....the first and most obvious is that I have completed NaBloPoMo!! Huzzah!!
It is also St Andrew's Day (he is the patron saint of Scotland) and Scotland's National Day. We shall celebrate by holding a Ceilidh, having a wee dram and eating a big plate of haggis. Not really. I have no haggis unfortunately.
Of course just as Christmas is not about presents but about Jesus, St Andrew's Day is not just about Scotland. It's about this man and it would be wrong not to acknowledge that.
Last night we attended the local Christmas Pageant. The girls were participating with their school. Their theme was 'Summer' or something and they had to dress in hula skirts and wear Leis and flowers in their hair, despite the fact it was freezing cold and raining intermittently and really not very summery at all.
The girls looked sweet (if a little strained, they're wearing so many layers they can hardly move).....
....but 'horse man' was just weird and creepy.
There are more photos but with my dodgy internet connection I'm not willing to risk it.
Today we are resting, it's been a busy week with one thing and another and I think I see a lot of lazing around in the immediate future.
....after this one that is...until the end of NaBloPoMo. I think I'm going to make it!
I haven't got much to report today, I had a big fight with Wordpress with whom I am trying to start a relationship. It was so good in the beginning, I was full of hope that things would work out between us. Sadly, today our future does not look bright. Wordpress was full of potential but he's (it is male I'm sure of it) a bit too high maintenance for someone of my limited web design and HTML skills (not to mention patience). Why can't they make changing things on it as easy as it is on the Wordpress.com blogs? I didn't think I was asking too much, my needs are simple, but it seems it is not to be. So I think it's over. I'm trying not to be bitter.
Not much else happening, tomorrow is busy, the girls are in the local Christmas pageant with their school and my in-laws are arriving for a short visit. It will be a busy day. I'd better post early, I'd hate to miss one at this late stage.
To everyone who wished me happy birthday by email, e-card, Facebook, Twitter, telephone, on their blogs and in person. I feel very special.
Hannah and Aislin put the candles on the cake, there are 22 on there.
I wish.
Well, here's something I never thought I'd see in my Inbox (you'll have to click on it).
Or this....(sorry click again)
And yes, they are the real ones. However they're not my new best friends or anything, both of them are also following about a million other people (and each other), I think they just follow out of politeness.
Which is very nice of them.....or their lackies.
We all had a nice day and are suitably tired but happy.
There was also a birthday pavlova provided by my sister-in-law, it wasn't around long enough to photograph.
Just a reminder for anyone new to this blog, I spoke here about my reasons for watermarking photos of my (and other people's) children on this blog. Just in case you think I'd suddenly imagined myself Annie Liebovitz.
As I mentioned in the post that I linked to, help yourself to anything you like, I'm not that precious - they are words and pictures - not that important in the grand scheme of things and I certainly don't have any delusions of talent that require me to copyright it all - but leave the children alone.
Well I haven't stopped all day and I'm exhausted. This morning they were fed, dressed and entertained for hours, we made paper bag puppets and had a competition for the best collage monster then I made a tuna pasta sauce and gave them it with pasta dinosaurs for lunch, they ate that and some fruit for dessert while I cleaned up the mess from all the craft.
Then Tom took over for an hour while I went and did the shopping and as I came back he left (it was planned, he wasn't running away at least I don't think he's running away - he assured me we'd planned this). I bathed the youngest (Lachlan) and cleaned up the toilet (don't ask), unpacked the shopping, made popcorn (real popcorn not microwave) and prepared apple juice drinks for all (no, I didn't squeeze the apples) and put on a movie for them (cheating I know). Then I set the chicken drumsticks to marinade, cut and seasoned potatoes to make wedges, put a load of washing on and unloaded the dishwasher and reloaded it with yet more dirty dishes.
I made myself a cup of tea and a piece of toast (it's 5pm and I haven't had lunch) and came through here, heaved a sigh and started to write this post and......Hannah came in and said 'Mummy, the movie is finished'. I looked at her for a moment, looked at my tea and toast, looked at my half written blog post and said 'want to watch another one?'. So off she went and put another movie on (don't judge me, I don't care). I turned back to the computer and heard a little voice saying 'oh no, not again'. Let's just say the youngest is back in the bath and I'm about to go and clean the toilet again. His aim really isn't very good at all today.
