She moves (ode to coralie)

I hardly ever mention Coralie in blogs, not sure why, she is just so amazing and never causes any trouble, so perhaps that is why. Perhaps she never does much of note, or the antics of a toddler, and often more appealing and exhilarating than that a baby (and she still feels like a baby even at 10 months).

Anyway, as if to rectify the imbalance I can report she now moves with some speed and purpose across the floor, neither a bum shuffle, nor a crawl in her own wonderful way, perhaps more of a sqating lurch, she is finally mobile and I see my days of easy parenting (trusting Ruby and knowing Coralie to be stuck) suddenly dissolving into a mess of childhood discovery and sibling rivalry (now that Coralie can hold her in own in a funny sort of way). We will see.

She is still a wonderfully content and satisfied child (especially now she has her eight tooth), able to amuse herself to an almost worrying degree. Ready to move from being a baby to the more exciting status of being a toddler perhaps. We do love our pumpkin face....agh she has woken up I can hear her crying, time for me to go.

31 December 06 (Granny's 95th Birthday, Happy birthday, I can imagine what you are up to!)

The youth next door are making a terrible noise and have woken Ruby up once already. Humph. All my family are out partying (including mother) and we are in eating haggis and enjoying the peace and quiet. are we getting old or are we just more sensible than everyone else?

Well just a few things to say about the past week.

The natural history museum is a great place to take small toddlers. Ruby danced every time she saw a new exhibit and was even fascinated by a live disection of worm jaws! riveting stuff. Her obsession with "moley" goes on.

Christmas, lovely time but it is all a bit weird too, I mean what is it all about now? Certainly has no spiritual meaning in our house, more a devotion to food. It is hard to keep perspective.

We have a distant relative from Chile staying over at the moment. It is weird how similar he looks to my brother and dad (apart from the nose) Photos to follow. I look less like my sister than they do like each other.

Please let me never get as old as my grandmother

And finally, so how are General Pinochet and Saddam Hussein different so that one was able to live out his life. Is it OK to give up trying to understand things?

Ahhhhhhhh

That lovely feeling when finally everything is packed up and totally organised to get away, and that is not easy with the girls unpacking as fast as I was packing. At times the house looked more like we were moving in rather than trying to get out. But its done. Hooray, cant wait, a whole weeks change of scenery. Family, I can t wait to see you, use your lovely showers mmm, your amazing laundry facilities, all that scrummy Christmas food, oh and of course your great company. So watch out we are ready and we will be down tomorrow morning to greet you as you get out of bed and the girls will be bouncing by that time in the morning.

Although the house is so tidy right now its a pity to leave it to the cats to fluff up. I almost wish Brian and the girls were going away and I could stay and enjoy it being tidy for a day or two, just me totally in control without the risk of my carefully controlled environmet being upset by any of the three wild things I live with. Is't that sad.

Hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas, and pre Christmas.

Nice

Well I think I behaved myself. Just had a lovely time went to a bar, walked home with the frost settling all around us. Shared a six inch subway sandwich, just because we could. Watched all the people doing what people who go out more often do. Felt very old on the bus down as everyone seemed to be a spotty teenager. Walking home hand in hand was the best bit, no one else out, dark and cold and quiet. Although the Amaretto sour was worth going back for. Will have to do it more often, anyone up for babysitting?

I'm being let out!!

I can hardly contain my excitement, on Tuesday my dearly beloved friend Colin is going to babysit for us and we are going out, after dark, together, no children. I am not sure if i can remember how to behave in that sort of environment. Will let you know.

Ironing

This is an old video, but still one of our favourites.

Top secret

Wow, I have just finished writing the words for the children's story I hope to produce! If I can pull this off I will be a different person to who I thought I was. Obviously I cant tell you much about it, that would be telling. Lets see what happens.

All in an afternoon's work

This afternoon Ruby has stroked a lion, seen a polar bear, spotted beetles, bugs and butterflies, visited a mole in his hole, built an igloo, done the dusting dressed as a Victorian maid and sold bacon and eggs in a butcher's shop. Beat that for a Sunday afternoon!

