Forgot to tell you that the skate park in Cobham has no grafitti on it.

After my last complaint about winnings having dried up, we had a bumper crop! I won tickets to the Dinghy exhibition in London, which was handy as we were up in Surrey, and so R, H and Nanny Jackie went to it and whilst there entered another competition, which they didn't win, but because they went back to find out if they had, they gave H a bouyancy aid signed by top sailing legends. Now, you can't have a buoyancy aid without a boat, so today R and H went and bought a boat, like you do! Some of you will know that R used to sail, and in fact we had a boat until about two years ago, when the combinations of tide, wind, light, me being in a good mood and it being the weekend and him not having a headache came about less often than a blue moon, so we sold it. However, thanks to Bitterne Leisure Centre's swim school, H has her 100m badge and is therefore sufficiently waterproof to go out with R, so good luck to them. A and I will go to the play park and drink tea in the club house! The club in in Royal Victoria Park, so it really is a fabulous location, can cycle there no problem, although may be tricky to rig up the 3 bikes to tow a dinghy.

So, that ended up being an expensive win. Cheaper wins this week were mine - 2 E cloths for cleaning the bathroom without chemicals, really fabulous, like the ENJO ones I already use. A won a 'Make your own Rupert Bear kaleidoscope' which she has enjoyed.

I don't think you know that the bus from outside my house to Bitterne has been stopped. To get there, we now have to walk down to the shops and get if from there. Swimming on Tuesday, both girls swim consecutively now, which is easy, if a little sweaty in the changing rooms. A is in a class with mainly much older girls (3 out of 5 of them share her name) and seems to be just about getting it, but her arms are a bit short to do some of the tasks! We went for our Quays swim on Wed, she likes the creche so much she stayed longer, so I did my new gym routine and had a swim and steam and sauna. Not had any stalkers so far, but will expect one in the sauna this week.

Today, to combine the boat purchase with a trip to Winchester, A and I got the train from Sholing to Southampton and then to Winchester. We met the rest of our family there, and checked out the much lauded Discovery Centre, which is a library, nothing more. After a fraught 'picnic' in a corner of a shopping centre, we whiled away the afternoon at the free Winchester museum, which is truly marvellous, as well as being free. We dressed up as Saxons and acted out things for ages, with me as Ethel the servant. H was the princess, and then in the Victorian section plumped for the posh girl's outfit. I pointed out that we (well my side of her genes) were more likely to be the maid, as my grandad was a cowman and both grannies were 'in service' but she was having none of it. We made mosaics, did heaps of colouring in pots and designing things, hunted for pictures and pretended to be working in an old fashioned pharmacist shop. I showing my age at this point, as a teenager I worked in a pharmacist's and we kept all the medicines in little drawers. The customer had to ask for things one at a time and you had to go and get them.

As we had made such a saving on having a picnic lunch we splashed out and spent £10.77 on tea for us all in a Wetherspoons pub, making use of the vouchers that had come through our door earlier in the week. We are working hard on reducing our food budget this week, I am cooking enough of everything to put some in the freezer, so the week ahead should be a fairly easy cooking week. Good thing I am saving my making sandwiches and flasks of tea, as we need to shave off £250 from somewhere to pay for this boat! I used the opportunity to tell H that because I go to work we can afford boats and holidays and days out, so not to complain about going to breakfast club anymore! She used to moan about after school club, but when I picked her up on Thursday, she was bowling on the Wii. Now, most of you will know that my feelings on computer games are fairly strong and negative, but I can see that the Wii is probably a good thing if it exercises your body and mind. And if it stops H complaining about going to After school club once a week.

I enjoyed my day as a teacher this week, it is lots of fun, I had year 2 and year 3 and taught some maths, some RE (talking about death- one boy has a collection of boxes of pets ashes, another told me his goldfish died because his dad stamped on it, and his dog died becasue his dad set fire to the kennel. Should I call the RSPCA?), read some funny books and poems, taught about solids and liquids in Science ( And where would you put hair gel?) and did some Roman marching for active learning in music. I mean, how fun is that? And all in the company of delightful 7 year olds? How could anyone not want to spend their days as a teacher. It is the best job ever! I can't wait to get back to doing a bit more than one day a week, if only so we can upgrade to a gin palace from Swanwick marina. OK, it may be more than a couple of days a week, but hey!

