moving house

Well, half of the 2 sets anyway.

Main event of the day was the moving of my parents. They have moved house from over 200 miles away to less than 20 (not coincidence of course, it was to be nearer us – well grandchildren really I suspect) It’s been a longish term plan of theirs, they’ve just been waiting for us to settle on where we would be living.

Nearest I lived since leaving home is about 70 miles, but for the last 10 + years it’s been about 250, so a bit of change there, kind of weird really. Stringbean is of course excited. I’m sure that there will be time of adjustment, but I’m pleased that they are nearer. My Dad has found long drives incressingly difficult in recent years. Now as well as us they are much nearer other relatives, so much less travelling for them. And it’s quite likley that he may have to give up driving at some point , so they are much better situated for coping with that (my mum doesn’t drive, though she once rode an orange moped). So me and SB were waiting today to pop over and visit them, but it was bit later than planned.

SB not been entirely well today, complained of painful throat when eating and didn’t have much breakfast or lunch, though seemed ok otherwise, though not keen on normally ‘keen on things’ such as baking cakes, so didn’t do that. Did make card for Nanny and Grandad for their new house, and we remade the Happy Street track (yep, still there Jax) that ‘Butterbean the Marbeliser’ had demolished last night like a mini Godzilla, and read few books before trying to entice her into breakfast. Me and BB had breakfast whilst SB fiddled about and ate half a small Petits Filou. She disappeared off to ‘Happyland’ and played for a quite bit by herself, so me and BB grabed the opportunity to have bit of one to one time playing. Always fun, as she is such smiley chuckly girl. She also enjoys a bit of rootling about on the floor, so she did bit of that whilst I did few a domestic chores, her baby grow distubingly grubby afterwards though (I hate kitchen floors, they just get to dirty too quickly….).

SB moved onto a Muzzy CDROM on the computer, and then onto the CBeebies website, BB had some milk and went off to sleep, so then I sat and helped SB with the above. After a bit, we went outside and poked around in the garden, looking for beasties, talking about Autumn and winter, where the weeds come from, what we are going to grow where etc. She was now flagging bit, so inside for some lunch, of which she ate little. So dosed up on Calpol, she settled down under a duvet on the sofa for an afternoon of vids and DVD’s.

When Helen came home later, she had perked up a bit, esp. as mum came bearing gifts of magazines, and Playdough (And Mmmmm, it was real Playdo, there is nothing like the smell of the real thing) Eventually my mum rang to say they were in their new house, so I got ready to go over (I had to collect some goldfish they had brouight up from their pond) SB had been goign to come, then said she was goign to stay, then decided at the last minute to come. She did a really good job of trying to stay a wake in the car in the way – just dozed off near the end. Saw the new house, sorted out a couple of simple things for them, had litle bit of chat etc. popped to the chippy for tea, SB ws trying to eat her chips, but was really tired by now, she was almost falling alseep over them – ‘can we go home now’…I think she fell asleep in the car in about 2 minutes.

House seems quite nice if you ignore the decor in some (most?) places. a bungalow would ahve been the sensible choice, but they could find one suitable in their price range. My dad has got his ‘bionic leg’ as we joke about it- nothign quite so grand really. He is paralysed down one side, and for many years now has had to wear a leg caliper to support his foot, but this is heavy and awkward. His been fitted with pretty new thing they are trying out, which basically stimulates the muslces in the duff leg to lift the front of the foot as he walks, which stops him tripping, and means he doesn’t need the caliper. He only got it this week, so early days but seems to be working well.

We are now getting to the stage where I am more likley to be popping to them to sort something out, rather than them helping us to do stuff, which feels a little poignant, though my Dad is disabled he was always active, and in my head is still the person who was up on the roof fixing it when I was teenager, or helping us fix rotten windows and build brickwalls in the garden in the old house. Though he’ll not be doing that now (though they did help us with the fixing up of the old one before we sold it). It’s Helen’s Aunty Peggy’s funeral tomorrow, what with this, and all the things happening for Little Nanny thisd year, there is a bit of a sense of the generational baton gradually being passed on here I feel.

