This weekend our son turned 18 so it has been somewhat hectic. Things got off to a wonderful start Friday morning...............and continued all weekend. The sun shone, though better today, and we hope everyone had a good time. Tim was dead chuffed with all his cards and gifts - he especially enjoyed the ones from Becci & Ric and Inekes ( where did she get my photo from, mum?). We made way too much food of course, and now have the 'left-overs' in the fridge, but since they are mainly cakes and desserts - ouch!!! My poor diet is really taking a beating right now!
I was up with the larks this morning as well, baking cupcakes and brownies to take for a birthday in Amsterdam. I was happy with the result, but since I did this on commission, then I am waiting to hear whether or not everyone at the party thought they were good or not............it was the first time I had ever tried to drive into the centre of Amsterdam too!!! Not faultless by any means but that map was a godsend getting into the centre; coming back we relied on Tom and discovered a totally different route!!!! But I have to admit, it was not too difficult since we came out near Ijburg and then I knew where we were going.
The rest of the afternoon I have spent in the garden whilst the sun shone, with the cats, in between bouts of housework and washing etc. I gather we are to expect a lovely Easter weekend, but I am working on Good Friday, by the way, so it will be the usual one for me. Tim will spend the week afterwards in the bakery for 4 days which he is looking forward to. And, they loved my Lemon Cake so much that Tim can try and make it there this Thursday so they can try it out in the shop - yey!!!! Now if they liked my Carrot Cake as well.................:-)
I have photos to share but that will be tomorrow. I can feel my eyes prickling so I suspect it will be an early night for me, to catch up on my beauty sleep at last.
Hope your weekend is a good one too everyone.
Sue xx
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Friday, 15 April 2011
Busy week
so what do you do when you cannot sleep any more and it seems a shame to waste your waking hours?
1. Stick photos in your son's 18th birthday album.
2. Iron cushion covers.
3. Write blog post.
4. Read mail.
5. Chop carrots for Carrot Cake.
6. Tidy kitchen.
.....and much more it would seem this morning!! It's now 5.25am on a Friday morning and I have been awake since Tim left for the bakery at 3.45am. Tried to get back to sleep but it failed. Too much on my mind, too little time to get things done in, butterflies in my tummy!!!!
Sue xx
1. Stick photos in your son's 18th birthday album.
2. Iron cushion covers.
3. Write blog post.
4. Read mail.
5. Chop carrots for Carrot Cake.
6. Tidy kitchen.
.....and much more it would seem this morning!! It's now 5.25am on a Friday morning and I have been awake since Tim left for the bakery at 3.45am. Tried to get back to sleep but it failed. Too much on my mind, too little time to get things done in, butterflies in my tummy!!!!
Sue xx
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Photos from the garden
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| Finka in the flower bed! |
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| Catching a few rays |
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| Shady spot for the first planter |
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| Squatters rights! |
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| Much more civilised; we each have our own place to sit!!! |
Over ambidextrousness and mouse thumbs.....
I was reading Ineke's current post just now, and could so identify with her tale about being ambidextrous. I do a lot of the same things as she, especially with regards to sport. No backhands for me - I just flip the racket from left to right hand and hit a wide forehand! Catching and throwing are somewhat hit and miss since my aim is always off course - playing rounders at school was interesting. I would stand at the base with bat in my left hand and wait whilst all the fielders shuffled round a bit in the outer field....and then miss!!! I recall just standing there with my eyes shut whenever a ball was heading in my direction as a fielder, as I was never ever going to catch it. I can throw with both hands, I'm just not very good at it. Going up a ladder is hard; I never know which foot to place first on the rail....a true dominant foot I haven't got!! Becci is even more crossed laterally; she writes with her right hand and eats left-handedly!! A simple question of heredity Becs. I am pre-dominantly left handed in most things apart from using scissors. These I do neatly with my right hand. I paint with both hands too, now I think of it. I can write with both hands and am especially talented at mirror writing; seems to be the most natural way to go for me. As to the mouse.....I use it right-handedly and have no problem, but I do suspect there are some ergonomic design faults at work, Ineke!! As an OT I can assure you that it exists and with over-usage and incorrect placement, you will have a problem.
I have been busy outside in the sunshine this morning, cleaning the slabs and in between them in the back garden. I also cleaned under the table and the umbrella stand - wow! My little bottle of cleaner from Action worked perfectly!! I had given some to our neighbour yesterday and when I was hanging out of the upstairs windows this morning cleaning them, I noticed theirs was remarkably clean too. What a euro will do for you, folks!!! It all looks so much better already, so we are keeping everything crossed that next weekend the sun will shine again................
