Just Jo!

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….when you step on the edge of the cat’s litter tray and it upends all over the back of your leg and the bathroom floor???
But don’t you just love it when that’s the worst thing to happen all week?
Apart from missing the last bus home when you’ve got four girlies in tow??
Which is what happened last Friday after a lovely day out at Castle Drogo with one of our groups.
And very nice it was to see people I haven’t seen in a while. Although, as I was being responsible for children other than my own, I didn’t get much of a chance to chat, because every now and then I can actually be quite sensible….

Love this one, although I got woefully left behind.

And just after this is when we missed the bus. Not so much ‘missed’ as much as Stagecoach suddenly deciding that they were going to stop running the bus. A bus we’ve caught countless times coming home from Chagford after seeing Olivia’s grandparents.
The girls kept me entertained though….

After witnessing a quite spectacular sunset, not that the girls were overly impressed….

….we wandered up to Drewsteignton to partake of liquid refreshments and await our lift home.
A bit of a late night, followed by what was supposed to be an early start the next day. But we overslept and it was far too hot and humid to be rushing about, so plans got changed. Fortunately we’ve got very accommodating friends who are very lovely!
Instead of going to Newton Abbot to visit a World Music Festival (which by all accounts wasn’t as good as hoped), we got the train straight to Totnes, then got a steam train. Which pleased Olivia no end, because she’s suddenly Harry Potter mad and kept saying it was just like the Hogwart’s Express. Repeatedly.

We met up with our friends down by the river….

Then it was back to their’s, a lovely meal, chatting and staying the night, followed by a day up on Dartmoor….

We could quite easily have spent much, much longer there (including more shared food at our friends house!), but we really had to get back for Olivia to get an early night. She was very tired. She’s not good when she’s tired. In a whiney, moany, tearful not good way when she’s tired. She proved my point when I said we really had to get home, she wailed. So did B. Yes, I managed to make two girls cry that day!
But she needed her sleep!
For this!
Windsurfing!
Another one of the activities that yours truly has organised.

A very successful day, very much enjoyed!
After she’d finished, we did a bit of shopping. A new tent. One of life’s essentials.
It is! Honest!
We discovered on our last camping trip, that our tent wasn’t quite big enough. We had to put our bag in a friends tent. See? We needed a bigger tent!
And on Tuesday, I needed a new phone. I did! Honest!
Especially one with a camera!
Which I had to test out while we were seeing our friend Di and checking up on her allotment….

I like my new phone almost as much as my new camera!
A Sony Ericsson, but go to Phones 4 U, so much cheaper than Amazon!

Big news last night was that Adam found out he did very well in his trip up to London last week.

Can you read it? He’s practically got the job! So he’s a happy little camper. Except you’d never catch him in a tent. Ever!
But we (as in the girlies of this household) tested out our new tent this morning….pleased to say, it works! Which is jolly good as we’re going camping again very soon.

What other news?
Ooh yeah! We saw one of Olivia’s school friends while at the river on Monday. Except he’s not a ’school’ friend any longer! They’ve taken the plunge and he’s now being home educated! Yay! Perhaps all my ’selling’ has paid off! So we’re looking forward to seeing lots more of them.
And the kitchen? Yep, lady from the council came. I’m having pale cream flooring, beech units, very dark blue marble worktops, white tiles and I’ve got a funny feeling I’ll be providing the white paint for the walls, ‘cos they don’t do white. It will be taking three weeks (give or take a few days), but they’re taking everything right back to bare floor and bricks. New wiring, new plumbing, everything.
No idea when of course….
But like I said, do I care?
Absolutely not! Oh life is indeed good!!
And today (or yesterday, now that I’ve seen what the time is), seeing as my new phone is on the Orange network, it’s (it was) Orange Wednesday. So we went to Vue to see The Simpson’s Movie. Buy one, get one free. So I was assuming I’d pay for an adult and Olivia would be free as she’s a child and therefore cheaper than me. But no! I am apparently cheap! Shut up! I got in free! I’ll make Olivia pay next time then!
And Olivia started back at drama. And very happy she was to see all her friends again. Athough, as some of them pointed out, they have seen her over the summer holiday….
Oh yeah, and I’ve booked our tickets for the Tutankhamun exhibition in London. The second week of December. Maybe Adam will put us up overnight. Or not….

