Lettuce Spend a Lot

Today I was in London going to tedious meetings with a colleague. We were in South Kensington around lunchtime, so he suggested we go to the cafe in the Natural History Museum for a bite to eat. Genius, I thought, how delightful. Little did I know how EXPENSIVE it is there!!! £2.50 for a few leaves of lettuce with fancy dressing. Seriously, a few leaves of lettuce, no tomatoes, no rocket, no nothing except a few leaves of lettuce. £2.50. And as I was too hungry for lettuce on its own, I also ordered a very small scoop of potato salad which cost £4.50.

But, despite being on a tight budget at the moment, I didn't really mind the outrageous prices because (a) it was unspeakably delicious, (b) I was really happy to be in South Kensington, (c) entry is free to the museum so I guess they have to make their money somewhere, and (d) They give free tap water on the tables so at least you don't have to buy drinks.

Crablike

I've been having a marine crustacean moment. Actually, more of a month than a moment. We've moved from one rental house to another, because the house we were living in was sold. So ... after a huge amount of upheaval, effort, inconvenience and expense, we have moved ... sideways.

Crabs are very active, with complex behaviour patterns. That's me alright. Crabs have five pairs of legs, and I've been scurrying around enough lately to employ all of them. Crabs have a hard shell, and I am sad to say I've been showing my beloved (bickering) children less of my funny, cuddly, patient mummy side and more of my brisk, barky, frowny mummy side that scuttles out in front, bellowing, whenever I'm stressed.

So here I find myself blogging again. So much has happened lately that I could have - should have - written on my blog. I wish I had. Blogging was wonderful therapy for me once upon a time. I find myself in a new place for blogging, using the same computer, the same table, with a different view, drinking the same kind of wine as before. I'm the same person, with really nothing substantial to moan about, just a bit mentally bruised, physically tired and emotionally unsettled, that's all. Holy crab, I really bloody hate moving house.

Teacher Blushes - With Good Reason

The children were back at school today. In the morning, the year 6 teacher raised her eyebrows in my direction and waved her head around until she caught my eye. She smiled and we waved to each other. Later in the afternoon she intercepted me in the playground, blushed, and fluttered her hands to her cheeks in an embarrassed sort of way. "I'm SO sorry we're making you homeless!!" she laughed, nervously.

You see, the house we've been renting for almost 2 years has been sold to one of the teachers at our school, so we've been give notice to leave. We're house-hunting again. We wouldn't mind moving if we were going to our own place at last, but alas we won't be buying again until next spring so we've got to move into another rental which seems like an awful lot of hassle and expense for no gain.

Admittedly it's a bit pants, but on the other hand it's not the end of the world, and it might turn out for the best, eh?

Nowhere Near Nod

I've been despicably absent from my darling blog lately. I spent so long fussing over it, like a new mother, when I set it up (hmmm ... shall I choose this shade of orange ... or this slightly darker one ...) and then promptly neglected it for weeks.

Tonight, in the dark rainy small hours, my occasional new-found enemy, insomnia, has struck again. I think my head's too full of thoughts jangling around, keeping me awake. Or maybe I over-did it on the caffeine today. Or perhaps it's because I'm pining for my little ones, who have gone for a sleepover with their cousins but apparently cried for me at bedtime (sniff) which took everyone by surprise. I don't like it when their beds are empty - it feels all wrong.

So, instead of sleeping, I've been catching up with the latest news from some of my favourite bloggers. I feel slightly less bad when I see that loads of people haven't posted for a while ... and then I wonder why, and whether they're okay. It's not like I can phone them to check, either. Even the mighty Wife in the North (who inspired me to blog in the first place) hasn't posted since May.

So. I think it's time for some chamomile tea and another attempt at drifting off to the land of nod. Wish me luck ;-/

Slow Dance

Lolly: "Did you know ... SLOW backwards is WOLS."

Biker: "What?"

Lolly: "A WOLS."

Biker: "What's a WOLS?"

Lolly: "It's a kind of dance."

I've Been a Bit Busy

We got back from our long weekend away, '12 go mad in Rutland', at around 4pm yesterday.

Today I got up early to write a short newspaper piece, over strong coffee, and sent it off for approval. Then I got the kids' breakfast, made their packed lunches and some lunch for myself, ate, showered, straightened my hair and found something to wear that didn't need ironing. I checked the weather, applied suncream to two wriggly skins, comforted two tired faces who wanted to still be on holiday, wet down sticky-up boy hair and found book-bags and scooters. Then we all said goodbye to Big G (who was going to the USA today) and drove to school.

After drop-off, I slapped on a little eye-make-up in the rear-view mirror, took the car in for its MOT and service, got a courtesy car which I drove for a couple of miles with the handbrake on, and then worked at the office for 5 hours. After work I made an optician's appointment, got some cash out, bought 4 new headbands to replace Lolly's 4 snapped ones, tried not to get caught on camera as David Hasslehoff was being filmed in the marketplace - bizarre - then I went to the petrol station and drove home.

The Sainsbury's delivery man was waiting outside as I got home at 3:59pm, so I chucked out some old food that was past its sell-by date and re-filled the fridge and cupboards with fresh. I then replied to an email about Beavers and Cubs, arranged some stuff for later in the week, found Biker's drumsticks and music for tomorrow, printed off Friday's school newsletter, texted a friend for a while and loaded the first out of around 2,000 loads of laundry that need doing. It's bin day tomorrow, so I sorted, stuffed and wheeled them on to the street. I then did lots of tidying up, unloaded the dishwasher, re-loaded it, unpacked the rest of the weekend bags, moved the dolls house that was blocking the hallway, and cooked myself a dinner of tofu, green beans, mushrooms and noodles in black bean sauce.

I talked to the garage, who said I can pick up the car tomorrow morning - it passed its MOT so phew, I can drive legally again. More laundry, and a Peppermint tea. My Dad arrived then with the children, so we chatted for a while. After he left, I took the kids for 2 quick spins around the block in the thrilling courtesy car - each having a turn in front of course - got back and ran them a bath. After much wet soapy hilarity over their imaginary babies, they finally got into pyjamas and sat down to watch a little TV with some fruit and biscuits.

Bedtime for the small noisy people - milk, teeth, toilet, books, chat - and then I put some clean clothes away. I emailed the holiday house to ask the woman to post back something we left there, watched the News, laid out tomorrow's school uniform, made tomorrow's packed lunches, cleaned out the hamster cage, swept up the sawdust and and let Fluffy run about in her ball for a while.

It's no wonder I never get anything done.

I Wonder if She's Asleep Yet

This girl Lolly, who is 9, went on her first overnight school trip today. The class of 26 went to an activity centre where they'll try kayaks, sailing, climbing, team games, and showering en masse.

Miss Sunshine Sporty Teacher led her bag-pulling flock down the school hill to the coach, and Mr. Long-haired Groooovy Head Teacher was due to pop in tonight with his guitar, for some round-the-bonfire singing time. We were told to pack hundreds of pairs of clothes, due to the inevitable dunkings in the River Thames, but only one teddy bear each. Lolly took her biggest bear, a change of bear-clothes, a bear-sleeping bag and a bear-blanket. That's my girl.

The kids looked so proud (and some a bit wobbly) as their little faces grinned down from the coach windows. We parents felt so proud (and some a bit wobbly) as we waved them off.

It seems strange that Lolly's not here tonight. Biker, who is 7, is sleeping in his sister's bed. I wonder if she's asleep yet - I really hope she wasn't homesick.