We’d already started making some changes in our life. Last summer, Mr TOPP bought some metal straws so that we can say no to the disposable plastic ones AND keep the kids happy when we go out (I mean, who doesn’t love a straw, eh?). Not long after we moved, we signed up with our local milkman, and we now get our milk in glass bottles.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been quietly working my way through our house, working out what we can change to minimise our plastic usage. It has been quite depressing, as I have realised how much of our lives involve plastic in one form or another. So much of our shopping comes in unnecessary plastic wrapping. For example, we made the switch from liquid hand soap to bars of soap. I specifically chose bars that came in cardboard boxes, only to find that the bars of soap were also wrapped in plastic INSIDE the sealed box. WHY?

I’m taking that as a kick up the bum though, I like a good challenge. Going plastic free isn’t going to be easy, but I’m determined that as a family we will cut down substantially. We have already made some positive changes (and we’re only 15 days in to the year), and I’ll be blogging about the changes we’re making over the next few months.

So, as we start our mission, I’d love to know if you have any tips on going plastic free? Any product recommendations?

If we all make small changes, hopefully we can have a big impact on the future of the environment.

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We’ve gone from having everything we need, from doctors to take aways, on our doorstep to having one village shop that we need to remember shuts at 6pm. That’s it. Its a twenty minute drive to the nearest town, and by town, I mean big village. So far it hasn’t been a problem, apart from on our first Friday when we decided to order pizza for tea, and by the time the delivery place decided we lived too far away to deliver Mr TOPP and I had both had a beer. Dagnammit.

One of the biggest changes in our lives is our proximity to nature. When we lived in Birmingham we were very lucky to live just across the road from an amazing park. We often saw squirrels and heard the woodpecker hammering the trees. Other than the spiders that often invaded our house, that was our daily dealings with nature. Here, we see Red Kites flying over head while we eat lunch in the garden, mice and frogs in the fields. We can hear sheep from our house and there’s a horse living down the road.

Generally we are loving all the nature around us. The only downside (so far) is the size of the spiders. Oh, and that one time the dog found a dead, decomposing deer to roll in. That wasn’t so pleasant.

Be thankful you didn’t smell him.

Overall though, this country living lark is pretty good. We can open our back gate onto the fields which is great for the dog walks. The Ms have been allowed to go to the park on their own to meet their friends. My favourite thing though has to be the fact that they can go outside on their bikes and ride happily up and down the road completely safely.

Yup. I’m pretty sure that country living is going to be just fine.

As long as I can keep the dog away from dead deer.

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That doesn’t mean that we’ve been taking things easy. Oh no. There have been some major life changes here at TOPP Towers. Two weeks ago we relocated to Oxfordshire for Mr TOPP’s work. If I hadn’t left work last year the decision to move would have been much, much harder.

Deciding to uproot the entire family after twenty years in Birmingham was not a decision we made lightly. We’ve all been through ALL the emotions: excitement, sadness, worry. Now we’re here though, we are glad that we took the plunge. It’s not that we don’t miss our friends (we do) but this move is somehow a new start for all of us.

My mum always said that life has a funny old way of working out.

The post slowing down. again. appeared first on tiddlyompompom.

Me: Really?

Little M: Yeah. We’ve been learning about places. There’s London, Paris and Anne Boleyn.

********

Big M: Why can’t we just say we don’t want to leave Europe?

Me: I did. That’s what a vote is for. But more people said they wanted to leave than wanted to stay.

Big M: Well that’s stupid. We should say we’re not going to.

Me: But we live in a democracy, which means everyone gets a chance to say what they think, and the side that has the most votes wins. That’s why it’s always important to vote.

Big M: Well then we should find a different way, not live in a democracy.

Me: But this way is fair. If we didn’t live in a democracy we would live in a place where one person makes up all the rules and we could get into a lot of trouble if we didn’t follow them. At least this way we are all allowed a say.

Big M: Yeah, ok. Democracy is best. But we don’t have to agree with the decision do we?

Me: No. No we don’t.

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I have been spending some time sorting the house (it’s currently a building site but will be worth it in the end), clearing the garden, walking the dog, enjoying the brief summer we had last month with the Ms. I’ve even started listening to The Archers.

Mostly, I am just enjoying having time.

