So if you happen to be popping to ours today and notice a stray bit of broccolli or grains of coffee on the drive way, it’s not a new fandangles feature, just the pesky fox has got the bin again and I’ve done the best I can.

I’ve been up since 03:40, the dog had a poo explosion. I’m less begrudging of it now though as I’m sat in a bubble bath sipping my first (and probably only) hot cup of tea. You don’t get to drink hot drinks when you have young children, it’s the rules.

I was so grumpy earlier that the birds were singing too loudly and I slammed the bedroom window on them, now that wouldn’t happen in a Disney film! To be clear, there were no birds harmed in the slamming of the window, step too far and not up for a rendition of “squish the birds, tuppence a window”

I wonder how Harry is going to be today. He took great pride in running up to every stranger yesterday and telling them he had a sore willy. I suppose I should be grateful that he wasn’t trying to show it to them, but I was mildly embarrassed all the same. He decided to wage war on his bladder and wouldn’t wee in case it hurt. No matter of cajoling, bribery, teasing, tiggling, water running would work. I even had him standing in the shower spraying it with water which he loved, but still wouldn’t give up the goods.

Let’s face it, he’s going to have turned his bed into a veritable water bed. I said to Lee last night that I was half expecting it to start trickling through the ceiling and we were two floors down.

Lee made sure I caught up on some sleep over the weekend and brought me home a beautiful bunch of flowers to wish me luck in my new job which starts today, so I’m feeling very loved and grateful.

Covid has really taken its toll on all of us and it’s so hard to find a happy place and stay bobbing along there. That then makes me feel guilty because I know how lucky I am and that I should feel blessed every second of every day.

So, once again, I’ve had a word with myself, started firmly back on the diet and exercise regime and begun making a mental note and taking a picture of all those scrumptious things that make life so delicious. If I put in the self care to make me happy and healthy then I will have the strength to pass it on to family, friends, loved ones, colleagues and the list goes on.

At the end of the day, life is just too short to waste on being miserable xxx

Go hug the ones you love! We can now, it’s the law and that’s got to count for something xxx

And in the words of Dory, just keep swimming xxx

So I was just getting ready to leave nursery and go to work having dropped the Twinkles off when Ollie turned to me and handed me a dandelion. You know the sort that have turned in to a time piece or make a wish flower? He gave me special instructions to take it home and whatever I do, don’t blow it!

So off I went on my challenge, only took a few steps out of the nursery gate to realise what a plonker I looked like.

I tried to look nonchalant, maybe even cool with my mobile in the other hand until I realised how much traffic there was on Locking Road at rush hour and how many gusts of air they blew up. This was definitely a two handed job, one to hold and one to shield and for some unknown reason, walking with my legs wider apart like a cowboy and my knees slightly bent gave me a stronger frame so as to protect my seedy headed chalice.

What usually takes 7 minutes door to door felt like an eternity and was burning my thighs more than any Joe Wickes workout.

I thought we were through when a bus pulled up next to me and the words “ woah, woah, WOAH!” slipped out my mouth before I could have the bright sense to put on my face mask in the hope of not being recognised! No that ship had already sailed.

I finally turned in to our road when I happened upon our lovely neighbour and her two daughters walking to school. Mum and eldest daughter waved hello and smiled, youngest looked me up and down with sheer contempt! I like her, she’s funny!

So of course I explained what had happened only to be asked why hadn’t I just picked one out of my garden?

Well that would have been a marvellous idea, thank you very much! Said like Edina from Absolutely Fabulous having one of her moments, but actually voiced in my head behind a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes!

I’d made it thus far so got home and popped it in a glass of water ready for Ollies return.

It was a productive day and soon time to pick them up for a dog walk in the woods and some rock treasure hunting.

As I was standing on the porch yelling at them to take their muddy shoes off, Harry walked through the front door first, straight in to the kitchen, up to the dandelion on the side and gave it a hefty blow with all his might! Luckily he’s a puny little Gollum and not one seed moved! I’m allowed to say that, I’m his mum and if I don’t damage him someone else will!

Love and hugs, kisses and wishes xxx

Sometimes I think the world just isn’t ready for me yet! Or at least England and France.

I was coming out of work yesterday, feeling jolly after a productive day and as I put my ticket in to the NCP barrier thingy I noticed the cleaner walking under the barrier on the opposite side.

Our paths often cross and we’ve grown accustomed to saying hello to one another.

So I wound down my window and jovially said to him “ you’ve forgotten something”

He looked stunned and said “ no I haven’t I’ve just arrived to clean the place”

Seeing as he was still in the process of walking under the barrier I said to him “ oh yes you have…..you’re car!”

