Dan Amongst Men

Would you let your Primary School Kids browse YouTube?

2012-01-15T22:10:00.002Z

This is a pressing question right now what with the Christmas explosion of iPads and smartphones. Huge numbers of people have instant access to the internet and who doesn't let their kid play Angry Birds on their phone to keep them quiet once in a while? The birds are harmless enough but there's some scary shit on YouTube. One of my boys came home from a friends house recently having been browsing on his friend's Dad's iPad and he couldn't get to sleep because he was thinking about Evil Elmo! Grandparents all over the country have got themselves all technologically equipped with their new gadgets but haven't got a clue about the perils of Two Girls One Cup (don't even think about googling that one!). The 6 o'clock news is bad enough for gore, but the possibilities for our babies innocence to be forever tarnished at the glowing face of Apple are endless. Something needs to be done. We need an emergency health warning put out with all new tablets and smartphones that reads "Do Not Let Your Child Loose on YouTube". You wouldn't let them out to the local S&M club on a Saturday night would you? Giving a child an iPad and saying "there you go little Jimmy, play with that for an hour or two" could quite easily introduce him to much worse.

Unscrupulous YouTube users have been known to upload porn and name it after children's cartoons just to be 'funny'. Anyone can upload anything to YouTube. You can report stuff that you think is offensive but if your child has already seen it it's too late, the damage is done.

I love YouTube. You can find some great stuff on there. Just please, please tell everyone you know (especially Grandparents) not to let kids browse it! There will be plenty of time for them to hunt out the sickest videos when they get to secondary school.

As a final note, I'll leave you in the twisted hands of Evil Elmo. Sleep tight.

Grandad Welsh's Yorkshire Parkin, Cinder Toffee and Brittle Treacle Toffee

2011-11-05T13:43:00.002Z

In honour of Bonfire Night I thought I would share my Grandad Don Welsh's recipes, written by his own hand. There is Cinder Toffee, Brittle Treacle Toffee and good old Yorkshire Parkin.

I am about to have a go at the Parkin and will let you all know how it turns out. Here are the recipes in case you want to have a go yourself.

Well it's out of the oven and smells delicious! It has sunk slightly in the middle so I reckon I need a bit more practice (which I'm sure DadAmongstMen won't mind!) I'm sure it'll taste good, even if we have to eat it with a spoon.

My talented singing boy..

2011-11-04T23:09:00.000Z

Every year David Flood, the Choirmaster at Canterbury Cathedral, sees boys who can sing and assesses them for suitability to join the Cathedral Choir. Only 5 boys get to join each year and the position comes with a substantial scholarship to attend St Edmunds School. Ideally the boys are seen in year 3 (age 7) and taken on in year 4 (age 8).

My oldest boy has a beautiful singing voice so we talked about the possibility of him trying out for the scholarship. I telephoned David and although Louis is already in year 4 so above the age that boys usually begin, he said he would still like to meet him as sometimes places become available.

We went along to the Cathedral after school on Wednesday and Louis sang along to notes and scales that David played on the piano. He was brilliant, even if I do say so myself! Note perfect! David told him he is absolutely good enough to sing for the Cathedral Choir and receive the scholarship. How wonderful is that? It may never come to anything because it all depends on whether any of the current boys have a change in circumstances, but Louis is an official "substitute". I'm so proud of him.

Anger

2011-10-21T22:56:00.000+01:00

My goodness I've been one angry Mother this evening. I've been so angry even the dogs have stayed out of my way. Angry over nothing out of the ordinary. Angry at yet another post-school tea time bout of mayhem and madness. I took the boys out into the countryside to get some fresh air and let off steam after school thinking it might just give us a calmer tea time... it did not work. Oldest child's surly playground alter-ego followed us home. Second child cut his own hair and looks like a.. well I can't even describe what he looks like. Third child terrorised fourth child who screamed and whacked him at every opportunity. Fifth child is too small to cause any trouble but watched intently, picking up tips for later use. Their bedroom, even after my recent ruthless decluttering, is a pigsty. Their duvets, clothes, books, pens and torn up bits of paper were strewn across the floor. It is nothing unusual. Most of the time I don't get wound up about these things. Today I was outraged. The trouble is I get so loud. I have been blessed with a powerful voice, which is great for belting out a tune on stage but a curse when it comes to letting off emotional steam. I am ashamed at the thought of the neighbours hearing me. I beat myself up about it and vow never to let it out again but like a drinker giving up the booze, I'm back on the noisy wagon within a week! My children are turning into shouters too. My God what have I done? Why is it so hard to stop doing something you know you shouldn't do? What other way is there to deal with an angry outburst?

Is it better to just accept being angry sometimes? I find the more I try not to be angry, the angrier I get. The trouble is that a loud angry outburst from Mummy actually does subdue the crazy high jinx behaviour that takes over the children. My calm but authoritative voice falls on deaf ears in situations of over excitement, so then out comes the madwoman and it all goes quiet. It's unpleasant but effective, just like nasty tasting medicine. But its not who I want to be. I feel so far removed from the calm, patient, lullaby-singing Mother Earth figure I was when I had my first baby. I miss her, but she seriously wouldn't have a Birkenstocked leg to stand on in a house full over-tired, argumentative and rambunctious children. Do I teach my children to shout and let the anger out? Or do I teach them to keep it all in for the sake of peace and harmony? I want peace and harmony? I could have peace and harmony if I had an empty house but I'd be kind of lonely. Sometimes I make excuses about my pregnancy hormones raging or my lack of sleep, but often I'm just plain angry at picking up the same dressing gown off the dog-hairy floor for the fifth time in a day.

What do you do? Are you a smasher? A slammer? A screamer? All of the above? Come on, 'fess up. Make me feel more human.

The Welly wearing Streaker returns

2011-10-05T09:58:00.001+01:00

Do you think he's after our nuts? He's too late for the plums.

Zara in his new field

2011-09-21T11:14:00.001+01:00

What a lovely view.

The Field Solution

2011-09-20T22:33:00.000+01:00

You'll be pleased to know Zara's field dilemma is now happily solved. Today he moved house! Last week a sign appeared at the side of the road I drive down every day to school saying "Grass Livery, Enquire within". I couldn't believe my luck, so I did. The field is on my way to school and is 3 acres of secluded, sheltered and lush grazing.

I have also found him a new girlfriend, thanks to the very kind ladies at his new field. She is called Sylvia, a 15 year old grey Welsh section B mare and is due to arrive on Sunday. Zara is going to be falling in love all over again.

Zara is in the trailer on his way to his new home. When he arrived at the field he totally ignored the horses in the next paddock and got stuck straight in to the lush grass!

The lovely Sylvia.

So here's to a new chapter in Star of Zaraman's life. A new start, at the grand old age of 32!

Ode to the Men of the Mine by Del Morgan

2011-09-16T23:13:00.001+01:00

I found this poem on a welsh coal mining website and wanted to repost it in

honour of the men who lost their lives.   Lots of other information and poetry

can be found at http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/

Ode to the Men of the Mine

In that land of valleys, that echoed their song,
brave men would descend, down shafts so long.
Not knowing if they would see, the next light of day,
these men would make,  their living this way.