On the Daily Mail pages today there is a lengthy article about the Menopause, which having read it, I don't know whether to laugh or cry!! It states that the average age for women to start is 52, in the UK. Then famous and other women go on to relate their experiences. Very few seem to have had an easy passage!! Me, I still really don't seem to have got there, even though all my friends have, practically, and I am still waiting for those dreadful hot flushes and tears, and sweats, and emotional instability, and loss of my womanhood...................or maybe I am the one who is going to sail through without even noticing? PLEASE!!!!!
Sue xx
I have been busy outside in the sunshine this morning, cleaning the slabs and in between them in the back garden. I also cleaned under the table and the umbrella stand - wow! My little bottle of cleaner from Action worked perfectly!! I had given some to our neighbour yesterday and when I was hanging out of the upstairs windows this morning cleaning them, I noticed theirs was remarkably clean too. What a euro will do for you, folks!!! It all looks so much better already, so we are keeping everything crossed that next weekend the sun will shine again................
On the Daily Mail pages today there is a lengthy article about the Menopause, which having read it, I don't know whether to laugh or cry!! It states that the average age for women to start is 52, in the UK. Then famous and other women go on to relate their experiences. Very few seem to have had an easy passage!! Me, I still really don't seem to have got there, even though all my friends have, practically, and I am still waiting for those dreadful hot flushes and tears, and sweats, and emotional instability, and loss of my womanhood...................or maybe I am the one who is going to sail through without even noticing? PLEASE!!!!!
Sue xx
Saturday, 9 April 2011
weekend
Not such a promising start as yesterday at this hour, but the forecast is good. There are too many clouds right now to say whether it is going to be another ' do nothing but sit in the back garden' day or not. I am hoping it will be! Several things to get done first, or rather, scattered at odd intervals during the day. First a trip into town to sort out some business - happy story but saving for later - and then a long overdue visit to my hairdresser - haven't been for months and it shows!!! - and then I need to think about repairing our sun screen at the front window. Since we are currently having some plague issues here - as in the biblical sense only so far no locusts ( have had ants!! ) the latest one was the snapping of the belt that hoists it up and down. It is now permanently down, which we are not amused by, as it is not necessary and I tend to bang my head on it a lot! I know it is a pulley system but I haven't got any rope to tie it back up in place, and alone it will only lead to more headaches when it falls on my head again!! Ouch, that is incredibly painful I found out!!
And the clematii are growing FAST. I was thinking I had more time to get some trellis in place but NO, they are whizzing up so fast I need to get some this weekend if possible. I discussed it yesterday with our neighbour, so I reckon I need to take measurements, do some recon down at the DIY stores and decide what I need for the job. Then it can get done please!?!
One week today and Tim turns 18. I'd thought I would have plenty of time during the coming week for all the preparations etc but it turns out that I will only have Friday and Saturday morning to do what I have to do! It does feel kind of wonderful to think that he has survived this long in my care, but whilst staring independence and manhood in the face, the boy is still very much in evidence. One minute being sensible, practical, rational, solid, and the next impossible, tempestuous, irrational, annoying, frustrating - a teenager full-on!! We are giving him a driving lesson as his present, cos here it is 18 when you start to learn to drive. However, the laws are changing in September this year, and kids will be allowed to learn at 17 AND drive with people who have got their licences for a number of years already. I hope this will work in our favour and reduce the number of paid lessons Tim will require, but we need to see how he gets on with the first one! Must sort out the flag....................
Just rambling on a tad this morning but that's due to the early start. Waking up at 5.30am and taking Tim to work so I can use my bike today, sort of gets the day going sooner than I find agreeable! But it provides great study time, thinking and planning time, coffee drinking time, blogging, and all those other silly little things that you can do before it reaches a reasonable time to put the washing machine on!!!!
Sue xx
And the clematii are growing FAST. I was thinking I had more time to get some trellis in place but NO, they are whizzing up so fast I need to get some this weekend if possible. I discussed it yesterday with our neighbour, so I reckon I need to take measurements, do some recon down at the DIY stores and decide what I need for the job. Then it can get done please!?!
