After the wasteland, tundra existence we were suddenly transported to tropical climes when the gas engineer came and fitted the part to the boiler. Without a care, coats were cast into the cupboard and normal garb was resumed. It were right good. And for a very reasonable price of just £54. Talking reasonable, R has found a new garage to pal up with, called Hutfields of Botley. He likes making new garage friends. I think they are most reasonable, and the Volvo has been there today for new brakes, after new tyres last week, it will be feeling spoilt.
I had a significant spiritual experience on Sunday as I joined a new religious order. I know it sounds like a band from the 80s, it is actually Hopeweavers, where I have been spending many a quiet day (some people think that me and a quiet day is a paradox) for the last 6 or so years. I love going there and the ethos and it seemed quite a straightforward decision to write my rule of life and try to abide by it, so I went along to be sworn in on Sunday at St Luke's in Hedge End. the bishop came and seemed overjoyed with the whole thing, and it was really moving to stand up and declare my allegiance and oath of fealty etc. I very nearly cried.
In fat club news, since getting to my target (again) I have been weighed weekly, not always at my regular class, sometimes I have had to dot around to other classes to fit in with crazy work schedule. Anyhow, this week, I stayed for a bit at the late version of my normal class. Well, I lost 0.5lb but am over my target zone so had to pay. The stand in compere asked me what I needed help with and I said biscuits. She suggested I try fat and sugar free rich tea. There can not be anything left in a rich tea apart from flour. So, in effect, a kind of dried mouthful of flour seems to be suggested fare. Have not tracked them down (they sell them in Veals) and am not planning on doing so anytime soon.
Reading - I have been reading about my Antarctic hero, Tom Crean, again, in the book about him, Unlikely hero. I am utterly besotted with him. He escaped from so many icy disasters whilst looking after puppies and saving the lives of all around him, I really find it hard to believe no one has made a film about him. I am now reading Auggie and me, a follow on book from Wonder, which is an amazing children's book which everyone should read, possibly starting with Donald 'Trump'. Such a good surname. Wonder is about a boy with a facial abnormality. How he is treated at school. How bullies bully him and friends stick up for him. How he is a friend. It is a top read and I recommend it utterly to you all. Along with Tom Crean the hero of the ice.
A has to put a gelatine bun in her hair on Sunday - can't wait for the putrid fat smell of hot gelatine as we smear it on to her glistening hair. The things people do for sport! I don't know why synchro swimmers can't wear swim hats for convenience, instead of dripping pig fat over their heads. We are looking forward to seeing a spectacle in the water, and I believe at least one granny is attending which is great - who knows, they might be inspired to take up the hot dripping sport for themselves!
Wednesday, 9 December 2015
Monday, 23 November 2015
Coldness immersion heaters and devils
We are living in a post apocalyptic state, something akin to the Hunger Games, in a house with no heating. Yesterday, with a rather sore head and sides, I spent more time than usual in an arm chair, next to the coal and wood fire, burning the old piano rather like Billy Elliott's dad had to during their apocalypse (AKA the Thatcher years).
Last night the girls slept in the same bed with one electric radiator keeping their room warm. I slept with the electric clothes airer. Which is a line usually only found in those rather cheap Sunday papers. This 1970s style of life has been inflicted upon us by the chilly northern wind of late, and serves me right for being smug and not turning the heating on earlier, as we may have then found out it was broken before we needed it. We do have something called an immersion heater, I had no idea we did but apparently in 2004 when our gas system was cranked up the plumber suggested it was a good idea. I now agree with him. Immersion heaters are somehow a object of the past, known in my world only in how they belong to my parents and mother in law, and back in the day, my granny. She has a great airing cupboard in her flat, with a really interesting shaped lock opening thingy (clasp?). She used to 'put the immersion on' and I had no idea what that involved. Still don't.
My granny's flat was great for playing hide and seek with my brother and cousins. We used to hide on the balcony (which was maybe a couple of feet wide and 6 feet long. A challenge to hide on. My cousin tried to hide my brother in the oven. There was a food cupboard for hiding, a big bath, the airing cupboard, her bedroom wardrobe (don't lock it!) two big double beds in the spare room, and a cot (it was like a dormitory in there - my cousins' whole family could sleep in there and there were 6 of them - and a dog. And in the big lounge, a kind of put you up bed you could hide behind, plus arm chairs and sofas to hide behind. It was a modest 2 bedroom council flat but the way I describe it you probably have IKEA in mind.
