Mud & Mischief

Had a very slow, fruitless and frustrating day. Informed my three offspring that no lunch would be forthcoming unless the playroom floor was excavated. That was at 11am.

At 3pm, I finally snapped, went ballistic and got hold of a black bin bag. And filled it. You can see the carpet now. Myf sat there in floods of tears because I’d thrown away her cardigan. Didn’t bat an eyelid at the Barbie stuff, the my Little Pony, various bits of lego, meccano, crayons, little animals, stuffed rabbit, books etc etc etc.

So, tonight when they’re in bed, I’m having a blitz. Absolutely everything except for the Barbie box (as the small two play a lot with that), the lego and the big thing of crayons/pencils, is going in the loft. The books are all on the book shelf in the living room, as a precursor to clearing out the playroom/dining room to decorate/carpet etc. But I’m fed up of the mess. And it’s not like I’ve been a bad example sat on my butt in front of this thing all day - I’ve been emptying all kinds of boxes of stuff in the dining room, right next to where they’ve been mucking around. Filled a black bin bag, and then some.

I did, however, spend a half hour on here eating my lunch. Well, I’d tidied my room up, hadn’t I?

Unfortunately, I got sidetracked by Amazon, and bought the following. *sigh*

The One-Straw Revolution - Fukuoka

The Pauper’s Cookbook

The Real Witches Handbook

Two of them have been in my basket for ever and ever, and I’ve wanted to read the Fukuoka book for a while. So I treated myself, for all the stuff I threw away. There’s logic in there somewhere, if you read it real quick and don’t stop and think about it too much.

Philippine News - Manila Standard Today - Antonio Abaya

Disturbing reading.

Just went to see Cars. It was huge fun. We took all three girls - first time we’ve gone to the pictures en masse, so to speak. First time Piglet and Tea have been to the cinema too - I wish I’d had a camera to capture Piglet’s expression when we walked into the auditorium and she spotted the screen. You could almost hear her - ‘like, it’s the biggest TV in the world!!!’

The film itself is a great romp - quite a few adult jokes in there that kids wouldn’t even notice fly by (one reference was to the Piston Cup; Mater the Tow truck [as in Tow Mater] splutters and asks ‘he did what in it?’ - but it’s been and gone so quick that you’d miss it if you blinked), some great animation, fabulous scenery and great, great characters. I was so excited to see the 1952 camper van that James and I spent 9 weeks travelling round the US in get a great cameo role. So it may not measure up to Monsters Inc and Toy Story in some people’s eyes - so what? It was fun, the kids enjoyed it and there were some moments that had me almost crying with tears [see the tractor tipping scene]

Then after, like it wasn’t late enough getting out of there at 7.30pm, we took the kids to a Thai restaurant and had a great meal. Tea put a small dampener on it by tripping up on the way back from the toilet and cracking her head on James’ chair - instant, ping pong ball sized egg on her forehead. But a glass of ice and an after eight mint from the concerned proprietor did wonders for her disposition. Cue lots of arnica cream and a double dose of 6C when we got home. But I was well impressed with Myf, trying virtually everything James offered her. Tom Yum Gai soup, green curry, pad thai noodles, as well as her sweet and sour pork & veg. Piglet ate three portions of sticky rice and half of my beef in oyster sauce. Tea ate all the mushrooms out of mine - like I minded.

All in all, a very enjoyable family afternoon. We need to do more days like today - except maybe not such expensive days! £8.50 for two tubs of popcorn and a 7up! Next time I’m sneaking in bags of Butterkist. Oh yeah - and Piglet ate most of one tub, and then all her dinner. Why is she such a scrawny thing then?

Two medical appts tomorrow - me 11am midwife, and Piglet 3.45 doc for excema check up. We’ve been on some serious cream the past week and it’s done wonders for her legs. Almost clear now. I don’t think the heat at Billing did her any favours, nor the running around the field bare legged in the long, dry grass.

Off for an early night now. In my nice cool bedroom. Bliss….

Well… Kath what’s EC? And Merry, sure!

I’ll try any/all offered nappies. Shall put off ordering those then, and see what I can beg/borrow/steal. Although I did get one of their free samples and they are lovely, lovely nappies. Really soft and squishy and snuggly.

Off to take the offspring to see Cars at the cinema. First time we’ve ever taken all three in one go - should be entertaining!