When the Going Gets Hot

Today has to be the hottest day of the year in the South West so far. We put the toddler to bed for her afternoon nap and had to rush up and open her window and take her trousers off, as the baby monitor registered 25C in her room! Daughter works on Sundays so we look after her from 9 - 6. OH took her to the park this morning with the dog and then both sons, DIL and the grandchildren arrived for the afternoon. Sons, OH, the dog and the kids went to the local park for an hour leaving me and DIL to chat which was nice. My sons loved the zip line there - still kids really! After they all left I put on a roast lamb dinner ready for when daughter finishes work. Started to feel ill after I put the oven on - I often feel floating if the weather gets too hot. OH finished off the dinner and made the gravy, dished out etc. Daughter went off to her boyfriend's home for the night with the toddler so it's a nice, peaceful night here tonight. Oh, the Aldi nappies are working for the toddler, and there's been no more leaks at night since using them, which is great as it cuts down on the washing. They are a lot cheaper than Dampers too, which is another bonus.


We had the toddler all day yesterday too, as daughter wanted to finish her dissertation. She only has one short paragraph left to complete now, so she made very good progress here on her own. Yesterday we took the toddler and the dog to Clevedon for the day, which is a small seaside town. There was a lovely park by the sea front with a little train going around, donkey rides for the kids and fish and chip shops, cafes and bars. Toddler spent the most time picking daisies - simple things make her very happy! OH took her on the little train while I looked after the dog. Towards the end of the afternoon we saw my eldest son, DIL and the grandchildren who had been on the beach playing with the pebbles and mud. They were pleased we had baby wipes with us to clean up the 7 yr old. All of a sudden thunder started rumbling overhead and then it poured down with rain so we all ran for the cars. We stopped at OH's works on the way back to change the toddler as we were driving past anyway and they have nice, clean facilities there lol.

All aboard the Clevedon Express 

Spent 3 hours proof reading the dissertation when I got home last night from Clevedon. I proof read all of her university work and so far it has been all good. I'm not perfect at English grammar but I can usually spot simple things wrong -  like the possessive 's' in the wrong place or missing, commas that are needed etc. Actually daughter's punctuation has improved dramatically over the last few years at uni so there is very little to correct normally. But it was still 44 pages to go through so took a long time. She is writing something about children working together on a computer in the class room, and how they get on with it without/with input from the teacher. It's interesting to read but full of technical terminology so a bit above my level of understanding lol.

All the best x

First Bar-b-q this year!

We all went to a bar-b-q at my eldest son's home today. It was organised by my younger son who lives with them and he put on a very good spread. He has an inflatable hot tub so OH, toddler, both sons and the 3 grandchildren went in. Son's best friend was there with his little girl, who is the same age as the toddler, which was nice for her to have someone to play with. DIL's oldest sister was there too and I got to know her a bit better, as I have only seen her a few times over the years. She has recently moved back home with her mum, so now lives locally to son and DIL. Was a really nice evening there with the kids all playing together. DIL seemed tired, probably as she is getting up really early to catch a train into town as she can't drive with her hand in plaster. We left about 9.45 pm as DIL was in the process of telling her sister to go home!! Nothing like we do here if we have a party or bar-b-q. Here when me and OH are tired we just say goodnight and go off to bed, leaving instructions to whoever is left that they can sleep on the settee or go when they want but please lock the doors. Actually, thinking about it probably most people don't do this but it has always worked for us. We only have family or very close friends to our parties anyway, so feel we can trust them. My daughter did remark on the way home that DIL didn't speak to her sister with any respect and I have to agree with that. I think her exact words were 'Get out of the hot tub now and go home.' When her sister asked why she said - 'because I want to go to bed and it's my house, my rules, so go.' Ah well, all families are different aren't they and some are stranger than others  - it was still a lovely bar-b-q.

Bye for now All the best x

Dampers vs Aldi on a Sunny Day

Happy Thursday and it has been a lot happier today. The toddler has stopped creating and yelling and I think this is probably because her new tooth has finally come right through. She is much happier anyway, whatever the reason. It was a lovely day today and the sun was shining here. We sat out in the garden for part of the day and put the sand pit out for the toddler.