Other good things about my granny were: in no particular order:
her generosity with sugar in tea
her generosity with cake, all Mr Kipling's finest
her generosity with time, life and fun
her child centredness, always happy to play
her sense of humour and of joining in
her complete love for all 6 of her grandchildren
her card games and horse betting
her fun
Tomorrow is her birthday. She would have been 114 so probably best she left this earth a while back as the world gets too full if everyone lives to 114. She would have been 100 when H was born. H today is the age that she was when she was living and working in a big house in London, as a betweensmaid I believe. That was 1915, in London, a 14 year old girl from Lingfield near Haywards Heath, living and working in Egerton Gardens. A couple of years back H and I went and found the house. Which is now converted to flats. But seeing that door and that stone step which she scrubbed was powerful and meaningful. We didn't need to go inside.
The possibilities and opportunities available to my daughter, born 100 years on, are inconceivably vast compared to those open to a country girl born in 1901 into a large working class family. The freedoms H has to choose her own way of life and to be able to achieve are so much greater. We are not there yet. Still some way to go to reach equality of freedom and opportunity for women, but we keep chipping away.
My mum has virtually the same qualities as my granny, as a granny to my girls. She only has 5 grandchildren, mind. I hope I have grandchildren and that list lives on for them too. It is a good list of noble qualities, especially the generosity of cake. I am not so good at that yet. Will work on it. I think I am doing ok on the other things.
Happy birthday. A Mr Kipling cake is well deserved and best shared.
In other news, interested today to hear the amazing news from Sep Blatter (is that really his name) that he has seen the devil and the angels singing, and that the angels singing won over the devil, so far as I can make out, and he came back to this earth after this near death experience. I believe in angels ( and Abba) and I guess I believe in the spirit of evil, not sure he is personified with red eyes and a pitchfork, and not entirely sure he pops up along with the angels singing in some kind of karaoke contest, but who am I to argue with something about which I know nothing? OK, OK, doesn't usually stop me. So top marks to Sep or whatever he is called for detracting from people nosing around in his bank account by distracting with talk of angels and demons. Top job, he should be in marketing!
Good to be back for you Barrs, tell your friends I am still here, the original blogger since 2006.
Last night the girls slept in the same bed with one electric radiator keeping their room warm. I slept with the electric clothes airer. Which is a line usually only found in those rather cheap Sunday papers. This 1970s style of life has been inflicted upon us by the chilly northern wind of late, and serves me right for being smug and not turning the heating on earlier, as we may have then found out it was broken before we needed it. We do have something called an immersion heater, I had no idea we did but apparently in 2004 when our gas system was cranked up the plumber suggested it was a good idea. I now agree with him. Immersion heaters are somehow a object of the past, known in my world only in how they belong to my parents and mother in law, and back in the day, my granny. She has a great airing cupboard in her flat, with a really interesting shaped lock opening thingy (clasp?). She used to 'put the immersion on' and I had no idea what that involved. Still don't.
My granny's flat was great for playing hide and seek with my brother and cousins. We used to hide on the balcony (which was maybe a couple of feet wide and 6 feet long. A challenge to hide on. My cousin tried to hide my brother in the oven. There was a food cupboard for hiding, a big bath, the airing cupboard, her bedroom wardrobe (don't lock it!) two big double beds in the spare room, and a cot (it was like a dormitory in there - my cousins' whole family could sleep in there and there were 6 of them - and a dog. And in the big lounge, a kind of put you up bed you could hide behind, plus arm chairs and sofas to hide behind. It was a modest 2 bedroom council flat but the way I describe it you probably have IKEA in mind.
Other good things about my granny were: in no particular order:
her generosity with sugar in tea
her generosity with cake, all Mr Kipling's finest
her generosity with time, life and fun
her child centredness, always happy to play
her sense of humour and of joining in
her complete love for all 6 of her grandchildren
her card games and horse betting
her fun
Tomorrow is her birthday. She would have been 114 so probably best she left this earth a while back as the world gets too full if everyone lives to 114. She would have been 100 when H was born. H today is the age that she was when she was living and working in a big house in London, as a betweensmaid I believe. That was 1915, in London, a 14 year old girl from Lingfield near Haywards Heath, living and working in Egerton Gardens. A couple of years back H and I went and found the house. Which is now converted to flats. But seeing that door and that stone step which she scrubbed was powerful and meaningful. We didn't need to go inside.
