I have just returned from my weekly Pilates lesson. I am feeling pretty virtuous. On Friday I had an excursion during which I ran an errand to the bank for Eldest, purchased Seville oranges for marmalade from the farm shop (while resisting the temptation to pop into the café for a latte) and swam 30 lengths in the local pool. I’ve also been working harder than usual to eat my five a day.
Those of you who know me will be staggered to hear I even went for a run a couple of weeks ago and ‘hoped’ to go again yesterday. (In fact we walked as he’s hurt his knee: phew!) I accompanied Husband who could also do with the exercise. I went for a run once before, about 10 years ago, and strained a calf muscle as I apparently had the wrong sort of trainers. It put me off, though I did get some proper footwear. Oddly they don’t improve your fitness unless you go running in them! Since Husband’s at his most unfit since I’ve known him, now is the moment to join him: I just about kept up with him and he seemed to enjoy beasting me and felt better for being at least fitter than I am!
Perhaps if I tell the blogosphere that I’ve given up my sedentary ways it’ll be true?
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Monday, 10 January 2011
Technology
Access to the internet continues to be an issue in this house. We’re still on the old computer for all but war games and uploading photos, so no new pictures possible at present despite the gift of my father’s old camera due to his upgrade. Hey ho!
I can take photos on my mobile (also a hand me down), and my girls have recorded a number of videos on it (very silly, and, if I ever work out how to download they will be saved for future embarrassment!) however it would seem it is not something I have understood.
At a very early hour on Sunday morning I found myself awaiting arrivals in Terminal 3. There were a number of journalists and a battery of cameras buzzing somewhat despite the hour. It transpired that Alastair Cooke was on the plane. Normally I would simply have watched with interest, but for some reason I decided that I would film the event. Dear Reader, may I suggest that you should live your life, and join in, rather than record it? I watched them through a tiny screen unable to make out which cricketers were with him, and then failed to save the recording so couldn’t even watch it back. It might have been better if I’d photographed the rush past, but really: I just should have been there.
I can take photos on my mobile (also a hand me down), and my girls have recorded a number of videos on it (very silly, and, if I ever work out how to download they will be saved for future embarrassment!) however it would seem it is not something I have understood.
At a very early hour on Sunday morning I found myself awaiting arrivals in Terminal 3. There were a number of journalists and a battery of cameras buzzing somewhat despite the hour. It transpired that Alastair Cooke was on the plane. Normally I would simply have watched with interest, but for some reason I decided that I would film the event. Dear Reader, may I suggest that you should live your life, and join in, rather than record it? I watched them through a tiny screen unable to make out which cricketers were with him, and then failed to save the recording so couldn’t even watch it back. It might have been better if I’d photographed the rush past, but really: I just should have been there.
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
New Year, New You?
No doubt my first post of the New Year should be about my resolutions: outlining them and then talking about just how bad I am at keeping them. But Woman’s Hour this morning provided an alternative subject. There was a woman on talking about her uniform project in which she had worn a little black dress every day for a year. The trick was in accessorising we were told, though during the interview it became clear that it was a pretty unique LBD that could be worn inside out and back to front... Still, a pretty neat idea!
And it got me thinking about uniform and how useful it is. I have other things to do than think of something to wear every day and generally get by accessorising a pair of jeans. This is not new: I’ve been in my current job for eighteen years and my wardrobe has changed little. There were times when leggings were appropriate either because of fashion or pregnancy but they are no longer an item I can imagine myself wearing, so jeans it is. The waist has risen and fallen; the leg has got wider and narrower; and they’ve moved from Levi to Gap, but they’re still jeans, and I wear them most of the time.
I have been out of work longer than I was in paid employment. Back in the day I wore a skirt suit (the boss didn’t like women in trousers) and high heels. As a military wife I found occasion to use my work wardrobe for various functions, but these ‘opportunities’ continue to dwindle. I have a rare one tomorrow evening when Husband and I will be supporting Eldest collecting her GCSE certificate at a ceremony in the Abbey. The invitation states that ‘this is a semi-formal occasion, so we would be grateful if you could dress accordingly’. The wardrobe may contain classics from my former life but sadly the 18 years have played havoc with my waistline making many items too uncomfortable. The newer items have been to weddings and dinner nights so are not what you might call ‘semi-formal’. I have already let Eldest down by accepting the invitation – apparently she didn’t plan to go – so I can’t afford for her to disapprove of my style of dress. I wonder if I could accessorise one of my LBDs?