Apart from the truly horrible news about Laura, things are much better here.
We (as in Olivia and yours truly) have set up our own Flickr group. Mainly at Olivia’s insistence, but I must admit to having a bit of fun with it too.
I’ve remembered to put up a photo of Olivia’s play, it’s just unfortunate that the day she did it, I really wasn’t in the mood to be faffing around posting photos. So here’s one of her big scene….

I’m also allowed to finally post a photo of Olivia’s stone age scene ‘cos it’s now finished….

We made a flying visit to group on Wednesday. There was another workshop at the museum the same day. Animals in Native American art, so we got to make totems. But first we had to say hello to this beast….

We had one of Olivia’s drama friends with us, who took part in the totem making but refused point blank to go anywhere near the snake.
She came back to our house after and set Olivia up with her own Bebo account. Because Olivia really doesn’t spend enough time on the ‘puter.

I’ve had a birthday, so I’m now older than I was. Whoop de doo. It was going to be postponed ’til next week because we’re all skint. But both the kids took it in turns to make me cups of tea in the morning. Then Olivia disappeared off on a Guides day out, leaving me with the pleasurable company of Adam for most of the day, ’til he disappeared off to work. I had a bath. A long one. With lots of bubbles.
Then Lisa treated me to a lovely night out. Tapas meal, then a club with lots of alcohol.
And a very nice barman, who made the mistake of almost falling onto our table. He was very lucky to escape our clutches!
‘Twas a very lovely night indeed, thanks Lisa!
And my birthday’s not over yet, as Adam is treating us to a meal out somewhere after he gets paid, which is on Friday. But he won’t be here that day. He’ll be up in London being interviewed by Richard Branson. Sort of.
Anyway, I digress, got home at 1:30, then woke up completely and couldn’t get to sleep ’til gone three. Which was not good, as we had to be up early the next day in order to catch a train. We were heading back down to Totnes to be picked up for a drive to Spitchwick, on the edge of Dartmoor. A birthday picnic, not mine, a little friend who is now the grand old age of three. Although I did get Happy Birthday sung ‘at’ me.

We saw ponies too! Well, it is Dartmoor….

One of those truly lovely and relaxed days with friends, plenty of food, plenty of chatting, plenty of giggling….
More pics here.

Boring food shop and bill paying day on Monday so we’ll gloss over that.
But we had another lovely day out yesterday.
Lisa picked Olivia up and I got the bus. Which meant that I obviously got there hours after Lisa and her sister.
Where?
The Amazing Maize Maze at Bickleigh. A gloriously hot sunny day. Picnic first, ride round on go-karts, then the maze. The girls had to find brass rubbings hidden in the maze. The brass rubbings all joined up to spell out “Sir Robert Baden Powell Chief Scout of the world Be Prepared”.

My personal fave from the day….

It turned into a very hot day, not helped by the fact that the last rubbing was incredibly elusive. I’m sure someone kept moving it. But, after purchasing ice lollies, we headed back into the maze determined not to let it beat us! Yay! We found it! Then there was the obligatory paddling to be done.

Lisa took all the girls home. And I missed the bus by seconds.
The driver shrugged apologetically as he pulled away….
Not too concerned though, there is a jolly nice pub across the road.
I took some pics in the garden while supping me shandy….

More pics from the day here.
Yes, another one of them lovely days.

This morning we’ve had a visit from the council man to do the annual gas check. The fire is never used, except as a display area for Olivia’s arty crafty bits and pieces, so we had to clear it off for him. I happened to mention that we never use it and he asked if I wanted it taken away. Ooh! Yes please! So we have a little bit more room in the sitting room now, which will be occupied by a bookcase (currently residing in Olivia’s room) as soon as another council man has bricked up the hole and replastered.
But…. but…. but…. the bestest news is that Adam wasn’t winding me up about the kitchen!!
There is a lady coming this very afternoon to go over colour options with me . Yay!!! Blokey this morning said they take about three weeks to fit it, which means no kitchen for the duration. Do I care? Not a blinkin’ sausage!
And I had a lovely card from my mum and stepdad with a big fat cheque in it.
Adam’s gone to pay it in for me, ‘cos I’m not stepping outside the house, just in case I miss the council ladyand my new kitchen is delayed.

