tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19734844973302744502024-03-14T06:06:23.641+00:00Wonderful WagonGwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.comBlogger483125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-77101284109742882822017-03-15T12:36:00.002+00:002017-03-15T12:36:49.760+00:00Playlist of My Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, Nicola from Simply Homemade has
come up with an absolute gem of a linky.
It’s called Playlist of my Life and it does exactly as it says on the
tin: you list the songs that take you back to pivotal and significant times in
your life. I thoroughly enjoyed reading
the playlists of everyone who has taken part – <a href="https://simplyhomemadeblog.com/2017/03/03/playlist-of-my-life/">you can see them here</a> – and was
reminded of some great tunes. Songs are
a little bit like smells in that they can evoke such strong memories and take
us right back to another time, world and place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s taken me ages to put this together
because as we have all discovered, there is no end to the memories and the
songs just keep coming out of nowhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, here’s the playlist of my life in
no order whatsoever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Radiohead
- Fake Plastic Trees (In fact the album The
Bends) <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once upon a time a congregation of twentysomethings
would congregate in a small, darkly lit somewhat dingy pub situated on Leinster
Street, Athy and knock back pints and some of us even smoked <i>in the pub.
</i>All of this was done as we listened to what came out of a jukebox
hung on the wall. The Bends was one of
the most popular albums and Fake Plastic Trees is guaranteed to stop me in my
tracks every time and transport me back to the days where worries were no
greater than did I pay my rent and have I enough money to go out at the
weekend? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ocean
Colour Scene - The Riverboat Song<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This one takes me back to The Mean Fiddler
on Camden Street, Dublin where it was a popular floor filler. Or maybe there was just so many of us there
for Buy One Get One Free Cocktail Tuesday (or was it Wednesday? Thursday?) it
seemed like the place was full. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paul
Simon - You Can Call Me Al<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So many words. So much whistling. Impossible to sing and whistle at the same
time so I just stuck to the lyrics. I still
love it. My favourite lyric is “he sees angels in the architecture, spinning in
infinity, he says Amen! And Hallelujah! Interesting backstory, it was written after
Paul Simon and his wife (I believe it was Carrie Fisher) hosted a dinner party
and one of the guests insisted on calling them Al and Betty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sheryl
Crowe - No-one Said It Would Be Easy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My sister got Sheryl Crowe’s first
album Tuesday Night Music Club for her twenty first and we all loved listening to
it. All I Wanna Do was of course the hit
single that sparked her long career but I fell in love with this song. It had even more meaning for me when I became
a parent for the first time. no one said
it would be easy, but no one said it’d be this hard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New
Kids on The Block - Tonight<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had to include a guilty
pleasure. Remember these lads? The American boys who burst onto the scene
and had young wans screaming and fainting in their wake. What were we like? Ahem.
Their dance routines, their videos, the rough edges, the brothers and
the baby, Joe. Rumour has it they’re
making a comeback. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Cure - Friday I’m in Love<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My oldest boy is currently listening to
their back catalogue and I have to say I never roar at him to <i>turn that down </i>when I hear this
track. Because once upon a time, we were
all in love on Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fairground
Attraction - Find my Love<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">jarofquotes.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I say <i>Perfect </i>is my karaoke song but this one is bursting with summer
sounds and feelings. I love it. I love Eddi Reader’s voice on this one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lulu
– Shout<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Such a robust and energetic song. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Four of Us - Mary<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember being in my bedroom at 16
or 17 and the DJ introducing us all to the latest Irish band to appear on the
scene. Of course, I knew who U2 were
but admit to being unimpressed by them (at the time!) and then The Four of Us released
Mary. It helped that Brendan Murphy was <i>miles </i>better looking than Bono and spoke
in that lovely, lilting Co. Down accent.
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alanis
Morissette - Ironic<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was nothing Ironic about Alanis. Jagged Little Pill screamed of anger and
pissed off-ed ness and I lapped every single bit of it up. A few months ago, when I was mourning the
loss of another radio schedule shake-up, I was on the search for an alternative
station. I thought I had found it when
the DJ started to laud this album and laid claim to them having no less than
three Jagged Little Pill albums scattered about – the car, the bedroom and the
living room. How then, I wondered, if
you were such a massive fan, did you play the radio version of the song with
all the eff words? I changed radio
channels. Again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crowded
House - Weather with You & Better Be
Home Soon.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">slideshare.net</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh look, just put on their greatest
hits and I’m on earthly heaven. Crowded
House has the power to transport me to a particular Sunday morning in spring
and also to a shared house in Dublin where we had the absolute craic!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Natalie
Imbruglia - Torn<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A real pop song. Many moons ago my cousin and my now sister
in law feked off to America for a year. Because
they would not be around for Christmas, this prompted the rest of us to host a Christmas
night for them in October. We did
chicken and ham, put up the Christmas tree and even managed to find some
crackers. We played Christmas carols
and danced the night away in a tiny flat.
The tree stayed up until the following March if I remember correctly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boney
M - Brown Girl in the Ring<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was five and listened to this </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">on vinyl. </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I kid you not.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK, so now I know why my kids ask “was that when things were in black
and white?” whenever I talk about the olden days.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suzanne Vega - Luca <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sang this song at the top of my
lungs with happy vines before I realised it was about domestic abuse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nizlopi
- JCB Song <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was such an unusual, random song
and I was pregnant for the first time. I
am drawn to stories told and songs sang through the eyes of children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Only Way Is Up – Yazz<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was this woman’s appearance that
hooked me before the song. I thought she
was incredible looking. She was so
tall. So energetic. Her hair intrigued me. She had fabulous teeth and skin, these huge,
expressive eyes and then her voice on top of all of that, belting out such an
encouraging message. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s it and I only scratched the
surface. Makes me wish I hung onto all
of those mix tapes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-8925328205772387582017-03-07T11:57:00.004+00:002017-03-07T11:57:53.120+00:00Snapshot<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VWuFBVtCTds/WL6fM-bU2TI/AAAAAAAAF8o/PsKGpT6oMvosdvJ1fosfMzCeQavBZkOOgCEw/s1600/20170306_191215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VWuFBVtCTds/WL6fM-bU2TI/AAAAAAAAF8o/PsKGpT6oMvosdvJ1fosfMzCeQavBZkOOgCEw/s320/20170306_191215.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">d'ya like my new cup?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maud from Awfully Chipper has come up with
a lovely idea for a linky. It’s a quick
snapshot of what people are reading, watching, enjoying and generally getting
up to. Here is my contribution. Click on <a href="http://awfullychipper.com/2017/02/25/snapshot/">this link</a> to read more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Listening
to:</b> The radio. Does that count? I have lots of albums, CD’s and the like but
the radio is my constant companion.
Although Oldest Boy has discovered music and is a big fan of The Cure,
Nirvana and The Killers to name a few so I am listening to these too. Whether I like it or not it seems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Watching:</b> <i>This Is Us</i> and really looking forward to
starting Season 2 of <i>Grace and Frankie</i>
on Netflix. If you haven’t already been
introduced to either, I can highly recommend them. <i>This
is Us</i> is clever, heart-warming, sad in places and just brilliant. The first episode and the sheer cleverness
of it almost knocked me down. <i>Grace and Frankie </i>for the laughs. Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda join forces as two
very different women who thought their husbands had called a lunch meeting to
inform their wives they were finally retiring as law partners. Turns out
they were just retiring from their marriages but getting married again………………….to
each other. Watch how they all cope
with the fall out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Reading:</b> I finished John Boyne’s <i>The Heart’s Invisible Furies</i> last week and went straight out to
purchase the next one I could find which is <i>The
History of Loneliness.</i> From the man
who brought you <i>The Boy in The Striped
Pyjamas, </i>these are two very different books but still deal with atrocities
committed against Irish people during less tolerant times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Drinking:</b> Coffee and white wine. But never in the same glass. And not right now. I love a coffee transfusion each morning. I like to keep the wine till after 4pm. Doing
my best to stretch it to 8pm on Friday and not every night. The struggle is real. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Eating:</b> Asparagus is my vegetable of choice recently. I can’t get enough of it. I am also more than a bit partial to chopped
sweet roast potato sprinkled with smoked paprika. All the nom noms. And for the healthy treat, that would have to
be healthy Twix bars. My stash from last
week is diminishing faster than I’d like.
Turns out the smallest two boys love them too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Wearing:</b> Scuzzy jeans. Scuzzy hoodie. Battered boot shoes. Birds nest hair shoved up in a lump on top of
my head. This is my daily uniform. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0_SQ86IH2gY/WL6f84GBNlI/AAAAAAAAF8w/A7l81vTnguIbVcU_1_tHSX1CzPY8mY7SgCLcB/s1600/14183694_1080581558695047_396431806457322054_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0_SQ86IH2gY/WL6f84GBNlI/AAAAAAAAF8w/A7l81vTnguIbVcU_1_tHSX1CzPY8mY7SgCLcB/s320/14183694_1080581558695047_396431806457322054_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">these very items in fact</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Working
On:</b> Finishing a short story
and doing my living best to get my teeth into a work of fiction that has been
rattling around in my head since last August.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Permanently
Frustrated by:</b> The sheer and utter lack
of hours in the day. once upon a time
the day was too long. Now I cannot
believe how quickly 2pm rolls around and I have to jump in the car for school
collections. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Enjoying:
</b>Running.<b> </b>Three or four mornings a
week I go for a run with the dog. I’ve
been lazy with it for the last year, however, and just completing the bare 5k
each time. A couple of weeks ago, I began
pushing myself towards the 10k mark again and I am really enjoying it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Not
enjoying: </b>The mad,
starving hunger that inevitably happens when you increase your training. I want All. The. Food. Sugar is not my friend. hence the asparagus and sweet potato above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Looking
forward to.</b> Saturday night. Each Christmas my brother gives me and my six
sisters a voucher for our local Asian restaurant. And this weekend we will use it. There will be wine with the meal and more
than one or two glasses of Guinness afterwards.
To make it sweeter, I have made an appointment for a much-needed hair
cut too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Not
looking forward to:</b> Sunday
morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My
own add on’s:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Daydreaming
about: </b>Sitting on
the couch with buckets of tea and Season 2 of <i>Grace and Frankie</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Wishing
For: </b>Summer to hurry its ass up and get
here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Regretting:</b> There was a large glass of wine left in the
bottle from the weekend and I indulged last night as I watched Dermot Bannon
help a couple renovate the farmhouse that had been in their family for three generations. I should have opened another bottle if I was going
to feel like this. Maybe it was the
6.30am start and not the lovely wine. Yes,
I’ll blame that. Wine is my <i>friend!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Wanting: </b>A cup of coffee with a healthy Twix
bar. In a minute. In a minute.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Grateful
For: </b>Having the time and energy (such as it
is) to do all the above. Currently Irish
woman Vera Twomey is walking – that is a trek of 260km - from Cork to Dublin to
get the medication her young daughter, Ava, needs to control her rare medical
condition. Because it is a cannabis
based medicine, it is unavailable here in Ireland. Vera Twomey is appealing to Simon Harris the
current Minister of Health who has the power to provide a licence for access to
medicinal cannabis in individual cases.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-49246526732516660732017-02-18T20:49:00.001+00:002017-02-18T20:49:14.510+00:00Eleven Years Ago<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sEyxLDBxm1k/WKizGN3Po9I/AAAAAAAAF8E/UgFiLsyjAB8JdeKJHik852FoteDz4yiCgCLcB/s1600/1277607_433796473404075_1361368435_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sEyxLDBxm1k/WKizGN3Po9I/AAAAAAAAF8E/UgFiLsyjAB8JdeKJHik852FoteDz4yiCgCLcB/s320/1277607_433796473404075_1361368435_o.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can see clearly now</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Time waits for no man or mother but I can
still remember with perfect clarity, the struggles of babyhood as they applied
to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are no babies in this house
anymore yet when the sun shines a particular way, or a rain drop hits my cheek
on a random Tuesday, I can be transported back to that time. A
smell, even a sound can open that Pandora’s box of not so nice memories. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See, the really young baby years
didn’t agree with me at all. I like to
think I have a certain perspective eleven years later because I have
comparisons now. Back then when the
babies arrived back to back, I was still caught up in one vortex when the next storm
landed. Trying to make sense of a
toddler and his moods and cognitive developments whilst grappling with a new-born
and those dreaded, god awful sleepless nights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the eve of Oldest Boy’s
eleventh birthday. As I write this I
think about another Saturday evening eleven years ago in Kilkenny hospital when
contractions forced me out of my bed at exactly 6pm having been induced earlier
on that day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was born twelve hours later. A short albeit extremely painful and scary
twelve hours later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve always maintained that giving
birth is the easy bit; it’s what follows that tests us and gives us pause to
think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or drive us mad. Or make us stronger. Or wear us down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are those who say great things
are born from pain. I’m not sure I would
agree. Great things are also born from
joy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a great deal of joy in my
life. I guess I always did but at times
there was a cloud over it, blocking my perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That cloud has moved on now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And like a random Tuesday recovering
from a summer shower, my path is clear and the air bright. There are also a few kids playing on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Four of them. I know them by their movements, their
laughter and the way they shout to each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eleven years ago I was in labour for
the first time. The baby years are gone
now and another era stretches out in front of us. One of laughter and tears. A time of learning and discovery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But if there are four kids walking that
path with me, I know we will be more than ok. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-74792610291311632992017-01-01T17:21:00.001+00:002017-01-01T17:21:03.731+00:00How Do You Eat an Elephant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hd12LB_Wiss/WGk6L1lv4JI/AAAAAAAAF7Y/zoGR7PqRsa0K49uD_zEmShd1NG02DJgxgCLcB/s1600/1175_927292244023980_6553391279958734511_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hd12LB_Wiss/WGk6L1lv4JI/AAAAAAAAF7Y/zoGR7PqRsa0K49uD_zEmShd1NG02DJgxgCLcB/s320/1175_927292244023980_6553391279958734511_n.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
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<o:ink i="AHkdAggUARBYz1SK5pfFT48G+LrS4ZsiAwZIEEUZRhkFAzgLZBkLOAkA/v8DAAAAAAAVTTDePjhH
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="height: 24px; margin-left: -19px; margin-top: 6px; mso-ignore: vglayout; position: absolute; width: 19px; z-index: 251659264;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img height="12" src="file:///C:/Users/Gwen/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.png" v:shapes="Ink_x0020_1" width="10" /></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happy New Year! How has your day been so far? I hope it didn’t begin with a hangover and if
it did, I will admit to feeling a bit envious.
