moors-mummy

Our Daily Dog Walk!

2013-03-14T14:27:00.003Z

Every day.......

It takes me a good 20 minutes to get out of the door.

But every day the dog has to be walked.

And whilst I'm off work, it has been me and the boys that have done it more often than not.

Wellies on, waterproofs on, gloves on.

And off we go.

Usually each walk is uneventful, following the same route. Not too long, not too short.

Yesterday was a little different.

They didn't wear their waterproofs, it was dry....

The sun was shining....

We went to the leaf pile, they were piled high, up past their wellies.

They kicked, threw and laid in them, mummy pushing them back down as they tried to stand up.

How they laughed.

We went on an adventure, through the Gorse, down the sheep tracks...winding this way and that.

And then, Worm saw 'The Gate'.....

The gate that leads to Great Grannies.

And that was it.

The mother of all tantrums.

He threw himself on the floor, in the mud, rolled around screaming, legs flailing!

Mud all down his coat, his trousers, everywhere.

Tears down his face.

I tried to pick him up, but he raises his arms so he slides down through my grip, raises his legs so he falls to the ground.

Under my arm he went, kicking his wellies off as we marched.

He wriggled out of my grasp. My strength, limited, my grip weak. Putting him down, he refused to stand or walk. He sat in the mud, crying, telling me to go through the gate.

I walked ahead, hoping he would panic and follow, but all I got was Monkey shouting at me, "Don't leave him, I love Worm."

Half an hour we battled.

Half an hour of lifting, putting him down, letting him get on with it, sat in the mud, screaming and crying.

We got home, just before the rain. He was marched down the road, knowing there was no hope of going back, in his socks, Monkey carrying his wellies.

I stripped the muddy clothes off him in the porch, another pile of washing.

And then like Butter wouldn't melt, he went and sat on the sofa and started singing Twinkle Twinkle in that lovely angelic voice!!

World Book Day - love it or hate it?

2013-03-06T20:07:00.002Z

I have to say that every year that Beanie has been in school

the pupils have been expected to dress up for World Book Day,

and every year it fills me with fear!

Usually because I have forgotten all about it until the last minute

and we have no idea what to go as,

have no time to make an outfit,

or to be perfectly honest

- just can't be bothered.

So far we have gone as Moonface from The Faraway Tree,

normal clothes and a mask made from

cardboard by drawing around a dinner plate!

The children from The Wishing Chair, with his 'girlfriend',

who had decorated a small child's chair and put wings on it

and Beanie just turned up in normal clothes!

Julian from The Famous Five.....normal clothes.

Are you seeing a pattern.....

Last year I think we totally forgot and he just went as himself.

And this year, we have put some thought into it,

well I asked him what he wanted to go as and he didn't know.

He is reading the Anthony Horowitz books about Alex Rider,

and so we suggested that.

A bit of research on Google and we have come up with......

black jeans,

a white PE t-shirt,

a black shirt with red stripes,

black school shoes and a couple of gadgets.

Beanie has informed me that he has a yo-yo and a key ring,

so we have added them too.

I don't know how accurate it is but it will do!

It at least beats all the fairy/princess dresses

and Spiderman/ Batman costumes

from all the other parents who can't be bothered!

So do you love it or hate it?........................

Oh and next year I will have to come up with two costumes

as Monkey will be at school too!

Better start planning now!

Feeling like 'poo'

2013-02-24T21:26:00.000Z

"Mummy, 'Monkey' just called me poo!"

To be fair at this point today I had already had enough.

"Go and call him poo back!"

"'Monkey', you know you just called me poo, well you're poo too!"

That has been my day today.

Moors-daddy worked nights last night (and again tonight), and so in my attempts to keep the boys quiet and from not waking him, (in which I failed badly), they were playing, on the computers, in their bedrooms and in the garden. None of which worked. Beanie wouldn't help Monkey on Bin Weevils, Worm wanted to just be with Beanie and when Beanie and Monkey were playing Lego in Beanie's room, Worm wasn't allowed in, so stood outside screaming. I retrieved him from the landing four times, whilst he did the turning rigid and lifting the arms up, making it impossible to hold him. Marched him back downstairs for him to escape and return back upstairs.