We do this child swap regularly (I've mentioned it before) and usually it's no trouble at all, the kids all get on well and pretty much entertain each other. They are, on the whole, polite, well mannered, undemanding children, however for some reason this time is testing me. Admittedly I'm doing most of it alone because Tom had other obligations this weekend (so he says) but even that doesn't usually worry me - I may not be the most domesticated woman on the planet but I'm actually quite capable (despite the way it may appear if you read this blog). Just not this weekend.
Anyway, tomorrow we are having a birthday afternoon tea when the boys' parents come to pick them up, Oliver, the oldest boy will be 7 on Monday and my birthday is on Tuesday so it's party sausage rolls and fairy bread (ick!) all round.
That's assuming I last the night.
And Dave if you point out any typos or spelling/grammatical errors today I'm going to jump in that teleport and come right over there and punch you on the nose. Or leave the children with you.
Today I had to accompany Aislin on a school excursion to the local CFS station. Something I was thrilled about as you can imagine. It's a 10 minute walk from the school but as Aislin is on crutches it was decided that she should be driven...normally the Principal or another staff member would drive her but that couldn't happen today so it was me. Hurrah.
The CFS* presentation was entertaining for the children, they learned all about the service and the different types of emergency they attend, then some fire safety stuff like 'Stop, Drop, Cover & Roll' and 'get down low and go, go, go' (personally I prefer the Macarena but whatever). They also learned how to strap someone into one of those rescue stretcher things and how to work the Jaws of Life.....all useful stuff for 5 year olds. The highlight was that the kids all got to ride in a fire engine.
While we there it started to rain....really, really heavily. The plan was to have a snack break in a local park then walk (except us) back to school. That plan was changed. I spent some considerable time ferrying Mums back to the school to pick up their cars, then we crammed all the kids into various vehicles and drove them all back. Normally this requires a special permission slip to allow your child to be driven in a private vehicle by another parent. Seemingly when the choice is to break the rules or get really wet, breaking the rules wins.
Once Aislin and her classmates were all settled back at school with their snacks I left to run some errands, I had some shopping to do and a birthday present to buy and some pharmacy items to purchase (you get the idea...like I said...errands). I got home with enough time to unpack the groceries and eat a bowl of cereal for lunch (cornflakes if you're wondering). Then it was back to school to pick up the girls and rendezvouz with my brother and sister-in-law for a child hand-over as we are looking after their boys this weekend. Now I'm home and hiding from all those children out there until it's time to go and throw them a dead Wildebeest prepare them a nutritious meal. It's going to be a four cocktail weekend I can tell.
*Despite my lighthearted comments I want to say that the CFS are some of the most incredible people in existence and they have my undying respect, admiration and gratitude for what they do. For those of you that may not know this, in this country the standard Fire Service only serves the metropolitan area, anyone outside that area is under the protection of the CFS (or other rural fire services depending where you are). The amazing thing about these rural services is that they are staffed almost entirely by volunteers....especially the firefighters...all volunteers. Did you get that? These people fight fires FOR NO MONEY AT ALL. Highly trained and experienced volunteers but volunteers nonetheless. See all those enormous Australian bushfires that you see on the news? Volunteers fight those...and volunteers from rural fire services in the various states and territories will travel to wherever they're needed to fight fires if necessary. Most of them have jobs and they take time off work to do this. But it's not just bushfires...if my house caught fire? CFS. If I was trapped on a cliff? CFS. If I was lost in the bush? CFS. If I had a car accident and needed to be cut from the wreckage? CFS (admittedly if all this really happened to me I think the CFS would be getting pretty pissed off). They do it all. Sadly there have been occasions that a CFS firefighter has lost their life doing this. And they don't even have to be doing it. They choose to volunteer and in doing so risk their lives for all of us.
The CFS is awesome.