In my quest for the high life, I had a massage and facial on Friday, which was fabulous. I used my birthday money from my ma and pa for it, and it included a facial massage and a head massage as well as the back, neck and shoulders, so I am all massaged up to the eyeballs. Had it at the hairdressers in Woolston, hardly Champneys, and cycled there and back so ruined my back by the time I got home. I have entered so many competitions to win a trip to Champneys.

Today I had reason to travel through Cobham, and stopped at the Waitrose there, which now has a 2 storey car park. I fear I have written on Cobham before, but as a child I loved it and thought it a dream location for life, lots of my ancestors are buried thereabouts and I obviously felt the pull of the place. But now! Aargh! A multi storey ( OK, only 2) car park? All the cars are enormous urban tractors, the place has less soul than Esher. The American Community School and Chelsea Football Club training ground are the pulling power of Cobham. There is a street of cottages called Post Boys Row, but even the CEO of the Royal Mail probably does not have a salary that stretches to a mortgage on one of them.

Interesting things on the radio news, as I spent my day driving back and forth across Surrey - it always strikes me as amazing that Arsene Wenger got to be the manager of Arsenal. There are so many other football clubs that don't sound like his name - but he held out for the one that sounded so similar that he could have named it after himself. How amazing is that? I mean, did Blackburn approach him, and he said 'Nope, sorry, I need an anagram of my name at the least.'


Also on the news the mother of one of 5 British hostages who made a plea to their captors, who I didn't quite get who they were but guess they are baddies the US despise. Anyhow, in her speech, she said 'we are normal, peace loving British people. We are not responsible for the actions of the US and British governments'. I winced, because in a way we are. We live in a democracy, we (corporately) chose the government, so we have to take some of the responsibility for their actions - don't we? I mean, I get where she was coming from, but if we don't take responsibility for the actions of our government and hold them to account, who on earth will?

I am reading a book by Adrian Plass called 'Jesus - safe, tender, extreme' which is from Bitterne library and an awesome thought provoking read. He is not afraid to say the things that others are afraid to say.

I have been staying in Thames Ditton, after a great Megatrain journey up here for £6. That's from Southampton to London. We had a little section of the train all to ourselves, and as it was my birthday I splashed out on a cup of tea and a chocolate cookie. Regretted it today though, as I weighed in at a Slimming World group up here and I need to lose at least half a pound this week or will have to pay next week at class - ie I am at the top end of my target zone. Still, it was my birthday and I had a Chinese takeaway too...

I had a win this week - but a crummy one. We have won family tickets to the Dinghy show at Alexander Palace this weekend. Although R is a good sailor of old, and until 2 years ago was the proud owner of a catamaran, I don't think we can muster enthusiasm for getting up there. Anyone want them? It probably will be lots of fun if you are keen on boats.

Just returned from a swim at The Quays, and a quick sit in the steam room. It was busy - 4 of us in there, and when 2 started discussing Emmerdale I had to leave fast. I rarely go to The Quays of an evening, and it was busy all over, not just in the steam room. The swimming club took up half of the pool swimming way too fast for my liking. I was in a slow lane, and it was fast for me. Was pondering the fact that I am soon to reach another birthday - Wednesday, in fact, in case you have not yet posted the parcel off. I guess I am not going to ever be an Olympic swimmer now.

Steve and Elaine have still not invited me round for mince pies, and although I still have half a jar of mincemeat, I am embarrassed on their behalf to be making mince pies as the vernal equinox approaches. The great mince pie evening, traditionally held in December, was held back by their grand designs on their lounge. I assume by now it has been Feng shuied and Tony Robinson has unearthed a Roman mosiac under the floorboards which they are restoring. It is my birthday next week (did I say?) so they could always invite me round for a birthday mince pie, couldn't they?

Anyway! Things have been a bit lean in the winnings department this month, so have had to use up some old winnings, today we had the family day out to Paulton's Park. We were there for the whole 7 hours it is open, and although it was cold, it was not that quiet. First thing and last thing we managed to have double goes on some rides, and we went on everything they had there, that was included. Well, I personally didn't, being the least thrill seeking member of our family. H and R went on the Cobra rollercoaster, I bravely went on the other two roller coasters with A, and the teacups, which is pushing it for me. Felt like I had whiplash all day. I feel sick looking at a coach, let alone going on a Magic Carpet. Alton Towers is my idea of hell. The Waverunner is ace, and the water flume too, and we spent ages on the sack slide. Everything about Paulton's is great, the staff are friendly and the toilets are clean, there is no litter and it is full of families having fun. You can let your lunch go down by strolling around the aviaries and seeing the interesting birds who don't seem too fussed by living in the middle of a fun park.

