ELEVENSES - the next chapter

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we go !

ah well, maybe you'll think of someone who might 'need' a wee picture !! am adding new stuff v soon I hope.
Hope ballet exam has gone well hotcross - were you nervous ?
T has been invited to perform one of his exam pieces on 1st Dec at a recital at the 6th form college - wasn't sure whether he'd want to do it but he says yes,quite happily ! Am now going to be a bag of nerves on his behalf (but also quite excited !)
Whizzed to Basingstoke today and bought nearly all the remaining Christmas presents- just something we need to order still for MIL and for T and 2 pictures to get sorted for 2 of my friends,then I do think that'll be it. I need to take T out to buy his presents for grandparents and dh but we can do that later. Whizzed home and went over to my parents to say hello to my godmother who had dropped by (haven't seen her for many years- before T was born in fact !!) She is one of those people who doesn't really listen to what you're saying because she's busily thinking ahead in order to say something that tops any of your/your children's /your friends achievements..mum finds her too much ! But I don't care cos I know my boy is a star ! (and I am uncharitable and should be kinder)

Your boy is indeed a star! Well done him for his singing - how brave!
Talking of brave - how did B's ballet exam go?

Here all is well - O had a good rehearsal today, apparently his accent and his duet are coming along well

Busy weekend this one - dh is working tomorrow so I am taking E to her swimmin glesson (assessment week so can't miss it) before whizzing off to the school Chrismas fair (which starts at 10 so but we won't get there until 11.30 ish) Am helping on the Y2 Craft Stall from 12.30. Will no doubt stay behind to help tidy up and get home for 2pm.
Bit of a relax at home before whizzing out with the other TA's to a charity quiz night held at another local primary school. Apparently we won last year so the heat is on...
HELP - what do I need to read up on, what is likely to be asked?? [fret]

Sunday morning E has a birthday party in Aldershot (of all places ) and O has drama club in the afternoon. Am exhausted just thinking about it all.

I also have to make O's tailcoat for the school play and make a wire frame of a Viking longboat to use as an example in class when Y5 will be making them during DT. (they are going to cover the frames in plaster of paris, could be fun )

wow that is a busy weekend !!
am glad O's rehearsal went well - does he have to speak cock-er-nee ?!
Am having a glass of wine now - am exhausted,has been a busy week. Out to supper tomorrow at friend S's -haven't been to a dinner party for ages and ages...might wear a dress (my only dress,apart from my very posh frock)

ooooh, yes, very cock-er-nee. He got told off on Monday as he sounded more Australian than Saaf London! So we have been practising and it is better now He also has to sing in a duet - they sing alternate lines so he is in effect singing on his own and that was anotehr challenge but apparently it is all going well so far Can't wait for the show!!

Dinner party sounds great. I also only have one dress. I wore it to my work Christmas do when I was just pregnant with O. It is a simple black dress with some silver and red flowers embroidered onto the top half. I have never thrown it out as I love it. Doubt I will ever have the chance to wear it again (fits perfectly now )

Hello! Hope you survived your busy weekend Hippi, and yours was nice too MAS! How was the dinner party? what did you eat?

Well done T! Am very impressed he's happy to perform - he must be comfortable singing, which is lovely.

B's ballet exam went well I think. She was very happy to do it, which amazed me - no nerves at all. Apparently the examiner said she has nice pointy toes She got a certificate for taking part and I guess we'll get the results in the post...

I've been poorly all weekend. I thought it was a migraine, but I have an upset tummy today, so I guess it's a bug. Another one... Dh is very long suffering and has kept B busy all weekend, which is lovely.

Must go and pick B up from tennis! Didn't realise it had got so late

Well done B for her ballet exam - let us know the results as soon as you know them!!
E's friend A has been offered a ballet scholarship to a local independent school! Gasp! Have not told E yet as the mum has not yet decided whether to take the place up or not...

Sorry to hear you are feeling unwell again hotcross. There are so many bugs going around at the moment! And isn't the weather horrible!!

