Airfix are in administration. According to the BBC News at One today, the reason for their demise is that children now spend their time watching TV or playing computer games rather than building Airfix models.
I built one or two Airfix models as a child - plastic aeroplanes, assembled with glue and then painted. I especially enjoyed tugging tiny plastic pieces from their mould without losing them - some were teeny
Anyhow, I must remember to stock up on a few models whilst they are still in the shops - for Mikey for the future. I bet everyone will do that now - they'll fly off the shelves and sales will never have been so good. (The same thing hapened when C&A announced that they were closing - sales reached record highs in their last 6 months).
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Exercise
I was once present at a discussion between two vicars (this is a true story). They seemed to be struggling to get the conversation going. In an attempt to do so, one said to the other, in a very measured way and with a lot of emphasis on the verb, "have you exorcised lately?". It really made me laugh (but not out loud). You know how things do.... sometimes......tickle you.....
I think you probably had to be there.
I have exercised lately. I wonder how you'll react to that statement of fact. You see, if I am doing something amiss or not doing something "I should be doing", I feel a whole lot better if a friend admits to sharing the same problem. So, for example, if I were to say to a friend that my left leg was falling off, I'd feel a whole lot better if she were to reply that hers was too. For some reason, the fact that my left leg's dropping off becomes much less of a problem to me if someone else's is too. So when I'm not exercising at all, for months on end, I feel a whole lot better if I learn that a friend is also not exercising. The LAST thing I want to hear, when I'm not exercising for months on end, is that someone else is...
Anyway, after months of doing very little, I have now bitten the bullet (thanks to my blogging pal Supergroup and her readers who've given me lots of lovely encouragement and support) and I've (a) returned to karate and (b) started to do sit-ups and press-ups every other day (on account of being too stiff to do them on the off-days - recovering from the on-days).
My husband is also encouraging me with this - although I draw the line at having him present when I press- and sit-up. No way. (For a start, I don't want anyone telling me my press-ups are "not", as my arms barely bend and my nose shifts a mere millimetre up and down as I do them).
I feel better for all this, I really do - much happier. And the more you exercise, the more you want to exercise. I was doing hand-stands in the park the other day (I love being nearly 40 - all inhibitions have now just about vanished).
When I posted about my proposed dietary regime a short while back I thought that my proposal number three (which was basically 'do some exercise') was the one I'd fail to achieve. As it is, it's the other two resolutions (whatever they were...!!!????) that I've probably fallen down on...
I think you probably had to be there.
I have exercised lately. I wonder how you'll react to that statement of fact. You see, if I am doing something amiss or not doing something "I should be doing", I feel a whole lot better if a friend admits to sharing the same problem. So, for example, if I were to say to a friend that my left leg was falling off, I'd feel a whole lot better if she were to reply that hers was too. For some reason, the fact that my left leg's dropping off becomes much less of a problem to me if someone else's is too. So when I'm not exercising at all, for months on end, I feel a whole lot better if I learn that a friend is also not exercising. The LAST thing I want to hear, when I'm not exercising for months on end, is that someone else is...
Anyway, after months of doing very little, I have now bitten the bullet (thanks to my blogging pal Supergroup and her readers who've given me lots of lovely encouragement and support) and I've (a) returned to karate and (b) started to do sit-ups and press-ups every other day (on account of being too stiff to do them on the off-days - recovering from the on-days).
My husband is also encouraging me with this - although I draw the line at having him present when I press- and sit-up. No way. (For a start, I don't want anyone telling me my press-ups are "not", as my arms barely bend and my nose shifts a mere millimetre up and down as I do them).
I feel better for all this, I really do - much happier. And the more you exercise, the more you want to exercise. I was doing hand-stands in the park the other day (I love being nearly 40 - all inhibitions have now just about vanished).
When I posted about my proposed dietary regime a short while back I thought that my proposal number three (which was basically 'do some exercise') was the one I'd fail to achieve. As it is, it's the other two resolutions (whatever they were...!!!????) that I've probably fallen down on...
