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The Apprentice

Thank goodness that Syed has gone. That bloke was driving me crazy. In my previous life (the one where I wore suits and went out to work) I have met several people just like Syed and they all did my head in - so the correct decision was made when he was fired (bet Alan Sugar is pleased that I am confirming his decision!)

Just a thought - I expect he smells really nice though!

In other news today - I have suffered with really bad hayfever - so much so that my eyes closed up and I was unable to see for half an hour. Several hours after this rather exciting event I read in the paper that April is the month for Silver Birch pollen and that more and more people are becoming allergic - great! I live in a place full of trees - maybe we should move back to Slough where the only tree to be seen in the town is this one - it's metal!!!!

Poke Her

What is it?

I can't play ANY card games at all. The only two that I attempt are Noddy snap (I know!) and a basic form of Rummy (this is only played on holiday whilst drinking sangria - that's a rule).

So why is it that I can't stop watching Poker on the tv. I am glued every evening to the game. I like watching the celebs but it's not even that. I just love the game - BUT..... I don't understand it at all.

I feel I need to know how to play. How do I learn? Hubby knows how to play but I will never learn from him for the following reasons....

1. He's never home
2. When he is home, the Princess gets 100% attention (as it should be)
3. When she is in bed - so are we!

So, I need to find someone to teach me. Any offers?

Call me shallow but I am imagining slinky evening dresses, cocktails, cigars and these two - ok ok so now everyone knows how far from reality my dreams have become!!!!

Seriously though, I really want to play.

Top Song - Great Lyrics

Whilst singing along to this today - I realised how apt the lyrics are!

Always dug the Kinks!

All Grown Up

Today I received a picture message on my mobile - it was a very beautiful scan of my friend's baby, who will be arriving in October.

Back in the day there were three of us who would regularly hit the town and paint it every colour of the rainbow - not just red! Now, it's all changed. I have the princess and the other two are now expecting. There is talk of mortgages, home improvements and baby stuff. Wow, how a couple of years can change everything.

Another of my bestest mates has just got married and is also expecting in the summer.

It's lovely how life changes, moves on and people themselves although essentially remain the same person also change and grow just a little.

I hope that my pals find as much joy with their babies as I have with the Princess.

Good luck girls - your life is about to change - for the better!!!!

It seems from this spoof magazine cover of US Weekly that  Americans are just as obsessed as our media with who is or isn't having a baby.  Heat magazine and all the others seem to print pages and pages of belly pics, skinny celebs or fat ones and that's it! 

I'm as obsessed as the next person with preggo celebs.  I have this in my favourites - but really - isn't this just getting a little tiresome now.

 

Alternatives To A Summer Of Football

Summer to me is all about chilled white wine, bbqs, brown skin, gorgeous clothes, relaxing, painted toenails, chilled white wine, chilling, smooth tunes... you get the picture. Summer is NOT about football.

Take a look here for a couple of very good reasons to visit Switzerland this year....

It seems there, that the men there are less into footy and more into 'natural pursuits' - or that's what their marketing board want us to believe.

Emotional Chick Alert

If you know me, you will know that I am very emotional and am always close to tears. Anything can set me off. Happy or sad it doesn't matter. I cry at tv programmes, films, couples kissing goodbye at airports, children being told off - I have even cried at work whilst sitting with the boss getting an appraisal - I KNOW!!

Anyway, I don't know why I was surprised when it turned out the Princess has this emotional gene! She is such an adventurous, outgoing, thrill seeking little miss but it just takes something unexpected to throw her off balance and the tears appear.

Whenever she is teething we go through a terrible time with her crying for no reason whilst in groups of other children. This did worry me a little but I think I have found out why she has these moments.

I have been reading up on attachment parenting and theory. Primary attachment happens at about 18 months and as the Princess is not in childcare she has attached to me as Primary Carer. This means that basically she puts 100% of her trust in me and can open up all the emotions she has. She feels secure enough to say - 'hey Mummy that child just made a weird noise - it frightened me and I need you to reassure me'

It is kind of like the way we as adults can deal with something stressful & be really calm, but then when we are at home safely with our partner, we breakdown into tears as we tell them about it.

This is also why children can be 'a nightmare' for you but then go off with someone else (grandparent/friend/childcare) and be 'as good as gold'. They don't have that emotional attachment to that person in the same way as they do to you.

As I am a SAHM this is amplified as all of her emotional trust is in me.

Sounds simple but it can still be distressing to see her visably upset - but then I only have to look at myself to see where she gets it from!

It's here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spring that is.

