January Miscellany

I was going to complain bitterly about the weather, the seemingly incessant rain more specifically. How the pots in our garden couldn’t cope with the deluge. The soaked coats and hair and the cold, don’t talk to me about the cold. Today though, I was greeted with a magnificent sunrise (no good pictures though) and my mood changed. I was going to spend the time complaining, but maybe it’s better to focus on the good things.

It’s been a busy but generally good couple of weeks since I last blogged. In no particular order;

:: Smallest girl turned three and was super excited to be a big girl and to have snow on her birthday. We all went outside and built a snowman in the meager snow. Then came a little party with all the grandparents and a cake. She was very happy to blow out her own candles too. And also the next day on her cake at nursery!!

:: I bought the first bunch of daffodils of 2016. A bit of Cornish sunshine made me think of Leanne and they brightened the kitchen up no end.

:: I splashed out on a new moisturiser as the cold had been playing havoc with my skin. My skin is very, very dry anyway and with the weather, drier still! Somehow a cleanser fell into the bag too. It was only a small size to see if it agreed with my skin and if I would keep it up. Just to set the record straight I do wash my face (!) but as I don't often wear make-up and have sensitive skin I don't use a 'soap' or make-up remover. One week down so far so good. I might need to go back and buy a bigger size of the cleanser and try to keep it up.

:: The girls played together nicely and I ‘enjoyed’ a bit of early morning ironing with ‘Would I lie to you’ on iplayer.

:: A friend from work who I became close to when pregnant with our first children left for a new job. It’s a great move for her and her career. She’s moving to the dark side of the Pennines and taking up residence in Liverpool. I’m really going to miss her. BigR had a little cry when she knew her friend was leaving but the joke is we’ll probably see more of them now than when they lived round the corner!

:: I’ve made (some) progress on a scarf for the ABO. As we’ve had such a mild winter so far he’s not needed it which is a good thing as I doubt if it’ll be ready until 2017!

:: I found an old Cath Kidston voucher with £7 left on it and bought a new ‘fold-away’ bag to keep in my work bag for when I need another bag.

:: I discovered the crack cocaine of the biscuit world. Thankfully I only work 3 days a week and left them there…until today…

:: I took LittleR’s old clothes to work for 2 friends who have girls who are a year younger than Littlest. Some of the ‘frocks’ were barely worn. It’s good to see them going to their new homes!

:: I (finally) plucked up the courage to speak to my boss about my work (specifically one area of it) and if we could make any changes. I've not been happy with one aspect for a while. I'm a bit of a round peg in a square hole and although everyone is lovely, I'm not really achieving much or feeling like I'm doing a good job. For those not in the know, usually academics are ‘rated’ on their ability to be returned in the Research Excellence Framework. Basically this is how Universities are given their research funding – the quality of the outputs (research articles, grants, indicators of esteem (no I’m not sure either)) is judged and money given in return. Now on the horizon is the Teaching excellence framework due to be judged in a similar (metric) way and ultimately I believe will change how fees can be charged. I was returned with my department last time in the REF but due to changes within departments, the wider University and education more generally our department is unlikely to be returned which puts research academics into difficulty. You might want to be returned and work towards this goal but then the department isn’t returned as a whole (the story has to 'fit') so where does that leave you (and ultimately your job!)? There’s an option to change contracts to be more teaching focussed but in a Russell group University teaching is (still) sadly seen as the poor relation to research. So now I’m not sure where my role stands or what I want to do. I love the teaching part of my job but it’s a bit of a conundrum.  

:: I’ve made copious scones. Sometimes Paul Hollywood’s sometimes Mary Berry’s. I found a jar of my strawberry jam (as opposed to Bonne Maman) in the cupboard and we’ve all been enjoying them with butter and a dollop of that. Now to get some clotted cream…

:: I’ve been in the mood to clear stuff out (see above with children’s clothes). I did a bit of a KonMari style tidying and thought to see which of my clothes ‘sparked joy’. I’d seen her book a few times and the idea looked interesting. It was a bit of a weird undertaking for a Brit to see what I found joyful but I got rid quite a bit of ‘stuff’ including 3 pairs of coloured jeans which I used to like but now don’t. I have my ‘at home’ uniform of white t shirt, jeans/denim skirt, cardi (various colours), scarf. I keep getting ideas of stripes or spots or something but that might be too much pattern with scarf and cardi. Hmm. More food for thought.