Monday, August 28, 2006
The Average Englishman is Born A Double Whiskey Below Parr
I have just consumed 4 units of bubbly wine which means I'm up to parr - and I have to say, it feels totally wonderful! I wish that I always felt this way. All smiley and relaxed. Of course, I now have to do battle with my desire for another couple of units. That would be bad news - all silly and slurry and, tomorrow, all dehydrated.
Last night's Proms was wonderful (but then I'd enjoyed a glass of champagne on the way in). Mmm, do I sound like a bit of a...
Three great things about yesterday evening:
(1) Glass of champagne in fabulous company before the concert began
(2) Mozart's Requiem. Now, anyone who goes to the Proms has probably heard this Requiem at least 20 times and sung in it at least twice, and it was performed with this attitude: "we know you know it; we know you love it; we're not going to dwell on it; we'll merely remind you of it; here it is, at quite a pace." wwwhooooo - they whizzed through it - it was brilliant!!!
(3) My dear, dear husband collected me from the Royal Albert Hall, with two sleeping children in the back of the car, which saved me from the scary journey home on the tube late at night and meant that I got to see London at night - all lit up!
That's it for me, proms-wise. I have to wait for next year now. But I am so grateful to my sister for taking me to three of them this year. I had forgotten how fantastic and magical live orchestral and organ and choral music is.
Last night's Proms was wonderful (but then I'd enjoyed a glass of champagne on the way in). Mmm, do I sound like a bit of a...
Three great things about yesterday evening:
(1) Glass of champagne in fabulous company before the concert began
(2) Mozart's Requiem. Now, anyone who goes to the Proms has probably heard this Requiem at least 20 times and sung in it at least twice, and it was performed with this attitude: "we know you know it; we know you love it; we're not going to dwell on it; we'll merely remind you of it; here it is, at quite a pace." wwwhooooo - they whizzed through it - it was brilliant!!!
(3) My dear, dear husband collected me from the Royal Albert Hall, with two sleeping children in the back of the car, which saved me from the scary journey home on the tube late at night and meant that I got to see London at night - all lit up!
That's it for me, proms-wise. I have to wait for next year now. But I am so grateful to my sister for taking me to three of them this year. I had forgotten how fantastic and magical live orchestral and organ and choral music is.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Urban Jungle
Today, whilst walking down the road, I saw a fox. It ran across the road ahead of me. "Did you see that fox?" I asked Michael (age 4), who was with me. "A fox?" he replied. "Without its owner?" Sometimes they surprise you with what they know; at other times they surprise you with what they've yet to learn....
The fox then re-emerged and ran really quickly up the opposite pavement. I was a little scared. It didn't look like your standard fox - it was smaller, leaner, had a white tail-end and its nose was odd. I wondered if it might be a jackal. Sometimes I surprise myself with what I know; at other times I surprise myself with what I've yet to learn...
And spell-check that jackal. Oh, I was right. And publish.
P.S. Are foxes dangerous?
The fox then re-emerged and ran really quickly up the opposite pavement. I was a little scared. It didn't look like your standard fox - it was smaller, leaner, had a white tail-end and its nose was odd. I wondered if it might be a jackal. Sometimes I surprise myself with what I know; at other times I surprise myself with what I've yet to learn...
And spell-check that jackal. Oh, I was right. And publish.
P.S. Are foxes dangerous?
We're blogging along (to be sung to the tune used in 'Bits and Bobs" - Anne'll know what I mean....)
There are some things in life that I'll never be able to do. I don't think I'll ever be able to dive into the pool off a board, I'll never win the X-Factor, and it seems I'll never be able to produce a nice list of links to my favourite blogs down the right hand side of this blog. It's just not happening.
Lately, I've come across a fair few good'uns, most of them theological. Now there are one or two blogs that are havens of tranquility. They attract only a few comments - they are peaceful places; inciteful, intellectual, informative, but peaceful. And I love you all, really I do, but you're a rowdy lot sometimes and I'm afraid I'm not going to take you to these - not without first asking the permission of the authors!
