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Tuesday 30th April

The funniest thing I've seen in a long while is Wayne hopping round the house on one leg with Brooke following him jumping up and down and shouting boing boing. She thinks he is Tigger!! Its quite sweet the way she says "daddy poorly" and pats his plaster cast when she sees it, bless her. She is talking so much at the moment, suddenly everything belongs to someone - mummy's dinner or daddy's hat. Lovely little girl..

I had a hospital appointment this afternoon to get the results of the moles I had removed a while ago and everything is OK. I spent nearly 2 hours sitting in the hospital waiting room and then didn't even get to sit down when I went into see the consultant. As I walked through the door he said "I've seen your biopsy results and everything is Ok - you have nothing to worry about. Hand this discharge notice in to reception" Now obviously I'm pleased that there was nothing wrong but are you serious? Tow hours inthe waiting room for that? Couldn't the receptionist have told me that when I booked in??

At least I've got a good book to read though. Martina Cole's The LadyKiller is fantastic. I got 2 of her books for christmas which were great and then my sister leant me this one. Part of the attraction is that its set in the area of London that I live in so to read references to my own street really makes me smile. I know - I'm easily impressed!

I've also become a bit obsessed with crafty magazines. I read Inspirations at my mum's at the weekend and managed to walk away with her copy. Its got some great ideas for things to make and I went and bought the next months issue today - i'm seriously considering subscribing to it. This months has an article on patchworking so I've been re-inspired to start this quilt I've been talking about (as well as the teddy bear slippers and sleeveless hoody top that I'm in the middle of) I think I'll be going up in the loft at the weekend to look through some of my bags of old baby clothes to choose the right ones. I'll put up some ideas for patterns when I've decided on a few...

Sunday 28th April

I've finally managed to get back to this - its been a hectic few weeks with a new job and a few PC problems. For some reason I had to go through the html for this site word by word until I found the problem - one of the links seemed to be causing the whole page to fail. I'm not techy enough to understand why all I know is that its working now!!

Its been another eventful weekend with my mum's birthday and Wayne snapping his achilles tendon playing badminton on Friday. Now I've got two "kids" to look after, one of them with plaster on his leg for 6-8 weeks and the other one is 2 years old. What fun!

Time to go and cook dinner now - I've made a resolution to update this site at least 2 or 3 times a week - I've really missed it over the last few weeks. Back soon...

Monday 15th April

Its been a really miserable day weather-wise here. I get so depressed when there is no sign of the sun especially after the few weeks of lovely weather that we have been having. I was looking forward to being at home with Brooke this week and going to the park or playing out in the garden. Instead we're indoors with the heating on - what a mare! We've been out shopping today and for the first time in months I put her in her pushchair. I thought she would be really cross - little miss independant - but she loved it. Every time I stopped to look in a shop window she would say "ready steady go!" and then would sit there shouting "whee" and "more" whenever we slowed down. She also fell asleep after about 30 minutes which was what I was hoping for so I was able to enjoy a leisurely wander around the shops before coming home. We needed to buy new shoeds for Brooke - her feet grow so quickly you wouldn't believe it. Eventually decided on these ones - its about time she had some nice pink girly shoes for a change. They cost me nearly Ł30 so I hope her feet stay this size for at least 6 weeks this time. Children's feet can be an expensive business.

I've got to go and tidy up the house this evening, I got a phone call from the Health Visitor at the end of last week to say that as a result of Brooke's accident with the hot water last month she needs to come out and do a home visit. I guess this is a good thing - how do the hospital know that we're not a child abusing family but it did make me feel guilty again. I want everything to be perfect when she comes round tomorrow so that she can see how well Brooke is doing. Knowing my luck she'll be in psycho kid mood and won't impress anyone. Fingers crossed though...

Sunday 14th April

I finally managed to download cool FTP so that I can update this site from home. Now I'm back!

Its the London Marathon today and we were watching some of the pre race interviews this morning and there is a woman running who has terminal breast cancer and is hoping to raise money for other people with cancer. The interview was really touching and it made me think how strong some people can be in the face of really bad times. I'll be watching throughout the day and I hope she completes the race. I'm sure she is going to be one of the most cheered for people on the course. Over 26 miles - I think they must all be mad!

We're having a lazy day so far today. We are all still in our PJs, Wayne is watching football on TV and Brooke is running around singing twinkle twinkle little star. She must have learned it at nursery - its so cute to hear her singing in her little voice. It makes you realise how she is not a baby anymore. I'm starting to get really broody and thinking about the next one. Oh dear..

I finished making the cardigan on Thursday - here is a picture of my reluctant model wearing it to nursery on Friday. Bless her!

