Around the Cadac with bunting, tealight chandeliers and fairylights on the EHU

[notwavingjustironing]

Gawd, the minimalists will kill us.....

It was Someone Else's idea, all right?

Carry on where you left off, be it owls, bins, sharks, tins of vodka, karaoke etc. [grain]

Gahh, Striped, now I can't even look at the word as it looks odd. I give in, bed time, nos da pawb

Oh I wish I hadn't read losts link! Going to have nightmares now . I am such a soft shite since having the boys.

Not seen slumdog notwaving but if there is anything at all in it that could be considered weepy then I would have been howling with you!

Think of something nice instead like imagining my singing

I'm off to bed too - I've got an important job to do tomorrow - oh wait, no that's the rest of you

Cheers notwaving but I think I'll just read lostys link again........

Off to bed too - see you all tomorrow!

I have never seen slum dog. Or train spotting, or millions. Which is probably what made dinner with Danny Boyle and his mate frank so pleasant!

I refused to let mum watch boy in pjs. We have discussed dough texture on bake-off instead whilst I have fondled each of my eb seconds in turn.

Night all .

Just caught up with Dr Who on i-player and am v. sad that it appears Amy and Rory never did get to raise their baby... not in the same league, but I couldn't watch the Boy in the Striped PJs either, far too upsetting. I had to (didn't audition, got asked to do it as a favour, wouldn't have voluntarily done it) play the mother in Kindertransport last year and it was incredibly traumatic, having to 'be' this woman who'd sent her child away to be safe, been through the camps and then found her again 7 years later only to have her reject her for sending her away. Wasn't really acting the last bit, all I had to do was think of how I'd feel if it was DD and I was in bits. Had a whole speech about seeing her husband go into the showers .

And I've just seen a mouse run out of the fireplace - aaargh! I knew it was too good to be true that we hadn't seen any since next door started the never ending renovation project building again... Anyone got a cat to lend me?

Ds1's favourite car song is 'the one that goes wahoooooooooo' (Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin) . Have I damaged my children completely, do you think ?

I couldn't get on with Slumdog either.

Good morning my imaginary friends. I feel it must be a good sign that the people in my head are funny and interesting. I'm terribly proud of myself. [grain]

Loved your posts last night, sorry I missed you. I too love it when we're here at the same time - a "proper" conversation.

I haven't seen The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, but to be honest, it's probably just as well as I'm very very embarrassing when I watch an upsetting movie. Sobbing so much that by the end I can't even see properly, have a red nose, funny lips, the lot. Really shouldn't be left out without supervision.

Lovecat, Baileys sounds odd, but would it work as a sauce over vanilla icecream? Otherwise, what about a grown-up milkshake - cup ice-cream, quarter or so cup of milk (depending on how thick you like it), some fresh strawberries, Baileys. In blender for a minute or two, serve immediately in small glasses? I haven't done it with strawberry flavour, but often make Don Pedros, which is a grown-up cocktail/milkshake you can order in any South African restaurant. Basically a very thick milkshake with Whiskey/Kalua/Baileys which is then served in a small, usually wine, glass. Good, even though it might sound odd.

Luckily I wasn't fired yesterday, but mainly as almost everyone else on holiday and I'm very much doing my own thing really, so me being there or not doesn't actually affect anyone - well, not immediately anyway. I choose to think I'm indispensable, but to be honest, I don't even think anyone would notice if I'm not there! Gah.

Lovecat, we just watched DW (on video, we are still in the dark ages here) and also v sad about Amy's baby. So she never knew her as a child at all.

Well, we are back and intact from our festival! Thanks for all the admiration at my packing abilities - I was surprised myself. To crown it all, we had to re-pack all that lot, plus a wretched willow and tissue-paper lantern that I made DS1 made for the CHildren's Procession. It was HUGE. And sat on my lap all the way back home. Made navigation interesting. Oh, we have a Mazda 6, not the estate that Slubber has, and no roofbox. I'd like one though...

Weekend was ... cold. Bloody appalling weather really. Only a few torrential downpours and they lasted minutes, but it spitted rain (spat?) every halfhour, and in between that it was either sunny and therefore warm enough to have to take outer layers off, or brrr chilly wind I'm not wearing enough. DS2 all snug against me most of the time in a sling (sling-lovers: I had a Bondolino (made by Hoppediz), also took a Girasol wrap and a ringsling but only used the SSC), DS1 seemed ok. Mostly me shivering. Festival with 2 small children as frustrating as I thought it would be - saw some sets we really wanted to, but DH had to walk DS1 home in the buggy halfway through one of them, and I had to do a lot of jiggling/breastfeeding DS2 to keep him happy. Late nights=almost impossible. DS1 in fleece PJs and layers in buggy (with LEDs strung round!) and blanket, DS2 in sling, but still hard to get them to sleep with ear defenders on before music started. Still. We know now. Won't try it again for a few years (DH and I reserve the right to slip off to a festival if gps can babysit though!).

The camping side of things was fine - I borrowed a couple of Thermarests from a friend and they were fab, so no punctures this time. Bivouac stove was lurvely (i made a cereal packet and foil windbreak a la Slubber's, worked fine). Tent was great - not a perfect pitch because of space constrictions, even had to tie guys shorter to fit in (and therefore couldn't use sliders to tighten guys) but stayed up and dry through wind and rain. Cold though. Am at MissSal's hole. For her woodburner. Ended up with my leggings on my head one night (temp was estimated at about 7 degrees, FFS). Will take hat next time I camp in SUMMER, ha.

