Beachy Birthday Goodness

I know that I have already put these up on other social media and you are probably all sick of them but man alive! My boy rocked that whole learning to surf thing.

 

 

His special birthday event was to have a surfing lesson with a couple of mates followed by a sleepover. He picked the perfect dynamic, both competitive but not in an aggressive way so all three fired off each other without actually ramping it up to Level Stupid. 

 

 

The weather was perfect, sun, fast choppy waves and 1-2 foot swell. CK told me in his car on the way home he heard the words "Best Birthday Ever." uttered.

 

In the past month...

I have ...

* finalised plans for new kitchen/living room building (Yippee! Woohoo! And Yay!) .

* nearly left my husband during IKEA trip to id potential kitchens (not that he even realised but I felt better for considering it).

* transported four highly excited under 9s through the wilds of Wiltshire to their first chess tournament. They only came 8/12 bc of a mahoosive amount of adult-sanctioned cheating by other schools. Seriously a headmaster who calls his under 9 pupils 'stupid' bc they lost a chess match??

* realised not every family plays maths and history and word games during 'long' car trips'! Who knew?

* mortified my son by banning the use of all the blurry DS consoles those children had for an hour during the six we spent at said tournament.

* been reminded of all the fabulous and exciting history there is on our doortsep here in Engerland.

* not been asked for interview to a job I would have loved.

* bought my daughter a new school bag following on from the saga last term.

* met old friend and children (inc god daughter) for lunch in beautiful Cathedral surrounds.

* had verbal smackdown with Mr. HeadTeacher twice. Once about the crazy-arse parking that goes on down there and the other about having held the door for the ENTIRE school (inc one teacher) and only one child said thank you. (And it wasn't my son, about which we have since had words ;-)

* had a meeting about teaching capability of destructoBoy's teacher because he is bored in class, every day.
* been called scarey by a parent at school.
* dobbed in stupid Yr. 8 students clever enough to hide out of sight from staff when smoking at playtime but sufficiently stupid to stand next to railing fence right beside road.

* praised highly to teacher the one child who did thank me for holding open school door.

* extremely lately handed over handmade birthday present to good friend and I think she liked it.

* had double success over at Posh Yarns Sunday night sellout. I foresee perhaps a hat for Princess C-W for Christmas with the pink sparkly one and the kicking-off off a garter stitch scarf kal this Friday with the chunky cashmere.

* nursed destructoboy through a whole month of ear infection. This entailed four visits to the doctors, three lots of antibiotics and one fight with the rottweilerXdoctors' receptionist. TG it has cleared up now and he is playing at top speed again.

* received a phonecall from YOT telling me my phone was being kept in their safe overnight if I would like to come and collect it the following morning. Oops!!
* recognised it is still six months away but have made a decision on d/Boy's birthday present.
* identified OMD's episodes as being epilepsy not a stroke.
* watched freezing on the sidelines as my son captained the under 9s to a distinct non-victory at the local schools football tournament. I was the screeching woman on the sidelines but offset my mania by cheering for the other teams too.

* purchased outfit for 80th birthday party this Saturday.

* attended Princess C-W's first ever secondary parent/teacher evening. Unlike most of her peers she didn't attend and so didn't hear how well-regarded she is by her teachers and how well she is doing in her classes. There was a little glow about us as parents by the end of it all. And I didn't even start-up on her History teacher. Perhaps it was bc she looked so knackered after dealing w grown-ups all evening. Perhaps it was bc she was our last stop and we could go home afterwards. I don't know why but remain impressed that I maintained my silence when she referred to 'our written conversation earlier in the year' and how she 'always encourages parents to help with the homework'. HA!

* taken the big black dog to the vet with a sore eye. Am hoping to stave off need to do this again.

* had The Bat Lady around to visit and am sending off her report today. This in turn means we apply for planning permission by the end of the week. If you want to voice an objection you have two months to lodge it with the relevant authority!

Birthdays in England.

This is what happens you know.



I have just over six hours to go.

