Just got back from the Easter visit to Helen’s Mum and Dads, had nice relaxing time, one of use will blog a bit about it at some point I guess. But one little amusing snippet:
Sitting round the table at dinner, Nanny phonically spelled out p,e,s,t in reference to E, Stringbeans and Butterbeans 18 month-ish cousin. Stringbean pipes up ‘Pest’ ! – that’s our girl 
We were quite impressed.
Posted in General, Stringbean's HE
well, marginally better anyway, enough to blog as long as I don’t actually look at the screen – suits my typing style anyway! Temp gone down, still migrainous, but heavy duty tablets taken.
SB and chris nipped to the shops for milk and bread. BB asleep – at least she slept better last night, though SB instead squiggled her way into our bed! Don’t know what they have been up to all day though!
We are off to my parents for Easter, which will be nice. I think I added on end of last blog that my Nan’s breast cancer spread further.I am devastated by this, as though all too aware that the 5 year survival was 50% at best, you hope that the person you know will be in that 50%. She is on year 4. Also, had the GP sent hr to hospital 7 years previously when she had first noticed a lump, rather than telling her it was nothing, she might actually have been cured [rage!] – or if I’d have known!!!
She is fiercely independent at 82, and lives on her own in Norfolk, and none of us is particularly close – I will be the closest when we move. She has severe arthritis, so walking and chores are hard – but she doesn’t accept help. My Aunt has said she can live with them, but Nan is not keen as she would be alone in the daytime, and no-where actually within walking distance she could go, so feels she would completely lose all independence. Also, this is the house she spent all her married life with my grandad, so doesn’t really want to let go.
Ideally we would have been closer, and I did look for jobs in Norfolk, so we could have popped by at least on 1ce or 2ce weekly basis, and done a big shop together etc. We will try fortnightly from where we are – which my aunt and my mum both visiting monthly, that should help.
I am aware though that as cancer is spreading through her bones, her present independent living may be compromised. I’ve discussed it with chris, and good fellow that he is, we are going to tell her she has an open invitation to come and live with us as we live across road from 2 shops in a village location, and family will be at home most of week. No idea of the practicalities, but I’m sure we would muddle through. I don’t think she will accept, though I will be happy if she does. But at least she will know that if she ever wants to, our door is open to her. Time is just so precious isn’t it, both with my 2 girls, who grow up so quickly, and then with those that I have loved all my life that will leave me too soon.
Posted in General
SO obviously rumours of her disappearance somewhat overstated! in fact, she was sighted in Leeds, so being a kind soul, I took her and children in for the day.
Visitors
We had a huge amount of noise, but SB and Big mostly played beautifully together with only a little bit of jockeying for pole position.
–
Helen
Small, as always, was a dream, and quietly did his own thing. BB also reasonably good [bearing in mind hideous night - more later]. Big not keen on the muffins, but did eat half, so coudn’t have been that bad. SB says we have to make a different cake next time. [socialisation]
Jax and I got to have a natter, and I got a glimpse of SB’s HE future. Both are certainly strongwilled bright girls! We missed the programme on radio 2 though as I was a bit of a crap hostess nad lost track of time, so it was 2pm before I got lunch out :?( and b then programme done and gone.
Other things
We had an appalling night from BB, up for over 2 hours unsettled. today she has developed a cough, maybe that. I had storming migraine, so couldn’t have been timed worse. In the end I succumbed to the tablets as could see no other way of getting through the day. I dont really like to take medication while bf. BB been a bit grouchy all day. Although she liked the water filled thing, she wasn’t up for being on her tummy long. At the mo we are making a bit of a pigs ear at feeding.
SB‘s Nana sent her an easter present of a magazine and book, and a mini packet of celebrations which she soon polished off. We read the magazine and did the games in it. [reading] We also finished the thankyou letters at last! [writing]
A bit of adjusting when Jax left saw SB stropping round the house. Settled with making up her marble run and cooking tea with Daddy. My migraine come back with a vengeance, so am going to try and lie down like dying duck on sofa!!