Time to do all the jobs that we haven’t done for years because we’re too tired.

Time to go to the park after school.

Time to myself.

Part of life slowing down involves me finding something that I can do that fits around the family. Something that allows me to go to sports days and assemblies, but that also keeps me occupied and motivated.

For a few years now, I have used sewing and crochet as a way of relaxing after a hard day at work. Parts of our house resemble a haberdashery store, much to Mr TOPP’s frustration.

One of the building/DIY projects currently underway is a disused waste land outside our bathroom. This is going to become my creative space. Somewhere I can sew and crochet to my little heart’s delight. I’m so excited – I have big plans. Some of which are probably pie in the sky, but you’ve got to dream big, right?

I’ve decided to open an etsy store (there’s a limit to how many blankets one family needs, right?). You can find Rosie and Bright here. I’ve even got a shiny new blog to go along with the store. And a Facebook page. Like I said, I’ve had a lot of time on my hands

I’m excited about the future. My mum always said that life had a funny old way of unfolding. I am looking forward to finding out where it takes me next.

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At the beginning of the year, I christened 2016 the Year of Looking After Me. At the time I didn’t really realise quite how much looking after I needed.

I have been off work since February.

I had hit a wall. After twelve years doing a job I loved I realised that I no longer loved it. That I no longer had the energy to perform day in day out. That I no longer wanted to spend my days looking after other peoples’ children while missing out on so much of my own.

Since I have been off, several members of my family have said that they had been worried about me for a while. That they had wondered how long I could maintain the crazy, frantic life we had.

Turns out that it wasn’t very much longer.

Last week I handed my notice in. The relief I felt was enormous. My head teacher has been incredibly supportive, as have my friends and colleagues.

But the time has come to move on. To make life changes. To look after me. Properly.

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Six years ago I finally got Little M out after 8 days of early labour. I may or may not have forgiven her. Anyhow, now she is six it is time for my annual “where did my baby go?” type lamentations. And last night, her birthday interview.

********

Me: Hey Little M!

Little M: *blinks*

Me: Hello…

Little M: Hi Mum…

Me: So, how old are you today?

Little M: Five.

Me: And how old are you going to be tomorrow?

Little M: SIX!!!

Me: SIX?! That’s amazing. What’s been the best thing about being five?

Little M: Errrrr…Hmmmm…Don’t know.

Me: What was the best thing that happened when you were five?

Little M: Umm…Having a little bit longer in Reception after I was five.

Me: Really? Being in Reception? Not going to Rome? Going camping? Getting a dog?

Little M: OOOOH! Yeah! Rome. And The Dog. And camping.

Me: They are all cool. And what are you looking forward to doing when you are six?

Little M: Moving to Year 2.

Me: That is exciting. So grown up. What’s your favourite colour?

Little M: Pink and red.

Me: What’s your favourite number?

Little M: ONE HUNDRED!!!!

Me: Why do you like 100?

Little M: Because Great Gran was nearly as old as that.

Me: She was. We thought she’d get there didn’t we? What’s your favourite food?

Little M: Green pasta.

Me: Yum.

Little M: AND CHOCOLATE!

Me: I thought so. What’s your favourite chocolate?

Little M: Twixes.

Me: Twix? You’ve never had a twix have you?

Little M: I have. I sometimes get them at the green shop.

Me: *blinks* I did not know. So, who do you love?

Little M: IZZY!

Me: Anybody else?

Little M: Nope.

Me: Oh. And who loves you?

Little M: IZZY!

Me: Anybody else?

Little M: Nope.

Me: Oh. Ok. What’s the best thing about Daddy?

Little M: He’s funny and crazy like me. And he’s nice.

Me: Yup, he is a bit of a loon. I think that’s where you get it from. What’s the best thing about Big M?

Little M: She lets me sleep on her bunk beds when people come to stay.

Me: That’s kind. What’s the best thing about The Dog?

Little M: *squeaks* he’s so cute!

Me: He is. And what’s the best thing about Mummy?

Little M: She’s so funny because she gives me – what is this called? – a interview!!

Me: That is funny. And what is the best thing about you?

Little M: I LOVE EVERYTHING!!!

Me: Pardon?!

Little M: HAHAHAHA I love… Coz I kissed a tree!!!