Buskers

Wandering round town this afternoon Ruby is animated. Look, look, look, pointing at the tree covered in lights. 'Mummy more music' There are buskers all round town and she drags us round each and every one, only she doesn't go and drop the coin in the hat, she goes and stands in front of the busker arm outstretched, waiting for them to take the coin out of her hand. We have interrupted several rendition of hark the herald in this way. Also if you only give 10p it is embarrassing because they can see you are being stingy. If you give them 50p it gets expensive after you have been round a few, a dilemma. However it is very cute. And really wandering round town at present, looking at lights, with no other agenda as we have finished the crimbo shopping, is truely a delight in our child's curiosity and excitement, Christmas feel truly Christmassy again (until we get home again and I am being scrooge about putting decorations up).

Oh and as a car passed by window open rap music blaring out, (I was carrying Ruby by this stage, everything was dark and sparkly), she gave a real groovy wiggle dance. Really in the spirit and very touching.

Family resemblence!



When I grow up I want to be ..........nuts! (that's her uncle with the beard), further training still required but a good disciple dont you think?

YO HO HO HO




Well done everybody! (that reindeer has his work cut out), pictures courtesy of dad.

Ridiculous

Ok, let me explain. I have to go back to work post maternity leave for three months to ensure I don't have to pay back my maternity pay. I am angry with the NHS and never want to work for them again for various reasons i) because they have effectively forced me to stop work by ridiculously increasing their nursery prices so people who work shifts cant afford to use the nursery, its a hospital you nuts, and by being inflexible employers. They have done this half way thorough maternity leave so it is too late for me to hand my notice in and I am obliged to go back to work without childcare or may back my maternity pay. ii) because when you do work for them they quash your spirit make sure you don't realise any of your potential.

BUT
I got a call from work today and taking annual leave into account and the fact that I can request to drop my hours to one day a week I have to go back for only two days, two days!!!! That is hardly enough for me to remember how to find the sluice! (Only kidding) but really what use am I going to be to them for two days, one weekend. I want to be free of them, they obviously don't want to be rid of me so they can save money blah blah blah surely it would make more sense just to draw a line under the whole thing than have them pay me holiday pay for three months, ridiculous, absurd.

The Angel Cyclops

Forget trendy decorations, our house is going to look monstrous this year. This is Ruby's take on an angel.

One missing

Ruby went to stay the night at grandmas last night (eight doors down the road)! The first time shes been away on her own. It was fine, but it was weird how it felt like there was one missing at bed time and bath time (I think Coralie liked it). Ruby certainly did she got well pampered with a comic and her pj's warmed on the radiator. When I dropped her off she just said 'now go away mummy!' I try not to feel rejected, but see the potential benefits of this arrangement. Grandma seemed to survive more or less intact too. A successful experiment.

Time to stop feeling guilty

The decision is made, for me in some ways, by the sudden rise in workplace nursery prices. I can't say I feel sad about it though. This is after all what We believe is best for the girls, even if it is a little stressful economically, we are rich in may ways and very happy. I am not particularly going to miss my work when i do my last day some time early next year. As I have said before, in many ways it is an opportunity. So, the question is, why do I still feel so guilty about being a full time mother (do not use the term house wife, I am not one of those, I don't spend that much time in the house and am certainly not married to it) and not being economically active in society?

What is it about our society that tells me I am only valuable if I am contributing in the workplace? That makes me feel foolish if I think I will be able to get back into work if I take a break while the girls are very young. Why do I feel so irresponsible? Why, even though I know why I am not frantically looking for new work and am convinced this is the best thing for the girls, do I still feel guilty? Why do I feel like people think I am taking the easy option, when actually it is not that easy? I do go nuts sometimes. It is an active decision not a passive one. So many questions.

Someone once asked me if I felt undervalued as a nurse. My reply was 'no not really, but I do feel undervalued as a mother.' (not by Brian I hasten to add).

I really need to stop worrying about what other people think, and feeling this guilt. How do I do that? Pants to all societies dumb values, I'm going to do what I want to do. Whoever you are out there creating this dumb and upside down feeling that pervades around, stop it, now.

