This says it all!

Wow life can be so full of coincidences ..  Ive had one ot two converstaions that have gone along this exact same path my self over the last two days ...

The Semi-Detached Parent: In praise of living without a man

By Kelly Rose Bradford  Posted to Pd aol ..

 

So an acquaintance told me last week she 'felt sorry' for single parents. 'It must be so awful not having anyone to share stuff with,' she mused, 'I don't know what I'd do without my hubby on a practical level, either. I mean, who would do all the DIY stuff?'

Ugh. Her statement made me want to slap her about the head with a fish for two reasons:

1) The word 'hubby' makes me want to commit crimes regardless of the context.

2) Single parenting is not a sorry state. And for most people the phrase is a total misnomer. My son has a mum and dad and we both parent him. I am just the primary carer. But anyway, it got me thinking about all the positives of being a single parent, or, more specifically, living without a man having had to put up with one previously.

Here's what I came up with:

I can use my shoes as 'art' and leave them on prominent display around the house.

I can buy as many cushions as I want and cover the entire sofa with them, three foot high.

I can burn scented candles without being told the house smells like 'old ladies'.

I can fill the bathroom with gorgeous bath products and all my make up.

Ditto my bedroom.

I can sleep like a starfish and not be prodded all night and woken up to 'shift over'.

I can have the central heating on full pelt even if it IS May because cold days do exist outside of January.

I can go wherever I like on holiday AND look in all the shops.

I can do Wii Fit or an exercise DVD in the sitting room without a running commentary on the size of my backside or the fact I am out of sync with the person on the telly.

I can eat the same meal every night if I want to, and fill the fridge with practical things like Champagne and nail varnish without causing other members of the household to have apoplectic fits.

I can put my son to bed at 10 minutes past his bedtime without being nagged about upsetting his routine.

On special occasions (like Saturdays) my son and I can eat chocolate for breakfast and not get Disapproving Looks.

I can do all the washing with 'girly' washing powder and fabric softener which smells of flowers.

I can watch TV/listen to the radio without having someone SHOUT their opinions over the broadcaster.

I can drink wine in the evening without being reminded 'that's the third bottle this week'.

And yes, smug happily married wifey woman, all those things really do make the fact I don't have someone to mow the lawn for me, or to snuggle up with on the (multi cushioned) sofa more than bearable.

So, single parent comrades, what would make it on to your list of positives?

 

Cookies & short bread ...

Another Saturday morning spent in the kitchen baking, Sammie and I decided to have a go at making up some biscuits ... ohhhh just look at me Betty crocker! Ain't no stopping me now!

Summer thinking ...

Spent a bit of time this week thinking about the fast approaching summer holidays ~  After finally tiring together some dates we have been able to book a few days away camping with Jo & Co ~ with an already tiring jam backed 6 weeks booked, this is holiday is something to really look forward to .. an out door break where the kids can just be kids they can hang with their cousins and they can burn of energy and be as loud as they want! I better start watering that money tree and saving fast tho Its going to be an expensive summer!

NETTY

I love this girl sooo much!

I have just spent a wonderful weekend catching up with my dear friend Annette. Netty to me is my childhood school friend who lived just a few doors from myself. We would hang out and play in those very young days and as we grew a little older we would sit for hours on grass banks just talking .. Distance and life style usually just allows us to fully reconnect once or twice a year now days .. It seems to be just enough to give us the the go go until the next time.

Annette bought me a little gift and left it on my pillow .. a Magnet with the quote

" A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future and accepts you today the way you are.

Quiet a fitting quote for how our 24 hours together were spent, My dear friend is going through a difficult time, life has thrown her with an obstacle that she is just not sure how to go about dealing with .. and altho being here will in no way move or change the appearance of this obstacle in any way ... Being together this weekend ~ taking time to be in the present moment of friendship, is that certain medicine that no amount of money or treatment could fix..





