Our trip to Holland

In October half term -last week in October - we took a holiday to visit some friends in Holland. We took the ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland. We left our house on the sunday at about 9am and did a family 'tour of duty' visiting various relatives that live in the Essex/Hertfordshire area. We were booked onto the overnight ferry which didn't leave Harwich until 23.45hrs.
We got onto the ferry about 11pm, found our cabin and settled in for the night. Pete and I had to share the beds with kids as they were bunks which aren't really suitable for small people. We arrived in Holland about 6am and after passing through customs ventured out onto the open road. Thankfully SatNav reminded us that we needed to drive on the right hand side. The journey to Amersfoort was about an hour long and very flat, apart from an area called the dykes which is just outside of the ferry port which the roads had been raised up (all man-made) to stop flooding as the area is below sea level. It was a lovely drive (i can say that as I wasn't driving!!) but thank goodness for SatNav. Whilst we were there we went to a place called Zaanse Schans which had lots of windmills and is situated on the River Zaans. We climbed up inside a windmill, had a look at the cheese shop, saw a clog demonstration (the Health and Safety people would've gone mad - no protective glass for the tourists to prevent them getting hit by stray bits of wood, wooden posts as seats. You can just imagine someone with a clipboard writing all these things down, you wouldn 't get away with it in England). We went into Amsterdam on the train which Hannah loved. Went on a canal boat trip and I almost got run over by bikes too many times. They even have multi-storey bike parks which are crammed full of bikes - you wouldn't see it over here. We spent an afternoon looking round Amersfoort, getting a little bit soaked. We went to a cafe and I had the most delicious hot chocolate, it was just lovely. They also had a kids play area on the first floor which was great for the kids BUT there was no stair gate to prevent kids from falling downstairs. (The HSE would have those clipboards out again!!) I do like the Dutch attitude though, I think in this country we no longer allow people to use their common sense or parents to look after their kids. We've probably gone too far down the line of protecting people from themselves. Anyway enough of the politics.
We had a lovely time away, and it sadly came to end all to quickly. Back to work, reality sets in again.

update on broken arm

this is really going to be a short blog just to update anyone who actually reads this. my arm is healing nicely and i need to be using it. Doctor was not happy that i still had the sling with me, i debated about taking it with me and it was a gabmle i lost. anyway it is now in the bin. I am going back to work monday week and i have my final appointment in early december, so then i will get the x-ray pictures and can then post them on here.!!!!!

The broken arm

Well, its been a while since i last blogged. it is 4am and both Pete & I cantr sleep so we're both downstairs on our computers. I know its really sad. Anyway, my arm. It is now out of its bandage and kind of left to its own devises in a way. I'm not allowed to put pressure on it but am allowed to exercise it a little. i am seeing the consultant on friday to see what is going on - how thw bone is healing etc. I can post some pics of the lovely scars I have to show for it as well.

Anyway, what else is happening in our lives..... Pete started his new job mid- September and is enjoying it. He works from home so if there is no job booked in he doesn't go into work. Oftentimes the jobs he has booked in are cancelled so he is free for the rest of the day. Last sunday he started to lay the patio which is good but the pesky neighbourhood cats keep pooing in the sand.

Hannah started pre-school at the beginning of the month, attending 3 days mornings a week. We now move onto 4 mornings a week for this month and after the holdiays we go to 5 mornings a week. I dont know about her but I am knackered from having to get up so early every morning.

She's really enjoting it, painting, play dough, going outside etc. This week we also have an outing to a local arboretum which'll be quite exciting, and the christmas outing is to clearwell caves so i hiope to be able to get on that trip as a parent helper.

When i'm back to full health I hope to take josh swimming once a week on my day off whilst hannah is at school. He is such a little character and such a boy - investigating everythting, copying his sister, wanting to more than his body will allow etc

Anyway that is about it for the time being.

