Life is a Highway - it’s the journey, not the destination

went out to visit some friends of the family today which was nice. Had some interesting discussion with Marcus about how a thermometer works (sorry HE is distinctly lacking isn’t it?), we stuck it by the fire and then outside to see the differences. Marcus inherited some model cars so he was chuffed to bits. Of course Alex had to have something too (their words not hers!) so she came back with some soft toys - like I need any more junk in this house?

Drove back via a barn in Rotherham that I fancy as a possible venue for a possible wedding next year (Barbara - don’t even start ok?? ) and took the number for James to ring it up. Looks very nice

Have slobbed for the rest of the day though, kids now playing the playstation and I might just fall asleep somewhere!!

Have been a bit busy recently.

Thursday we had the long journey up north to visit Joyce and family. Joyce was working so Bob had the enviable task of welcoming us His face was a picture as he tried to work out why Alex was a girl!!! Kids had fun getting to know each other and my 2 were even awarded dinner winner medals for eating their tea well Not sure if H ever recovered from the whirlwind of bossyness that is Alex though

Friday was the day of my half brothers wedding so we were out most of the day. Quite nostalgic driving along roads I haven’t been on in years. Arrived in good time and had a wonderful day. Was really happy to have been part of it. It was a nice quiet day, but felt perfect and I wasn’t jealous at all, just really happy for them. Was slightly weird meeting my dad’s first wife but might have been weirder if he was there!!

back to Joyce’s in the dark, but the journey was ok. Kids settled down to play that bongo game on the gamecube with Bob, and me and Joyce dissappeared into the kitchen with some bacardi breezers Kids were awful to get to sleep, I know it bothers me more than anyone else, but it really stresses me.

Saturday we were brave and visited the beach It was freezing!!! But it was nice to get out and let off some steam (well the kids at least). Back and the kids sat and played with scalextrics, dolls, etc etc and me and Joyce just chilled out and started on the BB’s early Felt incredibly tired for doing nothing actually!! Had a really nice evening chatting and giggling to the small hours. Why do I always do that when I have a huge journey the next day??

Unfortunately H’s wish that we would be snowed in didn’t happen so we headed off on the Sunday for the long drive back. Wasn’t too bad, although did see a particularly nasty crash on the A66 and witnessed air ambulances and firemen trying to help a car that had gone into a field Alex thankfully didn’t fall asleep in the car so she managed a decent sleep that night too.

Yesterday and back to normality or as near to it as it gets. kris and Barbara came over to discuss the HE group, although not sure how much actually got discussed! House was wrecked but everyone was happy. Was nice to see everyone and to have such giggles!!

Today I’ve been extremely lazy and hardly done anything. Didn’t wake up till 10 and wasn’t dressed till after lunch. Oops!! James was doing father/son type things by the time I was up - looking at some car books and explaining stuff to Marcus. He then took him out to wash the car. So Alex and I, after finally getting dressed, did some stuff together in town. Unfortunately not reomtely exciting, just going to the post office!! Got some fresh air though.

They’ve just finished watching Simpsons so I ought to get them into bed. Hopefully will sort some pics out onto Flickr sometime soon.

I promise

Have been on some OU discussion site today and found out that actually the OU do allow kids to do their courses (apparantly they have a 8 and a 12 year old at least doing stuff). I asked a bit further and apparantly the OU need a letter from the school saying they don’t mind them doing the course and that it wouldn’t interfere with their studies. Obviously this wouldn’t apply to HE kids so might be worth a try if anyone ever thinks about it.

I was always under the impression that you needed to be 18, but apparantly not.

the day kind of got better. Kris came round so I grumped around her and made her laugh at me!! Kids had a distraction from beating each other up so that was good too.

Have bought new power adapter thing from ebay for £19. I had said to Marcus he needs to pay for some of it and since the only money he has is some Xmas money I said he’d need to use that (cruel mummy) but he wasn’t too chuffed so eventually we came to a decision to try and sell some of his toys on ebay to make some money. We’ve gone through his K’nex this evening and halved what he has. We’ll sell half and he can keep half, he has lots anyway. We’ll see how it does and go from there. *sigh* I feel awful, but also feel he needs to learn to take responsibilty for it.