The possibilities and opportunities available to my daughter, born 100 years on, are inconceivably vast compared to those open to a country girl born in 1901 into a large working class family. The freedoms H has to choose her own way of life and to be able to achieve are so much greater. We are not there yet. Still some way to go to reach equality of freedom and opportunity for women, but we keep chipping away.
My mum has virtually the same qualities as my granny, as a granny to my girls. She only has 5 grandchildren, mind. I hope I have grandchildren and that list lives on for them too. It is a good list of noble qualities, especially the generosity of cake. I am not so good at that yet. Will work on it. I think I am doing ok on the other things.
Happy birthday. A Mr Kipling cake is well deserved and best shared.
In other news, interested today to hear the amazing news from Sep Blatter (is that really his name) that he has seen the devil and the angels singing, and that the angels singing won over the devil, so far as I can make out, and he came back to this earth after this near death experience. I believe in angels ( and Abba) and I guess I believe in the spirit of evil, not sure he is personified with red eyes and a pitchfork, and not entirely sure he pops up along with the angels singing in some kind of karaoke contest, but who am I to argue with something about which I know nothing? OK, OK, doesn't usually stop me. So top marks to Sep or whatever he is called for detracting from people nosing around in his bank account by distracting with talk of angels and demons. Top job, he should be in marketing!
Good to be back for you Barrs, tell your friends I am still here, the original blogger since 2006.
Sunday, 22 November 2015
Netley I love
So tonight I heard my blog is still read by the Barr family in bed. Hearing about the options that Duncan Barr has in his suit pockets I am surprised, even awed that my blog gets a look in during bedtime routine in the Barr house. Netley, and Netley sailing club in particular is one of my passions, here is why :
Because sailing levels everyone to a basic elemental fight to stay upright.
Because people are kind and generous even if you sail a cat and they really think therefore you are an idiot.
Because there is the opportunity for children to live safe and free, managing risks and climbing trees.
Because all sorts of people learn to get along despite differences.
Because the sunset is awesome.
Because sailing has taught me to be braver and calmer and laugh in the face of peril.
Because my girls have been growing up with the sea air in their lungs and camping as normal.
Because starting to sail was the beginning of my life part 2.
Because rob cackling maniacally when it's really windy reminds me of lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump.
Because I feel accepted and able to be my slightly over the top and wonky self at Netley.
Thank you if you are part of it. Heaven is hard to create on earth. X
Because sailing levels everyone to a basic elemental fight to stay upright.
Because people are kind and generous even if you sail a cat and they really think therefore you are an idiot.
Because there is the opportunity for children to live safe and free, managing risks and climbing trees.
Because all sorts of people learn to get along despite differences.
Because the sunset is awesome.
Because sailing has taught me to be braver and calmer and laugh in the face of peril.
Because my girls have been growing up with the sea air in their lungs and camping as normal.
Because starting to sail was the beginning of my life part 2.
Because rob cackling maniacally when it's really windy reminds me of lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump.
Because I feel accepted and able to be my slightly over the top and wonky self at Netley.
Thank you if you are part of it. Heaven is hard to create on earth. X
Sunday, 18 January 2015
January and the NHS
My family have been doing some consumer testing of the NHS, with a new nephew born in Redhill hospital (exciting) and another 999 call for my dad and a night in St Peter's hospital for my mum. We are very committed to ensuring this exacting testing, with Rob's mum checking out A and E in QA, Cosham, with a broken arm after Christmas, and a visit this week to the General in Southampton for H's knee (and the rest of her).
I have found all this medical related chasing about quite exhausting, and that was without making it to see the new baby!
Anyhow, I am inspired to write more to you all as I found an old post from 2008, of Hannah's first ever sail, with Rob in the Mirror, Ariel. Since then, we seem to have acquired and sold more boats than was strictly necessary, mainly due to people giving us old ones they don't want. We currently have just the three, and are hoping to get to sail the new (to us) one this summer. It is called a Buzz. I have no idea whether a Buzz is good or bad, I think it is just old.
As well as doing medical research across Surrey and Hampshire, I have passed my NPQSL this week and also updated my Child Protection Officer training, with an up to date knowledge of FGM and sexual exploitation of children in the UK.