Eventually moors-daddy woke and beckoned all 3 to his bed side. I think this was after I threatened to walk out. Beanie wasn't impressed.

Yep, mummy was having a bad day.

A bad nights sleep last night, I had forgotten to take my medication, and aching hands and wrists all day. By the time I came to prepare lunch, cutting vegetables brought tears to my eyes.

By the time moors-daddy woke and came downstairs he could see how unhappy I was.

It's always the little things that get to me, and when they get to me they really get to me. Today was one of those days.

And then moors-daddy dropped a bomb shell.

In six weeks time it will be our tenth wedding anniversary. Two years ago we spent the weekend in Paris, this summer we are all going to France for a fortnight, and so I wasn't expecting anything for our anniversary but....

we are off to Spain for three nights, just me and moors-daddy. I can't remember exactly where but three nights without the boys and heat (20C, hoping that will help the joints!), m-d said we could go to Barcelona for a day but to be honest I would be quite happy just sat on the beach with my book for the whole time!

Excited and can't wait!

Remembering some and praying for others.

2013-02-12T21:08:00.000Z

My title should have changed.....

Life is so short..............

When you enter the blogging community you never know what lies ahead. You become part of people's lives and they become part of yours. Even if you don't really know them and them you.

But you follow their stories, you laugh with them, share their memories, you cry with them.

These last ten days my eyes have cried a lot. The flood gates were opened and I have watched and read as stories unfolded in front of me. Grateful that my life is content and happy, my children and my husband by my side.

It started with Jennie's tragic story of Matilda Mae, a family in mourning for their beautiful brown eyed baby girl. Nine months old and taken in her sleep.

Every parents worst feeling, thought and emotion.

As I read Jennie's story, I felt an unnerving need to have my boys near me, cuddling them and kissing them, smelling them, checking them, making sure they are okay. As I read Jennie's story the tears have rolled down my cheeks, time and time again.

And yet in her blog posts and tweets, I see a determined and strong lady who knows what she has to do, and from her posts and tweets I know that the journey ahead for her, her husband and the twins, will be extremely hard at times, but they will get through it -stronger as a family. She will never be forgotten and will remain in their hearts forever.

I cannot ever imagine having to plan the funeral of a child, no parent should ever have to but the reality is - it happens. I hope Jennie, David, William and Esther know how many people are there with them at this sad time and even though so many of us won't be there at Matilda Mae's funeral on March 7th, we will be thinking of them all and holding them in our thoughts and prayers. A beautiful baby girl, taken way too early.

Rest in Peace Matilda Mae.

And then another community I am associated with was hit by another tragedy.

On Saturday there was a horrific accident at G- Live in Guildford. The tour manager of Fisherman's Friends was killed and one of the singers seriously injured.

Another shock.

I work at a school in North Cornwall, Port Isaac is in our catchment, a small close knit community. The singer injured, the husband of one of my colleagues.

Last night, Monday he lost his fight.

Another one gone too soon.

Rest in Peace Trevor.

I guess our prayers weren't answered!

Monkey's latest achievement.

2013-02-10T16:27:00.003Z

Well, the boy has done it!

Done what?

Monkey at 4 years and 5 months old has finally given up nappies for good. Hurrah - only one more to go!

He's been dry in the day for over a year, but night time was causing us big problems.

He would wear a nappy to bed with his pjs over the top and in the morning the nappy, pjs and bed would all be wet. Sometimes it was every now and again, other times it would be every night. The little boys bedroom smelling of wee! Me constantly stripping the bedding, changing it for it to get wet again the next night.

Last week I bought him a reward chart, a smiley face for every dry night. On Tuesday he went to Granny and Grandad's as normal and granny had hinted that she might let him try without a nappy. At bedtime, he made the decision for her and told her he didn't want to wear it.
He was dry in the morning. He did it again at Granny's on Wednesday night, so when he returned home on Thursday we could not take a step backwards, so the nappy hasn't been back on.

We had a moment on Friday night, where he woke up saying he'd wet, but in actual fact had just had a little dribble and then got up and went to the toilet, i changed his pjs as the inside was only a tiny bit damp and he didn't want them back on, but they really weren't that bad. He has made huge steps, and I was beginning to worry that he would never achieve this so am so glad that he has done it in his own time.