Anyway here are four others and if you DO visit them, I want best behaviour please! (Seriously, I do love you all and I'm learning a lot from your debates - I'm also developing quite a passion for all things theological and biblical):
www.faith-theology.blogspot.com
www.bigbulkyanglican.typepad.com
www.absolutewisdom.blogspot.com
and finally, none of you will want to visit this one, but it was quite a find for me:
www,corrieblog.TV
Lately, I've come across a fair few good'uns, most of them theological. Now there are one or two blogs that are havens of tranquility. They attract only a few comments - they are peaceful places; inciteful, intellectual, informative, but peaceful. And I love you all, really I do, but you're a rowdy lot sometimes and I'm afraid I'm not going to take you to these - not without first asking the permission of the authors!
Anyway here are four others and if you DO visit them, I want best behaviour please! (Seriously, I do love you all and I'm learning a lot from your debates - I'm also developing quite a passion for all things theological and biblical):
www.faith-theology.blogspot.com
www.bigbulkyanglican.typepad.com
www.absolutewisdom.blogspot.com
and finally, none of you will want to visit this one, but it was quite a find for me:
www,corrieblog.TV
Sunday, August 20, 2006
One - Oh - One
This is post number 101 and I'll be glad when I'm through with it because I hate the number 1. If I look at a digital clock to see the time and it's 'something - oh - one', I feel it's bad luck and I have to wait till 'oh - three' before I can break the spell. If it's on the hour when I look at the time, that's good luck.
So let's get on with this post and get it out of the way.
I have had three pleasures this weekend.
One was going to The Proms at the Royal Albert Hall with that culture vulture of a sister of mine. A Russian orchestra played Russian music and, by golly it were good (and I had a swivel chair on row 1 of the stalls - quite the best thing ever - a swivel chair!!!). This, in particular, was quite the best piece of orchestral music I've ever listened to: Sibelius, Violin Concerto in D minor (33 mins). It was pure wellie from start to finish and the violin soloist had to bow like billeo, but in doing so he produced, along with the orchestral accompaniment, quite the most exquisit piece of music I've ever heard. It was frantic and yet profound all at the same time, and so melodic, soooo soooooo melodic, - and we were off to a fine start thanks to the woman right next to me (presumably Russian) who SHOUTED OUT, just as the conductor lifted his hands to commence the magic: "PLAY, MAESTRO, AND REMIND US OF WHY THOSE DEAD RUSSIANS ARE ALL IMMORTAL". (You see they also played Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13 in B flat minor, 'Babi Yar', a harrowing choral symphony inspired by the Nazi-led massacre of Jews at Babi Yar in September 1941 - a work which implicitly also questioned the ethics of the Soviet state.
It was shown on BBC2 - you may have seen me clapping my head off on the front row there....
Two: visiting said sister in new and gorgeous little flat just off Goodge Street, a stone's throw from Telecom Tower, Oxford Circus and a cluster of the most diverse and gorgeous looking restaurants I've seen in a long time, if ever. Oh yes - what a pad, what a location!
Three: and I'm going to whisper this because I'd planned to steer off religion on my blog for a little while - I read Rowan Williams "Silence and Honey Cakes". Desert Fathers and Mothers spent years in solitude in Egypt, comtemplating life and God - and we can glean some of the wisdom they derived from this (which is still very much applicable to us today) via the lucid and highly acclaimed theologian and ABC, Rowan Williams. A gem from start to finish (it ends with some very illuminating Q and As). I'd been meaning to read it for ages and thanks in part to my blog mates who feed my desire to know more about theology (even if it's an uncomfortable ride sometimes), I read it yesterday.
So let's get on with this post and get it out of the way.
I have had three pleasures this weekend.