Well I'm having internet problems and if I lose my connection this close to finishing NaBloPoMo I will be extremely annoyed. As my connection is precarious at best right now all I am willing to risk is another personality test for your entertainment. Please be sure to believe the part about me being 'dramatic and fascinating'. Thank you.
The Castle Personality Test |
 You have no problem diving into new experiences. You're so brave that you don't even notice how courageous you are. You like to think that people see you as dramatic and fascinating. You do your best to seem mysterious. You are a very romantic person. You can't help but see the world as it should be. Right now, stress occasionally makes you feel trapped in your life. You usually have a clear perspective on things though! Overall, your life is very peaceful - if not a little solitary. Much of what goes on goes on in your head. You are extremely optimistic about the future. You feel like things are always getting better. |
Apparently the colour you would paint your front door divulges more about your personality than I realised.
| What Your Front Door Says |
 You are intriguing and charming. People are naturally drawn to you, even if they don't know you. You are calm and wise. You are a true leader. You never feel isolated in a group. Somehow, you always belong. |
HA! If only.
Also please note I'm experimenting with a larger font. Someone complained - put your glasses on I'd like to say - but in the interests of good customer service I shall try a larger font. Not making any promises that it will stay mind you.
Today someone asked me why I blog. I looked at her blankly and said something inane like 'for posterity' then she said 'does it bother you that someone else might read it?'. I laughed and said that apart from the friends and family that read it I know for a fact that a couple of people I've never even met read it too. She looked terrified by that. Then she said...and this is where she stopped me short.....'so do you censor it to suit the readers or are you completely yourself?'. I think I then gave a speech about my blog being for me and that people reading it and commenting or emailing about it was a nice bonus but in the end it's my blog and I can say whatever I like and if anyone didn't like it I'm sure they'd stop reading and I'm fine with that. She smiled...a little knowingly I thought...and changed the subject.
Whoa.
And now I'm wondering. Am I myself on my blog or some watered down version of myself hoping not to offend anyone? I do have a bit of a history of sometimes worrying about what people think and I realised that I may be doing it again....though perhaps not consciously (until now).
It's made me ponder this whole blogging thing really, why do it? Why not just buy a nice journal and write everything in it instead of plastering it all over the internet for the world to see? Or just blog and make it private. What has really thrown me here is that I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M DOING THIS!!! I thought I knew (keeping a record, communicating with friends that I don't see very often) but is that it?
I don't know and suddenly it all seems a bit silly.
Ok, please excuse yesterday's little outburst, I'm feeling better today. I have decided to follow Z's wise advice and keep a couple of posts in draft for those occasions that I just cannot rise to the challenge and I think I should also do my posts early in the day, before I start working, then I can relax knowing I've fulfilled my contractual obligations to Dave and I can carry the flag right to end of NaBloPoMo on behalf of my fallen comrade Cathy and remain an inspiration to my doting sister Moyra (yeah, I'm kidding right there - she does love me though).
So I bet you are just dying to know what today brings ....well, it's work. Yes, that's right more stuff about making money and getting clients and making money and did I mention making money....because I need to make some. Sometimes I hanker after the days when I went to my nice spacious, well equipped office (all paid for by someone else - taxpayers in fact) and did the work someone else decided I should do and drank excellent coffee from the wonderful espresso machine (in my office no less) and looked forward to a nice lump of cash being deposited into my bank account on a regular basis. Nowadays I sit in my little office (aka the third bedroom) and have to decide for myself what work I have to do and then I have to do it all myself (no delegating here) and I only get paid if I get clients and they pay me. I still have nice coffee though...no scrimping there. Do I want to change that? Do I hell. Yes, it can hard and I'll admit that sometimes I get a bit overwhelmed by the work and the responsibility to make money and struggle to get clients but all in all I don't want to change any of it. I can drop my children at school, stay for half an hour and do reading or other activities, I can run errands, come home and put a load of washing on while I work, I make my own decisions all day long and go and pick up the girls from school at home time. I have all the benefits of being a stay-at-home-mum with the bonus of still having a job (a sort of badly-paid-enormous-amount-of- work-job, but still a job). I like that.