He froze on the spot as though he just couldn’t compute what I’d said.

I tried to help him out by saying “I was just trying to be funny, go on laugh” but then realised my ticket had been returned and the barrier raised and thought it best I drove on as me and NCP car parks have quite a history.

The poor chap could well still be stood there trying to work out what I said, a bit like Trigger in Only Fools and Horses.

I also had an odd text conversation with my Dad yesterday which went something like this,

Me – Dad if you fancy having Pas Thai for tea could you some some prawns please?

Dad – shall I pick up some stir fry veg too?

Me – no need Dad, the recipe doesn’t ask for it, only spring onions.

There was a bit of a pause.

Dad – do you have spring onions?

Me – no

Not sure why, but that conversation tickled me for a while!

Whilst we’re at it, my 4 year old son shouted to me from the bath,

“Mum, Ollie just literally smacked me in the face!”

I stood looking at him for a while wondering if he was a child genius using the word literally correctly at 4 and he said,

“well aren’t you going to tell him off?”

So I said “ Ollie please don’t smack your brother in the face and Harry well done on a good use of vocabulary”

It seems in all three of the stories I was the common denominator and whilst I’m no good at maths and numbers hate me, it still suggests I was right to have an early night and save the world from myself, or at least England and France.

Love and hugs, kisses and wishes xxx

So if you happened to be in Morrisons earlier and saw three loony tunes dancing, that was me and my boys!

We walked in just as Going Loco Down in Acapolco came on, there was a big space and Ollie started to dance, then Harry gave it a wiggle and I figured what the heck, life is too short and joined them! We even got a clap! To confirm A clap not THE clap! Definitely didn’t pop to the shops to get a dose of that! It was so full of old people it was like being on the set of Cocoon.

Then we decided to go treasure hunting at Bluebell woods and when that didn’t prove fruitful popped to Weston Woods, luckily I remembered to wear my Fitbit!

Ollie kept me entertained with light car conversation such as,

“ when I grow up I’m going to clear my toys away for a spectacular!”

Me somewhat bemused “ and what is a spectacular?”

“ I’m going to rock out”

“ and what does that mean Ollie?”

“ I’m going to sing rock and roll Mum!!”

I’m somewhat regretting having done ninja training also this morning. That’s what we call Joe Wickes workout and I can’t for the life of me remember why, but it’s stuck.

We’re now watching Toy Story 1 and the boys are both hugging their Woodys in solidarity for the underdog, they always make me proud. Hopefully my legs will have regained their use by bath time or I’m just going to use the wet wipes next to me, introduce the boys to festival washes early.

Love and hugs xxx

I used to think Sundays were boring but as I’ve got older and further ensconced on the treadmill of life, I have grown to appreciate all that a lazy Sunday has to offer.

This one’s been a peach.

I would love to say it started with a juicy sleep in, but that would be a fat fib, however I didn’t get up until 07:15 which in our home is a bit of a luxury. The Twinkles and fur babies are still yet to receive the memo about not being up before the sun. I’ve heard that one day we’ll struggle to get their pubescent butts out of bed, but that’s still a pipe dream.

It was a lazy morning creating things out of cardboard with Daddy and then off to the beach for a walk and to find mermaid treasure after a light lunch. I found a strange red rock the shape of a head of broccolli and told Ollie it was an alien brain, he was happy with that.

The real essence of Sunday came when I was preparing the roast listening to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. I felt close to my Mum and shed a few happy tears. I realise I’ve never actually been to see Phantom of the Opera and have popped it on my bucket list as something to look forward to in London with the boys and make Lee sit and endure.

There I was giving “ Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” a bit of welly, carrot in one hand, peeler in the other. I’d started by gently humming along, but got sucked in to the crescendo (drinking the dregs of Friday nights open Prosecco helped) and was dragged out of my daydream by Ollie tugging on my top and repeating Mummy over and over again. I’m not sure who looked more queer. Him in his jogging bottoms minus a top wearing a Spiderman mask or me stood in the middle of the kitchen singing show tunes at the top of my voice. However he’d interrupted me to show me his super hero pose in his new cardboard mobil, I suppose I should be thankful as it was a lot tamer than some of things he’s wanted to show me over the years.

The boys are fresh from their bath, getting drowsy on bedtime cartoons with tummies full of chicken. Lee and I have got a date night in front of the tv, snug under blankets with Sunday pudding. Yep, I definitely love Sundays!

Hope you’re making the most of yours too!

Love and hugs, kisses and wishes xxx