Thursday 28 September 2017

Should I Take Myself more Seriously

I was thinking as one often does whether I should take myself more seriously , I mean I can be very serious but that's just my makeup I am a mixed bag you could say . It 's very much with me of getting the coffee revel but you know what the hell I am an individual with a very very quirky sense of humour.

I think my humour helps me feel a sense of myself as I struggle with situations a lot of the time and wear a mask. By wearing a mask I don't actually mean a mask like a bank robber or the like. I mean a mask I might wear depending to the social situation I'm in. It takes a lot to know me and to understand my humour some people understand me right away and that quite frankly is a bonus , I want to say ,”Bruce Bonus “. I’m not awfully keen on using the telephone but I do , the other day I was dealing with some financial issues and the chap said “ Bare with me “ and I said “I hope not as he might eat you “

And then there was when I was tweeting BT over my slow slow broadband speed with them asking me how slow it was

“It’s slower than an Asthmatic snail stuck at traffic lights “ I said 

But you know what I like my quirky nature , it’s me through and through .

How I act and how I am helps me cope with otherwise difficult situations so no I’m not going to take myself more seriously , could I care less wether or not this has an impact on my popularity ~ no


I’m not here to be popular : I’m just here to be me

Wednesday 27 September 2017

The Day I Entered The Twilight Zone Plus Jaffa Cakes

Literally I have just dropped off a parcel at the shops and there is nothing special in that you'd have though, yes I knew the person behind the counter and yes we exchanged a few words , a few words that was it . And the few words were exchanged as she was registering my parcel and getting me to sign for it and I had a thought while I was there that I would go and fetch Mr T something to take to work and I would be out in a jiffy and I kid you not I turned round an there were 10 people in the queue behind me all I think with a burning need to eat Jaffa cakes while there are still 12 in a packet before they are cut down to 10 ~ honestly how much more joy can be sucked out of the world.

So instead I thought I would fetch something for my husband for his lunch tomorrow from the local Tesco (click here for a funny story about the time I had a tesco delivery go wrong )down the road and brain storm while I was at it solving all my problems ,thinking out lists planning you name it I did it . I thought wow I must nearly be at the Tesco Express by now but oh no I had walked exactly about 8 houses. I think I must have fallen through a crack in time into the Twilight zone as time was being strange to me that particular day.

OOOH you want to know what sandwich I brought for my husband oooh that was a reduced Chicken salad sandwich as we have to save money as with a teen going to university it is sucking the money out of us.


I have a ton of pears to do stuff with so recipes will be appearing shortly ... see you later ...

Monday 25 September 2017

University Drop Off The Reality For The Parents

You've just dropped your child off at university at you've probably got the tune " Somewhere out there " looping round in your head. Your maybe writing this blog post at 6.30 am who knows , maybe your looking at the university pudding menu saying to yourself "They won't eat that that or that " You have taught them how to make Macaroni cheese so least they can make that on the weekend when they have to fend for themselves ( although he does have GCSE cookery )






When you drop off your child at university it's all a bit confusing it looks like a club 45 to 55 , don’t worry  there will be people to help you move in .At York University they are called SYTCS and they are super helpful lugging all the stuff to the room .




At the parent orientation talk we were told let them settle it and don't over text them ! the university found that a settling in period of 2 weeks is beneficial. There was a question and answer session ~ I didn't ask what happens if they don't like the pudding choices.

Of course that's not to say you can't text from your pets....



Once your into their room it's essential to make sure they make it feel like home even if all the rest of their stuff is strewn about.It really is going to take a few hours to get sorted and that includes the wifi and this is where their new flat mates come in as it gives them a chance to break the ice and make friends/get some help.






Taking a few things from home will make them feel at ease and there will be less for you to dust at home ~ result !

Thought update :”NO your child going to university means you actually have to do housework now as there's no teenager to blame for mess.”

Also it’s pure coincidence that there just happens to be a York shopping outlet nearby the university ...


“oh for Pete sake “ said Mr T


“Don’t think I know them “ says I 

Tuesday 19 September 2017

Being 19 Awkward But Lovely

Age brings privilege at certain milestone ages you can do stuff , stuff that is important and essential to life in many circumstances from buying a lottery ticket ( at 16 ) to 17 to being able to learn to drive and pass your test to the voting entitlement at the age of 18.But what does 19 bring you other than certain beguilement and confusion, 19 you can still say you're a teenager and that is about it !


Being 19 is I think an awkward age as you can still say to your friends you’re a teenager and your parents can infact refer to you as a teen , you’re an adult but life just throws you awkwardness.We put such an emphasis on age and the importance of milestones no one really things what it is to leave your teenage years.

