Mojo and Toes.

It had taken me absolutely weeks to recover from the lurgy that emerged on Boxing Day, almost five weeks I think but with much taking of Vitamin C, Iron and other such restorative lovelies it had almost gone and I was beginning to feel like myself again.

In fact, so much so that on Thursday morning I jumped out of bed with the alarm (without swearing at it too) and was full of thoughts of a day out in lovely London to go shopping for a Ball gown!
Along the landing I trotted and first foot on the stair carpet and I am not sure quite what happened then. I know it hurt, an awful lot actually. I had one hand gripping onto the bannister for grim death, one leg half way down the stairs, a sore elbow and the other leg half way under me. Ouch!

I shouted for help as I couldn't really get up terribly well and my poor right foot was a bit, well crooked actually. Having been helped to the settee by my hubby I sat with my poorly foot on the table, soothing it with a pack of something frozen whilst hubby cleaned by carpet burnt elbow. I felt a little battered and took a painkiller and nodded off for an hour or two.

I cannot begin to describe the pain in my foot when I woke up, I can only liken it to having ones toes stabbed with an icepick, or at least how I imagine that would feel. After all, I've had four children; I'm a big girl where pain is concerned! But this was something new altogether, truly awful.

So off I hopped to our local A & E and to cut a long story short I have broken two toes, the big one and the little one which is rather inconvenient on two counts. I can't walk on the side of my foot as it hurts on both of them and I can't stand long enough to try on a Ball gown either :(

Needless to say I am not a happy Bunny at the moment. I am grateful that I didn't break a larger bone but it is such a nuisance! 'sigh'
Only one thing for it for now , rest, strapping it up and hoping that I am sufficiently recovered to purchase something befitting such a lovely event very soon-onwards and upwards I say!

Motto of this post? Beware of stairs and recovering too much mojo!

Love

Great Grandma Hugs

This is what we think of you Mummy

Yuckky Yuckky Yuckky

I took Dimples into town with me today, she's sunny natured, easy going and pretty amiable most of the time (unlike her dear Mamma) so I was looking forward to it.
After we had finished most of the purchases she said she felt a bit peckish so we popped into one of the Coffee shops in the Precinct. What a horrid mistake that was.

You may have heard of Greggs the Bakers?
What used to be our local Bakers Oven actually, anyway for anyone who doesn't live here it's a Bakery at the front and a coffee shop at the side with tables where you can buy the same food but with drinks too.

After I had paid for my Coffee and a Ribena and doughnut with sprinkles for missy( what else?) I turned around to sit down, only to see that almost every single table was dirty. There were trays and empty cups & plates everywhere.

Having worked in Catering for a few years I understand that during peak hours it's rather difficult to keep everything ship shape as it were but this was two thirty in the afternoon. Long after the Lunchtime rush. In fact there were probably three or four tables occupied and three people at the Bakery counter - hardly a run on Bread and Lardy cake.

I put my tray on a table near the one Dimples had picked so I could clear it. I got out my trusty pack of baby wipes to give it a jolly good rub down and got a rather nasty shock when I turned it over. It's not a pretty sight, I give you good and proper warning!

Not terribly nice is it?
I rubbed it a couple more times until I was a bit happier and then let Dimples sit down, threatening all types of plague on her if she put her hands underneath the table. After all, if the top is this dirty, heaven knows what lurks underneath!!!
I think it's only fair to point out that as a Mother of four I am not paranoid about general, good,  healthy dirt. The sort that they eat when ingesting garden stones, small snails, and sweets dropped for less than three seconds. In fact, I think I would rather her have licked the patio in the back garden than this table.

Whilst we ate-well, she picked the sprinkles off and I felt in need of a white coat & test tube, I watched one of the ladies working there come and clear and 'clean' the tables around me. There are approximately 28 small tables, probably 18 were in need of clearing. She moved a tray to one side, took a cloth, wiped the crumbs from it onto the FLOOR (???) then moved the tray to the other side and did the same. She did this with every table. Same swishing of food debris onto the floor, same cloth, no rinsing, no spray.

I also watched another lady make rolls behind the counter. She wiped the preparation area with her hand, scooped the bits into her other hand and opened a bin behind her and put her hand INTO the bin to shake it. Then, with the very same said hands, opened a fresh pack of rolls to make some more... I kid you not.

