Knit one URL one

There, I've done it- the corniest blog title ever!
Had to get this off my chest.
This has been playing on my mind since I started blogging: I have not had time for any knitting, or crochet, for that matter, since the blogging has taken over. I have not so much as picked up a knitting needle, (apart from to say, 'owch! what is that sharp thing down the back of the sofa?')
Must find way of fitting this in (resolution?).

Walk, baking ...mmm

Today I finally managed to get us all out for a walk in the morning, before the day turned dark and miserable. It was truly exhilerating. Not the bracing wind, as there wasn't much went we first set out, I could just feel the outdoors tingling all my senses. My body was gently loosening up. It was great to get to a place where the only thing you can hear is the wind. I'm sure it did the children a world of good. They should sleep well tonight. We spent the afternoon baking in preparation for New Year's Eve. Well, they dipped in and out of it. Jem is making another magazine and Fugs helped daddy make a computer. (Will daddy ever learn that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing? LOL).
Just need to find some fortune cookie- type words of wisdom for our origami carp fishing game!!! Yes, I really am a bit mad, I think, well I have to do something to amuse myself.

on the 6th day of Christmas my true love sent to me...

...ok it's 9 geese

the wind got up while we were up there 

glad we got back before the weather came in 

...that's me! 

caught in the act- whiskey mac in one hand, pretzel in the other 

Played some games with Jem today, found an old pairs/memory game in the top of the wardrobe when we were making room for large stack of new clothes (from her cousin). It used to be mine and looks like something out of the 1950's. I thought it may be a bit hard; there are 96 cards, but turns out she's really good at it. Its amazing playing it, actually, as you seem to remember things by magic, like another part of yor brain knows where the matching card is. I think its great for strengthening memory, if that's possible- I should play it more often, as mine's terrible and I think I'm losing it LOL.

We also played draughts- with tealight candles as we didnt have any draughts, apart from the ones that come whistling up through the floorboards, that is! I found this a bit difficult, it never seems to come to a satisfactory end. Maybe I was doing it wrong. My grandma used to beat everyone at draughts. At bedtime I told her about chinese chequers, that I used to love when I was a kid. My mum's still got the pegboard, but we can't go down there as Bren's car is not going to be fixed till Tuesday. I'm quite getting into the games thing ATM: must try Set, as I've just heard about here and which sounds like its going to be the latest craze!

Got quite into tidying and cleaning, which I always seem to do as a cleansing ritual around new year. When I lived in a council flat I used to turf all my belongings outside on NYE and only bring back in what I still wanted the next day, much to the amusement off passing neighbours. I must add that this was way, way before that awful program on telly where they force ppl to declutter their houses, but I suppose I was doing the same thing, really.

Nature & Silence

This morning over breakfast we noticed a squirrel taking nuts from the bird table and burying them in the garden. There was also a territorial female blackbird chasing off a robin (why?) and a chaffinch and a couple of bluetits flitting from the birdfeeder to a bush with berries on it. All this frenzied activity was presumably precipitated by the melt of snow and the possible later snowfall? Our old cat got a bit interested in the squirrel, watched for a bit and then decided to go for it, so I called her inside and the call of the warmth was too much to refuse. The children were pressed against the patio doors all the while, until Jem decided she was "bored". I remarked that many people sit in front of a small screen watching exactly the same thing, only not in real life. This is our discovery channel. A fox was seen the other night climbing over the wall opposite the North side of the house. There are rabbits and pheasants there, as well as the two horses that live there. The children love to sit in the big upstairs window that overlooks this field.

As I mentioned before, I have been reading bits in All Year Round, seeking inspiration and guidance in bringing something more wholesome to the children at this time than the non-satisfying, non-nurturing, consumer, materialistic, commercial, etc, etc Xmas winterval. Fugs has been particularly challenging in the last week. Not sure exactly why. Jem is more obviously experiencing the post-Christmas let-down created by excess physical nourishment but not enough spiritual nourishment. (I have tried!) This is not too difficult to deal with as we have been making stuff in peparation for our New Years Eve party, and her friend came round today. (The mum was between sales in different towns, which made me feel glad to be out of this particular activity.) But Fugs has been really hyper, even though I've hidden all the chocolate. He was terrible when Grandma was here, really noisy. It could still be part of his illness as he seems to be still recovering from what I came to describe as the naughty cold, as he was violent from the outset of this (as were other children, so I've heard). Mind, you, they're not used to having daddy around, either.