One week today and Tim turns 18. I'd thought I would have plenty of time during the coming week for all the preparations etc but it turns out that I will only have Friday and Saturday morning to do what I have to do! It does feel kind of wonderful to think that he has survived this long in my care, but whilst staring independence and manhood in the face, the boy is still very much in evidence. One minute being sensible, practical, rational, solid, and the next impossible, tempestuous, irrational, annoying, frustrating - a teenager full-on!! We are giving him a driving lesson as his present, cos here it is 18 when you start to learn to drive. However, the laws are changing in September this year, and kids will be allowed to learn at 17 AND drive with people who have got their licences for a number of years already. I hope this will work in our favour and reduce the number of paid lessons Tim will require, but we need to see how he gets on with the first one! Must sort out the flag....................
Just rambling on a tad this morning but that's due to the early start. Waking up at 5.30am and taking Tim to work so I can use my bike today, sort of gets the day going sooner than I find agreeable! But it provides great study time, thinking and planning time, coffee drinking time, blogging, and all those other silly little things that you can do before it reaches a reasonable time to put the washing machine on!!!!
Sue xx
Friday, 8 April 2011
Thursday, 7 April 2011
sun today??
Hope so! Each day I have worked it has been sunny, and each day I've been home it's been cold. How fair is that?!! I brought home some plants from work on Monday and I really need to get them planted today.
I now have one of the planters in the backyard full of soil.........ready............waiting..........hoping.............
one more week, as I have heard on the wind that I am due a garden centre voucher..............yes!!!! Thank you SO much Hillie & Kemal!!!! xxxxx
So Tim's back tyre exploded yesterday. Great. Just what we need right now!
Got an order for my cupcakes and brownies. Very good. Love baking!!
Did ironing at 5am this morning. Good time management or insomnia?? Not sure on this one!
Applying for jobs. Scary. Necessary. Essential in fact!! Fingers crossed everyone.
Countdown to birthday number 18; just one more week to go!
Posted a birthday card without a stamp. Apparently, can't even remember doing it!!!
Feeling a tad stressed...................adopting your knack of understatement m'dear!!! ;-)
Sue xx
I now have one of the planters in the backyard full of soil.........ready............waiting..........hoping.............
one more week, as I have heard on the wind that I am due a garden centre voucher..............yes!!!! Thank you SO much Hillie & Kemal!!!! xxxxx
So Tim's back tyre exploded yesterday. Great. Just what we need right now!
Got an order for my cupcakes and brownies. Very good. Love baking!!
Did ironing at 5am this morning. Good time management or insomnia?? Not sure on this one!
Applying for jobs. Scary. Necessary. Essential in fact!! Fingers crossed everyone.
Countdown to birthday number 18; just one more week to go!
Posted a birthday card without a stamp. Apparently, can't even remember doing it!!!
Feeling a tad stressed...................adopting your knack of understatement m'dear!!! ;-)
Sue xx
Friday, 1 April 2011
they're making the film............
my personal favourite for Jean Valjean would have to be Alfie Boe!!!! Enjoy.
Sue xx
Sue xx
Excitement turning to dismay
as I realise that TOTPs will be shown on BBC 4 this Thursday!! Why oh why not 1 or 2 so we could watch it here too??? They are starting in 1976, and I would so love to see it all over again! Make my son sit up and listen to the music of my youth for a change!!! Ah well, maybe if it proves really popular they will switch channels..............at the moment we cannot get i-player here although there are talks of that being made available at a price, later this year. It would take us right back down memory lane wouldn't it?....
At the moment I am being seduced by the smell of Brownies cooling in the oven, for tomorrow. If they have turned out well I am taking them to my study day. A little treat for all our hard work!!! Tomorrow we are presenting which is not my favourite thing to do when I know the audience; stand me up in front of as many unknown faces as you like and I feel at ease. But, family, friends or colleagues, and its another matter. You are listening to the girl who made her grandma sit in another room when she wanted to hear me play piano!!! Singing to myself in the car or living room or kitchen is super, but an audience?????
Last night we had our 20 minutes of singing tuition from the singing teacher who comes fortnightly to choir practice. I have to say I do love it! It is so helpful learning the proper techniques and how to make the right sound. Sadly there were only 9 of us present, which continues to be an extreme worry for the rest of us. We simply cannot manage much longer if we don't boost our membership fast. Good thing is we are learning a couple of songs from Phantom so I am in heaven!!! I enjoy that so much more than the Beatles and some of the other songs in our repertoire. I missed the Beatles completely (too young) and never really got into them. Nor the Stones - I was a true child of the 70's not the 60's. But we have our committee meeting next week so no doubt there will be lots to discuss again.
