Happy Birthday Jack!

Happy Birthday Jack who's 4 today!

Beautiful!

What a difference a week can make

The aerogarden - just a week after the last photo - my how it grows

The REAL reason

why I'm not loosing those last 5lbs of pegnancy weight gain - whoops

Spring is here!

Thank god today is almost over

I've had an exhausting day to say the least. I thought it would be fun to take the kids to the zoo and I decided to take them to Linton zoo - it looked ok on the website. My tale of woe beings on the M11. Ok I popped out to the docs in the morning for a quick chat about cholesterol testing. I got home and the 2 older kids were up and almost ready go - which is amazing, so I though great start we can actually leave on time for the zoo. So we set off, sat nav programmed and ready to do its job, and we started driving. Everything went fine, we got onto the M11 and just before our junction exit the traffic slowed down a lot. Thinking it was just busy we sat patiently as we crawled the last mile to the exit, and then I started to see police cones and though uh-oh an accident. Yep I was right - both southbound lanes closed. Ok not too bad at this point we were at our exit anyway and after getting off the M11 we still had a little way to go.

We arrived at the Zoo and instantly I could tell that this was not a big place. But hey ho we were there so i drove in, queued, paid (ok lied about Emily's age so I didn't pay £5 for her and glad I was about that too!), parked, toilet, got kids out and entered the Zoo. Ok it was a damp day so I was expecting some mud - that I can deal with. Some smelly cages/animals I can deal with. Park being really small is disappointing - that I can deal with. Some empty cages - ok not great I thought. Emily not really interested in the animals and more interested in the picnic hamper - ok funny. Emily starting to whine - not great. The Tapir's let us stroke them - I thought that was cool, and I was even delighted when the female Hornbill took great interest in us and even let me poke my finger through the cage and stroke her wing! Then I read the sign on the cage "Carnivore - likes to eat insects and worms" - I quickly removed my little finger from cage! But she was beautiful with lovely eyelashes.

We stopped for lunch at 12.30 , by which time both the older girls were almost turning blue with cold - being typical 12 year olds they had dressed for day out in the town shopping rather than a cold and damp day at the zoo. Seeing the 2 of them so cold I decided to end the trip to the zoo. And we headed back to Cambridge deciding to go to the cinema instead.

Arriving at the Firestation we stopped in to see the Dude at work and the chance to grab a quick cuppa to warm myself up. Then we had a quick look at the cinema's websites to check film times.

Decided the best times were at a cinema a little drive out of town, so off we set, drove to the leisure park, parked the car, got our ticket, walked to the cinema, got into the queue only to find out it was sold out - sigh. All back into the car, paid £1 for parking, drove back to the Firestation and we decided to go and get some cake in town.

Get's better (NOT)! Walked into town only to find shop after shop, bank after bank shut! I stopped at one bank and asked someone standing in the doorway what was going on - "power cut apparently!" he said. Wow how strange - we had one at work last week but only for 1 second. Ok this was not turning out to be a good day at all. I was going to let the 2 older girls wander around Cambridge on their own and possibly do a bit of shopping and I was beginning to feel that Karma was against me to have any sort of fun or half decent family day out. We walked on and luckily found a coffee shop in the town centre open, so at least we managed to get some cake. And luckily Lloyds bank was open so I was able to get some cash out and let the girls go and wander. Emily and I trundled through town randomly wondering around some shops when some stupid kid not looking where he was going just turned right and walked right into Emily's buggy almost toppling himself and Emily over. I managed to put my hand out to stop him from tumbling on Emily - and did he apologise? Nope he and his sister or friend just giggled and walked off quickly. They thought I hadn't clocked them as they tried to hide in a shop doorway - they were still giggling which I found really annoying but I just walked off and left them - I couldn't be fecking arsed by this point.

We trundled on around town a bit more and then headed to meet the girls back at Pizza Hut. I checked with them first that they had power and could take credit cards and thankfully they did. The girls arrived not long after and we sat together. I was starting to get edgy as my blood sugar was low and my fingers were blueish. We waited ages before I got the hump and asked them take our order - at that point the place had started to fill up and I thought nothing about it. Order taken,we got our drinks and I started to relax but then after 20 more minutes we still not had our startes and we noticed everyone else was already on their main course and they had arrived after us. So not one for sitting around I went up to the bar and asked for our food . The waitress turned to the cooks and asked if they had seen our order to which the cook only shrugged - ok NOW I'm pissed off! I asked for our food to be brought out quickly as we've been waiting too long

The garlic bread arrived and the waitress apologise, said they were busy - really I hadn't noticed! Pizza arrived but it was almost cold - of for f*cks sake. I'm starting to really loose the plot and I felt like bursting into tears and having a hissy fit saying what a rubbish day we were having. I gritted my teeth - ate pizza. And accepted their offer of a free desserts (only for the girls ! -mm why thanks , don't I get any compensation?)

But hey ho - off we go to get ice cream only to find the machine was broken - I mean what more could go wrong today??? eh come on! Give me a freaking break.