Sea Monsters

We love aquariums. Bri and I went to one in Boston and one in Cape Town years ago before the girls came along. Well this was the first time we had taken the girls to one, I was hoping they would share my enthusiasm and excitement and if it wasn't naturally forthcoming to cultivate it by early exposure.

Ruby enjoyed it but not without the odd whimper of horror as a big fish approached and looked her squarely in the eye. Given the choice of making a shark badge or a seaweed badge she quickly chose the latter, she obviously hasn't realised just how scary seaweed can be when it wraps itself around your legs. Coralie seemed quite content.

probably the only reason I can think of for Enough babble here are some of the best pics. It was great fun and well worth a visit.







a video of a cow fish

a video of some jellies

Lullabies

Christmas carols make great lullabies. But tonight I think I have exhausted all I know (isn't it annoying how you can only remember the first verse or two).

I also like, kum by ah, Molly Malone, swing low sweet chariot, lavenders blue. Currently I feel in need of a bit more variety in my repertoire (as I am undertaking sleep training with Coralie an putting my poor voice through quite a lot). I Invite you to tell me your favorite soothing song.

I will also share with you one we sing in our Wednesday morning music sessions with Martin, the most amazing, music man. Once he has whipped the littles up into a friendzy with his singing and instrument banging he often ends with this song. Sung softly to his guitar and the effect is incredible, they all lie on the floor and shut their eyes, at 9.45 am, its like hypnosis honestly..........Sadly I cant use this at home because I can't pronounce the words (or magically play the guitar) but give it a go.

aah ooh ay
nya ra ra mura na
kana watch ay ma
oh nya ra ra

I have no idea what it means!

Crusty

mmmm we have on loan a bread maker from Brian's dad. Received it yesterday with thanks. This is a picture of the first loaf, its a bit of an odd shape but it tasted nice. Not sure how long all this will last, I guess it will depend how easy it turns out to be when i progress to wholemeal.
Took the girls swimming today, they loved it, Coralie was off all on her own hanging onto the edge of the pool and onto Rubys armbands, plopping in off the edge all on her own. The main argumenent I can see for not getting rid of the car is that is would make getting to swimming next to impossible.

Strictly come wiggling

Lets wiggle

Ruby is cool! Here she is dancing to the wiggles, we have a one minuite clip of them as a tailer on a free dvd and she took and instant, well, wiggle to them. We now have to play the clip over and over again to entertain her. I can see us invesing in there full version for chrismas. For the uninitiated the wiggles are a bunch of seriously bizarre australian boys who are great at entertaining young kids, even if I find them a bit cringy I have to admit they are fantastic.

We have a great video of Ruby wiggling, but we don't know how to post it. If you can help, please leave a comment telling us how to do it.

We have also sorted out the techincal problems with the photos of the two previous posts, but we have lost Chris' comment, sorry.

legumes 2

While on the bean theme, one of those odd things I have always wondered is what lentils look like when they are growing, they just seem as though they should be different form beans. Inspired by borlotti's I looked it up and will share a lentil plant picture with you now so that your curiosity too can be satisfied.

here is a link to another photo of a lentil plant
and if you think it reminds you of wild vetch, because that is what it reminded me of its ok because they are related.

And by the way what Brian means is not 'they are a very attractive looking food', but 'they are really beautiful' and he brings them home as proud as punch with a 'look what I found' hunter gatherer sort of pleasure when he comes back from Beanies. He loves them....man show some emotion. Honestly that is what its really like.

Legumes 1

I have been reminded over the past couple of days why this the address for this blog is called nagging wife. I have been well and truly nagged into posting a blog.

Thought that I would share two pictures of the borlotti beans that I bought this week, as I think they are a very attractive looking food. I find them a bit deceptive as they look so good, but never quite taste a good as you think.


Also, here is a photo of me with my two beautiful daughters.

Hopefully this will keep the nagging wife off my back a day or two!

Help.....oh what a situation, I am torn between a strong desire for sticky toffee pudding and not wanting to brave the cold wet squally monster who is sat outside my back door, who i need to brave in order to get it. What shall I do, I have 15 mins to decide because then strictly come dancing comes on and it will be too late. Hang on ....... I am back now, there, desire won and having defeated the monster I now feel I deserve the pud,great, you will have to give me a while now..........Well the pud was worth it (Ray and Camilla got voted off, I love all the dresses I want to be on the show).