Broken Arm

As the title says I broke my arm - trampolining with the kids. I did it on Sunday whilst Pete was on a high risk adventure activity called Go Ape which involves climbing through an assault course in the trees, the irony is quite funny. Anyway a friend took me to hospital where they confirmed I had broken it and the doctors decided the best course of action was to manipulate it back into place which involves pulling the arm and hand to align the bone in a straight position. unfortunately it is a bad break and yesterday the orthopaedic consultant told me I would need an op on it (which was the 2nd choice Sunday). I was supposed to go in on Tuesday to have my op but the theatre person who organises the patients said the break was so bad he wanted the top surgeon to do the op so I've had to wait until today (Thursday). When I go in today the plan is to have a plate and 5-7 screws put in to help the bone heal in the right place. It has to stay in for 2 yrs and then i can have it or alternatively keep it in forever. (the first involves another op so i shall probably just keep it in)
its my right hand and i am one of those fortunate people that is a leftie!!!!! so there is a least a little good news.

Kids Camp

In the first week of August we go on kids camp to Sevenoaks, Kent. It is there to provide a holiday for disadvantaged children who most probably wont get a holiday and have difficult home lives. We left for camp on August 2nd (Hannah's birthday) and met up with our friends Ben & Catherine to travel with them. We got to Sevenoaks at about 10.30am - a bit of an early start - and gradually met up with the rest of the team who come from different parts of the country (Birmingham, Somerset, Gloucester, London). Some members also came with some of the leaders and went to the cinema with a couple of leaders whilst the rest of us when through camp training. After lunch we off-loaded the mini buses with all the things needed for the week. The members arrive from 4pm to settle in and meet the leaders and other members. As it was Hannah's birthday I had made a cake for her with candles on. After tea she was called up to the front where everyone sang Happy Birthday to her and she blew out her candles etc. She was a bit shy being in front of lots of people she didn't know.
Camp is very structured with not a lot of free time for the kids to get into trouble. We run lots of activities for the kids. First thing in the morning we (leaders) meet up with each other to do a short Bible study and prayer. We then go through the days activities with who is doping what and any volunteers needed for the activities. When the kids get up they can go to aerobics, jogging, or just chillin till breakfast. After breakfast and clearing up we usually have a game(s) in teams. We did games such as wellie throwing, water games, games involving shaving foam etc. We had a spiritual slot where the kids would learn a little bit about God and Jesus. Int eh afternoons there were various workshops for the kids to take part in. We took the kids ice-skating, ten-pin bowling, boating, we do something called 'Hunt the Spy' where leaders dress up and the members have to find them and then take a photo of themselves doing a challenge set by that leader and we take the members into town for this activity. We went to to Thorpe Park for the day and we had a big 'ball' for the kids on the last day.
It can be a difficult balancing act with our children and the members who come to camp - being able to serve those on camp and spending time and giving attention to Hannah & Josh. They seemed to mix well with the members and leaders and had a good time.

Hannah's 3rd birthday

It was Hannah's 3rd birthday party on August 2nd and we had her party on the Thursday before. She about 5 friends come round. We had party food, birthday cake, presents, played pass the parcel and played outside thanks to the weather holding off for the day. In the evening family members came round and we had pizza - thanks Uncle Andy - and more presents and cake. We bought her a new car seat which is bright pink, a butterfly cushion, a balamory magazine, and other little bits and pieces. She also had colouring things, a smart denim dress outfit and other clothes, a little suitcase for when she stays overnight with Grandma. It was a long day but she enjoyed it all. I can't quite believe she is 3 years old. Being an August baby means she'll only have 1 more year at home before she goes to school. She will be going to pre-school in September which I think she is looking forward to.

Happy Birthday Josh

It was Josh's first birthday on Sunday (May 25th). We had planned a big family gathering at Rodborough common where there is an ice cream factory but unfortunately the Great British weather was against us and it was just too unreliable to be outside and away from anyone's house. We phoned everyone up and told them that the venue had changed to our house. Then we rang Pete's parents and they suggested we held the party at their house which has a bigger living space and kitchen so we rang everyone again to tell them the new venue for the party (fortunately everyone managed to get there as some of our friends wouldn't have ever been to their house). Dad (Pete's) came over to pick me up to take all the food and birthday cake over from our house to theirs. The birthday cake was Winnie the Pooh holding a number 1 which my Mum helped me decorate using fondant icing - having never decorated a cake with fondant icing before, and to make up for not being at the ice cream factory we had bought some the day before so everyone had a bowl of ice cream.
We had 27 people come over including Josh's friends and aunts and uncles, grandparents etc. He had a really good time with lots of presents to open and play with. Lots of noisy, battery operated toys, new PJ's and clothes.
On Saturday to celebrate his (Josh) last day of being months old he was going through the nappy bag whilst we were in the kitchen getting breakfast ready. Hannah came into the living room and came back to tell us Josh had made a mess. I thought he had just got lots of toys out but NO he had got the nappy cream out of the bag, unscrewed the lid and was smothering it all over himself, the carpet, the nappy bag and all over his hands. He looked a sight and couldn't really understand what all the fuss was about when I started cleaning him up. He has also since then managed to get the lid off a bottle of shampoo and spread the contents over the hall floor. I have to say I am struggling with getting to grips with boys, they are just different from girls. Hannah never did any of that kind if thing when she was little. All I can say is Boys, Boys, Boys.

