybe it's just 'cos I know this falls short.  Any other ideas what is wrong with me???

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I have been on quite a photo spree recently...apologies.  I am still thrilled to be able to post photos given all the hassles I had with them over at 20six.  But someone said something recently that made me feel a little bit vain.  They said they mainly have photos of their kids - not of themselves.  And it just made me think that I have a lot of photos of  me and tonnes with me and the kids.

I don't remember many photos growing up.  It was more of a faff than it was worth to have photos - it was a different story if there was a film to finish off before heading to Boots..but long before digital cameras came about...it was still seen as something of a luxury - certainly in our house.

And even for those taken they were rarely displayed at all.  Instead they were put in a case in that oh so English of a place - on top of a wardrobe....really easy to have a glance thorough (not).  Hubby's parents keep their stash (photos) in a poof. It is a joke between us that any we send over will go straight in the poof.  Do Americans even know what that is?

MIL did buy some snazzy photo albums one time she was over here (together with a trash can and a wrought iron frying pan) - yeah she buys weird stuff here that they do sell there mainly as it is a 'Good Deal.'  When she is over I never get out of Costco without spending $500 but that is another tale.  Anyhow - she bought these albums and took them back to UK determined to sort out 30+ years of photos.  She got lots of see through envelopes to help her.  To say her approach was unusual is putting it mildly.  Or maybe it is me....... There was the envelope for weddings.  All weddings spanning 30 odd years and they have a big Irish family.  Were dates involved?  Not at all!  Were names of the bride /groom even remembered?  Don't be silly now!  So there was the envelope ogf weddings, another for cars, another for hubby, another for BIL (and I am sure some of those were mixed up)etc etc.  She was very proud of her system until we asked about dates.  Blank stare.  Envelopes were put back in the 'poof' and empty photo albums, with the fancy spines were put on the book shelf.  Well at least the look smart.  She also has a habit (whilst I have my claws out I shall go for it) of buying frames... the ones that come with a black and white insert of photo family....but she displays them with the anonymous photo family rather than anyone she knows,  For years. 

But anyhow...when hubby and I first got together and when we first bought joint furniture (a feat that nearly broke us up on the floor of the furniture store itself) I bought lots of frames and filled them of photos of us and then of the cat with us (the cat found us - it was a stray - it was v v cute and now, 14 yrs later lives at hubby's parents' house - and I am now highly allergic to cats)....but I had photos of us everywhere.  It was so OTT.  Talk about making up for lost time.  Then with the kids I tried to get professional photos taken for every month of their 1st year... managed it with all of them.  This last pregnancy, knowing it would be the last I also had a pregnancy DVD and stills taken - showing the growing bump and then the baby......

I read somewhere too about children whose parents have died when they are still young...and how they relish the photos left.  Maybe this too spurs me on to snap away... I don't know.  I think I have found a good medium... though that is perhaps not reflected here.  There are equal number of photos of the kids displayed and of each other in the various bedrooms.  I hope it gives them confidence in some way too. And I have non on top of wardrobes (we have non anyway) and no poof in site..

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I still love this....

I just saw it on another blog and it reminded me....I think I have posted it before..

Not that I am putting off tidying up or anything......

Man Cold

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CIAO ROMA!!!!!!

Flag of Italy

Come stai???