 Toddler's Turtle Sandpit

Funny how teething affects some kids much more than others - none of my 3 kids were bothered and the first I knew about teething was when I saw the teeth right through in their mouths! Not very observant really lol. Toddler slept until 11am today, probably catching up on lost sleep. Daughter changed her in the middle of the night as the nappies keep leaking. 'Dampers' I call them. It didn't help as she was still wet through by morning.

Open House Here!

My sister Mel decided to visit today. She turned up around 12.30 and stayed til gone 3 pm. Nobody ever rings here they just turn up, which is how I like it. We don't have an appointments system lol. I was brought up with my dad and grandmother and we were never allowed to answer the door in case it was someone father owed money, so having an open door invitation to family and friends is great and the way I like it. My sisters are all the same too and family / friends just arrive. We don't do appointments and as we all live locally its not too far to go if they are out when you get there. When Mel left I popped to Aldi to try their award winning nappies (this was an advert they have out atm saying Mother and Baby Magazine found their nappies the best and they beat Dampers) Bought 2 packets as I wasn't sure of the size and daughter is trying them for the nighttime nappy. At just over £3 for 40 nappies it wasn't too expensive if they are no better.  Now I don't usually shop in Aldi but as I needed a lot of fruit and veg I thought I would try it as it seemed quite cheap. Much cheaper than Tesco definitely.

When I got home from shopping daughter and toddler were off to the local Children's Centre as she is donating a big bag of baby clothes that the toddler has outgrown. They are in vgc and the Children's Centre told her that a lady has just had a baby girl and has nothing for her so they will go to help someone in real need. Now we are not a wealthy family by any means, but I could not imagine having any of my children and having nothing for them. We started preparing when I was pregnant and everyone bought lots of things for the baby so we had so much. The same when daughter had the toddler - everyone helped her as family and friends do. Some people must have no caring relatives or friends to help them which seems very sad to me.

I was intending to cook a roast tonight but OH went to the pub on the way home from work and Mel stayed late so didn't have time. I did buy some steak but OH decided on a takeaway curry so we all had that instead. Daughter's friend, Sarah, called in to go through the dissertation with her - they went through uni together and have always supported each other which is nice. She has some great friends.

Hoping for more sunshine tomorrow. Bye for now All the best x

Training Kids and Dogs

Quite a stressful day today with the toddler in a bad mood as daughter has taken away her dummy in the daytime and is just giving it for the nap and at bedtime. Had a really bad headache most of the day and really couldn't cope with the constant screaming on and off for the morning. Took the dog out to get away from it for half an hour and also retreated to the front room. Lucky here that we have 2 lounges. Cleaned the shower again and tried using wipes but its not a good job, so will get the white vinegar out tomorrow. I know it smells like a chip shop, but I have yet to find anything that moves the limescale better from the tiles and glass. It's supposed to be antibacterial too. 

 Magic Cleaner!

Would like to visit my other sister Jane tomorrow as I haven't seen her since Rick's funeral. That will be all 3 I have seen this month then. She has 7 children and a totally different parenting style than me, Amy and Mel. I always thought it was really bad but I must say her kids are growing up lovely so perhaps it is not a bad thing after all. Her style is what I think they call 'laissez faire' as she more or less let the kids do what they like i.e. bedtime when they felt like it, choose their own meals, did more or less what they liked, had whatever they wanted, no real structure to their day or routine. Completely opposite to me and mine. However, one niece has a degree and works in a bank. She had a fairy tale wedding. Another niece works as a support assistant and has been in steady employment since leaving school - she's studying for a management qualification. My nephew has moved in with his girlfriend and has a steady job - passed his test first time and has a nice car. Another niece is getting married next year and has 3 kids - always taking them on outings and to farms, parks etc. A really good caring mum. The 2 youngest boys are still at home and doing ok too. 

Laissez faire Parenting lol

Went to dog training tonight with OH which went well I think. I have come to the conclusion that my pup can understand most of what is being told/asked but then decides if she wants to do it or not as the case may be. Had a word with the trainer about food issues and how I am having to feed her sat on the carpet with dried food or she won't eat. Trainer just confirmed what I already know -

1) it's the poodle in her that makes her fussy 2) she waits for OH to give in and give her our food!