:: We went to the seaside, to Whitby. We walked on the beach even though the tide was coming in and had a treat of fish and chips in the Magpie Cafe then an ice cream on the pier (yes in January). It was such a lovely day with minimal moaning and arguing from the back seat of the car!

:: I’ve been making lists (many of them during meetings which I'm obliged to attend but can't make a meaningful contribution to). Lots of lists. Lots of notebooks. One of the best ways I cope with making decisions (see above for job thoughts) is making a list. Although when it came to the job options I did add 'give it all up' (which is not really an option – financially or intellectually and is little bit defeatist!) 

:: I've been revisiting the (now very long) list of things I want to make. First seen here. I've still not done the applique blanket(s - now the littlest will want her own too) or the skirts (although I have the fabric and it's nearly spring!) or the  photobooks. And I've added some extra things to it. First up is to finish the scarf (see above) and then I need to complete an embroidery for my friend's daughter. It was going to be a new baby present but then LittleR became ill and it got left by the wayside. Anyway it can be a first birthday present. Due for the end of February I think it's achievable and I'll share it here when it's done along with an updated long list.

Thanks to everyone for their comments recently. I know I'm terribly behind again on emailing you and commenting on your blogs. I'll get there eventually.  

The first 35 days...

Is it really over a month since I last posted? I've been reading but life stuff has kept me away from blogging and commenting. I want this to change and it will. I missed the year in books link up...(but then again I've not read many novels in the last month) but I will post about all my other reading in November...
In other news I've actually been quite good at remembering to write down one (or six) lovely things for the last 35 days (not including today...it's not done yet)...in between all the normal life stuff cleaning, cooking,everyone having an illness of some sort, the sort of inertia you just have to give into...or become overwhelmed.

Rather than bore everyone to tears with the randomly repeating subject matter (food and children) of every individual day here are the highlights...

Day 1 - Kids say the funniest things - LittlestR and me in the lift. "Quick man! Get in! Lift doors closing!" and as the doors opened "Out now man - don't hurt yourself - mind your fingers". He was very bemused. (Obviously not as good as BigR shouting when in a public loo "There's a lady doing a pooh" or better than that my friend's child (in the same loo) asking "Mummy why have you got a hairy bottom?")

Day 3 - Books Books and more books. I got lots of second hand craft books from Amazon. Some I'd wanted for ages....they've given me so much inspiration now I just need to get on with it!! I'm going for a face cloth in this one...primarily as I ahve all I need ot get on with it!

Day 10 Wonderful day out at YSP - seeing Wave and also the Rob Ryan exhibition. I love his papercuts.

LittleR loves the semi naked rabbits... "Mummy look the rabbit has no pants on"

Day 13 - Unlucky for some but not us. We had a wonderful child free day together, starting in Leeds (after nursery drop off) with a spot of shopping (a skirt for me - which reminds me of one I had 25 years ago!) and ending with a really lovely lunch here. It was brilliant and just what we needed.

Day 20 - I love it when the girls are able to play nicely together (by that I mean without arguing and without covering the house in pen/paint/glue)...the toys were having biscuits with their tea...Biggest girl obviously leads the play but now Littlest really tries to join in too.

Day 23 - I had my hair cut. I had 30cm cut off. I like it when I have a hair cut that you can't not notice.

Day 24 - I was going to make a cake but didn't have enough butter (Doh!) and couldn't go out as the girls were in bed...so I hatched a plan for a challah. It was very yum!

Day 27 - I made the bestest (even if I say so myself) beef stew. I think it was the mushrooms that did it (or the half bottle of very nice wine that went in it as well!!). I love my Le Cruset shallow casserole now I've gotten used to cooking in it. I want some more cast iron cookware!

Day 31 - We had a most excellent day out at Fountains Abbey. I've got family membership of the National trust and even though there are loads of places to go in Yorkshire we always end up here. mostly because it opens at 10am (I'm looking at you Beningborough Hall at 11am!!!) and does the most excellent cakes (cheese scones and fat rascals) and lunches! There's an excellent circular walk around the abbey and foundations so you don't have to turn round at any point and decide to come back. It was a beautiful Autumnal day and LittleR was free to run round until she couldn't walk any more. It really is the best exercise to push a toddler up a massive hill in a buggy.

Day 32 - sometimes it really is about the little things. Our peg bag went to the great peg bag graveyard in the sky the other week. The ABO had a fit of pique on the muddy grass with our overfilled old peg bag and promptly threw it in the bin and transferred the pegs to a (now very exclusive) carrier bag. I had grand plans to make my own but as I've a HUGE list of things to make and am no where nearer to completing them let alone adding a new on to the list I went to the next best place. Etsy. Behold my new and very jolly oil cloth peg bag from KTCreates4u.

Day 33 - The ABO is on the early shift this week. Sometimes he's back at lunchtime (after leaving at 4.30am) but it's a busy week and today he wasn't back until after 5pm. The girls and I had a lovely day together, I was able not to be a shouty mummy. It was fab. We fed the ducks (in the rain) at Golden Acre Park, jumped in some muddy puddles and then went out for lunch to Pizza Express for a treat. In the afternoon the girls played beautifully (a miracle for me not to act as referee), then watched Frozen with popcorn and I made some (as yet untried) chilli jam. Don't worry it all went down hill the next day, but hey, I was non-shouty for an entire day and it was really noticeable - well to me at least!

Here's hoping I blog again in the next 35 days! Its going to be an interesting couple of weeks as we've got half term to look forward to! I'm also looking forward to commenting on your blogs too.

Coasting

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Where is the time going? Life here seems to be coasting, drifting if you will along a current of appointments and treatments for our youngest. There's been practical changes to our work arrangements (well mainly mine as being an academic is fairly flexible) as she can't go to nursery at the moment. We've become experts in her condition, in giving her medication, in undertaking daily tests, in knowing and understanding and negotiating the subtleties of the health service. It's hard advocating for your child, making decisions on her treatment which could affect her future, it's very hard. If I had a penny for everyone who has said to me "Ooh you'd never think she was ill would you" I'd be very, very, very rich. I know (for the most part) they mean well but it doesn't really help much. Of course, it is incongruous, a very ill child who's running round and doing forward rolls.  

Not wanting to be left out it's looking likely that our eldest has a nut allergy. Pistachios for certain. Other nuts? Who knows but she's not having nuts anymore. More referrals. More appointments. More tests. Even with 'insider' knowledge on navigating the health system it's exhausting.

But amidst this there is joy. 

I've laughed myself silly at Peter Kay's new comedy about a car share. i think it might be one of those that you keep coming back to. We've watched some more films - 24 Hour Party People (again), Alan Partridge - Alpha Papa (again), Silver Linings Playbook (which I loved as a book and the film was pretty good) and with the girls, Despicable Me. They are now officially minions crazy.

Another upside of being home more is more time in the garden. The girls love playing in the garden , although my plants and I aren't that happy with an enthusiastic 2 year old pulling and trampling on them.

I've been growing alliums again this year and finally, finally had success. I'm very pleased with myself!

My trusty azalea has burst into flower again, It's hot pink blooms really cheer a corner of the garden. I believe the old wive's tale too (that they like being moved) and took it on its annual walk round the garden (it is in a pot, I've not lost my mind that much) before it flowered.

I'm looking forward to a bounty of blueberries this year. LittleR ate the best part of a punnet today!

I've made a lot of new cakes but taken no pictures of them. Cherry cake, chocolate marble cake, (the offensive) pistachio cake.  I thank you Mary Berry and Fay Ripley.

I've been reading numerous cookery books and making a huge list of new things to try.

I still haven't gotten round to buying that mug. Although I did spot an interim replacement in Asda the other day. I love a puffin.

I'm reading your blogs but doing it from my phone means commenting is more challenging. I hope normal service can be resumed...eventually.