Next to work on is Worm, still fascinated by the others standing at the toilet, but showing no interest in the potty what so ever!

RA - First Consultant Appointment

2013-02-02T21:39:00.001Z

This is a copy of the post from my other blog RA-adventures, but just thought I'd let you know what is happening and where I am.
Elly xx

Well that's it.
I haven't written this straight after my appointment as I needed to get my head around it and what it all means.
My appointment was last week, the 23rd.
I went in with a relatively open mind. Not expecting a lot.
I had written every thing down as so many people have said too.
When I first got there I was sent down to a little room to have my height, weight, BMI and urine tested.
Then I went into see the consultant.
His first question (words) to me were What can I do to help you? Which if I am honest annoyed me a bit. Surely he should know, he should have some knowledge of why I was there. Never the less, I started to explain, using the notes I had made, what has been happening and my immediate reaction as I spoke was that he couldn't care less. I was liking him less and less. He listened, kind of, his eyes all over the place, and then when I had finished he asked to examine me. I was told to undress, taking off my jeans, boots and socks.
He then started to push and prod all o my joints in turn. Moving my shoulder to it's limit, which isn't far at the moment and then working his way all over my body, pushing here and there, seeing what hurts and what didn't. Some places didn't hurt at first but after he had moved them and manipulated them they did the second time he touched them.
I really hadn't expected to get any sort of diagnosis, but really just expected him to examine me, do more tests and some x-rays etc, which he did do.
Before I went and had more blood taken and went for x-rays, he sat me down and told me what he thought.
Inflammatory arthritis /possibly rheumatoid and /or Fibromyalgia. Not what I expected at all.
He has put me on amitriptyline, 10mg for the first week and then increasing the dose by 10mg each week up to 50mg if needed. I am upping the dose to 20mg tonight as for the last few nights I haven't slept well, but the shoulder pain has decreased and isn't waking me at night as much as it was. I am still experiencing pain elsewhere, mainly in my right foot lately but the NSAID's do seem to help get me through my day at work at least. As for the fatigue, it's still bad, I still nap everyday and still then feel knackered and hubby has had to wake me to tell me to go to bed, after falling asleep on the sofa for the last few nights!

Baker Days Letterbox Valentine Cake - Review.

2013-01-29T14:00:00.002Z

I was approached by the lovely ladies at Baker Days about whether I'd like to review one of their Letterbox Valentine Cakes.

When I first read that they would send me a cake in the post, part of me laughed and part of me was intrigued at how they would go about it.

And the fact there was free cake was an absolute bonus! I love Cake. I love baking, but my cakes just aren't the same. I have to admit I love shop bought birthday cakes, vanilla sponge and butter cream, my idea of cake heaven. So I had a look at their website...

They make lovely looking cakes, in a variety of sizes from the Letterbox (3-4 portions) size right up to big party cakes(10-50 portions) (that, obviously can't be put through the letterbox!). They also make cupcakes.

I loved the look of them all, the designs very different, from driving test cakes to thank you teacher, and they can be personalised to your requirements.

So of course I agreed!

We had to select our design and personalisation from the Valentine's Day cake collection.

We chose the "Love Birds" design and had it personalised with moors-daddy's name! Moors-daddy and I never really celebrate Valentine's Day so we thought it would be a bit of fun from me and the boys! Here is the design picture from the Baker Days website.

On the website once you have chosen your design, you can then go onto choose the type of cake you want, from sponge,and for an extra charge carrot, fruit and double chocolate chip, they also do a gluten free version, which I was very impressed with, as gluten free cakes are hard to find. I wasn't really fussed which one I got except from the fruit cake as I can't stand them!!

Then we waited, and when I came home from work one day there on my door mat sat a little white box addressed to me!

At first I wondered what it was, what had I ordered that I hadn't told hubby about and then I opened it.

I was really impressed with the packaging.

Inside the box was a tin with 'Just for You' embossed on it, a card, a leaflet and a small packet of 'Love Hearts'.

And inside the tin, the cake!

To get the cake out there is a paper tab that you pull, and out pops the cake.

At first I wasn't sure what type of cake I had received but on the underneath of the cake is a label telling you what it is and what is in it! It also states allergy information and best before date (not that it was going to last that long!)

