College...

I feel that writing has been a bit difficult lately, no, not broken fingers, just a funny mixed up head. I seem to have lots of thoughts running through my mind and I'm struggling to put them in to any kind of order. Well, I need to get sorted because last Friday I started back at college on the next level of my TA course. For those of you that lived through the last one with me, you'll remember how worried I was every week about writing up reports and stuff. I was in the zone back then and actually ended up producing something that I was really proud of, blimey, not sure what's going to happen this time!

Imagine my surprise then when one of my colleagues, that's been to university, told me of how worried they are about the whole thing, he's on the same course. He's been doing the job for some years now but has never taken any formal qualifications towards his actual job role. I told him that I was sure after having got a degree in English, a little course at college would be a doddle. So then the biggest surprise ever, it's not the written work he's worried about, it's when the course leader comes in to school and observes us working that he's bothered about.  

The scary thing about the job we do is not people from the outside watching us, not even our managers observing us, the scary thing is the kids we deal with on a daily basis. I don't really care too much about what other people think of what I'm doing, what I care about is making sure I'm doing the very best I can for those children that seem to get a rough deal everywhere else.

So bring on the observations and external visits but if anyone would like to write all my course work up for me I'm happy to pay!

Music V Age

I'm pretty sure that I've talked about music before but as my mind gets ever hazier and I get too lazy to look back over old blogs I'm just going to talk about it anyway!

For as long as I can remember I have been surrounded by music, granted, not always mine or in fact anyone's taste, but music nonetheless. One of my earliest musical memories was a song played at my paternal grandparents called "I see the moon" and the version they had was by The Stargazers on an old 78rpm. Anyone under the age of say, 30? may need to ask a grown up what a 78 is, just ask about LP's or vinyl. 

As I grew so did my record collection and Suzie would be proud to know that one of my earliest vinyl 45's was a Womble song, "Remember you're a Womble" I think. I then progressed on to The Osmonds and The Bay City Rollers, I know, some people will say you can't love both but I did. Live with it. There were a few of those Top of the Pops albums along the way, sung by nobody's, a bit like the equivalent of Now That's What I Call Music but not by the original artists. 

Skip forward a few years, missing out the parent enforced country and western and Showaddwaddy... saw them live... aahem, sorry minor slip there... and suddenly I was in the world of punk rock. Again, enforced by the youngest of my three brothers, it was played all the time and very loudly and with lots of shouting, swearing and angst. This was at a time when I was made to walk to school with said brother and his friends, all of whom were very scary yet very attractive to me. They had that look that said "I'm sticking two fingers up to you, what you gonna do about it?" But really, nice nice people.

So let's fast forward to now, my musical taste has seen the coming and going of Mods, Ska, Punk, Northern Soul, RnB (sorry) soft rock, and most recently heavy metal, hard rock and strangely Punk. I refuse to apologise for the stuff I've loved and still do, like Go West who I happen to be going to see with my lovely blonde friend D tomorrow night, thanks D! And then who'd believe that next week I'm going with Master Musical to watch a proper punk band who just happen to have a member of the band who was one of those very nice nice people from 100 years ago.

I shall reserve judgement til I hear them play, though I have no doubt I'll come home with a CD and a T shirt, The Black Marias that is not Go West, but never let it be said that you're too old for what music you like. It is now me that's sticking two fingers up to everyone, I'll go where I want, to see who I want and who's going to stop me??? Oooooh, is that Anarchy?

Old teenager

And so another week ends and thanks to the gift of bank holidays mingled in with half term, I really have lost track of which day of the week it is. I'm trying to make sure that I remember to get up early tomorrow to take Master Grumpy to football training, that's assuming he actually goes to bed and sleeps tonight!

I saw recently that some medical research has proven that teenagers have some hormone that is released at about the age of 14, that means they don't need to go to sleep quite so early and need to sleep longer in the mornings. Now I'm sure there will be some doubting Thomas's out there that will pah and piffle at this research but for once I actually agree. But now I'd like to see some research done in to 40 somethings, we need regular meal breaks, a good smattering of alcohol and always a decent nights sleep, because if we don't get it, we are hell on legs. I'm sure most of you will agree and I'm not just referring to myself, is it too much to ask that I can go to bed at say 10pm and have unbroken sleep until 8am? Well apparently it is, maybe it's the alcohol or maybe it's my age but my bladder has decided that 4am is the time I need to get up. Should we be paying some researchers in Cambridge to prove this fact or is it enough that I do it every morning?

I also read that they're trialling this teenage thing in some school where the kids arrive later and stay later to see if they can get the best out of the kids. So I'm putting my name down for my workplace to say I can snack when I feel hungry, take an afternoon (or morning) nap when necessary and of course if it all gets too much I can have a nice large glass of wine to help ease my worries. Oh yes and all very close to a ladies room.  

The Party

I'm not sure if this will qualify as a blog but as it's me rambling then I suppose it should.

Tonight, the family and I have attended the 5th birthday party of my eldest niece, Little Miss Bossy Boots. I could have called her anything, gorgeous, adorable, beautiful, lovely, kind, the list goes on, but I actually feel that LMBB is actually the most appropriate. 

In attendance were the usual suspects, Nanny and Grandpapa B, Nanny Hatch, Uncle Mark, Uncle Pilchard and Aunty Elaine, as well as her own parents, brother, sister and my two boys. I do hope that none of the afore mentioned mind me using their real names.... I'll find out soon enough no doubt! Oh and I nearly forgot, Harvey, not sure how I forgot him, he made enough noise all evening!