Holidays and haircuts

Well its been a while since I last wrote and as the title says we've been on holiday. We went to a Christian conference called Spring Harvest which was at Butlins in Minehead. It was really good to get away and be with friends. The kids had their own club to go to in the morning for about an hour and a half, so Pete and I went to the morning bible reading sessions. In the afternoons we were free to do our own thing. We went swimming one day which the kids thoroughly enjoyed, Pete and I went to a parenting class - not that I think we're in need of parenting classes per say but it is always good to get ideas from other people. We had lunch at Pizza Hut one day and Pete managed to eat pizza slices reaching into double figures.....he's a growing lad!!!! In the evenings there was a worship and word session which we got to once or twice but it is also relayed to all the chalets so we didn't miss out too much. It was sad to leave as we had spent a week being with friends almost 24/7.

The hair cuts... well mine was well overdue and I got it cut two days after getting back off holiday. The really momentous hair cut was Josh's. He's only 11 months and has already had two fringe cuts and now has had his first full hair cut and he looks like a proper little boy. He looks so scummy and gorgeous now - even more so than before hair cut. I will upload a photo of his new haircut onto facebook asap cos I think he is just gorgeous.

Well if I dont write sooner I will blog in a months time as it will be Josh's first birthday so I shall let you all know what we did to celebrate.

I'm lovin' it

Yes as the title says I now have a job at McDonalds. I'm working 2 1/2 days a week. I'm a lobby assistant which means keeping the restuarant clean and tidy, and looking after the customers. he can Hannah and Josh are being looked after by Mum. Pete is still busy working on his locks.
I'm enjoying work in the financial sense and the routine that life has become but there are things that I struggle with in the job.

Josh is now a crawling man and uses it as a mode of transport around the house now, he used to just sit in the lounge and crawl to his toys but wouldn't go out of the room but has now realised that he can use it as a way of getting around. Hannah is all sorts of things really. She can be really kind and generous to Josh one minute and then take away toys that he has just coz she can, the next. She is also coming out with lots of big sentences and phrases which make you think where did she pick that up from.

Billy, Milly & Fred

Just a quick update on the fish. We bought a sucky loach and called it Fred, well he lasted about a week I think. We were later told they dont like to cold water that goldfish do, would've been nice if they had told us that in the shop. Billy is still swimming around but I'm afraid to say that Milly passed on this afternoon. I found her head down in the corner of the tank. I fished her out and wrapped her up and had to explain to Hannah what had happened. So it is now just Billy remaining. Good luck Billy.

The car has done it again.

Well its been a while since I last wrote. Not a lot has happend from then until now. I have a job working for 'The Golden Arches', yep I have a McJob. I am a lobby assistant, my job is basically to keep the restuarant looking clean and tidy and the customers happy. I am working 3 days a week totalling about 16 hrs each week. I started on Monday and so far things seem ok, but I have only been there for 2 shifts so I can't really say much else.