I like the tin, here a close up of the writing on it. I like this little added extra because as a Valentine's Day present the thought is lovely, but the cake won't last! The tin then becomes your keepsake (and if like me, you are bound to find something to put in it!)

The design on the cake and the personalisation were very good. We had the cake personalised with just moors-daddy's real name but you can have whatever you want. (Within reason).

And now for the most important part, what did it taste like....

well let's just say it didn't last long. The Madeira sponge was light and fluffy, the Butter cream on the bottom to attach it to the card and a thin layer below the icing was delightful and the icing was perfect.

It was yummy!!

The Letterbox cake cut easily into four portions,

though it could have quite easily been just one!

And as I said it really didn't last long,

I could easily have eaten it all with a cup of coffee in hand!

Having received this cake from Baker Days,

I would truly recommend it as something

a little different for Valentine's day.

I am also eyeing up the Mother's Day letterbox cakes,

which I think would be great little presents for both

my mum and the mother in law from the boys!

Remember they do a variety of cakes, from cupcakes to party cakes and the website is well worth a look.

www.bakerdays.com

Snow!

2013-01-18T18:43:00.000Z

I didn't think we would get any, all the weather forecasts showed it missing our side of Devon.
But when Worm woke at 4:30 this morning I had a sneaky peek out of the window, and it was white. I could see it coming down but it looked slushy and wet and I returned to bed, thinking that by the time I got up at 6am it would be all gone.
How wrong was I?
When the alarm went off I got out and instead of getting straight in the shower, i went downstairs and pulled back the lounger curtains. It was still white and I could see in the street lights that it was still falling.
I text my work colleague to see what it was like there- nothing!
I had to make the decision. The road was white, the gritters had not been up and my journey of through Tavistock and across the moor just wasn't going to happen.
I called in, possibly the only one affected by it!
The boys woke up excited by it all. Though Monkey till changed his mind as he realised he would have to walk to nursery. We left early, the boys well wrapped, Worm staying at home with moors-daddy. Beanie had on his waterproof trousers, wellies, coat, hat, scarf and gloves and Monkey had on his all in one waterproofs, his coat on over the top, hat and gloves. His excitement changed as we started walking, the snow, turning to slush and getting slippery. His cheeks, rosy and his hands cold, even with his gloves on. We dropped Beanie off, after watching his best friend, his mum and two sisters slide down their road and then Monkey and I carried on to nursery. The walk took me in total just over an hour, and when I returned my legs were cold and my ears hurting from the cold.
We then had to take the dog for his walk. Worm was at home and has never experienced snow before. Last time we had any, he was 6 months and we didn't take him out. This time he was going! Unlike Monkey who has never really liked it, (I can remember it well when he was about 2, taking him up and him refusing to put his feet down and let his wellies touch the snow!) Worm loved it, picked it up, threw it at us, lay it in, threw snow for the dog to chase, even falling in it didn't bother him!! As for the dog, our nearly 8 year old becomes a puppy again, tearing around in it, rolling in it, catching snowballs and chasing them as they roll in the snow!
I tried to get some pictures with my phone, but moors-daddy threw a snowball at me, some of it landed on my phone and it instantly died. I have since resuscitated it and so here are a few I got before the weather got the better of it!

all pictures copyright of moors-mummy

Saturday is Caption Day!

2013-01-12T13:53:00.002Z

Just add your caption to the picture

below and then pop over to

Mammasaurus and check out

the others for this week.

Lurgy

2013-01-08T22:15:00.000Z

I have finally succumbed. Beanie got it on the last day of term. He was sent home. (He must have been bad to be sent home on the last day of term). His symptoms, headache, sore throat, stiff neck, swollen glands. He lost his voice on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day was quieter than normal!! He didn't want to eat but forced two brussel sprouts and then asked to lie down! Monkey and Worm experienced coughs and lots of snot and a bit of fever but nothing as bad as their big brother, who was still exceptionally pale on New Years Day! Me, well I thought I too had missed it all, a bit of a snivel over the festivities but nothing that really got to me. That is until Saturday, we took the boys to their swimming lesson, I was very hot in the pool, and didn't fancy joining moors-daddy for a fry up! When we returned home, I started shivering and then sweating. I put myself to bed in the afternoon, fever in full flow! Sunday the same, unable now to swallow too, stiff neck and headache joining in. I called work to say I wouldn't be back. I am feeling better, loving the Lemsip but still not 100%, so am not in again tomorrow.
It seems however that a lot of people have had or are experiencing this now!
So lets hope 2013 improves and all the bugs go away quickly!

