we have shelves!

...for pans, and stuff...

finally, after 7 months...

I got Mark the shelf man to come... it's the drilling that I hate. Now he's done a bit I can think about what I want next...I can sort my bedroom out now, might even decorate...

The metal shelves are recycled from the old house,
and the wooden brackets were given by a friend, that's whay they're green.

...And Fergus learnt what a set square is for and made stuff out of offcuts.

Now the house smells of wood and my computer's full of dust.

numbers and stuff

...OK, I wasn't completely useless today. I stayed in my pyjamas all morning, which was nice and peaceful: just me and the boys. At late lunchtime we had sandwiches, which lead to a discussion about numbers (as it does, sometimes!) And I was suddenly inspired to go and root out the Cuisinaire Rods and pour them onto the middle of the table.

They got quite into playing with them, and Fergus got into doing sums and stuff and we did a bit of work in a squared book.

(I'm sure you can buy books that have all this stuff in but Fergus said what's the point when you can do it yourself?)
I had to work with him at first, but he eventually got into doing some "Making tens" by himself, which I was highly impressed with as we hardly ever do this sort of stuff. He even came back for more, a couple of times and started writing his own sums out on another page.

I did eventually have to get dressed to Walk Clare's dog before it got dark, and feed the rabbits, and go and fetch Joy from the stables, which she calls "work". So quite a lot of us are working nowadays...

I just ignore the fact it's monday

Well, Monday was just like part of the weekend, as usual, and we had Brendan here, fixing things. So now we have new uplights in the front room, working lights in the bathrooms, and Fergus's room, and mended curtain poes in both the childrens' rooms. We had Dave, the fireplace man here, who I am well in with since I gave him something on Freecycle which he was well chuffed with.
I still haven't got a clue what's going on with the house. Today I have been looking at kit houses, and my usual unfruitful trawl through Rightmove. I know it's not the only place to find houses, but I figure that anyone who hasn't got the time or energy to do up a house to sell is going to go through one of the local estate agents, all of whom are listed on Rightmove. Brendan agreed in principle that it is worth doing up the fireplace, cost permitting, we should get a quote soon. (which is a bit of a turnaround from yesterday's vibe, I know).
The house I was buying is now under offer to a cash buyer with no chain, although I am so much further down the line, surely it would be better to sell it to me if i can sell in the next week or 2. Not that sure if i still want it, though Kelly has now bought her house just up the road, which is a big bonus, as she is potentially a home edder (she has already missed the mainstream school admission at age 4 and is a bit undecided). Of course, the house is also within spitting distance of a school, though.
The buyers of my house are still wanting to buy it and are still hoping their buyers will be able to buy theres, so that's a bit of news. I should know by the end of the week whether its on or off. I had kind of given up on that one, really, but you never know.
I shifted a few more boxes out of the way, or just around the place really, into cupboards. I'm a bit half- hearted about this as it's so uncertain what's going on.
I've done so badly at trying not to see Dave: I had to get out of the house this afternoon (rabbit food, desperately needed, you know...) and went round for a cup of tea and a chat. I just miss him as a friend to talk to when I don't see him. I wasn't feeling so broken hearted today so it was OK. Is this the slippery slope I'm always sliding down?
Anyway, it was nice to have all the children here today, including Meg, who I have been helping with the finishing touches to her final show work. I think she's cracked it and I'm so pleased. Last night she was so dispondent and panicky I gave her some rescue remedy. today she just wanted somebody to be with her while she worked an supply her with tea and fags. She's gone off to stay at her friend's so she can make an early start for college in the morning.
I actually enjoyed putting the children to bed tonight. We read a few stories and had a bit of a laugh and giggle together, so they were happy. I think they are getting a bit more used to my deafness, though it sometimes irritates them. Joy didn't really want to go to school tomorrow: that's how good today was- and the weekend with me? They played with the baby rabbits and dolls houses, and baby rabbits in dolls houses. Joy worked out 15 x 15 in her head, but then couldn't quite remember how she did it. She was reading workbooks in bed this morning. I think they were from school.
I've still been feeling quite tired but the cold seems to be clearing up a bit. O, where is my house? my new life! I have come a long way in the last 6 months, I must remember that, but I still feel a long long way from home. Sometimes I catch glimses of my new life, like a dream, and I want to hold onto it, so I know what I am aiming towards, but it is so fleeting. Maybe I should do one of those mind maps or some kind of visuallisation thingy, or meditate, or something. All I can see is the sun shining through a window and loads of happiness. maybe I should be a bit clearer about what I want.

chocolate maths

Just found this here. It's just a bit of fun to get your brain working...

YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATHS

This takes less than a minute, but if you're like [big Ade] you'll need some electronic help! [I prefer the mental work out myself!.] Work it out as you go and don't be tempted to cheat by going to the end.

First of all, pick the number of times a week that you'd like to stuff yourself with chocolate (more than once but less than 10)

Multiply this number by 2 (go on, be a pig)

Add 5

Multiply by 50 - I'll wait whilst you go and get the calculator

Now, if you've already had your birthday this year add 1757 if not add 1756

Subtract the 4 digit year that you were born
You should be left with a 3 digit number

The first digit of this was your original number (how many times you want to have chocolate each week)
The next 2 numbers are...... YOUR AGE (oh yes it is!!)

Who says maths can't be useful and fun?