Anyway .... the weekend......................
This weekend gone was the church weekend. Pete had the day off and we intended on being there a 4pm ish. Where shall I start.......... the car, the kids. I'll start with Josh.
On Wednesday he was sick, just as I was leaving the house to go to my orientation for my job. He was sick again that evening, on thursday afternoon and then friday morning. I got an appointment for him at the doctors who said it was probably viral. (not a lot can be done in that case) Josh was sick on the saturday and on sunday was under strict orders to have only bread and water. I felt really bad for him as he is only 9 months old but he wasn't sick so it did help.
Now for the car...................
It had sprung a leak in the water and Pete identified the problem as a being a crack in the thermostat housing. After making a few phone calls we discovered we could only buy the part we needed from the dealer at £70. Pete thought he would do his own repair and fixed it with superglue!!!. (I wasn't convinced by this at all) At 3.30 we left to go away. After buying new tyres for the car we hit the road as they say and headed onto the motorway. About half hour later I put the fans on in the car but no hot air was coming out and then suddenly the water light came on and the car stalled and wouldn't start again as it was too hot. This was in the middle lane of the motorway!!!! Fortumately a lorry driver was able to block the left hand lane and let us get onto the hard shoulder where we called out the breakdown people.
5pm the breakdown truck arrives. The traffic was piling up and so a few people were driving on the hard shoulder to get off at the junction quicker. Just as we moved off a car - who was trying to get ahead - pulled out into the truck so we were delayed further with the men taking details from each other. The recovery man took us to his base but couldn't take us home as his vehicle had to be taken off the road. 45 mins later another truck arrived to take us back home.
7pm arrived at in-laws. Mum had got pizza in the oven so we could feed the kids. After dinner Pete got the part for the car and fitted it. (Remember that expensive one from the dealer we had to buy)
9pm finally got the kids loaded into the car and off home.
Saturday at 5am we got up, loaded new things into the car, got the kids up and made our way towards Shropshire. All went well until 25 miles from our destination when the car started ejecting smoke from out of the exhaust!!!!!!! The car very wallawy but it did make it. The weekend it self was good and it was good to go away with friends from church. The car made it back to Gloucester ok although no-one stayed behind us as we chugged out black smoke. I will update you on the problem and when it gets solved.

Life with or without a car

The latest news on the car is it is FIXED. It went into the garage last weekend and now it works all the time. It has been such a relief to have a car that works. I am able to go places without having to plan in extra time in order to get somewhere. It is amazing how much we rely on the car to get us where we want to go. I dont mind using public transport but when you have kids it is easier to take the car if you have one, so I am very grateful to have the car back.

What else has been going on........well I had a job interview for the first time in 10 years. I think it went ok but only time will tell. It is work in a charity shop as an assitant manager, and it would be 3 days a week so if I get it ORGANISATION will be the word of the week. I dread to think how I will get organised but I wont have a choice, but it all depends on whether I get the job or not.

The Kids.............. Josh has been unwell and came out in a rash on Sunday so I took him to the doctors who said he had a viral infection. He is getting over it now although his sleeping at night time could be improved. Hannah is well and there is really a lot I can say about her. She is getting more words in her vocabulary and understand more.

Billy, Milly & the Car

This week we have two new additions to our family; Billy & Milly. They are very tiny and orange and orange and white in colour. Yep we have goldfish. Reading the book about them I might as well have two children for the amount of work they require. Firstly we had to set the tank up and leave the water for at least 24hrs for the filtration to work, then we put in gravel and plants but we had to wash the gravel to make sure it was clean. Pete took Hannah to buy the fish today and we had to leave them in the bag of water they came in for 20 minutes for their water to equalise with ours, and then there is changing the water every couple of weeks and the palava that is going to be!!!!! Still, Hannah likes them and Josh quite liked them although he was also quite interested in banging the table which isn't a good thing as it might frighten them so Josh had to be moved out the way so as not to upset Billy & Milly. They are settling in well and tomorrow we can feed them. But we have to watch to see how much they eat in about 5 minutes so we have an idea of the amount they like to eat.
Now about the car................................
As you know from my first blog we bought a new car on new years day and since then we have hardly driven it. It has had new injectors put in, Pete changed the cam belt and the fan belt but still it wouldn't start. He checked all the voltages and they were all correct, still not starting. Very puzzling. He then changed the cam belt back 1 notch but still not starting. Meanwhile, Hannah, Josh & I have been taking the bus everywhere which is okay but rather timely, anyway on friday we went to visit some friends who had just had a baby and took them some pressies so the pram was full. Josh was in the pram and Hannah was walking. We had to take 2 buses there and 2 on the return trip, usually the buses are what are called 'kneel down' buses which means you can get prams and wheelchairs on them without any trouble but on this day 3 out of 4 buses I had to take everything and Josh out of the pram, put it down, get the stuff, kids and pram in the bus and do it all over again getting off at the other end. After got home and the kids were in bed Pete was looking at the car and was fiddling with cam belt and put it back a few notches and all of a sudden it started!!!!! Today Pete was checking the cam belt again and put it back to its normal position and then the car didn't start again. After a phone call to a car supplies place we discovered that we had the wrong cam belt!!! Once Pete had fitted the new cam belt the car started again. Yeh. BUT after Pete had gone out, I took the car out to do the recycling which had been piling up and we got there, put all the recycling away and then I tried to start the car and NOTHING. I am not the most patient person so got quite angry especially as I had the kids with me. There was nothing Pete could do as he out so I informed the supermarket about the car and then Hannah said we could take the bus and fortunately I had some money on me so we caught the bus home and left the car for Pete to pick up. He picked the car up and drove it home...very annoying. It's not right but it starts with a bit of persuasion. Its going in to the garage on Monday so hopefully they will be able to sort it out. I will let you know.............

