This weekend The Boy and I are off to Blackpool with some friends. Quite alot of friends. At the last count there were 15 adults and 21 children coming, and that is after taking off the recent cancellations due to swine flu. We’re all staying in a little hotel, and I think our booking is practically filling the place. We had the first “annual” outing to Blackpool last year, and it was a huge success (only a few very minor hiccups, which have been errr, solved for this year), so we couldn’t wait to book up again for 2009, and we’re glad to include some people who couldn’t make it last year, but also sad that a couple of good friends from last year can’t make it.

We have a loose itinerary for the weekend, which includes The Pleasure Beach (I’ve got my tickets for here already, thanks to a chance find of lots of Tesco Clubcard vouchers in my drawer, so please let the weather allow this visit, storm-gods) and possibly the zoo. Should the weather not be suitable for a day wandering around the zoo with lots of children, we’ll probably visit the Tower instead. Last year, we had sunshine on the Friday, which allowed the kids to play on the beach for a while when we arrived, then torrential constant rain on the Saturday which made for a very dull and miserable Blackpool. By the Sunday the rain had stopped but was replaced by gale force winds that made walking along the prom impossible (I kid you not, we attempted it and turned back in defeat). The optimist in me (there is one!) is thinking that even with a few rainshowers, the weather this weekend can’t be any worse than it was last year. I’m clinging onto that hope.

So this week will consist of list-writing, laundry, ironing, organising, and trying not to spend any money while keeping a manic excited 4 year old occupied and happy. Should be fun We’re going Friday to Monday, and already my suitcase is almost full with clothes for the boy, covering every eventuality with the weather. I’ve yet to pack the washingmachine and clothes airer full of clothes, any of my clothes, or any toiletries/hairdrier/GHDs. We’re gonna need a bigger bag.

I’ll leave you with a photo of our gaggle of kids on the last day of last year’s trip. Trying to get them all to sit down, smile, and look at the camera was pretty much, well, impossible as you can see.

I was tagged by Laney agesssssssssss ago, but stupid little me forgot to add my blogging email address to my email client and I had no idea there was a comment telling me this. Ah well, better late than never eh?

What is your current obsession?

I’m unashamedly obsessed with the Twilight series of books/films, and in particular Edward Cullen. (and the actor who plays him) I’m a 33 year old mother who’s obsessed with teenage fiction and has a crush on a 23 year old actor. Oh dear.

What is your weirdest obsession?

Probably obscure deep sealife, in particular the elusive Giant Squid. I get so excited when I hear of sightings of live giant squid, and almost pee myself when there is video/photo evidence.

What are you wearing

Black and white polka dot jammy bottoms and a black vest top.

What’s for dinner?

I made salmon fillets with new potatoes and green beans. It was delicious.

What would you eat for your last meal?

Chicken Lalpuri with saffron rice and naan bread.

What’s the last thing you bought?

A memory card reader

What are you listening to right now?

My stupid bloody hamster chewing her stupid bloody cage.

What do you think of the person who tagged you?

Laney is the coolest, calmest parent of 4 I’ve ever come across, she seems to take everything in her stride and manages to juggle kids, work, uni work and growing her own food without breaking sweat. She’s a better woman than me!

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?

Rottnest Island. (Even though it’s not residential, you did say ANYWHERE)

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

A warm empty beach somewhere, anywhere.

Which language do you want to learn?

Spanish, I’d love to live there.

What’s your favourite quote (for now)?

This too shall pass.

What is your favourite colour?

Green

What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?

Black boyfriend cardigan type thing.

What is your dream job?

Something geeky, internet based. Poss web design or maintenance.

Describe your personal style?

90s throwback with a bit of studenty vibe.

What’s your favourite tree?

I don’t have one. Oh dear, I couldn’t tell you the name of any tree unless it’s a Christmas tree. I could possibly identify a Willow.

What are you going to do after this?

Go to bed with my laptop, might watch a film before I go to sleep.

What’s your favourite fruit?

Melon

What inspires you?

The ocean/beach, sunny days, calm and quietness.

What is your favourite photo that you’ve taken?

Too many to choose from, but I really like this one of The Boy on the beach on holiday. I just love the attitude in the walk, and his wee sandy bum.

What are you currently reading?

From Potters Field by Patricia Cornwell. I’m a bit late in the day getting into her books, but read one on holiday and really enjoyed it, so am going through them all now.

Go to your bookshelf, take down the first book with a red spine you see, turn to page 26 and type out the first line:

“This fish is also known as the Saddlehead. It is found further south than most of the stinging fish previously described.” - Venomous Creatures Of Australia (description of a Goblinfish)

What delighted you the most today?

The Boy insisting that he HAS to dance every time he hears music on the telly, he abandons every meal and activity if he hears music, he can’t help himself LOL.

By what criteria do you judge a person?

Well, I don’t suffer fools gladly, so probably intelligence. It’s not a conscious thing though.

What item could you not live without?

Laptop/PC I need to be able to get online. NEED to.

Tagged: Everyone (because I don’t think I have 8 readers hahaha!)

The rules:

1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your invention, then one more question of your own.

2. Tag eight other people.

So it’s time to replace the rug in his bedroom that saw him through the spills and worse (bleurgh) of potty training and the little accidents that have occurred since we embarked on Gina Ford’s potty training in one week program. His little bedroom has been rugless for a couple of months as I realised that his has been shampooed and sponged and disinfected to within an inch of it’s life. I want a large one that will make his room seem cosy, and I haven’t really seen any that I prefer to the previous rug, so I’ve decided to go for the same kind again (although Ikea have updated the design and released a second colourway, just to confuse matters) I can’t decide on red or blue now, I think I’m veering towards red though, what do you think?

This is his room, for reference. (With a corner of the blue version showing)

I think red would be a nice contrast, he has alot of blue in his room already. Hmmm.

Also, while I’m on the subject of his room, I’m fed up picking eleventy-billion books off the floor and returning them to his bookshelf every time he reads a story, and would quite like a book stand that displays the books face on, which will hopefully make it easier to find the particular story he’s looking for (or maybe I should just throw every book out apart from The Very Hungry Caterpillar, as that’s all he ever seems to read these days!). I have been looking online, and boy are they expensive! First one I found was from Vertbaudet, £81!!!!! For something that holds about 30 books and he’ll only use for another 3 or 4 years max. I think not. I know I’m a skinflint, but £81 jeez, that’s extortionate. A little further digging threw up these 2 from the GLTC, slightly more reasonable but still a bit on the high side for the amount that they hold I think…

This one for £60 (Is it really small or is it just me?)

And this, slightly uglier one for £45

I’ll keep looking in the hope that the perfect one will appear at my feet. Am wondering if there is a place that supply school/nursery equipment that may sell to consumers too. Something to think about..

I’m also desperate to revamp my living room a bit. I’m getting a bit fed up with turquoise as an accent colour, and would like to introduce some green, possibly doing away with the turquoise altogether. And I want new blinds. And a new rug. And a sideboard. Watch this space for some inspiration links when I get round to it.