Will risk outing myself and stick pics up on profile if anyone's interested.

at PortBlack being at the same festival! It was a great line-up, wasn't it? Did you get to see a bit more music than we did?

Reshape, you just made me burst out laughing at your admiration for my hole. [filthy mind] Off to look at your festival pictures now. I'd love to go to one, but a bit too scared about the practicalities just yet. Am a big fat wuss.

I'm overeager - will try again in a little while!

"All around my ARSE, I will wear a pair of Leggginnngggs!"

Yes of course I want to see photos. Its the law.

Glad you had a good time thought. Its proper autumnal now isn't it?

Sorry, still uploading!

It's been autumnal all bloody august. Not sure why I'm angry at that, there's no point, is there? I mean, WHO do you complain to about the shitey weather if you're an atheist? Actually, that's a thing - could any believers among us please send up a formal complaint?

Love the tent, reshape. Also admiring your buntingous bush.

Dad is being set free today, so we'll welcome him back and then give space and scarper back up the m6. Now got to learn about older people and epilepsy.

Taking boys to the local outdoor pool today. Wonder if I should have brought their wetsuits for the cold.

HOW ON EArth did you get all that in your car? Bows down

Good morning oh figments of my merry imagination!
In the office with my boss,so won't post loads but he is doingthe finances and huffing and puffing-concerned he will turn around and say "sorry, I can't afford you anymore" I owe the CM 700£ so he had better pay me today, I'm running on thin air!!

Glad the festival was good, I have to say with 2 under 3 we are
Resigned no to go to any for a while :( it won't be forever though!

Favorite car song-ATM old Macdonald had a farm. But Ds will boogy with me to anything...we are good at air guitar and air drumming, I have high hopes for him

Serious bunting Reshape. Am v impressed. I did camping last week with my electric blue solar fairy lights - very useful for winding round the front guys so people didn't trip over them, well that was my excuse anyway.

Xpost, tent looks fab reshape!!!

I so nearly bought some solar LEDs from ebay but luckily was skint by then. Loads of people had them round their tents, made a good trip-hazard warning. (I maintain that bunting and fairylights serve a primarily functional purpose and avoid accidents. I'm still working on a prototype of bunting made from that stuff you make Hi Vis jackets from. Watch for me on Dragon's Den.)

I'll upload the one of DS1 in his buggy with battery LEDs and ear defenders on.

Luvverly tent reshape! Ours look so practical but then that means they are very well practical, and we are camping geeks. It's a lot warmer in a little pod than a high ceiling thing. I couldn't put my arms in my sleeping bag this weekend as it was too warm.

Trying to imagine myself camping at a festival if one persons iPod gets on my nerves. Nope not happening! We are much happier watching festivals at home on the telly, Reading/Leeds was very nice from my sofa with a glass of wine. As well we can turn the volume down if DS1 (Dyspraxic/ASD) starts getting freaked out, can't see that working with Muse. ' Scuze me Mr Bellamy would you mind keeping it down...'

Yay to brambles dad, I bet he'll be very glad to be home.

lost, yes, I could sense all the hot air we were generating just whooshing up to the Big Top ceiling in the tent! I think for next year, we might invest in a sleeping inner tent.

lovely picture of the boy

Love your photos Reshape! I think I've said it before, but that bunting is beautiful! Proper bunting, not like my cheat's way bought ones (even though I like it too - easily pleased).

Bramble, sorry to hear about your dad's epilepsy. Not sure if you've said it before, if so, I missed it. Epilepsy a pain initially (I have it) until you get your head around it and learn to see / feel warnings and have meds working well. Not everyone can, but often. I'm lucky that I only ever got a seizure in the morning first thing when I woke up, so it doesn't affect my everyday life. I haven't had one in years as my current medication works for me, but I did go through a couple of different types first - and I know when I start feeling unwell. Some types made me really tired. On warnings, for example, the reason why I came home early from MN camp was because I had that funny nautious feeling I get. It goes away if I make sure I sleep really, really well (mine affected by being overly tired / stressed / hormonal). As you can imagine, pregnancy was a bugger as I stopped (slowly) taking my medication and pretty much slept most Saturday mornings. We'll see how I'll cope with second one (if and when) - I'll probably switch over to a ketogenic diet as that helps loads (also for the size of my bum). Dh great though, so I cannot complain. What I would say though is that your dad should try it not affecting his everyday life as far as possible, as in the bigger scheme, there are a lot worse and less manageable things it could have been. Probably not driving for a little until he knows medication is working well if he gets seizures, but otherwise it doesn't need to be life changing (most of the time). My mom was very harsh on me when I got it (I felt!), as I still had to keep my grades up, do sport, go to uni, etc etc - everything as before really. She did watch (or listen to) me having a bath / swim for those first couple of months, just in case. I had a fab specialist who told my parents that often the worst effect of an epileptic diagnosis is that people give up doing what they love / stop pushing themselves, and that others feel sorry for them, which kind of spreads to your own feelings. Also the stigma originally, but that's gone mostly now. Saying that, I still don't mention it to people I don't know well, but that's my issue and not experience of being treated differently. Maybe check with the specialist (they might have already) if he needs to take supplements. I think vit D supplements are recommended in older people as medications can interact with absorption, so risk of osteoperosis. In my case, I have to take very strong (prescription only) folic acid supplements for in case I get pregnant to counteract possible risks. Best of luck. (Uhm, sorry for essay.)

Aww Reshape, what a beautiful picture of your son!

I heart festyboy!