You have spent nearly all of your teenage years at school then maybe you go to university and you're there with people a few years older than you and it's cool but as you come to the end of your first year at university there's a change a foot. And I think it is the reaction of the prospect of going out into the world.


Taylor Swift hasn't written a song about being 19 but has written songs abut being 15 and 22 so I think Taylor Swift needs to get a wriggle on and write a song about being 19 it's sure to be a hit, hell I will even write it for her!

And the age of 21 IS so far off and here you are 19 and you feel like 19 should have a big celebration of its own !

When you tell people you're 19 people go awwwh and they begin reflecting on their own youth , I am the parent of a 19 year old and it's had me reflecting on myself.I do think 19 now is a harder pressure than when I was 19 but then I remember feeling a pressured from people who were the same age as me and I thought they were doing better.

And family gatherings are weird cousins are younger or maybe adults and you're wondering where you fit in, and you've still not got to go to a family wedding yet ! as none of your cousins have got married !

And being 19 is well just that its' 19 and at 19 you're still lovely wether you're shy or outgoing or somewhere in between and lovely at 19 knowing you're mine.






What's Your Favourite Holiday Snap ?

What's your best holiday photo ?

As a family we've been on many family holidays from Florida to Finland and in that time we've taken many photographs!

'Holiday Gems has asked me create a post based on my best holiday photo! Why is it the best photo? Where were you? What is the story behind this picture? 

It's a tough ask as I've been on so many holidays, we have literally just got back from our holiday in Rome and Rome is such an amazing cultural location. We were truly blown away by Rome with cultural at every single place you look.

So as you've probably guessed my favourite location of late is Rome where we spent a whole week exploring the Eternal city.












Rome is just one of those places you'll instantly live and will want to return to which you will as you will toss your coin in the Trevi fountain.












I feel that photographs should tell a story either by what they convey or how you're feeling.












And now for what I think is the best holiday photo of late is a family photo taken in the Vatican City. The story behind it is that I was conscious of taking family photos before my son goes to university. I'm not known for pulling a natural look in my photos and when I'm asked to smile it has varying results but the result is fun and natural I think in the case of the picture taken in the Vatican City.



Monday 18 September 2017

The Start Of Myself

It's been ..

No that's a song 


It's been 16 days since I was no longer a teaching assistant and I wondered how I would be , I'm not sure yet as working wise it has been 7 days where I haven't been in the classroom.I think I will feel like myself soon again and this is starting with tea as on the plus side I've more time for tea and when the Uni student is ermm at university I'm going to get out with my camera and take pictures . At the moment I feel like doing that when he's not here in order to fulfill my time and get back to how I was.

We've doing stuff as a family as we are a family even tough the University Student is off to university , I honestly say you rethink that Brexit is a headache then trying packing and thinking of all the stuff that a University student needs it is never ending.

But it is the start of myself you might not think that but it is!




Yeah this is me ~ parenting level achieved today as my son listed me as "Mother " on Facebook 

I've got this parenting lark all sewn up , ps I'm saving that popcorn on my shirt for later.

Friday 15 September 2017

Easy student Marconi Cheese

I couldn't really make Macaroni cheese before , I know it is a simple dish but you know what the simplest of dishes can sometimes make you fret * I've still got to attempt a Victoria sponge cake.But I finally got my act together not over the cake but the macaroni cheese and I've made it twice.

So simple that even a university student could make it once they've recovered from Freshers week !


Ingredients 

3 tablespoon of plain flour

50 g of butter 

Half a pint of milk or more if needed

50 g of grated cheese 


Method

First prepare your Marconi by just following the directions on the packet then set aside.

In a saucepan melt the butter over a gentle heat then add the flour stirring till it's formed a roux.

Add in the grated cheese stirring till it melts 

Then gently pour in the milk and stir till smooth and it starts to thicken.

If you need more sauce add more flour / milk as necessary , you can even add in left over sour cream / soft cream cheese.

Stir in any other ingredients into the sauce like smoked salmon .




Then pour over the Marconi giving another little stir .





Then eat and enjoy !! you'll never buy shop brought macaroni cheese again !




Thursday 14 September 2017

Letting Go Of That Packet Of Dinosaurs

Letting go of stuff is hard letting go off stuff when it's your child's toy is harder , I'm not overly sentimental but when your own child is off to university then you do crumble somewhat. In the midst of stacking all the stuff for university you'd be forgiven for thinking that Sir Bob Geldof had launched a relief campaign.

