The Week That Was - Really Rather Metropolitan!

Last week, my week went a little something like this:

Monday - The last Monday before the Summer Holidays!  After walking Biscuit to school Wiggles and I went to the church to go to Biscuit's school assembly.  I was a very proud Mummy when she was awarded an English award in front of her whole school.  She was pretty chuffed too.  After coming back home again I walked the dogs with Mum.  We seemed to come home pretty much at lunch time so after eating Wiggles had her nap.  We collected Biscuit from school and went to the swings. It was very warm, we sat on the grass with Tilly, Impressive E and Impressive D (who was chucking a sickie) before going back home to scoff pizza!

Tuesday -  Biscuit's last day of term.  She had to go in wearing her PE kit which seemed really strange for some reason.  They were having a sports tournament, which she was very excited about.  Wiggles and I went to the last Toddler Group before summer where they were having a party.  She had a ball playing with her friends, eating crisps and ice cream.  

We came home and she had a nap.  We collected Biscuit from school and went to the swings but it was so hot we couldn't hang around.  It seemed kind of sad that we wont see the same people every day for six whole weeks, we really do live with some lovely people around us.

Wednesday - Work for me, it was V's birthday and he amused me for most of the morning with his responses to me sending him a Happy Birthday message. At lunchtime I went to pay done cheques in for Mr Husband. I stopped into a chazza and bought Biscuit a gorgeous little green dress. Mr Husband went to the shops and bought a lovely posh tea. Mmmmmm :)

Thursday - What a busy day! Before leaving for the day I made sausage casserole and bunged it in the slow cooker, I knew I'd have no time to make tea later on. First of all we went to my colleague Anita's house to collect some clothes for Biscuit. She has a little girl a few years older and we've had an excellent arrangement where I buy the clothes she's outgrown. Anita is marvellous!!! After that we drove to LB's house to visit her, she's been off sick following a knee operation. It was lovely to see her and we all had tea followed by a trip to feed the ducks and the seagulls. 

We came home, had lunch, then headed back out to the park and met Tilly and Em. They enjoyed playing on some new play equipment. Jill and Ned came to join us, before we decided it was just too hot and headed back to Jill's to get the paddling pool out. We had a lovely cuppa, done cake and a cheeky glass of wine before I had to head back home to meet the hairdresser. We each had out hair cut and then sausage casserole! After tea I packed the suitcases for our weekend away. 

Friday - Work for me as usual, but I got to leave early at 5pm.  After arriving home I added the last minute bits and pieces to our suitcase and we set off for London in the car.  After parking for the weekend we strapped Wiggles into her buggy, Mr Husband put the travel cot on his back like a rucksack and we braved the underground.  It went surprisingly well and we arrived at the flat for the weekend somewhere around half eight-ish.  I'm not exactly sure though, can't remember looking at my watch!  It was the first time the children had seen the flat so they raced around and Biscuit declared it to be "Very fancy!"  She made us laugh asking if all the tall buildings were where the Queen lives, bless her!  We put the girls to bed and had a little something to eat and drink, somewhere around ten Wiggles stopped yelling at us from her cot and finally went to sleep!

Saturday - Despite her late night Wiggles still woke up at the usual time.  Biscuit woke up of her own accord about twenty minutes later and we had breakfast and showers before setting out to the Natural History Museum.  It was a very busy, but we had a nice time looking at the dinosaurs, the blue whale and all the usual suspects.  

After leaving we stopped by at Marks and Spencers for a picnic lunch before heading back to the flat to eat - it was so boiling we really appreciated the air conditioning!

After eating and a sit down we set back out again for an epic walk along the Southbank, with some ice creams to encourage the small people!

Once we'd finally made it back again the little ones were shattered so it was pretty much straight to bed.  Mr Husband and I drank apple based cocktails in bed in the dark and watched Lewis - pretty bloody good I must say!

Sunday - We got up pretty late (8 o'clock - wooo) showered, tidied up and headed out to the Museum of London.  It was great - I think I even preferred it to the Natural History Museum.  The girls had a great time running around and playing with lots of the interactive exhibits.

Once they'd finally had enough we headed back to the flat, collected our things and headed back to the car via the underground.  Thankfully it was nice and quiet because it was a Sunday so it was an easy journey.  We stopped at MacDonalds on the way home and then the supermarket where we bought Biscuit an Elsa doll for being so good and Wiggles a DVD and some "Weeties".  I treated myself to a dress and a skirt in the half price sale.  When we came home we had tea with my Mum and Dad and I unpacked the suitcase before it was time for bed.  In the evening we were completely pooped so watched telly goggle eyed.  A lovely weekend all round though.