I'm still in touch with a few of my colleagues from work and today I heard that the department is being closed down and some staff will be moved to two other colleges and others will lose their jobs. No consultation - decision made. If I was still there I might be one of the ones to lose my job (I worked part time) if not I'd be commuting to colleges much further away, colleges I didn't choose to work for. I'm glad I'm not there any more.
It just makes me all the more determined to make this business work.
Which I won't do if I stay here blogging about it instead of doing it.
I have to say it....I'm over NaBloPoMo....over it!!!! Clearly I am not a daily posting kind of girl, I'm a nearly every day...or most days....or the days I actually have something to say kind of girl. It seems ridiculous to post when I actually have to sit and think of something to say or just say something pointless to fill the page! I'm busy and it's annoying me and I have a headache and I have to stop the work I'm doing right now and go and cook dinner and I don't want to because I have to finish this work and I really need to keep going (but oh guess what? I also have a bloody blog post to write!).
But I'm also a stubborn kind of girl and I will not be beaten by this.
End of rant.
In other news Aislin went back to school today, there was some conferencing with her teacher and the school principle and some little adjustments had to be made to allow for her giant foot but it all worked out and she was happy to get back and frankly I was happy to see her happy....because I know she has been bored at home and she hasn't complained once. In fact the only time she said something about being incapacitated (not a complaint, just a comment) she followed it up with 'but it's my own fault for jumping off the chair' and I, nor anyone else, had actually said that to her so she worked it out for herself. However, she is only five and five year olds don't always understand about consequences do they? At least not until it's too late.
Hopefully I'll be in a better mood tomorrow...see there's the other problem with this...in normal circumstances if I'm grumpy or stressed or tired or busy or likely to say something I'll regret I just don't post....but with NaBloPoMo there is no such opportunity for restraint!
And it's goodnight from me.
This has been going around the blogs and because I love picture/photo/image memes so much I just couldn't resist doing it.
You have to answer the questions below, do a Google Image search with your answer, take a picture from the first page of results and do it with minimal words of explanation.
Googling your life:
My age next birthday
Place I would like to travel to
My favorite place
My favorite food
My favorite pet...it only asks for one but I like them both
Favorite color combination
Favorite piece of clothing...two again, the trousers and the dress....I just can't stick to the rules.
My favorite movie...it would be impossible to just choose one....
Town in which I live
First job I had
Dream job
A bad habit you have, it's only 'bad' because it's become more of an addiction than a habit...
Worst fear...there are two things in life that terrify me....this.....
and these.......
Something you want to do before you die....yes, I know it's naff and a cliché but I want to do it anyway....
Well that seemed like a good idea and a fun meme but it was actually a major kerfuffle what with all the image uploading then trying to format blogger......took bloody ages.
Today - a tag. I wasn't officially tagged by Z, but after commenting (with some others) on the lovely job she'd done of it she said 'Will you all do it yourselves then, please?' and I said 'certainly'. Because I'm quite accommodating that way. Also, it's NaBloPoMo so a tag is good for another's day posting and this one is quite nice.
It goes like this...
So, here is the sixth picture I discovered in my sixth folder.....
Two 'Dusky Moorhens' taken about 18 months ago at the nearby Wetlands. I really like these birds and I couldn't resist this photo of them daintily picking their way through the shallows.
Years ago when I was pregnant with Hannah Tom and I decided to have a weekend at the beach house. We left after work so were driving in the dark most of the way and about halfway it started to rain, not just a shower or two but that heavy driving rain that renders even the fast windscreen wiper speed inadequate - perfect driving conditions. It was my turn to drive and Tom was dozing in the passenger seat, as I was drove along The Coorong I kept seeing 'things' by the side of the road. I couldn't tell what they were because visibility was terrible but they were running really fast and I was aware of legs lifting high....eventually I realised they were moorhens. They made me laugh. They still make me laugh, they are so aloof and trying to be elegant with a slightly Lady Bracknell-ish air about them. Gorgeous.