The tale end of the birthday.

This was the last birthday cake of destructoBoy's birthday week.

The Old Man Dog's help breaking into the Treasure Chest was graciously declined.

The 'X' was located and the treasure found.

There was smashing, joy and excitement.

And at the end - complete exhaustion.

All in all a busy week really.

OK so really the week began on Friday 3 September but how ridiculous to start a new school year on a Friday. Bah!

All dressed up in her 'big school' uniform my girl left the house to start a whole new adventure.

Then on the Monday proper it was destructoBoy's birthday.

*Presents. *Teatime cake. *Playing with the teatime cake. *Racing Granma's car.

This coincided with two new ventures here on top of the hill. One that involves an extra nine yo 6/10 mornings during termtime and the other was the whirling dervish arrival of the AbFab puppy.

TG we only have her for a few weeks as I am sure both my assistant and the old men dogs would be moving out at the thought of it becoming even semi-permanent.

Smiley Carol got brave enough one morning to deliver my fabulous parcel in the 'As You Like It' Swap 2010.

So much swappy loveliness from Jane. My themes were clouds (because I am such a geeky nerd and love looking up at them and the shapes they make)and also apples. Jane played with both and these are the results.

All the loot.

*Two of my favourite things - Amy Butler fabric and Snickers (those chocolate bars are so teeny weeny!).*Front and back of the pincushion (oh how clever is that Amusement Park fabric?). *Lovely appley Thank You cards. *Super smart Paisley notebook I had to put out of Pr C-W's hands. * Tissues that made me smile. * Sweet appley fabric basket in which to place all the teeny weeny US bob. * The cloudy back of my lovely Ticker Tape quilty hanging.

And then the front of the ticker Tape Quilt.

There is so much going on it is eyecandy for the soul. An eyeful of sweetness and a colour high every time I look at it. I just love it. Thank you Jane it is all simply delicious.

Wednesday after school d/Boy and I invented 'sweetie/Nerf shooting'.

*Throwing out the bob. * Bullet firing. The premise being if he hit the bob he could eat it. Needless to say the bob were safe ;-)
So much of this week (and the last) has been taken up with 'doing' Pr C-W's room . It went from this -

To this.

And yesterday the carpet man came and laid a brand new raspberry pink carpet. Farewell threadbare, stinky, horrid, 40 yo Axminster.

So while the man was laying the pretty new carpet yesterday I started the party baking. We have gold coins, some skellington and 'X marks the spot' biscuits. In the bottom R corner is the 'wooden treasure chest' sitting over the cake.



Right then. Off to bed in preparation for the onslaught.

Phew! I think we have the cakes sorted.

There is a tradition up here at Trash Towers of two birthday cakes on your birthday.

Yes that is correct two, because what is a birthday without cake for breakfast?

destrutoBoy has requested Lemon Drizzle to start the day which is a fresh, zingy (sugar-laden) flavour to kickstart the celebrations. Perfect choice as a recent Good Food had a recipe for a gluten-free lemon cake and I reeeeeeeeeeaaally wanted to try it.

Wish I hadn't.

It was yuk. Squooshy texture and an unceratin taste that left my tongue perplexed. So need to find another recipe (hurrah for the innernets) and also make small cakes to take into school.

The birthday boy has asked for a surprise for the teatime one. I am currently torn between A)something pool table-ish as this is his current fascination and B) something I can cover in small, plastic horses and ponies as I have been telling him for weeks he can expect 'the birthday pony' to turn up for his present.

This joke has been pleasingly exacerbated by the number of saddles and riding kit we have seen in windows of charity and junk shops recently and the fact that it is harvest time and the roads are filled with mahoosive trailers laden high with haybales.

Right then. Let the baking commence!

Nine day countdown begins.

destructoBoy is having a birthday party Sunday week.

(from here)

He has decided it is to be a treasure hunt.

Fabulous.

(from here)

Now it means I have to organise it.


Any hints?

Anyone?

Woohoo! Problem sorted.