I realise I’ve contradicted myself there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Something has been rattling around in
my head of late. Something besides my
brain, that is. A little thought. As I am prone at this time of year, I like
to make plans for the next 12 months. Not
big ones. I’m all for a challenge but I
also like to win sometimes. New Year’s
resolutions are a recipe for disaster and a sure-fire way to fail if you ask me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then I reckon it also depends on
what you set your mind to and more importantly, the steps you take to making
that goal happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last year I decided on two things: one was to train for and complete a 10k. The other was to get published in some shape
or form once a month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I received a medal for being the first
lady across the finish line for the 10k race and I can claim to a 70% success
rate for the writing part.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AHmT18pzU2k/WGk6RhWI9vI/AAAAAAAAF7c/YWdVNIPQYWkf3NfcwxTBMT4DPSzG3PueACLcB/s1600/13502735_1030020290417841_186395041651835438_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AHmT18pzU2k/WGk6RhWI9vI/AAAAAAAAF7c/YWdVNIPQYWkf3NfcwxTBMT4DPSzG3PueACLcB/s320/13502735_1030020290417841_186395041651835438_o.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As far as I am concerned, those are
achievements.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year I plan to look at something
that was successful for me in 2016, examine how I did it and work at doing it
again. I also want to take an area that wasn’t
so rewarding and improve on it for this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--N0zGfxWXRU/WGk6dHoM_5I/AAAAAAAAF7g/Ga1x_6kXLt0-L-iRqGnzz9H_1doStfkEACLcB/s1600/774252_950372928382578_6710990256881521719_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--N0zGfxWXRU/WGk6dHoM_5I/AAAAAAAAF7g/Ga1x_6kXLt0-L-iRqGnzz9H_1doStfkEACLcB/s320/774252_950372928382578_6710990256881521719_o.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It helps that the areas I have mentioned
above bring me immense and satisfaction so I don’t foresee many problems for
2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I say that now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I learned that little steps can
earn huge rewards. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And to answer the elephant
question. The answer is, one bite at a
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy New Year. I wish you all the best in your dreams and endeavours
for 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-6866068395489700232016-12-22T16:26:00.000+00:002016-12-22T16:26:32.564+00:00Christmas Interviews 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vM_S_GtCchE/WFv9wGkCHaI/AAAAAAAAF6E/kHFInVap7_Ia6gkCyRB9B98BKXId1yXGACLcB/s1600/1507937_688328567950863_6143826775154462468_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vM_S_GtCchE/WFv9wGkCHaI/AAAAAAAAF6E/kHFInVap7_Ia6gkCyRB9B98BKXId1yXGACLcB/s320/1507937_688328567950863_6143826775154462468_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For me, I think Christmas begins when the boys get their
holidays from school. Which was
today. At midday. There is a definite shift in my mood as I
have everything done, right down to the last item in the fridge and several
lists with very satisfying black lines crossing though the items. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, so maybe tonight I will pick up one final santy thing
but then, let there be no mistake, I will hit the Christmas spirit with a glass
in my hand! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought I would get nosey with the boys and see if they
are having Christmas feels yet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But let’s
face it, there are four of them aged 11 (almost) down to five and a half. <i>Of course
</i>they are feeling it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I decided to ask them a few Christmassy questions to get
the measure of their thoughts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You got your Christmas holidays from school today. What does it feel like to be so close to Christmas?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>First Boy:</b> Well, at the start of advent I was really excited. But I’m not that excited now. I’ll probably be excited on Friday. And on Christmas eve. I feel like Friday is kind of in the way. Saturday will be in the way no matter what
but I don’t mind because we’re not used to having the whole day off really so
the days go really slowly. Unless we
spend it in town it will probably be boring.
But I will be really excited on Christmas eve. But the tension will be rising in Friday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Second Boy: </b> It still feels like it’s far away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Third Boy:</b> Really, really excited. Because you’re getting a lot of presents off
santy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Smallest Boy:</b> Coz there’s two more days left! It’s just like Christmas is getting faster
and faster and it never stops moving. And
also the days don’t end. They might even
go twenty meters past Christmas. And if
it does – no wait – also we don’t really know this, but I think Christmas might
get 6 metres and 12 metres combined. Closer
and closer. That’s all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9xUIMjRzRRI/WFv9xJD6qTI/AAAAAAAAF6I/BsGrhFxy6VAGP_Cy-wUP5uNgYCsl65uFQCLcB/s1600/1549500_742607135825826_6101691684332567774_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9xUIMjRzRRI/WFv9xJD6qTI/AAAAAAAAF6I/BsGrhFxy6VAGP_Cy-wUP5uNgYCsl65uFQCLcB/s320/1549500_742607135825826_6101691684332567774_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are you most looking forward to about Christmas?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>First Boy:</b> I’m thinking and looking for a way to put
it. Yeah, ok. I really like St. Stephens day because like, we have dinner at
nana’s and we usually have loads of fun there because Ben’s there and
stuff. And also I think there are two
bits I am most looking forward to on Christmas day; in the morning because that’s
like, when we open the door and the tension is like, super high. And after that I like paying with the presents. And then like, whenever our aunties come over,
it’s really good because like, we get more presents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Second Boy:</b> My birthday after it. Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Third Boy:</b> Presents.
No! Being with family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Smallest Boy:</b> I don’t know.
(He absolutely does and is dying to say presents but he knows this is
for my blog!) Don’t put down I don’t
know, Mammy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NuFwdMs9dOw/WFv9yf5Jc5I/AAAAAAAAF6M/yOWXKOPNUa4hPFMG_ZhTwzar0i9x2rTCwCLcB/s1600/10548200_695617407221979_6442208268295104929_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NuFwdMs9dOw/WFv9yf5Jc5I/AAAAAAAAF6M/yOWXKOPNUa4hPFMG_ZhTwzar0i9x2rTCwCLcB/s320/10548200_695617407221979_6442208268295104929_o.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are there any Christmas traditions in your family?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>First Boy:</b> Going to nanas on St. Stephens day for
dinner. Going to grandads for the
party. And on Christmas day our aunties
come to us instead of us going to them.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Second Boy:</b> We put up the Christmas tree. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Third Boy:</b> Celebrate.
And nana’s. And celebrate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Smallest Boy:</b> Celebrate Christmas. There’s a party in grandads every year. That’s a tradition!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5y8zb7FObbU/WFv-U4dAssI/AAAAAAAAF6U/2Vi7PWFUx8o25lFb_BZUWqD-B371CdgqACLcB/s1600/12322530_866656640118054_8248875209920213539_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5y8zb7FObbU/WFv-U4dAssI/AAAAAAAAF6U/2Vi7PWFUx8o25lFb_BZUWqD-B371CdgqACLcB/s320/12322530_866656640118054_8248875209920213539_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is Christmas all about?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>First Boy:</b> Being happy and being as nice as you
can. Even though you’re meant to be nice
the whole year but people tend to be nicer in December because santy is
coming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Second Boy:</b> Joy.
Jesus Christ. Santa!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Third Boy:</b> Friends and family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Smallest Boy:</b> Oohhh.
Like having rakes of days off school.
We be nice and we get presents. Mammy,
that’s all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0guAzw7oB4w/WFv-WXNSXFI/AAAAAAAAF6Y/rfVQDWvEeLwcQkt6MGzyM8XTGiYRRHKmwCLcB/s1600/15590374_1148254118624970_6934225962851419674_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0guAzw7oB4w/WFv-WXNSXFI/AAAAAAAAF6Y/rfVQDWvEeLwcQkt6MGzyM8XTGiYRRHKmwCLcB/s320/15590374_1148254118624970_6934225962851419674_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why does Rudolph have a red nose?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>First Boy:</b> I think it might be because he like, (silence
for a long time) This is a hard question.
I don’t really know actually. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Second Boy:</b> Coz he has a really bad cold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Third Boy:</b> Because he needs to guide the sleigh so they don’t
crash and Christmas is ruined. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Smallest Boy:</b> Oh, coz it’s so bright. No! Because
it’s so dark. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dJkXl4cXWqo/WFv-YRHM3bI/AAAAAAAAF6c/RSEEBDl4o9gQBzqr3qm1UXUD8qJY1-FWQCLcB/s1600/230277_391852667563542_461366800_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dJkXl4cXWqo/WFv-YRHM3bI/AAAAAAAAF6c/RSEEBDl4o9gQBzqr3qm1UXUD8qJY1-FWQCLcB/s320/230277_391852667563542_461366800_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you know any Christmas jokes?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>First Boy:</b> Yeah! What’s
the difference between a <i>snowman</i> and
a snowwoman? Snow balls!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Second Boy:</b> (Thinking for ages.)<i> </i>No.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Third Boy:</b> What do snowmen put on their sandwiches or
lunch? Chilli sauce!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Smallest Boy:</b> No.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wishing you all a merry christmas and whatever you get up to, it is with safety and joy in your hearts! Here's to a mighty 2017.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-74329518013267024812016-12-03T18:29:00.003+00:002016-12-03T18:29:25.991+00:00A Possible Christmas Unveiling!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UQMp66kaRBg/WEMO14ldR1I/AAAAAAAAF5g/BV4EE20Zg9QI1AFmZgELy3FXRHx1OWTSACLcB/s1600/20161203_181842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UQMp66kaRBg/WEMO14ldR1I/AAAAAAAAF5g/BV4EE20Zg9QI1AFmZgELy3FXRHx1OWTSACLcB/s320/20161203_181842.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do
you think there is a small chance that a bored child will wander about looking for
something to do when his brothers are off playing rugby and he left his PS Vita
in the car?</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most
definitely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do
you think it’s a good idea to leave keys to a locked press hanging up where
small hands can reach? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The keys to a locked press where the santy loot
is stashed?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do
you think when that child appears and says he was looking for his remote-control
helicopter in the locked press, took down the keys and put them in the door <i>but did not turn them and did not open the
door </i>that he is telling the truth?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
don’t!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And
do you think that when you go upstairs trying not to run and trying not to let
panic show on your face and find that the keys are exactly as he said – in the
door - and the door is closed but <i>not properly,</i>
do you think he was trying to cover his tracks?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
do!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
definitely do!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do
you think there is a tiny chance that he might have opened the door because,
you know, he had no reason <i>not</i> to, he
knew his toy was in there, but didn’t know the Santy stash <i>was, </i>do you think maybe he saw everything and closed over the door
in a panic and came downstairs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
do! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do
you think he went to lengths to tell me that he did not open the door but only
put the keys in the lock to cover his tracks but in the telling of it, gave the
game away on himself entirely?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DO
YOU?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DID
HE SEE??<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DO
YOU THINK???<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And
do you think his mother was an utter gobshite for not taking down the keys, the
ones that hang on the same hook from one end of the year to the next, but she
should have <i>for the time of year that was
in it </i>and maybe put them <i>somewhere
else?</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: 150%;">BECAUSE
I DO!!!!!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mudderajayzuswhatamigoingtodonow?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-87185474894118183182016-12-01T17:27:00.000+00:002016-12-01T20:18:54.177+00:00Christmas Toys I Loved as a Child<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M-IVIUSpy28/WEBdWV6S2zI/AAAAAAAAF5I/73WCVbog2R8fQwlJ8R3kjgcAv1qPiVapQCLcB/s1600/15232330_1158742547545614_385660115640215686_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M-IVIUSpy28/WEBdWV6S2zI/AAAAAAAAF5I/73WCVbog2R8fQwlJ8R3kjgcAv1qPiVapQCLcB/s320/15232330_1158742547545614_385660115640215686_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is getting ever closer to the most
wonderful time of the year. And I have
a small problem. Smallest Boy cannot
write yet. Hence no letter to
Santa. Also, he is quite laid back and
easy going and has requested “stuff” for Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Stuff” sounds easy, right? But seasoned parents recognise “stuff” for
what it is: your worst </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Santa nightmare in the run up to the most wonderful time
of the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">*What the
jangles <s>am I</s> is Santa going to get him???<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christmas was a very big deal for me
and my siblings many moons ago. Not for one minute am I suggesting it is
anything less than that for my own boys, but for us, Christmas was the perfect
opportunity to request proper “stuff. “Stuff”
that we really wanted, <i>lusted </i>after
and couldn’t sleep due to the expectations of receiving the “stuff.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our parents ensured my siblings and I
always got what we asked for. Without
fail. And there were a few lovely
surprises thrown in for extra squeals of joy and delight. As much as I loved my First Love doll, the
poster paints, my many, many books and the bookcase I <i>still</i> have, the bulging stocking was what I loved going through and
always kept till last. If I could hold
out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RCBYSU098P8/WEBcVH-zLhI/AAAAAAAAF5E/NTXzN1q8kAEbr-ZVNBBaYEx34r6BpL2YACLcB/s1600/20161125_162123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RCBYSU098P8/WEBcVH-zLhI/AAAAAAAAF5E/NTXzN1q8kAEbr-ZVNBBaYEx34r6BpL2YACLcB/s320/20161125_162123.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how it looks in the boys' bedroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was filled with items including a
toothbrush, a pair of socks, some pencils and school stationery supplies, toiletries
as we got older, notebooks, and other odds and ends, little knick knacks that
only the young can really enjoy. It was
like a giant, satisfying party bag <i>after </i>the
party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But one Christmas gift from Santa
stands out far and way above everything else and when Sinead from <a href="https://bumblesofrice.com/">Bumbles of Rice</a> invited the Irish Parenting Bloggers to join in on her nostalgia post on a favourite toy from Santa, I knew immediately which one I
was going to write about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My Petite 990 typewriter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even the ad on the telly filled me
with fizzing joy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aepxsl2lcsM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aepxsl2lcsM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am fizzing with joy thinking about
it more than three decades later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I loved
it! <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I spent many, <i>many </i>happy hours banging away on those keys. It must have driven my parents mad. But I learned valuable
typing-with-two-fingers-skills on that machine.