Happy New Year

2013-01-01T23:32:00.001Z

A quick post today to wish you all a very happy new year and that I hope that it is full of surprises and good fortune. I know I don't need to look back at last year resolutions to know that I think I failed on all of them. So this year I am not really going to make any. All I will say is that after the tragic death of Kerry @MultipleMummy, my resolution is quite simply to appreciate what I have, to make the most of my boys, to enjoy what we do together and to spend as much time with them as I can. You never know what lies ahead.
My thoughts and prayers are with Kerry's family and friends, an inspiring person and an inspirational blog. (One of the first I ever read).
xxx

Silent Sunday

2012-12-30T00:00:00.000Z

inspired by

Water Baby

2012-12-29T23:09:00.001Z

I will start by hoping that you have all survived Christmas, better than we have here. All 3 boys and myself have been unwell, with a variety of things. Monkey and Worm started it all off with Hand foot and mouth, which then turned into coughs and colds. Beanie was sent home on the last day of term with swollen glands and a sore throat, which has progressed to another snot fest, cough and sleepless nights. And I have just snivelled a bit!

The title today is about Worm, my water phobic boy!

Well I say water phobic, if you put him on the beach, he is first in, clothes and all, he loves the sea, the waves, the pools. But at home it's a different kettle of fish.

Put him in the bathroom and he screams, runs away, turn on the tap on the bath and it's a full blown tantrum. It got to the point where bathing him was just too stressful and so.....I didn't. He'd have the occasional strip wash but that would be it, too stressful for both of us. And then it got to the point where he was just so dirty, that something had to be done. If I am honest, I don't have the energy to battle him and bathe him on my own, it takes everything out of me in every way. But I knew we had to combat this.
So this Christmas holiday has been a battle for both of us, with his baths and with his sleep. But mummy is winning. (I won't say 'won' yet just in case!)

We started off with him watching the other two in the bath, letting him get his clothes wet as he splashed and played. We tried to get him in with one of them but NO cue tantrum!
So next day we (that's moors-daddy too) ran about an inch of water and played, splashed etc etc, but No cue tantrum! We then emptied all the toys out of the toy box and put a small amount of water in there. He eventually got in and played, getting me and MD wet. He wasn't there long but it was progress. A few days later we tried the bath again, an inch of water. He allowed us to put him in, he played, splashed and threw wets toys at us and laughed. The water did not go over his ankles, he wouldn't sit down, but again progress.
The next time he watched Beanie and tried to climb in fully clothes, I stripped him off and got him in (deeper water) and again he played and splashed but wouldn't sit down. A bit more progress. A bit more confident.
The next one, a little less water and he washed himself with his hungry caterpillar sponge, still stood up!!
Today a break though. Both Beanie and Monkey had been bathed beforehand. He had watched and splashed water over most of the bathroom. He let me put him in. He stood up and played and then I asked if he could put his knees in, he did, and then I asked if he could sit in it and yes he did that too. He played with the jug and his sponge. He washed himself and splashed and stayed in there for quite some time. PROGRESS. He even pulled the plug and sat there until all the water had gone!
Now we just have to work on hair washing!!

As for his sleeping, this holiday my baby has become a big boy. Not once has he fallen asleep on the sofa. Every night he has gone up to his bed, brushed his teeth and snuggled down. I have sat with him most nights, but tonight I have walked out and left him awake and I have heard nothing. He still wakes in the night, usually now just once, and some times he finds his own way up to us and others he just has a sip of milk, rolls over and goes straight back to sleep. I haven't sat on the bedroom floor at all, let alone for an hour and a half. My baby is finally growing up!

