Wednesday 24 June 2009

Sunday 21 June 2009

Litte Rude Boys, Bumps & Winkies

What a busy week its been here at Waving or Drowning? G has been away in the French Alps at a classic mountain bike event 'Les 2 Alpes', supposedly working hard. Leaving moi (that's enough french from me) to hold the fort here at home.

By Thursday I was clinging on to sanity with the thought of, 'its Friday-my-day tomorrow', no work, 2 children safe at school .... mmmm....

A well planned out Friday-my-day starts well. Children deposited at the required schools. Off into the 'village' to do the fruit & veg shop, and most importantly purchase the flowers for the week ahead. How I love buying my flowers....

Zoe who runs the flower shop told me the proper name for these, but I cannot remember it. To me they are always known as little rude boys, a name given to them by another florist I used to frequent years ago....

Here are the cheeky little chappies greeting everyone in the hall ....

And Lily's. I love lily's in the Dining room. There is little risk of pollen damage because of all the wood, and they always look stunning against the dark grey wall.



Then I popped into town, to pick up a few art & craft supplies, and some gifts. A dear friend is having a birthday soon, and whilst we don't usually buy for each other, its been such a long time since we have had a get together, I wanted to give a little gift to let her know her friendship is still valued. So it was off to the handmade chocolate shop for champagne based chocolates with a lovely lip balm for her, and some manly chilli chocolates for G for fathers day. Utter joy/torture depending if its a day when I am 'dieting'....



Tired from my retail therapy I pottered home, wrote out the supermarket list ready to do with little Miss, whilst the 8 year old was at cubs later; sat down with a cup of tea, and shut my eyes....

To be awoken with a phone call from G (still in the Alps). The 8 year old has bumped his head. Would I go & collect him from school? Pants I thought (or words to that effect), its 2.15pm -he finishes school at 3.30....

Dutifully I go up to school, expecting one of his legendary lumps/bumps/full face grazes. To find a lump no bigger than a squashed pea. A 'touch of the dramatics' his teacher pronounces to me (& I am quite sure I saw her roll her eyes) - 'oh no ' says the 8 year old ' I keep getting a flashing pain across my eyes' ....

Here lies the problem. If I say ' your fine, you can stay at school' & something truly horrible arises, then they will not only say 'bad mummy, but also '& she's a nurse too...' If I say come home, I am I being too soft, and letting the 8 year old get away with dramatics (in the teacher eyes)?

Using my mummy assessment skills (rather than nursing ones) I decided to test the severity of head injury by saying ' well it doesn't look to bad to me, but if you are feeling really bad, come home with me now but if you do there's no cubs tonight'. My rational? not well enough for school - not well enough for cubs, (& the 8 year old loves cubs).

I was outfoxed. 'I'll come home' said the 8 year old. Who promptly recovered the minute he was through the front door & wanted to go on the DS. 'No', I said, 'DS's are bad for head trauma's - mummy's a nurse, I know all about these things' & glared, just in case he decided to point out that it wasn't really the sort of nursing I did....

3.15pm pick up Little Miss from the infant school. Go to Sainsbury's with two children. Keep calm whilst Little Miss starts the 'I'm not looking at the chocolate mummy' (said repetitively) routine in the chocolate biscuit isle. I am not going to give in to a 5 year old chocolate terrorist.

Try hard not too laugh when she says loudly 'the winkies are winking a me' & give in & buy a packet of winkies.


Winkies - Chocolate teacakes - a named set in family stone - so called as years ago my dad consumed far to many whilst doing a DIY job for my Nana. His explanation was, that they kept winking at him to be eaten ....

Saturday saw a trip to MeadowHall (known locally as MeadowHell) in Sheffield to try on bridesmaid dresses for the 5 year old. Grandma came along for moral support. I am proud to say I winged more than the 2 little ones put together, it was far to busy, big & vast for me. This was until I spotted Paperchase. Instant recovery (now you know where the 8 year old gets it from).

Oooh look, yummy frivolous things to show G, who was finally home ....


And these, lovely cheery, happy bright pink cake stands for a little less than £12 pounds. Unfortunately G doesn't share my enthusiasm for them....



But they were put to quick use as the neighbours decided that Saturday night would be a good time to have a communal Chinese Takeaway - so out came the Winkies & Angel cake, to be admired by fellow female neighbours on the pink stands....



With G back, a relaxed social evening in the front of the houses, neighbours all together, small children playing without scratting, harmony was finally restored....


& G got to enjoy breakfast in bed this morning.... (Sailboat napkin by the 8 year old)

Love Lydia xx

Sunday 14 June 2009

A Sunny Sunday

Balloon Flowers....

Sitting 3 in a row on the big table....



African Daisy on the small table in the suntrap, along with Cookie-the-Cat....


The Agapanthus getting green & full, ready to produce stunning architectural blooms....

Sweet peas climbing....

Herb pots started....


New beds planted....

Old ones tamed....

Delicate trailing verbena....

Miniature petunia's....

Simple white planting either side of the back door....



The first of the little people's strawberries....



Mange tout growing steadily....

Finally, two weeks after sorting....


Sewing....

Covering....

And protecting....

The first pea shoots have appeared....

Time to relax with cloudy lemonade....

Pear Cider.....


And pudding outside in your pyjama's....


Hope everyone has had a lovely sunny Sunday

Love Lydia xx

Saturday 6 June 2009

How did that happen?


Yesterday was my 10th Wedding Anniversary.

I can report that I spent most of the day, wondering '10 years, how did that happen?' (& the occasional grumpy thought of 'I've been stuck with him for 10 years') Oh, how the years seem to have flown....

G sent a nice tasteful card. Me? - stuck for a card that said 10th Anniversary, I opted to sum up my sentiments using two cards....


Ten years should be celebrated with Tin.

However G was far more generous, and celebrated it with Silver - he also brought me the 2 rings to complete the set - I am just awaiting the slightly 'larger' sizes to arrive....

Aren't I a lucky girl....

If anybody reading this lives near Chesterfield, do pop in and looks at M's Gallery if you are needing something a little special. Her shop is in Theatre Yard, and is a real treat. I particularly like M's as the owner (M) is only young, very friendly and working very hard, up against the big shops.


On a final lovely note, I received this yesterday, my badge from Snapdragon (sorry I can't link yet, but you can find her through Mandy on Live, Laugh, Love).

Snapdragon is holding a giveaway of 100 of her handmade badges - in return she is asking that you send her a photo of you wearing her badge, or doing something inspiring with it....

Off to find some inspiration....

Love Lydia xx