I had lots of words a minute. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A couple of years ago, on our annual trip
to Rosslare, we stopped off at a café absolutely buckling under the weight of
its retro objects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And there, in a little alcove close to
where we sat, was a typewriter. Not my
beloved Petite 990 but a real, honest to god, typewriter all the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The boys were fascinated and hadn’t a clue
what it was. One of them hazarded a
guess at it being an old computer. He
wasn’t completely wrong but when I explained to them how it worked, they were
disbelieving and full of “but <i>why? </i>What’s the point? All the mistakes you would make. It would be
too slow.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But those were the times we lived in,
boys. And years after my Petite 990 was
laid to rest somewhere, I went on to learn to type properly on one of those old-fashioned
typewriters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">*</span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">stuck
and desperate for desperation we did the only thing we could do with such a
short time before The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year: we took them to Smyth’s Toy store and let
them loose. I photocopied everything
they liked the look of and told them they could make <b>one small </b>alteration to their Christmas lists. as luck would have it, Smallest Boy
happened upon the one toy he spotted on the channel Pop over a month ago. Much joy!
We’re sorted. And I bet none of
their “stuff” will last as long as my book shelf did. But that’s not the point really, is it?</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-65687250224771025362016-11-25T18:17:00.002+00:002016-11-25T18:17:44.837+00:00Nothing Black About This Black Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JKaSP5kp608/WDh043E6NSI/AAAAAAAAF4M/0BU4QG_TBJ4JDenhBuHZJ7mWTzgjol2VgCLcB/s1600/15078734_1148430348576834_1376507119490735285_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JKaSP5kp608/WDh043E6NSI/AAAAAAAAF4M/0BU4QG_TBJ4JDenhBuHZJ7mWTzgjol2VgCLcB/s320/15078734_1148430348576834_1376507119490735285_n.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last evening I read a lovely blog post
by Office Mum called <a href="http://officemum.ie/name-your-poison/">Name Your Poison</a> and in it she speaks of reward systems,
the little sweetener we promise ourselves to help the week go faster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I could relate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And it got me thinking. Hard.
I realised I don’t treat myself nearly enough. Yes, I buy frothy cappuccinos now and
again. I cannot pass Penney’s without a
little something frivolous and every so often, I will buy a book I like the
sound of. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But in general, these are sporadic spoiling’s. it occurred to me that I have three things I
am quite looking forward to this evening alone and that makes it even
better. Three delights in one day. I really must do that more often.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I mentioned reading so the first thing
I am looking forward to is starting a book from my childhood called The Dolls
House by Rumer Godden. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As young readers,
my sisters and I took it out of the library every now and again to reread. I loved it.
The peculiar thing, however, is I couldn’t remember the name or even much
about what happened in the book despite having read it several times. In a most serendipitous event, it popped up
on in conversation on Facebook recently and who am I to ignore serendipity. It arrived yesterday. I will throw one of my favourite magazines
into the mix as well. I buy this one
every month for a little bit of light reading.
When I buy a magazine, I flick through it first to see what’s on
offer. Maybe even a second time and
then I will select the articles that speak to me most. After that I will dip in and out until I’ve
read it cover to cover. Reading. Is there a more enjoyable pastime? I don’t think so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Except maybe chilling out in front of
a favourite TV show or series on Netflix.
Do I have to mention Gilmore Girls: A Year in The Life? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are you sick hearing about this Netflix
revival yet? It seems the whole world
has been waiting for the four feature length episodes, and as of 7am Irish time,
they have arrived. I binge watched the original series on
Netflix over the past three months and occasionally when the boys saw I couldn’t
be budged from the couch for love nor money, they would plop down beside
me. Soon they became familiar with
Lorelai and Rory, Luke’s and I think they were slightly in awe of Richard and Emily. Let’s face it, who wasn’t? There
is wine cooling in the fridge in ready anticipation of my own company tonight when
the boys are in bed and asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But not before we have our second
family meeting. I’m not looking forward
to it exactly but I’m not hating the thoughts either.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JKaSP5kp608/WDh043E6NSI/AAAAAAAAF4M/0BU4QG_TBJ4JDenhBuHZJ7mWTzgjol2VgCLcB/s1600/15078734_1148430348576834_1376507119490735285_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JKaSP5kp608/WDh043E6NSI/AAAAAAAAF4M/0BU4QG_TBJ4JDenhBuHZJ7mWTzgjol2VgCLcB/s320/15078734_1148430348576834_1376507119490735285_n.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family Meeting in progress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the summer, I found it necessary to
sit down with the boys and iron out a few things. I invited them to air their own grievances
and speak out about anything they felt unhappy about in home life. It went surprisingly well (I wrote about it
</span><a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/healthandlife/parenting/regular-family-meetings-will-build-your-childs-confidence-381891.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> for the Irish Examiner) and we never had another one. Until last Friday evening. I am discovering
more and more that if you take your eye off the ball, it will fall on your
head. Hard. Home
life had unravelled into a large shouty, unhappy crazy mess and once again issues
needed to be addressed. The entire family
attended the meeting, there was a chairperson appointed and minutes were
taken. We introduced the boys to a
reward system like the one they are used to in school. But instead of ticéad buí (yellow ticket)
they get in school, at home they were given the opportunity to acquire up to 11
ticéad ór (golden ticket) a week for certain chores being completed and good
behaviour. The aim was to bag 80
tickets for a trip Tayto Park. But 80
tickets is a long, hard slog so there were spot prizes for 20, 30, 40 etc. and
it would be up to the boys how they spend their earnings in a democratic voting
system. They loved everything about
it. All week, Smallest Boy cleared way
a space on the table requesting a family meeting for that night. It will happen this evening; the agenda being
a review of how things went during the week and another chance for everyone to
give their input. There will be a “special”
hot chocolate for the boys and a long, cold glass of wine for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Friday nights in general are a chance for
me to recharge my batteries. It is not something
I can do easily and my preferred method of rejuvenation is solitude. Alone time.
With no-one near me, at me, touching me or talking to me. For as long as possible. It is only a few hours on Friday nights but enough
to skim the surface off the top of my weekly overload. It’s a simple idea but it works well for
me. And with some of my favourite
things to help me do that, it can’t fail.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-55745182951902694362016-11-11T18:19:00.000+00:002016-11-11T18:35:27.209+00:00He Doesn't Fit Anymore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L1IXaCsCGec/WCYLc_2r6uI/AAAAAAAAF3A/kEGRbfuoAWw1AqjmohVQlHC1aHkP_nTzgCLcB/s1600/20160904_133631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L1IXaCsCGec/WCYLc_2r6uI/AAAAAAAAF3A/kEGRbfuoAWw1AqjmohVQlHC1aHkP_nTzgCLcB/s320/20160904_133631.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We have a very messy but it works
measuring system. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Actually, we have a couple of them and w</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">e use them for
tracking the boys’ growth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like most growth charts there is a pen involved and
each incremental millimetre is recorded by an ink mark. But instead of a standard sheet of paper, our technique is to duly
record all evidence of growth on a piece of panelling nailed to the wall as you go into the kitchen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We moved into this house six years ago
which means there are six years worth of etchings marked onto the panel. Half inch by half inch, each child’s growth
spurt is regularly accounted for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IM1hdTyz4Y0/WCYKt5IpEUI/AAAAAAAAF28/Rp1WH2EWkfQNdidxr6HIHrX1e_tVQxV_ACLcB/s1600/20161111_170436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IM1hdTyz4Y0/WCYKt5IpEUI/AAAAAAAAF28/Rp1WH2EWkfQNdidxr6HIHrX1e_tVQxV_ACLcB/s320/20161111_170436.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is only some of it</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It makes absolutely no sense to me but
Mister Husband knows what he’s at and I nodded along when he pointed out that someone
has grown an inch and a half since September.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">True story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week I was literally eaten out of
house and home. For the first time ever I
had to buy extra bread. They managed to
empty the freezer stash as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also had to purchase a new pair of
runners and <i>two </i>tracksuit tops. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The other measuring system is the one I
use. It’s slightly unorthodox in that it’s
the press door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iuiFZJCFkZM/WCYI_58q-KI/AAAAAAAAF24/cQnqovjQoXEx_0aEoORfWGi8xI7jCZ35QCLcB/s1600/20161111_170511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iuiFZJCFkZM/WCYI_58q-KI/AAAAAAAAF24/cQnqovjQoXEx_0aEoORfWGi8xI7jCZ35QCLcB/s320/20161111_170511.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that's FISH mixed up</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The boys like to use the counter top
in the kitchen for their drawing, pouring of cereal and I can open the overhead
presses with ease.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Usually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oldest Boy almost suffered a
concussion last year when I clobbered him.
I opened the door, expecting it to clear the top of his head as it
normally did except this time, it documented his growth spurt and he got a bang
on the forehead instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now I am using this measuring system
to track the three younger boys’ growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because this method does not work for
Oldest Boy I have employed an alternative technique.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My chin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He’s a hugger, is Oldest Boy and earlier
on this year I noticed how my chin barely skimmed the top of his head as we
hugged. If he stood on tippy toes, the
top of <i>his </i>head would meet the underside
of my chin and push it upwards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We decided to use this as our new
tracking device.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last night after rugby he took a
shower and afterwards he came upstairs and asked me to dry his hair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I plugged in the hair dryer and got to
work. As he stood in front of me and the
mirror, I noticed I couldn’t see his reflection as he was blocking my
view. I couldn’t even see the top of my
head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was completely blocked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I stepped closer and touched my chin
against the back of his head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He doesn’t fit under my chin anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was in his bare feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He doesn’t fit under my chin anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He is almost eleven and nearly as tall
as I am. I am short. But he is overtaking me. Fast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He doesn’t fit under my chin anymore.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-44839767194181132392016-10-14T19:22:00.000+01:002016-10-14T19:22:02.439+01:00A Little Wobble<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9ftgdf0CGYA/WAEiOV0HouI/AAAAAAAAF1Y/vdnKDWom36M_xd_mh-Tc9mDubbgHKv1WACLcB/s1600/11140388_796957987087920_1981491882734108969_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9ftgdf0CGYA/WAEiOV0HouI/AAAAAAAAF1Y/vdnKDWom36M_xd_mh-Tc9mDubbgHKv1WACLcB/s1600/11140388_796957987087920_1981491882734108969_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A jelly. Of Sorts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jelly.