Well that was mine, how was yours?

Love, love,

30/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2014.

30/52

30/52

Enjoying a messy ice cream on a hot summers's day in the city.  Nothing quite beats that!  The concentration on her little face is hysterical, she was most upset that it was melting faster than she could eat it.

I love this picture of Wiggles, I can tell that she's mouthing "Ooooh" and whatever it is she can see.  I love the fact that even tiny things hold her attention, I forget that I've seen most things before and that a lot is brand new and exciting to her.

Happily joining in with Jodi at Practising Simplicity and this year's 52 Project.

The Week That Was - Pork, Pork and MORE Pork!!!

Last week, my week went a little something like this:

Monday - A pretty quiet day, Wiggles and I started the morning by having coffee with Mum & Dad.  We did the school run and went to the park.  After tea both sweaty little herberts had baths. Then Mr Husband and I went out to do the food shopping - rock n roll!  When we came home we had some nibbly snacks before bed. 

Tuesday -  Wiggles and I went to baby group where the Mummies that went had a music festival debrief.  After coming back home Wiggles' had a short nap. We went to pick Biscuit up from school, went to the park again then came back home. I made chilli for tea.  After the children were in bed Mr Husband and I headed back out to a school meeting to introduce ourselves to Biscuit's teacher for Year 2.  After that Mr Husband, Impressive D, Lucky and I went to the pub for a couple of glasses before heading back home. 

Wednesday - Boring day, work for me in the ridiculously hot weather.  I spent most of my lunch break trying to find a hat for Biscuit to wear to school tomorrow.  It seemed the heat had caused most people to have bought them before me.  I called into Asda after work and yay!  Found a hat!  We had a yummy Indian meal for tea and Mr Husband and I watched several episodes of Big Bang Theory before bed. 

Thursday - It was Biscuit's Beach Day at school so she went dressed in her shorts and t-shirt and of course her new hat!  I went to coffee at Me-Julie's, which was nice, but a little full of what I like to call "Yummies", ugh. Wiggles made full use of the trampoline and the sandpit though so she was happy!

For tea we made "Not Meatballs" from my trusty "A Girl Called Jack" recipe book and they were yummers! 

Friday - We woke up to some very loud thunder and some pretty impressive lightning.  When I went in to give Wiggles her milk she announced "Mummy!  Nappy change!  And BANG!" which I think was her way of telling me what was going on with the weather.  It was work for me, another hot and busy day.  Being in an office with no air conditioning and lots of windows can be a little unpleasant at times I must say!  I went out at lunchtime and bought the usual Friday curry which was, also as usual, delicious.  After coming home from work I went out with Dad in the Land Rover to walk the dogs.  It was lovely to stroll along the side of the river as the sun was going down.

Saturday - I spent most of the day cleaning the house ready for visitors the following day and going to the supermarket to make sure we had everything we needed.  The weather forecast had predicted more rain and thunder, which in the end never quite materialised.  That doesn't bother me as such, but we'd planned to go and watch a Shakespeare play performed outdoors.  We ended up cancelling because we didn't think we could stand being out in the rain. Shame it never happened.  In the evening Mr Husband and I watched The World's End on DVD, which was pretty bloody good.

Sunday - I had a lay in (my turn) whilst Mr Husband got up and dealt with the children.  I'd managed to clean the whole house the day before so I only had the lounge left to do.  I'd bought the most enormous piece of pork I'd ever seen in my life and had been marinating it since the night before.  Mr Husband put the meat into the oven for me and we slow cooked it for about six hours.  When I got up it smelt amazing!  Then at 2 o'clock Lucky, Mr Lucky, Tilly and Billy came over with all the kids and we sat outside in the garden eating a late lunch.  It was lovely, but my word there was a lot of pork!!!  Again the terrible weather that was forecast avoided us so I was pleased!  It was a really lovely afternoon, they all left at around half six and we bathed the girls and put them to bed before crashing out on the sofa.  

Well that was mine, how was yours?

Love, love,

29/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2014.