Am getting into a right stew re E's party. Out of the 19 invitees I have 6 yes and 6 no. Have a feeling most of the others will be 'no' as well. Gutted. Have hired a big hall and an entertainer. For 7 of us!! E is very disappointed to and I could cry on her behalf (but am refraining, just)
Let this be a lesson to me though, from now on small parties only! (cheaper too)

Oh poor you Hippi, and poor E! What a shame It's all down to luck, isn't it? Could you shift the day? Not ideal, but if more people could come...Or have it at home? have you paid a deposit for the hall, or the whole amount? Oh, I've no great ideas, but I'll keep thinking!

Gosh, a ballet scholarship! Didn't even think such a thing existed! My worry with that is keeping up financially with all the other families, and what if she decided that ballet wasn't for her?

oh poor E so disappointing when things don't go as hoped...fingers crossed the others will be yesses !

Am sorry you aren't well hotcross - poor thing xxx
Dinner party was very nice indeed - everyone very relaxed and jolly..but am not used to being up so late !
We ate : roasted vegetables with balsamic and parma ham on top with shavings of pecorino (yum yum yum) then chilli with tortillas,sour cream,salad and an avocado salsa (ditto yum) followed by pot au chocolat (yum x 100)
Busy old week -I have my assessment for CBT on Wednesday which is making me a bit nervous and then on Thursday my post-radiotherapy appointment which I'm sure will be fine but I just feel a bit about undressing- silly I know as a few months ago I had to strip off every day in front of several people -you kind of get used to it,but it's been a while.
T is practicing his exam pieces on Wednesday with his accompanist - he seems very calm !

Am very disappointed, but have paid the whole amount for the hall and will have to pay 50% of entertainer's fee if we don't go ahead, so financially daft to cancel (and daft to go ahead too...)
I know it is all down to luck and those that can't make it really do want to come, but I still can't help but feel gutted for E. Especially as 3 out of her 6 closest friends can't come...
But we are just going to carry on inviting children in the hope we can scrape together 10. But I am never, ever, doing a big party again. It is just not worth it. Small and cosy and at home only from now on! Because this seems a scandalous waste of money now her closest friends won't be there...

Ballet scholarship - I think A will be just fine. She has a pushy supportive mum behind her whose aunt was a famous British ballet dancer. Don't ask me who but she is on various Cadbury's biscuit tins so must be quite well known! Also, A's mum went to independent school and I know this is what she wants for A. And A is a delightful little girl who is absolutely ballet mad so I think she will be dancing for a long time yet

Meal out sounds nice MAS! Yum!
Quiz night on Saturday night was fun. We were first right up until the last 3 rounds when we plummeted to 4th! Never mind, it was all for charity and we had a laugh!

forgot to say -well done B for doing ballet exam with confidence and pointy toes !

where are you ?! hope all well and just busy

I am here, I am here

Another hugely busy week - am exhausted. Good week though but a bit frustrating - boy B has forgotten all his basic shapes which we have been working on for half a term. [head brick wall emoticon] Soooo soul destroying [sob]

On a brighter note the course was great on Thursday. Last session Monday. Had a meeting with the senco today to arrange some class observations which I have to do as part of the course. Should be fun

E's party is picking up - we issued some additional invitations to get the numbers up and we now have 16 YES and only 3 still to reply. I am much much happier

Hope all is well with you both? How did B get on in her ballet hotcross? Do let us know as soon as you hear!!

hi hippi - so glad that the course is going so well - it sounds a bit of a trial with the boy, but I guess there are bound to be set backs in his progress - it sounds as though it's a real challenge for you both..well done though - you're doing just great ! Am glad that things are looking up too for E's party
Bit of an exhausting and emotional week here as I had the CBT assessment on Wednesday - it lasted about 2 hours and was quite gruelling- of course I forgot to say 2 really important things and felt foolish having to ring up the next day to say what they were - but caught the psychologist in time before the multi-disciplinary meeting where they will discuss me I think I probably will be offered some sort of top up of CBT and she also mentioned grief counselling which I don't think they'd offer,would be something for me to pursue (long story but relevant to what we were discussing) then yesterday it was my check up -saw my surgeon who said everything was fine,asked me about the tamoxifen and told me that the hard bits are oedema caused by radiotherapy damage and should subside in a few years ! Arf !
Taking T for a hair cut later - and my ma and pa are coming to dinner tomorrow - the boys are making curry and a sambal..yum ! I am whisking up a confection of marrons,meringue & ice cream..