Jelly wobbles. I can remember
looking at it as a child, shaking the bowl to see it shiver. Great stuff altogether. Tasty too.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wibbly Wobbly Wonder ice-pops. One of my favourite ice-cream treats. They
have a great taste as well. The taste
of childhood. I don’t eat them so much
anymore though. Maybe tomorrow. Oh, wait.
It’s October. Maybe next
summer. Yes. Definitely next summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lower lips. They wobble too. Nothing can stop me in my tracks faster than
one of my boys with a lower lip wobble.
The most recent one was when he almost knocked the bowl of cereal out of
my hand. I got crossed and yelled. His lip wobbled. Then I almost wobbled. We made up after a moment. It was all good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a further wobble that evening
with another boy. Crossed wires, I got
cross and yelled again. After a fashion
I got another hold of myself and asked him to remind me of what I am always
saying to them; “It doesn’t matter. It’s
not important. No-one got hurt.” That wobble wasn’t so nice. I must remember to keep my cool in the
future. Over silly stupid things. Things that are not important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were lots of wobbles when the
boys were babies. Lots of them. The boys may have been small but the wobbles
weren’t. Second guessing myself all the
time. Wondering, waiting and wailing in
between. Wobbles at 2am in the kitchen
by myself. I had many in the
shower. Once I almost mortified myself
in a <i>shop! </i>I shouldn’t have been let out half the
time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loads of drunken wobbles. Oh, yessir, too many to mention in this blog
post. Ones where I couldn’t get the
bathroom door open. Others where I fell
asleep. Once even standing up. Another time on a plane. Once I cornered a lovely friend and demanded
to know why she couldn’t feed the homeless with the leftover food from her fast
food outlet job. Yes! Drunken wobbles. Who knew there could be so
many? I’ll say goodbye to that one now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were a few wobbles at some of my
works. I hated those ones. I’m not a big fan of confrontation but
looking back I am so glad, proud and happy with myself for throwing those
wobbles. I was standing up for myself
and shaking in my boots (Doc Martins for one of them) at the same time. Now I tell my boys to do the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have lots of body wobbles now. I remind myself I have been through four
back to back pregnancies and I am not exactly in the first flush of youth
anymore. I also tell myself I’d have less
wobbles if I could lay off the Walnut Whips, the almonds I like to munch and
the chocolate I love with my coffee. I
think my wobbles are here to stay. I
will continue to fight them when instead maybe I should “love the body I’m in.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wheel of the car wobbled not so
long ago. For a horrible moment I
thought I was going to hit the car in front but the brakes worked just in
time. On further inspection – by
someone else. You don’t want me
checking out your car - it turned out the front wheel on the passenger side was
a moment away from falling off. Now
that was a wobble I didn’t dwell too much on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wobbles are a fact of life. Big and small. Apparently it’s not the wobble that’s
important but how you handle it. Or
maybe that’s something else. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s good advice all the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, there’s a new wobble in
town. It was discovered almost two weeks
ago and it’s gotten worse. And this one
by all accounts, is earlier than the others.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a wobbly tooth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve seen those before. Lots of them. So many in fact, I part time as the tooth
fairy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This loose tooth though is another of the
first of the lasts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because it’s Smallest Boy. His first loose tooth is right on the
bottom. The one next door to it is in
no great state either. A double
wobble. They will both probably fall
out in time for Halloween.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They’re only teeth. He will grow
perfectly fine and beautiful adult ones.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But this is it. It’s another marker. Like the first proper haircut – the one that
strips the baby look off them – the onset of adult teeth puts the look of an
older child on them too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once upon a time he didn’t want his
teeth to fall out because it would be sore and he wouldn’t be able to eat
apples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now he can’t wait till it happens
because he will get “millions of euro from the tooth fairy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May all his wobbles in life be so
small. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-67998643256693200042016-10-01T00:30:00.004+01:002016-10-01T10:42:47.635+01:00Reward Charts for Grown Ups<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WczSlDYsM-I/V-71bJSh03I/AAAAAAAAF0s/xB-72CwXXBcKJKZIWefR-eOtVlZE9ZCDwCEw/s1600/20160119_211841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WczSlDYsM-I/V-71bJSh03I/AAAAAAAAF0s/xB-72CwXXBcKJKZIWefR-eOtVlZE9ZCDwCEw/s320/20160119_211841.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’m all for setting goals. The carrot at the end of the stick, or to
call a spade a spade, a good old fashioned bribe. A little bribe, an honest one, but mostly a
bribe that will get the job done and if it removes the sting, better still.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the boys went back to school (BTS)
I thought it might be nice to soften the blow with a little treat at the end of
the first week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were lucky. The treat literally fell into our collective laps
when we were invited along on a boat trip.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was so lovely I thought why not
make it a regular event. Not the boat trip. The treat.
A pat on the back for a job well done.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This idea went down very well with the
troops and the next treat was decided by Oldest Boy who by very dint of his position
in the family has more than a touch of alpha male about him. His younger brothers, recognising when the
king of the jungle is in the room, assumed submissive positions and went along
with his suggestion. Which was a trip to
Dundrum shopping centre with the intention of having a sushi lunch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A while back the supermarket we
frequent was hosting an Asian experience and I picked up a tray of raw fish for
the boys. Much to my surprise they
enjoyed it very much. Oldest Boy hadn’t forgotten
it. I suspected, however, it was the novelty
factor more than the culinary experience that won them over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our next treat is still a matter of
weeks away but I had a little moment of clarity recently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since the boys WBTS, there has been
rugby, an introduction to a most excellent climbing wall and plenty of birthday
parties in the offing. Not to mention
hikes with scouts and various other events.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All of these treats for the boys but
none for the grown-ups. Something was
very wrong with this picture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I decided to rectify.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was reminded of the online writing
course I spotted earlier on this year. The
one I promised myself I would sign up to.
May and June sped past and before I knew it I was neck deep in Back to School
purchases, my online writing course savings haemorrhaging before my eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Moving quickly forward, last week I completed
my first module. Tomorrow I am booked in for a long overdue haircut and Mister Husband
has arranged for a sitter so I get to go on a date with <s>my hair </s>him tomorrow
night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am writing this with a class of red
wine by my side because that was in short supply for the </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">last few weeks also.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Treats, you see, shouldn’t be just for
the kids. Grown-ups should have regular
rewards too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sushi.
Haircuts. Wine. Dates. Mitching from work. (ssshhh) and hey, star charts if that’s what floats
your boat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Go on. Treat yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-90457226238762599552016-09-15T19:27:00.002+01:002016-09-15T20:39:23.504+01:00Genie In My Kitchen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-36oJfexuP74/V9rnxlQ-K1I/AAAAAAAAF0A/0SHMDCAl-jk7lantmAg4IWFXbda4OQ9xQCLcB/s1600/20160902_170804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-36oJfexuP74/V9rnxlQ-K1I/AAAAAAAAF0A/0SHMDCAl-jk7lantmAg4IWFXbda4OQ9xQCLcB/s320/20160902_170804.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">This evening one of the boys asked what
would I wish for if a genie appeared.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">I
told him the genie would consider my ask to be very boring and unoriginal because it
would be to keep everyone in my family happy and healthy.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">That’s where he cut me right off.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Would you not just ask for infinity
wishes then? That way you could get
loads of stuff.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A very valid point. I didn’t bother to tell him that I don’t
actually want “loads of stuff” because wanting
LOS (Loads of Stuff) is what kids are all about. It is the very essence of their being. The more stuff the better. His eyes were lit up with the list of LOS he
wanted should this genie appear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had a small chat about it but then he
became distracted by a game that his brothers were involved in so he skipped
off. Leaving me to consider the
genie. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I spoke the truth when I mentioned my
lack of interest in LOS. Realising that
in itself made me happy. I’m grand the
way I am, thanks. But sometimes it’s
nice to daydream. To let your
imagination run wild. And as I messed
about with the tea towel and dishes, I let my mind wander a little. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inserting caveat here. If a
genie <i>did </i>appear in my kitchen
(because where else would I be?) and absolutely insisted that he (why are they
always of the male variety?) bestow upon me a wish, it <i>would</i> truly be for continued good health and happiness for my
family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And <i>if </i>the genie were to eyeball me cynically and insist that I request
something small for myself, I might ask for lots of books. Perhaps maybe half a dozen to arrive through
my letter box each month to keep me going.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And <i>if</i> the genie were to consider this a little too dry and boring a
desire, that I must make this visit worth his while and be a little
unconventional with my demands, I might chance my arm and ask to be two inches
taller. It would lengthen everything
else, you see. Make that pesky half
stone that refuses to bugger off, less noticeable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And as a reward for playing the game
properly, <i>if </i>the genie were to reward
me with a bonus wish, I might remember the lesson learned and ask for something
even more lofty and slightly out of reach.
I think I’d go for a chef.
Someone to call to the house, just a couple of evenings a week, with a
box of delicious food, similar to the menu in my favourite Thai restaurant, and
cook up a storm. I’d even clean up
afterwards. I might ask for that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But in the meantime, I’ll settle for exactly what I have,
thank you very much, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Health and happiness. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaFIatPkgYw/V9rn2zu-w8I/AAAAAAAAF0E/cks4I5Sot5EToCg1__BNgkb_QM7RhZJOACLcB/s1600/20160705_173503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaFIatPkgYw/V9rn2zu-w8I/AAAAAAAAF0E/cks4I5Sot5EToCg1__BNgkb_QM7RhZJOACLcB/s320/20160705_173503.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Health & Happiness</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-6734660796526580182016-08-30T21:39:00.001+01:002016-08-30T21:39:08.579+01:00A Big Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pnp_RMjOYrc/V8XuWpbUxyI/AAAAAAAAFzI/YLDn01Gg6nQYVsfABPGAXRukOr81g1P4wCLcB/s1600/20160830_132624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pnp_RMjOYrc/V8XuWpbUxyI/AAAAAAAAFzI/YLDn01Gg6nQYVsfABPGAXRukOr81g1P4wCLcB/s320/20160830_132624.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Today was a big day in our house. Smallest Boy donned a red jumper, grey
trousers, shiny black shoes, snapped on an elastic tie, yanked a blue backpack decorated
with moustaches onto his back and went to school.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been waiting for this day since
the beginning of time. At least that is
what it felt like. Out of my four boys,
he stayed with me the longest. He
attended Montessori only when he “had to” which was last year as I felt to send
him into Big School cold turkey would be an awful shock to his system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I enjoyed his company. Immensely. We get on very well together. We gel.
He regularly tells me how much he loves me and if I am not in the same
room, he will yell it out all the same.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when today rolled around I had a
funny feeling in my tummy. It was both a
happy expectation and a dull sense of unease.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could feel uncertainty rolling off
Smallest Boy like waves on a beach. I’m
a great one for making mistakes. I like
to think it keeps me humble. Keeps me grounded. So having been around the First Day at
School Block three times before, I thought I had this in the bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Janey, I thought Smallest Boy had this
in the bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I allowed the fact that he has been
“going” to school for the last five years and nearly five months to cloud how
big a deal today really was for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sure, he stood outside the school gate
each morning and afternoon. He knew
inside “Múinteoir Stephanie’s” office as well as I did. He knew all the múinteoirí. All the múinteoirí knew him. His brothers’ buddies have been greeting him
by name forever. He was <i>known </i>in there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But that’s not the same as going as a
student.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wobbles last night were to be
expected. When he bumped himself on the
trampoline and got upset, I put it down to sensitivity about the morning. When he said he couldn’t sleep because he
was “too hot,” “too not tired,” “too thirsty,” “too something” I knew trouble
could be ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it was. He became annoyed and frustrated at the obligatory
school photos so we cut them short. His
daddy had words of advice and reassurance for him before we left the house and
he was smiling when we got into the car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the drive into school, I kept the
radio off so he could chat to me and ask me questions. The first question was asked in a small
voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Will you bring me in today?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My heart! I can’t tell you. This boy, who has been with me as I walked
his brothers into their classroom for many many months until they were ready to
do it alone, thought he was expected to do the same thing himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I reassured him that I would bring him
in as long as he wanted me to. Like I did
for the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another positive step when he ran from
the car and to the gate by himself. Nothing
new. He’s always done this. He joined the “big boys” at the gate. Nothing new there either. He ran back and forth enjoying himself and chatting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was almost time to go in and then
he said he wasn’t sure he would “get the hang of this day.” I knew he meant he didn’t know what to
expect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I told him. Again.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How Múinteoir would take his books out
of his bag and let everyone know when it’s snack time. How it’s going to be like Montessori for <i>days</i> until everyone gets the hang of
it. How everyone is in the same boat
today and no-one knows exactly what to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I’ve got it now. Thank you.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And in we went. I thought I had covered everything. But everything is different for
everyone. I thought I had learned that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a strange morning. Stranger than I anticipated. I went home and suddenly the house, the one
that had been heaving with boy sounds for the summer, seemed louder than it
ever did. It was eerie. I couldn’t figure it out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realised the truth behind the expression,
“the silence was deafening.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then it hit me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I missed them! I missed my boys. Hand on heart, it was something I never thought
I’d feel or even admit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I knew I would see them all in a
matter of hours but it felt like days away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Janey, I thought I had this one in the bag. Like I said; I’m a great one for making
mistakes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It keeps me humble. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ar6pwB97bV4/V8Xux4f3UZI/AAAAAAAAFzM/_EGnyztfHcgyaIJQIVtnpBFENUKbXL_LwCLcB/s1600/20160705_174708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ar6pwB97bV4/V8Xux4f3UZI/AAAAAAAAFzM/_EGnyztfHcgyaIJQIVtnpBFENUKbXL_LwCLcB/s320/20160705_174708.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-81338595514839357202016-08-19T16:35:00.001+01:002016-08-19T16:35:24.685+01:00School Daze<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A version
of this appeared in the Autumn issue of Mums & Tots magazine in 2014. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nQqm4uoEtQk/V7cnF9LvVPI/AAAAAAAAFyo/peQ5IzqKlksnJW4SfA_agNaveE0bGQi0gCLcB/s1600/13559017_1038498546236682_2621660560574143547_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nQqm4uoEtQk/V7cnF9LvVPI/AAAAAAAAFyo/peQ5IzqKlksnJW4SfA_agNaveE0bGQi0gCLcB/s320/13559017_1038498546236682_2621660560574143547_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I used to be a sucker for magazines that displayed the tag
line “First Day at School – How to Make It Easier.” I was convinced I was going
to read something of worth, something I hadn’t read before or thought of myself. But it was yet another advice piece that didn’t
deliver. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">More common sense wrapped up as counsel about having the
uniform ready the night before, getting everyone up a little bit early to avoid
a stressful rush out the door and giving your child a nice piece of fruit to
ease them into their new experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Come on! I wanted
information on how to deal with the child who makes like an ostrich and blocks
out the New Experience. I was looking for guidance on how to discreetly and
politely intercept people before they asked, “are you looking forward to big
school?” when I knew the thumb being shoved into his mouth was not only his way
of self-soothing but also a stopper; his method of holding everything in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What about the playground? There will be no swings and slides in this
one. How was he going to deal with that? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had done everything the magazine articles suggested; he’d
been to the open afternoon and met his teacher.