So little to blog about!
It’s a case of, drop Olivia off, meet friends (sans children!), pick Olivia up, come home.
Except yesterday was a bit different in that I rushed home to make a whole load of sosmix rolls and then went out to meet me friend.
Today’s different as well because Adam had another early morning dental appointment and then went straight to work. So that meant there was no one in the house at all. Except Maisy. Who’s not exactly ‘in your face’. And tends to just open one eye to look at me before rolling over to get more comfortable. But anyway, I repeat, the house is empty!! Completely and utterly so!! (Except for Maisy)
Oh what to do with myself??
So I’ve had me bath and now I’ve got the tedious task of trying to amuse myself for the rest of the afternoon. Olivia doesn’t finish ’til 7 tonight (dress rehearsals, dahling), so I’ve got over six hours on me tod!
Do I go and read in the garden?
Or do I go upstairs to watch a film?
Ooh, decisions, decisions….

Nice sunset last night by the way….
Olivia saw it and wanted to get a photo of it. I told her no. Because she’s doing the photo prompts every morning and I haven’t taken a photo in days.

Yes, I know they look identical. But they’re not. Perhaps I should do some kind of Spot The Difference Competition? How many differences can you spot?

Updated to add….
I ended up doing a bit of both. I read in the garden ’til it got too hot ( ) then cooled off upstairs watching a film. Memento. One of those that I’m going to have to watch again because my sun addled brain kept drifting away.

Sort of.
But then I read Amanda’s comment which made me re-read that particular post.
I’ve gone over what I’d written and still stand by it, so I won’t be changing any of it. Although it does seem that I’m having a go at an 11 year old boy, which couldn’t be further from the truth.
I hadn’t used any names, but by choosing to allow him to do so, Lin made things public herself.
I can still look back on most of last year and think that we were friends at the time and had some really good laughs. I went out of my way to invite and include Lin and her boys in things we were doing. I very rarely open my house to people (only people I consider very good friends and that I trust implicitly), I invited them all in lots of times and, as an example, spent an absolute fortune on goodies we brought back from Spain for the kids so that they all could enjoy a Spanish themed day here.
If I talk about anything we did last year, it will only to be say we did it with friends.
It’s not often I get so angry that I let rip like that, but I feel very disappointed and incredibly let down that Lin didn’t place the same importance on our friendship.
Sorry if Amanda (or anyone else) thinks it’s out of order. But when my daughter is sobbing like she was because of it, I get a little defensive. Who in all honesty wouldn’t? I personally think it’s out of order that someone who so often went on about not mentioning children’s names then went and allowed it to happen. Hypocrisy is the word I think.

Anyway, I said that I’d calmed down. .

Soooo…..

This week then….

Olivia’s been in drama and very giddy with excitement she’s been too.
So Monday I came home after dropping her off and had an incredibly long and very bubbly bath.
Adam had been to the dentist. He’d had a front tooth knocked out a few years ago. He’d had a false one to replace it, but it kept falling out (footie ) so he gave up on it. However, he’s got a very important (to him!) job interview in London next month and wanted to get it sorted properly. He’d had a root canal done on the remaining front tooth last week. Which obviously meant I had to show him pictures and things on the internet.
But they all said that root canal nowadays is a doddle.
He had another appointment on Monday where the dentist did an impression….
“She did a great Michael Jackson….” so says my son, the comedian.
And he’ll have a new falsie in time for his interview.
He seems to have a very decent dentist as well, who is going out of her way to get everything done for him before he turns 19 and has to start paying for treatment.