So today I'm making the decision to let go of that packet of dinosaurs on my window sill  Toy story 3 has nothing on me and my packet of dinosaurs on the window sill. The packet of dinosaurs is going to my work colleagues little boy who is madly into dinosaurs. So you see that packet of dinosaurs will be played again and loved still I'll miss them . It's probably going to be a case of empty dinosaur syndrome. * coughs 




I'm sure I'll hold it together when we drop of the University student (probably not but I'm sure a trip to Bettys would revive my stoicic centre )


University is a big leap not only for the students but for their parents also it is akin the Lion King where Rafiki holds Simba aloft over the rocks to proclaim him as the King to be.But raising children also means letting them go and splitting the 1000 bag of tea bags with them and the 40 rolls of toilet paper thats currently blocking my hallway.And I think the University student has inherited his love of tea from me I think tea keeps me from going to the dark side. So it is a week on Sunday that we take the University Student up ready for his archaeology course but first there is Freshers week , we have made sure that all his injections are up to today including having the flu jab.

You don't have to take a washing machine to University you might well laugh but that is honestly what in says in the list of things not to take to university ! We have a long list of what to take to university which will vary from course to course.

Wednesday 13 September 2017

Review Of The Oral -B Pro 2500

The switching of the heating is signalled by the first cold of the season like a thief in the night a cold has snuck upon me , which I think is awfully rude of it to turn up uninvited. We are in the throes of organising all of the university items and I think my house is being overtaken , there's books and bedding everywhere.We didn't have to buy the books for university but no one likes rocking up to a place of great learning without having the best start possible. You're not expected to buy the books as there is a 24 hour library which is open everyday except Christmas Day , I bet there is students there asleep at various times!

And when packing for university don't forget toothbrush , they say an electric toothbrush is better than a manual tooth brush so luckily I've been sent an Oral B 2500 from Pure Smiles in Fulham. I think I'll give the toothbrush to the teen for university whom I'm going to have to rename for university  and my rename I mean for the blog something along the lines of university student with optional use of the word frugal!

What's in the box ?






In the box, there is the toothbrush, a two pin charger, a cross-action toothbrush head and instructions. The cross-action brush head has angled bristles for a precise clean.  A useful feature for travelling is the travel case and you never know when the uni student is going to have to jet off round the world on a dig !

The Oral-B Pro 2500 toothbrush is compatible with Oral-B brush heads including:-

  • Floss action
  • 3D white
  • Sensitive clean
  • Trizone

One of the things I love about this toothbrush is the special feature and it's a pressure sensor to stop you brushing your teeth to hard it does this by lighting up,if you're brushing to hard, and the toothbrush has good brushing performance.


The other feature it has is a timer which is really useful as it pulses every 30 seconds thus enabling to clean all 4 ares of your mouth , there's a longer pulse at the end to let you know you're finished.For an entry level toothbrush it's ideal and for under £35 online you really can't go wrong.Also the replacement heads are not expensive either which is just the ticket when your a Uni Student juggling the cash !

Charging is a doodle and with a charge lasting 7 days it's perfect for the relaxed student with maybe a text from your parent to make that your Uni Student has charged their toothbrush.The Oral-B Pro 2500 along a two-year warranty and the Oral-B 30 day challenge satisfaction guaranteed you can read more details of this at Oral-B. You will need a 2 pin charging plug (which aren't expensive to buy )as this isn't included we are lucky in the fact that we've a 2 pin charge point in our ensuite.


Thursday 7 September 2017

Just wanting The Fitbit Fireworks

I've got a Fitbit and I love it very much if you can love a device but I do as it motivates me and I certainly made real use of it in Rome as I walked at least 2 marathons plus there was a heatwave called Lucifer. So by scientific qualications it must be closer to 3 marathons because of the extreme humity.I think I'm meant to sleep with my Fitbit Alta but I'm not ready to commit to that side of our relationship yet.

And yesterday  I was on track for ten thousand steps the exact number was 9,994 so close I could taste the sweet smell of victory in the air , I could hypherthetically have that chocolate bar that was so lonely on its own. But would that Fitbit nudge over to that 10,000 would it ballcocks ! There I was walking round and round the pouffe like I was summoning the devil in some sort of Pagan ritual , I tried skipping to the kitchen and back nothing the blooming thing just wouldn't shift to 10,000 steps . I cried , I pleaded with it but no it just was not playing ball. Then I was up and down the stairs as if I was practising to ascend Everest but nothing it was stuck on bleeding 9994 , I lamented on Twitter but nope it was stony silence.

Then about an hour later when I'm sure I had done an additional 5,000 steps the Fitbit fireworks appeared nonchantly taking appear my glory of the moment. And breathe I'm sure my Fit but is testing me and tommorow is a new day and we were up to 7,000 so I thought 10,000 is no problem today and I was walking everywhere like a poesessed banshee only to discover the battery had run out.