He had not one but two school bags to choose from. He also selected his own “easy open” lunch
box. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His new school books would be arriving any day now then we would
try on his uniform and purchase those very much coveted runners and new shoes
especially for school. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted my money back!
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I was thrilled when he asked me to tell him about
school. It was the perfect opportunity to describe <i>everything</i> to him. His older brother was
present and all set to offer his two pence worth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He had something of great importance to impart, something I
neglected to tell <i>him</i> on his big day
and this was to wait until teacher tells you it is time to eat. Don’t just start eating your lunch when you
feel like it. “Because you never told me that.” See how they remember even the tiniest
little thing? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My fourth boy will be starting school in a few weeks. Even though I’ve bought and worn the t-shirt
three times previously, I find the same little problems arise each and every
time. The same little niggles and
worries for both parent and child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have outlined the trouble shooters below. Hopefully they will help ease your child
through the transition that is Big School.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Communicate<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes it can be as simple as talking about it. Don’t assume they know what to expect. There is a big difference between the
unstructured play of Montessori and the expectations of a larger classroom
setting. It is an idea to talk casually
about school initially and then closer to the time discuss in a little more
detail what the first day will entail.
Turn it into a game and encourage a question and answer session at the
end. Take advantage of any interest your
child shows and talk about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preparation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A little prep goes a long way. What happens if there are three Spiderman/Dora
the Explorer school bags? A key-ring on your
child’s bag will solve that problem. What
about their gorgeous new coat with all of those buttons and shoes with
laces? A zipped coat is easier for
little hands to operate and maybe Velcro-ed shoes are better kept until they
master the art of lace tying. Also
ensure your child’s name is on <i>everything. </i>It is inevitable mix ups will occur. Maybe not on the first day but if your child
can recognise their belongings it will eliminate stress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lunch <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yogurts. Yay or nay? I can still remember spilling the contents of
mine. Does the school have a healthy
food policy and encourage fruit and vegetables with a small treat reserved for
Fridays only? What
if they are too shy to approach the person they will come to call Teacher when
they can’t open their brand new cartoon character emblazoned lunch box? Water bottles that refuse to open? Bananas that are difficult to eat? Of course, your child may opt not to eat
anything at all due to utter excitement so a good, nutritious breakfast will
stave off hunger pangs and an energy slump mid-morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Toileting<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make sure your child knows where the bathroom is. Anxiety can prompt them to “hold it” until
it’s too late. These days schools have
boy and girl cubicles in the classroom which makes it a lot easier. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Punctuality<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel this is an important one particularly if your child
is nervous. Get to the school with
plenty of time to spare. Absorb the atmosphere and just relax for a few moments
before going into the classroom. Allow
your child to indicate when they are ready.
Most schools operate a staggered start time for the first day but one of
the most important pointers is plenty of reassurance you will be back to
collect them. Make sure you are not
late. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tears<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yours that is! I’ve
been there. Your child is nervously looking around, not making eye contact with
anyone and their lower lip begins to tremble.
Water filled eyes look up and it is all you can do not to join in. <i>Don’t
join in. </i>Wait till you are back in
your car. Yes, it’s heart breaking. Yes,
it’s hard. Tears can and will be
frequent in the first few weeks but it is important that you keep smiling. A big hug and a confident reminder that you will
see them very soon might not work the first couple of mornings and in the event
that your little one doesn’t settle, remember, you have picked a school you
believe in for your child. They will act accordingly and contact you if
necessary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Halloween<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You weren’t expecting that!
I’m not talking about ghouls, goblins and ghosties, rather the shock to
the system that can happen when small people realise they have to return to
school after their first mid-term break.
This can be devastating and lots of parents report upsetting refusals to
go to school are very common at this juncture. Sometimes even Monday mornings have the
same effect. Inform your child that they
are just on a little rest from school and will be returning after a few sleeps.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are lots of ways to help ease them into their new
environment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each child is different and will settle in their own time
and own way. Like every other event I was apprehensive
about, the reality was easier than the perception and with a little luck, Big
School for your child, won’t be any different.
Before you know it, summer holidays will be on the horizon. You made it!
Congratulations. Both of you! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-52593085783954232492016-08-10T18:34:00.000+01:002016-08-10T18:34:13.315+01:00A Really Lovely Nice Thing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x9-gkqmmwAI/V6tkbIc7EhI/AAAAAAAAFyM/MZQxRBQteAE6trYRriJWEt8FwZaqe7ggACLcB/s1600/Cover%2BPicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x9-gkqmmwAI/V6tkbIc7EhI/AAAAAAAAFyM/MZQxRBQteAE6trYRriJWEt8FwZaqe7ggACLcB/s320/Cover%2BPicture.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Something kind of really nice happened
today. I got three and a bit hours all
to myself. It wasn’t bedtime. It wasn’t a Guinness book of records shower
or bath, nor was I in the supermarket on Christmas eve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The boys were frog marched off for a
bit of work experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m all for child labour. There’s nothing like it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I jest. I jest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ll start at the two beginnings. The first beginning is, for those of you
living under a boulder, it is the summer holidays from school and Irish mammies
everywhere have a little bald patch on their heads from pulling their hair
out. Have a look inside their recycling
bin if you think you’re hard enough and you can count up the eleventeen empty
bottles of Sav. Blanc or my own personal fave, Pinot Grigio. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you see what I’m getting at?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stress. And lots of it. From not having any time to ourselves at all
in the last five and a bit weeks. Do you
see?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I go to bed at night and my mind races
with all of the thoughts. All of
them. It’s horrible. It’s fascinating. It’s frustrating. All of the thoughts I didn’t get to write on
paper during the day, come out to play in my brain at night time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They say things like, “you didn’t pay
any attention to me today, so you didn’t. And I thought you loved me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stuff like, “fek off so and do the
dishes. Don’t forget the hoover whatever
you do. And god forbid you neglect <i>the swimming pool! </i>I’ll just sit here. All by myself. Until night time. <i>Then </i>I’ll
come out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another really bratty thought process
likes to pipe up around about then. “That
email in <i>your drafts folder </i>has only
been there for <i>a month! </i>You’d better do something about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And on and on it goes like a jayzus
washing machine in my head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do I sound a bit manic to you? I do to myself. That’s what no time alone to myself does to
me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So Mister Husband did a lovely thing
today and took them all off to the office.
Even though I did protest. “No.
You can’t possibly take <i>them all </i>into
the office with you. However will you
get any work done? How will anyone get
any work done. No. You’re grand. <i>I’m </i>grand. I’ll
park them in front of the telly box. Be
grand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The big feker wasn’t having any of it
and he carted them all off at 2.15pm with strict instructions for me to leave
the dishes and stuff there and <i>stay away
from Facebook and Gilmore Girls and <b>get
some work done.<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok. So. When you put it like that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At this very moment in time they are
all due to come crashing through the door in precisely ten minutes. Me nerves are a jangling again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the second beginning is, the boys
are all saving up for a computer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of them. Well, two anyway. The oldest and the youngest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christ on a keypad. I know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I blame the oldest. He’s gone money mad. First of all, it was all about saving the
pennies for Rosslare and then when he got wind of the holiday fund I began
about 6 weeks ago where I save a euro for them each week, his tune changed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He moved onto the big guns. Onto a computer. A purple one. His headboard is decorated with orange sticky
notes and onto them he has carefully printed out the computer spec of his
pleasing. He also has a savings plan of
sorts outlined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He’s also going mad for work. Which is why he hopped, skipped and jumped
into the office today. Thrilled with himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has offered to make me my coffee
whenever I want one. For twenty cents a
cup. The dishes and cutlery shake when
they see him approach because they know their lounge time on the draining board
is done for. He dries them all and puts
them away. For fifty cents. He wants to make the dinner. He wants to help with the laundry. All of it at a price.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So far he has earned ten euros from
his work experience. He shreds and files
stuff in the office. He has been given
an introduction to AutoCAD.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s great to have a hunger for money I
suppose. He owes me an awful lot!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, that’s the lovely really nice
thing that happened to me today. It’s
perked me right up. I got loads of stuff
done. None of it dishes. And I might even go for a run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s been a while too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SYvglTvKUNo/V6tlFm38ziI/AAAAAAAAFyQ/8K1vBr-ADjI7hyPMf2aQAYXA0Hs7c6gsACLcB/s1600/20160810_182557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SYvglTvKUNo/V6tlFm38ziI/AAAAAAAAFyQ/8K1vBr-ADjI7hyPMf2aQAYXA0Hs7c6gsACLcB/s320/20160810_182557.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empty Inbox. Still draft email though</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-79935704697652336532016-08-10T15:57:00.001+01:002016-08-10T15:57:03.337+01:00More Hell Than A Hella Holiday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dZh8x9M4dCQ/V6s_A87-mrI/AAAAAAAAFx8/HotDqC1V9FA9DyZLL4fE2BAw6CUXaC2-wCLcB/s1600/20140725_145125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dZh8x9M4dCQ/V6s_A87-mrI/AAAAAAAAFx8/HotDqC1V9FA9DyZLL4fE2BAw6CUXaC2-wCLcB/s320/20140725_145125.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Holidays: We spend nine and a half months of the year
saving up for and looking forward to time away somewhere for two weeks. This’d better be good, right? Hell, this’d better be <i>great! <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The weather needs to have a word with
itself and behave. Same goes for the
humans! There must be no fights. At all.
Everyone has to be jolly and smiley and nice and never, ever short
tempered or tired or cranky. No-one can
get sick! In other words, hit robot-mode with the
setting firmly at happy-at-all-times. In
reality things rarely work out like that.
Flights get delayed. Sat nav goes
on its own little holiday and sends you all over the place. There might be car sickness if small children
are involved. Or big people with
hangovers! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And people <i>do </i>get sick on holiday. I got the worst cold of my life on honeymoon
in Italy which meant I couldn’t breathe properly or taste a single thing for
the first week. I broke out in a
horrible heat rash and the mossies loved me almost to death. All I wanted to do was sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Personally I think holidays with small
children are to be avoided at all costs.
It’s just not worth it. Small
kids need naps. They like routine. Their bedtime doesn’t change. And worse still, neither does their wake-up
time. 4am hello, did you not get the
“office closed due to holidays” memo?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our boys have never set foot in Dublin
Airport, or any other for that matter, so we have always holidayed at
home. The infamous staycation. And we love it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had such a good time on our first
mini-staycation that we did a silly thing:
tried to repeat the experience the following year. Don’t do it, folks. Just don’t.
