Eight years ago!

Eight years ago I was given the best present possible for my 30th birthday. As soon as I received that gift I knew that my life would never be the same. In fact I wrote about it here (go on read it - it remains one of my favourite posts!). Eight years later and I still thank my lucky stars for being given such a wonderful gift!

Since that point I've never asked for anything for my birthday - I've never really wanted anything! However, this birthday I am looking forward to cuddles with J.

Despite all the ups and downs I love my life - it just keeps getting better and better!

The twisted logic of a school teacher!

I received an email from my daughter's school today which read,


"We were only informed on Wednesday that Notts. Council Council has nominated Tuesday 3rd May as an additional Bank Holiday in lieu of the Royal Wedding. However, many schools feel that it would not be appropriate to take the holiday on this date due to the timing of SATs the following week. After discussion with staff, our Chair of Governors and other schools, Edwalton will take its additional Royal Wedding Day on Monday 6th June 11. This replaces the inset day originally planned for this date. There will now be an inset day on Tuesday 7th June 11, when the staff will be in working together."

At first I didn't follow what they were trying to say. Then I realised that the actual Bank Holiday, for the Royal Wedding, falls on the 29th April when the school is already closed for the Easter holiday. So in effect what the headteacher meant to say was,

"As the additional Bank Holiday falls on one of the 245 days that we are already on holiday we have chosen to take a different day as holiday instead. We will also be tagging it onto an inset day so that we can have an extra long weekend. PS Enjoy your extra bank holiday and don't forget to take unpaid leave, to look after your kids, on the 7th June!"

I have drafted the response below:

Dear Headteacher,

I have noticed that the 25th December is a rather inconvenient time to celebrate the birth of Jesus as it falls just before the January sales. Therefore, I propose that, next year, my children attend school on the 25th and we celebrate Christmas on January 15th instead.

I trust that this is acceptable and that you will be available to take the children on the 25th December!

Yours faithfully,

Spencer Park

What do you think my chances are?

When I was 4 years old....

...I had loads of friends but only two best mates. They were P and S. I still see P but have lost contact with S. There was something about yesterday that made me think about them. Maybe it was this picture I took at my daughter's birthday party of my boy and his best mates M and S:

My little girl's birthday party was a great success. I had a fantastic time playing with the kids and my daughter got to see her parents getting along!

Happy Birthday E! I love you very much!

A little me!

I have been reading with interest the posts that thisbrokenhearthashope has been writing recently in which she has regaled us with tales of her life. As well as being wonderful reads the posts also got me wondering whether I should write about my early years? But, after a little consideration I scratched the idea as it seemed like a lot of effort. Or, at least it did until I spent the  past weekend at my mothers. Whilst there I saw a photograph hanging in the spare bedroom and decided that I could sum up my early years with one word and one photograph!

The word is happy and this is the photograph:

(I had more hair back then!)

Study for fulfilment 1909 - Gustav Klimt

I have a print of this painting in my living room. I love it. When I'm feeling down I look at the painting and I lose myself in it's beauty. The picture has so many wonderful features that it is possible to spend hours looking at the detail but, in my opinion, to fully appreciate the painting you need to take a step back and view the "bigger picture."

I hope that you have found your fulfilment but, if not, don't give up looking - you could find this!



(if you would like a copy it is available here www.artcyclopedia.org)

Miserable & Moody Monday

I've never entered Wordless Wednesday, Silent Sunday, Telly-Tubby Thursday, Frigid Friday or even Scantily dressed Saturday (I have entered Traumatic Tuesday once or twice!) but this is my first entry for Miserable & Moody Monday which is brought to you courtesy of my local supermarket:

Feck off with your eggs it's too early:





(Okay, there were a few words!)

It is my little girls birthday in two weeks....

and she is already giving me strong hints about what she would like. She seems to have given up on the rat things she had for Christmas:


and now wants real rat things:



only I'm not very keen on real rat things. Instead I have been looking at other pet options. I suggested these:

only it seems they are too boring. So, I have searched high and low and I am thinking about getting one of these:



It is suggested that these micro-pigs are affectionate, adaptable and possess greater intelligence then a dog. But, that's not why I'm thinking of getting one. No, as far as I can see micro-pigs have one great advantage. Namely, once my little girl becomes bored of the pig, about two weeks after receiving it, I will be able to make a lovely bacon sandwich!
------------------------------------

Today, we went to a pub for dinner. My little boy was in the play centre when the song, "Physical" came on. He started singing it to a little girl he was playing with. It seemed strange hearing my four year old sing, "Let's get physical. I want to hear your body talk."

He then came over to me and asked, "what does "let's get physical" mean daddy?"

I replied, "I'm not sure. I think it is probably something Americans do! Remember we're British!"