Now I'm starting on a sleeveless hooded top made in the same wool for her. I'm not sure how it will turn out - its the first time I've knitted something without a pattern and just an idea. If it works I'll post the pattern here. But don't hold your breaths, its going to take a few weeks...

Wednesday 10th April

Wow - where have the last few days gone? I finished work on Friday and I've got 2 weeks off before I start at the BBC. I decided that I would have a week at home getting lots of jobs done and keep Brooke in childcare and then have "mummy daughter" week next week. I've been so busy the last few days I haven't had time to update this site - the fact that I'm not sitting at a desk behind a screen for 9 hours a day also has something to do with it!

So I've had a really busy few days doing boring housewifey stuff. I've shortened curtains, weeded the garden, trimmed the hedge out back (haven't got round to the one in the front yet!) done lots of cooking and cleaning and FINISHED MY TAXES. I'd been putting off doing my paperwork for so long but when I started it was OK. Only took me a few hours yesterday morning and now I'm legal! Or at least I will be when I remember to put the cheque in the post to the Inland Revenue. Must do that this afternoon...

On a crafty note I've been keeping really busy. I took Not Martha's advice and decided to convert an old pair of jeans into a long denimn skirt. Not entirely sure how it will turn out but I'll let you know. I need to borrow mum's sewing machine at the weekend so that I can finish it off.

I've also done LOADS of knitting! I made Brooke a handbag (she's such a little lady its frightening!) out of some thick red wool that has been knocking about for ages. Really basic, just a couple of squares with a handle joining them together. She seems to like it though!

I found a great pattern on Domestic Sphere for an aysemetric cardigan. I changed the pattern a little bit (as I usually do!) and tried to make it a bit bigger so that it would fit my nearly 2 year old daughter. I made the sleeves extra long as both Wayne and I have monkey arms so she doesn't stand a chance bless her. Looking at the half finished work they make the body look too short so I'll see how it looks when I'm done. If I need to I might knit a pink band to sew around the bottom and add some length. I only started this last night so I'm really excited that I might have it finished either today or tomorrow. Sad I know!br>

At the same time I'm changing the Easter bunny slipper pattern a little to make a pair of teddy bear slippers for my friends little girl. The original pattern was from the book "Style Your Own Kids Knits" Here are the slippers that I made for Brooke.

Friday 5th April

I GOT THE JOB!! Offer letter came in the post this morning, Section Manager with BBC technologies. I'm sooo excited I can't wait. Now all I need to do is talk to my current boss and work out a finish date and then start with BBC. What a great start to the weekend...

It was such a gorgeous evening last night that we went out for our first bike ride as a family. We rode around the park a few times and then back home along the roads and Brooke loved it. She had a smile on her face the whole time and shouted "quick daddy quick" and "beep beep" whenever I rode in front of them. It would be nice for this to be a regular thing to do in the evenings if the weather is going to stay nice.

Brooke said "I love you" to her dad last night!!! I am so excited that she said it but I wish it had been me (sob sob) He was in the garden and she went running up to him with her arms out and fell into his arms and he gave her a huge hug. She looked at him and we are both sure she said "I love you" She wouldn't repeat it though!

Friday Five

1. What are the first things that you do in the morning to start your day?
Hit snooze on the alarm clock at least twice before getting out of bed and trying to get myself all ready for work before Brooke wakes up and needs attention.

2. What are the last things that you do at night before going to bed?
Look in at Brooke and make sure she is covered up and not sleeping with her arms and legs hanging out of the side of the cot.

3. What daily routine have you recently added to your day?
updating this site!

4. What routine do you wish you could get rid of?
Cooking dinner and washing up in the evenings. This time would be so much more valuable if I could spend it playing with Brooke or knitting.

5. What's the one thing that makes you feel like something is missing if you don't do it some point within your day?
Talk to Wayne and Brooke on the phone on their way home from nursery as I am leaving work.

wednesday 3rd April

I think this news article about Bethlehem is so sad. I must have missed a lot of the news over the last few weeks as this is the first I've heard of any fighting in Bethlehem. Just the name makes me think of the Christmas Carol "O little town of Bethlehem" that we used to sing at school. Oh well - life changes doesn't it..

I'm feeling soooo cheerful this morning. The sun is shining and it is a beautiful bright day. I love London in the summer, everything looks much cleaner and newer in the sun don't you think? Even the tube didn't annoy me this morning - that might have something to do with the fantastic book I'm reading at the moment. I'm a huge fan of James Patterson and I'm usually first in line for his books when they come out in paperback. So how suprised was I yesterday when I walked past a book shop and saw 1st to Die for sale in paperback! I didn't even know it existed! I read it all the way home on the train last night and then again this morning. I've nearly finished it already and I'm actually looking forward to the train ride home tonight so that I can find out what happens next...