It was a disaster. We opted for
Clonakilty in Cork and big, <i>huge</i>
lesson learned – 2 adults and 4 kids will not fit into even the largest of hotel
family rooms. Don’t believe them! The beds were side by side – if you wanted
to get to the other side of the room to use the bathroom, for example, you did
it by climbing over all of the beds. We
were there for three days so we decided to make the most of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember I mentioned getting sick on
holidays?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It happened to us. One of the boys had way too many coco pox and
zero Weetabix for breakfast. (This has
turned out to be a recurring theme in his life. Another lesson!) He was
miserable. We were miserable. I slept on the floor one of the nights in
order for him to get some proper sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did not avail of the in-house baby-sitting
option. So no date night for us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were back in the cramped, stuffy
and nasty hotel room at 8pm every evening with tired, cranky and constipated kids. There were the usual early wake-ups.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it rained. All the time.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was such a shit, disappointing holiday
Mister Husband and I decided to see if we could salvage something of it by
staying one last night. Somewhere else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The receptionist booked us into a guest
house in town and off we went. This turned
out to be a wonderful idea. It more or
less saved a desperate holiday. We would
have stayed an extra night but they were already booked out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am very thankful to report that was our first and only disappointing holiday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have gone on to have <i>great </i>times. I wrote blog posts about it <a href="http://www.wonderfulwagon.com/2014/07/holidays-are-made-of-these.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.wonderfulwagon.com/2014/07/holiday-observations.html">here</a>. Go on. Have a look. <a href="http://www.wonderfulwagon.com/2014/08/rosslare-beach-villas-review.html">This is where we stay</a> if you want to check out our accommodation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This blog post was brought to you today courtesy of an invitation
from Elizabeth who writes at Life on Hushabye Farm. If you click on <a href="http://lifeonhushabyefarm.blogspot.ie/2016/08/holiday-hell.html">this link</a> you can read all
about other holidays from hell. Or even
submit your own. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-20712797702695200492016-08-03T14:32:00.001+01:002016-08-03T14:32:16.194+01:00Summer Unrest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0sga1yCAPCc/V6HxhJ7tjLI/AAAAAAAAFxo/573wxfgYOic0Cs9DBuYaX9AzOAGQGqA5wCLcB/s1600/20140725_083635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0sga1yCAPCc/V6HxhJ7tjLI/AAAAAAAAFxo/573wxfgYOic0Cs9DBuYaX9AzOAGQGqA5wCLcB/s320/20140725_083635.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Suddenly August is here. Essentially this means we have begun the
second part of school summer holidays.
We are on the last leg. In other
words, they will return to school in four weeks. Already there has been a couple “my tummy
feels funny “complaints. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no denying it’s getting
closer. I am not one bit happy about it for a variety
of reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need to make a little confession
here. Really quickly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I haven’t enjoyed the holidays so far.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know. I can’t believe I am saying that either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel extremely guilty, shame-faced,
guilt ridden and more than a little awkward all at the same time with this
admission. I look forward to the
summer holidays every year and admitting to being fed up upsets me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think partly it’s because I feel
like we haven’t had a single break from school stuff. Before the schools broke up at the end of
June I had already embarked on the trail that has become the school curriculum
for 2016/2017. School books were
purchased before the old ones came home to be chucked into the recycling. Immediately after that we needed to obtain
crested school jumpers. We segued into
July which saw school bags being picked up and filled with newly labelled and
covered books, colouring pencils, and miscellaneous school supplies. More uniforms were collected. Of the trousers variety. Then we had to get shoes. Yesterday I chased up crested track
suits. They are not in stock yet. With four weeks to go until the school
gates open, I have been busy accumulating school supplies for the last 6
weeks. It’s been tiring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then there is the getting used to a
new routine, routine to settle into.
That didn’t happen for the longest time.
Until last week in fact. We were
grouchy most mornings, on go-slows, breakfast went on forever, and it appeared
I had swapped one morning rush for another; that being the school run for the
swimming pool one. So I took a deep
breath and decided it wouldn’t be the end of the world if we entered the blue
body of water at twenty minutes past the hour instead of exactly on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, I feel the main reason for
this mutual dissatisfaction is our annual family holiday doesn’t happen until
the last week in August. The week
before they return to school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, I know. Poor us, whinging about our holiday being too
late. I am aware our fortunate selves are
in the enviable position of being able to go on holiday to the beach. It’s the highlight of our year. The kids love it. I do too.
It’s all we’ve spoken about for the last two months. Everything is held up in comparison. No-one wants to be penny pinching on
holidays so any and all disposable income goes towards spending money for this
week away. This means we can’t do any
other activities on the weekends because we need our money for August.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s getting us down a little
bit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could mention the weather and its contribution
but as there is nothing anyone can do about the absence of sunshine, I’ll let
that one pass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So after another day of kids asking is
it almost time to go yet, how come it’s taking so long and one of them
presenting me with a list of what we are definitely not going to do* I resorted
to an old trick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I asked them to tell me what they are
most looking forward to about our seaside holiday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The answers came thick and fast. The drive there. I think he meant the anticipation. Our upside down house. (The kitchen is upstairs and the bedrooms,
downstairs) The beach. The sand
box. The BBQ. The bread shop across the road from which we
have croissants and chocolate twists most mornings. Centra.
(strange child) Coca cola cake in The Yard Restaurant. Tides Pub.
(How did that get in there?) *day trips without houses with furniture
and wallpaper. (So no guided tours
then!) Spending all day on the
beach. And just being on holidays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just being on holidays. There
is a lot to be grateful for in that last sentence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-52621617048613901652016-07-16T17:52:00.000+01:002016-07-16T17:52:18.552+01:00My Journey Home<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This one is
almost 10 years old! It’s hard to
believe really. It was written for a local newsletter and I was reminded of its existence having read Ode to My Town posts by <a href="http://www.katetakes5.com/2016/07/my-hometown.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+KateTakes5+%28Kate+Takes+5%29">Kate Takes Five</a> and <a href="http://www.wherewishescomefrom.com/2016/07/live-where-you-live.html">Where Wishes Come From</a>. Here it is in all its unedited (un)glory. A kind of ode to my hometown – Athy, Co.
Kildare.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rKFzZVJJLOg/V4o_pLfsvWI/AAAAAAAAFwo/KaEe2HYitx4lo8-z5zd_Wp0gnGAf6xwWgCLcB/s1600/20130304_092259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rKFzZVJJLOg/V4o_pLfsvWI/AAAAAAAAFwo/KaEe2HYitx4lo8-z5zd_Wp0gnGAf6xwWgCLcB/s320/20130304_092259.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mine was the
usual rite of passage spent in Dublin.
It started later than most and I think, as a result, I was determined to
get the most out of it. I was on a
mission to make up for lost time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once I
secured a job, I got on the train bound for Heuston and never looked back. I can still remember the train gathering
speed as it left Athy, labouring past the old cinema, covered in graffiti,
which has since been replaced with the German Supermarket, Lidl. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ahead of me
was a new life promising freedom, independence, and a great night life. I was the proud owner of a common mindset
concerning my hometown. One of scorn,
derision and slight contempt. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Goodbye
Athy! See you whenever. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And so I
took to life in Dublin like a duck to water.
It was great! So great that often
five or six weeks would pass before I went home again. This was the life. Every so often my housemates and I would have
a night in with a take away from our local Chinese, Indian or Italian. And the obligatory bottle of plonk from the
off licence. Sometimes, we’d even book a
table at one of these restaurants and do it properly. The novelty was huge. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every so
often we would visit the swimming pool, splash around half heartedly at the bar
for ten minutes before deciding to head to a proper bar for a drink. This only happened once, mind you. We never made the mistake of going to the
pool again. Cutting out the middle man
as it were. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was
never a Christmas, a wedding, a birth, a family event that didn’t see me with a
detailed shopping list for an item or items that just could not be gotten for
love nor money in Athy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fast forward
a few years and my husband and I were the first of our gang to leave the Big
City. Part of me was filled with a strong
sense of nostalgia at leaving all of this variety behind. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What had we
done? Athy hadn’t even heard of the
cappuccino, never mind early Sunday morning fry-ups and lazy early bird evening
meals when you just couldn’t be bothered cooking after a hard days toil. I won’t even mention the wonderfully
indulgent beer gardens we used to frequent all too frequently. Would we ever enjoy a Tikka Misala or a Rogan
Josh again? Were we destined for a life
of spice burgers and kebabs after the pub?
The same pub for the rest of our lives with just a juke box hammered to
the wall for entertainment? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fast forward
yet another couple of years again. I’m
not sure if it’s my age or state of mind but I’m suddenly noticing Athy in a
different light. I’ve got kids now and
all of them were enrolled in the Gaelscoil when they were just weeks old. I love my food and am delighted with the
culinary, nay gourmet choices, that can be availed of in this town of many
delights. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another sign
of my age maybe, or at least an interest in my longevity now that I have my
family to think about, is my health.
Athy always had beautiful canal walkways but now a brand new, state of
the art leisure centre is enticing people through its doors. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are
environmentally conscious as a family and have never availed of a refuse
collection. I for one am delighted that
this money saving benefit can continue thanks to the excellent recycling
facilities that are available in the town.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And here’s
the recession bit. Very recently we
enjoyed a wonderful Saturday at the Tri-Athy event. It was that very weekend when we were
feeling the pinch, and I was amazed and delighted at the number of ways we were
able to entertain our young brood in Athy without spending too much. The lads enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in
Emily Square followed by a look at the new Art Gallery across the road. A few
ice-creams were the order of the morning after that and imagine their delight
when the swimming in the River Barrow started.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another
thing I’ve noticed of late is that I don’t appear to be the only prodigal
daughter returning to my hometown. Up
until a few years ago, I was always guaranteed a school reunion of sorts in my
local on Christmas Eve. (Yeah, yeah, the
one with the juke box hammered to the wall.
RIP Brendan) There has been a bit of a drought in there lately as it
seems my classmates have started families of their own and are bringing them
back home. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Home to
<a href="http://athy.ie/">Athy</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> You might have to look slightly harder to find
what you’re looking for in Athy, but the beauty of that search is the
surprising treasures you will find on the way.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh, and the
others are all “home” from Dublin too!</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ho2Cn3z4hao/V4o_zhMkWYI/AAAAAAAAFws/1bpKpkpqjTgWhrHynCSxUI3kAyHi9kOEACLcB/s1600/commons.wikimedia.org.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ho2Cn3z4hao/V4o_zhMkWYI/AAAAAAAAFws/1bpKpkpqjTgWhrHynCSxUI3kAyHi9kOEACLcB/s1600/commons.wikimedia.org.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">commonswikimedia.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ten years will, naturally, see some changes. Since this piece was written, TriAthy celebrated their 10th year on 4th June this year. Lidl supermarket was razed to the ground two years ago and rebuilt as a pilot proto-type. The Art Gallery mentioned was a pop-up shop and that site is now Deelish cafe. The recession is over. Or so we are led to believe. There is a fabulous new hotel in the town, The Clanard Court. The pub with the jukebox nailed to the wall is, alas, no more. It still stands proud but empty with a FOR SALE SIGN outside. And I regularly have mini reunions at the school gate as now our kids are attending. </span></span></div>
Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-57873164298197227962016-07-13T17:48:00.002+01:002016-07-13T17:53:00.861+01:00Cake. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qf-nOFKcRZA/V4Zws2iqUjI/AAAAAAAAFwY/K6GHuJ2Zt-gI9UrB6vNF8oRYWgArD6HRACLcB/s1600/j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qf-nOFKcRZA/V4Zws2iqUjI/AAAAAAAAFwY/K6GHuJ2Zt-gI9UrB6vNF8oRYWgArD6HRACLcB/s1600/j.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">redrubble.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">SO we will be celebrating a birthday
next week. A lovely birthday. A birthday for a boy and a milestone for
mother. I got him through another
year. Onwards and upwards. A little further towards independence. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It will
be a family celebration only as this child already had his birthday party before
they all broke up for the summer holidays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I’ve run into a problem. A cake problem, to be precise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Read on. It’s too complicated to explain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Him:
Will you make me a cake for my birthday?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Me:
Of course I will. Which cake
would you like? How about chocolate?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Him:
Yes. Chocolate is good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Me: Chocolate sponge with cream and jam or a
little bit of……………..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Him:
Wait! No! I don’t like sponge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Me:
Oh-khay. What kind of cake would
you like then?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Him:
I want a Sam cake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Me:
A Sam cake. What’s a Sam cake?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Him:
Sam. From Jacksepticeye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Me:
From a what-now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Him:
Jack. Septic. Eye. But you say it
all together. Jacksepticeye. Sam from jacksepticeye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Me:
………………………………A Sam cake.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quick sprint to the google machine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Very pleased to find all Sam is, is a
big eye ball (black and blue) against a green background. Rolls of ready-made icing are go! I’ve got this. But what do I put the icing on?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Me: So what kind of cake would you
like me to put the eyeball on?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Him: I don’t know! I don’t know any ingredients, do I?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Patience, mother. Patience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Me:
Ok, so think about what kind of cake you like to eat?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Him:
I. Don’t. Like. Cakes. I just
want a Jacksepticeye cake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His fists were beginning to clench in
frustration and I was fantasising about the wine in the fridge. How much was left, exactly? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Me:
OK. Listen to me for a
minute. See, I can make the eyeball, no
problem. That’s the easy part. But I need to be able to glue it onto
something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Him:
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">GLUE???????</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Me:
No. Not real glue. But I have to
be able to stick the eyeball onto some kind of cake. And I need you to tell me what kind of cake
you like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Him:
I want a plain white cake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Me:
You mean sponge?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Him:
No! I don’t <i>like </i>sponge. You’re not <i>listening </i>to me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Me:
I am. I promise I am. (Jeeeeeeeeeesus) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Him:
The SpongeBob cake from the last party!
