At long last I have a shiny new laptop, which means (in theory) that blogging is back on the agenda. I was using a desktop PC that I built up when my laptop died on me, but it was awkward and I just didn’t feel the love with it, so couldn’t be arsed, basically. I’m a bit concerned that Twitter may have sucked the life out of my blogging mojo, but I’ll give it a go anyway.

The UK is in the middle of a heatwave at the moment. Up here in Scotland it’s certainly warm, but pretty much permanently cloudy which gives it all a strange end of the world feel. One up side of no sun is that I can sit while the boy plays with his sandpit and scooter and am able to see the screen of my laptop without a hand cupped over it.

It is the first week of summer holidays here in central Scotland, and I’ve decided we’re having a lazy week to ease us into it gently. The Boy has just discovered the joys of playing outside with friends, so I’ve been not been doing much apart from sitting on the steps in front of our building reading/browsing the net/gossiping with neighbours with brief intervals to make picnics and assist various children in dragging yet more toys outside. If this is what summer has to offer, bring it on! The only concrete plans we have made so far is Lazytown Live this weekend and a weekend in Blackpool with a huge group of friends and their children at the end of the month. We’ve made various loose arrangements to “do something” with various friends and their children at some point, but that’s as far as it goes.

I’m also having a bit of a detox at the moment. We came back from Spain 2 weeks ago, and I’ve just not had the motivation to cook properly. I’ve had far too much eating out, eating crap or skipping meals in favour of junk. I feel constantly lethargic and my skin is awful. My diet coke addiction is getting dangerously out of hand again too. So as of yesterday I’m having a few weeks of healthy eating. I’ve cleared the fridge of crap and filled it up with fruit, veg, salad, salmon, seeds, Muller Light and hummus. I’m forcing water down by the pint glass and limiting myself to one 2l bottle of diet coke A WEEK. I’m also only allowing myself 1 cup of coffee a day, as opposed to the 3 or 4 that I have been drinking recently. Day 2 and I’m feeling fine, hungry and peeing like a racehorse, but fine Well it’s 3pm, 2 hours since lunch and all this talk of food has made me hungry. I’m sitting in my mum’s garden at the moment, so will go and have a rummage through her fridge and see what’s healthy to snack on. She’s also doing a bit of a detox this week. She went shopping last night for healthy food and came back with a BOX of South African red wine. Gotta love my mum!

Well the Christmas tree is gone, the chocolate pile is depleted, and we’re back to nursery tomorrow.  Looks like the festive season is well and truly over.  I am not looking forward to getting back into the routine of having to be out the door at a certain time 5 days out of 7, but I think it’ll do The Boy a lot of good.  He has so much excess energy to use up at the moment, I really feel for him.  This freezing weather isn’t really optimum out and about “tire him out” weather, so we’re spending alot of time indoors being generally bored.  He’s even bored with painting and play doh at the moment, so I know he needs to get back to nursery!  Hopefully it will help his sleeping too, as he’s been waking quite a bit in the night over the last couple of weeks.  I’m sure it’ll take a few days for him to adjust but I’m hoping he’ll be back to his 7pm-9am sleep marathons again within the week.

I need to start a detox ASAP.  What with winter colds and being run down, and the excess of alcohol and  delicious but unhealthy foods that accompany the festive season, my skin/hair/waistline/sleep pattern and general well-being is not at it’s best, to say the least.  I’ve already ditched the diet coke for pints of water, and am using up the crap from my freezer so that I don’t cave in to the temptation of shoving some additive filled crap into the oven instead of cooking something vaguely healthy after I do my weekly food shop this week.  Midweek drinking is over too.  I was looking forward to the bracing walk to nursery in the cold tomorrow, both for the exercise and the energy boost it would give me, but my lovely friend called this afternoon and offered us a lift tomorrow as her husband is off work, and I could not refuse. The lazy bastard in me won over again, bah. Ah well, there will be plenty of other opportunities to freeze my bum off this week I’m sure.

I also realllllly need a haircut.  I’m growing it at the moment but it’s at that annoying stage where it’s just about to descend past my shoulders, so still needs some semblance of shape to it, but never keeps it because it keeps brushing against my shoulders.  I also can’t decide what to do with my fringe.  Grow it out and be a spamhead? Get it thickened? Argh, I hate my hair, and my forehead.