The waitress said she would bring over the bowls of ice cream, then changed her mind and said to send the girls up to her and she would give them the bowls so they could still help themselves to the toppings and sauce. "OK "I thought and I returned to the table and said to Phoebe over the throng of people to go and get the 3 (I said THREE) bowls of ice cream - when one of the other waitresses said "it's not free". I said "oh yes it is if your pizza is 30 minutes LATE" - can you tell I'm more than a little bit annoyed? I did also think of telling her I said 3 and not free - *hiss*

Ok - we got ice cream and the girls enjoyed it ! Emily loved the chocolate covered raisins and smarties. But she did have a mega feast of food by this time. Getting our jackets on I looked around to see if I could get my bill - but I quickly gave up when I spotted people at the main bar paying their bills. So I wondered up with Emily in the buggy and the other girls in tow. Finally being served I asked for my bill, paid and left.

Never , ever, ever am I going to Pizza Hut again

Growing up

The Dude removed the side of Emily' cot 2 nights ago. We thought we would be in for some fun and games of "fetch and return" but I'm feeling a big smug because she hasn't once tried to get out during the night, nor has she fallen out of bed! I may be eating my words by the end of the week...

Chuan and Caroline's Magic Garden

A while ago I bought my self an Aerogarden. I'd been looking at them for a while but decided they were still too expensive to buy in the UK. Luckily found one on ebay and was very delighted with my purchase. I bought some new bulbs, a pump, and some seed pods for Chuan and I. Chuan opted for 3 varieties of Chili pepper and I opted for 2 varieties of tomatoes. We decided to test the chili plants first. After only a few weeks the pods had already sprouted and each pod contained 3 seedlings, so not to waste any we managed to remove the extra seedlings and re-pot them - hence the very green looking photo below.

As you can see there are lots of the lovely chili peppers growing and poor Chuans desk now resemble a mini greenhouse! Some have even small flower buds and we are hoping to start seeing some chilis in the next couple of months.

Oh and this is simply Emily with some little piggie tails - she actually sat still long enough (and without too much protesting let me brush and plait them). Did try for a face shot but she was too busy watching television.

Whilst I'm at work the kids get another day off school

Take a deep breath and breathe out

Ok, I'm not totally over last weeks upsetting episode. But it's getting better. I've now got a tonne of work to do (and I'm thankful for it). I know that there are tough times ahead and I feel we are still on shaky ground. I'm really hoping the company can weather this recession and we don't see any more redundancies, but it's all around me at the moment. Phoebe has come home and already told us of another family who's mother and father have both been made redundant and I'm waiting to hear back from another friend to see if she has also lost her job. :(

Just in case the Dude and I have discussed plans if I am made redundant. So just to let the grandarents know - Keep the spare rooms empty!

Ok onto other things that have happened this week. After the snow disrupted most services I finally got round to getting some baby blankets I made sent up to Lauder. Well only after a very frustrating 30 minutes in the Papworth Shop and Post Office! I leave work early on Friday because the snow conditions were looking a bit dodgy so I decide to pop into Papworth to pick up some large plastic postal bags (I tried the PO in St Neots but they only have the smallest ones - sigh1). So I queue, get to checkout to be told sorry the card readers are not working, oh and we have to charge you 50p for using it! Ok I say hold on I need some birthday cards, I get some birthday cards, return to the long queue and wait again. I get to the checkout, she tries the card reader twice and it fails! Sigh Ok I need some cash. Oh there is a cash machine in the shop but it charges £1.75 for a transaction - I say WTF?! That's freaking robbery! Ok lets try another plan. I'm told I can get cash from the on-site Post Office, great I say! I get to the counter I ask about which card can use to get cash and luckily I have a card I can use but I've forgotten the pin number - so this is another fail in my plan to buy a plastic postal bag! Lo and behold I meet my work mate and she lends me 50p. Hurrah I now have enough cash to buy the bags. So I once again queue at the shop to buy them. This takes me 30 minutes for what should be a 2 minute transaction! I get my bags, walk back through the snow to the car, bundle the blankets into the bag (luckily I can get all 4 in the same bag), address it and then return to the post office to post them. Job done. PHEW!!! Breathe out, relax.

All I have to do today is navigate my way though the snow to Milton Keynes for my next laser session - I'm taking the sat nav just in case ;)

Enjoy!

Tough 2 days

It's been a tough 2 days since my company announced it was to loose 10% of staff. Being in the office has been unbearable, especially since they started the UK redundancies yesterday in the London office and us Cambridge people had to wait until today. No one knew how and when you were to be notified for your "final" meeting, so its been totally agonising to wait this long. This morning was the worst as my boss texted me whilst I was at home to say he "wouldn't be there" when I got in.

I've worked with him for the past 5 years, through one project till the next, thick and thin. I was very upset and in tears when he told me he was going and of course I was terrified for myself.

Once I reached the office I was running on adrenaline, and one by one people started to email to say they were leaving. I've also lost some brilliant workmates and this year Iforum wont be happening. Looks like my future in UI Evaluation is cut short - for the time being.
Finally after lunchtime we received an email to say that was it - no more people would be leaving. We all breathed a sigh of relief but I also think we all felt sorry for the ones who had left.