That’s a plain white cake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Me:
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">That’s a sponge cake. They are all sponge cakes.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then he walked off. Disgusted with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-35308286716619140272016-07-08T16:10:00.001+01:002016-07-08T16:10:43.686+01:00That Friday Feeling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BowmNNDTxnU/V3_BwmQCOfI/AAAAAAAAFv0/K6in69ayek8jF2w3GVod0-WNF2rN7f96QCLcB/s1600/20160701_230917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BowmNNDTxnU/V3_BwmQCOfI/AAAAAAAAFv0/K6in69ayek8jF2w3GVod0-WNF2rN7f96QCLcB/s320/20160701_230917.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Friday has a delicious, fizzy feeling to
it. There is a tingling sense of
anticipation, a realisation that finally, it’s kick back time, the end of the
week has arrived. There is something
about that Friday feeling that’s addictive.
Even my kids, when they wake up and I say “happy Friday” feel it; I get their
“yay!” response.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where does it start? Remembering back to my own childhood, Friday
in our house was comic day. Bunty, Mandy
and Nikki were purchased, from Winkles Newsagents, and I would rush to read
them. Fridays meant a bag of chips from
the chippers, with extra vinegar to be sucked from the brown paper as my mother
finished her shopping in the supermarket next door. (DKL Supermarket and Marini’s chippers in
case you’re wondering)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday’s in Primary School meant no
homework if you were lucky and the nun was feeling generous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was such a “summer holiday” feeling
to Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I got older Friday meant finishing
school at 1pm and a big pile of homework and study to get through. It meant Emelina’s night club that night in
Kilkea Castle where a few bottles of West Coast Cooler and the odd Black Russian
were had.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those night club Friday nights of my late
teens and early twenties never saw enough alcohol taken to have Saturday ruined
with a hangover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> That was for later on in life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday night was the start of a
weekend and a lot hung on it. If it was
a quiet and boring Friday night, generally the remainder of the weekend would be
the same. But at least the homework
would be done and not left till I heard the theme tune from Glenroe at 8.30pm
on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even when parenthood came along,
Friday didn’t lose its heady promise. Yes,
it was just another day as there was parenting and adulting to be done but
Friday still felt fizzy for me. I remember
anticipating the help I would have over the weekend with the babies. We could go into town and have coffee
somewhere, maybe stroll around the shops.
Yes, it was different to the weekends BC (Before Childer) but still the
same. Kind of. Sort of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think the Friday feeling begins from
a young age and, like most things, probably stems from our parents. I think
it is a day where the first of traditions are born. And so it has come to pass that some of the Friday
traditions from my youth have been carried on and into my boys’ childhood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7SGc3Zi-hLU/V3_ByHO-aDI/AAAAAAAAFv4/3UixtxTJcPsuXpsXJprMfHbsB7-f8jHWQCLcB/s1600/20160708_122825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7SGc3Zi-hLU/V3_ByHO-aDI/AAAAAAAAFv4/3UixtxTJcPsuXpsXJprMfHbsB7-f8jHWQCLcB/s320/20160708_122825.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have chips albeit those of the oven
variety with a few chicken nuggets thrown in.
Friday is Treat Friday where I take the boys’ “orders” in the morning and
buy for them, in the same newsagents my mother bought my comics three decades
ago, their sweets. But instead of the three
comics of yesteryear, today there is one - The Beano.
I have graduated from Mandy, Bunty and Judy to Irish Country Magazine,
Image and Tatler to help me relax and unwind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I often see the Beano comic left on
the table. Abandoned, or so it seems to
me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But no. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I keep it to read at bedtime,” he
tells me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So he savours it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just like I savoured my Mandy, Bunty
and Nikki comics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-3827032351198681072016-06-30T16:52:00.004+01:002016-06-30T20:01:53.649+01:00Summer Pointers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rwAoZEDEUp0/V3U_oPZq4TI/AAAAAAAAFu0/W5dPKP1YEyY1xzBdmblHNxLwDuXVjzpdwCLcB/s1600/feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rwAoZEDEUp0/V3U_oPZq4TI/AAAAAAAAFu0/W5dPKP1YEyY1xzBdmblHNxLwDuXVjzpdwCLcB/s320/feet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">SUMMER HOLIDAYS are upon us. Yesterday, Day 1, was not good. It just wasn’t. I
threw them out of the same room I was in at least 7 times before midday. They went upstairs several times and I
honestly thought they were trying to stamp their way through the ceiling. When the
noise levels became too much for me, it was my turn to go upstairs - several times - and lie on the bed. Complete with fainting Victorian lady, dramatic
hand over eyes pose and all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And now it is Day two. I realised I had been distancing myself
mentally for the past two weeks. Probably
not a good idea as it has caught up with me.
There are hourly reminders that this is only for 8 weeks. <i>Only</i>
8 weeks. Only 8 <i>weeks. </i>Before we know it
they will be back in school again and another routine begins. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am sluggish as I haven’t been
running regularly. I am sleeping well
at night but still wake tired and heavy.
So my first pointer is we need to look after ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Our
kids need us.</b> They will always need us
but remember, their routine has been turned upside down too and they are also
adjusting. If I am a big shouty,
frustrated and hormental mess it will not help things by shouting and losing my
temper at the least little thing. Look
after yourself first. If you can’t
exercise in the morning, see to it that it gets done in the evenings. It doubles up as an hour away from the kids
as well. <i>Aside: I have yet to accomplish this.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The
first day feels like a special gift from hell.</b> But even the worst day is still only 24 hours
long. 12 if you don’t count the ones
where you are all asleep. I was that
soldier yesterday. Our screen time rules
of nothing before 3pm has not changed.
This did not go down well but as lax as I am about other things – choose
your battles – this one will not change.
It meant lots of shouting, fighting, complaints of being bored and
several large messes being made. But
today, already, they are settling out. They
chanced their arm once or twice and asked did they really have to wait till 3pm
to use their devices. I remained
strong. I got this. <i>Proviso:
It is only day Two. Things could
change yet.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>It’s
kick back time. </b> We all
need some kick back. The kids and their
time do not need to be micromanaged. Most
weeks this month, my boys came home from school with flyers for yet another
summer camp. I am in favour of summer
camps but they don’t have to go to them all.
Particularly if there are a few children in the house. These things are expensive. If my boys go to one, we usually select one
for late July/ early August to let them have a few weeks to decompress
beforehand. We do take out a family
membership at our local leisure centre for July and August. This allows us unlimited access to the pool and
the adults can use the gym plus whatever evening circuit or spinning classes as
it is all included. It’s a fantastic offer
at €93 each month for our family working on the basis that one child is free
with each adult. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Let
them be bored.</b> Yes, it is a different
time now and you wouldn’t open your back door, kick them out with instructions not
to come home until the church bell strikes 6 o clock. But we all have a garden, a box of Lego
knocking about somewhere, a bag of carrots that need to be peeled. Kids love pushing the hoover around. Give
them water guns, a cloth and ask them to wash windows. Ditto re parking the car near the hose pipe. They will find something to do soon
enough. Patience is the name of the
game. <i>Disclaimer: I never said I had any.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Breathe. All the time. Make a conscious effort to do it. Walk away when you need to. Go and sit outside in the car if their noise
follows you upstairs. A very wise
woman once told me that it’s ok to be a little bit blind and a little bit deaf
when you are a parent. This will be my
mantra for the next 8 weeks. The next <i>8</i> weeks.
The next 8 <i>weeks</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh god.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-26373980493232607962016-06-24T16:47:00.002+01:002016-06-24T16:47:26.399+01:00Starting Big School. Check List With a Difference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GFpW-2n36SM/V21VUNF47EI/AAAAAAAAFts/8lREYd1n9TgKBEv0_kgRO3d5Wug1kJjBACLcB/s1600/school%2Bbags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GFpW-2n36SM/V21VUNF47EI/AAAAAAAAFts/8lREYd1n9TgKBEv0_kgRO3d5Wug1kJjBACLcB/s320/school%2Bbags.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Disclaimer: I am not an expert. In anything.
Lookit, I still can’t tell if it’s chocolate or………………..something
else. I thought I might take this
opportunity to point out a few things that may or may not be pertinent to you
now that your 4 or 5-year-old is starting big school. I’ve been there a few times. This August 28</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"> will see my
fourth boy march (he’d better!) through those gates. It
might be my fourth time around this particular block but I am very confident
that he will do something new to add to this list. In other words, if my child hasn’t done it,
yours probably will. And vice versa.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>They
will be excited and terrified at the same time.</b> I know you will be too, but this is a big
deal. In every way. They think they know it all but really have
no idea what to expect. Montessori is a
different animal. And oftentimes their
Monti mates will go to another school entirely.
So instead of seeing their Best Bud’s face on the first morning of Big
School, they see 28 Totally Different And Strange Faces. Cue panic and complete
discombobulation. And in the event that
all of their Monti mates are in the same class sometimes that excitement is too
much to handle and they burst into tears.
Emotions are big and they’re high.
Our kids are little and can only process so much in a short space of
time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The
wearing of the uniform 24/7.</b> This
is a Big Deal. A Very Big Deal and they
will become surprisingly attached to that expensive new school jumper and
refuse to take it off. Don’t worry about
it. Go with the flow because precisely
one week later they won’t want to put the damn thing on. Suddenly it will have
become too scratchy/hot/tight/boring/something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Homework
rules.</b> So you thought “are we
there yet?” was the most annoying question, did you? Get ready for the homework one. When they get wind of the fact that
Teacher will be dishing out homework in a few weeks, they will have you
tormented asking when are they getting homework. Be prepared for them to come out of the
place with a face like thunder because they didn’t get it today. <i>Again!
</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>They
will want to do all of the homework.</b>
Finally, the day arrives when they have some homework to complete. See the joy on their little faces. This makes them feel like the Big Kids, see?
It doesn’t matter that it is a page of colouring with perhaps a blue sticker to
place on the blue square, it’s <i>homework
time </i>and their excitement will know no bounds. Literally. I pity the fool who tries to stop them from
completing the next dozen pages in their homework colouring book. Go on – I double dare you! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>They
can’t handle the truth.</b> “Mary/Billy/Joe/Sally
down the back ate their lunch/pinched them/has 47 dogs/lives in Spain at the
weekend/hates them/knows Beyoncé/one of their parents plays for *insert
football team here*/knows how to drive a car/stole their pencil/stabbed them
with a crayon/drew on their face/tripped them up/and said they can’t come to
their birthday party next year. Be
prepared for all of the meltdowns!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Reading. </b>Words like “this” “that” “there” and
“then” will swim before your eyes.
Trying to get a 6-year-old to grasp how “ing” at the end of a word works
will have you slugging wine at 5pm of an evening. Biff, Chip, Kipper, Floppy, Mum and Dad
will break you. Be warned. Be very warned, it is highly likely your
child will go into school one of the days and “pram” becomes, “fucking pram. It’s fucking pram!” *Thanks Dolores*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>They
will be exhausted.</b> Watch
how they fight like WWF champions not to go to bed. That’s if they don’t fall asleep in the car
on the way home after their first morning – like my oldest did. They won’t be able to keep their eyes
open. After they talk incessantly about
the best day in their life and talk about all the friends they made, their
speech will slow down and eyes will droop.
Scoop them up and tuck them into their bed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Teacher
doesn’t do it like that. Duh! </b> Once upon a time you enjoyed being All
Knowing. All of that’s changed now
there’s a new figure of authority in town.
Teacher. You will be compared
and contrasted to Teacher and come up seriously lacking. Contempt, scorn and utter derision will
emanate from your child. You know
nothing, Jon Snow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Lost
and found.</b> When you spend a small
fortune on your child’s uniform and they (a) lose it (b) rip the knees/elbows
out of it in the first term (c) take home someone else’s. The jumper with the crest might be mandatory
but it’s Tesco and Dunnes Stores all the way for the rest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Miscellaneous. </b>The man and lady teachers are all
married to each other. Because <i>they are!</i> The teachers <i>do so</i> live in the school. Start
collecting jam jars/shoe boxes/toilet roll tubes <i>now. </i>Your child will come
home with a teddy bear of some description for the weekend. This bear will accompany you everywhere. You will be required to take pictures and
keep a diary. <i> </i>There will also be dress
up days, sports days, sponsored days, book fair days, cake sale days,
immunisation days, birthday party days, chicken pox and vomity virus days that
stretch into weeks, no homework days, tin whistles, school tours, swimming, look
I’ll just leave it here, shall I? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have entered another zone. One that is inevitable and wonderful and
scary and annoying and unavoidable.