Out walking both girls' venture ahead.  Wiggles still needs to hold onto Daddy when it's a bit rocky underfoot, but Biscuit susses it out and walks cautiously up front.  Enjoying being able to get out and about and enjoy some early evening sunshine.

Happily joining in with Jodi at Practising Simplicity and this year's 52 Project.

Hair today, gone tomorrow; Alopecia and me...

I was a child when my hair first started to fall out. I couldn't tell you how old I was, the first thing I can recall about it was my Mum telling me that I had to have my long hair cut shorter because it was getting too heavy. 

I hated my shorter hair. Hated it until my Grandpa told me that when he was a boy he thought girls with bobs were the prettiest. I hated it slightly less after that.

Over the years since then my hair has fallen out, usually in small round patches in various spots around my head. Some not so noticeable, some pretty impossible to disguise.

I've had special shampoos, steroid serums to rub on my head, I've been banned from swimming, colouring my hair and even from brushing it unless it's wet.  None of these things have ever made the blindest bit of difference.

I've seen Doctors and Specialists, I've been prodded, poked, had my hair pulled and been quizzed about my pubic hair (yeah, thanks for that memory), but I've never been given any explanation  beyond "it's auto immune, it's caused by your own body attacking your hair". The only useful thing a Doctor has ever done to help was to give me the correct name for my condition; Alopecia Areata. 

My hair loss seems to be triggered by times of stress, A Levels, moving house, money worries, getting married. I've had bald patches for all of those! On my wedding day my Mum had to spray one of my patches brown to disguise it for me! Bless her, she'd done some sneaky research for me and discovered Bumble and Bumble's Brown Hair Powder spray, which is, quite frankly, the best bald spot cover up ever invented! And I love her for her sensitivity and her desire to make it all better for me. 

I've always said my hair problems don't bother me, but if I'm really, brutally honest, that's not strictly true. Of course it bothers me. Children are cruel, they will pick on anything that singles another child out and make them feel worthless because of it. Thankfully, most adults are more understanding. Some of my dearest friends would give me a silent tap and let me know to shift my hair slightly. The way you would for any poor soul with her skirt tucked into her knickers! When my hair is bad, I try not to think about it, but when I do it can truly make me feel wretched. 

Although my hair is doing really well at the moment, I have a very high hair line at the back of my head, which means I can never wear my hair up. It's not pretty, but most of the time you can't see it. It will never grow back here, it will always be scarred and blotchy from years of pointless "treatments". 

I also find that if it grows beyond a certain length it doesn't look great. So long hair is out for me too. 

I've found my own way with my hair. I know what I can do and what I cannot. I am quite "particular" with my hair and have a bit if a tendency to glue it down with hair spray when I go out, but hey! That could be worse, right? I have annoyingly thin, fine hair and at times I've gone a bit overboard giving it extra body using the array of clever little products available nowadays (Schwartzkopft's Powder'ful you've changed my whole life) all because hair with body is not a luxury I've ever been afforded before! But who cares? If I want big hair, I shall have it! Ha! Quite frankly I feel lucky to have hair at all.

Recently a couple of people have complimented me on the blog or Instagram for having "great hair". Throw away (but lovely) comments for some mean the absolute world to me. For many years my wayward hair (and lack of) has been my great shame. To be told my hair actually looks good, I cannot tell you just how much that means to me. I never, ever thought anyone would say that to me. Me?! So I thank you, something so small to you, will be something I remember my whole life.

My hair may get better, it may get worse again, but really? I know now that it matters little. I'll get through. I'm grateful my girls don't seem to have inherited the same condition (and there's no reason that they should). If I could say anything to a person in the same position I'd say hang in there, it's a shitter, but you'll work it out. It may grow back, it may not, but underneath your own treacherous scalp, you're still AMAZEBALLS. 

The Week That Was - Dancing Barefoot in Thunderstorms

Last week, my week went a little something like this:

Monday - School run first, then home then straight back out for a walk for Wiggles and I. We're starting the week off right!! We came home and tucked into pea soup for lunch. Yum. Biscuit was out at Princess' house for tea and came home happy and tired.

