Beautiful evening in Cambridge

I don't say this often enough but on Saturday I was really proud of all my children. It was Uncle Simon's birthday and we had arranged to meet up with Mr T's family for a celebration of this event. Following the usual football and dancing shenanigans and errand running, myself and the children awaited the return of Mr T who had gone to pick up his brand new car.

This caused great excitement when he returned and the children took turns hopping in and out of the luxurious leather seats, Heather was thrilled when Mr T put the roof up and is convinced that it is magic! After packing my own car up we were off down the M11, first to visit Grandma and Grandpa. We spent a charming afternoon there wandering down to some springs. The children in wellies took great delight in splashing around the water and even dared themselves to cross the slipper stepping stones with Daddy and Grandpa escorting them. Lucy also loved going in there. Then we went to the park where they climbed, slid and swung their way around the place, we even managed to spot a horse and went to say hello.

Then it was back to Grandma and Grandpa's house, a quick change into more presentable clothes and a trowel to make Mummy look more human and off we went on the drive to Cambridge. As soon as you drive into the town and start to see the cycle paths beside you and the park and ride buses you feel the buzz in the atmosphere. Most city centres are awash with activity on Saturday evenings, as the shops empty restaurants, theatres and pubs begin to fill up. As I struggled to park the car on a busy side street, succeeding eventually we piled out. Near us were several historic buildings, the wide gutters and cobbles reminding us of Cambridge's collegiate history and its beginnings as a market towns. The students weren't around, university doesn't begin until next week and then there will be all sorts of fresher high jinx!

We ended up at Pizza Express which the children (and the adults,) loved. The meal was convivial and as we walked back through the cool evening air to the car, past the hotel where our wedding reception was and back to the car the children listened to what they were told and walked nicely. Throughout the meal they had sat nicely, chatting to the relatives, and here is my tip, buy them a magazine to last in between ordering the meal and its arrival, all three were so busy stickering or pointing to pictures of the characters that time passed us by without a hitch. They ate nicely and didn't make pests of themselves in the restaurant and as I sat watching them I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride, they were my children and were setting a great example!

OU Angst

It was with excitement and trepidation that I greeted the arrival of my new OU materials. As a bibliophile and seemingly perpetual student the arrival of new educational material in book form is similar to consuming a large amount of chocolate, without the calorie guilt! This October I am starting 2 new courses in the hope of finishing of the second degree and then moving onto an MA, as well as fitting in all the kids things and writing this will prove a challenge.

I flicked through the books, looked at the study calendars and read through the essay titles, something that I really should have left for a little while. One of the courses, Children's Literature looks fun and I also have interest in the course material as a parent and former teacher. The other is also a literature course, but a bit more weighty! I am also trying to decide whether to do my MA in creative writing, philosophy or literature. Decisions, decisions.

We have picked up the new car and after sort of convincing the children that the purple colour is a sort of blue Heather was delighted to find, that as promised the car did have aircraft style 'colouring in tables' in the back. This could prove to be a pain on the bottom as, just as we are ready to leave for school, on time Heather announces she needs to take a colouring book and pencils with her, the colouring book was easy to locate. Portable colouring in material was not so easy, of course we have plenty at home but those that haven't been eaten by the dog, spread across the floor or emptied into the drawer are in a huge plastic bag that is far too large to take in the car, I managed to siphon off a handful and promised to get some later on when I went to the supermarket. I failed however, trying to remember to purchase wellington boots obviously used all my mental capacities as I completely forgot to get any and am dreading pick up time, think we may have to walk to spend minimum time in the car until I can get my hands on some...

I discovered something new today, having procured welly boots I went with a friend to a coffee shop, she ordered a babychino for her 2 year old and asked if Lucy wanted one, we got one and I discovered that is an espresso sized cup of frothy milk with a dash of chocolate on top, Lucy loved having her own drink, which came with a spoon to avoid the less attractive milk splashes on your clothes and loved sitting at the table. We were able to chat and she was really well behaved, I can well recommend them.

Vroom Vroom

This weekend in between dancing, birthday parties and tidying up was spent test driving cars. A celebration now seems to be in order as gone (very soon) will be the large seven seater and in its place a much more practical, easier to park five seater. As we are no longer bombing up the country visiting relatives and one of the seats in the larger car is constantly in the floor I cannot claim to be using the space the car offers. The kids can still have a friend if one of them sits in the front (gasp!)