Hello I'm here too

The course sounds great Hippi. Sorry things are a bit disappointing with the boy, but I'm sure it'll be a temporary setback. He might surprise you and suddenly click! Fab news about E's party - what a relief!

Sorry you're having a roller-coaster week MAS. CBT is a very exhausting experience I think, but hopefully they will offer it to you. Anything that helps make life a bit easier has to be good I'm so pleased the surgeon is happy with you - you're going through the mill a bit ATM - but it all sounds positive news

I've been quiet this week. I think my headache of last week was the beginning of a bug, and this week I've not been hungry and had nearly constant stomach ache. Today, hooray it feels less tender, so hope I'm on the mend. I just haven't had the energy to even MN which must be serious

To add to the excitement a piece of my back tooth has come out As I don't have a dentist, I've spent today ringing round to see who would take me on/what prices were etc etc. At last I've found a practice in Godalming (I'm amazed!) and I have an appointment on Wednesday. I'm crossing all my fingers that it doesn't start hurting over the weekend... Gah, it's one thing after another.

Ballet results will come through the post but I don't know when. The teacher seems to think she'll ahve passed though, and has measured her up for a character skirt

poor tooth and poor tummy but glad you've found a dentist..fingers crossed that it behave over the weekend.
And thanks for your kind words about everything - it has been a bit of a tough week but I survived and I'm sure they will offer me something !
Fingers crossed for B's ballet results. T rehearsed his exam pieces with ex head of music at his school -he is playing the piano for him in the recital & exam - he (Mr S) said that if T sang as well as he did then he should pass easily - so fingers very crossed there..he is remarkably calm about the recital - I'd be sooo nervous if it were me (actually I wouldn't have done it !!)

Great news about the ballet and the singing! I think both T and B are very brave doing these exams!! I don't think my two would consider it...

Sorry to hear things are a bit tough at the moment MAS - fingers crossed the CBT helps
Hope your bug passes soon hotcross. My permanent sore throat seems to be subsiding so I think it was tension related (weird things, bodies...)

Have had a busy afternoon. Popped into town to do some shopping - trainers for me and stocking fillers for the kids - before running through Sainsburys. Just got home and realised I have forgotten a few essentials - gah!

Have to go and collect O from rehearsals at 5.30 and E from J's house at 6.00. Am looking forward to coming home, sharing some pizza with O (E will have eaten at J's house) and just collapsing on the sofa

Well done T! It's nice that he already knows the pianist too, I'm sure that must help. Remind me when the recital and exam are...

Hope you're feet up with your pizza by now Hippi! It sounds good.

I've had an eventful afternoon. I was running late to pick up B, only to find the car wouldn't start! AAARGH! Even if I set off then walking I'd be nearly 20 minutes late, so I had to send out an SOS to a friend J, who picked up her dd and B, then walked home to her house to get the car and then came to me. Bless her The girls had a quick play though while J and I had a cuppa, so it wasn't all bad

We've just dropped dh at the station for his works night out, so B and I are going to play a game and then she can jump into bed. After that I'll catch up on the Ricky Whittle scandals!

recital on Tuesday evening and exam I think on 7th, though actually I'm not altogether sure of that - definitely that week though.
Arggh about the car hotcross but well done for getting everyone picked up and dropped off ! Have a lovely relax and pizza Hippi

Hope you haven't been washed away Wild wild weather.

How's T? Is he getting nervous? He is SO brave

We had a busy but nice weekend. Saturday swimming lesson, then we went into town and watched the Blessing of the Crib and went to a carol service. It all seems a bit early, but it is the beginning of Advent... Jeremy Hunt did one of the readings, there were real donkeys, so it was all lovely

Yesterday was Christmas Shopping And we've nearly got it all done. Hooray hooray. MIL is coming on Thursday so we needed to have all the Up North presents ready to avoid a huge posting bill. Also we're busy every weekend now until Christmas, so it's a stress gone. Phew.