BB looking very grown up today (though not as much as josie, not enough hair), pulled out a load of next size clothes to sort out for her. I put her in one of the favouritist pairs iof dungarees we had for SB, still looking cute Bit of a tear in my eye though as I remembered SB wearing them, was she really so young not so long ago – less than 2 months to BB’s first birthday – excited, sad? I’m not sure.

Not as bad as thought as they are all very nice here, and made this a light day to get me into the swing of things. So have sat at computer and gone through thousands of emails.
Actually quite restful really.
My Wed day off has been finalised, so only actually work 2 wednesdays – not bad! Monday is an early home day [about 3pm] and Tues a late to work day [- 9am!] every 4th Friday off as well, so things OK.

Sorry about all the self centred wibbling. I’m just a greedy bugger who wants to have cake and to eat it!

Moving

Well, with the sterling help of my parents, things aren’t as bad as they could be. the kitchen stuff is in and sorted, most of SB’s toys and clothes. BB’s clothes are AWOL, mine are mostly sorted and ? about Chris’s. DIning room full of books and computer stuff – as still not got that sorted properly, though Chris says he has arranged broadband. Guinness looks like definitely gone, I hope he has found a kitchen to attatch to. SB has decided he has gone adventuring, and will come back and tell us all about it one day.

House itself will need a lot of work over time, but is absolutely fine for now. Humoungous in fact, and I’m really happy with it. Garden and patio are gorgeous, and we are open for visitors! [in fact I'm off next wed] I like the bells from the church – they ring every quarter of an hour. The road is way busier than I thought, and I hope there arent too many live bands at the pub! When feel flush, could replace the patchy secondary glazing with some heavy duty stuff that is more soundproof though.

Family

Well, have phoned home and they all seem fine. SB very excited to hear from me. She’s not so happy for me to be at work but as Daddy at home, I’m sure she will quickly get used to it. The beans are going for a taster at nursery this pm and then start on Thurs. Luckilly BB has decided that she will partake in a few drops of EBM from a bottle, so thats a relief. We were supposed to fill out a plan of her day, but since we don’t have one, can’t decided whether just to make something up, or admit to planlessness!!

SB was very happy when climbing frame was put up in the garden, especially as we have added the extension bits so really rather high! Also cycling round the garden. A nuisance that one bit of path too narrow, so we will have to do that. She likes this house, especially the jacuzzi! I don’t understand why even with a bigger bed chris and I are perched at the very edge though? Bit better nights sleep though, and SB not complaining so much of her ear hurting. In fact it was BB keeping me up with the munchies.

SB not watched telly since Friday, and hasn’t asked for it either – its in a different room. So that has to be good. Ditto for me as well. Not really done much ‘education’ though read lots of books, planted some bedding and discussed weaning and suitable BB foods.

Did go to Stagecoach on Saturday though, which she did like. Though apparently dancing with ‘parteners’ is not the same as ballet, so she would still like a ballet class! Looks like there may be a rainbows in the village to investigate, as an easy way to meet local friends. I would like to find a gym group though to carry on with, as she has really enjoyed that, so ballet may have to take a miss for the moment, unless one in the village.

Thats it really. I’m not sure what I will blog in the future though, as relegated to secondary carer, you can’t really blog what someone else has done with your children!

Am going to wander round the ring now.

Not seen hide nor hair of Guiness since he ran off, spoken to various neighbours, postcards in a few local shops, but TBH I think he has gone for good

He wouild have been so upset by the whole moving thing, and had not had anytime to consider the house a safe place. Either he doesn’t know where to come back too, or he doesn’t want to anymore. He is such a scaredy cat when it comes to strangers, he is not the sort of cat to wander up to you in the street for a stroke, he used to disappear when strnagers came into the house.

Hope he his ok wherever he is.

Yes, we are moved into our new house:-) and it seems very big and we have a lot of boxes…….

Sadly, Guiness (one ofthe cats ) did a runner. We took them out of their boxes and put them in a room that we didn’t need to go in (they’d been in them for 8-9 hours, not eaten or drunk and G was getting very unhappy.

Sopme time later I found the door slighty open and Guiness gone I guess the cathc wasn’t quite catching? Didn’t see him at all, we think he must have run out of the front door. Thing is he won’t really have any sense of this as home, so not sure if we will see him again

Back to the unpacking………

Ok, a bit later than intended, by 800 am is goo by my standards Cats’ finally in their baskets, cue much sad wailing – only a few scratches from Whiskey.-

Ok lets go, I want those keys in my grubby mits…

SB been near angelic in her eagerness to be good and behave to day.
we really have worked hard, but not a lot seems to have changed.

last tots this pm, and she had great fun playing with her friends from babyhood – glad to see her so happy with them.