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OK so we have just been to see Mac's eye Dr.......the gorgeous Dr Chris.  I feel quite old when we have these appointments as Mac has been seeing this Doctor since he was maybe 18 months old.Just as I had as a child, he has a lazy eye  ....we have already had 2 surgeries - I had one as a child when I was maybe 7.  I remember being in hospital for a few days - Mac was in and out in about 4 hours.  Not sure if that is American insurance issues or how times change.  Anyhow, he has been wearing glasses since September which doesn't bother him at all (that amazes me in itself) apart from when he threw them away at Christmas time and we searched the house for 2 days before we located them....in the trash.  We have also been trying to patch his good eye (disaster) and put an occlusion patch on the lense of his glasses - also unsuccessful as he just 'cleans' them and 'loses' the sticker thing (accidentally of course).  So today, the Dr who looked particularly shaggable (what the f*ck is wrong with me...last week the computer nerd, this week  the Dr) suggested eye drops to blur the vision a tad in the good eye.  So that will be our new approach.  I must say I think I scare the pants off the Dr (not literally) as I once yelled at him for running so so late (90 minutes) and he was quite apologetic - I don't think most patients would have said anything.  I know too many medics to be in awe of them in the way the previous generation was.  I also know a lot of Doctors who have 'surprise' babies.....like they never got the whole contraception 101 class at med school.  Annnnyway.  Dr Chris was today sporting the longer, slightly greasy hair look and  was extra extra hot.  I really need to get out more.

But no, we are back home and I have my work cut out for me.  Last night after school Bee announced she was going to change her room around a bit.  I thought she meant move a lamp or something.  she was gone a while and when I went to mention the word homework she had dragged the bed (v heavy) and the desk (on its last legs as it is crap MDF from IKEA which has already survived many moves and it a  bugger to shift)...she had done a really good job and I was very impressed with her surprise...very like me in the way she decided to do something and then has to do it there

and then....

Desk now near the window

Bed moved

So yes I was quite amazed....but she did have a lot of stuff that needed to be rearranged.  and she was in her room for over an hour so I thought she was really getting on with it but alas she was probably making a pig book or something because despite her promising to tidy it a bit more this morning before school here are some snaps of the floor as it is now......

messy chair

messy floor1

it gets worse.......

this is the way OUT of her room

Walk in closet - so messy you can't walk in at all

So.. she is at least aware of the state of her room.....and lucky for her she is going to a birthday party straight from school......

However Paddy and Mac have no excuse except maybe that they share a room

Paddy's side

Mac's side

But someone was not tired when they went to bed last night..so much so that they decided to read.  Mmmmmm.  Now I think it is great that a 4 year old aspires to read chapter books etc but not when he leaves the place like this.......

Boys' mess 1

Boys' mess 2

Oh and incidentally... when I came home and sat drinking a hot choc dreaming of Dr Chris, Rory, the little cute one went here.......

Playroom

But unfortunately he decided to take a big bag of popcorn too.  So after Mr Dyson and I have cleaned the kids' rooms we will also be heading down here....

Popcorn 1

Popcorn 2

This makes me look like one of those houses where if the Police showed up they would think I was a druggie given all the crap on the floor. 

I just want to curl up and go here....

Bed

But no, I would not show ytou a photo of my floor either!!!!

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What About Me?

Kate Figes

So my friend aff recently asked me if it was strange that I now have a 10 year old....and I took a few days to actually think about it as despite having the party etc at the weekend, she (my daughter - not AFF) still seems pretty much the same.  Well actually she seems her usual bolshy self and she is getting quite good at rolling her eyes and giving us that 'oh you so don't understand' look.

That, together with this book I just finished today gave me food for thought....(and I am day dreaming a tonne at the moment).

Here was Amazon's take on the book:

""Book Description

FROM: SUE SENT: Sat 16th June 22:59 TO: ANGELA JAMES Ange Darling Top Shop is living hell! I spent a fortune on Frankie and she hasn't even said Thank You! Next time Ill give her 100 and be done with it. And now the whole gang are downstairs, screaming and hugging each other in front of a vampire movie. They resemble very noisy bees, swarming into the house, depositing trainers and heading straight for the fridge

. Mother-daughter relations come under strain during one particularly dramatic year in the life of the Wilcox family. But two very different versions of the same story emerge through Sues emails to her sister, and the inimitable voice of 14-year-old Frankie in her diary. The angst of middle age and adolescence may be at opposite ends of the spectrum, but perhaps they have more in common than meets the eye?Highly promotable author. Guaranteed review attention. ""

Oh boy.  For anyone who has a daughter then this book is worth a read. Through reading the daughter's diary entries and the 40 something mother's e-mails to her far away sister (in Oz) you see the 2 sides of the story...a similar story to the one I may very well find myself in - down the road.