And perhaps I’d better make a resolution after all: shall it be to lose weight, get fit or to revitalise my wardrobe?!
And it got me thinking about uniform and how useful it is. I have other things to do than think of something to wear every day and generally get by accessorising a pair of jeans. This is not new: I’ve been in my current job for eighteen years and my wardrobe has changed little. There were times when leggings were appropriate either because of fashion or pregnancy but they are no longer an item I can imagine myself wearing, so jeans it is. The waist has risen and fallen; the leg has got wider and narrower; and they’ve moved from Levi to Gap, but they’re still jeans, and I wear them most of the time.
I have been out of work longer than I was in paid employment. Back in the day I wore a skirt suit (the boss didn’t like women in trousers) and high heels. As a military wife I found occasion to use my work wardrobe for various functions, but these ‘opportunities’ continue to dwindle. I have a rare one tomorrow evening when Husband and I will be supporting Eldest collecting her GCSE certificate at a ceremony in the Abbey. The invitation states that ‘this is a semi-formal occasion, so we would be grateful if you could dress accordingly’. The wardrobe may contain classics from my former life but sadly the 18 years have played havoc with my waistline making many items too uncomfortable. The newer items have been to weddings and dinner nights so are not what you might call ‘semi-formal’. I have already let Eldest down by accepting the invitation – apparently she didn’t plan to go – so I can’t afford for her to disapprove of my style of dress. I wonder if I could accessorise one of my LBDs?
And perhaps I’d better make a resolution after all: shall it be to lose weight, get fit or to revitalise my wardrobe?!
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
Youngest's December
I still have 35 cards to write (and must therefore make 10 more), and most of my relations have a present: the ones that haven’t are the brothers and father of Husband, so I’m laying the lack firmly at his door to sort out. Most of the presents are even wrapped!
This organisation is due to the fact that the family all break up from school on Friday so ‘my’ time is running out, and tomorrow is Youngest’s 14th birthday and always provides other complications – though this year we have agreed not to have a party.
Of course this doesn’t mean we’re not celebrating! On Sunday we had the Grandparents and Godparents to lunch and a birthday tea – roast chicken for 14, and a gluten-free cake. Tomorrow there will be various other presents that have arrived in the post, plus ours, and a light fruit cake (must sort that!). We have had to promise to get her friends together in the spring: she couldn’t possibly do something now.
Youngest is an enthusiastic participator in life. Last weekend we had one lot of Godparents staying on Saturday night, and one set of Grandparents on Sunday so we weren’t free to do a party, and Strictly is unmissable! Not to mention the job: Youngest gets up in time to be at her Saturday job by 8am where she spends a happy couple of hours variously mucking out, milking, grooming and feeding goats, a horse, sheep, chickens and (I think)pigs. She comes back cold and filthy but happy and richer! (She is saving for a Guide trip to Switzerland in the summer.) On Monday she helped fundraise for her house charity at a Parents’ Evening at school. Last night there was a house trip to Bristol to see a pantomime. Tonight she is singing at the school Carol Service. Friday there is a Guide night hike and sleepover, so the goats will have to wait ‘til Sunday… We have visitors from abroad staying on Saturday night, and the Strictly final. There’s no time for a party!
In case I don’t get back here: Happy Christmas!
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Not technical
Our computer is playing up: it won’t upload photos and the internet access is getting slower and slower. Husband has bought a brand new one that is going to solve these issues. It also has a wireless option so that the girls’ computer will be internet enabled. Until now they have had to use the ‘family’ computer for access which meant we kept an eye of sorts on their use. But they are 16 and almost 14 and need regular access for homework never mind friends. It is time to let them take charge. Husband wants his study back now he has marking and lesson planning to do in the evenings. And I get this old one!
But….
Why is there always a but? The two week old computer plays beautiful war games and uploads photos but so far has shown no inclination to access the internet, never mind set up a wireless system. So both computers are sat in the study, neither of them fully active, and my surfing distraction has been halted. Still, I’m making good progress with the Christmas shopping. A very good thing if the snow’s going to continue to make journeys difficult!