Tuesday -  Wiggles and I headed off to baby group, then back home for a nap (her not me).  Meanwhile, Mum had taken Pearl for a walk and had a nasty incident with a local lady not controlling her whippet.  It tried to attack Pearl, pick her up by the back of the neck and generally do away with her.  Poor Mum was very upset.  Wiggles and I took a longer walk to school to collect Biscuit and once we'd arrived we encountered the lady dog owner in the playground.  She then proceeded to tell me that it was my Mum's own fault (it wasn't) and then go off in hysterical tears as though I had upset HER!  Bloomin' cheek!  Apparently someone criticising the way you do (or indeed do not) take care of your dog is akin to someone criticising your parenting.  It isn't at all and I find the suggestion offensive.  Grrrr.  Sorry, rant, rant.  After tea we went for a family walk,  I had an early (football avoidance) night and was most amused by Lucky who had just watched the first ever episode of Game of Thrones.  She was messaging me with her newbie questions and it was sooooo sweet.

Wednesday - Work for me, the weather was ridiculously cold and wintery.  Also very, very windy.  Carlos the Jackal and I went chazzing at lunch, and I was really very restrained! I called into the supermarket after work to buy hair colour (whoop) and then had an other early night, I did however sit up in bed for a bit and sew up my big pants as it seemed by big tummy had busted a hole in them.  Oh the glamour! 

Thursday - School run for us first thing, through the bloomin 'orrible weather.  Wiggles and I went on a trip to Argos to collect her toy pirate ship which Mr Husband had bought her as a present.  Even though the box was massive she wouldn't let me carry it.  You could say she was something of a happy Wiggles. 

Afterwards we came home and had lunch followed by a nap. Wiggles, Biscuit and I went to Biscuit's ballet class open session to watch her dance, it was lovely and she did so well!  I stuffed Wiggles full of crisps and sweeties to keep her quiet - which pretty much worked!  Apart from the quiet bit where she yelled "Hello Biscuit!" rather loudly, but hey it was cute! We went home in the pouring rain for sausage casserole and jacket spuds, perfect miserable evening food.  After we'd put the children to bed I headed out to WI, there was a speaker talking about flower arranging, but it really wasn't my bag.

Friday - Such a dull day, there was no Carlos the Jackal and no LB to keep me company. I headed out for curry at lunch with Ell instead, which was nice and he is such a sweetheart.  After work I called in at Asda to buy heavy duty rubber gloves, bleach, and cleaning cloths, ready to help Impressive E clean her new house the following day.  I was a tiny bit concerned that my shopping list made me loo like I was planning a murder! 

Saturday - Biscuit went to a birthday party at a little school chum's house.  She was thrilled to bits because they each got to dress up as their favourite Princess and there was a Frozen bouncy castle, there were Frozen themed games and cake and they had their little faces painted.  I think she was in heaven!  I went round to Impressive E and Impressive D's new house to be to clean, clean, clean.  Oh the filth!  I can honest say I have never seen dirt like it or anywhere near as disgusting.  I actually ran out of bleach (and we'd taken masses) and wore through several scouring pads and we'd still only really covered the upstairs.  We rewarded ourselves with homemade bakewell slices and ladies beer in the garden.  After heading home I had a VERY hot bath to de-gross and coloured my hair quickly before getting changed.  Tilly, Lucky and and Mr Lucky then headed round for nibbles in the garden before we all went off to a local music festival.

Mr Husband didn't join us (not his thing) but did have nibbles.  And safety coke.

I can honestly say it was the best night out I've had in ages.  Everyone was drinking and dancing and on good form.   We plonked ourselves right down at the the front to watch the first band and it was such a laugh.

Lucky and I, isn't she a fox?  She'd had her hair done specially, it even had GLITTER!

Tent full!

And right at the front, Lucky, Mr Lucky and meeeee!

Then we had more drinks before the second band and we stood at the back singing our heads off! It started to completely tip it down, rain like I have never ever seen before with thunder and lightning.  Everyone was outside dancing barefoot in the rain, it was mental!  But so much fun.  We nipped into a pub on the way home for a drink, then wobbled our way to bed. 

Tilly. Lucky, Mr Lucky and meeeee!

Impressive D and me

I am pure class, me....Recognise my dress from last week?

Wet Lucky, just look at the waterfall behind her!

Dancing barefoot in the thunderstorm.  You can see Lil on the left and Impressive E on the right.

Sunday - I had a much needed long lay in, and woke up with a slightly fuzzy head. My bones were all aching from the excessive scrubbing the day before and I could barely walk down the stairs without wincing! We had a lovely cooked breakfast and a lazy day, I had another indulgent nap whilst Wiggles napped and read my book. Then we had a nice tea, gave the kid's bath and I had another early night avoiding the last of the football. 