Needless to say I cried as we said goodbye to my postnatal crowd, as they have been with me since SB born, and heard my winges, and delights.

Then Aunty Margaret came round for the last time. All though I will see her again, she has been coming to visit fortnightly since SB born, and such a regular part of our life, that seemed equally horrible, so I howled again – being of the same family so did she!

We’re still working hard, but I am truly knackered, as neither girls sleeping well at the mo.

Wanted to have time do do a nice blog about how Leeds has been a great home for us, and that a great place to live and bring up a family. If things had been otherwise I would have loved to stay, however each thing has its place and time, and ours now is to move. Also about how this home was unloved and in need of a lot of care and attention, and has gone from house to home. Although we have outgrown its space, we have been happy here aand will carry memories on with us.

Hard goodbye tomorrow to Molly, and to the house itself, then just the future to look forward to.

Back to Work!!

oh and Congratulations Jan, Jonathan and family!!

I think we may have broken the back of it yesterday, still lots to do, but feels just about manageable.

Just sitting here, drinking tea, getting ready for the day, getting ‘five minutes peace’, and looking into the garden. Sun is shining through the Flowering Cherry, which looks lovely, it has come into bloom to say good by to us. Always liked this room at his time of the day as the sun shines into it. Garden a little sad at the moment, lawn too long, veg beds etc. rather weedy, feel it would have been better to hand over in bit of better state, but …….

Just reflecting on things, on the plans we had for the garden that were never achieved (sorry dear, you never did get that deck under the Oak tree for summer evening drinks…..), and things that were – like digging those veg beds in the first winter, me and my Dad building the herb beds. The last one is poignant for me, as he’ll not do to anything like that again for us, he just can’t manage it anymore.

8 years+ have seemingly whizzed past here, so many good memories – getting married, the excitement of things new, the future, children, sunny days in the garden. Excitement for the new house will come again, but today seems to be one for reflecting on the good things we have had, the future will be here quick enough (is there a smiley for ‘wipes a tear’? *sniff*)

Ah well, SB is up, Cbeebies is on, BB is ‘raarring’ upstairs, time to get on.

*sniff*, *sniff*, *sniff*……..

SB had a great time at nursery today, and a wonderful party, it was an indoors teddy bear picnic due to the rain. they played games, sang songs and ate party food. she even got a couple of presents.

I cant quite believe we’re not going back. I gave then SB at 6 months and hoped for the best. In the last 3.5 years she has been loved and cherished there, and allowed to grow and develop. They aim to nurture through play, and thats certianly our experience. We saw her first [Maria] and last [Mandy] keyworkers when we went to pick her up, and they were both genuinely sad to be saying goodbye. I cried all over the place. In time SB wont remember nursery except through pictures and stories, but I am glad that they will be of love and fun. Thankyou kids academy for the care you have taken. I have really appreciated it, and feel i has helped shape SB into the confident girl she is.

School exercise books?? yeah, chuck!
middle school projects folders? – actually was just thinking of them last week as good home ed ideas for later!!

Is how long until the removal men arrive, arrrggghhh!! Do we look anywhere near ready – no Miles behind it looks like on the house sorting, though the garage/shed/greenhouse/garden are moslty ready (and if you had seen the garage….). hopefully it is a bit superficial, we did have pretty good sort out before the sale, but when I go to bed I want the house pretty much ready to move. Leaving tomorrow free for final stuff, trips to tip, taking down climbing frame.

TINA – I have to exavate the loft………….

Obviously the best was hearing exchange has finally happened, and completion planned for 29th April. Somewhat later than I desired, as wanted to settle a bit in new area before return to work, but at least before start date!

