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.

The final furlong

Well it's nearly here, back to school! The last bank holiday of the summer signals for many parents that the longed for time is nearly upon them. I was however, after a few drinks and watching the film AI the return to school.

No longer can we lounge about in the morning, taking breakfast slowly, instead we have to be up, dressed and out of the house by 830. Gone are the days when we can consider our options in the morning and decided if we want to visit the zoo, farm or park as our fancy takes us. Instead we have to complete homework, check book bags and clubs restart.

Indeed my authority becomes diminished as teachers take over, you have to be there to drop them off and pick them up on time and this year I will be doing the two stage pick up. Matthew is starting in nursery so he will be attending from 9-1130 and we will then be returning to pick Heather up at the end of the day.

Dancing, Tumble Tots and the all new swimming lessons dominate the weekend and after school schedules as well as reading books and homework. I have on the whole enjoyed the holidays and they seem to have gone by rather quickly.

We have had visits to two farms, a zoo, our holiday to Florida, meeting up with friends, a birthday and a wonderful wedding and fun filled days in the garden, walks to the postbox and so on. My main regret is not doing more arty stuff although the interference and destruction that Lucy has proved herself capable of seem to justify that decision. I will miss the kids though when they are at school, Heather bought lump to my throat when she made me a little card, as is her habit at the moment. In it she said 'she was looking forward to going back to school but that she would miss me and be thinking of me!' Lucy will miss them too although she will be able to play with all the toys she wants without risk of injury from an incandescent Matthew.

We are trying to encourage the children to be a little more musical, Matthew hsa shown good rhythm with the drums and Heather has learnt a couple of scales on the piano and Lucy is discovering spinning around until you are dizzy. I, on the other hand seem to have received the thumbs down. After a few days of jiggling and singing I left the music on after the kids were in bed, I was enjoying Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams and it was when Take That were playing that Heather appeared;
'Mummy, can you stop singing please, I can't get to sleep because it's irritating me.'
Move over Simon Cowell!