Tough and rugged, were these men of the mine,
and at home waiting, were their woman so fine.
Hoping beyond hope, not to hear,
that alarm that meant, disaster was near.

Young lads also worked, in that deep dark mine,
as there lungs filled with dust, that killed many with time.
Working long hour, on that cold damp seam,
as tons of ruck above, supported by rafter and beam.

At shift end, ascending tired and black,
knowing tomorrow, they had to go back.
Working long hours, for little pay,
their eyes now adjusting to the light of day.

These were my ancestors, Grandfather and Dad,
who's voices sang the songs, passed from father to lad.
Those great voices that filled, the valley so loud,
the men of the mine, for whom I'm so proud.

In loving memory of my father Glyn Morgan and grandfather Edward Morgan
Del Morgan

The Field Dilemma

2011-09-03T23:20:00.001+01:00

I have a dilemma.

Anyone who has a horse will know that owning or renting your own field and stables is like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Livery yards are breeding grounds for know-it-all horsey nutters out to out-do each other in the horse knowledge/riding ability/best-horse stakes. Sharing a yard usually starts off well then quickly turns sour over a shit-picking argument (literally!).

I have been very fortunate in sharing a field with a lovely lady for the past 4 years without any hassle whatsoever. She recently moved house and has since decided it makes more sense for her to move her mare to a field closer to her new house. I can't argue with that. It does however mean that Zara's future in the field is now dependent on some decision making on my part.

For the past few years a young twenty-something girl who lives close by has been helping out with our horses in return for a small fee. She has her own horses but they are kept in a field a few miles away. It has been suggested that she and her mother take over the tenancy of our current field and I continue to pay half the rent plus a fee for her feeding Zara on days I can't get there. It all sounds quite logical except that I don't really know this girl or her mother and once they take 'ownership' of the premises I can't be certain things will continue to be as blissfully stress free as they have.

The other option is that I take over the tenancy of the field. It comes at a bargain price compared to livery charges but I would still need to share it with someone who can be there every day to chuck a feed down for Zara, as in reality I can't manage that and the daily care and ferrying around of five children!

I had a lengthy conversation with the girl's mother this evening and she seems very nice. I put the suggestion to her that I take over the tenancy and allow her to keep her horses there in return for a guaranteed daily visit to check Zara's still breathing and give him a quick feed. A pretty good deal for a young girl with two horses, a full time job, living at home and with no kids to worry about. But sadly the lure of a field of their very own is as strong for them as it is for me and she said they probably wouldn't go for that.

So, we're at a bit of a stalemate. It has always been my dream to have a field and stable of my own (even if it is leased) but I can't be certain about getting there everyday especially in winter. We both want to take over the field tenancy. It does make more sense for them to take it over and for me to pay towards the rent and feeding of Zara. They live closer and can walk there in the winter. My horse is already in the field so I suppose I have first refusal on it but I can't take it on without their help. They won't help unless it's in their name. What to do, what to do?

The girl's Dad died recently and it made me think about the time around losing my own Dad when I was 25. I had to move Zara to a different livery yard because they were insisting on him being stabled and I didn't want him locked in. I did not need the stress of that on top of full blown grief. If I had had the chance to rent a field of my own within walking distance of my house it would have really given me something positive to focus on. In light of that I feel that I really should let go of my dream of having my own field right now and let this girl and her Mum have that peace of mind. I know with five children to look after I could really do with peace of mind too, and if the field was within walking distance of my house instead of across the other side of the city this wouldn't be a dilemma at all, I would sign on the dotted line tomorrow.

The other hard part to let go of is the hope that someday at least one of the boys will love horses and want to come up to the field with me and ride out. If we had our own field it would be so much easier. We could have a couple of ponies without having to fork out astronomical livery costs or be under the watchful eye of some "expert" yard owner! But we can't even really afford Zara right now so the option of having any more is pretty much a pipe dream.

I told the Mother I was going to sleep on it but I have to concede it makes more sense to let them take it on and pay to keep Zara there with their mares. I just really hope I don't regret grabbing 'a field of my very own' with both wellies when I had the chance!

I love the old bugger but he has given me some headaches over the years!

Pram-bingo on ebay

2011-08-26T23:49:00.000+01:00

I have an addiction and I am utterly ashamed of myself. I spend an embarrassing amount of time looking at prams on ebay. My latest obsession is a vintage Silver Cross Wayfarer pram/pushchair combo. The kind you see red-cheeked wild-haired bag ladies push small dogs and crates of wine around in..

I really, really want one. More than that, I'm thoroughly enjoying the thrill of the ebay chase to find the perfect-est, cheapest, bestest bargain one. I'm hooked on the adrenalin buzz you get when you find one and win. I expect if I do get a 'full house' the blasted thing will be back on ebay before it's wheels have graced Marks & Spencers cafe floor. But that's not the point!

Come to Mummy, oh vintage Silver Cross perfection...

Backtalk crackdown!

2011-08-26T22:09:00.001+01:00

Approaching the end of a long Summer holiday, during which I have had a new baby and not gone on any kind of trip to get a change of scenery, life in the house of men has been getting a little bit fraught. Stress levels and general naughtiness has been on the increase. Mouths have been getting a bit sharp for my liking and Mummy's been feeling out of control.

Time to welcome a new book into my parenting armoury! BACKtalk is a 4 step programme to ending disrespectful behaviour in kids (it works on adults too) and it's brilliant. Its no nonsense approach is already having an effect in our house after only a couple of days. Even my cynical husband has had to agree it's got something to it. Its no child-led teddy bears wishy washy picnic, this is tough and it's getting results but the magical part of it is... no shouting, no smacking, no anger, no bribes, no stickers, no naughty step! I haven't finished the book yet but it's already changing things for the better. I can't recommend it enough.

Hermes horsey handbag heaven!

2011-07-25T19:28:00.001+01:00

OMG How much do I love this bag? Shame I can barely afford a Turkish imitation...

A letter to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom...

2011-07-22T11:29:00.000+01:00

I didn't write this, I received it via email today. I don't know whose work it is, but it is bloody genius!!

Dear Mr. Cameron,

Please find below our suggestion for fixing the UKs economy.

Instead of giving billions of pounds to banks that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan.

You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan: A snip at £10billion

There are about 10 million people over 50 in the work force.

Pay them £1 million each severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

1) They MUST retire.
Ten million job openings - unemployment fixed

2) They MUST buy a new British car.
Ten million cars ordered - Car Industry fixed

3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage -
Housing Crisis fixed

4) They MUST send their kids to school/college/university -
Crime rate fixed

5) They MUST buy £100 WORTH of alcohol/tobacco a week .....
And there's your money back in duty/tax etc

It can't get any easier than that!

P.S. If more money is needed, have all members of parliament pay back their falsely claimed expenses and second home allowances

If you think this would work, please forward to everyone you know.

Also………..
Let's put the pensioners in jail and the criminals in a nursing home.

This way the pensioners would have access to showers, hobbies and walks.

They'd receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs etc and they'd receive money instead of paying it out.

They would have constant video monitoring, so they could be helped instantly, if they fell, or needed assistance.

Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.