A wish for my friend ~ to look deep and go for what she truly wants.

adults too

Was surfing the net this evening and came across this list ~ and while I pretty much with the exception of number 6 agree with all I really think that a few adults could do with a reminder of some basic manners. Ive lost of track of the rude and shelfish people ive come across in the last few weeks,

25 manners every kid should have by age 9

12:59 pm May 11, 2011, by Theresa Walsh Giarrusso

Manner #1

When asking for something, say “Please.”

Manner #2

When receiving something, say “Thank you.”

Manner #3

Do not interrupt grown-ups who are speaking with each other unless there is an emergency. They will notice you and respond when they are finished talking.

Manner #4

If you do need to get somebody’s attention right away, the phrase “excuse me” is the most polite way for you to enter the conversation.

Manner #5

When you have any doubt about doing something, ask permission first. It can save you from many hours of grief later.

Manner #6

The world is not interested in what you dislike. Keep negative opinions to yourself, or between you and your friends, and out of earshot of adults.

Manner #7

Do not comment on other people’s physical characteristics unless, of course, it’s to compliment them, which is always welcome.

Manner #8

When people ask you how you are, tell them and then ask them how they are.

Manner #9

When you have spent time at your friend’s house, remember to thank his or her parents for having you over and for the good time you had.

Manner #10

Knock on closed doors — and wait to see if there’s a response — before entering.

Manner #11

When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling.

Manner #12

Be appreciative and say “thank you” for any gift you receive. In the age of e-mail, a handwritten thank-you note can have a powerful effect.

Manner #13

Never use foul language in front of adults. Grown-ups already know all those words, and they find them boring and unpleasant.

Manner #14

Don’t call people mean names.

Manner #15

Do not make fun of anyone for any reason. Teasing shows others you are weak, and ganging up on someone else is cruel.

Manner #16

Even if a play or an assembly is boring, sit through it quietly and pretend that you are interested. The performers and presenters are doing their best.

Manner #17

If you bump into somebody, immediately say “Excuse me.”

Manner #18

Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and don’t pick your nose in public.

Manner #19

As you walk through a door, look to see if you can hold it open for someone else.

Manner #20

If you come across a parent, a teacher, or a neighbor working on something, ask if you can help. If they say “yes,” do so — you may learn something new.

Manner #21

When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile.

Manner #22

When someone helps you, say “thank you.” That person will likely want to help you again. This is especially true with teachers!

Manner #23

Use eating utensils properly. If you are unsure how to do so, ask your parents to teach you or watch what adults do.

Manner #24

Keep a napkin on your lap; use it to wipe your mouth when necessary.

Manner #25

Don’t reach for things at the table; ask to have them passed.

So im ...... Feeling Good

Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Breeze driftin' on by you know how I feel

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good

Fish in the sea you know how I feel
River running free you know how I feel
Blossom on the tree you know how I feel

Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don't you know
Butterflies all havin' fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
That's what I mean

And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me

Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the pine you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel

baking beats a spa treatment any day

It read baking beats a spa treatment any day, quality backing is its own special form of therapy!

 I'm not sure I can agree with that statement at all, Ive been known many a time to say how much I loath cooking, but just ust lately  I've started to be just that little bit envious when I enter a friends house and smell the delicious backed treats im getting served with my mug of tea. When I look back on my childhood one thing I really wish someone has instited I learnt to do was to cook. Over the last few weeks Ive been thinking more and more about wanting to teach the children to make something, I dont want them growing wishing the same thing, I dont want if they should have children for them to dread the school cake sale and it cost them a fortune to buy cakes to donate only to have to buy them back again, If they can wisk yo a batch in an evening it will only bring them more joy ..  I dont want them to be afraid of the kitchen, enviouse of others sweet delights when they are more than able to fix their own. I would like for my children to be confident in the kitchen and I would like for myself to have been able to tribute a little to that, I dont want my girls to grow up believing women cant really cook and its the men that do! Their dad is an amanzing cook, and I know many skills they will pick up in a kitchen will come from observiving him during the hours he spends putting together a dish. I would love for my girls to be able to set about in the kitchen and make up a small batch f something intime for their sleepover with friends ..  I repeat ...I dont want my children to feel a.f.r.a.i.d of the kitchen!
The only problem with that is I would need to teach my self first so this afternoon I collect all the ingredients I would need and ive had my self a little backing session with thanks to a favourite read of mine my psychologies magazine ive followed a recipe by Caroline Stacey who is the former food editor of The Independent and Time out ... for Cup cakes