Birthdays and Christmas

2012-12-16T23:15:00.003Z

Today was Beanie's ninth birthday and I have spent the day building Lego. Last night we had 15 children for a pizza and movie party which started off quite manic but calmed once they were watching Ice Age 4. Beanie had one friend stay the night, both sleeping in the spare bed, asleep at 10pm and up at half seven. Where do they get their energy?
As for Christmas, this year I am struggling a bit. I don't feel at all festive and even with the decorations up and the excitement growing within the boys, I am struggling to find the energy or motivation. Moors daddy has Christmas eve and day off this year (the first time in a while) and so I sincerely hope that I find a little Christmas spirit soon. I think just general ill health (RA) and the fatigue that accompanies it is just making everything a little harder this year!

Saturday is Caption Day!

2012-12-01T07:30:00.000Z

It's lovely when they play nicely together!

Add your caption to the picture below and then pop on over to

Mammasaurus to check out the others for this week.

New Blog

2012-11-27T22:03:00.004Z

I have been working on a new blog.

I know I don't manage this one that well but.....

I thought I needed to write this one. It follows my symptoms and diagnosis, appointments and everything else to do with Rheumatoid arthritis.

Check it out at www.ra-adventures.blogspot.com

ARGH!

2012-11-15T13:14:00.003Z

Bloody NHS.

I have my rheumatology appointment.

It came today in the post.

At first I thought great that's fab, next week, and then I double checked, nope.....

January 2013.

Are they serious?

I have to wait another two months, before I get seen.

I am currently signed off work.

Exhausted and in pain every day.

I am taking my meds daily now, which I do not like, and they are only anti inflammatorys.

I need to get to see them soon, so I know what is going on and how I can improve my life.

It is so depressing being in pain every day.

I struggle to hold my cup of tea!

My mood is probably the lowest it has ever been.

ARGH! So peed off!

Saturday is Caption Day!

2012-11-03T07:30:00.000Z

Well half term was rather wet wasn't it?

So what did we do, well we played indoors.

Here is my picture for this week.

Just add your caption below and then pop on over to Mammasaurus and check out the others.

Rheumatologists.

2012-10-30T21:36:00.000Z

Having mentioned the other day that I was still waiting to hear from the hospital in reference to my referral, today I received a lovely letter from my GP, apologising for the delay.
Apparently she thought she had done it 'prior to her taking leave' and that obviously it hadn't been sent. So she had done it again and that I should hear in the next few days!

So I wonder what happens next.
Part of me is eager to get on with it.
Part of me doesn't want to know.
I know that it will get worse.
The pain at the moment is bearable (most of the time).
I try not to think about it and I don't tell moors-daddy how much it hurts.
Things you take for granted.......
Today I filled the car up with diesel, pulling the trigger on the pump caused pain in my wrist and thumb, using a tin opener, writing, typing, pushing the pram. I know I can take my medication that I have already been prescribed, but I hate taking medication. Though sometimes I have no choice.
I'm 35.
I don't want this to affect my life, the choices I make, my time with the boys.
But as time goes on, I know I will have to adapt things, make changes.
For the time though, I wait and see what is said.......

For the Love of...........

2012-10-28T21:23:00.000Z

.......Seth Lakeman.

Who?

Have you never heard of him?..........

...........Really?

Okay, so he's not everyone's cup of tea but he is very well known around these parts.

He is a folk singer, probably the country's best (in my opinion at least) and is from an extremely talented, musical family, who just happen to live not far from me.

Well, as I said Seth is well known around these parts and as a teenager went to our local community school where he played violin, very well. This is obviously big news in our house, as Beanie has now been playing for two years and wants to be like Seth Lakeman. (He doesn't realise yet just how much he needs to practice but hopefully that will come soon).

A few months ago I was browsing Facebook when I noticed that Seth was touring in October. I checked out his website and saw that for the last night of his tour he was playing in Plymouth, so I decided that we would go and see him. We bought three tickets, one for me, one for moors-daddy and one for Beanie, but decided that we wouldn't tell Beanie and that it would be a big surprise as well as a very late night.

We had managed to keep the secret for a couple of months. All the grandparents were in on it. The little two were dropped off at the in-laws and we headed into Plymouth. He knew we were going to the theatre, but he thought we were seeing the ballet and that nanny was coming with us. He didn't question our where abouts until we were parked in the car park. Then we showed him the tickets. His face an absolute picture! We had booked dinner for the three of us at a restaurant and then went on to the Theatre Royal.