Tonight I have loads to do so I’m going to do a list to get myself going:

*Find clothes for wedding (eeek!!)
*Make sure we have enough warm clothes for the weekend
*if not wash some - quick
*Sort out ebay stuff on turbo lister for James to upload tomorrow night
*do some studying
*pack
*stay off MSN
*stay away from google oogling

Hmm, think that will do for now…

Muglet

Merry’s post

This morning :

*Marcus has cut the cable on my laptop
*I’ve managed to fall out with James over money - again.
*Marcus has emptied out a whole plant pot full of compost onto my nicely tidied floor
*Marcus has spilt juice on my laptop (thankfully not much and just on the outside when it was closed)

Can I just go back to bed??

And while writing this:
*Marcus has managed to empty the entire contents of his top drawer onto the floor.

*sigh* not sure who’s havign a worse day, me or him?

My “darling” son has just cut through my laptop power cable (actually, it’s the bit with the adaptor on it, not that actual cable that plugs into the wall. It’s in 2 bits). Gah, I am so angry! Anyone know where the best place to get a replacement is? It’s a compaq presario 2135EU.

Feel like crying now, what did I bloody say about making f***ing money on ebay and crap coming along to take it off me? *scream*

want a leappad? It works but tends to be a bit temperamental so I don’t want to ebay it. If anyone wants it who I’ll see in the next month or so let me know. It has the standard book with it and the backpack.

(with thanks to Sarah who I originally got it from - my kids never played with it either!!)

that I have some form of lurgy Feeling like utter shit again today. If I didn’t have the constant nausea I would be fine, but I can’t cope with the feeling like I ought to be near a toilet all the time and the lack of apetite!! Hope it’s gone by Thursday. No-one else seems to have it at all, so hoping it’s not catching.

Anyway. Marcus had a hospital appointment this morning for his eyes, still no change but we have a rest from patches for him at least. He had complained about slight double vision once so, as advised by the doc, we stopped his patches. he might have to restart them in the new year though.

Back to my mums for lunch and the horrible realisation that my dad had forgotten about us borrowing a car while he’s on holiday. He’d booked the car into Birmingham airport car park and had forgotten completely about us. So he wasn’t best chuffed when I reminded him, but I *think* he’s sorted a plan out so we can still go off to Scotland on Thursday.

Have spent the afternoon decluttering the living room with James. He wants to make it a child free zone (or at least toys!). I’m not too hopefull for him though! Looks good now though.

Off for a lay down on the couch so I can watch The Taming of the Shrew on BBC1 tonight as it’s the play I’m studying for my OU course

Had a nice day today so I’ll blog it. We headed off just after lunch time into Sheffield where there was all sorts of stuff going on for the Christmas Lights switch on. Managed to get parked easy enough, and somewhere that was free so extra points for that!! There was loads going on with reindeer and Father Christmas about, carol singers, a “real life” nativity with camels and other animals and of course the celebrities We went up to the town hall and managed to get the tail end of the “meet Postman Pat” that was going on so James took them while I stood by with the camera. Unfortunately Marcus threw a wibbly and so Alex was the only one to get to see him. And I wasn’t quick enough with the camera so she was walking off as it took the pic! *rolls eyes*

Wandered round some more, watched Postman Pat switch some lights on at 3pm (when it was light - duh!!!)

and then we hot footed it back to the town hall as there was supposed to be a meet Dick and Dom happening later. So we got ourselves in the queue and waited there for a bit. Marcus made a friend straight away with another little boy and so he was sat for ages shouting “Bogeys” and other strange stuff! Alex was a little more work as she insists on being carried all the time still. *rolls eyes again*

Was starting to get really cold though but eventually Dick and Dom came out, and as we were about 4th in the queue we were some of the first to meet them. Kids got their autograph (On the back of James’s dentist appointment card!! Rofl!!)

and we got our pic taken with them. James’s phone went a bit funny and blurry though He must’ve been overwhelmed by their celebrity status and his hands must’ve staretd shaking

After that we decided to give the rest of the event a miss, since we’d done more than we thought would happen. It was so busy and we knew we’d be hard pressed to get decent standing area where we’d see them actually switch the lights on so we made a quick exit.

Went off to visit some friends and relatives while we were in Sheffield and then off home.