18 sleeps left until d/Boy's birthday and we have the present situation under control with much love and gratitude to Messrs Google and Amazon.

Nerf - tick
Dr. Who - tick

Gadget - tick

Boring clothing things your mother insists you get for birthdays - tick

Assorted other item to make a cracking sized birthday parcel -tick

Now just the birthday jaunt to the seaside to organise.

Thank you all for your fabulous suggestions, with only four months until Christmas they have been stored for future reference ;-)

Less than a month left and am asking for help.

destructoBoy is having a birthday in less than a month and we have absolutely no idea of what to get him.

My boy is turning nine and loves nothing better than to run around either before, during or after hitting/kicking or throwing a ball. We have sufficient Lego to build our own theme park. And there are already three dogs, a bike, seven computers, two mobile phones and a Wii inside our gates, I don't intend adding to it.




Anyone got any ideas?









Anyone?

Happy Birthday!!

Dear Mrs Moog and Running Mama,

may your day be filled with cake and much happiness.

With much love from all of us up here on the hill at Trash Towers.

Gifts Part the Third

This really is getting ridiculous isn't? We are now over month since my birthday and I still haven't actually managed to show you all the fabulousness. Just one more post after this I promise.

My favouritest cousin stitched this sampler and knew exactly which was the right home for it.

It reads

" To know what you prefer,
instead of humbly saying 'Amen'
to what the world says you ought,
is to have kept your soul alive. "

As well as pretty fabric Jennyflower enclosed this embellished paper artwork. Shown here the colours have a more yellow cast than in reality. Along with Lauren's piece (from previous post) it is gracing my bookshelves so I may enjoy it daily.

And while the picture below does not give the most accurate or professionally displayed image of one of the most amazing things I have received in my life ever, I wanted to show it living its life.

Mrs. Locket, Thimbleanna, Mrs Stashbasket, Wonderwoman, Little Cotton Rabbits and most especially Mrs Moog please accept this huge enormous bouquet of thanks. I am in awe at the skill and talent that created my blanket

Gifts Part the Second

The managment would like to state her and now that the delay in showing any fabulous item gifted to them om the last two months in NO way reflects upon the validity and specialness of said gift. Each gift is cherished knowing that a loved one has taken time to chose something especially for me.

Missus Stashbasket sent me a parcel filled with delicious delights. As well as having staged a raid on a beautiful fabric shop somewhere (said fabric now rests with Katy) there was also a notebook staring my assistant and this skein of Posh yarn - oo lala! I am going to brave up and try a lace pattern with this. I think.

Having seen the 'Just Jugs' shelf in real life Mrs Moog knew just how perfect this lil' Cath Kidston number would be.

Two school mamas set the challenge with this book - there are real seams and meeting corners. I have to steel myself just to imagine actually making any of these clever projects.

And just look what arrived all the way from New Jersey! An artwork created especially for me by the incredibly talented Lauren B over at 'All the Good Blog Names Were Taken' . The things this woman can do with paper are a.m.a.z.i.n.g. Not to mention the Jolly Ranchers hiding among all the lace inside the box!

Am loving this whole birthday thing!

Gifts Part the First

I love birthdays. I really, really love birthdays. Mine, someone else's, the dogs', I just love birthdays. And this year my birthday has actually hit the heights of birthday lani-dom.

Now officially at middle age I decided I have enough stuff (obviously excludes fabric and yarn stash increases) and accordingly told CK I didn't want much for my birthday. And so this is (most of) what I got from my lot.

3 flying lanterns, a face mask (ref. prev. post for finished article) , a book many times discussed and a remote control for my camera (used to superb effect last Saturday night).

CK told me I needed some jewellery for my 40th birthday. *No I don't I said. *Go and choose some he said. *No, I won't I said, I don't need any. *Go and choose a piece of jewellery that is beautiful and lovely or the kids and I will!

So I did. I bought myself a gorgeous string of freshwater pearls. They are luminous. They are long. They are lovely. They will be pictured in the next post!