But I did have some limited success at creating a bit of calm at teatime. They had been running round phoning up the phone and leaving silly messages and shouting; sorry, *learning* how to use a phone and answerphone. We have been lighting candles at mealtimes since the beginning of Advent, but they have been very silly and competitive about blowing them out. (to the point where Ally was copying them and getting other people into trouble at playgroup, who were copying him!). So tonight I decided to try again to do the candle thing properly. I stopped B from lighting the candles before everyone was ready. I made everyone wait until they were sitting quietly, and listening; you could hear the potatoes still frizzling and and the hailstones outside. Then I lit the candles. It was really easy to do this and it brought them right down to a relatively calm mood, which lasted almost for the duration of the meal.

I had been reading about silence in Resurgence magazine. (I'm talking about the Jan/Feb issue, that doesn't appear to be online yet, I think the Nov/Dec issue completely passed me by, which is a shame because I think it would have been useful now) Aparently it is used to treat ADHD: a bit of silent meditation every day is supposed to bring about improvements. I just thought I'd try this one at home! Check out the last but one issue for more interesting education-related articles, especially A Sense of Adventure.

Another thing I had been reading about in Resurgence, in my sick bed, was James Lovelock on the urgency to out a stop, or damage limitation, to climate change. He even recommends changing to nuclear power, however, I do tend to agree with the counter argument to this. (these articles will be online soon, I believe) And this made me ponder about how much, or little I was doing to save the planet, as this has been one of my lifelong aims (!) I suppose the choices I have made for the children's education are the biggest and most important things I could think of. And then I got up and heard about the Earthquake/tidal wave. Apocalyptical stuff.

Chocolate orange v curry

Someone I was sharing my chocolate orange (bought and wrapped by me) with commented that they didn't really like chocolate, they would rather eat a curry, but it doesnt come in boxes. I said there is curry in the cupboard, just go and make it; if you're only eating chocolate out of laziness then I'll have it back, thanks.

(Frivolous blog as I cant concentrate - too many people have discovered that living room is less cold- maybe they are being friendly.)

3 boys on new sledge

Drip, drip, drip

Well I've been sitting in the living room whilst catching up on my blogs and others, as it is slightly less cold than the front room. Yes, we have central heating. Do we have any other heating? no. Not a roaring fire in sight. I would love one, or ideally 2 wood burning stoves, but, dream on. Priority is to get the roof fixed. A lot of paper has now been removed from the ceiling and several holes have been drilled to let the water through without it bringing down the ceiling. Try to remain calm. One of my priorities, for the priority for the new year is getting the house sorted, so this could be a good start.
Today was an improvement. Got a bit of a lie in. We got to play out in the snow, what's left of it. We has a nice lunch and finally started the Xmas cake, and the Xmas biscuits from LIDL. For tea we had Christmas Pasta; wish I'd thought of this earlier.
Played a game of chess with Jem- it ended up in a stalemate, which is hardly suprising, as she kept asking me what to do, so I was playing myself half the time,a and I'm not very good. The presents have been quite successful, as they include lots of things to do, like games, spiragraph thingy, books, crayony things. I've been reading Druit/Fynes-Clinton/Rowling, "All Year Round" (or the Steiner Bible, as I call it), for inspiration in the last few days. It has entries for Xmas eve, St Steven's (boxing day) and the 12 days of Xmas, as well as some more ponderings in the intro. I tend to just use it as a "how to" book: how to celabrate X festival, or how to make Y. But I always find it useful at times like this, as a gentle reminder that there is another way. Now, what to do with all that chocolate...mmm, maybe I'm a bit peckish, no, I think I'm sticking to Lemon and Ginger.