I'm hoping all my departed colleagues get work soon.
Will miss you all
:(

More Virtual Friends

Meet Xander (Holli) and Phoebe !

Geek or Nerd

Have I officially entered Geekdom or Nerd Central? I'm not sure what the difference is but I certainly belong in one when I start laughing at programming jokes. I found this website funny http://xkcd.com/208/

Onto other things - the Dude and I have started to psychologically potty train Emily. This means before bath time we take the potty out, we talk about the potty, Emily sits on the potty, Emily gets off the potty, we talk about the potty, we clap about her sitting on the potty - ok see where we are going here? All talk and no action - right? Yes - we all talk about it but someone is not producing any "actions".

Though tonight the converstation when like this :
Me: "Emily, can you sit on the potty?"
Emily : "Yes, Emily sit on potty"
Emily: "Do bum cake on potty"
Me: "yes that would be brilliant Emily, do bumcake on the potty"

Emily gets off, scratches bum and says "bum cake coming!"

Me: "oh great sit on the potty then"

Emily sits on potty for 3 seconds
Emily: "no bum cake"
Emily "Emily get sweety now?"
Me : *sighs* "no, no bumcake no sweety"

(the bribe of sweeties worked with her older sister-it pottied trained her in a week - so am I a bad Mum?)

Obama

I have to admit that I'm very excited that Barack Obama is now the 44th American President. I hope his arrival heralds a new era for us all.

Ok emotional bit over for the day - back to my evening lecture on "putting Java to work". And if you are still awake after reading that sentence you are doing better than I am :)

Road Sense or no sense

I've recently watched the latest DfT Tales of the Road "The Girl Who Didn't Dress Bright" safety films for children. This time I didn't find the characters too scary or "dark". I think its great they are mixing the types/genres of this films as its easy to fall into trap of producing same style films year after year, and kids being kids get bored of things pretty quickly. I like the darker style of the films and hopefully they get the message across to older kids too. I'll be getting some bright stripes for when I'm out on my bike in the dark mornings! Makes more sense :)

Quick Update

Ok I'm almost over the flu - just the remnants of a cough.

Completed 1st tma of my current course, signed up for another course with the OU. Means I will be extra busy (if not doubly busy than previous!).

Bought some Venezulan Black - no not drugs but Willy's Chocolate (fnar) pure cacao, and made truffles - no one really liked them in this house apart from me -well no surprise there, but here is a picture anyway :)

Venezuelan Black

my attempt at truffles (cacao OD)

Booked some private skiing lessons for Phoebe and I, also booked a weekend away with my kids, my friend and her kids to a holiday camp style place.

Started running again this week - managed to get to 2.4 miles without my lungs or heart bursting out of my chest like that part in Alien.

Painted the chimney breast to cover up little Miss Sticky Fingers marks. Did more DIY like de-scaling the shower head, blah blah blah.

Oh did some shopping - can't find any nice boots anywhere but did find a nice dress and jumper.

And finally Emily has started doing the hoovering (hurrah - now if I can get away from paying her pocket money for the next 10 years?

Can be hired out for hourly rate of £5.

Oh and cut my hair short! eeks!!!

Love ya all X

Bumper crop again!

Oh my god how many babies are due this year? LOADS
I'm so chuffed so many friends are expecting (some for the first time and 3rd for others!)
Just when I thought it was safe to put away the sewing machine - Wendy finds out she's expecting her first :), then Lucie tells me she's expecting her third and just after that Lisa tells me about her pregnancy (Girls where do you get the energy from) when finally an old friend from Aberdeen tells me she is just about due to have her 3rd too! Not also forgetting that Karen from Aberdeen has just had a little girl and so has Karen from my office! Thats an amazing 6 !! 6 babies :)

Anyone else want to tell me anything? :)

more virtual photos

Virtually weird

Welcome to the world of the Wii'rd! This is a game called Animal Crossing that Phoebe recently bought for her Wii. This is her friend Hayley playing with Phoebe in their "virtual world" - I find it a bit weird personally.
And this is the snowman that was made in this virtual world (it even talks to her!)

This production today was brought to you by Phoebe and her friend, and also thanks to LisaD who gave Phoebe the voucher that helped to buy the game!

2009

Happy 2009 everyone!
Well I'm still full of snot, coughing and look absolutely awful today. I went back to work yesterday as I needed to get some work done on my first TMA for my current Open University unit M257 - putting Java to work. I called my HR department to ask if I needed a sick note from the doctors and after being off for 9 days they said I had to. So I made an appointment that day to see a Doctor, drove back home, sat in a waiting room for 20 mins before I saw her and after discussing what had happened, you know high fever, aching like I've been hit by a bus, being sick, sinuses inflamed so badly that I thought my head would split, snot like you've never seen before and and a cough! She said no, she would not give me a note retrospectively! WHAT? I took it in good heart though as normally I would have kicked ass about it. I've not had problems before getting a sick note retrospectively! Sigh some people are a bit petty, I could go back and see another doctor I'm sure I would not have a problem. Lets hope my pay is not docked!

Merry Christmas everyone!

The Christmas Caterpillar and his big eared friend would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas!