Precious things

I’m delighted and really exited to have been asked by Sarah at Mitenska to become part of this blogging collaboration. Sarah asked what are our precious things? What would we save from a burning building? It’s really made me think about the things I have and what I would miss. Perhaps things I see and use every day and yet don’t always register.

This small postcard sized ink drawing in its dusty (and cheap) frame is my first item. It sits amongst the toys on our living room fireplace. It was one of many pictures that sat on the hearth, initially to cover the horrendous fireplace (we changed that) but we’re now down to two. It’s an ink drawing street in Monmartre at night with the Sacre Coeur in the background. I bought this in 1998 when I went to a conference in Paris.

This was a significant trip for me, although at the time it didn’t feel like it. It was the first time I’d travelled alone. It was the first time I explored a city alone and entirely able to do as I pleased. It was the first time I’d had to present and defend my work to a (pretty big – eek) audience. I walked and walked and walked and walked. Along the Seine. Through Monmartre. Around La Defense. I went to the Louvre and the Musee D’Orsay. I ate steak and chips alone in a restaurant served by a surly Parisian waiter. It wasn’t the romantic trip lots of people have to Paris. It was an international conference on obesity and my head was full of genetics and the work presented there was a chapter in my thesis. It was when I felt like a real academic. When I felt that I was contributing to the world and I wanted to remember this. I looked at the pictures the artists had on display on the streets, thinking I’d like to take a little piece of this with me. It took me ages to decide which to have. Something about this one, drawn and coloured on a piece of brown paper, spoke to me. Now it reminds me of a time when my work was most important, when the Rs weren’t even considered and when I was building up to be who I am now.

Joining in with

Sarah at Mitenska

Leanne at Today’s Stuff

Bee at The Linen Cloud

You’ll find their Precious Things there.

Friday happies on a Friday

I can hardly believe it is Friday already this week. The time (especially as I’ve been off work) has just been zipping by. It’s been a couple of weeks of change not only in the season, there’s definitely more than a sniff of autumn in the air but also changes for us. BigR started school and turned 5. I survived a children’s party and the immense pressure of pass the parcel (who knew it was sooooo stressful? Making sure every child had a turn, making sure it wasn’t my child that ‘won’ the big prize – or maybe that’s just me?!). I also survived another bout of sickness which led to an extra couple of days off work for me to care for LittleR (she was fine but there was a 48 hour exclusion period after illness so she couldn’t go to nursery!). We’ve been switching things round at home too. Clearing a few things out – this time of year really appeals to my getting organised side. We’ve changed BigRs room a little bit by giving her a big girl bed and some new wardrobes now the old furniture doesn’t fit in the room (they’re still to be delivered and then built!). We’ve made upstairs a bit more play friendly by moving some toys into LittleRs room so it’s more of a play room for the girls too. I’m feeling exceptionally smug about my pinterest find for Barbie type dolls....it’s stopped me stepping on them. Of course, it could be they just have too many toys....

So in no particular order and joining in with Gillian, here are my happies.

The garden

I’ve been loving being outside. The ABO has been on lates so I’ve been doing the school pick up (still not quite used to that) and we’ve been having an hour in the garden before tea. It’s really helped to ensure a good night’s sleep for everyone! LittleR cannot get enough of being outside. Someone just has to mention the word garden and she’s off to get her shoes. She really cannot get enough of it.

We seem to have quite a few sunflower buds appearing. I thought they’d flower a lot earlier who knew they’d be perfect in September?

 I’m enjoying the second flurry of flowers my clematis are having. The deep red one was bought as it has the same name as LittleR (there’s also a heuchera in the garden with BigR’s name - no one is left out) and the purple one appeared in a flower pot of sweet peas my Dad gave me a few years ago. Can you see the green beetle in the purple one? I wonder if he thought he was shielded by the flower centre? Not sure what he is or if he’s a danger to my clematis but I was struck at the colour contrast.

We’ve had great success with our blueberries. I was a little bit quick off the mark and offered one to BigR about 3 weeks ago which she declared disgusting. An extra few weeks of ripening and they are delicious.

I’m also very pleased with the success of our pepper. It’s not very big but is turning a beautiful red colour. I wonder when it’ll be best to pick?

School

BigR is loving school. She didn’t cry. I didn’t cry. I ate biscuits and wondered about the house being quiet.

One thing I am amused by is the magic portal of the school bag. BigR comes home and messages are imparted via the magic portal. I am amazed by the sheer number of letters she has had already. Also, it has magical properties. She brings home a wonderful creation (or some tat – for example she may have brought home a 12 egg egg box filled with pom poms and wool cuttings and still wet pva glue) which we consider as decoration in various places in the house before LittleR grabs it and attempts to inhale the contents thereby it makes its way back into the magic portal not to be seen again.