Cupcakes.Makes 12

Cake tin needed: 12 – hole muffin time ( I could only find a 6 hole)

100g butter softened

150g self raising flour

150g Caster Sugar

3tbso milk

2 large eggs

1/2tsp vanilla extract

For the butter icing:

100b butter softened

225g sifted icing sugar

1/2tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 180'c/fan160'c/gas 4. Put the muffin cases into the muffin tin, so that the cakes keep a good even shape as they bake.

Measure all the cupcake ingredients into a large bowl and beat until blended smooth. Spoon evenly between the paper case.

Bake for 20 – 25 mins until risen and golden brown.

Cool the cakes on a wire rack until completely cold before icing.

To make the butter icing beat all the icing ingredients to give a creamy thick icing then smooth over the cold cupcakes,

I think my neighbour wondered what was going on, as he went to his garden, me in the kitchen with the light on for more than 15 minutes  , the open window slightly realise some heat from the oven and the smell of baking flowing out to the yard = yes i maria am backing! 
 I followed the instructions to a T, found it well written and very simple to follow .. Giving my self a big pat on the back as I sit down with my mug of Tea and a cake ... I get to be the first to sample one ... Not bad for a first attempt, Im guessing if I make them again it will be without the butter icing .. Im not a huge fan of the taste and my gawd was it hard work to spread on the cake ...  so presentation could be worked on a little, I will over the next week shoe the kids the recipe and help them to follow it, so that under supervision they may enjoy making some of their own.

and so its May ...

Oh my god things are stepping up a pace round here at the moment, the last few days have been manic, why dose every little thing just take so long to do ...My heads fill of jumbled to do lists and muddled thoughts and ideas for things ... Started today with a 2mile power walk .. the evenings nearly over and I'm munching on  chocolate twirl,

With preparation under way for the new bedroom ive been clearing out the old room, packing up the last 10 years of my house and sorting through what I want to keep and what I don't, Ive kept way more than I need, things have just piled into boxes and bags, Old school reports for the children, old books. Old news paper prints that hit the headline many years ago before the Internet became so big, Ive kept them all theses years how can I part with them now. The mountains of toys that I just cant part with, I just cant say good bye to the memories they hold. so up in the loft they have gone to join the other forgotten treasures that have been gathering dust for some years .. Little did I know however that there is some tried and trusted way of storing things in your loft and I didn't do it right. On entering the playground yesterday and telling some friends just how pleased I was with all the work my self and Big C had done, they were horrified to find we had stacked things in between the beams and not on boards on the beams. GREAT I came home feeling like my ceilings was about to cave in from under us. Thankfully today a friend ( Karen) came and bravely faced the heights and cob webs to straighten it out for me.

I should add an update the my dear Hulio is back to his usual self, is somewhat still scraggy looking & underweight, After a heartbreaking night with him Friday( 29th) where I really didn't think the little fur ball was going to make it, It was terrible he could barely hold his head I was terrified he was going to die in my hands, at one point I was just crying all over him so unsure what to do, I took him back to the vets Saturday morning morning, she gave him a shot of an antiinflammatory and said that his stomach was having spasm, I left with some food to syringe feed him if need be as it had been a good 5 days since he last ate. I brought him home from the vets and snuggled him down with his blanket he slept for a few hours and then woke and instantly you could see how much better he was feeling, just walking about the house, he was coming for affection, taking himself to his water and by Sunday he was back to just being hulio! It really made me realise just how these two little balls of fur have become part of our family,