new boots

mmm...comfy

Boxing Day- nighmare #57

Right. You wake up feeling like a complete and utter bag of shite, due to massive headcold. You have a bath and go back to bed, but finally make it downstairs around noon as you cannot survive on one cup of lemon and ginger that you wimpered for. And there is still talk of the mother in law coming round! I say I don't think its a good idea, so they are going to her's but she is disappointed and I say the kids won't be able to play in they snow if they go there. So he is coming here. Eh? So they set off to fetch her. I haven't even got anything to feed them with (forgot to buy) and there is dust, and dirty sinks. I am feeling slightly better and baby has gone to sleep so I get the jif out and set to getting the kitchen in order, but he wakes up before I finish and I have a phonecall from teenage dd, asking if there are any buses and could I go on the internet and find out? erm, no. I ask her to come and heeeeelp! so she does, but I then get another phonecall - they have broken down on the way back from Manchester and can I go and rescue them? Can I f***, actually, I feel sorry for the children so I set out without finding out where they are, but find them easy enough. They olds wont come back with me, as B has gone for fuel, in the vain hope that this may sort it out. It doesnt, so I have to hang around till he's decided its definately dead.
When I get back I realise that the carrot and ginger soup I managed to muster up is not going to be enough, so I set about making, well. another Xmas dinner, really.
O, yes, and no-one thought to tell me that they were staying the night and going onto other Son's in the morning.
And no-one thought to tell them not to get them a huge cadbury's selection box, each, including the baby, as I predicted.
And when we had a row last thing at night, and they were on the sofabed downstairs, The baby alarm was still on! O my god, O my god!!! Mind you, we still managed to laugh about it this morning (not them, just us 2). Well, I can't imagine what they thought, I'm not even sure how much they heard.

My breakdown service. It took bit of scraping to get my car out- that petrol's not helping, is it, now.

Christmas Day

Went by in a bit of a blur... Maybe this is the best way...Well, it wasn't too bad, I suppose. Had to get up at 6 as I heard running about downstairs. I managed to get them to come back upstairs and not wake everybody else up. They went back to sleep after opening stockings. I got to lie in till nearly 9, after early morning feeds at about 7ish. Felt progressively sniffly, but got through the day by adding a drop of brandy to everything I consumed. I sneezed so much I nearly wet myself. Nose dripping like a tap whilst cooking. Had Xmas dinner at about 2.30. Mave and Pete cycled to Pete's mum's for their turkey. I reached for the TV guide at about 4.30, when they were all going really bonkers. Too much chocolate. Why do we do this? We watched Harry Potter at 6 and then it was bedtime. I tried to read a few blogs, but my Eyes just went all bleary, so I watched telly for a bit and went to bed. Felt like a bag of shite.

Xmas day sunrise - view from my bedroom

can you believe this snow on Xmas morning? 

baby and Xmas tree 

Pete, our welcome extented visitor/ latest (7th)member of the family is overwhelmed by his presents 

opening pressies/ playing Kerplunk... 

baby + Kerplunk =  

a Christmas snowman 

The baby and shepherds have appeared in the crib 

Christmassy 

Trying out new sledge 

Xmas Eve

This is the time when there is lots of frenzied preparations to be done in time for tomorrow. So I agree to going over to B's brother's, for the sake of the children, as he has said he is having the whole day off. He was out till after 2 0'clock. by which time I had made another batch of mincemeat (for presents, and pies) and another batch of mince pies, with 2 snotty and tired boys (don't sneeze on the mincmeat!), as we have been invited over for tea and my consolation is that I won't have to do the dishes and tidy up again after tea. I am already starting to feel pretty grotty myself. Jem finishes off some presents for her cousins, sister and brothers- glad someone is together- I have to constantly switch from my hands covered in sticky pastry to undoing a knot in some sewing to picking up a baby. When B arrives there is less than an hour of daylight in which to gather holly and ivy, which Jem and I do in the pouring, freezing rain, and I slip over with quite a bump on the way back. I also have to disappear into the garage to apply another coat of paint to small desk and chair. And have a bath. We are just about to leave at about 4 when the ceiling starts dripping again-in a different place.
At the in-law's I consumed lots of tissues and a lasagne and mulled wine, but wasn't offered any other alcohol, or mince pies, except the ones we brought. You're supposed to have 12 *different* mince pies in different peoples houses, duh! When I found out we were having lasngne i was a bit disappointed- not very Christmassy, like? I mean vegetarians don't only eat pasta, y'know, O sorry, you dont know, right, your' doing us a favour already by feeding us at all with our funny ways, OK. Well, maybe my inner stroppiness was due to onset of cold.
On the way back it started to snow - could this be a white Christmas? Got the children to bed around 11, and then started to make something to hang up out of the pile of greenery on the kithchen table. And drink Bailey's. And finish name on painted chair (a specified requirement, anyway, who wants just another old chair?). And find various pressies, etc etc. Although I had done all wrapping beforehand it was 2.30 by the time I got to bed. O dear.