We live opposite her school. This is good for a whole number of reasons. However one downside was realised today. The ABO was sorting something in his car boot and she was outside (in a lesson) which resulted in lots of shouting ‘Hello Daddy!!’. We joked that she’d be asking where we were if the car was not on the drive when she was at school!!

Birthday

BigR was 5 on Monday. Five. Five. How did that happen?
We all survived the party and the present opening and all the grandparents visiting before school in the afternoon. She had a fabulous time. She loved her ‘Frozen’ party and her ‘Elsa cake’ (which even though I say so myself, was delicious, and yes I had the final slice!).

Elsa barely leaves her side now.

The year in books - September

Well August came and went in what seemed to be a flash. With that went my reading too. I seem to have fallen off the reading horse. No books finished at all in August (unless you count hundreds and hundreds of children’s stories...no? Oh OK).

Well a fresh new start for September. I’ve already said how much I love this time of year. This September I will be reading the new Ann Cleeves novel in the ‘Shetland’ series 'Thin Air' (which is published tomorrow) and also finishing the Elizabeth Jane Howard novel (it’s good so I don’t know what happened to me!) I started in August.

Once again joining in with Laura and the Year in Books.

September

I love this time of year. The smell of freshly sharpened pencils (yes that was a “You’ve Got Mail” quote). I really get the New Year feeling, must be the academic in me never letting go of the start of the school term! It’s been a part of my life for 36 years! And now...it’s going to be part of BigR’s life. Today is BigR’s last day at nursery and tomorrow afternoon she goes to school for the first time. By rights I should be at work but I’m at home as LittleR was unwell yesterday. Still the illness only last 8 hours and she was wolfing down food yesterday afternoon. Back to normal (but obeying the 48 hours illness rule).

Big R is ready for school. More than ready. She’s 5 in less than a week but...all of a sudden I am not. I think I’m mourning the loss of our flexibility more than anything. Wondering if she'll be OK (I know she will). Still I guess it’s a big change for us all. And she can’t wait to be able to read herself. So today I had a moment of what it’ll be like when the ABO is on earlies and BigR is at school. I spent the morning with LittleR and we did ‘jobs’. She’s good company! Loves pointing out babies – ‘Baby! Shhhh’ and anything emblazoned with ‘Minnie’, ‘Kitty’ or ‘Peppa’.

We went to Ikea to get a few organising bits and a chair for LittleR to (hopefully) stop the squabbling over who gets to sit on the chair. I love this time of year to clear stuff out and get stuff done. So with that in mind, I treated myself to a new notebook and some paper tapes there too (it would’ve been rude not to) but managed not to overdo it too much! We had a coffee (me) and some cucumber snacks and animal biscuits (LittleR, oh OK and me) Then, we stopped off to get some new bedding for BigR’s big girl bed.

Now LittleR is napping and when I’ve finished this I’m going to do some of the necessary domestic jobs (clear away lunch, hang out the washing, tidy up the toys again)...and arrange my dishwasher tablets into their new container. That really pleases me.

Sunday happies

Some shadows I noticed at work one day.

The days and weeks just seem to slip by. We’ve been in a haze of illness (short lived but nasty and the horrible wondering of who might succumb next...) (the ABO), leaving nursery excitement (BigR), learning to jump and fearlessly bump downstairs (no stair gate can hold her back) (LittleR) and coping with all of these things (me). Here are (some of the things) that are my happies since the last time I posted. Joining in with Gillian.

:: Learning to crochet.

I had a fab day with my friend on the ‘learn to crochet’ workshop. Not only did we put the world to rights and have a very tasty lunch (even with many gluten free options for my friend) I even learnt a new skill.

OK...it’s a bit ‘loose’ and ‘rustic’ but coming along. Hopefully I’ll get the hang of tension!!!

I‘m a loooooooooong way off the skill level of many fellow bloggers, but you never know one day I might improve enough to be half as good as them. Practice makes perfect. If I’m able to find the time to practice. It’s a priority for me to make time to do this.

:: Actually making a quiche. I followed this recipe from Sue at the Quince Tree’s blog. I even made the pastry. It was quite simple (in the end) and very delicious. I’ll certainly be doing that again. I’ve been trying to cook a bit more so we have some freezer options. The other weekend I made a shepherd’s pie and put two in the freezer as homemade ready meals. Next up some dinners for the girls.

:: Seeing this bee (can you spot him? or her? I know nothing of bees. Do female bees get to leave the hive?) on some very random planting outside Tesco near the A&E dept of the Leeds General Infirmary. He looked very happy. I’ve seen a lot more bees this year.

:: Spending my birthday money on some books. I had a gift voucher from some review work I did ages ago too. I’m loving the Smitten Kitchen...so many delicious things to make.