I know all mother/daughter relationships are strained but I think I will have to tread extra carefully so I don't repeat any of the horrors I had growing up.  Bloody hell I am still getting over the period talk with Bee and that was months ago.  Plus I think hubby will be over zealous in a father-daughter protective way so maybe I will be a mediator more than a witch??

Communication growing up for me was practically non existant - certainly on the level of emotions.  I remember once being told "You will have to be careful with that boy - he is growing into a man y'know'' -  when I was already having sex with said boy (I think we were old enough - we were certainly being careful)....  I remember the whole school pressures of friends and boys and who said what and keeping secrets and being seen at the right parties (or not and being heart broken) and oh the sheer hell of growing up.  Hell hell hell.  The  fact that I did at least have a pretty steady boyfriend for a while probably saved me a few emotional roller coaster rides during school  - he became my rock whilst home life was dire.....

Now reading this book, I have a few years before Bee gets as old as the one character and I will never be a 40 something GP who accidentally has another baby (I am far too crap at science, hubby is fixed and I have no inclination to have an affair)....but you can certainly see how things can be ignored and the consequences of non-communication can catch up with you.

Anyhow it was a quick easy read.....and fills me with dread of having a soon teen daughter.  I hope the boys will be easier but I have a nagging doubt they won't be.  All the horrible girlfriends we'll have to endure (and Karma is so going to come back and BITE ME on that one).  And whether they are 'being careful.'  Oh God, I see anti-anxiety meds in my near future.......I bet by the time Rory is dating I will just have taken to my bed in a permanent fashion and left condoms and cash on the island.

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Mexico - mid March.

nasty treadmill

Running on here.. regularly (more then twice a week)

                                                                                         +

upstairs

running up and down here.....

                                                                                                          +

basement

                                       running down here a bit more (where the treadmill lives....)

                                                                                 +

instructions!!

                                                    MORE of this.........

                                                          could just maybe,    =

bikini

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If there is one thing (amongst many) I am not keen on it is planning my life away.  I am not even thinking about summer 2009 when we are supposed to be going to England - but it is there in the corner of my mind.  I am only just thinking about 3 weeks from now when we'll be in Mexico...that's how far ahead I can manage.

So yes I know that the school sent home all the list of dates for next year but I don't really want to think of Christmas when we're still in February.  Hubby however has different ideas and wants us to go away somewhere straight after Christmas but before school starts back......I would just like the down time here at home.

So he has given me a choice of Hawaii, Bermuda or St. Martin.  I have avoided the whole issue as I hoped he would then drop it but he has taken the approach of deciding where we're going by himself.  Should I not be thrilled with this idea?  Not even going to ask him if he booked anything.  Mmm.

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It is way too early on a Monday morning to be feeling this good but I have achieved a lot already today and it is not even 9am!!  Hubby took the older kids to school so I have a little while before pre-school.

Maybe I am getting very American (?WTF) but there is this on going 'feud' that is so so so making me laugh...and I never even watch Jimmy Kimmel on late night...and nor am I particularly a fan of Sarah Silverman but I think I found these so funny because it is so taking the piss out of Hollywood etc.

So here is what you need to know...Sarah Silverman (comedian) is dating a late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.  There is a long running joke that at the end of his show he always 'bumps' Matt Damon...that is to say he makes it sound as though the actor is there waiting to come on but they have run out of time to interview him.....so they have to 'bump' him - I think this is the thing that triggered all this. 

So a few weeks ago this was out:;

Sarah Silverman on Jimmy Kimmel Live 1-31-08 part1

so everyone has been waiting to see what the come back is...and I just saw it this morning.  Maybe not quite as funny but look at all the people they have got to take part.......not sure how much of it is beeped out via You Tube but you get the gist.  I tell you,,,the 'I'm f*cking Matt Damon' tune so sticks in your head!!

Jimmy Kimmel singing "I'm F*cking Ben Affleck"

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