I'm proud of my boy for so many things....

but today, when we were in the check out queue at the local supermarket, I could have died of embarrassment as he walked away from me and shouted, "Urgh! my daddy's trumped. That stinks!" The statement being accompanied by the smell of rotten eggs drifting through the supermarket.

My embarrassment subsided, though ,as I pointed out that my boy, whilst walking away, was wafting his backside!

You maybe smart boy - but you ain't that smart!

On a serious note.

My last post reflected upon the more "unusual" google searches that have made people land upon my blog. When I checked my stats, I also noticed that I had been receiving quite a few hits from a source I didn't recognise. I clicked on it and was directed to a photograph that I had published on my blog. The photograph was of my two kids digging sandcastles on the beach. Whilst I realised that photographs, published on my blog, were stored elsewhere I didn't realise that these were available for public viewing and, more worryingly, I don't understand what anybody saw in that photograph that prompted them to visit my blog.

This made me wonder whether I have, in some way, exposed my children to danger by posting photographs of them on the Internet? If I have should I delete all the photographs and stop publishing any more?

But, to do so would impact upon the reason I blog. If I am truthful I don't know why I started blogging. I've never kept a diary, nor had much interest in keeping one, but I do know why I continue to blog - because I enjoy it. For me it serves a number of purposes:

Firstly, it provides me with an outlet for recording events in my life that I can, one day, look back upon.

Secondly, my blog helps me keep things in perspective. I can do a post, when my head is in a spin, and within a few hours receive helpful comments from bloggy friends. These comments can be both positive and negative but, no matter what, are always the truthful and honest opinions of people I respect.

Thirdly, I enjoy reading the blogs of my Internet friends. I obtain a great deal of enjoyment, and no small amount of clarity, from their blogs. They can be funny, thoughtful, emotive but, no matter what the subject, they always add something to my day.

This made me think should I have two blogs? One private blog where I post pictures of my kids, that are safely stored away from any weirdos, but can still be a reference for the future and one where I tell all my issues and thoughts for the advice, and enjoyment, of my blogger friends.

I don't know? Which is why I've written this post. What do you, my bloggy friends, think?

I don't often check my stats....

but I did today. If you were the person that arrived at my blog via the google search, "how to spot the difference between a donkey and a zebra" I am, as ever, here to help so here goes:

A donkey looks like this:

A little horsey looking granted but they tend to choose much drabber colours then the zebra which is, by comparison, a bit of a show off. This is a zebra:

I hope that this helped in your quest to spot the differences between zebras and donkeys!

I am afraid that I have no real advice for the person that came to my blog via the google search, "legitimate ways to buy a donkey" other then try Donkeys R Us!

And for the person who stumbled upon my blog via the search "2 donkey photo divorce" you scare me!

(credit for zebra photo to copyright-free-photos.org.uk)

My month planned!

Tomorrow (actually today as it has just passed midnight!) I take the kids back to their mums. I've hit that melancholy point I always do before taking them back. I don't like this point. I become tense, my breathing becomes deeper, my heartbeat races and I feel like I'm close to a panic attack.

This is the time that I most need to run. When I'm running my thoughts settle and my head clears. However, I know that I would be tempted to come straight back home, after taking the kids, and hideaway. That is why I have blogged! I have now told you I am going to run - so I will! Thank you!

On a positive I have a very busy month planned. It will go something like this:

a) This weekend I have my kids. I have promised them we will go swimming and I want to read James and the Giant Peach with them (I loved it as a kid!).
b) The following weekend I am house sitting in Coventry. J is coming with me (I hope).
c) On the weekend of the 22nd I am hosting my daughters eighth birthday party.
d) The following weekend I will be celebrating my 38th birthday. According to the text message I received yesterday I am out with my mates on the Friday (it is nice to know that I was part of the decision making process!). I hope that I will be able to see J over that weekend as well.

I have a lot to be thankful for! I intend enjoying it all (even getting older!).

A new year and a re-found positive!

My last few posts of 2010 were negative. The stresses and strains of being made redundant, starting a temporary job and looking for a permanent position had taken there toll. I had stopped exercising and things were starting to weigh on my mind.

I have now been on holiday for just over a week. I have recuperated and feel ready and raring to start 2011. The Christmas holiday has been kind to me. By an act of circumstance, rather then design, J met my kids and the meeting couldn't have gone better. I haven't re-started running yet, but I will. The local 10k is in March and I've wanted to complete it for the past two years but, for one reason or another, I haven't managed it. This year I will. Exercise is key to my well being and I will ensure that it features prominently. The 10k will be my first exercise goal and I will set others, including the Nottingham half marathon..

This year I will ensure that my daughter is provided with the support she deserves to fulfil her potential despite suffering from dyslexia.

This will be a year of positives for me - I've decided that already!

I hope that it will be for you as well!