::Attempting some (more) inspiration for Autumn cooking. I’m hoping the couple of hours (don’t get me started on all my leave disappearing for the 2 weeks of 2 hour days BigR has starting school!!) I have when BigR is (briefly) at school and LittleR naps (hahahahahaha) I can get some tasty things going on. Nigel Slater is my go to for this kind of cooking and Hugh’s everyday veg is a great book.

:: Planning for a 5^th birthday party....it’s Elsa-tastic.

:: Remembering that even after the most trying day (Is it only my child that moans and whines? Why do I let it get to me?) there is always gin.

Liebster

Well here I am finally getting around to answering Leanne's Leibster questions

Random things

1. I used to be the music editor of the university newspaper. This meant I got free CDs and gig tickets and to hang out with “the stars” on the pretense of interviewing them. Weirdest – Courtney Love. Nicest – Pulp or the Wannadies (remember them?). Most delicious – Blur (bizarrely). Yes it was of an era really wasn’t it.
2. My grandma used to make us sit down on three different seats if we had to go back in the house when we’d forgotten something.
3. When my brother was born I asked if he could go back and be swapped for a girl.
4. As a child I had very short hair. My Mum’s hair is very curly and she said she had no idea how to ‘do’ hair so kept it short. I was only mistaken for a boy once.
5. I love Brussel sprouts. Yum. A whole cabbage you can eat in one go!
6. My hair is the longest it has ever been right now.
7. I don’t like raisins, sultanas or currants at all but I love grapes.
8. I don’t really like Indian food. Although I love all the spices individually.
9. All the surgery I’ve ever had has been on my mouth or my teeth.
10. My feet used to be a 7½ but now they’re a 6. How did that happen? Did shoes suddenly get bigger?
11. One of my favourite games as a child was playing libraries.

Questions asked...
Which activities can make you lose track of time?

It takes a lot to distract me from my tummy which is very good at telling me the time. A really good book. And since having children, sleeping.

Who is the funniest person you know?

My friend L is the funniest person I know. Her tales of her office and turn of phrase are legendary. She really can spin a hilarious yarn.

What small act of kindness were you shown that you will never forget?

I’ve been very lucky that people have been kind to me a lot. Most recently I was working on a paper and a work colleague brought me a HUGE coffee back from town after her meeting. It was most appreciated.

What can you do today that couldn't do last year?

Crochet!! If you can call my meagre efforts that. But last year I didn’t have a single clue. Even with the power of books and the internet. Now I have loops in yarn and everything!

Who is your favourite literary heroine?

Ooh this is a difficult one. It took me a while to think about this. The one I keep coming back to is Laura Ingalls Wilder. Although she’s a real person I’m talking about the fictionalised version she wrote about in her books. Little House on the Prairie Laura as I like to call her. If you’d asked me 15 years ago I may have said Kay Scarpetta (I loved those books – why oh why did it all go so wrong?). 28 years ago the twins from Sweet Valley High (it’s fine to go ahead and judge me!!). As a child I loved Milly Molly Mandy. I bought a collection of those stories for BigR and she loves me to read them to her almost as much I love reading them!

Name three things that have made you smile this week.

My daughters.

Steve Coogan.

Attempting my first granny square.

What is your favourite sound?

I could say my children laughing (very good – before it descends into screaming over one thing or another) or silence (also very good after a shouty day) or birdsong but I really love music.

If you could be someone else for a day, who would it be and why?

I don’t know if I really want to be anyone else. I quite like being me. Is that a bit of a cop out? If I could swap places with someone it would be Beyonce to see what really happened in that lift (and how much coiffing that hair takes!) or Nigel Slater to see what’s really in his fridge.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A marine biologist. Not one who was interested in dolphins, whales or other marine mammals. Oh no I couldn’t run with the crowd me, I quite fancied working on crustaceans…I thought it was niche enough to get a job. I was wrong. There are few jobs in marine biology even if you don’t want one of the 'obvious' jobs. After my A-levels I changed my focus and ended up in biomedical science and now education research.

What do you see when you close your eyes?

As my Dad would say the inside of my eyelids. Yes what a comedian. I see Colours. I love it when you close your eyes to the sun on a really bright day.

Who was your favourite band or singer when you were sixteen?

The Smiths. I loved The Smiths. I still love The Smiths. Although I enjoy Morrissey’s post Smiths music it was always, always Johnny Marr for me. Those guitar riffs. My parents recently found my Johnny Marr t-shirt in their loft so it now resides safely Mum washed and folded in my wardrobe.

The questions I'm asking...
What is your favourite thing to do on a rainy day?

Skirts or jeans?

Best advice someone has ever given you?

Where would you most like to go in the world?

What super-power would you most like to have and why?

What are you reading at the moment?

What's your favourite place in the world?

What's your pet grammar peeve?

What's your favourite recipe?

What was the last new thing you learnt?

If you were an animal, what would you be?

I'm properly copping out here with nominating...feel free to join in if it takes your fancy!

Crochet

I have crocheted!

(and eaten lunch!)