One was going to The Proms at the Royal Albert Hall with that culture vulture of a sister of mine. A Russian orchestra played Russian music and, by golly it were good (and I had a swivel chair on row 1 of the stalls - quite the best thing ever - a swivel chair!!!). This, in particular, was quite the best piece of orchestral music I've ever listened to: Sibelius, Violin Concerto in D minor (33 mins). It was pure wellie from start to finish and the violin soloist had to bow like billeo, but in doing so he produced, along with the orchestral accompaniment, quite the most exquisit piece of music I've ever heard. It was frantic and yet profound all at the same time, and so melodic, soooo soooooo melodic, - and we were off to a fine start thanks to the woman right next to me (presumably Russian) who SHOUTED OUT, just as the conductor lifted his hands to commence the magic: "PLAY, MAESTRO, AND REMIND US OF WHY THOSE DEAD RUSSIANS ARE ALL IMMORTAL". (You see they also played Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13 in B flat minor, 'Babi Yar', a harrowing choral symphony inspired by the Nazi-led massacre of Jews at Babi Yar in September 1941 - a work which implicitly also questioned the ethics of the Soviet state.
It was shown on BBC2 - you may have seen me clapping my head off on the front row there....
Two: visiting said sister in new and gorgeous little flat just off Goodge Street, a stone's throw from Telecom Tower, Oxford Circus and a cluster of the most diverse and gorgeous looking restaurants I've seen in a long time, if ever. Oh yes - what a pad, what a location!
Three: and I'm going to whisper this because I'd planned to steer off religion on my blog for a little while - I read Rowan Williams "Silence and Honey Cakes". Desert Fathers and Mothers spent years in solitude in Egypt, comtemplating life and God - and we can glean some of the wisdom they derived from this (which is still very much applicable to us today) via the lucid and highly acclaimed theologian and ABC, Rowan Williams. A gem from start to finish (it ends with some very illuminating Q and As). I'd been meaning to read it for ages and thanks in part to my blog mates who feed my desire to know more about theology (even if it's an uncomfortable ride sometimes), I read it yesterday.
Friday, August 18, 2006
And she scores her century
This is my one hundredth post! And I'd like to use it to say thank you to everyone who has ever commented on any of my posts (except, perhaps, the spammer who wanted to sell condoms). I have met some really lovely people through blogging and I have received some absolute pearls of wisdom - I always visit the blogs of those who comment on me - and I can categorically say that you are a WONDERFUL CROWD!
Now here's a thing: any of you watch "The F Word" with Gordon Ramsey (sorry if you live abroad - you won't get the programme I don't think - although that doesn't preclude you from joining in)?
GR needs teams of 4 people to cook in his kitchen whilst he effs, blinds and belittles them - there's a sort of competition week on week to see which team produces the best three course meal for his restaurant guests (as scored by the restaurant guests). It's a test of (1) culinary skills, and (2) most importantly - ability to function under pressure. I'd love to take part but need three others - and we have to have something in common (so you get: brothers, nurses, etc.) How about 4 bloggers???
Lots of love from me, and here's to another 100 posts!
Now here's a thing: any of you watch "The F Word" with Gordon Ramsey (sorry if you live abroad - you won't get the programme I don't think - although that doesn't preclude you from joining in)?
GR needs teams of 4 people to cook in his kitchen whilst he effs, blinds and belittles them - there's a sort of competition week on week to see which team produces the best three course meal for his restaurant guests (as scored by the restaurant guests). It's a test of (1) culinary skills, and (2) most importantly - ability to function under pressure. I'd love to take part but need three others - and we have to have something in common (so you get: brothers, nurses, etc.) How about 4 bloggers???
Lots of love from me, and here's to another 100 posts!
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Yeah but no but yeah but no but ... I don't rightly know, Rita
I'm surprised my backside isn't chaffed, I spend so much of my time sitting on the fence. I am one of life's 'don't knows' really.
I'm not sure whether I'm a Christian, a humanist or an agnostic. Apparently I need to condemn homosexuality to be a Christian; I can't bring myself to join an organisistion that (a) doesn't believe in God and (b) has Claire Raynor as its president, so I can't be a Humanist; and so maybe I'm an agnostic - God knows what I am.