What can I say about the performance. It started with Seth's brother Sean and his wife, Kathryn Roberts, who were amazing in their own right. Her voice, absolutely stunning. His guitar playing out of this world. As moors-daddy and I sat, we could feel our chairs jiggling! Beanie bouncing up and down, feet tapping away on the floor.
Then Seth and the band came on, Beanie was sat upright, waiting eagerly in anticipation. If you like toe tapping music, his has that about it, you just can't stop. He is amazing and very talented and as Beanie pointed out they all play more than one instrument! His drummer (Cormac Byrne) is himself a fantastic musician, who I wish Monkey could see (our wannabe drummer). I could have watched him all evening on his own. But Seth has something very unique about him. Beanie just couldn't sit still, his legs were bopping up and down, his hands must have hurt, his clapping perfectly in time. He loved every minute. His smile huge. And then Seth played Beanie's favourite song, 'Kitty Jay'. his violin playing awe inspiring. Beanie's eyes were huge, full of pure delight. Mine and Beanie's legs and hands hurt from, just not sitting still and clapping to nearly every song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZSv8a2GdWs&feature=relmfu

"It's the best night ever, mummy"

We got home at 10:45pm, Beanie asleep in the back of the car.

Whilst we were at the theatre, we bought Seth's latest album 'Tales from The Barrel House' recorded at Morwellham Quay, a couple of miles away, and it has been on all day today. As for Seth, well he and his wife live about 150 yards away from our house, we pass it every day on our way to school, and we have seen them numerous times walking their dog on the down. Hopefully Beanie will have the confidence to talk to him next time he sees him up there and to tell him how much he enjoyed watching him. It was an amazing evening and if you ever get the chance to see him I strongly recommend it, you really won't be disappointed!

Down and Out.....

2012-10-26T18:45:00.002+01:00

Some days are just so bad........ and today has been one of them.

Most of the times I love my job, what I do and the kids I teach, other days I just want to walk right out of that school. Why do teenagers have to be such hard work?

Days like this I hate, they put me into such a bad mood and a negative frame of mind. I have often thought about doing other (less stressful) jobs, but can never come up with anything that appeals, or that I am qualified for.

On days like these when my mood drops, I doubt my ability to do many things. Teach, parent and blog. I know that I am in the wrong frame of mind to think seriously about anything, but I also know that every little thing will get to me.

I think I am a crap teacher, I think my blog is shite, I think I don't spend enough quality time with the boys. I know it's not true, and some of my lovely year 11 girls have told me that today too. Those girls make me realise why I teach.

As for my blog, it's going one way, and that's down hill. I really struggle with my time, I have so much to do and just no time, I am working, trying hard to blog as well as get my head around my Masters, which three weeks In I am already struggling with (time -again) Part of me just wants to totally give up, never to return to it, part of me wants to delete all the posts and start again. Part of me wants to start totally afresh - try again, see if I can get it right.

I don't know what to do.

And of top of it all I am still waiting for my appointment with the rheumatology department about my arthritis. My hands, wrists and fingers this week have been very painful and writing and typing have been hard to do. I guess playing Netball with my year 11's on Monday wasn't my brightest of ideas!

Silent Sunday!

2012-10-14T15:41:00.001+01:00

Inspired by

The Moors - Pew Tor

2012-10-10T15:00:00.000+01:00

Last weekend, moors-daddy was on the day shift, which meant that it was just me and the boys again. I have tried to get them out and about a bit more, especially since Worm is now well established on his feet and is capable of walking as far as Monkey (if not further!) So even though I was alone with them I was determined that we would venture out onto the moors.
The last time we went up a tor, Beanie was little and Monkey and Worm hadn't even been thought about! Not far from where we live is a lovely little tor, that has a good footpath up to the top, and so in my madness and the grey skies, I decided that I would take all 3 of them and the dog for an afternoon walk.

So we went to the top of Pew Tor. Monkey and Worm walked, all the way (though Monkey did moan that his legs were tired as soon as we got out of the car!) But I was determined.

And here is the proof!!

One of the lovely thing about Dartmoor, is that scattered over the many tors are Letterboxes, rubber stamps put out by individuals and groups. They hide them under rocks on the tors, and there are clue books that can be bought, but if you know where to look, you are almost guaranteed to find one! It is great for encouraging and motivating the kids to walk. And yes we did find two, one had lost the stamp (more likely to have been taken by people who don't fully understand what it is all about, as so many seem to be these days) and another that was obviously originally a Letterbox, but that had morphed more into a Geocache. There were lots of goodies in the box to be taken, but we had nothing to leave, so printed out the stamp and left the treasure for the next people!

