ELEVENSES - the next chapter

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we go !

Morning I have expressed an interest in the library job!!! EEEEEEK! Thank you for your encouragement, it was what I needed. I'll see where I get to now with it.

Sorry O isn't more enthusiastic about secondary Hippi. TBH B isn't overly thrilled about Juniors either She still has tummy ache and is quite quiet, although she's not in tears about it or anything, so that must be a good sign? I think these things can be a bit of a shock to the system and slightly more sensitive children can be properly thrown. They will be fine Poor O has been through a lot, I'm sure you're right that he's just feeling a bit overwhelmed with life in general.

Fab news about the house! You move very fast It will be grogeous really soon.

Choir was great MAS! We sang Penny Lane and a Fleetwood Mac song in three part harmony and it sounded pretty good considering it's a completely new choir. Am definitely going to keep going.

Hope you both have fab days!

Oh no Apparently deadline has passed for job. Would have been good if it said on website...

oh,that's a shame hotcross but there'll be other things and am sure you will feel confident enough to go for them !
So glad that choir was good - sounds brilliant
House refurbishments sound great but can understand your dread - but think ofd the loveliness when it's all finished !

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAS! (am sneaking my good wishes in before midnight) Haven't been in all day... Hope you've had a truly lovely birthday with loads of lovely things to eat and pressies to open

thank you hotcross !!
Now, isn't it your bday soon ? I had a very lovely day...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAS!!!
Hope you have a wonderful day!!

Shame about the library job hotcross - but something is bound to come up and it will be even better - what is meant for you won't pass you by

I am clinging on to the thought that in 6 months time the house will be fabulous. I am dreading the next 6 months - we need to somehow live in the house whilst it is being knocked about around us [fret] We cannot afford to move out. It will be mattress on the floor, one electric fire between us and cooking on the camping stove [gasp] And it is heading towards winter {double gasp!!]
The main reason it is being done now is that the builder we want (he is a good friend of my best friend, in fact he and his wife are big S's godparents) is free now. And he is itching to get started. And we are itching to get things done. And because we have not propely moved into the house - we are still on matresses on the floor and living out of boxes - it is easier to stick our belongings into storage and getting the work over and done with. I just have to keep calm amongst the mess and cling on to the fact that in 6 months time it will all be over with and we can get on with enjoying the house.... [wibble]

Right, better go, the urchins want lunch and then E has a riding lesson. And O has a lot of homework to get through - that is a bit of a shock aswell, the whole being organised with what pieces of homework are due when and working out which take priority.

Back later

yes,keep telling yourself that it'll be fab in 6 months - it will pass and you'll be so happy !

Am taking T to look at kittens this afternoon- they are ready to be seen - very exciting !

It will be lovely I am liking the house more and more. The neighbours both sides are lovely and this afternoon, when I stood on a potplant to peer over the fence at the lovely canal I saw a lady sitting on the lockgates reading a book. It is a nice place to be and our garden backs right onto it

I know that once the work is finished I will be smitten with the house. I am already feeling much more positive about it all

Hope you have had a lovely birthday - the kitten is just the icing on the cake!

am glad you're feeling more positive hippi -that's great- you'll have it just as you want it and you'll love it
V excited by the kitten !

Hello

It's a gorgeous day here - I really shouldn't be inside at all... I have just walked the dog though, so am on here with a well-earned cuppa!

Your house will be gorgeous Hippi, and well worth a few months of chaos! I really think if you're going to have work done, before you unpack is definitely the way to go. We made the mistake of moving here and unpacking fully, which really puts you off the hassle of having to move everyhting to paint

The kittens are sooo cute MAS! When does she arrive? Have you thought of a name? Our neighbours tabby kitten is called Purdey, which I think is lovely

We had a nice weekend. Saturday we joined friends at a campsite and had a BBQ with them.. We were going to camp ourselves, but I woimped out The forecast was 4 degrees at night, but in the end it was much milder than that...

Yesterday we went blackberrying and then made a yummy crumble!

sunny and warm here too- have taken big car to have it's MOT &service and have been given a pristine courtesy car- drove very slowly and parked with care. I got a speeding ticket last week,so am suitable embarrassed.

oh and kitten will be about 9 weeks when she comes to us -once she is eating properly.

Hello

This week has vanished! Hope you're both Ok and in the swing of term-time again?

B is beginning to settle in a bit at juniors - yesterday was the first time for over 6 weeks that she hasn't had tummy ache Early days I know, but I really hope she's turned the corner.

I've been out twice this week in the evening and again tonight I'm absolutely exhausted, but taking the opportunity to meet as many people as possible... I will collapse in a heap tomorrow, and pray for a nice quiet week next week!