I'm not quite sure of where I stand on many of life's important issues. Most importantly (to me) I'm not sure whether I'm bringing my children up correctly (do I expect too much of them (sometimes I think I do), do I expect too little of them(sometimes I think I do - like every time Michael leaves the table without asking to be excused), do they see too much TV, do I pressurize them into reading too much, do I pounce too heavily each time I see them express the slightest bit of interest in anything (this is the mother who bought her 20 mth old daughter a trampoleeeny type thing today because she likes jumping and I can see her being a future olympic gold medalist trampoleeeeeny type person (do they do trampoleeeeeeeening in the olympix???. I mean sport is really not my thing, but at this early stage I really think it might be hers and I'm out to enable and encourage....)
Food and nutrition - read widely on this subject, but still don't know whether brazil nuts are good or bad for you
Jobs: would like to contribute to the family income(and will have to at some point as dearest husband will retire in the not too distant future and I must, by then, be earning a crust) but want to be home when the children are, in order to provide them with motherly tlc and a square meal (if I can be certain of what a square meal constitutes)
Keep fit - not quite sure what to do about this one (but my dearest internet friend Supergroup7 is on the case! - thank blog for that!)
The World In General: I REALLY don't know. To what extent are we manipulated by the media? To what extent is any Government so power crazy that they would convince us that we are in grave danger from terrorism / bird flu / AOB just so that they can supress us all / hide truths / pass repressive legislation?
Do I fret about all this? Not really. Yes and no. Sometimes.
But hey. What can you do?
I'm not sure whether I'm a Christian, a humanist or an agnostic. Apparently I need to condemn homosexuality to be a Christian; I can't bring myself to join an organisistion that (a) doesn't believe in God and (b) has Claire Raynor as its president, so I can't be a Humanist; and so maybe I'm an agnostic - God knows what I am.
I'm not quite sure of where I stand on many of life's important issues. Most importantly (to me) I'm not sure whether I'm bringing my children up correctly (do I expect too much of them (sometimes I think I do), do I expect too little of them(sometimes I think I do - like every time Michael leaves the table without asking to be excused), do they see too much TV, do I pressurize them into reading too much, do I pounce too heavily each time I see them express the slightest bit of interest in anything (this is the mother who bought her 20 mth old daughter a trampoleeeny type thing today because she likes jumping and I can see her being a future olympic gold medalist trampoleeeeeny type person (do they do trampoleeeeeeeening in the olympix???. I mean sport is really not my thing, but at this early stage I really think it might be hers and I'm out to enable and encourage....)
Food and nutrition - read widely on this subject, but still don't know whether brazil nuts are good or bad for you
Jobs: would like to contribute to the family income(and will have to at some point as dearest husband will retire in the not too distant future and I must, by then, be earning a crust) but want to be home when the children are, in order to provide them with motherly tlc and a square meal (if I can be certain of what a square meal constitutes)
Keep fit - not quite sure what to do about this one (but my dearest internet friend Supergroup7 is on the case! - thank blog for that!)
The World In General: I REALLY don't know. To what extent are we manipulated by the media? To what extent is any Government so power crazy that they would convince us that we are in grave danger from terrorism / bird flu / AOB just so that they can supress us all / hide truths / pass repressive legislation?
Do I fret about all this? Not really. Yes and no. Sometimes.
But hey. What can you do?
Saturday, August 12, 2006
And another thing...
...and then I'll say no more on parenting for a while. I need help: I am finding it hard to cook food that my children will eat. The older and more independent Isabel is becoming (now 20 months), the longer I can spend in the kitchen cooking "lovely stuff" (as I rather enjoy cooking actually) and the longer I spend preparing yummy food, the less likely they are to eat it. Every three days, or even more frequently, I have to revert to my pasta in tomato sauce (you know the one: fry garlic and onion, add tinned/fresh toms plus herbs and simmer)just so that they'll have at least one proper meal from time to time. Otherwise it's just ending up in the bin.
:-(
I have children-related recipe books, but I'd welcome any other ideas on what children love to eat.
In exchange for those, I'll share a totally wonderful, sin-free (nay, actually positively good for you) recipe for a biscuit:
oats (oooh I don't know, about 2 - 3 mugs), 2 x mashed bananas, two tabs olive oil, 1 pkt chopped walnuts; 4 x chopped dates (buy organic - this is an eg. of where organic is def. superior). Blend, "biscuitize" (you know what I mean) onto lined baking tray, and bake for about 20 mins at 200 deg c (in our oven anyway - perhaps less time in yours).
