Occasions
Santa Has Been But..
He was a bit annoyed the kids have been fighting all day and didn’t tidy up like they promised him when they saw him a fortnight ago. All the gifts are under the tree but….. Tree is fenced off. Nice gifts. That’s right boys. Santa has put you both on the naughty list. Christmas is not cancelled, I just want some manners and respect.
Christmas Eve Eve 2
Tonight we’ve been playing Uno and Monopoly Deal card games. Cheesy Christmas songs and then the new “War Of The Worlds” cd again. Not traditional as such, but kids chose war of the Worlds, believe it or not. Jen is a bit obsessed by it, but I remember I wore out my mother’s record copy of the original! Takes after me. We were playing cards for hours. Monopoly deal is much easier than the board game. I recommend it a lot. Its no good for Jen but he isn’t good at maths or reading yet – he’s four years old. D is great at this though. Basic point is some cards are properties like the four black train stations and super expensive dark blues and some are wild cards, a property card with more than one property but you must chose what colour you are using it as. See the […]
Christmas cake minus booze 2
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a little unusual. I am allergic to alcohol. I can’t consume it without being ill and large amounts or spirits could kill me. Excuse the image quality. My partner is going to make me a cake, will look and smell like Christmas but won’t hurt me. He can be so sweet sometimes. He has Googled a recipe then bought ingredients, we were going to buy a cake but the labels on shop crimbo cakes aren’t helpful. The non alcoholic wine was “just because”. He said hang on and ran back a few aisles and tried to sneak it into trolley. I know if alcohol is added during cooking I’ll feel ok, if fruit was soaked in booze as is traditional I will be rather unwell. If the booze is a flavouring such as in a cream filling, or in icing I would also be unwell. […]
Christmas is like Marmite
Christmas is like Marmite, but I can’t decide if I love or hate it. On the love side I’m in love with the almost romantic idea of Christmas, family being together. Children getting presents, adults eating posh food and falling asleep during the Queen’s speech… advent calendars and decorated trees. Does all sound lovely….But in reality, I suck at Crimbo. I’ve no idea how to make it feel like Christmas anymore. Everything has got so commercial, spend spend SPEND. Kids all bragging on end of term about whose parents spent the most, and how big their tree is, and that their uncle Steve always gives them £30 in his card. Where is the love? Personally I struggle and we try really hard to afford nice things for the boys. This year by “couponing” we got D something on the top of his Xmas wish list (ransom note). It’s a Lego train […]
Valentines day, over rated or brilliant?
Valentines day, to me it used to be special but now its just lame. Big shops and brands have got their claws into yet another traditional day and pimped it out for all its worth. I love sweet romantic thoughtful gestures, not so keen on another mug with hearts on, or heart shaped chocolates, or fluffy hand cuffs. Come on big shops, get a bit less tacky please? I’m going to be much more happy to receive a rose bush to plant out than a dozen roses to die on my fireplace in a vase. Much happier with a mars bar or a toffee crisp bar than a big pink “pretty” chocolate heart, its over priced and artificially coloured chocy always tastes wrong. Why did you have to mess with our traditions you greedy big brands? What was wrong with love letters and candlelit homemade dinners? Simple happiness not corporate […]
Nearly Christmas
Hullo, today we’ve been decorating the house and garden. This is the advent calendars. On a few of the pockets it looks empty but inside those are notes saying “see mummy or daddy for lego number 1234” etc. This is my front garden tree This is the main tree. And a close up… How much do you guys decorate?
Christmas shopping, skint style
Well we are off out, but we are paying in nectar points, gift cards, and Tesco clubcard double up points vouchers. Also been buying things on paypal funds which I’ve “earned” via quidco and online surveys. November wasn’t a good month, I was on holiday (which was fabulous but killed us in childcare), then I lost a few days sick, then tax credits sent us a £2k demand, sorry “invoice” due to them making mistakes EVERY year since my kids were born, and us duely informing them everytime. Family, be warned, you’re all getting 3for2 offer smellies from the nectar points, please fake a smile when you open them!
The day my Children met my Dad 2
I was looking through old photos last night and found some photos I wanted to share. These are taken on the ONLY time my Dad has met my sons. I nearly cried looking at them…….. These were taken on Halloween 2009. Its now 2 years since then, and he hasn’t come to see us. I can’t contact him as he doesn’t tell me his address, email or phone number. I love being the unwanted unplanned child, really, I do. 🙁 I’ve only seen this brother and sister once except the meeting photo’d here which hurts aswell to be honest. This meeting only came about as I found an old phone number and phoned him, D had been asking lots of awkward questions “Who is your Dad?” “If he’s my grandad why has he never met me?” “is he embarrassed by me Mum?” and so on. I gave my Dad an […]