So the rest, well we all got up early today – something to do with sun streaming through the windows. BB required a night feed again – think its cos as 21 weeks and still exclusively breastfed, getting the munchies a bit more often. I think as we are still not getting very far with al sorts of different expressed milk delivery systems, that we will introduce solids the weekend before I start work [23 weeks], so at least something can go in. Letting milk slosh in and round everywhere is the most successful technique, but due to the move, I have none frozen, and so every drop precious! i would hope not to have to supplement with formula while i am at work, but I am going to have to be a bit pragmatic about it. I am already expressing once in the evening, and although only obtaining 4-5 oz, could do more, and will aim for about 8 on return to work, plus a lunch express at work of about 6 should give us 5 3oz bottles per day while I am out, and I’ll do massive feeds when at home. if I get a 4 day week, am secretly hoping for Wed off [well thats what i suggested] as that breaks up the days I’m away nicely, and I think will make it less likely that formula supplement needed. I love the milky/toffee smell of exclusively bf babies though – BB burping over me!

BB not so sqwawky today. In our morning, after SB gone to nursery [she cycled there uphill with Daddy - PE] she had a nice bath and massage and then a long waggling sessions. She’s thinking of how to roll over – though not actually done it, and has much better co-ordinated arm and length movts. Sitting is a great skill now, as is stuffing anything in her mouth! cooing and ra-ing at me i think she is going to be a talker like her sister!

Picked SB up from nursery and took to gingerbread cottage – my last ever [ and hers] new mums. [socialisation, PE] next tues nursery has a party, so she will be doing that instead. We first met when SB 11 weeks old, and have been meeting every Tues since then – though I am a bit more erratic! its pretty much 4 years exactly. Its very sad to say goodbye to such a good support group, though my need for it has gone. I found SB a bit stressful, and they were my sanity link, as I realised all the children were stressful in one way or another, and we were all just trying! We come from all walks of life – as the saying goes, with v differing views on every issue pretty much, but in spite of that, struck up good friendships and been regular features in each others lives. The children have played well together [on the whole, after all none of them are perfect!]. I would just like to take this opportunity to register a vote of thanks to the lot of them for all the friendship and tacit support – even when they must have thought I was mad [cloth nappies - though other users with second children - LOL; planned extended breastfeeding - though others did by default; a certain amount of continuum concept parenting, and finally home-ed - you get the drift]. Not that they read my blog – though have given the address in case they fancy seeing what we are doing. Most have no internet access. thankyou to their children – SB’s playmates through the years as well. life goes on, some threads are renewed, some replaced, but we are glad for the time we have shared.

On return, SB in odd mood – prob partly due to mine, partly as she was aware last time she would see some of these friends, and partly due to lack of sleep over weekend still. We calmed down by seeing what Daddy doing in the garage, some education city – as we haven’t signed up, they have extended the trial – persistant lot aren’t they! We have done foundation year and first for science, though SB happy to do some again, potteres through most of foundation maths, and a lot of foundation english. cbeebies on the internet and the bananas in pyjamas website as well. SB certainly has the letters off pat in upper and lower case, with prompting can do a bit of ordering, usually recognises first and last letters and can sound out. just awaiting that spark! [aside - a momentary rather overwhelming pang that in all likelihood it will be chris that sees this eureka moment] I think we will be passing on education city as the summer is coming, and we are far more outdoorsy then, BB more mobile, so not so sofa tied – after all chris not breastfeeding. [this going back to work crap]. will keep the link and rethink perhaps in future years.

Whistling has progressed, and SB v keen on this new skill. Oh she took her bridesmaid photos to nursery as she was so proud of it – bless. Actually her musicality as a whole has improved. while singing she is much more likely to stay close to pitch, and her violin playing getting more structured – last played on friday, as didn’t blog, and she usually puts bow in the right place, and with the right pressure to get notes. Also we practiced putting fingers on the strings in different places to change notes. We are gradually getting a bit of formality in, bit by bit so that imperceptibly we are moving towards actually learning rather than messing [music]. She is also happy to have classic fm on rather than her own song cd’s in the car – blessed relief!

After bath was slightly stressful as she was unsettled, whingy and just not right. however, cuddles and stories and CD and she has fallen asleep by 8.30. BB just fallen asleep, so I guess I should do some sorting for move

we have exchanged contracts and move on the 29th

da dada dadadada daaaaaa

now to sort practicalities!.
me and the girls prob going to leave on the thurs as all the furniture gone. ? travelodge or something for that night? chris and cats follow next day with vans?

any moving house experts for advice?

smily happy people here

be sorted @ nimbo.net

SB is really happy about this latest skill, its a bit erratic, but there is no doubt that she can whistle. We have been practising on and off all day.