I think the depressive, lethargic blah feeling of January just magnifies all my flaws and insecurities.  I feel run down, so my skin is crap, making me feel ugly and pasty. I eat too much, leaving me feeling bloated and sluggish, making me feel fat and unattractive.  The weather is shit, leaving me with no motivation to go out and do stuff because I’m ugly, pasty, fat and unattractive and, well, the weather is shit!  Need to sort this ASAP.  Get off your arse Geek Mama and get some motivation!

It’s been a while, blogland.

I never know whether to do an update or not when I return from a blog-rest.  It feels a bit rude to just start rambling on about something or other without explaining my absence.  Not that there is an explanation, I just couldn’t be arsed LOL.

Anyway, The boy is still loving nursery.  He had his settling in report before the half term break which was glowing.  Apparently he’s an angel between the hours of 1pm-4pm, Mon-Fri - who’d have thunk it?

I love the “Callum can need reminding to tidy up” part.  Glad to see he’s not just giving me the runaround at tidy up time.  I’d love to be a fly on the wall at nursery for a day.

I’m loving the icy weather we’ve been having, if only for the fact that it means there is less rain and general dampness around.  I’ve not been thoroughly soaked twice a day for at least 2 weeks now.  The walking to nursery and back lark lost it’s appeal quickly, I dread it every day and long to be able to jump in a nice warm car instead.  On the up side, my legs are getting less flabby, as my looser than normal jeans and boots that easily zip up will testify. Still though, a car (or chauffeur, or daily taxi) would be preferable.

Now that Halloween and Bonfire night are over, I’m allowed to talk about Christmas without the humbugs whinging that “It’s only October!” “It’s not even Halloween yet” and “The leaves are still on the trees!”.  I adore Christmas, it’s my favourite time of year, and I’m especially looking forward to this year because we won’t need to travel any considerable distance before and after - meaning I can buy Callum whatever the hell I like without having to think about baggage allowances and bulk.  Last year we were in Australia for Christmas, and the 2 years previous to that we had to go back to Bristol afterwards, so we have always had to curb our present buying.  I’m really looking forward to just being able to buy what I want for him and not have to think if it’ll fit in a suitcase or take me over the blasted 20KG limit.  I’m going late night shopping this evening to make a start on it actually.  I’m buying Callum a Singalong CD player from the ELC, (complete with microphones, one for him and one for me his friend) and they have 20%  off it at the moment, so I may as well buy it early and save myself £7.50. I’m buying my tree and decorations this weekend too, oh it’s all so exciting.  Santa arrives at our  Town Centre on Saturday morning, so we’ll be taking The Boy to watch the grand entrance.  He’s still terrified of Santa, so that will be fun….

Next weekend I have some good friends coming to Glasgow for a girls night out.  We’re going out for a lovely meal, followed by drinks, then we’re all going back to (poor) Kelly’s house for some Singstar and more drinks, and a sleepover.  In addition to the 5 of us who all live in the Glasgow area, we have 2 girls flying up from London, one coming on the train from Dumfries, and one coaching it down from the Highlands.  I’m so looking forward to it, it’s going to be such a great night, I can’t wait to see everyone again, sans kidlets! I’ve been trying to find something new to wear, but it’s proving difficult, so I think I’ll be wearing a dress I already have, and will treat myself to a new bag, and perhaps a coat if I can find one I like.

I think I’m all caught up now, and normal blogging service has resumed, honest!

Oh, how could I forget, I’m going to see TAKE THAT in June, HOW EXCITING.  Watch out Mark Owen, I’m coming to get you!!!!!  <3

This week could do with being rubbed out and drawn in again.

It all started on Monday morning when I awoke at the ungodly hour of 7.15 with the rain pattering against my window.  15 minutes later the “rain” sounded more like a tap, and it dawned on me that it was coming from my bathroom (next to my bedroom). On inspection, I found that there was quite a great deal of water pouring in through my ceiling.  Wonderful.  A couple of nights before my bathroom lights had gone, and I hoped it was just a coincidence that 2 bulbs went at the same time, but no, there had obviously been a leak there for a couple of days.  *sigh*  Anyway, the upshot of it meant I was knocking on my neighbour’s door at 7.15 informing her that the contents of her bathroom pipes were actually in my flat.  Luckily, it was repaired that morning, so there was no lasting damage from the water.  The electrician came about lunchtime to repair the lights, but as it was still damp around the fitting, disconnected them and should hopefully be out tomorrow to re-connect them.