A guard would check on them every 20 minutes and bring their meals and snacks to their cell.

They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.

They would have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counselling, pool and education.

Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, PJ's and legal aid would be free, on request.

Private, secure rooms for all, with an exercise outdoor yard, with gardens.

Each senior could have a PC a TV radio and daily phone calls.

There would be a board of directors to hear complaints, and the guards would have a code of conduct that would be strictly adhered to.

The criminals would get cold food, be left all alone and unsupervised. Lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week. Live in a tiny room and pay £600.00 per week and have no hope of ever getting out.

Think about this (more points of contention):

COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Appleby almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the county of Cumbria?

And, they even tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 125,000 illegal immigrants wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.

Also;
Think about this ... If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone -- YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM! It is time for us grumpy old folk of Britain to speak up!

Mmmm, best bit of baking is...

2011-07-13T11:03:00.000+01:00

Licking the bowl!

A new baby and a gammy eye...

2011-06-27T11:07:00.000+01:00

So my beautiful baby Beau is only 9 days old and the other munchkins have brought home a nice dose of conjunctivitis for me. I woke up this morning with one eye glued shut! Very attractive. Here's a lovely photo to put you off your lunch..

And now look at his cute little feet to take your mind off the eye!

Isn't he gorgeous!

Welly-wearing streaker in the garden!

2011-06-14T18:24:00.003+01:00

Spiderman Retro Bike!

2011-06-14T13:25:00.002+01:00

IMAG0220, originally uploaded by mama_danielle.

How cool is this customised Spiderman vintage kids bike? A 99p ebay bargain! Somebody spent a lot of time revamping this. I almost felt bad for winning the auction so cheaply. Just collected it this morning and I think the children will love it.

37 weeks

2011-06-10T15:21:00.001+01:00

Ro Ro's first school trip

2011-06-09T09:24:00.001+01:00

He's got his packed lunch and his sun hat and he's all set for his first school trip today.

A dog's gotta do what a dog's gotta do...

2011-06-06T16:27:00.002+01:00

A while ago I spotted this poop bag pouch in the 'aspirational' London canine boutique Mungo and Maud.

Click here for Mungo & Maud

Now whilst I think it's a lovely object and of course want my dogs to be the chic-est in town, I'm afraid I can't stretch to £38.90 for their poop pouch. (at this point in time £25 for 5 family meals in Morrisons is looking tricky)

So my thrifty make-do-and-mend head took over, the sewing machine came out and some old bits of denim that were the legs off a pair of the boys 'gone at the knee' jeans were transformed. Now the girls have their very own designer poop bag pouch, complete with leopard print handle and I'm rather pleased with my handiwork.

Five Babies No Shower

2011-06-03T12:36:00.002+01:00

It has occurred to me whilst reading another blog this morning that displayed beautiful photos of an all American baby shower, that I have never had one. How can this be? I am 4 weeks off giving birth to my fifth child and yet not a single shower have I ever had. Perhaps it is because I am an antisocial old fart incapable of forming or maintaining any close bonds with female friends? Perhaps it is because I have always had boy babies and in my mind for some reason I picture baby showers as all pink and rose-filled occasions? The thought of blue tractor-filled party does not entice me in the slightest... Whatever the reason I do feel slightly miffed at having missed out on this modern day rite of passage into Motherhood. It seems everyone is at it, except me.

So I have decided to throw myself an imaginary baby shower in the form of a blog post. A visual feast of how my dream shower would be.

First I would choose a delicious strawberry cake like this... or maybe this

We'd have tea in china cups

and delicate little crustless sandwiches

There would be bunting

I am rather partial to this colourful crochet bunting

I would have paper chains rather than balloons in a vain attempt to me more eco-friendly.

And how cute is this Paddington bear nappy cake with a bottle of bubbly? Hard to find one I like that is unisex but this is lovely.

Of course every guest would have to go home with one of these beautiful baby shower cookies!

I can't tell you how much fun I've had putting this imaginary baby shower together. I'm almost tempted to throw it for real. Oh hang on, forgot about the inability to maintain bonds thing. Nevermind, it's cheaper this way!
And as for my dream baby shower gifts, well that's going to take a whole new blog post!!

Beamish Open Air Museum - Room Interiors

2011-05-30T15:45:00.000+01:00

I went to Beamish as a child and didn't fully appreciate it. I'd love to go back there now. It's wonderful looking into the past.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23689245@N08/sets/72157611323509707/

Horse hair mattress need restuffing?

2011-04-02T11:18:00.002+01:00

It's that time of year when I get covered in white hair and the birds do well with their nest soft furnishing!

Wee Willie Winkie

2011-03-24T13:22:00.000Z

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,

Up stairs and down stairs in his night-gown,

Tapping at the window, crying at the lock,

Are the children in their bed, for it's past ten o'clock?

Hey, Willie Winkie, are you coming in?

The cat is singing purring sounds to the sleeping hen,

The dog's spread out on the floor, and doesn't give a cheep,

But here's a wakeful little boy who will not fall asleep!

Anything but sleep, you rogue! glowering like the moon,'

Rattling in an iron jug with an iron spoon,

Rumbling, tumbling round about, crowing like a cock,

Shrieking like I don't know what, waking sleeping folk.

Hey, Willie Winkie - the child's in a creel!

Wriggling from everyone's knee like an eel,

Tugging at the cat's ear, and confusing all her thrums

Hey, Willie Winkie - see, there he comes!"

Weary is the mother who has a dusty child,

A small short little child, who can't run on his own,

Who always has a battle with sleep before he'll close an eye

But a kiss from his rosy lips gives strength anew to me.

Thoughful and subtle clothes for children by Caramel Baby and Child

2011-03-05T15:02:00.002Z

This is how I want to dress my boys. Caramel Baby and Child is a London based small company that makes the most beautiful clothes for children. There is not a garish logo in sight! The materials are all top quality, comfortable and the colours they don't stick to the predictable colours you see everywhere else. Above is a boy's outfit. Look at those lovely trousers. If you're lucky you might find trousers that colour in H&M or Zara but you have to hunt around. What I particularly love about this shop is that there are no tractors, no diggers, no sparkly fairies, no tacky slogans and I wouldn't be surprised if there was no polyester! Sadly with four children to buy for it's somewhat out of my price range. But they are providing me with perfect inspiration to hunt out similar looks for my boys.

I love these little trousers with the buttons on the bottom. I haven't seen any like that for boys before.

Look at this gorgeous vintage style jersey polo shirt. It reminds me of the kind they wore in the 1930's and 40's. It has a better shape than your usual polo shirts and the colour is really nice. And.. NO LOGO!

The baby collection is also subtle and simple with muted vintage looking colours which are very different to the usual pastel blue or candy pinks you see everywhere else. They have seriously comfy little baby trousers and even do them in Liberty print. Heavenly!

Caramel, I salute you. Thank you for bringing some taste into the children's clothing industry!!

Degas' Dancers

2011-02-27T23:23:00.001Z

I love Degas' ballerinas. I always used to sketch ballerinas and horses when I was little. I can't remember the last time I sketched anything!

I'm looking at Constance again..