Days of such excitement are rare, as I prefer to live within the confines of the Bitterne world, where excitement is not so easily found as at Paulton's. Still, we did our best yesterday, with a cycle ride to Bitterne (observing the newly laid road surface on Hinkler Rd - bliss!), followed by a Saxon 'fun' time at the library. This involved story telling, dressing up as Saxon people, spinning, weaving and the like. We met the Rodgers on the way, so the fun was greatly enhanced by being with them. We had booked a free game of bowling at AMF Bitterne, and R and I gave our spaces to B and J, so the 4 children bowled and the 3 adults made encouraging noises. The day was completed in Bitternetastic excitement with a DVD rented from the library for the girls to watch at home. Oh, and two Roald Dahl CD audio books to listen to in the car. We started the BFG today, which I didn't read as a child, I think he wrote it after I was too old for RD. The BFG gets his words mixed up and makes up new ones, like funkgobbling and nethertwitching and twirtling. Such fun!

Hope you noticed my love of acronyms in that last paragraph. RD, DVD, AMF, BFG... you could have fun guessing what they mean if you don't know already. I don't know what AMF stands for, for example. A Meaty Fist? AlMost Full? Must be the initials of the person who invented bowling.

Bitterne Walk in Centre this morning, for a blood test. I got there at about 8.15, and although it only opens at 8 it was packed. Clearly the walking wounded of Bitterne and environs made it through the night and up there to queue. I cycled, and felt very pleased that I had when I saw the big queue of exhaust puffing cars up the hill to Bitterne, which I breezed up comfortably. I am so much better at cycling that journey, which is hilly, especially on the way home. I did get off and walk up one of the ends of a hill today on the way home. Yesterday, coming home from the Doctors I did it no problem, and I had cycled to and from Woolston that day. Weird, isn't it? I was in Woolston for my haircut and trawl of the 5 fabulous charity shops Woolston contains. I walked over the Itchen bridge into work, which is not something I often do, and there are many plaques on the way over telling you the Samaritans phone number. Its enough to make you want to jump! R and the girls caught the bus to Bitterne yesterday for a swim, and they scootered all the way home and used the money they saved to buy chips for tea. We are having a cheap week, eating all the food in the freezer and doing fun things for free. Today we had a quick, cold trip to the beach to dig sand and splash in the water, and took flasks of hot drinks and home made cookies with us. Tomorrow we are planning a free day out in Bitterne, with a fun history event at the library, bowling for free using the AMF website freebie, and maybe I will take the girls swimming too. We are going swimming on Sunday, and even for us 3 times in one week is a lot.

No extreme sports going on this week. Extreme amounts of laundry though.

Bitterne today. Nearly went bowling, but it didn't quite come together. I was informed that plans are afoot to get rid of Bitterne AMF bowling centre. Libby, I think that is a cause for social campaigning of far greater worth than whatever is the worst Southampton City Council can do to the libraries. Culture, in its purest form, is to be found in the bowling fraternity. Anyway, we had a good time in the library, and brought home a variety of Anthony Browne books, an illustrator of genius. Also popped into BLC to pay for A's swimming lessons, as she is starting after half term, in the slot straight after H on a Tuesday! How good is that! Only not in the deep end. I imagine she is still in the learner pool. I think she will be freaked out if she has to go in the big cold pool. And who could blame her? It is cold.

Today we had a picnic lunch at the park, which was full of similar pre school children having fun. We were down there on Monday after school too, when it was the fullest I have ever seen it. The sunshine in February drags out even the most reluctant parents...

This morning was my turn to be on the Credit Union duty at the school, and we were rushed off our feet - well, hardly, it's not the Northern Rock or anything. Mainly one fab mum who has all her family and friends investing and brings their money in for them. Incidentally, in this world of repossessions and hard times, our mortgage statement came today, and our monthly payment is being reduced by £3. Only 11 years and 3 months to go! I wonder how much shorter the term would be if we asked to carry on paying the extra £3?

Mind you, the extra £3 will come in handy to pay for A's swimming lesson. Also H is proving expensive this week - £3.50 for a gymnastics badge, and £2.30 for a swimming badge, in the same week. It was her 100m badge. 100m!!!!! That's 4 lengths of Bitterne! How cool is that? Very proud of her, but told her I would not be buying another badge till she got to a mile. My mum bought all my badges, and sewed them on my costume. I sew them on the towel, or, in the case of gym, on the trousers. Gym badges seem a bit ridiculous, you get one for being able to walk in a straight line as far as I can work out.