On the day I took this photo we'd taken the girls and our nephews there for a bike ride (there's a bike path round the wetland). It was such a nice day and everyone had a lovely time and we all came home happy and exhausted. Nice memory.
I really don't like to tag because I know some people find it an irritation or an obligation or both, but I strongly suspect Cathy and Moyra would be glad of some blog fodder (but only if you want to). Anyone else who fancies it please be my guest...and let me know you've done it so I can look!
*As in the famous quote from Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde's 'The Importance of Being Earnest'. Because the moorhens remind me of Lady Bracknell....shut up, it makes perfect sense to me.
I am a complete on my desk failure as once again there is nothing of great interest.
I have moved the laptop from the office to the dining room table so that I can (hopefully) get on with some work while Aislin plays - it seemed cruel to shut myself away in the office leaving her all alone. This way she can see me and chat to me and I can keep going - that's the theory anyway.
I've been juggling appointments so my diary and appointment cards are here....
And some entertainment for the invalid.....
I am also messing with the online component of my business, writing a report and uploading an 'sign up' box to website.
But really all I want is to be lying here sipping a Daiquirà with not a child, appointment book or laptop in sight.
Behind that long and lonely trenched line"A Soldier's Cemetery"
by John William Streets (killed and missing in action on 1 July 1916 aged 31)
When I titled yesterday's post 'Unexpected' I hadn't yet realised the full significance of this turn of events. Last night was fairly smooth, Tom was here and when Aislin needed help to get somewhere (not having quite mastered the crutches yet) he was able to pick her up and carry her wherever she needed to be. I can do it if I have to, but he's taller and stronger than me and it's effortless to him. To me...well...she's heavy and all arms and legs - difficult to wrangle.
This morning she woke up at 6am and needed to go to the toilet. I could hear her struggling with the crutches so I jumped up and went through and as her need was urgent I carried her there. She was wide awake by then and I asked if she wanted a drink and she did so we just got up even though we could have safely had another hour in bed (sigh). Then there was a flurry of the usual morning activity, breakfast, getting dressed, making sure Hannah had all her swimming gear and so on. All the time giving Aislin extra help because everything is more of a challenge for her right now, carrying her down the steps from the front door, lifting her into the car etc. We took Hannah to school and Aislin waited in the car reading a book while I dashed in to tell the teacher what was going on. We came home and I lifted her out of the car and back up the steps. It was only 9.05 and I was buggered.
She wanted me to play a game with her, I looked at the pile of work I had to do and settled down resignedly to play several games of Junior Scrabble. Then we did two (big) jigsaws. It went on like that all day with supervising her practicing on her crutches as an added extra.
This afternoon we went to pick up Hannah, I had a pile of library books to return and I planned to drop them off on the way to school, we got to the library I looked at the books, looked at Aislin and discovered the flaw in my plan. I couldn't carry the books and help her. So I gathered up the books, and made a dash for the return chute leaving Aislin in the car in a public car park. Something I hate doing. It was only a couple of minutes and I could see the car (which I'd locked) the whole time but it felt bad.
After we picked up Hannah I remembered I needed to go to the supermarket - we were nearly out of some essentials that couldn't wait. Again I looked at Aislin and wondered how I'd get round the supermarket with her...she's not ready for a marathon effort like that on crutches yet. In the end (you should thank me that you're not getting the full version here....stuff happened) I squeezed her into the tiny toddler trolley seat - not easy with a gangly 5 year old with a gigantic left foot. After we'd done the shopping (all the while listening to 'Mummy, this seat is hurting me...) we got back to the car, unpacked the shopping then tried to prise Aislin back out of the trolley....there was a while there that I thought we were going to just have to bring the whole thing home with Aislin still in it and wait until Tom got home so he could take it apart and set her free using his angle grinder. Fortunately it didn't come to that.
This is hard, but I'm not complaining because I know it is NOTHING compared to what some carers are doing 24 hours a day, every day of their lives, for people much bigger and heavier and more seriously disabled than Aislin is right now. I'm just saying that it is much more challenging than I realised it was going to be....not the carrying so much as the logistics of doing anything with someone who isn't fully operational.