2011-02-27T13:04:00.000Z

How lovely is Constance. She is for sale at Cotton Tails Baby. She's a bit expensive for me but I might have to have a go at making my own version of her...

More floral paper..

2011-02-23T20:09:00.000Z

This one is lovely.

Sugar coated loveliness..

2011-02-23T15:34:00.000Z

I'm feeling the need for flowers..

Bohème wallpaper from Boras Tapeter

2011-02-23T15:04:00.000Z

Bohème wallpaper from Boras Tapeter

Interesting notes on Emigrant Psychology

2011-01-02T15:45:00.000Z

~ Emigrant - someone who leaves one country to settle in another ~

I have a friend who emigrated to New Zealand a year ago. She had a child with a New Zealander and they decided to go back to his home country. She had a reasonably good relationship with her mother and sister but not one strong enough to prevent her from leaving the country. She had been living in the South of England quite close to where I was living, then she moved up to the North to be near her parents after her daughter was born. After a couple of years there they made the decision to go to other side of the world. Home, for her partner. Who can blame him? I am settled some 300 miles from where I grew up, albeit in the same country. I'll get into 'how' some other time, but suffice it to say I still feel the pull of home.

I have experience of a few people who have chosen a "better" life overseas. I can see the attraction and excitement of exploring new places and meeting new people. The pull of a fresh start. The fantasy of life being something much more wonderful than it is wherever you presently are. Some people want to run away from whatever unpleasant circumstance they find themselves in. Some people have nothing to run away from but feel for whatever reason that life will be better somewhere else. Some meet new partners and make the move to be with them. The circumstances of emigration are varied.

In my personal experience however there seems to be one constant. The emigres become evangelical about their new surroundings and can't wait for those left behind to see the light and follow them out there! It's as if they can't possibly believe that anyone could be content in the very place they were so desperate to leave.

My friend calls me from New Zealand, sometimes for up to an hour, and after a very brief (minutes!) inquiry into how we all are in dull old Blighty she proceeds to tell me all about how utterly breathtaking it is over there, how fantastic their life is, how far ahead her daughter is in school, how warm and balmy it is and so on. That old saying about someone who doth protest too much often springs to mind. Then we get to the part where she says how much she misses everybody and when are are we going to fork out a few thousand pounds and strap the kids into a plane for a day and get a life and get out there? (OK not those exact words but you get my drift.) Heck what am I waiting for? Well I suppose after I've paid for our new loft conversion and the kids music lessons and school dinners and uniforms and the car insurance and... there might be a bit left for a voyage of self discovery? I suppose I could bring the kids swimming lessons to the front of the financial queue and then we can all swim there!

Of course when you make the decision to move to your own personal paradise, you never have to wash socks when you get there. Dull things like daily domesticity simply don't factor in to your new life. You'll get on splendidly with every one of the locals. They'll welcome you and your foreign ways with open arms. Yes, absolutely all of them. Your car in paradise will never break down. You'll never get ill. Do you know what, you probably won't even have to use the toilet. Life in paradise contains no drudgery whatsoever. That's what those poor mugs back home (that you miss so much) have to deal with. If only they knew what they were missing out on?

If this post is making me sound in any way bitter, you misunderstand me. I can deal with being "left behind". It's happened to me once or twice before, it's becoming a bit of a habit. Anyway, I love England and all it's rain and mud and greenery and I can think of no better place to be. If my friend has truly found the life of her dreams I am genuinely happy for her. I am happy for all the people who make such monumental personal decisions and find true happiness and contentment. It's the truth of the happiness and contentment I question. Why do my Emigrant chums need a visit from the likes of me for affirmation? Be as happy for me in my decision to remain behind as I am for you in your decision to go. Please stop badgering me into flying my family half way round the world to join you. Then I believe we will have both truly found paradise.

The (future) Queen and I...

2010-12-03T00:46:00.000Z

It's good to see that the future Queen of England shares my taste in handbags.

and so the snow continues....

2010-12-02T19:39:00.001Z

I went out for an early evening walk and this is what greeted me..

Walking in a winter wonderland...

2010-12-02T07:56:00.001Z

I'm glad I went to Morrisons yesterday because I doubt I'll be taking the car out today!

Bosworth Road, Adwick-le-Street, 1997

2010-12-01T21:46:00.001Z

TREACHEROUS ESTATE ROADS, originally uploaded by busman91.

Look what I found on Flickr. It belongs to a bus enthusiast. Took me back to when I lived there as a little girl. I half expected one of those old ladies to be my Nana!

Update from the building site...

2010-11-28T22:55:00.000Z

Completion date: 18th September 2010.

Well it's almost there.... we can't have the floor put in or woodburner until January but we're off to get the cabinets this week and I'll get busy with the paintbrush.

I suppose with a bit of tinsel and some fairy lights it'll do for Christmas? WAAAA HAAAA

Sleigh bells ring...

2010-10-10T16:04:00.002+01:00

I'm watching this gorgeous little hand knitted nativity set on ebay. It's on for £15 which I think is a bargain for all that work. I know it's only October but one can always benefit from early preparation.

Chicken Pox and Walnuts

2010-10-08T14:30:00.000+01:00

Our New Penthouse

2010-10-06T17:24:00.001+01:00

Will I be Queen of the Castle or will the hoardes invade?

Ro Ro goes to BIG school

2010-09-02T16:38:00.002+01:00

02/09/2010, originally uploaded by mama_danielle.

He got himself dressed and ready first thing this morning. I am so proud of him!

Queen Elizabeth II Reflects on her life, rare footage

2010-08-23T22:20:00.000+01:00

I love our Queen. Her Mum reminds me of my Nana. I feel like I should make the most of her while she's still with us. I don't know who'll be next, Charles or William? Whoever gets the job will have a seriously high standard to live up to.

More amazing Furniture

2010-08-17T14:36:00.000+01:00

This range of furniture is gorgeous. It's by Allan Lake (allan-lake.com). I know nothing about him other than he's an incredibly talented furniture maker.

On further reading of his website I have discovered he is based in Huddersfield. I should have known he was a fellow Yorkshireman! That explains it!

New hair do for 'im indoors?

2010-08-16T17:00:00.001+01:00

Historic Houses around Doncaster

2010-08-15T19:14:00.000+01:00

I have fond memories of two old mansions near to where I grew up in Doncaster. Cusworth Hall is a beautiful old house near Sprotborough with a massive hill that we used to hurtle down in sledges in Winter, towards a frozen lake! I just found a photo of a sampler that a little girl did which is displayed in the School Room. Isn't it beautiful. And so much more useful a skill to learn than studying the life cycle of the Tsetse Fly, for me anyway!

The best one is Brodsworth Hall. I fell in love with it as a little girl and used to daydream about being Lady Sylvia Grant Dalton who lived in the house until she died in 1988. My Auntie Eileen used to do her hair and I was very proud of that fact! The house is preserved exactly as it was when she lived there, Fanny Craddock cook books in the small kitchen and all!

Look at the old big kitchen, isn't it fantastic!

If I still lived in Doncaster I'd be there all the time!

A Night in the Saddle?

2010-08-12T21:09:00.000+01:00

I'm rather fascinated by this bed!