Days summary: lovely day, good to see children learning negotiating skills, albeit reluctantly! I could do with some sleep though. Oh, and feeling gutted that my nan’s breast cancer spread more in the bones
self indulgent ranting
I prob should password this, but the likelihood of someone from ex-work reading this approaches 0. After all, if they can’t read my sodding emails, they’re not going to read a blog.
I have been trying to organise a large RCT comparing the use of a graft material with none. Its all rather complex, but basically, it needs a long timespan audit/pilot study ti show material doesn’t ‘fail’. I did a 2 year audit 2 years ago, and atarted the 4 yr audit last summer. It took approx 60 hours to fill out all the ethics forms, and at 38 weeks pg, with broken foot etc I had to go and present it to the local ethics committee – all with a nominal presence only of the cheif investigator. To be fair, I always knew I was going to do pretty much all the work. She is a fantastic surgeon, but not so keen on the nitty gritty of audit. However, all i’ve actually asked of ‘the team’ is to get the remaining 40 case notes for me [i data entried the other 120 after retrieving them from the void before leaving for new job], 2 signatures, writing permission for honorary contract [so i am allowed to see said case notes], the paper and envelopes. I’ve provided time, stamps, mileage etc gratis. Oh, and I did ask if one of the 2 secretaries could do some of the photocopying. well, i got 1 of the sigs and nothing else, repeated emails and visits. last straw is that i need to pay for the paper and envelopes myself to go ahead [3 reams and 320 envelopes, as well as the 160 stamps] The lack of the second sig – which i’ve only just found out, means I cant do bloody thing yet anyway.
I guess what annoys me is that i still feel the guilty party for non-completion. I will also kick myself for stopping, as it is actually interesting, and may lead to improvement for prolapse results. However, there is no way to get this out before i move, and bugger all hope of ever getting the questionnaires forwarded onand analysed. Also the lack of help when i asked for things, but meaningless gesture offers given now to see if i can be conned into continuing. AAAARRRGH!!!
I’m not sure if they’ve actually grasped i’ve bowed out. i’ve left what i’ve done clearly organised with what needs to come next, but at lunch i was asked about the main rct design! Also some impression i’ll run about getting their posters up to glasgow whatever it takes – i think not!
family life
This unfortunately has spilled over into the rest of the day. I picked up SB from nursery. She was finishing an easter card – very nicely done, with happy easter written in it. And had done a lot of painting and letter shapes. [art, writing]
We went to gingerbread cottage to meet up with the post natal group. it was manic there as all the boys were fighting, some of the mums shouting and most looking harrassed. SB was quite upset as Z and his cousin W wouldn’t play with her at all – they were inseperable on Sun. I explained they were obviously just wanting to play together, and it wasn’t that they didn’t like her, just were in that mood. She was disconsolate, and then wouldn’t play with anyone else until the last 15 mins. sigh – and how do you deal with it? I cuddled her, agreed it was sad and gave options. [socialisation/PE]
We came home and she did some bike riding, then we made chocolate and banana muffins – yummy. I was still in mummy mode when the mixture was strewn around and an egg dropped. [baking] Although i knew i felt headachey and grumpy.
We then did studydog [english] which SB enjoying v much. She tends to do a bit much though and start to mess about. [ I'm still holding together] so we moved to cbeebies website. [IT]
However when we had the usual messing about over eating dinner i could feel myself being so intensely irritated that i had to leave the room before harridan helen took over. It took approaching an hour to eat. I just can’t bear it!
breathe helen!
house update
still not progressing, don’t know outcome of the building regs for carport thing, and waiting for the final surveys on place moving to.
breathe!!!!