I have spent the past two days in a whirl of spring cleaning and gardening. The Princess has been helping with weeding, cleaning garden furniture and getting generally very muddy - what fun.

I am attempting to turn myself into a Bree van de Kamp/Anthea Turner hybrid, but I seem to be creating more mess than I started with. I ntend to clean and declutter like a demon for the next two weeks and hopefully our little palace will gleam (and I can sit back all summer with a glass of pinot grigio in hand!!!)

Gotta go - windows to clean!

In Six Weeks Time.....

the Princess will be TWO YEARS OLD. TWO YEARS OLD!!!!

When did that happen - when did my baby turn into a beautiful girl. One who is funny and witty, cracks jokes and plays games. One who is so beautiful it swells my heart to look at her. One who no longer needs me constantly. One who dances and laughs and makes friends with every one she meets. One who has a real personality.

It has happened and she fills my life with joy. We waited for her for ten long years. Now I know why.

My girl!

Another Milestone

The Princess moved into her big bed last night and the transition was seamless.  She appeared to hardly notice a difference and slept through the night as normal.

This morning she just shouted for us as normal and didn't attempt to climb out herself - long may that last!

She is growing up so fast.

Been Busy Round These Parts

We have hardly been home for the whole of March but we are back!!!!!

We have had a great month which has included ...

Having a new kitchen fitted

Travelling with family to Disneyland Paris to celebrate some special birthdays

Travelling to Yorkshire for a long weekend of family gatherings and a Mothers Day meal

Visiting our old stomping ground of Windsor for a close friends wedding

Travelling down the country visiting more family on the way

and generally doing lots of eating, drinking and being very merry.

Now we just have to get back into the rhythm of 'normal' life.

The princess has been a complete star during all of our travels and has behaved impeccably the whole time (of course).

Several other things have happened this month that have perhaps shaped our future. I am pleased in some ways to be able to return to our groove, so that I can have some time to reflect on the happenings and think about the future. All I know for sure is that life is not something you can plan and that every second we have in the here and now is precious and we need to enjoy it.

Not All Bad

So, I'm another year older. Not so good but the best present I had this year was the Princess singing 'Happy Birthday' to me all day long - bliss!!!!!

Things Don't Always Go Smoothly.....

I won't go into the long boring and frankly totally stressful story but things haven't gone quite according to plan this week.

Things are back on track now though and I feel like I am in the middle of a whirlwind. I am juggling so many balls in the air that I might apply for a job at the circus.

Anyway musn't moan - I mean - who would want a boring quite easy life????

I can't believe just how many things I have to pack into one day at the moment - but hopefully in about three or four weeks life will be back to it's normal, predictable (but still a bit crazy)pace.

Last night I also went along to my first Alpha meeting, which was interesting and I met a few nice people - will report back on that as I progress through the course.

Number One Rule For Playing With A Toddler

NEVER start a game that you don't want to repeat 500 times!

The Essence Of Me

Whilst doing important things like banking and blogging(?) I sometimes always get sidetracked by totally useless/bizarre stuff.

I found a site (now forgotten the URL) which works out the very essence of your blog.  This is mine.  

Just reading that could save you many hours reading all the rubbish I actually write as it pretty much sums me up!!!!!

My Brain Now

My Brain Five Years Ago

Just Occasionally.....

.....I wish we could hit London town like we did in the old days.

This arrived in my inbox today...

AMANDA GHOST is performing tonight (feb. 22nd, 21:15) at the half moon
in london-putney, 93 lower richmond rd, london sw15.
BOY GEORGE will give a special appearance and will join her on stage
for a duet.

Oh, how I would love to have a beer and a groove with the beautiful people, but then again in reality I would probably spend all evening thinking about you know who!!!!

If you don't know Amanda Ghost, she co-wrote You're Beautiful for James Blunt (don't hold that against her) and is one damn fine chick. She is a mate of George's - go see her website here.

Miffy

I don't think we will be visiting Holland this year but when we next take a trip, we have to take a look here.

It sounds like a fab museum which has childrens height exhibits underneath the adult height ones. It's also really close to where our family live, so we will be making a trip just as soon as we can.

To those who don't know Miffy (or Nijnjte as she is known in her native land) was 50 last year and the artist who draws her, Dick Bruna, is still creating new stories and drawing her daily. He is now 78 and still drawing the little rabbit who started life as a story to entertain his son in the summer of 1955.

In an interview with the Guardian they asked if he had now perfected Miffy to which he replied "No, I'm going to try and do better today, tomorrow. I just try to make a nice shape, the nicest Miffy I can."

And the Princess and I think he is doing a great job.