halloween

Ok- I've finally got round to blogging this...I've been busy, ok? actually it was such a wild weekend that it took me a week in bed to recover!!! I succombed to the nasty lurgy again, only worse this time, due to excesssively late nights...but it was worth it! You just gotta do it sometimes, and it was halloween, after all...

Friday we carved pumpkins and the boys dressed up as monsters for the kids halloween party.

Fergus had a great time playing pool with the other litle skeletons and monsters.

It was actually at the same place as the grown-up's party later on, so it was all decked out really super! I was ready for bed by seven, but somehow managed to muster the energy to go home and transform myself...



Ahem...this was later on: bride of Frankenstein goes to the dance...


This is one I took earlier of the dress. I danced till nearly dawn, but got home safely just before the first rays of sunlight....

breakfast in bed

So, how are we doing? well there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. I just reallised we have been in Mercury retrograde since, well since everything went a bit pear shaped for me, and it will soon be turning back to normal, thank god. It gets me every time dunnit?
Well Im currently languishing in my bed, having been brought a cuppa tea by Fergus. My back has been bad for over a week, so blogging and other laptoppery from bed seems a sensible plan. So all's well and life is good, but I have been crying my eyes out this morning. This must be all part of the healing process, I'm sure, and it beats what I was feeling like a couple of weeks ago.
I think we will stay in today, as this will be Joy's only day at home this week. She appears to be still in bed, after staying out till after 10 last night, (watching X-factor). I had a babysitter and went down the pub and drank ginger beer, and then to the Trades to dance to a funk band. I got in for 2 quid as I knew someone who knew the band, and rotated my hips in a figure of eight fashion to the music, in an attempt to ease the pain in my back. I hoped that no-one could tell what I was doing, that I was just dancing, but Rachel noticed from the other room. I was home by pumpkin time and retreated to bed with laptop and hottie, where I remain.
I'll have to get up soon and make pancakes- mmmm! I suddenly got my appetite back on Friday and made yorkshire puds, apple crumble and custard, but yesterday I couldn't be bothered. I've been trying to keep myself occupied all week with nice things to do, since the visit to the homeopath on Monday morning, at which I was told: you're just gonna hafta go through this and it isn't going to be easy... So I had things on every day- early evening things, eating tea with people, that kind of thing. Probably good for me also as I haven't been eating or sleeping properly for weeks. So the panic/anxiety has lessened, and the feeling of wellbeing has increased; its been a hard week but I got through it.
The children seem quite settled; they're really loving being at home all weekend- the boys are just playing and playing and dressing up and in some sort of fantasy game or something involving toys and a huge amound of mess, which we tidied up last night for the babysitter coming, but no doubt is just as bad by now.
Their new room in the attic is far from ready: I had to stop the DIY when my back went. Might just hafta get someone to do it for me at this rate. I'll hafta post the pics of what i've done so far... (o hold on...mum, can you get the duplo down?)- that's why I have to move them to the attic- more floor space for toys, once the eaves have been opened out. (I just reached down a sit-and-ride bee and Freddie decided to try it out...on my foot! ouch!). Anyway, can't wait to get the house all sorted out. I'm really on it now, but have had a week off. I need to order some Kingspan for the totally uninsulated roof. Once my back is reasonably ok I should be able to cut and install this no problem. Don't think I'll attempt any more heavy stuff again- my body just can't take it. Am planning to go to pilates possibly to increase strength. I've also bought a swimsuit (50p) to go to the sauna- hopefully that will be soon.

long days (2)

So, as I was saying, today seemed to last about a week. We were at home for most of it, with the drizzle falling gently outside. The morning was mostly taken up with a shop game, which took over the living room, instigated by Fergus, and involving me buying a LIDL catalogue for 50 cardboard pence, a piece of marmite on toast from Freddie's cafe, and some paper signs and money were produced and written by Fergus (what has he been overhearing???!!! well, I haven't been talking in front of him, but perhaps he overheard a phone call, which I tend to shut myself in the utility room for...). This had been preceeded by the scene, pictured, of quiet playing with toys and cards. (Maybe this was all because I had hidden the laptop till lunchtime, when I had an energy lapse, though they didn't go on it till later)

After lunch Guy came over with Phizbah (supposedly to discuss a grant application, but we gave up on that one- deadline was tomorrow, fgs!). So the playing went a bit pear-shaped till all the kids got used to each other and we ate some Royal blue Calderdale cheese ("yuk!"- I liked it though). Later we decided to show Guy the garden- I've been wanting to ask him about my fruit trees... By the time we got outside the kids were bouncing on the trampoline, and we found windfall apples that can be cooked, (also loads of blackberries and redcurrants). We ended up going for a walk down by the river and saw the pigs, too.

By the time we'd eaten and scrubbed the boy's feet it was way past bedtime, and I had been promising myself all day that I would be in bed as soon as they were, but here I still am. Not for long though... I'm taking the (kid's) laptop to bed and not handing it over till I get a cup of tea at least!

peeping out of the bubble: adventures in revolutions

Ok, I'm not going to do this every week, but just wanted to share this new blog with you.

Here is chairman Alice, watching Becks and the Bullets at the World on your Doorstep festival in Hebden Bridge. So called (by a few) because the Hebden fringe festival was her baby, and boy, what a baby! Already a vague friend, I think we got to know each other quite well during those few intense weeks of working together.

Alice was sitting in my kitchen having girly chats and tea, only a couple of weeks ago, leaving her customised blue jumper behind to get covered in various foodstuffs and dog hair. Now she is in Cyprus, having Adventures in Revolutions, on a project to peacefully invade Gaza as part of the Free Gaza movement. She just upped and left without so much as a by-your-leave!

I'm finding this totally fascinating, and the personal element is drawing me into a world that usually I don't have the time or the energy to get involved in. It's kind of too easy when you don't watch TV, listen to the radio, or read the papers, to ignore what's going on in the rest of the world and become a complete bubble-dweller...

Hmm- I think I started to perfect this when I started having babies again and had to retreat into the 'milky world' of my bedroom. I think it's only natural as it creates a safe nurturing environment for you and the child, but it can lead to things like mash-potato brain syndrome in adults (you do know what I mean, don't you?). But its primal, and necessary, in my opinion. All this in your face, too much information culture is enough to drive anyone completely bonkers, right? Just trying to justify myself, obviously, cos all these politicos (of which Alice is not one, I might add) do make me feel a bit inferior at times, but, then I have my own very important job to do at the moment. (Hear that? positive affirmation!)