Then there was a parcel from Sylv. As well as the fabric shown over here she also sent some snuggly warm socks, a knitting book filled with crrrrrrazy patterns and the pearls my father gave her in 1969.

These are a necklet that I may never actually wear but I will take out regularly and stroke and sigh over.

Giovanna played a blinder. Again there was fabric but wrapped inside it were some very elegantly patterned cake papercases, an incredibly funky camera bag (perfect for holding new camera 'mote!) and TWO jugs. The cow one has two cows. Obviously they represent me and her but it has to be said I would be the one on the other side, the smaller cow ;-)

This week Smiley Carol has really had to face her fear of my big black dog because I received something in the post EVERY day. Monday my letterbox held a package from Alice Magpie . There may have been a squeal of delight when I opened the parcel to see a Fortnum's bag. things may have got even squealier when I opened up said bag to reveal tins of posh tea and smart biscuits.

Tuesday there was a birthday card from my Auntie Wil insisting I should have a good birthday and that I would celebrate at least another 40. Apparently after I turn 80 all bets are off!

During our day of gratuitous and luxuriant sleeping on Wednesday my assistant flickered a bit when she heard the lid close on the letterbox so when I finally braved the cold (-2 yesterday at 3pm plus windchill) I found a package from Australia waiting for me. Many huge thanks to Annie, Jodie and Rachel for all the beautiful gifts they sent.

From Rachel there were four gorgeous blocks, so perfectly pointy and stitched; I plan on these becoming a cushion quite soon. Annie sent me some of her stunning cards. Princess C-W was particularly smitten with the one of the poppy. And Missus JodieRicrac sent three pieces of fabric and two packs of her billet-doux. I have spent this week wandering around in a haze of loved-upedness and to be honest I am seriously trying to figure out if I can have another one of these in six months because man! I am flying on the lurve!!

The birthday quilt blog will be updated tomorrow but bleow is a collage of the fabric received since Saturday night.

Come back and visit again because there is more to see yet!

There was a party the other night ....

... and like all good parties (I hope it was a good party) there were elegant surrounds,

good company,

fine wines,

good food,

games

and a couple of old reprobates!

Gifties galore to show off next time.

this is the day, this is the day ...

After dinner tonight I was banished from the dining room for five minutes, when recalled I was greeted by this.

This is my family's creation to celebrate my birthday.

I have had a thoroughly enjoyable 36 hours. Dinner last night with CK and Pr.C-W while d/Boy slept over at a friend's. Breakfast out with the two of them again, then all four of us home for present opening followed by a trip out to the cinema. We saw AstroBoy. Turns out this movie polarises people in terms of knowledge, seems the AstroBoy cartoon wasn't shown here in the UK. The kids really enjoyed it and I guess that is the most important thing. Plus it gave me time for a few micro-naps ;-)

I was showered with delicious gifts that ranged from the frivolous (a wooden face mask on a stick to paint and wear at my party next week) to the absolutely stunning (the pearls my father bought my mother in 1969). And I was also the very delighted recipient of 10 more pieces of fabric towards the birthday quilt. The full details are over here but they are so beautiful I thought y'all might want to take a look.

The real joy in presents.

I can now categorically state that now matter how much I love opening presents I actually love gifting the right something to the right someone even more.

December brings not just Christmas (Santa - Yay!!! Oh okay and some religious connotations but these need to be recognised as pre-Christian in origin. 'K Mama???) but also Sylv's birthday. It was hard enough coming up with a Christmas present for her (oh but we got a cracker!) as well as something to send her husband, Grandad (what happened to it is a whole other post) but then I had to think of a birthday present. As you may recall part of last year's Great Trip Home was to celebrate Sylv attaining the fine age of 'ahem-ty' and quite honestly she has no more need of anything. Please do not misunderstand me there is LOADS she wants (who doesn't??) but what?