Thought I’d have a play day today, so we started off by reading in bed together – umpteen stories! [literacy] and playing with BB, who was waggling nappy free [always a gamble!][childcare and development - lol]. This is paying off, as SB really getting the hang of entertaining BB without being dangerous, and loves the smiles and giggles she gets back. Def fostering closeness I think. This actually took us to nearly 10 0 clock, so a quick breakfast and we then played with the marble run bedore heading out. It has taken SB longer than I anticipated to grasp that the marbles will only run downwards, not jump back up again!

We then headed off to National museum of photograpy etc. in Bradford for a home-ed group imax venture – a 2D grand canyon. We failed to find a parking space so had to run like the clappers uphill pushing buggy [god, how I hate running!] SB found this hilarious. We missed the first 10 or so mins, but they still let us in, and we enjoyed it. the cinematography was at times breathtaking – well the subject is partic telegenic! SB decided we wouldn’t go down in a boat, but fancied the micralite! I fancied the whitewater rafting – but not with SB! [geography]. At one point in the filming I had SB on one knee, and BB was bf lying on other knee rugby hold, and I had 2 of the stewards behind. I wonder what they made of it! Both girls were transfixed though. SB gave me a running commentary [luckily remebering to be sotto voce a lot of the time!] When we left, we managed to go a diff way to everyone else, so didn’t get to meet up – though a brief hello to Sarah in the auditorium.

[aside, SB just down from her bath, and still has rice crispies in her hair! she's sitting in my whiskey hole [ie where the cat likes sitting] and is watching ‘what the victorians did for us’ [history]]

Anyway, we then had a pootle through the museum. We particularly enjoyed the animation bit, and the studio bit – SB thought the ‘magic carpet’ was particularly good, and seeing herself on telly. We didn’t look at the museum in any kind of structured or ed way, but just let whatever caught SB’s imagination lead us – wierd at times, partic amongst the old cameras. We treated ourselves to a cafe pitstop before going home.

At home we were going to do a bit of a collage of grand canyon images [we'd been discussing it in the car], but I went up to change the poopiest bot in the universe and when I came down, there were cards and sparkly bits everywhere[craft]. Not quite as everywhere ]as when BB of the now clean bot launched herself at a pot of sparkly stars and strew them imaginatively everywhere in the kitchen! the people who move into our house are going to wonder just how glitter and sparkles got into so many nooks and crannies.

[BB now lying in whiskey hole, have had lovely long phone call with my friend S - hello if you're reading!]

A bit of education city – french which was too advanced for now, but adaptable, and maths. [languages, maths] We wont be taking up the subscription, though I do like it due to the unnecessary expense at this stage. Mind you, SB also gets it worng on purpose to see what actions are going to happen. I think the frequent offer to print off a certificate annoying, as we got through loads of unnecessary paper – ah well, can write lists on the back! Sb whistled some more!

[ aside - In fact, my June list is likely to be a June next year list. A chance remark on an email back from my secretary [!!!] says that compensatory leave [as in day off after a night shift] has been cancelled for consultants due to increased registrars, so no longer resident. now although in the future I will be much happier being on call from home; at the moment I really prefer having the day off afterwards to spend with children, and this day off was half of the compressed hours scheme for a 4 day week – so screwed things up a bit. WHY DON’T PEOPLE TELL YOU when they are changing your job so massively?? So I can either continue on with the 4 day week thing with loss of pay and then not really be able to afford house, or stay at a 5 day week. I can’t now bear either option. So, have decided to blunder ahead and join Gill on the foraged food and beans on toast diet until things improve. If they don’t bugger about too much more, in 2 years we may return to even keel, and start paying off whatever further debts accrued. Ah well. And I budgeted so well!! Obviously this is assuming they actually accept my flexible working proposal!]

Just watched that evolution prog and quite enjoyed it. chris videoed it, as i am threatening withdrawal of tv and broadband – guess which will hit us the worst!

no thoughts again, mad budgeting panics! Comes from being a wanting it all woman. I’m sure it will all settle out. It really is the loss of those days that hits me though. Otherwise, we had a really fun day, and I managed to put it to back of mind. SB really enjoyed the museum, even though we managed not to socialise at all! The day in fact whizzed past.

our vendors finally completed their searches and ready to go…
but….
their purchasers on hols until mon and not signed anything.

bangs head against brick wall!!