I'm waiting for a friend to arrive for coffee and then I need to start getting the spare room cleared for MIL's arrival! Back later.

Can't believe it's Advent already ! it sounds as though your w/end was busy and jolly..well done for getting the shopping done- always a relief -ours is very nearly done,just a few odds and ends and T's presents for his grandparents & his dad to choose.
This rain is a total pain - the utility roof has had rain forced under the tiles because the wind was blowing so much across the back of the house,so there are trickles down the walls- not terrible but a nuisance.
T is remarkably calm and shows not one jot of nervousness - maybe it'll kick in a bit tomorrow, but he seems really ok.

Good news that T isn't nervous yet - what a star!

What a pain about the leaking We've got some of that going on too. I think we must need to reseal round the windows in the porch as there are damp patches right in the corners underneath the frames. Darn.

My friend came this morning which was nice and I've managed to get my Christmas cake in the oven. The living room curtains have gone in the washing machine on a very gentle wash - label says dry clean only but the tops are filthy so I've risked it. Am now cleaning windows...

Wow, you ahve all been busy!! And fab that T is not nervous yet! I heard O sing his song for the play at the weekend - he sounded quite nice! I was a bit surprised really

Leaking roofs seem to be a common theme - we heard a loud crash last night and were confronted with a large slate tile which had been blown off the roof. The heavy rain then spent all night trickling into the roof. It is at a bit int eh eaves we cannot get to from the inside (to repair rain damage)unless we knock part of O's loft wall down. So the hunt is now on for a single slate to replace the smashed one so we can waterproof the house... What a pain! Our fence to next door has also blown down so the garden is no longer doggle proof. What a pain! [again]

Last session of the training course today. Am glad it is over but met some nice people and will miss them! Am dreading tomorrow - I have to do an observation as part of my course assessment which means I will not be in literacy. One of the other Y5 TA's will have B and they will already have had him today (and no doubt moaned like anything about it so guess how popular I am going to be tomorrwo )

Right, have to go and fill up the advent calendar. Advent already - yippee! Carol service and donkeys sound lovely

Good luck to T for tomorrow!!!

oh hippi - good luck tomorrow -am sure it'll be fine and that B will be ok. Pesky dampness and leaking for all of us it seems - dh not too fretful as ours is not bad and only seems (touch wood) to happn when the wind blows strongly in that direction,which is unusual..we know of a man though who can come to check it out and replace the flashing..but still, I hate anything like that.
T is realising that it is a mini concert in front of quite a few people - hope he keeps his cool - I am feeling a bit anxious.
Am also in a bit of a dip because the assessment team have asked me to consider antidepressants and I am not happy about it - I think my agreeing to take them would make them more inclined to offer CBT (I asked outright and the psychologist sort of hedged around it) but I still have to have a further assessment after I've started the medication before anything is decided - feel a bit as it wasn't what I'd hoped for.

Hope today went well Hippi and that you enjoyed the observations. I'm sure B was fine, but I think it's lovely that you're fighting his corner and the other TA's need to stop moaning

I'm sorry you're disappointed at the news about CBT MAS... I wonder why they're doing it like that? Is it that anti-d's are cheaper than a course of CBT, so they're hoping to wriggle out of it??? They need to support you in the way you feel most comfortable, there's nothing worse than being backed into a corner Have you tried AD's before?

The leaking is a pain, but I think we've had quite extreme weather, so sort of inevitable as we all have old draughty houses. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm beginning to have dreams about a modern, low-maintenance house

Exciting news! Our new neighbours are moving in today! They turned up with a big van just as I left for the school run so I haven't seen them yet. I'm crossing my fingers for nicer ones than the woman who has just moved out. She didn't even say goodbye

oh new neighbours - fingers crossed for nice ones ! are you going to introduce yourself ?
I guess that CBT is in great demand but I think they are wanting me to be receptive to it first -though I guess it's not guaranteed..it'd be a shame not to be able to have it as it was so helpful before. I have taken ADs in the past, never really happy to do so, the last one was prescribed with the CBT - it was ok actually but unfortunately not compatible with tamoxifen (I checked it out !)