On the way out of the shop I handed the filthy wipes to the lady behind the counter and told her that her tables, mirrors & infact the whole place was filthy.
I am not sure what she muttered,  frankly my dears, I don't give a damn because none of the usual,  'short staff, so busy' excuses were going to cut the mustard.
There is dirt in there that is more than a day old, I have worked in terribly busy places and they did not look like this.

I am going to email the nice people at Gregs to see how apologetic they are about this. If you feel so inclined, maybe you could share your thoughts with them too?
Greggs the Bakers I will of course, keep you posted.

In the meantime, here is another pic of the tables and the 'mad rush'.

Is there anywhere you care to name and shame with shocking hygiene? I would love to hear about it. I personally think there should be a National Campaign for hygiene in this Country. This isn't the first filthy place I have encountered, far from it. The only saving grace on this occasion is that I didn't have to actually use the highchairs and that Dimples is smart enough to understand about germs and not touching anything just yet....

This is not the end of this by a long way...

Stay healthy lovely readers!

Love

Just Fabulous!

I am so very, very. very excited! In a little over six weeks I have a Charity Ball to go to. It is for a fabulous friend (more about that another day) and I suspect most of my other twin mummy friends are going to be there too.

Some of them I have met, others never. Some of them are absolutely scrummy Mummies so I really do want to look my very best. Unfortunately, at this time of the year I have to watch my pennies rather more closely than I would like to. I have scoured the net for something worthy of such an Event but have yet to find a gown that is affordable and I actually would wear.

I do adore Vintage, but I fear that it is way out of my price range at the moment and at present, I am not Vintage sized! So you can imagine how excited I was when I saw these smashing gowns!

This one is called 'Harlow'. Isn't it divine! Best of all, you can HIRE it!! It would be unthinkable amounts to buy but you have it for less than £100 for a whole week.

Then there is this one.. 'swoon'

I would like to think that I could pull of such a stunning dress, it certainly ticks all the right boxes. I fear my upper arms would not be happy, a cape may help!

Lastly, this one caught my eye - for obvious reasons

Isn't it divine! It's a Cavelli Goddess Gown... utterly scrumptious. A tad more to hire but in the world of glittery events, I think it would definately be a 'red carpet' number.

All of the dresses are simply wonderful, whether you need a cheeky little Cocktail dress, a rock chick ensemble or a Silver Screen worthy creation 'Girl Meets Dress' certainly has something to make the pickiest of girls squeal with delight. The majority of them are Designer labels, such as Halston, Cavelli, Fendi, Herve Leger, the sort that I can only usually dream of wearing.

Just have to find the shoes, jewellery and some poor patient mortal to tame my unruly locks into Vintage loveliness now, I may be a while...

Love

 



p.s This is one of my affiliates so do I get a small amount of pennies if you hire something. It's free for you though of course. As a member of British Mummy Bloggers I did pledge integrity at all times, so feel honour bound to mention it.

Wikio testing!

I appreciate there has been a few of these posts but just hang on in there- am working hard on the blog to make it as fun as possible :)

Love

Technorati Verification ignore please!

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Just had to share!

I know Christmas is almost over and so I apologise for this post in advance. Having been horridly ill for most of it I didn't get chance to share many of my creations this year, notably the twins Christmas outfits and the cute gift tags I designed.

So here is a shameful display of my talents, limited such as they are.

Aren't they adorable? The tops are all my own creation too. The headbands are altered ones from a large unmentionable department store. The leggings by me too, fur topped with large dots on. The fur cuffs are removable, marabou sewn onto red headbands, inspired hey? (Although sewing with marabou is not something I am anxious to repeat unless bribed with large amounts of chocolate)

Here is twin two trying on the half finished outfit very patiently for me. You can see the Reindeer more clearly on this pic, sans ribbon bow of course.

I also made some rather nice gift tags this year too. Darling husband has been very generous in creating a lovely, organised craft area for me so I was able to stamp and punch my merry afternoons away. I think they are very sweet and I do love red & aqua!

