Day 200: Thursday 26th September

Drains all clear. Thank you water board. Much excitement last night involving pressure hoses, cameras and some deft fence-panel removal. 

2 bottoms. Neither of them mine!

As they left, though, the hilarity quickly dissipated as I discovered that my lovely neighbour's mum had died only an hour ago, and the cloud of bereavement was hovering over her home.

Lightened mood this morning, due to the morning bike ride, and the anticipation of a new 'Craft' group starting up. My mate Ronnie had the idea that instead of stressing about hosting a fortnightly group at her house, instead, we should meet up somewhere nice and friendly with refreshment options and comfy chairs. This morning we met up at a local tapas cafe, for a shared pot of tea and diary comparisons. Nobody else turned up, which wasn't a problem in itself, as we still had a great time. 

   

Tea for two, knitting and colouring in. 

All good. Hoping for a roughly fortnightly get-together. 

Then I popped for a coffee with another mate and then home for another session with my trusty bike. Chain came off (again) so got my hands oily. Never mind. 

C1 is at Book Club tonight - I hope she enjoys it, as it's the first after-school club she has agreed to participate in, and I would like it to be a success for her. 

Back at Mummy & Daddy's house tomorrow. A trip to the optician is booked, and note to self: remember to remind Mummy about the footplates for Daddy's wheelchair!!!!
And collect some house-bricks.

And to top it all off nicely, C1 got home from book club, said it was OK, and presented me with her latest DT project - a hand-felted, hand sewn, own-designed pillow. Proud moment. I am proud of her too!!!!  :)
Following in Granny's creative footsteps.

C1 and her project.

Hand-felted snake design.

Day199: Wednesday 25th September

The fact that it is only 4:45am is an indication of my need to get on with things. Woke up, unable to switch off my internal 'to-do list' so washing machine is on, cats fed, knitting project completed, and no sign of sleep returning.

Boot Cuffs

Minus the boots!

Last night's exciting event (!!!!!) was the doorbell ringing at 9:30pm - just as all had quietened down upstairs. Lucky I wasn't already in my pyjamas!

It was 2 gentlemen from the water board wanting to inspect my manhole. 

Ooh Matron!

After a short intake of breath, some careful controlling of my smut-gene, and a call upstairs to reassure C1 and C2 that all was well, they came in through the garage with torches. 

After quite a palaver involving lifting a fence panel, me holding half a large buddleia out of the way, lifting a concrete baseboard and some heavy breathing (them not me!) it was confirmed that there is no blockage on my (Landlord Ian's) property, or that of my lovely neighbour. 

I now have the joy of looking forward to a return visit after 4pm today from a 4-man gang with hoses, who would like to repeat the fence-lifting and aim a gallon or so of high-pressure water towards my other neighbour's property, as apparently there IS a blockage further down the road, with very unpleasant contents. 

Wondering whether any of this is down to me and my current toilet issues only lasted a few seconds, until the blame was placed on the chip shop up the road. I had no idea there was a blockage!!! 

Further pauses for 'Ooh Matron' opportunities, and off they went again, only to return 15 seconds later (giving me time to simply sniff the Rich Tea stress-buster in my hand) as they had left their jemmy and screwdriver on the picnic bench. 

Couldn't make it up really. 

So it was off to bed, sleeplessness like a cloud of gnats, and here I am, in the still of the early morning (aka stupid o'clock) planning a 'disposable' packed lunch for C2's day-trip to an environmental education centre later today with his new class, new knitting project, how to prevent a rabbit from digging a Colditz-grade tunnel under the hutch, and further delving into the Rich Tea stash. 

Day 198: Tuesday 24th September

Another week or so has flown by - I am starting to question the speed variations compared to the amount of 'stuff' done. It seems to go that the more busy I am, the slower time goes. This is not what I am used to!

Lots of lovely time spent with Mummy and Daddy - trying for 3 days a week while the search continues for employment. The amazing thing is that my being there with them seems to help towards a calmer, more settled approach. Whether this is wishful thinking or not, it seems to work. 

Several appointments (in person and over the phone) aiming to get my inner health on a more even keel. Still suffering from the effects of missing bits of bowel, which is making life somewhat risky when away from civilisation (and a loo!). There is also the ongoing problem of the small quantity of food I can take in at one time, and the amount of vitamins and minerals included therein. Hair still falling out, achey bits, wobbly legs etc still giving me grief, but it isn't stopping me. Oh no.

I think I am enjoying the new regime of 'no car for the school run' more than C2! My bike is now my friend. Mr 1957 donated a special addition to my bike, which is now installed in the correct position. 

Ring, ring....... outta the way, peeps.