This week is going to be fun...I have an appointment with the hairdresser, a doctor's appointment (where I also have to see the nurse for an injection) and Aislin's specialist appointment on Thursday.....how am I going to negotiate these? Oh don't worry...you're sure to hear all about it.
So last night when I posted the children had gone to bed and I was going to have a glass of wine and perhaps watch a movie. What I hadn't mentioned was that earlier that evening there had been an incident in which Aislin, feeling exuberant, had leapt from an armchair onto the floor. Now there were three problems with this 1) leaping from the furniture is strongly discouraged in this house (but she's 5 years old and they do love to leap) 2) this particular armchair temporarily held all the coats and jackets and various odds and ends from the pageant adventure that I had just unpacked from the car and 3) Aislin had left a piece of cellophane on the floor after unwrapping something a moment before. As she leapt her foot caught on a jacket and she fell awkwardly, this was exacerbated by the piece of cellophane on the wooden floor upon which she then slipped. Then the screaming began, Hannah ran out of the front door at this point - she hates it when anyone hurts themself and often runs off in distress.....I hope she doesn't consider a career in nursing.
Anyway, afer much calming down of the hysterical Aislin (while Tom fetched Hannah back) I iced and elevated the foot and administered some Childrens' Panadol. She was in some pain and there was a little swelling and the start of a bruise, she couldn't walk on it very well but she said it was ok and a some time later went off to bed quite happy.
Then I did my blog post, I didn't mention the incident because frankly if I blogged every little accident my children had there would be hardly a day without an injury report, there's always someone bumping their head or falling over or scratching themselves on a bush. I'm told it's normal. Also, I was very distracted by that clown.
So anyway.....they were in bed, I'd dutifully done my blog post so I settled down with a movie and my wine ready for a relaxing hour or so with my feet up. About an hour later Aislin came hopping through in tears, the pain in her foot had woken her up, I looked at the foot, it looked the same, I checked the time, it had been 4 hours since the Panadol so I gave her another dose and she had a drink and fell asleep on my lap. I carried her to bed and she slept soundly for the rest of the night.
This morning she was bright and happy but couldn't put any weight on the foot. It was still swollen and the bruising was more obvious. You can see where this is going can't you? So she and Tom went off and spent some considerable time here....
....and came home with this......
She's broken her foot. This is the temporary cast and we see the specialist on Thursday and he will decide what sort of cast she needs for the rest of her recovery.
She was supposed to be having swimming lessons at school every day this week. Yesterday we went and bought a new swimsuit and goggles. She's devastated. She also thinks the cast is ugly and she refused to be wheeled around in a wheel chair at the hospital.
She has crutches and she doesn't mind those...as long as she's not expected to actually use them. I can just tell this is going to be fun.
I had the presence of mind to do a quick pedicure for her before she left for the hospital, a girl needs some comfort, especially if a bunch of strangers are going to be looking at your feet. The nurses loved her toenails and so does she.
By the way, don't think you're getting out of reading the pageant post....it has only been postponed temporarily.
By my reckoning I still have 3 hours and 10 minutes to get this post in without ruining my NaBloPoMo credibility.
Well. We went. I have been up since 4.45, it's been a long day and I'm exhausted - seriously, it has been non-stop. I've just (finally) put the girls to bed, I read them a story each and Aislin was asleep in about 45 seconds flat. Then I tidied the kitchen and loaded the dinner dishes into the dishwasher. I was just about to have a well deserved glass of wine and a mince pie (yes, I know mince pies in November, it's obscene) and put my feet up when I thought 'Holy crap I still have to do an effing blog post' 'oh! I must remember to do a blog post'.
So here I am.
Did I mention it's been a long day? Yeah, thought so.
So the Pageant. We got there at 6.15 and still didn't get a front row seat. However we did get a second row position and we had some very nice and considerate people in front of us who were actually aware that they weren't the only people that wanted to see it (unlike other years) so didn't block the childrens' view or wear big hats or erect 5 room tents right in front of us (hey, it could happen!).