I was very brave last night when I had my stitches taken out - it didn't hurt a bit! Now all I have to do is wait until my appt with the hospital on 30th April to make sure everything is OK. I'm quite proud of the scar that it has left, I'm going to be showing it to people for a long while I think. How sad! We were really late getting home from the doctors which prompted us to order Indian takeaway for dinner instead of cooking. We tried a new restaurant near us and it was good. Brooke tried to make friends with the delivery man by showing him her potty (??) and her teddy but he wasn't convinced. She wanted to wave goodbye at the window as he left but even though she banged on the window and shouted "bye-bye man" he didn't show much enthusiasm for his new found friend. We spent the next few minutes listening to her saying "man gone" a few times before she realised that mummy had curry she could share and she forgot all about him. She is so fickle! She sat next to me with a piece of Naan bread in her hand scooping up the curry and rice when she thought I wasn't watching. Now if it had been on her plate you know she wouldn't have touched it, right? kids!

After she went to bed, I started my next knitting project (the Easter bunny slippers having been a complete success) which is going to be a red bag for Brooke. She is such a little lady that I feel she needs her own bag, I got 3/4 of it completed last night which is better progress than I expected to make! While I was knitting we watched Training Day which was really good. It was a lot darker than I thought it was going to be but I enjoyed it.

tuesday 2nd April

I've got to go and have my stitches removed from my arm this evening which I am not looking forward to. Firstly I'm worried it is going to hurt and secondly I'm worried it is going to hurt!! They have been in for 12 days now - the 10 day window fell on Easter Sunday so after lots of debating the hospital decided that 12 days would be better than 7. Problem is that I had a peek under the steri strips (sp) this morning and realised that the skin is growing back over the top of the stitches. YUCK! YUCK! I guess this means that it is REALLY going to hurt. I hope Wayne will come with me and hold my hand. If Brooke is running around in the background causing havoc in the surgery then maybe I won't notice the pain as much. Yeah right!

I've also got my 2nd interview for the job that I really really really want tomorrow morning so wish me luck. I'll have to get my suit ready tonight so that I can leave the house by about 7.30ish. Hmmm and I have to find my car stuff tonight as well. Looks like I'm in for another busy one..

I've had a lot of spare time this afternoon so I've been hunting around for some good blogs to read. This one kept my interest for a while.

This is a great tribute to the late queen mother

Why do long weekends never seem long enough? 4 days off is great at the time but doesn't the first day back to work HURT?? I couldn't wake up this morning (something to do with being up until past 11 last night looking for my MOT certificate. Why isn't it where it is supposed to be? And why didn't I renew my road tax last week before it ran out? And why did I not start to look for my documents until 9pm last night? So many questions but the answer to all of them is that I'm disorganised and lazy I guess. Hmmmm.. Ended up getting the train into work this morning so I didn't have to drive my illegal car any more than is necessary. MUST SORT THIS OUT TONIGHT!!!

We had a FANTASTIC Easter weekend. Spent Friday with my parents out in the garden all day as it was so sunny. Brooke had a great time running around and playing with a football. We went on an insect hunt and caught loads of ladybirds in a bucket. She held her hand out for one to walk on her but threw it on the floor and said it tickled too much. She was happy to put them in a bucket and carry them around all day until they got bored with the attention and flew away... It was so nice to be able to spend the day outside - almost like summer!

Saturday was a chores day - we had to go to tescos and do the monthly shop. Boring boring boring boring..... In the afternoon Brooke and I made an Easter bonnet to wear on Sunday - it was great! I'll post a picture as soon as I get one...

Sunday morning started off great - we got ready for church and Brooke actually sat still for me to plait her hair. She had a pretty dress on and a new coat and hat and looked gorgeous!! Wayne and I were really smart as well and we were looking forward to the Sunday service and then spending the rest of the day with his family. As we walked out the door I happened to look at the clock on the VCR which was the only thing in the house clever enough to realise that BST had started on Saturday night! We thought it was 10.30 and that we were going to be a few minutes late for church - NO, it was 11.30 and we had missed nearly the whole service! We felt so stupid creeping in towards the end trying to keep Brooke quiet and pretend that we had been there for ages. How embarrassing! Why didn't anyone tell us that the clocks were changing? Is this something that we are supposed to just know about? Anyway - after that start the rest of the day was great. We ate FAR too much food and went home 2 clothes sizes bigger than we arrived. Perfect Easter Sunday!

Yesterday Wayne fixed the puncture in my bike and put together the children's bike seat that we bought recently. With her Bob the Builder cycle helmet on Brooke looked sooooo cute sitting behind her dad (I'm not safe enough to have her on my bike!) Shame that I wimped out of actually going anywhere as it was too cold for me. I was having a wimp day!