Me: What? You kissed a tree?!

Little M: Yes. You made me say sorry to it and then I kissed it!

Me: Is that the best thing about you? Kissing a tree?!

Little M: *roars with laughter*

Me: Ahhhh you loon… So, what do you want to be when you grow up?

Little M: Oh, I did not think about that.

Me: Well think about it now. What might you like to be?

Little M: Umm… a teacher.

Me: What would you like to teach?

Little M: Ummm, you know like Mr B. does? Like that.

Me: Like teaching year 1?

Little M: Teaching a year group. I don’t mind which one.

Me: Ok. That’d be cool. What are you learning about at the moment?

Little M: Pirates in Topic, Lost and Found in English and in maths quarters and halves.

Me: Amazing stuff. What have you learned about Pirates?

Little M: They like to have a bottle of rum when they’re on the sea!

Me: HA!

Little M: *sings*

The pirate ship is coming

I know it’s on its way

the pirate ship is coming

I see it in the bay.

A skull and crossbones on the mast

Oh what a noisy CREW

The pirate ship is coming

and it’s heading for me and you.

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum

Pirates like to have some fun

Yo ho ho and a salty breeze

As we sail the seven seas!

Me: Great song! Shall we sing another song tomorrow?

Little M: YES! *sings*

Happy Birthday to you

You’re a hundred and two!

Me: HA! I don’t think we’re going to sing that for a while. You’re only six aren’t you? Or are you 102? Have I got that wrong?

Little M: I’m six!

Me: Phew! That’s alright then.

Little M: I wish I will get to 102.

Me: Well maybe you will.

Little M: I’ll be the only one.

Me: Well, hang on. Some of us might make it before you.

Little M: Well, yes. You might. And Daddy. And Big M. Well you’ve got a long way to go.

Me: I do.

Little M: Big M has longer to go.

Me: That is very true.

Little M: I have the furthest to go.

Me: You’ve got to aim big haven’t you. Shall we aim for 100?

Little M: YAY!

********

Happy birthday Little M. You lovely, lovely loon.

Previously on Little M’s Birthday:

Five

Four

Three

The post now she is six appeared first on tiddlyompompom.

When it was time to pick her up, I waited outside the hall with the other parents and listened while they finished off their games.

They were singing a song.

Nice, wholesome Brownie fun.

Until I actually started listening to what they were singing:

My name is Marilyn Monroe

I am a movie star

I’ve got an hourglass figure

And an uplift bra.

Two fat hips

Now what do you say

I’ll choose you

To come and play.

WTAF?!

My daughter is 8.

EIGHT!

And she is being taught a song about uplift bras and hourglass figures?

As a mum of two girls, I am so aware of the pressures put on them to look a certain way, or be a certain size.

I want the Ms to grow up confident in their bodies, whatever shape they are. And to respect others what ever shape and size they are. So far I think we’re doing ok, particularly given what Little M has put on our lightbox this week:

wise words from a 5 year old

I chose to send my children to Rainbows and Brownies because a) they wanted to and b) I thought it would provide them with opportunities to develop confidence and skills outside of home and school. I had hoped that in 2016 the general ethos of the guide movement should be to empower women and girls, giving them the skills to problem solve and develop new friendships.

I know that the song was probably sung in good faith – just a bit of fun. But it’s not just a bit of fun. I teach songs to kids for a living. When I am looking for new songs I always always look at the words and make sure there are no hidden meanings regarding drugs or sex or whatever.

Maybe I am being over sensitive but I am really quite cross about it (can you tell?). Am I overreacting or is this something that Girl Guiding need to address?

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The perfect, low maintenance front garden.

Six months later, as my mum lay terminally ill, a single solitary tulip pushed it’s way through the membrane, through the tonne of pebbles.

A few days before she died, I showed my mum a picture of it. She smiled and said that it just shows the power of the Life Force.

Yesterday was three years since she died.

Yesterday that single solitary tulip flowered.

You were right Mum. The life force is strong.

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Little M: No.

Me: One will see you later, the other one will see you in a while.

Big M: Actually Mum, a crocodile has a pointed mouth and you can see it’s teeth, and an alligator has a curved mouth and you can’t see the teeth.

Me: *blinks*

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