not bad for a Monday

Yeah, well, not a bad Monday, I suppose...

I set off with good intentions, having woken up late, as my alarm wasn't working, ie Fergus's watch was slow and he didn't bring me a cup of tea until five past eight... with a car full of stuff for the tip and shopping boxes. I got as far as the builder's merchants, after dropping the boys off, and suddenly needed a cup of coffee... So I stopped off at Sean's boat, which was nearby, and I had left my gloves there ;-) So, after a coffee and a chat and driving Sean back to Hebden, I reallised I needed a second breakfast... and then I was nearly home... so I decided to do the rat-proofing and shop later.

And I got utterly distracted at the guitar shop as I was walking back to my car... *drool* must have been there at least half an hour... I fell in love with a cedarwood semi-acoustic, which is...ahem...in the sale!

So, after a long and painful discussion last night about who I was going to get to fill in the holes for me, I just mixed up some cement and did it myself. (Go girl! you can do it!)
And, I found a lovely little plane, while I was looking for a trowel, which I didn't find, but found a flat thingy, good because Marky pinched mine. O thank heaven for exes, who leave you little presents to find in the future... ? (O jeez, I must have my rose-tinteds on today!)

So that's how I came to be planing the shed door to make it fit in the falling SNOW, as big as, well, this has been bugging me all day- what was it as big as? feathers? no, bigger... golf balls? well, that size, but obviously flatter and lighter! and they were going down the back of my trousers when I decided to cleverly adjust the plane, my fingers all red with cold and wire wool scratches, and covered in flakes of paint and snow.

Well, funny how I've been meaning to do that for ages... maybe I was inspired by the fact that Sean had made himself a whole new bed since I had last been there, which was only Friday night. And I hardly did anything all weekend, well I was resting :) But I have, with an hour here and an hour there, managed to just about finally finish moving stuff into the boy's new attic room and out of their old room, which, more importantly, is going to be MY room! The last bit was an enourmous pile of dollies and their beds/clothes, etc, which I went through with Freddie, whittling it down to... well, 3/4 of its size... eek! well, there's plenty of room under the eaves and it's sweet that he still wants dollies. He has a girl one and a boy one. which seemed to be his favourite - fortunately I found some dungarees (which he kept calling "tangerines") that fit.

O yeah and here's our new cat... she doesn't have a name yet, or a purpose, except for lying completely motionless on the sofa, so that even a slow shutter speed cannot detect any movement. Her other favourite past time is, of course, looking up at me and saying "Biscuits? can I have some proper food please, and some milk".

special guests at new year... while the cat's away

Here are some random pictures of new year.

We have survived the first two days back at school and I feel in control, I think: I have done washing, put the kids to bed, facebooked, and will be in bed by 11, all being well.

Yesterday morning I thought I'd never get up. I hadn't been sleeping properly since new year's eve, when I as up till 4.

Also there was the rat problem- noisy rats, keeping us awake at night. I discovered them a few weeks ago, pulled the plinths off the kitchen cupboards and cleaned everything out, and got a cat. So far so good. Then the cat ran off. And back they came. I actually saw one in the kitchen and that was it- I called in the DIY man to fill all the holes in the kitchen walls. Sor far so good, or so I thought... a few days later on news years day, when my kitchen was full of people, I had a special guest appearance making scratchy noises in the wall, but now higher up. And then they were under the bath... I thought I had to wait till the council was open, so cowered all weekend, after seeing one upstairs. (I still hadn't properly recovered from the flu at this point.) I moved all the children up to the attic and emailed a private pest control company in Keighley. They responded very quickly and came on Monday morning. So that is that, I hope. I really didnt want to use poison, but that is the only way, apparently.

Oh by the way, the council don't do it for free, it cost the same as the ones I got in. There is still a bit of noise, but not much- I can sleep, and Joy's back in her room now. The boys are staying in the attic now- it's finished! Just need to take the bed frames and bigger stuff up... manana...

And as for the cat... he was from the cat protection league, and had mental health issues, and I had to let him out after a few days as he was doing my nut, and I haven't seen him since. Someone actually phoned today after seeing the poster. I have already knocked on all the neighbours. But this was on the street at the back, which we are separated from by our garden and a huge communal garden and allotments. i went up there with Freddie this evening with more posters and knocked on a few doors, and had a snoop around some sheds. I had actually given up, knowing he is a ferral cat. The cat people told me I had to get a catflap, after the event, but I explained that this was not practical (I had already told them about the rats, and that was why I wanted him) (EF dont you have a cat?) So they said they were going to come and pick up the cat!!! I did point ut that they may have a problem finding him. I am considering going over to Haworth Cat Rescue, and being a bit more discerning, ie, don't just choose one that looks cute in the picture, and when you go to pick him up he is the one growling behind the sofa!!!

Xmas at home

Ah I've just been looking through my blog at old pics and its really fun to see. For some reason there is a parallel blog, called knittingyogurt1 which goes earlier. I've been on Facebook a lot but I think I'd like to keep up with my blog too, it's fun.
So here's what we've been doing through the holidays. It's quite easy to catch up as most of the time we have been blobbing around in bed with the dreaded cold, which the boys were struck down with the minute they broke up from school.

This is quite a good representation of what we did at solstice: there was a huge fire, a teepee where everyone told stories, rain and smoke. After that I went to bed and slept for about 36 hours. The children looked after themselves, I only got up to administer the odd paracetamol for earache, and warm drinks. I hadn't realised how bad the cold was until I got it too.

I got up on Xmas day and Meg and Si came round and made me a lovely breakfast, followed by the arrival of the kids.

there was much present opening of course...

The dancemat was a big success.

We did go round to friends' in the afternoon for a huge feast, to which I managed to contribute a nut roast and mince pies (home made, of course!).

We had a bit of a lull, the kids went to their dad's for the weekend and I stayed in bed. New years Eve I went out for the first time in about 18 years, and danced till 3am. Then we had a New year day open house, which was great fun, with loads of kids and crazy adults.

We have been recovering since then... the boys have watched many episodes of Scoobydoo- just how many are there, anyway? I have been detoxing and catching up with friends and family on facebook, and generally hibernating. I am not looking forward to the prospect of school starting on Monday morning at all. But then at least I will have no excuse but to "get on" and do stuff.