Enjoy.
:-(
I have children-related recipe books, but I'd welcome any other ideas on what children love to eat.
In exchange for those, I'll share a totally wonderful, sin-free (nay, actually positively good for you) recipe for a biscuit:
oats (oooh I don't know, about 2 - 3 mugs), 2 x mashed bananas, two tabs olive oil, 1 pkt chopped walnuts; 4 x chopped dates (buy organic - this is an eg. of where organic is def. superior). Blend, "biscuitize" (you know what I mean) onto lined baking tray, and bake for about 20 mins at 200 deg c (in our oven anyway - perhaps less time in yours).
Enjoy.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Soap Box
"Coronation Street" is the most watched TV programme in GB, with an audience of 11 - 13 million. I am concerned about a recent scene.
Teen-mum was being fitted for her wedding dress. Great-Grandma was at the fitting, mother was walking the street and happened to mention to someone that uncle was "out". So who was looking after the baby?
They do this a lot in TV drama. People have babies and then, the next minute, go to the pub to celebrate, without so much as a mention of where the baby is, never mind who's caring for it and feeding it.
Claire (in the same soap) recently gave birth. She was about to take the baby in a pram onto a bus, to do some shopping. "Let me look after him," said a kindly Audrey. "OK," came the reply and the pram was passed from Claire to Audrey and she was off to the bus and away. What about feeds? What about nappies?
I think that popular TV dramas like this dangerously conceal the degree to which having a baby impacts upon your life. Not good when we have the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Europe.
Teen-mum was being fitted for her wedding dress. Great-Grandma was at the fitting, mother was walking the street and happened to mention to someone that uncle was "out". So who was looking after the baby?
They do this a lot in TV drama. People have babies and then, the next minute, go to the pub to celebrate, without so much as a mention of where the baby is, never mind who's caring for it and feeding it.
Claire (in the same soap) recently gave birth. She was about to take the baby in a pram onto a bus, to do some shopping. "Let me look after him," said a kindly Audrey. "OK," came the reply and the pram was passed from Claire to Audrey and she was off to the bus and away. What about feeds? What about nappies?
I think that popular TV dramas like this dangerously conceal the degree to which having a baby impacts upon your life. Not good when we have the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Europe.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Being Mum
Before having children, I used to raise an eyebrow (yes - I can do that) when I heard women say "I feel like a really bad mum". No mum is a bad mum. Neither are they a good mum. I mean it's irrelevant. Every mum is the very best mum for their children to have. We all have our off-days but...if you are a mum and you are reading this, then you are the very, very best your children could have, simply because you are their mum.
Now that I am a mum, I realise why mothers come out with that phrase, and I'm ashamed to admit to using it myself from time to time.
How and when, though, can you evaluate your parenting skills? I do so practically every day. However, I believe that no parent can really know how "successful" they have been until .... when? I don't know. Is it when the child turns 18 and leaves home? 21 and graduates? 30? 40? 50? Never?
Anne and I had an interesting discussion about what we want for our children - she gave an excellent response that she has outlined in her most recent post on her blog. She hoped that her children would be inspired; inspired by something. I share this vision for mine. I'll elaborate: I'd like them to be passionate about something, or even lots of things (I'm not extremely passionate about any one thing, but I am quite passionate about a lot of things). The greatest joy of parenting for me is introducing my children to things that they may become passionate about: music, photography, aeroplanes, books, paints, mending things, anything and everything. At the moment, Isabel (age 20 months) loves jumping and Michael (age 4) loves laptops. And if there isn't a laptop about the place, he makes them out of books, boxes, you name it....
Anyway, I am going to give a good deal more thought to this. What are my objectives as a parent? What is my vision? (I'm not talking about what I want my children to end up doing or being as that's not a matter for me). I do know though (from my days as a management trainer) that you can not evaluate your success in any role unless you have established clear objectives against which to measure yourself.