It was one of those lovely family gatherings where we were all totally relaxed, the wine was flowing, freely, the kids were playing, happily and Harvey was barking, noisily. LMBB had loads of lovely pressies and of course in reflection of the way she has been raised was so appreciative of all she received. Even when she opened some dolls that she already had, her mum suggested that they could take them back and swap them for something different, her reply? "No, it's ok mummy, my little sister can have them when she's big enough" Humbling.

We had the most wonderful, home cooked meal, as always, followed by a bright, pink birthday cake, that'll be all the kids up all night, including Messrs Grumpy, courtesy of Nanny B. I can honestly say that as always I have come away feeling as fat as a pig, thanks folks.

The only thing missing from the evening? Uncle D and Auntie J who sadly couldn't make it due to work commitments and also the fact that they're going through a rather sad time at the moment. So tonight's blog is really just for them, not to say, look what you missed out on, but to hope that they feel they were still a part of the evening and to let them know that I kissed and hugged those little people just for them. We all hope to see you soon, you were missed.

Pooh

I wasn't too sure what to call today's blog, I hope the title hasn't offended anyone, actually I don't care if it has.

So this morning I awoke with a stranger in bed beside me, well, not a complete stranger, but it was somewhat of a surprise to open my eyes and see Winnie the Pooh staring at me. I wonder how many 40 something women can say that this morning?

It would appear that as Mr grumpy has been struggling with a stiff neck and shoulders of late, he had decided to take a hot water bottle to bed to try and ease his tension. Enter Winnie the Pooh. We've had this hot water bottle and cover for nearly 14 years now, he has been a very loyal and most helpful bear, I can now see why Christopher Robin liked him so much.

I remember as if it were yesterday the day that I bought him and I also remember how much Mr Grumpy moaned when I told him the price, "twleve pounds??" he exclaimed. Well old man, I think that he has been more than worth every penny I paid, hell, even the shop I bought him from is no longer standing!

The reason I remember buying him so clearly is down to the other happy member in our household, Master Grumpy. A beautiful baby born almost 14 years ago, loved being held and of course rocked to sleep but as soon as his body touched the mattress of his moses basket or cot he was wide awake and screaming. We tried everything to get him to stay asleep and once he was he was like the proverbial baby, but the only mattress that seemed not to put a 3000 volt charge of electricity through him was the one on our bed.

It was at some point of tears, endless sleepless nights and tantrums, that was just me, that someone suggested a hot water bottle. Apparently it would warm his bed nicely so that when he was laid next to it, he would think it was still one of us holding him, well, it worked for puppies so why not Master Grumpy? Well, it didn't. Yes, he grew out of screaming all night and wanting to sleep in my bed, after 4 years and what did I have apart from very large bags under my eyes? A lovely Winnie the Pooh hot water bottle.

Thanks Pooh bear for seeing me through, tummy aches, sore backs, sore necks and shoulders and endless cold nights. You're worth every penny to me. 

Pardon?

I haven't actually made it outside of the house today, so I feel that this fact may be reflected in tonight's blog. Honestly, I know for a fact it will as the only contact with the outside world I have had has been via the phone. Nothing very interesting in that you might think and ordinarily I would agree. That is unless I know you've had contact with some of the Grumpy In Laws.

I don't want to come across as mean or uncaring towards those with hearing difficulties, but oh my god how hard can a telephone conversation be? Well in the case of these people, very. Oh and before any of the Grumpies start moaning, yes, this applies to my mother too.

I'm not too demanding when it comes to the odd chat on the phone, maybe just that if I say something you can acknowledge you've heard by making an appropriate sound or giving a relevant answer. Or how about that when I say something and you do make a sound that implies you've heard or understood you don't then go on to ask me a question which relates directly to the very thing I've just been chatting to you about! Surely that's not much to ask? 

The only other thing that makes these hearing challenged people more frustrating is when they not only can't hear what you've said, they also seem unable to remember any of the things discussed recently, say in the last 2 weeks or so! So I find myself saying, "yes, you told me" at least half a dozen times, but know what? They can't hear that either so I still get the whole bloody story again!

Yes, yes, I know, I'll be old one day too, just don't phone me and I won't phone you.

Easter

And so it begins... I know that it's probably not officially Easter until tomorrow but I can't control the ramblings in my head, as you may have noticed.

So yet another religious celebration that so many of us take part in when we aren't actually religious at all, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, three weeks off work is very nice thank you very much! I'm not too fussed over chocolate either, please take note Mr Grumpy, would prefer Doritos. I can say this without fear of us not having to worry about what the Easter bunny may or may not bring as both the boys already have three eggs each. Most of this I would hazard a guess, will end up in Mr Grumpy and not the children. 

So what does Easter mean to you? To me it means the God Squad are out in the streets again, chocolate eggs and wrappers all over Master Musical and Master Grumpy's bedroom floors, the traffic on the road between here and the coast will be horrendous, even if it is pouring with rain. The queues in Sainsburys will be ridiculously long because all the loonies of this city don't think that they can manage with the shops being closed for one whole day. Suddenly there are very expensive turkeys for sale where normally it would be a chicken but the best bit will be fish and chips for tea on Friday. 

I'm not grumpy, I love spending time with my family and it's nice that we'll have this extra time to enjoy each others company, oh alright, by Sunday lunch we'll be screaming at each other over whose parents we're going to visit, shouting at chocolate, coma induced children about the mess they're making and are they going to get dressed today, but the most annoying thing about Easter for me will be yet again trying to work out.... What the hell is Urbi et Orbi???

Happy Easter!