Tim and I are watching Masterchef the Professionals together. I know it is an old series but still, we do enjoy it especially trying to decide who we like the best!! It helps that it is on after Bondi as that is Tim's favourite programme in the early evening scheduling. We usually have dinner watching that at 6pm, and then Masterchef just naturally follows on. It always interests us how many of the chefs lack in their pastry skills - puddings are sometimes disastrous, yet they are what appeal to us the most. Sometimes it does make me want to try one or two of them, ones I have got plenty of recipes for but never tried. Or have tried but been unimpressed with the result. I have narrowed it down to three for Tim's birthday; just not sure which two I really want to go with....................at the moment it is worrying how many of the recipes seem to involve alcohol...........................
Been busy with birthday cards since April is one of the busiest months for us as regards birthdays. I have a lot of friends who are born under the sign of Aries. I wonder what the attraction is between them and me as a Pisces? You can almost guarantee that when I get on really well with someone new, and then get to hear when they have their birthday, it will be in this sign. Even down to the student at work!!!
For me, I think it has to do with their down-to-earth-ness which I am lacking in so many ways. I always feel they are braver than me too. Moving forward with me tagging along behind until I felt ready to take my share. More earthy, grounded, sensible, practical......not many of them are dreamers like me!!! When I was on holiday with Gebke, she was totally the one who was prepared for every eventuality and had the sensible dress and baggage etc. I was better with timing and getting where we needed to be in plenty of time, but she was more practical and laid back about it all. Perhaps it is the complimentary nature of our two signs that makes us compatible as friends? Anyway, what ever it is, happy birthday to all my friends this month!!!
Sue xx
At the moment I am being seduced by the smell of Brownies cooling in the oven, for tomorrow. If they have turned out well I am taking them to my study day. A little treat for all our hard work!!! Tomorrow we are presenting which is not my favourite thing to do when I know the audience; stand me up in front of as many unknown faces as you like and I feel at ease. But, family, friends or colleagues, and its another matter. You are listening to the girl who made her grandma sit in another room when she wanted to hear me play piano!!! Singing to myself in the car or living room or kitchen is super, but an audience?????
Last night we had our 20 minutes of singing tuition from the singing teacher who comes fortnightly to choir practice. I have to say I do love it! It is so helpful learning the proper techniques and how to make the right sound. Sadly there were only 9 of us present, which continues to be an extreme worry for the rest of us. We simply cannot manage much longer if we don't boost our membership fast. Good thing is we are learning a couple of songs from Phantom so I am in heaven!!! I enjoy that so much more than the Beatles and some of the other songs in our repertoire. I missed the Beatles completely (too young) and never really got into them. Nor the Stones - I was a true child of the 70's not the 60's. But we have our committee meeting next week so no doubt there will be lots to discuss again.
Tim and I are watching Masterchef the Professionals together. I know it is an old series but still, we do enjoy it especially trying to decide who we like the best!! It helps that it is on after Bondi as that is Tim's favourite programme in the early evening scheduling. We usually have dinner watching that at 6pm, and then Masterchef just naturally follows on. It always interests us how many of the chefs lack in their pastry skills - puddings are sometimes disastrous, yet they are what appeal to us the most. Sometimes it does make me want to try one or two of them, ones I have got plenty of recipes for but never tried. Or have tried but been unimpressed with the result. I have narrowed it down to three for Tim's birthday; just not sure which two I really want to go with....................at the moment it is worrying how many of the recipes seem to involve alcohol...........................
Been busy with birthday cards since April is one of the busiest months for us as regards birthdays. I have a lot of friends who are born under the sign of Aries. I wonder what the attraction is between them and me as a Pisces? You can almost guarantee that when I get on really well with someone new, and then get to hear when they have their birthday, it will be in this sign. Even down to the student at work!!!
For me, I think it has to do with their down-to-earth-ness which I am lacking in so many ways. I always feel they are braver than me too. Moving forward with me tagging along behind until I felt ready to take my share. More earthy, grounded, sensible, practical......not many of them are dreamers like me!!! When I was on holiday with Gebke, she was totally the one who was prepared for every eventuality and had the sensible dress and baggage etc. I was better with timing and getting where we needed to be in plenty of time, but she was more practical and laid back about it all. Perhaps it is the complimentary nature of our two signs that makes us compatible as friends? Anyway, what ever it is, happy birthday to all my friends this month!!!
Sue xx
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