Another week and hope all is well with you two !

Hello,

All is well here - I have to unearth the keyboard from inches of builder's rubble but other than that we are fine! O is doing very well at school now. He has settled in and seems very happy. In fact, he has volunteered to be a tour guide tomorrow evening for the prospective new parents! He was chosen sports rep for his form and proudly sports the rep badge on his blazer.

He has chosen to attend rugby club instead of drama club (the session times clashed) and is loving it. He is also doing badminton club. He is doing great - I am so proud of him.
E is a bit wobbly at school. She is no longer top of the class (in fact has been demoted to below average) and her nervous tics have returned. But am sure she will find her feet and take off at some point

I am loving my job now that it is more varied and am not working with Boy all of the time. It is a fab job

Have a killer cold at the moment though - and can't take a day off as the builders will probably end up plastering me into the wall or something equally creepy!

Better go, dinner needs doing and then O needs to go to Scouts.

The junior school was closed half way through the day today due to a burst water pipe in Woking. That was a bit of excitement Lots of parents appeared not to get the parentmail email so I ended up in the office phoning parent after parent. We closed the school at10.45 and the last of the children were not collected until 14.15. E went home with Little S to save here sitting around the school office.

Right, hope all is well with both of you. MAS, thanks for your email, will send your link round our contacts. Hopefully some good will come of it

Hello

Thank you for your email MAS. Your pics are so lovely! I've emailed it to some of my art-loving friends When does the kitten arrive? Have you a name yet??

Glad O is so settled Hippi. It sounds like his school is the right place for him Sports Rep! Wow! Sorry E is less happy... I know the feeling, B is still a pale and wan wee soul. No confidence, very fragile and sensitive etc etc. She's stayed in the top group for literacy but, like E, in maths she's shunted down Am hoping she'll get her confidence and pick up again

I'm so pleased you're enjoying your job. Amazing how one child can so affect your experience there.

Ooh, builders. That's very exciting!

We've just been out for a pre-birthday meal, which was nice. I had steak, and it was lovely I'm going to collapse with a big glass of wine now - I'm shattered!

Is it your bday today hotcross ? HAPPY BIRTHDAY **
have a lovely one.
Builders in already - v exciting-one step towards your dream home
Am so pleased to hear that your job is going so well and you're enjoying it and that O is settled and doing so well- for E and B suffering- am sure they will both find their niches..bless them.
Had my first Mindfulness meditation course session yesterday evening - it's going to be very interesting but very hard work and we are warned it might bring up things we don't want to face though am used to that really and it's all fotr the good in the end- had my Cruse counselling too- so quite exhausted.
Thank you both for kind words about the links to folksy and for passing it on -much appreciated.
Love to all xxx

oh and kitten (Celeste) arrives on 11th !=..=

Thank you MAS! Yes it is today - I feel very lucky because it's such a lovely sunny day

Celeste is a GREAT name! I'm a bit but I'm allergic to cats so I'll admire from afar

I'm intrigued about your Mindfulness meditation course - I bet it's exhausting, but hopefully useful in the long run.

My god it's wet We're supposed to be heading north tonight to my parents, and it's going to be a long slow miserable journey

yuck,it's awful - have a safe journey hotcross and a good weekend.

Hello

Haven't been on here for a bit. The time seems to be whizzing by ATM

We're having ongoing problems with B at school. Yesterday the office rang as she'd come out of assembly with tummy ache and then again at lunchtime and hadn't eaten anything. She's now trying packed lunches - really wanted her to have a hot dinner - just to see if it helps at all. I spoke to her teacher this morning (made a fool of myself by welling up) and the head has just rung me too! I can't fault them for listening, I just wish they hadn't split her from her friends... I wish I could wave a magic wand and make her happy and not so worried about everything

All advice gratefully received!

oh dear, poor,poor B - I can't think what to suggest - is there someone perhaps at school who could talk to her to see what's going on- it might be difficult for her to say to you..such a worry for you

Thanks MAS.

Apparently her teacher talked to her this morning and appeared to think she was quite happy. She likes the school in many ways but it's just so big and she's so little, and she's panicky about it all I've asked if she could be moved to a bigger table in the class so she has a chance to get to know some of the other girls (ATM she's sitting with one girl she knows and two 'naughty' boys, which is hardly conducive to making friends...)The thing is she can't avoid assembly or lunch and these seem to be the biggest worries for her I guess she just has to get used to it...

I'm sure B will get used to it all with a bit of help from the school- maybe a lunchtime/assembly buddy to be with her at these stressful times ?