This session covered throwing food on the floor and not letting her have it, having a dish with food and raising it up and down, and then feeding when she comes back to you, sits and relaxes. Also weaving in and out of your legs and walking on a lead over 6 very low jumps. Rhondda did it all and was not frightened or hesitant at any of it unlike some of the other puppies.We had the session outside the hall this week as it was a nice evening 17C so reasonably warm. The trainer is really good and can control any dog and get it to do what she wants, even Rhondda lol.

Dog University Every Wednesday

Daughter is upstairs now (10.30 pm) on her dissertation again and OH has gone to bed already preparing for another early start in the morning. Time to relax - the dishes can wait until tomorrow. It's the manana approach again tonight lolol.

Shopping and Cleaning Today

Managed to go shopping yesterday so we are well stocked up again and the dishwasher can continue to perform as we now have the tablets!! Called in to see my sister who didn't look very happy at all - I limit these visits to about twice a month as always feel worse when I leave there. Sad but true. Well the BIL made me a nice ham roll which was very welcome - nobody does that here as daughter is working to a deadline on her dissertation and OH is workaholic lol. So that leaves me to do all the rest involved in running the house etc. etc. Basically sister has heard from Amy (my other sister) all the gossip about Amy's daughter moving back home with her 2 kids and how things are not too great. Most of it is just gossip as I am sure that my niece would not be telling her mother all about the argument she had with her ex MIL and how her ex MIL told her off!! So I said 'Did Amy chat to her daughter's ex MI?'  and then it went quiet. I think sister is now thinking perhaps a lot of it is exaggerated for dramatic effect, which as Amy is a 'chronic complainer' would fit in nicely lol. There is a saying on facebook which fits exactly how I feel about this 'Not my circus - not my monkeys.'
I do often wonder if other people's relatives are like this and spend all their time living their lives through everyone else's business, as this is what my sisters are like. I guess I am not that popular as I don't share a lot about myself with them so they have very little to gossip about. Ah well, at least the ham roll was lovely.

Today I finally got to the bottom of one of the freezers. We have 2 fridge freezers and a small chest freezer (now clean and empty.) Have been trying to empty it for about 4 months now but OH keeps seeing it half empty and rushes out to buy more food, as he thinks we are all going to starve lol. One done and two to go, but the fridge freezers are a lot smaller. Will go to the meat-man at the weekend. He is a brilliant butcher who sells very good quality meat at a cheap price. He doesn't have a shop, just a big van, but there is always a long queue, it is top quality meat, he's been going for 30 years and you have to be early to get anything before he sells out. He travels all over the south west on different days of the week.

Our Local Meat Man

Last night my youngest son came to stay the night as he had the day off today which was nice. Spent the evening chatting to me and his sister - she was showing him all the photos from Morocco and telling him all about the holiday. Her boyfriend called in for a cup of tea late morning, and then me and son went over the common with the dog to give her a good run. It was good having company there as I am a bit nervous of the common on my own - some bad things have happened there to others in the past. Tried to brush the dog  tonight with limited success as she hates the brush but at least I have achieved something and she looks a bit better. We have tried combs, and several different brushes but she's not fussy - she hates them all lol.

Bye for now All the best x

Visitor's day today!

Well daughter and her boyfriend got home at 1.45 am as their plane was delayed half an hour and they took ages getting people off. OH wouldn't pay the parking fees to wait so went for a drive, and I sent a text when they landed. He went straight off to bed as he is going to work tomorrow at 6 am! Don't really know why on a Sunday but they have had a lot of staff problems there recently. There are only 2 working atm and a new apprentice, as one chap is off for 3 months looking after his sick father and another has a hand injury so has not been in for a few weeks. He's sacked 2 people in the last few months - one for stealing and one for being totally incapable of doing the job (which he pretended to be very experienced at when interviewed.) Oh, and the last apprentice was sacked too as he had no intention of working and was a health and safety hazard leaving tools and materials everywhere. The final straw was when H & S inspectors turned up on site and found him with no hard hat or high viz vest on despite being told repeatedly to wear it!! Some people are really unbelievable and think they can do what they like at work - unfortunately this is not the case. Now I suppose writing this you may think that it's a hard place to work and my OH is very stern but this could not be further from the truth. He is extremely laid back and accommodating if anyone needs time off, and its all flexi time anyway. Unless there is a rush job on the workers of his building and maintenance team can manage their own hours and workload. You would have to be pretty awful to get the sack from this workplace but he did draw the line when one worker was on CCTV fiddling the time sheet, stealing tools and equipment, and even turning off one of the CCTV cameras while he did it! He even admitted it and gave back some of the tools (but not all) and the company lost thousands of pounds but did not prosecute him. I would have but then perhaps I am not so forgiving.