Posted in Cooking, General, moving house, Stringbean's HE
Obviously for BB, as SB paints a lot. I put paint on BB’s hand and did handprints to cut out for easter cards – now to get SB to do it too. She was fascinated by the paint and its texture. I think I am going to introduce her to a bit of messy play tomorrow. Not with paint, but with perhaps oats and water to squish around. I also was given a birth present that you fill with water and then they can squish around the shapes whilst lying on their tummies, so I’ll excavate that, as I think she may be ready for it. It is sad to reach that stage that cuddling and nuzzling not enough, as I really do like cuddles and nuzzles. My wee baby [LOL] is getting older.
A nursery day for SB, but blogworthy is the fact that after her bath, she decided to go for a bike ride on the drive, in her pjamas [Edit by Chris – even more amusingly it was pitch dark as well :-)]. I think Chris is prob a secret TCS person! Actually I can see a lot positive in it, and I like its challenging thought provoking stance. I am an equilibrium contiuum parent – we are continually trying to find it!
I sorted out those blasted questionnaires, [well nearly, just got to put names on them] going to storm ex-work tomorrow, throw them on the desk and say there, my last pint of blood! or words to that effect!
Summary of the Day: well actually annoyed as spent time doing questionnaires, almost sure for nothing. But one of those days were you notice one of your children has moved on a stage, and that is a bittersweet joy of progression!
Posted in Butterbean, General
And this is SB painting her treasure box with surprise inner volcanos!
Talking all the while!
And this is BB just being gorgeous, just an excuse really for another photo post
Helen
Posted in Butterbean, General, photos, Stringbean's HE
Ok, having breakfast in itself isn’t unusal.
But I’d taken SB to nursey, by the time I’d pottered around bit Helen was up, so I cooked up a nice breakfast – Tofu, onions, mushrooms and garlic fried up on toast, nice mug of coffee, sun shining though the window, BB obliged by going to sleep, so we sat down together to eat it.
I’d like to say we had an indepth conversation, but actually we sat there reading ‘The Guardian’, but it was nice quite calm moment to share, and we don’t get lot of those nowadays.
Posted in General
And hopefully people will get to read it, as we are sticking to this design – for a while – i think.
I have been on the grouch side today. Not going to bed earlier enough, and an early waking BB and SB prob set it off. not helped by being rung by ex-colleague at ex-work wondering how I had got on with this research that I am deciding to let go of. Grrr – it would have been finished if I had had any help and support, so I ranted about the 200+ hours I have devoted to it for it to fail due mainly to complete lack of help and downright obstruction from some. I think she regretted asking! Damn right too on a sunday! [ouch, still a grouch!]
SB had a non-existant concentration span this morning. She wanted to paint, play with the shredded paper, measure things. it took most o the morning to settle on painting. we decorated an egg box as a treasure chest, [art] then played lucky dip with the shreded paper and her doll family. she then went and played with them om her own, making up little stories.
She did a tiny bit of measuring with me and some addition [maths] and ‘helped’ Chris with some packing. In her flight from thing to thing, she did open studydog herself and do some! [IT english] so went weyhey, autonomous!!
digression – BB sleep in my arms. She is lovely. I am so glad we were lucky enough to have children. There was quite a long time that we didn’t think that would happen.
We managed to catch on vid SB singing to BB how happy we are that she is here, and that she must never go away – ah!
A frien had his 4th birthday party at Monkey Maze in Garforth. Although hot and noisy for me, the actual soft play area fantastic – oh to be a child. highly recommend the place! Needless to say, SB had a great time. [socialisation]
Todays summary, well i was grumpy, shorter of temper than I should be, and more easily frustrated by SB’s ‘just…’ however, seeing SB having such fun, and just looking so beautiful and gorgeous [yes I know thats not really pc of me, but o so true] as she raced around with a big smile on her face with her friends. Well, it gave me my happy back! The thai after she went to sleep not bad either!
Posted in General
TBH, at the moment I can’t believe socialisation is thought of as an issue in HE. I guess whe all SB’s friends go to school it may be less manic.