On sale at And So To Bed for the bargain price of £1,475.... Anyone else think it's a bit 'Jilly Cooper'? I say!

Loft Conversion Decisions - Lights

2010-07-14T14:06:00.002+01:00

Our builder is starting work this Monday so I'm going to have quite a few decisions to make about fixtures and fittings for the loft, bathroom and kitchen. I have been looking at tiles and quite like the white brick tile look, like an underground station. Either that or really big tiles so there is hardly any grout! I'm not big on the mosaic look.

I have to have a think about what ceiling lights to use in the loft. Part of the ceiling will be sloping, with a velux window and part of it will be flat under the large dormer. I'm wondering whether to go for wall lights and no ceiling light? Or maybe just a flush light and then bedside lights? I'm used to having to work with what wiring is already in place. This will be the first time I am actually able to choose the location of the lights while the build is being completed.

I quite like this Kansa globe. I'm hoping to keep the loft simple and unfussy (a big step for me in my terribly cluttered floral palace!). I think this would sit nicely in my 1930's house but could still give me a simple look. I could have the same in the bathroom too.

I love this R V Astley Odeon lamp in the nickel finish, for our bedside tables. I think it might be slightly over my budget though!!

I'm not sure whether they will get knocked over too much though. It is like a work of art in itself.

Vintage Raleigh Shopper all original

2010-07-07T20:49:00.001+01:00

Vintage Raleigh Shopper all original, originally uploaded by mama_danielle.

What a beauty! She's a bit rusty but I've been having a very comfy ride round the garden on her today. I tried to put rat dog in the basket put she jumped straight out!

Ice Cream and Scary Chickens at Badgers Hill Farm in Kent

2010-07-06T12:34:00.001+01:00

We've been to Badgers Hill Farm this morning for a mooch around and I am very impressed with it. The boys had divine chocolate ice cread and I had a great cup of coffee, nice and strong! We sat in the most enchanting little glass house under a fine specimen of a grape vine, surrounded by tinkly chimes and with Classic FM drifting out mellowly from subtly hidden speakers. Sage even got to sit in a beautiful antique high chair.

The grounds outside are like a child's idea of paradise. The place is full of delightful things to look at. The play area looks like it could have been designed by Tolkien and I'm certain little Hobbits must live in the miniature houses! There are Donkeys, Pot Bellied Pigs, Patagonian Mara's (google them, they're very cute!) and, Chickens everywhere! You can buy food for them in the shop which comes in brown paper bags. So when RoRo brought his brown paper bag of sugar mice out of the shop he was mobbed! That was when he started crying to go home. I might not get him back there without full body armour... but I absolutely loved it and can highly recommend a visit. Next time I might even buy him indoors some Badgers Hill Cider!

How to do Grey Hair...

2010-06-20T22:50:00.001+01:00

Buddy Miller #8791, originally uploaded by mhwlng.

When I was a few years younger I thought grey hair was only for REALLY ancient people. Now I have a few of my own and I have to admit at first they did freak me out. But when I see pictures like this, I'm reassured. Doesn't Emmylou Harris look amazing?

Focus on Community Owned Shops

2010-06-18T14:29:00.001+01:00

Yorkshire Jokes

2010-06-14T23:09:00.001+01:00

Some Yorkshire jokes, I found amusing!

Yorkshire man takes his cat to the vet.

Yorkshireman: "Ayup, lad, I need to talk to thee about me cat."
Vet: "Is it a tom ?"
Yorkshireman: "Nay, I've browt it wi' us."

***

A Yorkshireman's dog dies and as it was a favourite pet he decides to have a gold statue made by a jeweller to remember the dog by.
Yorkshireman: "Can tha mek us a gold statue of yon dog?"
Jeweller: "Do you want it 18 carat?"
Yorkshireman: "No I want it chewin' a bone, yer daft begger!"

***
A Yorkshireman's wife dies and the widower decides that her headstone should have the words "She were Thine" engraved on it.
He calls the stone mason, who assures him that the headstone will be ready a few days after the funeral. True to his word the stone mason calls the widower to say that the headstone is ready and would he like to come and have a look.
When the widower gets there he takes one look at the stone to see that it's been engraved "She were Thin".
He explodes - good grief, man, you've left the flamin' "e" out!
The stone mason apologises and assures the poor widower that it will be rectified the following morning.
Next day comes and the widower returns to the stone mason - "There you go sir, I've put the "e" on the stone for you"..
The widower looks at the stone and then reads out aloud - "E, She were Thin".

***

Bloke from Barnsley with a sore backside asks chemist "Nah then lad, does tha sell arse cream?"
Chemist replies "Aye, Magnum or Cornetto?"

Uncle Les, Nana Doreen and Granny Smith

2010-06-05T11:02:00.001+01:00

Orange Street Music Club Danceathon!

2010-05-31T09:54:00.001+01:00

OK so it wasn't a dancathon for most of the under 30's in there, or my gym-maniac friend who is fitter than your average hod carrier. But for me and my just-stopped-smoking cousin who's biggest event of exertion is either an hour of horse riding or an hour of yoga once a week, it was a total danceathon! 3 solid hours, on heels! The cosmopolitan cocktails at a very reasonable £4 a go were certainly helping to numb the pain and boy did we go for it.

It was the night were they get the guys with the biggest beards in Canterbury to bring their record collections and old 1960's psychedelic films in to show us lots of ladies wiggling about in super short fringed dresses (Something I was trying to recreate at various points throughout the evening minus the bikini). The music was brilliant. We never stopped. I paid for for several days after but it was worth it.

I can highly recommend Orange Street Music Club in Canterbury. You can still get in if you're over 30, which is always a good sign!

Cancer Research donation page for Rainy Day

2010-05-28T13:53:00.002+01:00

Rainy Day - JJ Belle (feat. Danielle)

2010-05-28T13:10:00.002+01:00

If you like this song, please consider buying it for your music collection. I'd like it to raise some money for Cancer Research UK in memory of JJ Belle and also my Dad.

Rainy Day by JJ Belle and (featuring Danielle)

2010-05-27T15:11:00.001+01:00

The Battle of the Lilac Tree!

2010-05-18T18:59:00.001+01:00

Look what my marauding children did to my innocent Lilac Tree!

They said it was 'a dragon'!

It almost brought out the dragon in me! I had only just mentioned today how beautiful it was beginning to look and smell. Perhaps I shouldn't have drawn attention to it. I ought to know that by now.

Still, at least I have a pretty dining table...

Meet Betsy

2010-05-18T17:59:00.001+01:00

I rescued her from a car boot sale. She's been ever so cold, having no clothes, so today I made her a dress.

Candy chewed her finger off! Poor girl will never be any good on the piano now!

A trip back to 1973..

2010-05-16T14:41:00.001+01:00

We're thinking of doing the school run like this on Monday too!

National Security Council

2010-05-12T21:03:00.001+01:00

National Security Council, originally uploaded by The Prime Minister's Office.

It's all change from her on in. Whatever will they do? I've never taken much interest in politics until this election and now I'm permanently glued to Radio 4. Mind you, Midsomer Murders is on now so this is as long as my comment will get!

