A Recipe for Being 40

Firstly I'd like to apologise to anyone who has not yet / or only just turned, 40!

I'd like to say life began at 40, but so far (in 6 months) I've had the worst conjunctivitis ever, sciatica, every germ going and right now, eustachian tube dysfunction! In case you're wondering, that's an EAR infection!  Although I must say that not being able to hear in surround sound for over 3 weeks has its advantages!


Throw into the mix, a 5-year-old who wakes up almost every morning, 5am on the dot, with nose bleed!  Apparently it's common in young children when the weather is repeatedly dry.


Add a 9-year-old (8 at the time) who decided to cut her head open on the corner of a kitchen cupboard door the night before her birthday, resulting in an evening at minor injuries!


Finally, mix in daily life at this time of year, which includes, 2 sports days, a writing event in youngest child's class room, school trips, eldest taking part in our town's carnival, several birthday parties/play dates for friends of both kids, and cook at a repeated daily temperature of over 20 degrees, and congratulations! You've created one dishevelled, only just, 40 something! 


Caffeine and wine are what keeps' me going as always!  Although I haven't been allowed the wine part recently due to anti biotic and steroid medication for the EAR infection!!


Much love everybody xx

Oh Lemons!

For those who haven't seen my original 'lemons' post, this is about when life throws you lemons.

I always find when this happens that I deal with the situation in a completely calm and adult manner.  No seriously!  I do!




Usually the anxiety that something may go wrong and the 'what ifs' are worse than when something does actually go wrong, and all that's left for you to do is sort the issue out.




Truth is, there's no point not smiling your way through the day, whatever the day brings, otherwise you wake up one day and wonder where your life went.  And the answer to that is, you wasted it worrying about things that may never happen. 




There's always going to be another mountain or hill to climb, that's just how it goes.  Don't wait until you're at the top before you smile! 




When I started writing this post it wasn't meant to turn out so 'meaningful!' 




So while I'm here, relating to my earlier 'lemons' post, I am glad I didn't stop blogging as I suggested back then. 


And to prove Maternal Instincts is still alive and kicking, here's a sneak peak of the sequel book cover!


Not giving any more than that away yet!  Got a long way to go yet! 


Have a lovely smiley day everyone! xx



Pok 'e' boy

I was going to call this post 'Pokeboy' but realised that doesn't sound right!!

So, Pok 'e' boy is a small, almost 6 year old, Pokemon obsessed child who lives under the same roof as me!

There's really no cause for alarm but to make everyone aware here are his most obvious (annoying) characteristics!

*  Continuous talking, all Pokemon based.

*  Words and names that make less sense than a 1 year old learning to talk!

*  Daily air guitar to the Pokemon theme tune which is slowly moving into other guitar music as well.

*  As soon as he receives a new Pokemon figure, he's instantly onto the next one he wants.

*  ALL Pokemon Cost a fortune!

Should you spot Pok 'e' boy anywhere, my advice would be not to enter into any conversation with him or you'll be there all day! Don't offer to go in any shops with him! And don't think you know more about Pokemon than he does!

Good luck to any parents with children developing even just the smallest interest in Pokemon!

Xx

Taking the spaniel out

A 5 year old is like a spaniel! Honestly sometimes a trip out is like taking a dog out!

Take yesterday for example, we embarked on a blustery sunny Sunday walk from home to the next town along the sea front and canal.  5 year old moaned continuously until allowed to throw himself onto the beach, where he returns 2 seconds later with many many pebbles, all of which he insists on keeping!

Then walking off the beaten track for a bit he finds a stick, well more of a branch really, and carries this, not letting anyone else touch it, until we reach the edge of town where we have to convince him he cannot take it in the cafe, and to leave it at the side of the pavement.

In cafe have to continuously ask him to get his feet down off the chair, as they are muddy!

When we start on our trek back home we have to go the exact route back to see if stick (branch) is where it was left and to our disbelief and the spaniel's delight, it was!

Always Trust Your Maternal Instincts

So as I'm sitting here with a poorly 5-year-old on this lovely sunny Sunday, thought I should really write a blog as it's been a while!

He's sat beside me watching 'Dinosaur' on DVD, huddled under his Pokemon blanket feeling rather...........!!

Hopefully by this evening we will have forgotten he was ever poorly!

But this little episode has reminded me to always trust my maternal instincts.  In reality I saw this coming yesterday but was caught up in my day and ignored the signs. 

Sometimes when young children behave in an erratic manner it can be a sign they don't feel 100%. Of course it can also be them just behaving like children, so it's hard to spot!  Yesterday 5-year-old went from one extreme to the other with 1 minute distraught crying over everything and the next laughing hysterically about nothing!  And as a result today I am sat here watching a dinosaur film waiting for the washing machine, which is fill of his bedding, to finish!

So here endeth today's little lesson! Hope you're all having a better day than us!
Xx

What have you done today?

What have you done today to make you feel proud?

Well , yesterday for example,  I turned up for work after a lovely week off, without moaning!  Didn't drink nearly enough caffeine and realised at 5.30pm that I hadn't had a drink (of any sort) for at least 4 hours!  Incidentally, this is actual footage of my desk most mornings!!

Other areas of achievment today, include not hyperventilating when 8 year old threw toothpaste down her clean dress at 8am!  And not complaining when 5 year old wanted to sit and read through every single Pokemon name on the leaflet that came with his latest Pokemon toy, about 30,000 times!

So, to continue quoting lines from 'Miranda' (in case Miranda Hart is reading this, by far the best comedy sitcom ever!! - Seriously I do love it!) 'I'm off for a 'what I call' glass of wine! And to contemplate the fact that East Kent is due for about 3 snow flakes overnight and we may be facing this in the morning..........!!

Have a good evening everyone!!

New Year, New Look

Happy 2019 one and all.






With the new year comes a new look for my book 'Maternal Instincts the laugh or you might cry diary.' 

Available again now on Amazon and Waterstones websites.  So tell everyone you know, spread the word!


So how are we all 4 days into 2019?  Any new year's resolutions out there?  For myself, I refer you to my post from last year concerning resolutions -


'Call me pessimistic but personally I don't see the point!  I mean, it's worth it if you're planning on stopping smoking or something life changing but you've still got to really want it.  You've got to be mentally prepared, and personally I don't feel mentally prepared to stop buying lattes, start jogging or even go 'dry January!'


My birthday (this year a particular milestone) is this month so dry January wouldn't work anyway! 


And for the last few days I am relishing in the fact I can finally (after 4 months) enjoy a drink without coughing!  Has anyone else experienced the hacking cough that just won't do one?  I eventually stumbled on 'Lemsip cough syrup.'  Not the drink or the capsules, but an actual syrup that is soooooooo menthol it clears noses in the whole street!  But it doesn't half help soothe a tickly throat!  Highly recommended.
A sip of this, followed by some wine a bit later also helps you sleep!!


Have a lovely evening everyone, I am just remembering it's Friday, serious 'day confusion' over the Christmas and New Year period!!


Much love xx