Housework Gene

I have a theory that there are some people who are blessed with such a thing. There are some people to whom homework, tidiness, order and organisation come naturally.

I'm not one of those people. I wouldn't go as far as to say I hate housework but it definitely is a 'chore' for me. And one I'm not very good at. I mean I do it, my house isn't in the 'how clean is your house' bracket, but I do often feel it could be better. I could do it better.

But then I decide that life is too short and it's clean enough! So with that I'm off to find out what my son got up to this morning at his gymnastics class.

Testing, testing

Trying out a new bloggy type app


I'm hoping that this one will let me post pics throughout a post



So far so good - now to try publishing to find out where these ramblings are going!

Off on an adventure!....?

I live and work in the same town. It's good - it takes 10 minutes at the most to go from leaving my house to sitting at my desk, 25 if I walk.

But occasionally I get the opportunity to venture further afield - today I'm off to Glasgow for a meeting with like minded "private sector" colleagues from other local authorities across Scotland. I get to "network" (that term I despise, it actually fills me with dread, however I don't mind talking to people even if I'm a bit rubbish at it!).

So currently I'm on a train hurtling itself towards the west side of the country and trying to get a little bit of reading for work done at the same time. Although I do get distracted by people watching.  It always amazes me what others get up to on early morning trains - putting on make up, breakfast (coffee/muffin/stuff), reading, rocking out to tunes in their own world while trying to wake up! An interesting peak into the lives of others that I don't normally see.

Mind you I couldn't travel this far to work everyday, it would become tedious very quick. I like my very short commute.

Grateful

At the start of last weekend there was bad news about one of my bosses.  Sadly he passed away from lung cancer at the very young age of 57.  He was diagnosed just over 6 months ago so his passing has come as a bit of a shock to everyone at work. 


I've known him for 20 years and he was (it feels odd writing in the past tense) one of life's good people.  Although he was high up in management he treated everyone the same, irrespective of position.  He always spoke, took an interest in you, asked after your family.  He was a great family man, having 6 kids.  I really feel for them just now.

He was well respected by many people, so much so that our work are organising a bus to take colleagues to and from his funeral this week.  It will be difficult, but hell we are only work colleagues, how his family are coping just now I have no idea.  His family have been through more than enough in the last few years  - his sister passed from cancer, his elderly father was attacked in the street and died shortly afterwards and they then had to go through the court case.  Fortunately the person was caught and is now detained at her majesty's pleasure.

Although the passing is sad, we have all been trying to find a positive way to look at things.  This man was such a vibrant, happy, positive person that it's only right that we look at life in a positive manner.  While indulging in my pinterest passion I came across this and it just seems so fitting at the moment.

I can be a bit of moaner at times (can't we all?) but even I annoy myself so this is a little reminder to stop whenever I feel a moan coming on and appreciate what I have.  I'm grateful that I had the pleasure of knowing this gentleman (he really was a true gent) and I'm grateful that he is no longer suffering.

Life @ 4 (continued)

We had an invite to the Dude's nursery today for a little sort of show and tell session.  A tour of the nursery by the Dude and a chance to look through his development book.  We had the same thing last year just after he'd started and it was really good to see him through the eyes of others.  We had never used anyone other than family for childcare so it was interesting to see how he interacted with others.

This year it was good to see how much he has developed in 12 months.  He's not one for drawing or painting, if you ask him what he wants to do, he rarely opts for arty stuff.  Although he will do something if he has a particular thing in mind.  Like this the other day - quite obviously it's a rocket, including the rocket boosters on the bottom!

But his key worker (who is only temporary, as his usual worker is on sick leave) made a comment when we were being shown the 'numbers' area that made me laugh.  She can see him as a 'numbers geek' in the future.  Then she kind of apologised and stressed that she meant geek in a positive way.  I'm more than happy for my boy to be a maths geek in the future - he certainly doesn't get his fascination with number from me or his daddy!  Geeks rule!

I also came across a list of questions I did with the Dude back in June.  It was something a friend had on facebook that she had done with her son and I loved them. 