Description of events
This morning we madly tidied the house as Chris’s Aunt and Uncle droppng in. SBis getting quite good at tidying up and helping, so thats def [domestic science] covered! We did some more writing her name on the thankyou letters,[writing] and then made her friend B a birthday card. [art] [B is the one on the right in the picture a few posts down, one of SB's best friends]. She drew a very creditable person, and I was impressed at how much better she is getting at representing people.
When the doorbell went, I thought it was the rellies, 2 hours early, but instead it was a friend popping by with her 2 little stars. I think I have blogged them before? Anyway, S1 slightly younger than SB, and S2 approaching 2. They get on v well, though there was a bit of a fracas over the pushchair for the dollies, and i had to do a rapid removal of felt tips!! A cup of tea and a chat and they went back to Wakefield. Got a nice photo of the 4 kids though.
Rellies arrived bang on time [while Chris blogging in fact, and I thought he was changing BB's nappy!!]. A nice natter and some late presents for the girls. SB much taken with the usbourne princess activities. We enjoyed parsnip and apple soup with crusty rolls together. Chris and SB had to leave precipitously due to B’s party. [socialisation] BB and I entertained guests till departure. I had hoped to have a bit of free-ish time, but read an article in Thurs Guardian which made me howl, so woke up BB for a cuddle!
SB returned with the obligatory party bag, and it contained a dice game. We played it together till bitter end, each having 2 counters. She didn’t try to cheat on the throws, didn’t mind going backwards, and didn’t mind that I won. She counts so well, that it was only when I read in the nursery prospectus that the early learning goal is to count to 10 that I thought anything of it. [numeracy,board games]. Anyway, this is the first time that we have played a board game as equals, so gets huge bit on blog!!
SB and I had a look at the DK world explorer, and she did seem to enjoy that one, particularly the games. She now happily says her north south east west from a get your boat to the treasure one. [geography, IT] That also works so science one only is duff. Actually she must have enjoyed it as she went back to it after her bath cos I hadn’t shut it down.
Other than that we have done a fair bit of playing, tickling etc. Not such a whiney day either. After bath, Chris gave her 2 tops to put on, so she insisted on putting a leg in each arm, and pulling up over bot [she has got small bot] When she then got the bottoms, she decided they could go on her head to keep the pretend rabbit ears warm lol!
BB is improving on the sitting front, and can sit on a squishy cushion for a bit without listing over! obviously aided by big bot and big nappies. She thinks this is hilarious! Still loving her play gym. At 17 weeks she is starting to show interest in the food we are eating – to no avail though, I intend introducing solids as near 6 months as poss!
todays summary – well, i actually felt a bit pressured by all the stuff to fit in, and would rather it wasn’t another birthday party day tomorrow! its quite late on, and the far side of Leeds, so SB will no doubt fall asleep in car on route home, and then be up half the night. Oh, I am being ungracious. It is nice for her to have such a social whirl, as she really is a v sociable girl, and thats one of the things I am desperately keen to maintain.
Renewable energy etc
my other bit of thinking has been around how to make this listed building as energy efficient as poss, and todays guardian magazine had a bit on that kind of thing. Firstly insulate roof to the hilt. chris doesn’t get on well with fibreglass, so we have been thinking of alternatives, and wool here gets a mention. Other optins are flax, or blown cellulose[treated newspaper]. SOme of the windows are secondary glazed, and some not, so it would be worth looking into that as well. I’ve also always fancied a wind generator or solar voltaic cells. Dunster of the BedZed project has a website with lowcost [relatively] products, we have alway fancied the self build, but couldn’t face it with new job, new baby etc – I know, cowardly!!. I think when we have a bit of money again, we might have a bit of a chat to the listed buildings inspector about what we could get away with! it is a shame that we can’t convert the conservatory into a full house height one though, cos I’ve always wanted one of those.
Posted in DIY/ house renovation, General, Stringbean's HE