Ro Ro Roly Poly

2010-04-21T18:40:00.000+01:00

Country House Rescue - Kelly House

2010-04-08T11:27:00.000+01:00

I just watched Country House Rescue featuring the utterly fabulous Kelly House in Devon. The Kelly family have been there for almost 1000 years, but sadly the house has started to fall down around them and has become somewhat of a burden. The business 'expert' came up with solutions to restore it to it's former glory and make some sort of revenue from it. I really hope the family manage to fix it. I would love, love, love to be let loose exploring the place. The inner nosy little girl in me wants to poke around finding all sorts of historical artifacts. Imagine all the old photos you would find among the dust and rubble? Old letters, trinkets, china, jewellery, clothes! Oh I'd be in heaven hunting through it all! I would so enjoy finding all the treasure and cleaning the place up. Wouldn't it be supremely satisfying to sweep and dust and polish and paint and then stand back and look at how beautiful it all is? It's a great shame I live so far away because they are looking for volunteers to help them.

If you live near the village of Kelly in Devon, visit their website to find out how you can help. I'm sure they'll give you tea and cake. On the telly they came across as lovely people who just needed some outside influence to give them a bit of oomph.

Funky Mutts Dog Collars

2010-03-28T09:36:00.000+01:00

These cute dog collars are made with Liberty print fabric and I simply have to have, two!! They're utterly fab. Can I justify £22 per dog? Well, they are my only girls...
www.funkymutts.co.uk

The Farmhouse, Canterbury

2010-03-20T13:26:00.001Z

Yesterday morning Sage and I treated ourselves to breakfast at the Farmhouse. It was our fourth visit and although it is not cheap (I spent £15 on breakfast and two coffees for me, a pear juice and some yoghurt and fruit for Sage) by jolly it is worth it! Besides, it's hardly Morrisons is it?

I had the Vegetarian cooked breakfast made up of delectable bubble and squeek, divine welsh rarebit, baked beans, fried mushrooms and free range egg. I also had two cappucinos. Sage had local Pear juice with a bowl of yoghurt, rhubarb, sliced apple and honey. In the end we both shared everything (except the cappucinos, I didn't fancy him still being awake at midnight!)

The Farmhouse was set up by the people who run Canterbury's own festival, Lounge on the Farm, as a year round outlet for great music (often local bands) and fine locally produced food. They were a Finalist in the Taste of Kent Awards in 2009 and are often mentioned by foodie journalists in broad sheet newspapers.

It's a cool and hip place, full of 70's wallpaper, Ercol furniture and formica sideboards. Photographs of it wouldn't look out of place between the pages of Elle Decoration. I love how versatile a venue it is. I've been to an evening Burlesque workshop there, I've been for cocktails with friends (they do a mean Cosmopolitan!) and I've been for breakfast with my 22 month old toddler! You can't ask for much more.

Their full Spring Menu is available here

They do a great movie and dinner deal called Flashbacks, where for £10 you can have a two course meal and then go to the Odeon Cinema just across the street to see a classic flick all included in the £10! Now that's got to be better than spending £40 at the multiplex on plastic popcorn and cat's pee coffee?

Join their Facebook group to keep up to date with gigs.

I can highly recommend a visit to our lovely Farmhouse.

The Lady Magazine

2010-03-19T07:29:00.002Z

I watched last night's C4 documentary about The Lady Magazine with interest because I have often picked it up at the newsagents, but never actually got as far as purchasing it.

In principal I ought to love it. I would like to have bought it to get lost in all things old fashioned and elegant but it just appeared to me to be a noticeboard for Nanny jobs. It was to ladies magazines as Horse and Hound was to the horse world, sort of. It was a bit 'People's Friend', but not.

I ended up taking out a subscription to the American Magazine 'Victoria' and I enjoyed it for a while but the over-the-top-American-sweetness of it put me off in the end.

But I digress. Last night's documentary was brilliant! I, and I'm sure countless others, intend to go straight to the Newsagents this morning and buy a copy, for the very first time! I was sceptical about Rachel Johnson (Boris' sister) taking over as Editor at first. I felt very protective towards the old staff as she came tearing through the deliciously antique offices like a slacker-culling whirlwind. I felt sorry for the old literary editor, the old editor and even Ben the Helicopter-pilot owner. She was merciless with all of them, yet still charming in true Johnson style. I warmed to her in the end. She had some good ideas. I don't like the cover change, from the simple old fashioned font on a white header to pink text over the cover photo though. I agree with Ben that it looks 'cheaper'. She said she wanted to go through the archives and reuse some of the really old cover styles, which I though would be beautiful and still relevant for today, but she never did it. ~~She~~ Someone suggested putting Madonna on the cover. AGGHHHH. Thank God that didn't happen. She has managed to get Sharon Osbourne on this weeks issue. Hmmm, not sure about that one Rachel...

I'm still going to go and get it this morning, out of pure curiosity. I long ago stopped buying heat magazine and the likes. Occasionally I buy Vogue or Marie Clare but they are comprised of so many adverts with such a small amount of actual content that I resent paying the cover price. I buy Country Living sometimes but it has been very 'samey' for years now so I'm getting bored with it. I read a lot of blogs now but there's nothing quite like glossy paper. I need new magazine blood. Maybe The Lady will fill that gap...

Boots that money can't buy..

2010-03-16T13:55:00.001Z

OK so money did actually buy them in the first place, but now they are priceless.

These are bona fide real deal A1 authentic cowboy boots, from a proper cowboy shop and everything! I bought these when I worked as a wrangler in Colorado 15 years go. I've yee-ha'd my way around the Rockies in them. They've been covered in mud, horse sweat and goodness knows what else and they still look fantastic!

Cowboy boots seem to come in and out of fashion at least every other year. In fact, I don't remember them being out of fashion at all in the last 4 or 5 years? All that changes is what you wear them with. Of all the cowboy boots I've seen in shops over here, for me none come close to these. I have an emotional attachment to them because they remind me of a great time in my life, when the world was my oyster and my stomach was spectacularly toned and flat!

At least I can still get into them...

Who needs expensive toys?

2010-03-16T13:34:00.001Z

A good old fashioned dose of imagination is all you need! (I could have saved a fortune if I'd listened to my Mum tell me this when our first child was born)

Mother's Day is for Girls (apparently!)

2010-03-13T12:27:00.002Z

Where are all the boy children in this lovely pastel scene? Are mothers with sons excluded from basking in pink girliness? Have we all grown facial hair and started wearing brown cords? (ok so I do have brown cords but I digress...)

The Louie Spence Appreciation Society

2010-03-12T21:33:00.002Z

Can there be a more entertaining person on the telly right now, than Louie Spence? The man is TV gold! Nay, platinum! I could watch him all day and not get bored. I love his wild antics and unapologetic humour. He is a natural camp! Not a 'made for my own TV talk show' camp like others I could mention if only I could remember their names. I can imagine him as a YTS lad in a 'trendy but we still do a half price blue rinse on a Tuesday' hairdressers, or on the beauty counter in John Lewis surrounded by a gaggle of peri-menopausal overly made-up women with big hair.