Last but not least, I saw some adorable little Christmas Trees and just had to try my hand at them. You buy them from the Miniature Village Websites, the sort that sells things for Train sets. They come very dark green. You bleach them and dye them and roll them in glitter. I love them! I shall be making lots of these next Christmas now I know how easy they are. Even if they did make the kitchen a tad whiffy, I think you'll agree that they are well worth it?

Just a shame you can't really see just how sparkly they actually are.

I promise, no more Christmas posts, I am undecking the halls or whatever the term is, this weekend. So I will be full of the joys of spring, bulbs flowering, new projects and maybe the odd resolution or two.

Love

The things they say

I really should write down all of the little gems that my twins come out with, I feel that in four years there is almost enough material to fill a small best seller, I can wish can't I?

The latest four year old take on the world is this.

Second son has kindly been supervising teeth cleaning whilst I have had the flu:

Luscious Lashes "The tooth fairy brings you coins when your teeth fall out"
#2 son "Yes I know, mine fell out a long time ago"
Luscious Lashes:" Did they come to me?"

I have absolutely no idea where this came from. How on earth do they think of these things? Recycled teeth??


Playing nicely together the other day quickly descended into the usual yelling mayhem. To cut a long story short, one wanted to watch the television quietly, the other to sing..

Twin one : "la la la la christmas, la la la"
Twin two: "be quiet"
Twin one : "la la la la santa clause is coming to towwwwwnnnn LA LA LA"
Twin two: (in a more irritated tone) "Be QUIET!!"
Twin one: " LA LA LA LA SANTA GOT STUCK UP THE CHIMNEY LA LA LA"
This accompanied by dancing in front of the screen like a fairy...
Twin two: " BE QUIIIIEET, SHUT UP, FOREVER"

I am so filled with joy that my obvious mummy skills have created two such friendly, amiable little girls.

Love,

Silly Mummy

I have changed the background again 'sigh'
I liked the other one, but I like this one more, I think?
Oh the frustration of being so indescisive!

I would really like to design my own background and buttons but have tried on a test blog and failed, spectularly I might add. I will conquer it one day when I have more patience.

Today I have none, I don't expect to have a huge amount tomorrow either actually.

These next couple of weeks are known officially as the worst.
I truly cannot begin to tell you how much I hate them. I dread them,
put them out of my mind smiling maniacally when anyone mentions them.

I have another week like it, in the Summer but it's not quite as bad as these two.

They are the official end of the Christmas Holidays.
Other, saner people consider it all over by now.
However, in our house it's not over until the eldest
Children go back to College/pack up their room to go back to University.

Then the 'black dog' arrives...

The house takes on a different life when we are all home, there is double the laughter and noise. Different conversations, more hugs to go around.
Frankly I am in heaven.
The joy of going up the stairs and knowing that all the bedrooms are full of your most precious things is immeasurable.
I smile, turning off the twinkly lights, the tree is beautiful, the stairs all lit up. I feel completely content at that moment. The house is full of Christmas and family - my two favourite things.

Then one goes back to College. Yes, he sleeps here everynight but he leaves the house at silly o'clock and returns when it is dark. He is tired, he has Dance rehearsals and homework. We barely see each other. I do try to arrange the odd day out together, at the Tap Jam or some shopping or a Master Class that I go with him to. But they are snatched moments, I know this.

Then the eldest goes back to University. The hole he leaves is immense. He is full of life, full of new things and ideas he has learnt while he is away. He is handsome and a true Gentleman. I adore him as I do his brother of course. He brings his washing home and I love to do it. He shops for things that he eats at Uni. He fills the basket with his clothes and plays with his sisters.
Then he leaves.
He packs up his room and his bed is stripped, things taken off the walls. His room is at the top of the stairs. The first thing you see when you go up. In two weeks the door will be wide open and his room empty. And when I go up the stairs at night a bit of the house will be missing.

Silly old Mummy...

I know it's the way things are, I know it's right that they do their own thing, life their lives and make their way in the world. I am grateful they are well and smart and have grown big enough to do all this.

But I miss them, and with all my heart would have those long summer days back when they played in the Garden all day and bathed together drowning the Bathroom and laughed and chatted until late at night.

Don't wish those days away, treasure every minute, they are your blessings.

'sniff'