Oh the delights of blog-hopping. I found just what I wanted at the delicious and divine Ink & Spindle . Last year Sylv got an uber-whizzy sewing machine, a quilter's delight by all accounts, and the fabulous collaboration between between Sooz and the I&S mob was just begging to be given a test drive. One click quick of the mouse, a brief diversion to Paypal and WHAM!! the gift was on its way.

Through a very crackly line last Sunday I told Sylv to watch out for a parcel from Melbourne, it contained her birthday present. I rang this a.m. to find if it had arrived yet.

"Oh! Was that from you? There was no label or anything but we have had a lovely time at sewing coming up with ideas for an outer fabric."

"Yes, it was from us - Happy Birthday!" (thinking 'I told you it was coming, you shouldn't have opened it yet!')

After explaining who Ink & Spindle were Sylv and I blog-shopped together, ooohing & aaaahing over the beautiful fabric patterns and colours. Choosing one as a favourite and then another. Suggesting, mulling and planning. With 12,000 miles between us (usually) over the last 20 years we haven't spent many hours shopping together so this morning was special. A lovely shared moment which left me feeling a little emotional. Not in a cry-y way but just with a lovely warm glow that I had introduced my mother to this lovely shop and she would get to choose something lovely to celebrate her 'ahem-ty-first' birthday.

A week later and things are just about back to normal.

This time last Saturday I was making pizza bases and mocktails for the screaming hordes of proto-teenagers inhabiting my house. And CK was out in the rain off to the shops for more mocktails ingredients.

Oh the difference in a week. I am at home in front of a fire enjoying the sight of tired dogs recovering from a walk in the rain. My jeans are in the drier also recovering from a walk in the rain. CK is once again out getting drinks but rather than the supermarket, tonight he is in the pub with his bastard brother. It has taken said bastard brother nearly 12 months to come and face me and he arrived full of stories about what a state my old man dog was in last January. No apology you understand.

I suppose I shouldn't hold my breath.

As the Queen has two birthdays so Princess C-W decided to have TWO sessions of opening presents last Sunday. Firstly there was the gifties from her fellow non-sleepers to open before breakfast. A treasure trove of delicious goodies that she is TOO mean to share fully. Among the deliciousness a pair of softie mice magnets that are too sweet to be left alone.

Once the house was all ours again Pr. C-W decided it was time to open family gifties. This shirt is from her brother.

And then she opened her gift from us. I think she was a little pleased.

It is a purple i-pod nano engraved with her initials across the back.

And finally we round off with a little crafting action from this week past. With the addition of some Amy Butler decorator weight fabric the repurposed Fortnum & Mason teatowel is now an apron.

A little re-adjustment is required around the armhole-y bits to stop the boobwings going on but I am quite chuffed with the finished product.

Trouble is being as it IS my F&M apron I can't really wear it much in case it gets dirty ;-)

getting there

I feel sure normality lurks under a pile of stuff that still needs to be sorted and rehomed, if only I could identify which one! Downstairs the carpet is mostly visible, upstairs still scares me. However on the whole I think Saturday/Sunday was a success and may be praecised as follows.

Provisons underestimated requiring TWO shopping trips in the driving rain by CK. On foot as shops literally around the corner. Earned title of SuperDad.

Emotional breakdowns by a) highly strung daughter of Missus Bit Tired and b) Princess Curly-Wurly (well ... it was her party so ...)

The hour dedicated to a disco spent discussing and then arguing over the group choreography resulting in no dancing at all before dinner.

Overhead conversations about Fine! We''ll all be lesbians then!' (!!! CK overheard not me so don't have any other details) and one child's homelife drama being perceived by other girls as her having 'the best stories!' to tell

Night time walk with all three dogs proving opportunity to exercise my scarey grown-up muscles and reinforce golden rule 'All must stay together always when out'.

The drama and high emotion that comes with being an eleven year old girl.

How that ratchets up a whole other level when they reach critical mass.

The crazy mix of knowing and awareness and small girl giggly silliness.

And ultimately the fact that I do NOT like having to growl at people to GO TO SLEEP at four o'clock in the morning.