Must get some sleep though, as shattered by bathtime.

SB not so amenable today, and we had yet another troubled night with BB – 2 feeds in the night after a delayed start ‘cos chris woke us both up when he came to bed!

Again an early start, and this time a bit of bailing out, as we watched half of Shrek with brekkie. Ed value though [citizenship] as we could discuss looks not being the important thing, how you can get wrong end of stick from half heard conversations – who am I trying to kid??? We just enjoyed it snuggled up all together on the sofa,and had a couple of throwaway line discussion!

rang my Mum, so we reboiled the fudge – apparently she often has to reboil it – and this time it has set. i think, joyce, that it prob is much more like tablet than shop fudge as not all squish, but sets hard? [domestic science]. SB particularly happy that she gets to do lickings again! LOL.

We had another prolonged nappy change, and although not baby massage, I’m getting better at trying to integrate SB and BB’s play together – we sang songs and rowed boats, wheels on busses etc. SB does love BB, but usually in a rather overly boisterous spur of the moment shouty way. We also played with her rattles, making up stories to keep SB OK – about 7/10 for success, albeit for about 30 mins only. [sibling issues/ childcare and development [LOL]]

We had veg and noodles for lunch – mine had tofu, SB not so keen. And – def shamed head – watched Shrek 2!!!!!

Hama-ed on and off in the afternoon, actually truthfully involving maths, counting, adding, subtracting. Also patterns, shapes etc. [maths], we also read some of the letterland, and did jolly phonics flashcards [literacy]

Tried to interest SB in playing on her own doing jigsaws so I could have a bit of 1to1 with BB, but totally unsuccesful. Ditto the dressing up the paper flower fairies, dot to dotting.

BB had a long sleep, and during that, we had a long go with the DK world explorer, and finished the first travel adventure thing, and some of the sticker pages. [geography] Although I’m not going to pretend SB has huge insight into this, she was getting the hang of continents, and the repeats – USA and China. Since at the moment, my idea of geography is local [when weather improves and we move, we will 'map' our area. We did that here for Leeds and she enjoyed it. I'm taking some photos of local landmarks here- ie the co-op, postoffice etc - so we can perhaps do another map and lapbook it, including friends, nursery, gym etc] But I still think dripfeeding the idea of the world, countries, key sites in them etc in a fun way – with no attempt on my part to add any educational snippets – is setting up foundations. I do try and tie countries in with whether I’ve been there, if we know someone from there, if we plan to visit there etc.

now I’ve got completely lost with so many asides?? oh yes, solicitor rang – guess what…….. Still no exchange, as our vendors still not ready – if I roll eyes much more, they may take on vortex properties and suck brain in from behind [prob not be noticeable though].

Hama-ing again when Chris came home – I think he was impressed by fudge! I then slumped on sofa with BB, while Chris and SB did something secret in kitchen. A its my 36th birthday tomorrow, I am expecting that it may be related [craft!]

Spaghetti arrabiata for tea, and SB surprised me by eating it all without any complaints of its spiciness – cos it was quite chilli-ish.
I then set free my TCS self by agreeing that SB could scamper outside without coat etc on although 6pm and cold – door left open for her to scamper back into. Gave me the giggles, as she was practising being a viking warrior with a spear [bamboo cane!] and also beating imaginary somethings out of the cherry tree with it. She was giggling and talking all the while. jumped around so much that although hands cold, she wasn’t.[PE] However, when she asked me to join her, I switched to my TAS mode, and decided it was too cold!

Bathtime, fruit supper, books and bed for SB. More feeding for BB, and relaxing for me watching how not to decorate. i thought living room still entirely hideous on completion! Also feel that they really are too insulting for my comfort level. Had some fudge – very nice!

Good day tomorrow, as going to a mother blessing – must engage mind for poem. Have bead and sparklies, no knitted square though – it would have been a rhombus anyway!

Thought for the day: cuddling and Shrek is as important to our development as a loving family, as studydog or exeter maths!