I love that fact that, not only is he completely hatstand, he can dance the socks off most of the teenage wannabes who pound the Pineapple Studio boards every day of the week. I'm totally hooked on Louie and I want him as my new best friend. In fact, I've hatched a plan... I've reserved two tickets to the live finale at the O2 Arena on 26th May. I reckon if I can get close to the man himself and bust a few of my best moves he's bound to challenge me to a dance off. When it becomes obvious to everyone that it's a ridiculously close tie, we'll both agree to give in gracefully. He'll see he's found a kindred spirit and we'll be inseparable for the rest of the evening. We'll go on later to burn up the dancefloors of the London clubs, slagging off every one else on the floor in a way only a gay man and his fag hag could, and it'll be the start of a beautiful friendship...

Don't you just love him? Join his Facebook Appreciation Society.

My love affair with Chanel (and other French fashion houses)

2010-03-10T19:06:00.000Z

I've never been into 'designer' names or high fashion. Until recently...

Chanel started it by tempting me in with the wondrous foundation that is Teint Innocence. I buy the compact, which I find the most convenient for my hectic school run mornings. It's so creamy, yet still feels light. It's moist, but it does not make me shine. Best of all it has the two little c's on the compact that remind me of how posh it is!

I've been looking at their latest ready to wear collection and I don't think there's anything I don't like. It's all so elegant and girly. It's obviously high fashion but it's effortless. Of course the beautiful models make it look just right, but I think I could wear a lot of it without looking like I have more money than taste. Sadly, I'll never have that kind of money. But I'm tempted to go on the lookout for a Chanel-esque jacket in the better-placed charity shops just to see if it gives me a little 'je ne sais quoi'. Somehow I don't think it'll go with my Clarks Polyveldts though will it? I might have to upgrade to heels for the day and put up with the pain!

Of course I don't need to mention my Longchamp love? So with my Le Pliage and my Chanel foundation, I have a tiny slice of the good life!

Jung Typolgy Test results

2010-03-10T13:06:00.000Z

Your Type is
INTP

Introverted	Intuitive	Thinking	Perceiving
Strength of the preferences %
11	25	1	33

INTP type description by D.Keirsey
INTP Identify Your Career with Jung Career Indicator� INTP Famous Personalities
INTP type description by J. Butt and M.M. Heiss

Qualitative analysis of your type formula You are:

slightly expressed introvert
moderately expressed intuitive personality
slightly expressed thinking personality
moderately expressed perceiving personality

Architects need not be thought of as only interested in drawing blueprints for buildings or roads or bridges. They are the master designers of all kinds of theoretical systems, including school curricula, corporate strategies, and new technologies. For Architects, the world exists primarily to be analyzed, understood, explained - and re-designed. External reality in itself is unimportant, little more than raw material to be organized into structural models. What is important for Architects is that they grasp fundamental principles and natural laws, and that their designs are elegant, that is, efficient and coherent.
Architects are rare - maybe one percent of the population - and show the greatest precision in thought and speech of all the types. They tend to see distinctions and inconsistencies instantaneously, and can detect contradictions no matter when or where they were made. It is difficult for an Architect to listen to nonsense, even in a casual conversation, without pointing out the speaker's error. And in any serious discussion or debate Architects are devastating, their skill in framing arguments giving them an enormous advantage. Architects regard all discussions as a search for understanding, and believe their function is to eliminate inconsistencies, which can make communication with them an uncomfortable experience for many.
Ruthless pragmatists about ideas, and insatiably curious, Architects are driven to find the most efficient means to their ends, and they will learn in any manner and degree they can. They will listen to amateurs if their ideas are useful, and will ignore the experts if theirs are not. Authority derived from office, credential, or celebrity does not impress them. Architects are interested only in what make sense, and thus only statements that are consistent and coherent carry any weight with them.
Architects often seem difficult to know. They are inclined to be shy except with close friends, and their reserve is difficult to penetrate. Able to concentrate better than any other type, they prefer to work quietly at their computers or drafting tables, and often alone. Architects also become obsessed with analysis, and this can seem to shut others out. Once caught up in a thought process, Architects close off and persevere until they comprehend the issue in all its complexity. Architects prize intelligence, and with their grand desire to grasp the structure of the universe, they can seem arrogant and may show impatience with others who have less ability, or who are less driven.
Albert Einstein as the iconic Rational is an Architect
Dr. David Keirsey, Robert Rosen, George Soros, Gregory Peck, James Madison, Ludwig Boltzman, Charles Darwin, Adam Smith, and Thomas Jefferson" /> are examples of the Architect Rationals
A full description of the Architect and Rational is in People Patterns or Please Understand Me II
More About Your Rational Architect Personality:

Careers:	Best Job Fit for Rationals
	Dealing With Stress at Work: Rational Strategies

Relationships:	Women and Romance - Rational Women
	Men and Romance - The Rational Lover
	Love the One You're With - Tips for Rationals With Non-Rational Partners

School:	Rational Students: Maximizing Your Study Environment
	Rationals: Capitalizing on Your Strategic Intelligence Style

Receive Monthly Articles on Being A Rational Architect: The Keirsey PersonalityZone Newsletter
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Architect | Fieldmarshal | Inventor | Mastermind

Career	Educational Institutions
Technical/Science
Education
Natural Science
Computer Programming
Engineering
Social Service
Law
Librarian
Famous people of your particular type
David Hilbert, James Clerk Maxwell, Emmy Noether, Andrey Sakharov

I have to say I'm a little disappointed! I wanted to be an Artisan! You can take the test if you want. It's on the bbc 6 music site or you can go to straight to it here.

Grandpa in my pocket (sponsored by Boden and Joules)

2010-03-09T16:41:00.001Z

I simultaneously love and cringe at Grandpa in my Pocket on CBeebies. I love that it's English. I love that it's filmed in a cutesy seaside town (on the Suffolk Coast, although I could have sworn it was somewhere near Brighton). I love the fact that James Bolam and other reasonably well known English actors are in it. I love the little boy and all his (hugely expensive) handmade wooden toys.
I'm just wondering when the credits will flash up as "sponsored by the good people at Boden"? It really does look as though they hired all the child models and their clothes from the Boden catalogue and dressed mummy and daddy head to toe in Joules (her skirt was from the 2009 spring/summer range if I'm not mistaken). Now I'm partial to a Joules polo shirt, I'm a horsey gal after all, but the whole thing is like a 'yummy mummy' show case!

I love the VW camper van painted with a seaside scene and the pastel painted beach huts. They live the life Country Living Magazine and Jamie Oliver inc. would like us all to buy! In fact you can! Hire the actual Campo and have a temporary slice of their idyllic life here, Star in your own Boden ad!

(I don't know who these people are, but they look like they're enjoying Campo!)

So yes I love it, and slightly loathe it all at the same time. Laura Ashley will do a bomb in furniture sales from it and I expect IKEA will sell a ton of sofas too, not that they struggle with that! It's more pleasant to watch than Horrid Henry but I'd still choose Raven in his forest any day.

Massage for Pregnant Gals

2010-03-09T14:37:00.001Z

I qualified a massage therapist several years ago, going right into all the anatomy, physiology, swedish massage techniques etc. I also did an intensive diploma course in essential oil therapy (same as aromatherapy really but techniques for use on animals as well).