Eat this

A very tasty machine - What Goes Into A PC
I'm busy making and wrapping pressies. What is Brendan doing? looking at gingerbread computers!

Old Friends

I've just heard from an old college friend - hi, Nadene :-) Christmas is great for that. I'm so glad we're in touch again. I'm rubbish at sending real letters.

Getting ready for Christmas

Today we decorated the Christmas cake that my friend, Jill, made for us. Fugs was, as usual, absolutely facinated by all the warmed apricot jam, marzipan, icing and silver balls. It didn't take that long, but it was late afternoon by the time we headed off to LIDL to get our last minute supplies in. I was pleased with our shop, as we managed to get pressies for all 10 of my nieces and nephews (that's not counting the ones we're seeing tomorrow), plus a few others. Actually, I forgot 2 nieces, come to think of it, well maybe I've got enough- I always end up with extra ones, somehow.
I am trying to make all this preparation as much an enjoyable experience as possible, considering I have been really tired and the 2 boys are still full of cold and not sleeping well.
Well now Ally's trying to get downstairs to see me, now he's learned how to do it. He is still crawling and shuffling around on one knee, but occasionally stands up by himself. It's funny, 14 months seems to be the magic age in this family for starting to walk. With the exception of Fugsy, who was 19 months, bless him. I still have trousers worn out on one knee from the same shuffling style as Ally, as he never crawled, but shuffled for a long time. Jemima also shuffled, but not on one knee.

putting silver balls on cake

Winter Solstice

Yuletide Greetings to one and all 

decorating yule logs at solstice party 

making a wish for yule log 

at the Solstice party 

yule log 

Happy Solstice

I was so busy yesterday that I didn't have time to mention the above. Maybe Tuesday's early morning post was self-explanatory. Actually, it is one of my faves, maybe the favorite, although, I do tend to sing "The holly and the Ivy" whilst collecting greenery, as a sort of thankyou. I don't know all the words, but I like the bit about the rising of the moon... I shall be doing that tomorrow, weather permitting, as we have to go to relatives on Chrissie Eve (Yawn).
I have also been waiting for photo's taken on other people's phone/camera, which haven't materialised, unfortunately. We went straight from Leeds to a solstice party, which was great. A shame I was so tired. The children made decorated Yule logs, with wishes tied onto them, and burned them on the fire. I wished for a new roof (still dripping), a new floor (still wobbly), and a new bed (still rock hard). Jem wanted to take her's home, but Fugs wanted to burn his, even though it was very beautiful, as "that is the whole point". (Glad I tied my wishes to his one then).

Today (Wednesday) I spent just about all day making mince pies, and only managed 24. Well I did make the mincemeat. Fugsy really enjoyed this. Fairy lights have gone on over-sized tree (not surprised!)and it's dropped a ton of needles, even though it's been watered loads. I don't think it's meant to be inside, poor thing. Mind you, it would have blown away if we had left it out any longer.

Ally didnt go to bed till 1/4 past 11, hence the lateness. I think he must be a bit ill. I'm going to have to go shopping tomorrow, among a load of other things. O, I thought I was organised. Got more and more frustrated today with the slowness of everything I try to do.

Grand Theatre Leeds - Peter Pan

Grand Theatre Leeds - Peter Pan
Went to see Peter Pan, the ballet yesterday in Leeds. It was quite entertaining for a ballet, and, I would say better than the book or play as I don't think the story bares close inspection. There was lots of flying against a backdrop of starry sky. Jem and Fugs had a good time, anyway. Ally was wheeled around Leeds by Mave in his buggy and was fine. I managed to walk right through the city centre without going into a single shop.

O, alright then...

You are 'Deck the Halls'! Let's be honest, it
isn't Christmas you are celebrating, is it? In
fact, you know full well that there were no
shepherds in the fields in December, and that
the date of Christmas was put at midwinter
specifically to coincide with the older
celebrations of Yule and the birth of Mithras.
An unashamed Pagan, you take great glee in the
number of carols referring to holly, evergreens
and Winter's end, and will sing them with
gusto. You know where they really came from.
And you do enjoy the seasonal celebrations,
regardless of their name... A merry Yule to
you!


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