Reddy Made

A timely message...

I'm beginning to think that the ubiquitous poster is about to get overdone, and what was a lovely little cult following will become all too nausiatingly familiar. However, I made a decision to frame my lovely lovely copy of the Lady that I was so so pleased to get hold of. I even like to fact that you can see its a magazine cover. Oh and of course I didn't have the £99 to buy an original (not really the spirit methinks?). And the reason I want to see this message every day is because never before have I needed those words so much.

The world of work is tough and don't be thinking the recession is over. I'm not even sure we've even seen the middle of it in my world yet. Scary times.

So I need a bit of encouragement to get my sorry ass out the door at 7.10 every morning to stand on an overcrowded train after waiting in the freezing cold.

Take care out there...

Remembrance

 

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Scarwey eyes mummy!!

... Halloween through the eyes of a 2 and a half year old. Life is so exciting at this age!

Half Term happiness

I love half-term. This week has been a welcome break in the mad rush of work work work. It gives me time to stop and look around me. We always learn a little more about each other in this week too. I suppose its the dark nights throwing us together. Our big learn is that you can have fun with 3 dice and a suggestion from nanny. Beetle Drive. I had forgotten all about this game. Apart from the cheating it gave us so much fun.

We also learnt how to play tiddliwinks. Forget the Nintendo DS. This is modernity!

We found this box of games hidden in a drawer. We'd had it for years - a present for Dylan when he was way too young. I know we are using the marble mat but it proved very useful.

 I love being off for a week in the run up to Halloween.

Its such a dream for make and doing. As soon as I see the first pumpkin I get all excited. Its all about the orange and the black for me.

A trip to Monmouth for spooky fabrics - The above will soon be a dress for Edie and a zombie shirt for Dylan.

Baking, baking and baking - check out the zombie biscuits - It did wonder if I was getting too carried away on the gore front

and how much did I enjoy making this today. A little bit of little helpers mixing but the Icing was all mine! Pure sugar filled headrush

 
But really the best thing about Half-term is spending time with the kids. Its a break and a breather in the long stretch between summer and Xmas. And my kids are growing up so fast its good to take some time out.

Happy Half-term Halloween to you all too

x

It started with a wobble...

....then a week or two of fiddling and apple biting. We considered string and doors.

Then today came a click and a twist and

bingo!

I know I know, everyone goes through the same thing and have done for millions and millions of years.

But my little boy lost a tooth today and I'm feeling a bit of butterflies in my belly.

Do you know what I mean?

Oh Cath...

...you make my heart skip a beat.

 

I may have to take it to bed with me tonight. I don't want to be parted for a moment.

I'm having a Brokeback moment!!!!

Sigh.

The Festival Virgin...

...loses her cherry...well almost.

Ok, so I didn't know 98% of the bands there (did anyone?), and on Saturday afternoon I really was doing Sudoku during some goddawful band, but apart from that I feel like I joined in the festival spirit. I

Got rained on

Expeienced the worst toilets

Saw famous people - Kevin McCloud and Caitlin Moran with her equally famous husband (queing for the toliets outside our caravan) Pete Pahides.

Enjoyed new bands and musical experiences I would normally have ignored in my workaday life.

I didn't

Wear a flowery headband like 87% of the female poplulation.

Smoke dope. Really I think I was the only person who didn't.

Watch any bands I wanted to see.

You see, as much as anyone says these festivaks are child friendly, which they are, I want to know why they aren't parent frienly? Jarvis cocker, main stage Sat at 11.30pm. Wilco Sun at 10.3o. Come on, play fair. Take the rubbish that was on at 4pm and stick that on when I've gone to bed. Please!

Anyway, I did enjoy myself  and here are some moments.

 

The actual Green Man

 

My 11 year old neice - the right age for a flowery headband - bahhumbug!!!

An hour's cycling to charge your mobile phone - 999 calls are free. That's all I needed to know.

  

Festival bunting!

And the wonderful Invention shed which borught up some quirky answers to life's biggest problems

   

  

Some had taken it more seriously than others but I loved the sentiment of all the answers. But  I especially loved this

 

The answer to all the worlds problems.

8 lovely years...

...and 2 wonderful children later, and you are still my best friend.

Happy Anniversary Simon

 

I got this lovely necklace from Pembrokeshire - (lots of hinting)

The pieces are handmade by a lady in South Wales and very reasonably priced - £40 ish for a necklace - you can find her here 

And a surprise joint present for us - don't you love off the cuff surprises??

 

One of my favourite songs by him right here. So Excited! I get to see my other favourite singer this weekend too - Scott Matthews - have a listen

Oh and to top off the day. My makeover of the caravan to the "happy place" continues with these arriving today!

Please please let the sun shine.

And then the sun came out...

...and so did the caravan......eventually.

 

Did I mention that the hubbie wrote the car off? The one that pulled the caravan? 3 days before we were due to go on holiday? Oh, did I forget to moan, I mean mention it????

Well, everyone was ok and we did manage to get a new car in time to spend 5 days in West Wales. Staying home in the rain also gave me some time to run up the seat covers for the van, which made my stay even happier as I no longer had to sit on orange velour - they weren't even 80's ironic retro velvet - the van is only 4 years old - someone chose that colour in this decade - yeuchh!!!

I am ashamed to say that in 38 years of being Welsh I had never visited Pembrokeshire. I've lived in Aberystwyth, but never been to Tenby. Shocking. Well, what a revelation. I don't want to spoil the secret for those who treasure it, but I will be forgoing my annual trip to Cornwall from now on. Lite on expensive gastropubs, posh chip shops and crammed car parks, we ate real chips, sat on proper deck chairs and spent no more than £1.50 to park all day!!! And, I was even able to satisfy my love of Tudor History - poor kids!

St Davids - Really breathtaking. You walk through this tiny village and down the hill in the valley is this unbelievable Medieval Cathedral. It was the most spiritual place I've been outside of Rome

 

Awesome surf beaches

 

 

The birthplace of the Tudor dynasty - Pembroke Castle (seriously, I owe my kids a couple of trips to Legoland!)

 

And chilling out on Tenby beach.

 

 

 

Look at the colour of that sea. Stunning

  

We're off this weekend to the Brecon Beacons. Its a first for us as a family. We're off to the Green Man Music Festival..A BLOOMIN FESTIVAL. With real music. And the kids. And the caravan. Yay. I'm so excited. I have my pac a mac, wellies, leggings, smock dress and woven trilby. In my head I am Jo Wiley. In reality I will be stressed mum looking like a banshee!

Will let you know how it all works out.............

Right...

....Stop effing raining. NOW.