Yesterday I went for a treat to the spa 1887 in town. Brian had the girls all day it was amazing. Everyone should go at least three times a year.

Coralie has turned into a sleep demon after lovely day yesterday both girls were up till after midnight, today, currently Coralie is still up screaming and writhing having woken up twice since she first went to bed, its only 10.00 I don't know what to do with her. I just know in a few weeks or months it will be different/hopefully better and nothing stays the same, phew. I have put spiders to the back of my mind and thoughts of long term what to do, will come back to that another day. I have also been thinking about home education again, it seems so far away and unachievable without going nuts, but more and more what I would like to do. Another conundrum, I am sure I will just tow the party line again.

Will find some nice photos of the girls for next time.

Spiders again

The spider never finished the lacewing. I found the body lying on the floor, still the spider was looking nice and plump. Did you know spiders are amazing (Hannah take note), they can go for up to a year without a meal and when they do eat they can consume the equivalent of their own body weight in grub. However spiders have to digest their food outside their body by secreting enzymes and juices into their prey, then sucking it up it already digested, this is called external digestion. It is not unusual for spiders to eat spiders, even there own brothers and sisters. Spiders are not generally fussy about what they eat but can taste their food and will reject it if it doesn't like the flavour. Spiders catch their prey in a variety of different ways. We all know the beautiful webs that are one method. Research by NASA on orb web spiders investigated the effect of giving various drugs on their ability to create beautiful webs. Drugs administered included cannabis, caffeine, speed to name but a few. The way spiders spun their webs varied wildly depending on the drug they were given. Have a look at some of the webs, the one below is from a spider on caffeine and the one below that is by a spider on LSD.

Caffeine

LSD

It may be helpful for some of us to note that spiders given caffeine produced the most useless webs of all the spiders in the test. And to think we drink this stuff all the time and then try and drive cars or work, help.

Anyway you probably knew all this anyway I have enjoyed reminding myself how amazing spiders are. I shall look at them differently now, until the next time I am clearing up cobwebs that is.

A mouse in my house........and more

well I got a bit of a surprise today when I went to sweep my floor and found a Vole (i think, definitely not a mouse actually) snoozing in my dustpan. Must have been brought in as a trophy buy the amazing fat Mr Fred! He never kills them they always get away, he is a hopeless mouser. Well good for the vole he was well fed himself must have been snaking on the cat food he was quite plump himself. Managed to catch a quick picture as i released him. Good luck Mr vole run away, run far far away, i do have a soft spot for small fury animals.



Another natural wonder i discovered today was a spider with a body the size of a pin feasting on a large lacewing, yum yum. It has been munching for hours and seeming to make no progress. Why rush a good meal eh. I don't know how he caught it there was no web, would love to have seen. This was the best picture I could get. I do wish lacewings ate spiders though and not the other way round.

Aside from creature watching. I have been investigating illustrating a children's book as a possible option and have found loads of stuff that tells you how, including a really interesting distance learning course. It would be a bit of a gamble though as I have no artistic experience, hum. I have also applied for information on a distance learning course on how to become a bookkeeper and be self employed. I am excited about the options. Goodbye nursing, pants to the nhs and hello possibilities. Any suggestions please let me know. However in the mean time it is fantastic to be with the girls all the time and a real privilege. I suppose the situation with the nursery is really a blessing in disguise.

Well, I know halloween was about a week ago but I realy wanted to put up this photo as it made me laugh so hard when I saw it, so here it is in a sort of who needs pumpkins sort of way. Hope you enjoy it.



On the festive note, I went to the library with the girls today and as it was bonfire night yesterday the story and craft was about rockets. But it seems that there is a serious deficit in the childrens book market for books actually based on bonfire night they could not find one at any of the childrens libraries! There perhaps that could be a project for me, a bonfire book.

A photo or two of the passengers, just to introduce you.

From the top, Brian, Ruby, Coralie and Chloe. The Nobles.

Welcome to our new blog.
Come join us on our voyage!