Suck it up has never applied so much before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Is misé le meas<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-68661444358915113552016-06-23T20:54:00.000+01:002016-06-23T20:54:13.457+01:00Hotspots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Hotspots can appear in many
places. Dogs, the poor devils, can
suffer, did you know that? Quite sore
and irritating by all accounts. I believe
it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Microwaves are notorious for creating
hotspots. It is so important to stir
any food that has been reheated before eating.
What is cool on the outside could very well give you a nasty burn when
you bite into it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This next hotspot is quite handy. A physical location where people can obtain
internet access. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next we have volcanic hotspots. Magma, lava and extreme discomfort spring to
mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Currently I have a nasty hotspot on
the side of my face. Not pretty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, the hotspot I am talking
about today involves the end of the school year as we know it. Lest you might be wondering about what was
going on at Halloween and even Christmas, know that hotspots can occur at any
time. I should mention random moments
in between times as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From chatting to other parents at the
school gate and on my Facebook groups, I know I am not the only parent who is
experiencing these damn hotspots. They will
present themselves in various different guises but I feel like elaborating. I have a need to vent!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>General
narky-ness.</b> Granted there is nothing
general about it. Brushing up against your
child on the way to the fridge can induce a meltdown on a scale of anything from
severely distraught to sounding like you have used a branding iron on their
sensitive skin. Asking them to get
dressed in the morning is another one. But
to go through the steps involved with this one, you first have to get them out
of their beds. Which brings me swiftly onto the next manifestation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eBtOWcxFopY/V2w9i8JW_5I/AAAAAAAAFtE/jOBAiWSWGwIZD26rAoLmg1H9upP_xa4HQCLcB/s1600/twisteddoodles.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eBtOWcxFopY/V2w9i8JW_5I/AAAAAAAAFtE/jOBAiWSWGwIZD26rAoLmg1H9upP_xa4HQCLcB/s320/twisteddoodles.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">twisteddoodles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Extreme
exhaustion.</b> The frustrating thing
about this is bedtime can still be the utter nightmare that marriages could
break up over is they just won’t go. And
when they are finally tucked in, shenanigans o’clock rolls round. Morning sees them welded to the pillow with duvets
pulled up over their heads. The temptation
to leave them there is real but so is awareness that they will be at home all
day pretty soon. That one wins. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>All
of the bickering.</b> So far
this last couple of weeks we (my boys) have fought bitterly over fingerless
gloves, the last of the cheese strings, someone going up the stairs first, someone
spending too long in the bathroom, someone breathing too hard, someone being in
the room and being told not to lick their hands instead of washing them
properly with soap and water. They are
killing each other. And it is killing
me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0x9E8eS12FU/V2w9k6k6M9I/AAAAAAAAFtI/w2-wLoKUTg4dXXs_XR_e3qn3z4oEgH8igCLcB/s1600/wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0x9E8eS12FU/V2w9k6k6M9I/AAAAAAAAFtI/w2-wLoKUTg4dXXs_XR_e3qn3z4oEgH8igCLcB/s320/wall.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b>Complaining. </b>I am a broken mammy. I have listened to grievances about a “crap
school tour” and how he wished he’d had a day in school instead. How a best friend is “gone to Spain and I have
no-one to talk to.” Each day they come
home with completed workbooks and copies which of course makes their school bag
way too heavy. All of the colouring
pencils are gone. There’s <i>still </i>too many days left till summer
holidays. And <i>then </i>they start griping about the weeks we have to wait till we go
to Rosslare. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It doesn’t matter that the swipe cards
for our pool membership will be activated on the first day of July. Mere days away. They care not a whit that they haven’t had
homework for the last two weeks, that the dreaded uniform has been stood down
in favour of tracksuits or shorts and t-shirts. That the entire summer, <i>eight whole glorious weeks, </i>stretch before them. Later nights and lie ons in the
morning. Here’s hoping for the second
part at least. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It hasn’t crossed their
minds that school runs are almost done with.
No more rushing and racing out the door in the morning. No more shouting. Oh ok then, <i>less </i>shouting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They haven’t rejoiced in the fact that
school lunches are almost a thing of the past.
No more squishy bits of fruit in the bottom of school bags. No more leaky bottles. How about my grocery list? I regularly have little day dreams about Stuff
I Will No Longer Buy When The Boys Move Out.
I get a little reminder of this each July and August when my trolley
will be poxy processed ham free. No more
shitty tiny yogurts or Nature Valley bars.
Nutella will still feature. Can’t
have pancakes without the stuff. No more
cheese strings. Those blasted rice
cakes! Ok, maybe this paragraph refers
to me and my shopping trolley joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why can’t they see that this is a
great time to be alive? A fantastic
time to be a child of the 21st century? Why can’t they leave me alone and lock themselves
into the bathroom to complain? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The way I
do! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Probably because they are too
tired. Damn hotspots. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-16569658756046946242016-06-16T22:09:00.000+01:002016-06-16T22:09:21.446+01:00School's Just Around the Corner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QCmKDU2EZoA/V2MULYYWJGI/AAAAAAAAFr8/7omfyPTt2mQ3W8rG3KSFZSpinmSfgycrgCLcB/s1600/bren%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QCmKDU2EZoA/V2MULYYWJGI/AAAAAAAAFr8/7omfyPTt2mQ3W8rG3KSFZSpinmSfgycrgCLcB/s320/bren%2B1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Smallest Boy will be donning his
bright yellow school bag (this is subject to change) in a matter of months and
marching (I hope) through the school gates with his three older brothers.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would be lying if I said I haven’t
been waiting for this day for a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He stayed with me for more than four
years. When he was “of pre-school going
age” he expressed a strong preference to remain at home. I listened and he stayed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then his ECCE year rolled round and I
thought it best that he goes as to send him into school fresh off the plate
would not be a kind thing to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like to think the fact he stayed
with me for the first four years of his life has a lot to do with his
confidence and his ability to get on with others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Basically he is ready to go to school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ultimately I am ready for him to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a person who likes and needs her
own space. Others, when they experience
an upset, might comfort eat or enjoy alcohol a bit more than usual. I am the opposite. In order to cope with whatever life throws at
me, I need to retreat away and into myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not so easy to do when small children
are about and being incessantly demanding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, I am very thankful that in
this, our rollercoaster, have it all world, I was the one at home with my four
boys. Yes, I was frustrated at
times. The boredom knew no bounds and
this too shall pass became my mantra.
But I am very aware of how lucky and privileged I am to have been in
that position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I already know I will not be shedding
any tears when this, the last of my children goes to school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did not shed any tears when my first
went through those gates and I know I will not shed any when my fourth follows
suit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because I have cried enough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were very early parenting days
when I was crying before my husband had reached the front door on his way to
work. There were evenings when I
mentally screamed, “where are you?” when 6pm rolled round and he hadn’t walked
through the door at that exact moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sought out shopping centres where I
spent a fortune on take out coffee which was gulped down at the ride on
toys. Some days I was lucky and another
parent was also standing there. We would
chat. Compare notes. It was glum and made for depressing
eavesdropping but I always came away feeling much better and sometimes even
smiling. Thank god, I would think,
thank god I am not the only one who feels this way. I spoke to a younger mother in a park once
who told me she woke up that morning and lay there crying as she asked herself
how she was going to get through the next 12 hours. I often think of her and wonder how she is
doing today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, he’s off to school. I get asked at least once a week, “what will
you do with all that extra time?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, here’s the thing. For the last 9 months I have become quite
used to starting a task and getting to finish it without being interrupted a
gazillion times. I have enjoyed many,
many cups of scalding hot coffee. I wrote
a lot. I went for a run most
mornings. I did the usual cleaning and
tidying before preparing a lunch time meal.
Then it was almost midday and I needed to be off for a Montessori
pick-up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will carry on in that way. I will run.
I will write. I will tidy the
house. Maybe. This is a new stage in my life. A new stage for everyone. I will once again be flung into the world
of a junior infant who misinterprets social signals in the playground and
believes the other kids are out to get him.
I will have to listen to his complaints and wipe away tears as I do
so. I will have to contend with
establishing new school gate relationships.
New friends mean new mothers to meet.
There will be a settling in period for us all but having been there
three times before I know each child has their own way of doing things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once again I will most likely just
go along for the ride. Because none of
us really know what’s ahead until we’re there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is all onwards and upwards in
this mad, crazy, never-ending, always changing world called parenting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And a big little part of me likes
it. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973484497330274450.post-73131168306608546362016-06-14T17:04:00.000+01:002016-06-14T17:04:27.658+01:00This is Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6JLa1eKsfg/V2AqzOqaYwI/AAAAAAAAFrU/2qJfNlNjFFcFh5vfErHha6ZF6LY9jMrggCLcB/s1600/dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6JLa1eKsfg/V2AqzOqaYwI/AAAAAAAAFrU/2qJfNlNjFFcFh5vfErHha6ZF6LY9jMrggCLcB/s320/dress.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today I am linking in with a lovely blog post by <a href="http://awfullychipper.com/2016/06/09/objects-blog-link/">Awfully Chipper (Objects of Me)</a> in which Maud chats about the everyday objects that make up her. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She begins her post with a beautiful paragraph
describing items that her mother wore, little rituals that were so intrinsically
her mum, Maud still can’t help but call her to mind when she sees or thinks
about them. "Pieces of my childhood landscape and they bring with them a sensation of warmth safety and security. They are the elegant and the everday; small, simple, ritual objects." </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s worth a read for that
alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I read the other posts, I was pleasantly surprised at how
many “me too!” items were in there.
Scarves, elephants, shoes, paintings and books. I asked my boys on the school run home what
things in the house make them think of me when they see them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was over and hour ago and they still haven’t answered!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never mind. I have a
few ideas of my own and I know they will nod their heads in agreement when (or
if) they ever see this post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like notebooks. I’ve always been drawn to them. Never any good at keeping track of things
electronically I prefer to use a pen and paper.
This is where notebooks come in. I
keep them everywhere. In the car. The kitchen.
In my bag. On the table beside my
computer. I love the look of an empty
notebook just waiting to be used. I record
ideas and thoughts in them. Random things. Shopping lists. Contact numbers and ideas for
articles. No wonder I can’t ever find
anything when I want to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HOrkZ0ljajE/V2AneRKnkZI/AAAAAAAAFq4/zUoFg8DAP7Mc1SbqhDXnLtJcNGc0nOW8wCKgB/s1600/notebooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HOrkZ0ljajE/V2AneRKnkZI/AAAAAAAAFq4/zUoFg8DAP7Mc1SbqhDXnLtJcNGc0nOW8wCKgB/s320/notebooks.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my growing collection!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a big fan of Penney’s.
Which is a good thing because I enjoy a good pair of runners. I like to purchase my cheap as chips
everyday footwear in Penney’s and keep any saved money for running shoes. The “shocks” have gone on two of these pairs
so I need to get to the sport shop before the boys get their summer holidays. I love
Asics even if my big toe tends to go through them in a matter of weeks. They do the job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NO5a-LMU_64/V2AobLszDSI/AAAAAAAAFrI/Wu2peygCmj0o4NvmvhBcmcHH5W7634aBgCKgB/s1600/runners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NO5a-LMU_64/V2AobLszDSI/AAAAAAAAFrI/Wu2peygCmj0o4NvmvhBcmcHH5W7634aBgCKgB/s320/runners.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coffee wasn’t something I enjoyed in my twenties. Like wine, for me, it was an acquired taste. Now I love it. This machine is probably the most used item
in the kitchen. It takes no time at all
for the water to heat up and a perfect strength coffee is born. The boys are also pretty good at making coffee
from it as well which is always a good thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love an owl cup of tea (sorry) and I love a good owl owl
joke (sorry again) Here’s one to make up
for my shite sense of humour. A man at
the cinema was surprised to see an owl sitting next to him. “Are you an owl?” he asked. “I am,” said the owl. “What are you doing at the cinema?” the man wanted to know. “Well,” replied the owl, “I liked the book.” I love
owls the way some people love dolphins and elephants. I love those too but owls to me are very
majestic, wise and beautiful creatures.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spent the first thirteen or so years of my life gnawing my
nails. It took me approximately four
more to quit properly but even today if I am stressed or nervous I will attack
my cuticles. My nails are weird - they
swing from being concrete strong to breaking really easily. I like a nice squared off nail but more than
that I love a red nail. I have a little
cookie monster tin lunch box in the fridge and it houses my bottles of polish. Nails are my thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are a few of my favourite things. The things that make up me. Head on over to Awfully Chipper to read the
other links. You might even like to add
one of your own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Gwendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245366421695980452noreply@blogger.com11