tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66537137625647310772024-02-18T23:11:07.887-08:00Roots and WingsHodding Carter:
There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings.Helen40http://www.blogger.com/profile/18092941823531213880noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653713762564731077.post-63401641189122049312010-02-17T01:34:00.000-08:002010-02-17T02:05:19.799-08:00no power for pancake party<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2GM4qrz7K3OeMUm90Nr0Yy03ky2EP4X3_T64b91M4BaxqS_ccYr36axBTYxHtAUgP-BmWp22rsl8BYjKmZ5hAvDGvWCz4H5zdSGpflEH0E_QnOrgelURaJRLyk095l7VveF4yKhGCg/s1600-h/t2_AA_logo.jpg"></a><br /><div>The plan was to take the kids swimming and then drive the 3 miles to Peter's Pancake party.<br /><br />The swimming bit, really did go swimmingly. Pleaaaase is getting so much better at going under water and Mischief just can't get enough of splashing about in the water!<br /><br />After swimming I noticed this little red warning light on the dash, but thought, it'll be alright, not far to go.<br /><br />However I made one huge error! Several more warning lights came on at the traffic lights. I was in the middle lane during rush hour.<br /><br />For one second I thought it would make sense to turn the ignition on and off and see if all those horrid lights would go away. Unfortunately I did this before I thought about possible consequences and of course...the car wouldn't start again.<br /><br />So here I was stuck at the lights with two under fives in the car and no mobile phone. I glanced around and saw that I was right next to the pub, so danced across the lanes to the pub leaving the kids locked in our little metal island.<br /><br />I asked pitifully to borrow a phone to call the AA. They were fantastic in there. They lent me a phone, helped push the car 50 metres to the car park and let me bring my restless and hungry kids into the pub (so I bought them all a drink while we waited).<br /><br />The AA man took us all to the garage which was shut, so we abandoned it there and he took us home.<br /><br />We were sad to have missed the party, because Peter's pancake parties are almost legendary and the kids are at just the right age to start enjoying it.<br /><br />Once home we had a mini pancake party with lemon and sugar pancakes. then I zipped them off to bed (at least 2 hours after bedtime).<br /><br />This morning I got up early, found bike lights, pumped up tyres, found high-vis vest, bike locks, gloves and cycle helmet and cycled 7miles to work. I was surprised how easy the cycle was and how only my toes got cold!<br /><br />The car is going to cost at least £500 and may not be ready today, so I may be cycling for a few more days!</div>Helen40http://www.blogger.com/profile/18092941823531213880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653713762564731077.post-47115971476361119482010-01-06T04:22:00.000-08:002010-01-07T01:40:18.328-08:00Roots and WingsI thought I ought to introduce the blog.<br /><br />I love the quote about the importance about giving your kids roots and wings.<br /><br />This blog will probably have little relevance to that, but may feature my kids!Helen40http://www.blogger.com/profile/18092941823531213880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6653713762564731077.post-88313575211544020852010-01-06T04:21:00.001-08:002010-01-07T02:04:09.829-08:00night time disruption by proxyMy kids are 1 and 3. 'Mischief'(a boy) and 'Pleeease'(a girl) respectively.<br /><br />At night they are pretty good at sleeping, apart from the odd nightmare or weeing event.<br /><br />Mischief has discovered a rather cunning way of waking me up without him having to lose any sleep!<br /><br />While I am distracted with Mum type activities like shovelling toys, stacking-up washing and hosing down the kitchen. Mischief snuck into my room and set my radio alarm.<br /><br />At Midnight there was an huge racket which I leapt up in an OMG-its-the-end-of-the-world panic and crushed instantly, but it was followed by a back up alarm-riot every hour thereafter.<br /><br />I have no idea how he did this, but it was extremely annoying and resulted in the alarm being chucked in the wardrobe and buried under a pile of clothes.<br /><br />This makes waking up for work a bit hit and miss, but more importantly makes me more aware of the power of Mischief whose favourite hobby is pressing buttons. <br /><br />He finds it all the more satisfying if they make a rounded and reassuring beep to acknowledge his finger bouncing efforts.<br /><br />We already hide remotes and cameras; cover on off switches on TV's, computers etc. But my Mischief proofing may have to go further!<br /><br />His other favourite button pressing activity is fixing the timer on the cooker so I can't turn it on. I have learnt to solve this with a quick double button press so you needn't worry about us having no hot meals in this snowbound and wintry weather.<br /><br />Even the doorbell doesn't get off lightly.<br /><br />I wonder if this quick draw button beeping can be harnessed (in a 1year old) into a useful activity?Helen40http://www.blogger.com/profile/18092941823531213880noreply@blogger.com1