Heather was impressed with the car we looked at, mainly because it was blue, (don't tell her but I think we may be getting a different colour!) and because in the back seats there are trays you can pull down to out a drink on and have a book on to colour in with! She decided instantly that she liked the sales man and while on test drive was challenging the hapless man to spell all the names of everyone she could think of, even ones she didn't know herself, (is that right Mummy?) When we had decided to go for the car he produced some colouring sheets for the children to keep them out of the way temporarily.

Heather triumphed at school this week, I was worried about the transition from reception to Year 1, especially when she came home with a letter detailing all the homework she would be receiving. She has been telling me bits and bobs about the days she is having, as well as the incentives for doing well. Table points seem to happen every day for those that tidy up and finish on time, Heather's table the sharks is apparently maximising their points. There is also the coveted star of the day. Each day a child is chosen who has done something of note and they get to wear a badge, have a certificate and sit in a special seat. On Friday it was Heather's turn, as I picked her up I could see something on her dress and thought to myself, what has she spilled now? When she saw me she beamed, her smile was bright enough to light Blackpool Tower. She had a certificate and a badge which she would have taken to bed if we'd let her, I only hope she gives it back to the next recipient today...

Matthew has also settled in well, he was very disappointed on Saturday when he realised he wasn't going to go to school, made even more distressing on Sunday when he also didn't go to school! Today he had his first school photograph taken and one with Heather, I can't wait to see the results, I only hope he didn't pull the face he showed me.

The day I nearly lost 'Doggy'

Matthew has a favourite toy, it is a small brown and white bulldog which has come to be known, rather unimaginatively as Doggy. Today he wanted Doggy to accompany him to school, as he has just started in the Nursery I could see no reason to object. Having been chatting to a friend we decided to take the short stroll to the high street, with Lucy in the buggy I tried to remove Doggy and failed. Deciding that letting her hold him was better than the screaming that would follow an enforced removal we began, me making regular checks that she was still clutching Matthews best friend.

We crossed the busy road with the aid of the lights and eased our way through the narrow pavements that have ensured from the revamp taking place in the town at the moment. Then we were in the shop and my friend was browsing through the gifts section for a birthday present I did another spot check, Doggy wasn't there. I looked under the buggy, in the buggy and on the hood.

We were both horrified! We marched quickly out of the shop thinking, he would be waiting obediently outside, stitched eyes gazing up at us adoringly, no such luck. Making our way past mobility scooters, fellow buggy pusher and well dressed women about town we got back to the pelican crossing. Both my friend and I were busy scanning the pavement we had just come across, looking for a splash of brown and white against the grey tarmac when it started to rain.

It was then that I spotted him, sitting on a post looking down the road towards up, we rushed across the road and held him up triumphantly, and then stowed him safely at the bottom of the pushchair. On the way back to pick Matthew up from school we stopped and took a picture, my friend is going to make a postcard of Doggy's little adventure, especially as he joined us both for coffee.

I, as well as Matthew will now be able to sleep easily knowing Doggy is right where he should be!

Call yourself a writer meme

First apologies to Tim for taking so long with this, hope it helps some you find out about the creative process.


1. Which words do you use too much in your writing?
which and that

2. Which words do you consider overused in stuff you read?
Anything which a writer is using when they are trying to be clever rather than entertaining.

3. What's your favourite piece of writing by you?
The piece that inspired me to carry on was a poem I write about animals at school and a teacher said it showed promise and that was my spur.

4. Which blog post do you wish you had written?
The ones that have earned their owners a book deal!

5. Regrets. do you have a few? Is there anything you wish you hadn't written?
When I read some of my stuff back I think oh my god but it can always be re-worked.

6. How has your writing made a difference? What do you consider your most important piece of writing?
Good place to vent, explore ideas people wouldn't otherwise consider.

7. Name three favourite words
I love you

8. ....And three words you're not so keen on
Shut up/ wait

9. Do you have a writing mentor, role model or inspiration?
Anything well written, love Terry Pratchet and Stephen King

10.What's your writing ambition?
To make a moderate income from my writing and to evoke emotion when people read what I've Written.