But….
Why is there always a but? The two week old computer plays beautiful war games and uploads photos but so far has shown no inclination to access the internet, never mind set up a wireless system. So both computers are sat in the study, neither of them fully active, and my surfing distraction has been halted. Still, I’m making good progress with the Christmas shopping. A very good thing if the snow’s going to continue to make journeys difficult!
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Remembrance Day
If you'd like to read the post I wrote last year about my family ties you can do so here.
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
A bit of thrift
Favouriteaunt visited recently and was amused at my wodge of old documents torn into four and held together with a clip and used for all types of message and note. “Just like your Granny!” she said.
I spent a lot of time with Granny, particularly in my teens when my parents were abroad and I at school in Kent. She was a remarkable woman and I was delighted to be found to be like her, if only in such a small way.
She came from a privileged background except that there was little money: her mother came from a titled family, but her father was killed in the opening month of the First World War. Granny was the eldest of four. She was presented at court as a teenager, and again on her marriage (as was traditional) which was reported in all the papers. She wore her mother’s wedding dress and her Grandmother hosted (and presumably paid for) the wedding breakfast. Granny met her groom at Oxford where she was studying French, and he the Classics: she became a vicar’s wife, bringing up four children of her own and supporting her husband’s role in their community.
The vicarage always seemed to be full of people, and though Granny would never claim she was a cook she fed everyone, apparently effortlessly. Roast lamb with all the trimmings followed by industrial sized apple meringue with cream is the meal I most associate with her. And Granny Buns: her own particular take on rock cakes; and cupboards full of home-made marmalade and bottled apricots. She knitted, crocheted and sewed (she made her daughters’ wedding and bridesmaid dresses), mending anything and everything. Thrift was her watchword.
Many of our gifts were home-made, and birthday cards were rarely new: she kept the unwritten on parts of all cards she received, and recycled them as necessary. The half cards arrived in envelopes re-addressed and stamped and closed with Sellotape. Her desk drawers also contained wrapping and brown paper for re-use, Christmas cards as present labels, and lengths of ribbon and string retrieved from parcels received.
I didn’t show Favouriteaunt the drawer full of carefully trimmed wrapping paper, nor the drawer full of rewound ribbons, nor yet the box full of Christmas cards waiting to be cut up to make ‘new’ ones. I’m just keeping a bit of thrift of my own.
I spent a lot of time with Granny, particularly in my teens when my parents were abroad and I at school in Kent. She was a remarkable woman and I was delighted to be found to be like her, if only in such a small way.
She came from a privileged background except that there was little money: her mother came from a titled family, but her father was killed in the opening month of the First World War. Granny was the eldest of four. She was presented at court as a teenager, and again on her marriage (as was traditional) which was reported in all the papers. She wore her mother’s wedding dress and her Grandmother hosted (and presumably paid for) the wedding breakfast. Granny met her groom at Oxford where she was studying French, and he the Classics: she became a vicar’s wife, bringing up four children of her own and supporting her husband’s role in their community.
The vicarage always seemed to be full of people, and though Granny would never claim she was a cook she fed everyone, apparently effortlessly. Roast lamb with all the trimmings followed by industrial sized apple meringue with cream is the meal I most associate with her. And Granny Buns: her own particular take on rock cakes; and cupboards full of home-made marmalade and bottled apricots. She knitted, crocheted and sewed (she made her daughters’ wedding and bridesmaid dresses), mending anything and everything. Thrift was her watchword.
Many of our gifts were home-made, and birthday cards were rarely new: she kept the unwritten on parts of all cards she received, and recycled them as necessary. The half cards arrived in envelopes re-addressed and stamped and closed with Sellotape. Her desk drawers also contained wrapping and brown paper for re-use, Christmas cards as present labels, and lengths of ribbon and string retrieved from parcels received.
I didn’t show Favouriteaunt the drawer full of carefully trimmed wrapping paper, nor the drawer full of rewound ribbons, nor yet the box full of Christmas cards waiting to be cut up to make ‘new’ ones. I’m just keeping a bit of thrift of my own.
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