It's hard, being a mum. But I think that thinking that is a good sign!
Now that I am a mum, I realise why mothers come out with that phrase, and I'm ashamed to admit to using it myself from time to time.
How and when, though, can you evaluate your parenting skills? I do so practically every day. However, I believe that no parent can really know how "successful" they have been until .... when? I don't know. Is it when the child turns 18 and leaves home? 21 and graduates? 30? 40? 50? Never?
Anne and I had an interesting discussion about what we want for our children - she gave an excellent response that she has outlined in her most recent post on her blog. She hoped that her children would be inspired; inspired by something. I share this vision for mine. I'll elaborate: I'd like them to be passionate about something, or even lots of things (I'm not extremely passionate about any one thing, but I am quite passionate about a lot of things). The greatest joy of parenting for me is introducing my children to things that they may become passionate about: music, photography, aeroplanes, books, paints, mending things, anything and everything. At the moment, Isabel (age 20 months) loves jumping and Michael (age 4) loves laptops. And if there isn't a laptop about the place, he makes them out of books, boxes, you name it....
Anyway, I am going to give a good deal more thought to this. What are my objectives as a parent? What is my vision? (I'm not talking about what I want my children to end up doing or being as that's not a matter for me). I do know though (from my days as a management trainer) that you can not evaluate your success in any role unless you have established clear objectives against which to measure yourself.
It's hard, being a mum. But I think that thinking that is a good sign!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Action Required
Could I suggest that you visit:
http://sarahcontrary.blogspot.com/
and read her latest post on the situation in the Middle east. It takes no time at all to sign the petition that she flags up.
Many thanks.
http://sarahcontrary.blogspot.com/
and read her latest post on the situation in the Middle east. It takes no time at all to sign the petition that she flags up.
Many thanks.
The moment I've been waiting for
I always thought that if I became overweight, I'd have no problem whatsoever in simply slimming down. In fact, I thought that it would be a great opportunity to do something positive for myself: to go from being "fat" to being "thin". I didn't put too much thought into how I'd achieve this, but I guessed that eating less and exercising more should do the trick.
So now that my moment has arrived and I'm not happy with my weight, why am I going on and on about it and not taking any action? It really is the case now that "I only have to look at a cream cake and I pile on the pounds". It's time for me to give myself that positive, life-changing experience that I'd always thought would be so easy, and I keep putting it off until tomorrow and going on and on about it.
I realised the other evening, as I looked at my profile in the mirror (it's my tummy that seems to attract the fat), that I should start by thinking less of a "major change in lifestyle" and more of "a bit of tweaking here and there". I'm not enormous - I just look four months pregnant (I'm just waiting for someone to congratulate me and ask me when it's due). I hope I'm not four months pregnant. no. I can't be. Blimey. No. I'm definitely not pregnant.
OK blog. Here's what I'm going to do:
1) eradicate saturated fat from my diet (unless it occurs with "good fats" like in olive oil and oily fish) - so no crisps, chocolates, biscuits, cakes, quiches, cheese etc,.
2) only ever use the car if we are going further than 1.5 miles
3) this is where I start to think 'it's not going to happen', so I'm going to be careful with this one: sit-ups and press-ups each day (undisclosed number) - I'm a firm believer in not joining gyms - you can do all the exercise you need without props.
Right. We'll stick at that for now. I'm not going to weigh myself (10 and a half stone on Anne's "generous" scales the other day - so perhaps nearer 11 stone really). I'm just going to hope that my waistline reappears.
I'm hoping that having committed myself in writing to these resolutions, I might stick to them.
I might not even keep you posted, as it's a boring topic of conversation really!
So now that my moment has arrived and I'm not happy with my weight, why am I going on and on about it and not taking any action? It really is the case now that "I only have to look at a cream cake and I pile on the pounds". It's time for me to give myself that positive, life-changing experience that I'd always thought would be so easy, and I keep putting it off until tomorrow and going on and on about it.