Well that was mine, how was yours?

Love, love,

28/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2014.

28/52

28/52

Don't ask me why Biscuit is dressed as a witch, she knows and I know that it's nowhere near Halloween, but let's face it, what does that really matter?  If she wants to cheer up her day with a bit of fancy dress then that's fine by me.  Both deep in concentration this week, Biscuit watching Daddy help her with her game and Wiggles with her "draws".  I love her sleepy eyed look and peaceful expression.

Happily joining in with Jodi at Practising Simplicity and this year's 52 Project.

The Week That Was - Turkish Meals & Tacos...

Last week, my week went a little something like this:

Monday - School run in the morning, followed by lots of tidying up, bed making, organising etc and a fleeting visit from a neighbour before Wiggles and I took Pearl the Pug for a walk.  It occurred to me that we've got out of the habit of doing this and I wanted to make sure that I had some activity for my new activity tracker to well, erm, track!  In the evening Mr Husband and I drove to a town quite a way away to meet Tallulah and Mix for a Turkish meal.  We'd bought a Groupon a little while ago as it makes it a very affordable way for us all to go out for food. It was great, and they're three of my favourite people so it was lovely to spend an evening in their company. Here's me before we left:

jack

And here's my Turkish coffee cup. I bloody love Turkish coffee! It's like rocket fuel!! 

Tuesday -  Wiggles and I went to baby group, but she was whingey and not her usual self, poor tot. We came home early and she scoffed up a giant jacket spud and had a long nap. When she woke up we went for a nice walk to cheer her up. After picking Biscuit up from school we had our first Taco Tuesday! Biscuit was so excited, she'd been desperate for a Taco Tuesday since  watching the Lego movie. It was yummers. I had an early night as I was pooped after the night before. 

Wednesday - It was LB's last day at work before her knee operation. I'm going to miss her. I went for a stroll in the sunshine at lunch, nothing more interesting happened really. 

Thursday - After the school run Wiggkes and I tidied up. She helped me clean the windowsills, she was so cute! I squirted the polish and she rubbed it in with great glee. Then we went to Biscuit's summer concert at her school. It was lovely they all sang a little bit in their own, she did so well. We came home afterwards and Wiggles ate then napped. She was woken up by the return of the blind men putting up blank out blinds. I'm so pleased to have them! Those pesky kids really need darkness. After they'd gone and after Biscuit went to ballet with Gran, Wigs and I popped into town to pick up a dress that I'd ordered. It's mental, but I love it! What do you think? 

Photograph courtesy of Dororthy Perkins.com

I treated Wiggles to an ice cream, she was most pleased, and very sticky! 

She INSISTED on wearing that mental looking hat. Afterwards we had tea, put the small people to bed and watched the tellybox.

Friday - Work for me and a lovely curry for lunch.  Biscuit had a school trip to a farm in the morning followed by a party straight after work.  I came home to an empty house as Mr Husband was collecting her.  Tilly's Husband Billy called in with his Dad to drop off some of their plants for me to water whilst she is away on holiday.  Mr Husband watched the football and I headed to bed early to try and make some headway with my book.  It wasn't long before I fell asleep though!

Saturday - After cleaning the house in the morning the girls and I dropped Mr Husband off so he could join his friends on Sharky's Stag Do.  Because Uncle Schubert was going and driving the minibus Auntie Schubert and The Littlest Schubert came over to spend the day with us, rather than both of us being on our own.  We had a lovely day, not really doing much just sitting around chatting and eating before we headed out for a walk in the late afternoon.

  

We came back home and all enjoyed a meal together, I got to give Baby Schubert some cuddles, he really is just the sweetest little chap, I could eat him up.  Not really, obviously.

After Auntie Schubert had left I put the girls to bed before heading back out to pick Mr Husband up from the station. We called in at the supermarket before heading back home. I bought a lovely flowery dress in the sale, hurrah! 

Sunday - Up early for me and a post-Stag Do lay in for Mr Husband. The girls and I did some colouring in and they very kindly let me sit on my bum and read my book whilst they watched telly. I had a lovely relaxing bath, we stocked back up on some bits at the supermarket and later on I had a lovely bath. We had a lovely meal all together and the Smalls had a bath. In the evening Mr Husband and I watched a DVD and snuggled up. 

Well that was mine, how was yours?

Love, love,