I have things to report but not tonight, I'm making lots of typos and keep having to rewrite incoherent sentences ('what's new?' you cry). So tomorrow I shall write a lengthy report on today's events.
Here's a teaser....
Oh and in case you're wondering, yes there were a few clown moments. Only one ended in tears (yes, mine....I'm not proud of being a big baby) but am I the only person that can see these unholy abominations for what they truly are....you look me in the eye and tell me this thing isn't on the attack......{{shudder}}....
I'm going to have nightmares about this one tonight. And I'm home alone.....eeep!
Woohoo! It's Friday!! The weekend! I'm delighted. We're having Sushi for dinner tonight, then when the girls have gone to bed Tom and I will relax, perhaps watch movie and have another glass of wine (to follow the one we'll have with the Sushi).
There is only one little blot on the otherwise crystal clear horizon that is my weekend and that is....... The Pageant. I hate the Pageant. Some of you may remember this post from last year. I like the idea and I love doing that kind of stuff with the girls but for me, with 'the phobia' and the whole having-to-get-up-while-it's-still-dark-drive-35k-then-sit-waiting-for-4-hours-with-a-bunch-of-clowns-tormenting-me, I'm frankly not keen. I don't know what to do. The girls want to go, they're not making a fuss which kind of makes it worse. I feel like the worst the mother in the world for even contemplating not taking them. Also, if we decide to go I'm going to have to spend a considerable amount of time this evening packing provisions and chairs and entertainment into the car (you need something to do during the LONG wait). I just don't know if I can take it in my already fragile emotional state. Tom suggested we go every second year, but since we didn't tell them that it seems a pity to spring that plan on them now.
Am I being selfish? Probably.
It's not like it's the only Pageant they'll go to, there is the small local one which they are actually participating in, but it is small. And kind of lame compared to THE PAGEANT!!!! I personally prefer the small one because parking is easier, there are loads of cafes open because it's not 6am and one year Santa was drunk. So cool. And funny. What? The kids didn't know, they just thought he was slapstick-falls-over-a-lot-Santa. They liked him.
Then of course there's the other thing about The Pageant. It officially marks the start of 'The Christmas Season'. It's just something else to fill me with woe because you see....and now I'm really opening a can of worms, but here goes......I don't like Christmas. There I said it. I have my own reasons for not liking it which I may talk about at some point but the fact is I could happily do without it. For me it is utterly meaningless. Bah humbug.
However I have children, they love it and they want to go to The Pageant....come full circle haven't we?
Tomorrow's post may or may not have a photo of a clown and perhaps one of me being administered oxygen...or Last Rights...one of the two.
Still here...no raids but I'm pretty sure some notes have been added to my already bulging ASIO file.
Well I'm loving this NaBloPoMo...ahem...nothing gets a girl through the day like the irritating, nagging, little thought that you haven't done today's post yet (I blame you for this Cathy). In my 'excitement' yesterday (wow! sarcasm twice already) I forgot all about On My Desk Wednesday!! What an oversight! The only guaranteed blog fodder I have all week and I forgot about it!
Here it is.
On my desk today I have... Mini Sharpies...I'm a stationery addict and these feed my habit....
....a magnifying glass......because I HATE wearing my reading glasses and want to pretend I don't need them.....
....and an Alumni membership card.
Ooh, this is like a game isn't it? Like those I spy books. 'What does this all mean?' I hear you ask. What strange project is she undertaking that requires these items?
Yeah, well sorry....nothing. They have no relevance except that they have been used sometime in the past week and no-one has put them away. Because the truth is that on my desk today there is no work, there are no projects and nothing of the remotest interest to anyone. Sorry.
This is an insult to the great institution that is 'On My Desk'. and will go down in history as the lamest post of my blogging career.
Which reminds me, speaking of careers...I'm a bit disappointed that there haven't been more suggestions for my future. Dave came up with a marvelous idea that I should become a navigator on a starship. This appealed to me enormously (I love Sci Fi) but in the end I just can't do the tight spacesuit I'm afraid.
So come on, what else is there...there will be prizes....ok, there won't be prizes but I need all the help I can get.