The boys loved the afternoon, and even though we weren't up there for long (about an hour and a half), they were so pleased about being out, that on our return to the car, when asked if they wanted to do it again their reply came very quickly in the form of

"Yes, next week!"

It only takes ONE MUM

2012-10-09T18:57:00.001+01:00

The “It Only Takes ONEMum” Meme

Seasider in the City, Claire, thought as a light-hearted way of getting everyone involved we could do something fun. It’s pretty simple and shouldn’t take too long. In an acronym stylee (if you know the actual word let me know!) take the letters of ONEMums (or ONEMoms) and create phrases or just words that sum up being a mum for you.

You can be as serious or witty as you like. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you add the link to sign up for ONE to your post and then add yourself to the linky on Seasider in the city's blog. Spread the word and encourage others to join in.

SO HERE'S MINE! It's not great but.....

Only 3!

No more.

Every one of them special but

Mummy needs some "me time!"

Unsure of when that will happen, so instead we will share

Magical moments together, that create

Special memories.

Elly x

Our Summer (Post 2)

2012-10-09T14:01:00.003+01:00

So what else did we get up to this summer. Well in amongst all the rain that we had we had agreed to go to the Okehampton Show with our friends @katebray24 and baby Noah. We had planned it for a while, but the weather had been pants and the thought of going in the pouring rain, was some what unbearable. But on the day itself, the weather turned out to be fine. We had packed a lunch and the changing bag and had left Tavistock at around 10:30am. We drove up to Okehampton and joined the queue waiting to get into the show ground. I love agricultural shows, the diversity of the animals and exhibits that are on show never cease to amaze me and this one was no different, but first we had to get into it, and that in itself was problematic. As I drove the 'van' into the car park (aka field) my wheels started to spin, I stopped twice, unsure of whether I'd get it going again, but I did, I am still not sure how, but I managed to get it into a space. I had clear visions of getting well and truly stuck and being towed out, before I had even gotten into the main show area.
We waited for Kate and Noah, and I unloaded the car, the bags and the double buggy. We don't use the double buggy very often now, Monkey is getting better on his feet but I knew that a full day at the show, would leave him exhausted and that at some point he would collapse into the pram for a sleep.
We started off looking at the cattle. Some beautiful cows and bulls and calves for the boys to look at. Some tiny and cute and the boys aahhhed at them, some so huge they didn't want to go near them! Worm's reaction was by far the strangest, obviously not accustomed to cattle and some what in awe of them he spent most of his time in the cattle area in tears, crying, I think because they were just so big and scary!
We walked around to see the horses next, most of them in the ring, jumping and galloping around, we had a look at the trade stands, before heading off to the WI tent, where we admired the crafts and vegetables, thinking we could do just as well and maybe next year we will enter! (Yeah right!) We saw sheep, lots of sheep, and Worm had chilled a bit by then and was willing to get out and stroke every one with his brothers. We saw goats, pygmy and big ones, and pigs too. Whilst Beanie and Monkey stood admiring the piglets, Monkey nearly got squished by a rather large mummy pig and he was far from impressed! We went into the rabbit tent and Beanie went into a very crowded poultry tent with the camera (there was no way the double buggy would fit in there!) We admired more crafts and looked at lovely looking food, but do you know we were so well behaved and didn't spend any money, though I could have quite easily! We had our picnic outside the goat tent, the boys devouring pretty much everything that was packed.
At the end of the day Beanie wanted to watch the ferret racing, which we did, both little ones were, by this time, fast asleep as predicted and whilst we were watching the ferret racing I received a phone call to meet up with moors daddy who had come to patrol the show. So we met up with our policeman, much to Beanie's delight. And we even treated him to an ice cream!
We were there from 11am -4:30pm, a long day that tired us all out but that was an amazing experience for the boys and one that we will be repeating next year (if the sun shines!)
Oh and getting out of the parking field was uneventful, by the time we left the organisers had put bark chippings all over the soggy bits!!

Elly xx