Seems familiar somehow!

Today I was woken by the toddler crying at 6 am again but daughter sorted it out so I managed to get another couple of hours sleep. She got her up at 7 am today. I didn't manage to do much today as DIL, son and grandchildren turned up to visit. Toddler is very close to her cousin (4) and they played together nicely with the toy kitchen. Grandson joined in with it in between playing on his tablet. DIL has to go back to the hospital next week to see if the 2 breaks in her hand are healing otherwise they may need to operate on it. She is still going to work - fair play to her - catching a train as she can't drive. She was having a race with her son (7) carrying her daughter (4) and tripped over on her driveway. My 4 year old granddaughter was OK but DIL landed on her face and hand, so her face is grazed too.

After they left daughter started to feel unwell and have a bad stomach. She says her boyfriend had the same yesterday on her holiday, so it could be something they ate abroad, or a germ they have picked up. Toddler went to bed as usual - showed off a lot today and was messing about with her mum, which is normal as she hasn't seen her for a few days. My nephew popped in for a chat to OH this evening as he is fitting patio doors and was looking at ours and how they are fitted. Should call round and see them really; they have a baby now and I haven't visited them all in ages.

I am feeling much better today for getting some sleep. My sleep pattern is not the 'norm' as I usually go to bed around 1.30 am or later and get up around 9.30 - 10.30. This is still only 8 hours sleep. I have been like this since working as a social worker in the young people's units where you have to be really alert late at night. It was not unusual to be up until 3 or 4 am giving statements to police or trying to settle disturbed young people with lots of problems. When I have had an early start job e.g. childminding then I have slept, when the children went home, for a couple of hours and still gone to bed much later. I have tried to go to bed at a 'normal' time but just lay awake until 1.30 or later which disturbs OH. At present I am trying to go upstairs at 1.30 am at the latest. I am finding it helps me sleep if I read the news or something else on my phone, which doesn't disturb him.

Must go shopping tomorrow as we have run out of most things now and I have only one dishwasher tablet left which, in itself, is a disaster waiting to happen  lolol.

Bye for now All the best.

Freedom coming soon ...........

Yesterday started early again 6.50 am and toddler's awake and looking for the dummy. Ran into daughter's room when I got her up, opened the bedside drawer, grabbed the TV remote and climbed onto the bed lol. Obvious what happens on a morning then! After breakfast and several cups of coffee I started to feel human again after another early start. The day went well with OH home at 4 pm and taking her swimming, which gave me a break to have a doze on the settee. Have nearly finished all the washing now so the house looks tidier. She went to sleep at 8 pm as usual - woke a 2.30 am as she lost the dummy, then awake again at 6.45.  Proper early bird is this one!

Today is my last day as a 'sole charge nanny' as daughter will be home in the early hours tonight. It's 12.05 am now and granddaughter is still sleeping soundly. We took the dog for a walk again with her in the buggy, then spent the day at home as it was showery weather so couldn't risk the park and getting soaked. Tomorrow I have freedom again and will be able to go out and about. Definately need to go food shopping. I will also be able to get some proper sleep as I feel exhausted with the early starts, and looking after a very alert and active toddler. She is developing climbing skills now and can get onto the dining table - no problem. Think daughter had a good time and a lovely break with her boyfriend in Morocco. Too tired to write any more tonight so I am off to bed. OH has gone to the airport to pick them up.

All the best x