Am facing some expensive requests from both schools at the moment. The clause about 'voluntary contributions' is being read carefully, as a total of £36.50 is needed so far this term to pay for educational trips, activities and materials for making a 'jitterbug'. I don't want them to miss out, so am adding little messages to the consent slips about 'waiting for my benefit to arrive' and such, which I hope are being read, noted, and not affecting the children's potential for participating in such activities. I can't sustain such extra outgoings, and the children know this. I just hope that the 'free school meals' tag on both of them helps to indicate to the powers that be that I am not telling fibs!

Children of parents who are unable, or unwilling, to contribute may not be discriminated against. However, if there are insufficient voluntary contributions made to cover the cost of the trip, or activity, and there is no alternative method to make up the shortfall, then the school should cancel the activity.

There was a slight hassle at the weekend when both C1 and C2 needed swimming goggles (have they added more chemicals to the water, I want to know!) and having failed to acquire them at the weekend, Mr 1957 had a rummage and found 2 pairs, one pink and one blue, that were used by his children in days gone by. They fit! Phew! Problem solved. I hope. Now we just need to make it out of the door for our planned swimming night once a week!

Goggle-boy!

Goggle-girl!

I have also been checking through my list of things to make for people, and........

Ta daaaaaaa - melodion-player gloves Mk I

Melodion-player gloves Mk II

And a new venture into 'welly-cuffs' - prototype coming along nicely - just need to finish the 2nd leg!

Welly Cuff - first leg - please note the cables!!

The lovely Ronnie made me a meal planning board, which is working really well. Sticking to a weekly food budget is so much easier when we know what we're having.

All in all a good life. 

Amen!

Day 186: Thursday 12th September

Having a day to myself - like hen's teeth, but made all the sweeter because I am calm, have purpose, and have made a list!

2 more days for C2 at his current school. He is very happy to be transferring, but will miss his friends. We have collected phone numbers for park and play days etc. That makes it all better.

It amazes me how many of the playground people are now talking to me! I have been invisible on there apart from a couple of lovely ladies who I talk to regularly. It's taken 18 months of standing there, and now I only have 2 days left, they start acknowledging my smiles and actually speak! Humans are strange.

Yesterday was great - Mum and I managed to clear some space in the garden, and will be back in there tomorrow facing Part 2 of 'Metal Pole and Goosegog Root War'.

Part 1 of Plan A

I have successfully de-cluttered the dining room - except that I don't think it counts. I have simply put things in boxes and stacked them in a corner. Looks much tidier though, and the table is now reclaimed for mealtimes and homework. Goodie!!!!!

Now I have stopped decluttering, I have managed to allow myself 30 minutes of creative time, to stick all the lovely cockle shells I collected on Rhossili and Oxwich Beaches on The Gower Peninsula in August onto an old mirror from the garage. I love it. It may look a little crappy, but the thing is, I LOVE IT. That is what matters. It is not for sale. It is a memory of a lovely couple of days. 

Before........

After :)

Better tidy up now before the children come home to discover that I have been gluing and sticking without them!  Ha ha!!!

Day 185: Wednesday 11th September

Well - it's been quite a while, I see. 

I have been around, but mainly involved in living life to the fullest possible, within the constraints of money, knee-pain, tiny tummy volume, child-friendliness and the availability of other people to share time with.

There have been holidays, a few tears, insect bites and stings, dips in the sea, shell-collecting, miles of dis-used railway line ridden along on two wheels, fruit-picking, sneezing, wart removal and general fun times. 

Both home and away.

Alone, and with C1 and C2.

There have also been some big changes - C1 is now in Year 7 and finding it tough going. The work has been cranked up a notch, and it all seems a lot more serious since entering into the realms of Key Stage 3. 

C2 has started off his Year 4 experience in one school, and thanks to being on a waiting list since April, when somebody decided to take to The Hills after the beginning of the Autumn term, a space emerged for him to enter the Year 4 class at our local school. After a taster afternoon, and a lot of forms, he is now starting on Monday.

The difference will be all-encompassing. 60 children all in the same year group = much more potential for local friendships to build (although he has made a couple of 'keeper' friends at his current school), moving up to the next tier of education with most of his classmates, and the biggy here, is that after being left to do the school run on my own at Easter, following the breakdown of a car-share plan, I was doing 2 lots of 10-mile round trips a day to get C2 to school and back every day, and the new school is 0.2 miles away, bikeable/scooterable. There is some very simple arithmetic here, but to me, it's a no-brainer. 

Very pleased. As is C2. Enrolled in Science Club already. And free milk for all those on free school meals. Winner!

So, it is a busy time, and doesn't look like calming down much.

I am spending more time now with Mummy & Daddy - today was spent chatting and attempting to grub out some very old gooseberry roots. To no avail. The prospect of using industrial strength loppers and a sledge-hammer on Friday fills me with joy. Really.