If you need me I'll be crying in the corner with a chocolate bar abs there's nothing that judgy Fitbit can do about it ... 

Tuesday 5 September 2017

Freshers Week University A Parents Eye View

Dropping your child off at university is akin to dropping them off at school for the very first time only more expensive. I'm having to jump over piles of bedding, plates ccuos spoons and goodness knows what else. I think there's a tick list in there somewhere if only I could find it.




Tip 1

When you go through the items you're buying for university do tick them off or you're be wondering if you really did but those washing up sponges.


You're not going to need a car at university unless you've a genuine reason to have one and anyway there is limited parking . Everyone usually cycles everywhere so make sure you get either a bronze , silver or gold standard lock and get additional bike insurance. Not the teen dies not know how to change a tyre let alone mend one this is where the university comes in as they will have a cycle maintaince workshop. There are usually other bike incentives such as being able to pick up a brightly coloured bike jacket and tag that alerts bus drivers to your presence.

Tip 2 

Get additional bike insurance there are usually good deals around to be had.

Do subscribe to the university YouTube channel to get all the information about what cracks off , your teen will be amazed at your knowledge or horrified.I've just watched a YouTube video on freshers week so I know which clubs my teen will be rolling out of. There was some history and culture in there too which is good as my teen is doing an archaeology degree with science.


Tip 3

Do subscribe to the university you tube channel of the university where your teen is going.

I saw a tip about helping your teen deal with potential homesickness when they're away at university and the tip was Snapchat update s from their pets. Yes really but even if you don't use Snapchat then it's a quirky way of them staying connected with home.




You could subscribe to one of those university subscription gift services or just do itself and you'll save many pennies. You could send them sweet treats and many of essential goodies very often the things we don't need are the things we truly need.

Tip 4 

Prepare a tuck box of essentials to send them every so often including photos and family/ pet updates ~ including gossip of course.

Do go over Freshers week information with your teen even if they roll their eyes and say they already know.They're probably still feeling overwhelmed from the sudden enslaught of information since A result day.
Make sure you have scans of all the documents that's they will take to university just to be on the safe side.


Tip 5

Relax they're going to have the time of their lives.



Saturday 2 September 2017

Blogging Has Changed But I still Love It

Blogging has change since I entered into the world in the year 2011 BC and since then it has been an implosion of people blogging. You can say back then then writing was more key you might think now it's more reviews etc.But I think the old world is still there you've just got to look.

Blogging changes and you don't have to move with the times ~ I haven't really in fact I've remained about the same. I don't care if people like me or if they don't same with my writing.How I write is unique and if I was polished them I'm sure a literary prize would be mine. But then again unless the literary prize was tea or Gin would I really want it ?

And I love blogging it's my release , a me space that I might be sharing with the world but still a release.Where else on a Monday can I show you you the disappointment of my anaemicatic toast which I'm hoping isn't a prelude to my Monday or even my week.



I don't know what my toaster is playing at and but rest assured it and I will be having words * yes I talk to my toaster.
Yesterday was a whirlwind of visiting the National Arboretum where we discovered it was the anniversary of the start of the 2nd world war.



With the accompanying brass military band , we had a brief stroll around the cemetery, the weather wasn't as nice as the last time we were there. And with the weather in mind we headed to a garden centre for dinner as the aboretum cafeteria was chock a block. We thought a nice quiet Sunday lunch but guess what there was another brass band playing ~ which was very civilised as we ate dinner . Then it was into B & M for the university shopping which seems to be continual but I'm so relieved the prices at B & M are rock bottom.

Mean while today the internet has gone into meltdown because there's another royal baby on the way.

Friday 1 September 2017

A Simple Red Autumnal Leaf

Can you write about anything with pure and simple joy I suppose it depends on the subject . Could you write for example about just a simple leaf that's just a leaf with a big hallelujah fanfare ?

Well yes you can I write about anything from the bedlam of owning cats to a leaf ~ the leaf that I just noticed while reading "The Little Book Of Kindness " .That book really does warrant a whole blog post on its own as it's a real life changer in how you think about yourself abd how you act to others.





Back to the simple leaf if a leaf can really be so simple but simplicity in quiet veneration is a transcendental beauty all of its own.



Art is subjective that say and I've seen some weird art in my time but the beauty of nature is priceless. So come Autumn this simple red Autumnal leaf will be joined by others in a like minded riotous brevity of colour.

So can you write about anything well I guess you can !

I do love Autumn with all its vivid colours , it really is like a kaleidoscope but as winter comes forth with its icy cold fingers I wish I could hibernate away like a hedgehog.Just as long when I do hibernate I can take a pile of books with me and a tea pot.