Why do Brits always talk about the weather?

Because it is so wet in this country. Today the weather has been rain, rain and more rain. There are parts of the county that are without power. Roads are flooding, the motorways and being closed because of flooding, sewage has come up through the man hole covers and people and being stuck on the roads because of the weather. Lets just hope it doesn't get worse.

Paracetomal is a wonderful thing

Since Wednesday I have not been feeling very well and went to bed shivering with a jumper on and a hot water bottle. Last night I felt just as bad, with two jumpers, a hot water bottle and a blanket and the heating was on. Today I went to the doctors to get checked out and she said I had a viral infection and to take some paracetomol. Within about an hour of taking the paracetomol I was feeling much better. Mum came over to take me to the doctors and then stayed at home and helped me with washing the dishes and clothes. I spent most of the day sleeping or dozing on the sofa.

Children

Pete and I have two children, Hannah (2yrs 5 months) and Joshua (7 months).

Hannah has been potty training for the last few weeks and it was one challenge that I wasn't really looking forward to but it has gone fairly smoothly, Hannah has been dry in the day for quite a while but night times have been more difficult. Quite a few times Hannah has been wet in the morning and I think it is just as she is waking she doesn't get to the potty in time. This morning Hannah came into our bedroom and said 'Mummy, Hannah done a wee wee' and I thought 'Oh no - gonna have to change the sheets again' but then she added 'in her potty' and the relief I felt at her being dry was wonderful. She has been dry at night for 9 nights in a row now. Well done Hannah.

Joshua is just starting to make word sounds like da. He is getting more inquisitive and starting to assert himself with his sister. He is my gorgeous little boy. He has such a lovely little smile and giggle.

New Year - New Blog

Happy New Year 2008

I thought I would write a blog about family life, and as it is a new year what better time to start.
Let me intorduce you to the family. Pete (37), Georgina (30), Hannah (2) and Joshua (7 months)

The year has already started with somewhat of a bang. Yesterday (New Years Day) we went to buy a car (who buys a car on new years day - well some people). Anyway we got an hour into our journey when the old one broke down - smoke coming from the engine, we managed to pull up onto the hard shoulder of the motorway, got the kids out and spent the next 45 mins waiting for the breakdown truck to arrive. The kids did very well waiting in the cold on a wet grassy bank. Joshua did get a little upset towards the end but once he was inside the warm cab he soon calmed down. The kids and I got taken back home with the poorly car and Pete and his Dad (who kindly jumped in his car from Gloucester to help us out) carried on to Surrey. Pete did pick the car up and got back home by 9pm.

Today (Jan 2nd) we went ice-skating with a friends children and took Hannah along as well. She loved it and they had special skates which fitted over her shoes. After taking Hannah off the ice I said to Pete I'll go for one more time round and then come off. A short way round the rink CRASH, BANG, & WALLOP and that was my head hitting the ice. I now have a nice bump and on the back of my head and bruising to the lower part of my body. I have to stay up till 11 o'clock to make sure I'm not feeling unwell.

Lets just hope the year gets better!!!!!