Dust bin lids

Misty morning, don't see no sun....

Well, actually there was a beautiful frosty sunrise.
This is the view from my front door.

Clothkits Obsession

Have been minorly (or majorly - depending on how you view it..) obsessed with Clothkits since they re-launched - at the start of this year - I think. Made these dungarees for Madani on Friday night just before we drove up to London. He loves them, and so do I. Am currently stitiching skirts for Astou and I, and rag dolls with clothes for all of us.

Jellyfish at the Horniman

Spent most of Saturday and Sunday at the Horniman Museum. The Aquarium had the kids mesmorised, really easy to get around and they could have a good look at everything - even better - it was all free.

Smashing Pumkins

You get a good class of pumpkin in Forest Hill. Took the kids 'trick or treating' - my idea of hell, and have made a mental note to myself to NEVER do it again... Had a comedy moment when a very kind lady handed out her sweets to the kids, she waved a satsuma at me stating 'don't worry - it's organic' - even better was the reaction of the child who got it, he howled for 5 mins as all the others had sweets, the last thing he wanted was an organic satsuma. Doesn't bode well for the one Father Christmas will shove down the bottom of his stocking....

Grovely Woods

We had a lovely walk in the woods this afternoon, took Bonnie (the dog) and met up with lovely Annabel and her 3 children. Am thankful for half term and the freedom it allows us. Was even more thankful for Shirley cooking home made pizza for us followed by bannana toffee muffins and flap jack. Life is good!

15th October - Madani's Birthday

Standing in the cake section of Tesco's (I know, I know, any self respecting mother would have baked her own - but I can't and wont) and faced with a choice of 3 cakes: A. Thomas the Tank Engine, B. Spiderman or C. Barbie Island Princess - Well it just had to be the latter.
Madani had already insisted that we have a pink fairy party and that he would wear his fairy wings all day along with his Snow White dress. I'm pleased to say that several of his presents were equally appropriate: a new set of fairy wings, a ballerina sticker book and a fairy colouring in book. The only near crisis was when we couldn't find his pink 'clippy cloppy' shoes.
For those out there who are feeling a bit uncomfortable with all of this, I might add that he spent the whole day playing with his hot wheels.

Tate Modern: TH2058

This was the best bit of the lot, apart from the kids being asked to get off the top level of the bunk beds.

A sick stick!

Astou's Treasure Hunt

Astou made a treasure hunt for Madani and I, it kept us all
occupied for quite some time. I love her instructions:

These are the rules.
1. You have to follow the rules.
2. You have to look at the clues
3. And you have to look carefully

Setting up for a fall!

Every night before she goes to sleep and every morning when she wakes up she checks with me if she's calculated correctly the number of days before her next riding lesson. It will end in tears, as I can't afford the lessons, let alone the kit. It's even worse when I think about last years letter to Father Christmas, which requested in the following order: 1. A pony, 2. A laptop, 3. A pig.

I dread to think what will be on the list this year!

Bathing Beauties

Great Wishford 3km Run

2oth September Astou completed a 3km run to raise money for her primary school. Think there was a fair amount of walking involved but am more than proud that she gave it a go.

Oak Apple Day - Great Wishford

We didn't go to the ceremony at Salisbury Cathedral but with Astou dressed in full traditional costume we arrived in the village to join in with the procession. Yep, she did look a bit like she was heading out to pick some cotton - but obviously she would have ended up working in the house!
There was Morris Dancing, bric-a-brac stalls, hot dogs, May Pole dancing and running races. A fantastic day which just confirmed for me all the reasons why I'm happy to be back in the UK. It only started raining just as we were leaving.
Oh - and of course Astou won the photography competition - and the running race.....

Especially for Dis...

Gave Astou my camera and asked her to take some shots.  

She focused and composed them herself, even understands the macro setting!

4 girls under 5 !!!!

Went to the Lake District in the Feb half term with my beautiful friend Becs. She had twin girls in Sept. We took all the kids up for a walk in the hills. Madani still asks randomly now if we can go for a walk with Becs and that's 3 months later.  Think it was the chocolate coins that the magic birds dropped on the path when he couldn't take another step!!!

Astou's 1st day at school

This one's from Sept 2007 but feels important to me.

Mulebar fatigue

Jimmy after a sunday afternoon ride.....

Identikit

Chick chick chic chick chicken lay a little egg for me

Couldn't resist, the bantam went broody so I let her sit on some eggs.  4 hatched, the one pictured is actually the only one left.  Madani put paid to two of them (a story for another day). 

London rules

Maybe it's a case of 'grass is greener' but my spirits soar as I reach London.  I love catching up with all my friends and I love all the experiences the kids have there.

Went for a walk on a winter's day

Elizabeth Frink statue, Salisbury Cathedral. 

The lovely Astou.

Footprints

I was cleaning for a friend, the kids had to keep themselves occupied. I came outside to find that Astou had been making patterns on his table with her wet feet.

Not quite blogging.

Ok - so I'm not really doing this properly. But.... life has been pretty full on and much has changed since last April. So I'll upload several posts in one session just to get things going again. This was Easter day a year on from my last blog - somewhat chillier - but SO HAPPY to be back in the UK.