I realised the other evening, as I looked at my profile in the mirror (it's my tummy that seems to attract the fat), that I should start by thinking less of a "major change in lifestyle" and more of "a bit of tweaking here and there". I'm not enormous - I just look four months pregnant (I'm just waiting for someone to congratulate me and ask me when it's due). I hope I'm not four months pregnant. no. I can't be. Blimey. No. I'm definitely not pregnant.
OK blog. Here's what I'm going to do:
1) eradicate saturated fat from my diet (unless it occurs with "good fats" like in olive oil and oily fish) - so no crisps, chocolates, biscuits, cakes, quiches, cheese etc,.
2) only ever use the car if we are going further than 1.5 miles
3) this is where I start to think 'it's not going to happen', so I'm going to be careful with this one: sit-ups and press-ups each day (undisclosed number) - I'm a firm believer in not joining gyms - you can do all the exercise you need without props.
Right. We'll stick at that for now. I'm not going to weigh myself (10 and a half stone on Anne's "generous" scales the other day - so perhaps nearer 11 stone really). I'm just going to hope that my waistline reappears.
I'm hoping that having committed myself in writing to these resolutions, I might stick to them.
I might not even keep you posted, as it's a boring topic of conversation really!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
There are some things that we could do without
My adorable friend Louise is getting rid of her car. One of the many things that I love about Louise is that she is up-front, honest and open - she has announced on her blog that she is doing this in order to save some pennies. She will have done her maths and I'm sure she'll be more than happy to comment on how much money she hopes to save by no longer running a car (and that will save me doing the maths and coming to the wrong answer about how much we might save if were we to become car-less!!).
I'd never thought of ditching our car - that is until I read Louise's blog yesterday. What a fantastic idea. Here is what we could gain by losing the blasted thing:
1) more money
2) a cleaner environment
3) a healthier life-style
4) one less thing to clean (or neglect)
The car is useful at holiday time - but then we could hire one (and a bigger one than we currently have so that we could actually fit our luggage into it).
The car is also useful when it is raining and you need to go somewhere - but it's also more dangerous to drive in the rain and, people seem to forget this, rain is only water. No-one's ever dissolved through standing out in it, certainly not en-route to the nearest bus stop anyway.
To become without a car now, with two young children and a life-style that has become rather too car-dependent (or seemingly so), would be a challenge. But not an insurmountable one. I'd just need to leave the house earlier to get to where I needed to be, that's all.
Imagine a world with no cars ........ fantastic. (It'd probably put Jeremy Clarkson out of a job too - weyhey!)
I'd never thought of ditching our car - that is until I read Louise's blog yesterday. What a fantastic idea. Here is what we could gain by losing the blasted thing:
1) more money
2) a cleaner environment
3) a healthier life-style
4) one less thing to clean (or neglect)
The car is useful at holiday time - but then we could hire one (and a bigger one than we currently have so that we could actually fit our luggage into it).
The car is also useful when it is raining and you need to go somewhere - but it's also more dangerous to drive in the rain and, people seem to forget this, rain is only water. No-one's ever dissolved through standing out in it, certainly not en-route to the nearest bus stop anyway.
To become without a car now, with two young children and a life-style that has become rather too car-dependent (or seemingly so), would be a challenge. But not an insurmountable one. I'd just need to leave the house earlier to get to where I needed to be, that's all.
Imagine a world with no cars ........ fantastic. (It'd probably put Jeremy Clarkson out of a job too - weyhey!)
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Four Year Old Plus Camera Equals...
If you ask me, the incidentals in an old photo are every bit as fascinating as the main subject. So, when I see photos of myself as a baby in the '60s I am as interested in the old-style car, oxo-tin or flower-power kitchen tiles in the background as I am in the podgy-cheeked toddler, gazing with some suspicion at the camera, in the foreground.
I love the photos that Michael takes because they usually feature as their main subject some random object that would normally be consigned to the blurred edges of a snap, if it were lucky. Here is a selection of his latest works, which I shall entitle "The Back Garden" (although many contain details from next door's back-garden - he must have stood on a chair and leant over the fence to take them).
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