The boy has also been ill this week.  He had his first ever significant temperature which scared the crap out of me, and I ended up having to medicate him, which I really hate doing.  I hate that the thought of giving his wee body drugs that may mask symptoms of something serious, but the thought of febrile convulsions (note to self: don’t google child temperatures again) over-rode my hate of infant suspensions, and I administered baby nurofen type stuff a few times, which brought his temp down a bit.

He’s certainly alot better tonight, but is still milking it for all it’s worth with a “mummy I’m not feeling well, I think I need to sleep in your bed”, which worked of course, for the 4th night running.  He just fell out of my bed around an hour ago and when I went in to pick him up and put him back together again he wasn’t hot at all, so fingers crossed the fever has passed.

Earlier in the week we went to my friend Jen’s house to see her new puppy.  It’s a teeny border collie, only 5 weeks old and just beautiful.  It was a rescued runt from a farmhouse litter, and has a few breed related problems, but my friend is such a softie she decided to save it from certain death instead of taking a “perfect” one.  Well, Callum just adores her.  He would not leave her alone, and made such a fuss over this little ball of fluff.  It was so lovely to watch.  He was carrying her around like a baby (ok, like a bag of spuds, but a very fragile bag of spuds), and taking her over to her water bowl, bringing her toys and trying to put her to bed.  My heart was melting, and as a result I’m thinking that, as lovely as our goldfish is, it’s not really up to much in the pet stakes.  I’m seriously considering a kitten.  I’m giving myself 3 months to think about it, because if I don’t I’ll have one by the weekend, such is my love of cute fluffy things.  Need. To. Be. Sensible.

I don’t think I have much more to report, No nursery yesterday due to strike action (and the award for the worst timed pay-rise related strike goes to…..), no nursery today due to ill child, and no nursery tomorrow due to Scottish September weekend.  We have my best friend’s wee boys 4th birthday party on Saturday afternoon and a christening on Sunday, so a busy weekend ahead.  Please let us have no more illness and some sunshine.

xxx

Blatantly ripping off a recent post by Splodge, who posted photos of where she blogs from, I decided to do the same.  I’m insanely jealous of people who have an “area” all to themselves with all their junk important things around them.  I used to have a great little office in my old flat just for me.  My poor boyfriend had to have a desk in the corner of the bedroom while I got a great room just off the kitchen with a huge corner desk full of my treasured belongings.  Bliss.

Anyway, these days I live on my own with my little boy, and my bedroom has fitted storage which really limits space, so I can’t even have a desk in there. I could fit one in the main living room, but it would look just awful, so my desktop PC is currently residing under my bed, and I use my beloved 10 month old laptop for blogging/work/browsing. While it’s great for comfort it’s not so good for posture and prolonged sessions of work/play.  I’m normally found sitting with the laptop on a cushion on the side of the sofa.  Anyway, on to the pics!

This is where I usually sit to blog.  Note the obligatory glass of wine (only on weekends and Desperate Housewives nights!), the mobile and landline phones, and the remote controls.   There is often a pot of hummous and some pitta on the small lamp table, but I’m trying to cut down my late night eating these days.  The folder on the dining table is the only work related thing I keep in this room, it’s just some policy notes and some research stuff I like to keep handy. All my other office-type crap is kept on the floor to ceiling bookshelf built into my hall, in various ikea boxes and baskets.

This is my normal view.  Luckily I’m great at multi-tasking, so browsing/telly watching/munching things from the far too handy kitchen all at the same time holds no problem for me.  Sometimes there is a small boy and 3 billion toys in this view, but not tonight.

That’s it, not very exciting I’m afraid, but I did promise to do it!

xxx

I’ve recently been told by a (now ex) friend that I lack respect, manners and empathy amongst other things, because I didn’t respond to a text message that I was sent the other evening while my 3 year old was ill. (bad cold and cough, woke up choking on his own phlegm, cue needing cuddled all night).  As it was, yesterday I was a zombie due to lack of sleep caused by said cuddling all night coupled with having a cling-on all day long, therefore didn’t think to even check my phone for messages.  All this was explained in my reply text along with 2 apologies (why the fuck did I apologise?  hindsight is a bitch) but it wasn’t enough apparently.  Oh and the end of the text message reply I got also has “fuck you and fuck off” on it, finishing it off nicely eh?  This person is apparently going through a really rough time at the moment, which I have tried to be sensitive to, and overlooked the last big ball of shite they threw at me last week, but I’ve had it now.  At what point did I become such a pushover to even think about having someone like that around me?  I’m all for helping friends in their hour of need, but when I consistently get nothing from a friendship but hassle, drama and downright abuse, it’s time to end it.  I’ve tried to end this before, but always succumb, and answer a text or email a few weeks later when we’ve both calmed down.  The thing is, it’s not me who is ever out of order, and I can see this clearly now, and I’m basically letting him get away with it, as it’s never mentioned again and he therefore thinks it’s ok to speak to me in such a condescending patronising way.  I bloody hate it.  So that’s me done, one less Christmas card to send this year.