Other things going on: A is taking part in a Shakespeare project at school and is investigating joining an acting club; she is also learning swing dance at school. R is doing his NPQSL and getting fed up of all the reading you have to do for it. H has almost done her physics homework.
And that is all for now, but now I have found out how to log on to my blog I will try again more often, promise!
I have found all this medical related chasing about quite exhausting, and that was without making it to see the new baby!
Anyhow, I am inspired to write more to you all as I found an old post from 2008, of Hannah's first ever sail, with Rob in the Mirror, Ariel. Since then, we seem to have acquired and sold more boats than was strictly necessary, mainly due to people giving us old ones they don't want. We currently have just the three, and are hoping to get to sail the new (to us) one this summer. It is called a Buzz. I have no idea whether a Buzz is good or bad, I think it is just old.
As well as doing medical research across Surrey and Hampshire, I have passed my NPQSL this week and also updated my Child Protection Officer training, with an up to date knowledge of FGM and sexual exploitation of children in the UK.
Other things going on: A is taking part in a Shakespeare project at school and is investigating joining an acting club; she is also learning swing dance at school. R is doing his NPQSL and getting fed up of all the reading you have to do for it. H has almost done her physics homework.
And that is all for now, but now I have found out how to log on to my blog I will try again more often, promise!
Saturday, 12 April 2014
Chased by horses and popcorn
This sounds like the title of a novel. It is however just a normal day in the life of my beloved dog, who is eating a bone known as a 'postman's leg'. I am reassured by A that it is not a real postman's leg. H suggested it was actually the dog's own missing leg, preserved by the vet who sawed it off and then recycled into the food chain a year or so later.
Today, the poor dog got chased by popcorn, as I was making some, in our electric popcorn maker, won in Wrap the Crap circa 2009 and much appreciated after the early Sunday morning episode with H putting golden syrup in the last one and us smelling smoke. So, the popcorn machine has a sort of chute for the popped corn to come out of, but it has a hole in the top of it so half of it pings out of the top and then chases poor Lacey and her postman's leg around the kitchen floor.
Yesterday, much worse than popcorn straying was the evil predatory attack of 5 horses. R had L on the lead and we walked over a stile, following a footpath sign and a track through a field which contained horses. After making it three quarters of the way across the field, the horses took an interest and came over, blocking our way and whenever we moved, making a counter move to prevent us going forward. H and I were out of the melee, as H had no shoes on and was slower in progressing through the mud than the other 2. A and R were so brave, as one horse repeatedly went for the dog, trying to trample her. It was like the beginning of a nightmare movie with the four horses of the apocalypse (sp?) except there were 5, but one was only a pony. We are now thoroughly put off horses and the magazine Horse and Hound has not got any new readers in this house.
Today I have attempted to cash in some Tesco vouchers for Pizza Express vouchers, but it has been beyond my understanding how to remember /reset my password and access the account. I did win £15 of restaurant vouchers earlier this week, which the girls and I spent having lunch at ASK in Fareham. The girls had their hair cut, in adjacent salons at slightly different times, which was a challenge for me, but we did it. I had my hair cut in Wickham, and the very pleasant haircutter was leaving and heading for Winchester. Great! Wickham is so handy on my way home from work... unlike Winchester. I made the most of Wickham last week with a beauty appointment, a curry and having my tyres changed as well as a hair cut. I had my hair straightened too. But before I got to the car, in the rain, it was curly again.
Tomorrow everyone except me is doing a triathlon. Don't panic! not you! my family! Tonight, the girls were practising their transition and getting it down below 13 seconds for putting on belt, trainers and helmet. Unfortunately all the speed in the world at getting dressed might be against H as she has troubled knees, with a diagnosis from Sarah the osteopath of cruciate ligament damage, and advice to go to our GP. We don't have one, the new one who I have yet to meet Dr Qamar, is off having a baby, which is great, I hope she found the midwifery service as good as it should be.