Since having four lovely babies I am very interested in developing my massage skills for pregnant ladies. Nothing makes you swell up quite like a bun in the oven and good massage can really help get the circulation going. Everything starts to feel heavy and it's lovely to drift off while someone rubs your aches away. I just ordered this book on amazon to do some swotting. I'm going to feel like I'm back at school...

How to Organize a Kitchen - wikiHow

2010-03-08T22:06:00.001Z

How to Organize a Kitchen - wikiHow

I think I need to take some of this advice!!

Dogs always on the wrong side of the door

2010-03-08T19:51:00.001Z

Why do my dogs (the big hairy one, Princess Jessie-pie is the worst culprit) always want to be on the opposite side of the back door to wherever they happen to be? If she's in, she wants out, if she's out, she wants in! She's too big for a dog flap, I'm afraid a rather fat burglar would get through a flap big enough for her. Ratty Rat-dog just wants to be inside usually. She's a bit of a wuss.

The Linen Shed

2010-03-08T13:47:00.003Z

The Linen Shed in Boughton Under Blean near Canterbury looks rather beautiful. I might have to book us in for a cream tea, or even a night!

Sage is going on the toilet!!

2010-03-07T12:16:00.003Z

He's done two poos and three wees on the toilet!! What a clever boy!

I do love a cuppa

2010-03-06T17:11:00.001Z

and the box looks quite a picture on the kitchen shelf!

MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS | HOLLYWOOD

2010-02-28T10:46:00.001Z

I love Marina. Another great girl singer to add to the gang, go girls!

Nostrovia!

2010-02-22T17:28:00.002Z

CCF26012010_00000, originally uploaded by Clare Comper.

Nana decided against walking to Dunelm Mill

2010-02-22T17:26:00.001Z

CCF26012010_00002, originally uploaded by Clare Comper.

Are you talking to me?

2010-02-22T17:24:00.001Z

paul new year, originally uploaded by Clare Comper.

80's-tastic!

2010-02-16T18:50:00.001Z

80's-tastic!, originally uploaded by mama_danielle.

We. are. the. robots. De. de. de. der.

Look at the little chubby chops

2010-02-16T18:47:00.001Z

bridesmaid, originally uploaded by mama_danielle.

And what a nice old lady swimming hat too!

Veg Box Recipes • Mushroom Stroganoff

2010-02-11T16:18:00.000Z

Veg Box Recipes • Mushroom Stroganoff

Thinking of trying this. Or maybe Mushroom Risotto if I can find a recipe.

British Museum? Anyone? Tell me what this is?

2010-02-11T13:31:00.001Z

Some years ago I came to own this intriguing piece of.. jewellery? Sculpture? I'm not sure what it is. I can't even remember quite how I came to own it either. I think I probably bought it in a charity shop or boot fair for a few pence.

It looks like it is made of bronze and I suspect it depicts George slaying the dragon. There are finger marks in the bronze on the reverse making it look as though it was handmade. I don't know what it was meant to be originally but someone has soldered a ring on the back, maybe to wear on a finger or use as a napkin ring?

I'd love an expert opinion on it, for curiosity's sake. I'm going to send the photos to the British Museum and see if they can help.

Any comments would be appreciated.

10 years today since my Dad died.

2010-02-11T13:22:00.000Z

Dad.
Grahame.
Wherever you are now I hope it's all that you want it to be.
I hope you're existing in peace.
I hope you are happy.
I miss you.

Toddler + Veg Sticks + Sour Cream and Chive Dip =

2010-02-11T13:18:00.001Z

Mummy's New Bag / Sage's New Hat

2010-02-08T18:20:00.000Z

Sagey loves my new bag/his new hat! Thanks Gaba (and thanks Sally, who hand knitted it so beautifully)

By the way, I am wearing my domestic goddess pinny as I type!

Good old fashioned period telly!

2010-02-07T21:00:00.001Z

Just watched Lark Rise to Candleford and I love all the sets and costumes!

Loft Conversions

2010-02-02T22:13:00.000Z

We're about to take the plunge and get our loft conversion, and kitchen/diner creation, underway. I guess I need to pull my finger out and start looking at ideas. We have all the plans drawn up we just need to find a suitable builder now and get going. I like the simple, uncluttered look of this one.

I'm not so keen on the blue as I find it a little cold, but the overall style is very simple and relaxing. Our house is 1930's and while I like a touch of nostalgia in my decor, I think having a more modern, minimal loft space would still work well.

I'm moving on to loos, showers, taps and flooring next...

Pheasants

2010-01-31T12:27:00.002Z

Lovely little things aren't they? We're having one for lunch.

Houseswapping

2010-01-30T10:08:00.000Z

I went off on an internet tangent this morning (like you do) and started researching ways to see the Grand Canyon, with four children. One day I'd love to take the children there and of course see it for myself. Hubsand's already been, but I never have and I'd like to. I looked at b&b's, hostels, SUV hire, all sorts. I think I've found the best option.

HOME EXCHANGE

I think a home swap would be a great way to do it. We live in historic Canterbury, the yanks would love it here, so I'm sure we'd get a swap. The only slight setback is the £3,628.90 or flight cost!

Better get saving. Maybe by 2015...

Bagedoos

2010-01-30T09:03:00.000Z

What's a bagedoo?

It's a bogey of course! (according to Sage anyway.)

I love the things he says.

My Comfort Drawer

2010-01-29T12:55:00.000Z

Thanks to my friend Alison over at Brocante Home for reminding me about having a comfort drawer (inspired by the lovely book, Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach)

I have never actually got round to making my own comfort drawer, but this year I will do it. I think my first additions will be Violet Cremes and a bottle of Lavender essential oil to sprinkle on my wheat pillow. I'm actually going to make mine a Comfort Basket and put it on top of my wardrobe, because I have four sets of sticky little fingers (five if you include Paul's) who will raid it at a moments notice! It'll be no good if I run to it in times of desperation, only to find some monkey has swiped my violet cremes!

Filofax Siena

2010-01-26T18:31:00.000Z

I saw this last year and thought is was absolutely yummy. And now I've discovered that Filofax have started producing a Family Planner refill only in the personal size I might have to upscale from my pocket size to this personal size beauty. (Especially as it's on sale!!)

Comfy, comfy, comfy!

2010-01-26T18:24:00.000Z

Last Summer Clarks did a great job of keeping my little tosies comfy. This Summer I think they might be cossetted by these Dubarry lovelies. I know, I know, they're hardly elegant and definitely not sparkly, but my oh my do they look COMFY!!

I'm becoming such an old fart when it comes to comfy shoes. My Nana would be so pleased..
Unlike Nana however I will be wearing them with my skinny trousers and tight fitting Taz t-shirt (or some similar ensemble). Of course they will also be accompanied by my delicious le pliage!

Little Preppy Boy

2010-01-22T11:08:00.000Z

Don't you just want to eat him all up?

A spot of reading..

2010-01-21T12:56:00.000Z

Rudolph the Red Nosed Boy

2010-01-21T12:32:00.001Z

This is what happens when you run on concrete!