Q:  What is the meaning of life?
A:  Mmm - Bug's Life

Q:  What do you want to be when you grow up?
A:  the Captain of the submarine

Q:  What makes you happy?
A:  Happy things! Like getting to watch the telly

Q:  When do you feel loved?
A:  What's loved?  I don't know

Q:  If you could have one wish what would it be?
A:  Being the captain of the submarine.  Me: Which submarine?  D:  the yellow one!

Q:  What is the funniest word?
A:  A clown

Q:  What is the hardest thing to do?
A:  Build a high tower

Q:  What is the easiest thing to do?
A:  Building a low tower

Q:  What is the best thing in the world?
A:  You, mummy, of course  (I did not provoke this response!)

Q:  What is the worst thing in the world?
A:  Rain

Q:  What makes you angry?
A:  I don't know

Q:  If you had all the money in the world what would you buy?
A:  Ice cream and stuff (cookies apparently)

Q:  What does love mean?
A:  I don't know

I'm planning on doing them again next month, so roughly six months after the first time to see how his answers have changed.  It was fun doing this, kind of like interviewing my own child.  It's great seeing him turning into a little person with his own thoughts and plans.  I don't want to fast forward time but it's exciting thinking about him starting primary school next year to see what he enjoys. 

Life at 4

I was having a little conversation with the Dude while he was in the bath last night about his day. 

 (slight obsession with swimming now he's got the hang of it)

He is always a bit reticent to tell us what happens at nursery, 'I can't remember', is his usual response when asked.  Even if we are still in the playground!  Anyhoo, yesterday is turned out there was a fire engine at the school and the nursery kids had been shown round about it.  The Dude even got a wee shot at firing the hose (with the aid of a fireman) so we chatted about that a little.  I then asked him if he wanted to be a fireman when he grows up -

Dude - no, mummy
Me - ok, so what do you want to do
D - 3 things - 1 land thing and 2 water things
M - Really, can you tell what they are
D - the land thing is an explorer
M - oh ok
D - the water things are a deep sea diver and the captain of a ship
M - the captain of a ship sounds good
D - oh no, not a ship, the submarine
M - what submarine
D - the yellow one of course!

I'm still trying to figure out how he knows about The Yellow Submarine but it's a good aim in life at 4!

Hello there :)

Today I've decided to link up with Lynne at Lily's Quilts and take part in sort of both the fresh sewing day - because in September I *shock, horror* actually managed to get sat at my sewing machine and achieve some sewing - and also the Small Blog Meet.

Sewing wise I tackled my first ever attempt at cathedral window blocks.  They are very addictive!  I'm really pleased with the results - not sure what I will do with this now however, but I'm contemplating turning it into a cushion cover.

I also managed to complete all my 24 scrappy trip around the world blocks.  I'm still deciding on the final layout so the quilt top is not completely finished but I'm more than impressed that I've finished the blocks considering that I started them shortly after my daughter was born this year - she's nearly 8 months!

And now a little bit about me and my blog.  This is my second blog but my first one Biff's Funky Scrappy blog, never did have a huge amount of followers either so I decided to link up to Lynne's Small Blog Meet.  I've been sewing off and on for a few years - it's in my blood.  Both my grannys were very good with their hands - one pretty much constantly had a pair of knitting needles in her hands and the other had a large sewing table with the ever present sewing machine in her (small) livingroom and after a life working in mills she basically become the go-to mender of clothes/household essentials in the small fishing village where she lived.  My sister carries the 'make do and mend/creative' gene better than me to be fair - she did Home Economics at school and make her own leather jacket at age 17!  But I love messing about with my sewing machine, I will never claim to be fantastic at it or even particularly creative, but I love seeing how things produce and having something tangible in my hands at the end of a few hours in front of my sewing machine.

I'd love to have more time (and money!) to do more sewing but a large chunk of my time is spent at work (boo!) and an even larger chunk is spent tending to/running after/playing with my 2 lovely kiddiewink.  Occasionally I also attempt to spend some time with my husband!

If you've popped over from Lily's Quilts I hope you've enjoyed my blethers and I haven't bored you too much.  Maybe you'll pop by again, you're more than welcome too :)