Somehow I have found myself taking on responsibility for menu and food procurement for the sailing club galley. The good thing about this is that I can make sure there is lots on the menu I like. The bad thing is that I have to go to Makro, which is too big and confusing for me. Some marvellously good news is that LIDL are opening a store in Thornhill, near the Range, ie within walking distance, as is our handy Costa. We now will have no reason to ever leave the estate. Apart from to go on bike rides, although I suppose we could do laps. I did a good ride today over to Newton Soberton, Droxford and back via Dundridge, I was without my cycling pal Josh as he is in Australia, and could not be bothered to make the trip back to keep our Saturday morning expeditions alive! I found a new cycling pal last weekend too, Kate, mum of Millie, who seemed to be super fit on the bike and has previously set up an ex pats ladies cycling club in China. I feel so parochial compared to these far flung cycling heroes!
I am reading The Chimp Paradox and enjoying it a lot. I am working hard on school related stuff at the moment, enjoying it though, so doesn't feel like work. I also have had a restful few days with mum and dad and girls, with a sunny visit to Kew, and also a chilled out spa day with Ange, which was my Christmas present to her. I did gym workout, pilates class, swim and then a massage. She just did the massage!
Today, the poor dog got chased by popcorn, as I was making some, in our electric popcorn maker, won in Wrap the Crap circa 2009 and much appreciated after the early Sunday morning episode with H putting golden syrup in the last one and us smelling smoke. So, the popcorn machine has a sort of chute for the popped corn to come out of, but it has a hole in the top of it so half of it pings out of the top and then chases poor Lacey and her postman's leg around the kitchen floor.
Yesterday, much worse than popcorn straying was the evil predatory attack of 5 horses. R had L on the lead and we walked over a stile, following a footpath sign and a track through a field which contained horses. After making it three quarters of the way across the field, the horses took an interest and came over, blocking our way and whenever we moved, making a counter move to prevent us going forward. H and I were out of the melee, as H had no shoes on and was slower in progressing through the mud than the other 2. A and R were so brave, as one horse repeatedly went for the dog, trying to trample her. It was like the beginning of a nightmare movie with the four horses of the apocalypse (sp?) except there were 5, but one was only a pony. We are now thoroughly put off horses and the magazine Horse and Hound has not got any new readers in this house.
Today I have attempted to cash in some Tesco vouchers for Pizza Express vouchers, but it has been beyond my understanding how to remember /reset my password and access the account. I did win £15 of restaurant vouchers earlier this week, which the girls and I spent having lunch at ASK in Fareham. The girls had their hair cut, in adjacent salons at slightly different times, which was a challenge for me, but we did it. I had my hair cut in Wickham, and the very pleasant haircutter was leaving and heading for Winchester. Great! Wickham is so handy on my way home from work... unlike Winchester. I made the most of Wickham last week with a beauty appointment, a curry and having my tyres changed as well as a hair cut. I had my hair straightened too. But before I got to the car, in the rain, it was curly again.
Tomorrow everyone except me is doing a triathlon. Don't panic! not you! my family! Tonight, the girls were practising their transition and getting it down below 13 seconds for putting on belt, trainers and helmet. Unfortunately all the speed in the world at getting dressed might be against H as she has troubled knees, with a diagnosis from Sarah the osteopath of cruciate ligament damage, and advice to go to our GP. We don't have one, the new one who I have yet to meet Dr Qamar, is off having a baby, which is great, I hope she found the midwifery service as good as it should be.
Somehow I have found myself taking on responsibility for menu and food procurement for the sailing club galley. The good thing about this is that I can make sure there is lots on the menu I like. The bad thing is that I have to go to Makro, which is too big and confusing for me. Some marvellously good news is that LIDL are opening a store in Thornhill, near the Range, ie within walking distance, as is our handy Costa. We now will have no reason to ever leave the estate. Apart from to go on bike rides, although I suppose we could do laps. I did a good ride today over to Newton Soberton, Droxford and back via Dundridge, I was without my cycling pal Josh as he is in Australia, and could not be bothered to make the trip back to keep our Saturday morning expeditions alive! I found a new cycling pal last weekend too, Kate, mum of Millie, who seemed to be super fit on the bike and has previously set up an ex pats ladies cycling club in China. I feel so parochial compared to these far flung cycling heroes!
I am reading The Chimp Paradox and enjoying it a lot. I am working hard on school related stuff at the moment, enjoying it though, so doesn't feel like work. I also have had a restful few days with mum and dad and girls, with a sunny visit to Kew, and also a chilled out spa day with Ange, which was my Christmas present to her. I did gym workout, pilates class, swim and then a massage. She just did the massage!
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