I have just been offered a work from home job as an Internet Researcher.  I saw the advertisement on a recruitment site, and after doing some digging around, it turns out the company are reputable, good payers and everything looks to be above board, so I applied at the beginning of the week.  I received an application form to fill in and also had to sit a test, which thankfully I passed, and I was offered the position this morning.  I know it’s not a high flying career, but it is ideal for me at the moment.  It’s completely flexible, so I can work it around my life, and can do as little or as much as I like.  And lets face it, any extra money I earn will be better than the big fat zero that I’m earning at the moment.  I’m quite proud of myself actually, the test wasn’t easy, and apparently they scrutinize your spelling, grammar and punctuation, and by all accounts are a very difficult company to get into.

I should have my induction within the next 10 days, then it’s off to work I go!  (With no commuting, no face-to-face customers, and I can wear my jammies if I want!)

I will stop drinking wine during the week

I will start exercising. A brisk walk every day at the very least.

I will stop eating crap. The fact that Supernoodles are not made of chocolate does not make them a nutritious meal.

I will not eat after 8pm

I will drink more water and less diet coke

I will go to bed before midnight a least 3 nights a week.

honest.

I’ve had no internet for a few days due to a dodgy modem. Thank god for my idiot neighbours who are too dim to protect their wireless network and let all and sundry use it. I managed to get on a few times using their wireless, but it was a bit sketchy, and I could only get on for any length of time if I sat my laptop on the windowsill. Hardly inconspicuous when it’s pitch black outside and I have the lights on.

Anyway, I have a new modem and it’s all fine now, so all is well with the world. I really missed not having the internet, my level of addiction is quite alarming. I didn’t know what to do with myself when I was in the house. I had my mobile so could facebook/twitter from that, and also check my forums on my opera mini browser, but it was so slow. I missed catching up my ever expanding blog feedlist, being able to check my email every 5 minutes. (I have a compulsion to click the send/receive button every 5 minutes exactly, it’s not funny), being able to check my online banking, ebaying, window shopping, and the list goes on…and on…and on. And on.

We had a quiet weekend this week. On Friday I went shopping with my mum, then we went for an Italian for Dinner. They had an offer where you got half a pizza and some pasta for x amount. So I ordered linguini carbonara, and a bacon and mushroom pizza. Only when it arrived did I realise what I had done. DOH. Hmmm bacon and mushroom pasta and bacon and mushroom pizza, I’m all about the variety… Anyway it was lovely and I had a nice beer to wash it down. Callum was an angel and ate some pasta and his bodyweight in garlic bread as usual. Friday night I drank far too much wine… and paid for it on the Saturday. I felt so dodgy all day, I only started to come alive about 7pm, then ate like a pig until bedtime. Today we went to my mum’s for dinner. It was a nice chilled day. We drank coffee and ate biscuits while Callum dug up her garden looking for wiggly worms. We had delicious steak, then I vegged ont he sofa while Callum played on the floor with his gran. Perfect Sunday really.

Oh and we’ve decided we are going on a wee holiday in a couple of months. We haven’t decided where yet though, although we’re swaying towards the Balaerics or the Greek Islands. As long as there is sun/pool/beach and restaurants we’ll be happy. I can’t wait to get back to the beach, I think I was a fish in a former life, I just feel at peace when I’m near the sea. Also can’t wait to get The Boy back into his swimming. It’s been bloomin’ freezing since we got back from Oz, so this will get my ass back into gear, and set him up for the summer.

I had to go and pick up a new hosepipe this afternoon, so of course ended up buying a new top, 3 new necklaces and a pair of earrings. Oh and also a potty (EEK) for The Boy. That should be fun.

But my “oops” in the title, is referring to the momentary case of diet amnesia I suffered, which resulted in me eating a Burger King Chicken Royale meal. I was halfway through it when I realised I was on a diet lol. And I was SERIOUSLY hyperactive for about an hour after it. There must be shitloads of sugar in those burgers. I’m so pissed off at myself, partly because it’s my first lapse, but mostly because if I was going to use that many calories/fat up I could have just bought a bloody bottle of wine instead, I’m missing my wine

xxx