Yesterday, I was indeed that lady who lunches and had a very lovely time in a friend’s garden, giggling and eating.
Today I’ve been a coffee morning lady with another friend. Except I had tea. Green tea to be precise. And cake.
Now I’m going to jump in the bath before I go to pick Olivia up again.
And Adam’s just got back from the gym and is desperate to get on the ‘puter.

….thank goodness Olivia’s been more regular (in a blogging sense), I’ve got something to jog my somewhat lacking memory.

Monday I was still mourning my little Kodak. No news, so it must be having a jolly old time at British Rail’s expense.
We met friends for lunch in Rougemont Gardens. Not strictly true, we got a phonecall whilst in Sainsbury’s, so Olivia went haring off to Primark to meet them and I eventually caught up with them. Then we went for a picnic.
Then we went deep into the bowels of the museum to experience the terrors of a WWII air raid. Some wonderful (and missed) photo ops of the girls dressed up as ARP’s. Curses.
They all came back here and suddenly it was 8pm.

Tuesday morning was spent hanging out of the window, all agog, as I waited oh so patiently for my new beastie to be delivered. Back into town to buy it a snug little bag to keep it safe and warm on all our adventures to come.
The rest of the day was spent taking mindnumbingly boring photos around the house. Well, the first one isn’t so boring, quite like it actually….

That’s enough of that, methinks.
I was up ’til four in the morning playing with it. Zooming in on corners in my bedroom. Zooming in well enough to highlight the general grottiness….

Wednesday was a friend’s birthday party, so cakes were made.

Which got demolished within seconds.
Back to Lisa’s after, and a late walk home meant we got some gratuitous shots of the sunset.

Thursday….
Made another birthday card for another little friend. Can’t for the life of me think what else we did. Do remember Olivia in fits of giggles because Adam exploded baked beans over himself and the kitchen. He’d microwaved them and the lid got stuck, so when he opened it….
I really don’t think one corner of the kitchen escaped a coating of baked beans.
I stayed in my room.

Friday we were up bright and early. Ish. We headed down to Cockington to have a look around the pretty little thatched village and Cockington Court. And the Drum Inn. Because it was designed by Lutyens. The fact that it also sells a very nice pint of shandy is completely irrelevant.

Still working out the settings. And shutter speeds. And aperture. I blame the weather. Such awful lighting….
We saw Romeo and Juliet on the cricket pitch in front of the house. Jolly good it was too. The girls grabbed a picnic blanket and got as close as possible to the action. No photos because it was dark and I couldn’t see the buttons and things on the beastie.
I did, however, get this one of a speeding train at the station on the way home. Slow shutter speed. Very pleased with myself. Although I felt quite uncannily (and quite scarily too) like a train spotter.

Saturday didn’t start ’til roughly lunch time.
We needed to catch up on some sleep. My excuse, and I’m sticking to it.
Olivia suddenly had the brilliant idea to make her friend’s birthday present. Out of clay. And her birthday was the day before. So the late present she was going to get, is going to be even later while we wait for the clay to dry.
Stiil, it’s looking good so far.
Olivia wanted to paint her gargoyle (from the Cathedral workshop), so she did. Then spent hours mixing paints to get the right skin colour, then mixing paints just for the heck of it. So there are reams of paper now covered in splodges of paint. Mostly browns and greys, but a few pinks and blues too.

Notice the Saturday-not-brushed-hair?

Adam went charging off early to play footie. When he got back, I noticed some red ‘marks’ on his neck. They looked suspiciously like nibbles of some sort. I queried them and he ripped off his T-shirt to show me more of the same marks on his chest.
“Um….dearie, you haven’t mentioned a new girlfriend lately….”
“It’s not that, I got burned!”
“When??”
“The baked beans the other day.”
I confess, I sniggered. Really didn’t mean to, just couldn’t help myself.
I asked him what his friends thought and had he told them what had happened.
“Did they laugh at you?”
“No, they did call me Heinz all match though….”
Snigger snigger. I defy you not to.
Then he scarpered off for a five aside game in the afternoon. He’s dedicated that boy.

So now we’re up to yesterday. Sunday. The day before today. The day before Olivia started drama. Which meant she got steadily more excited throughout the day. To the extent of making her own rolls for packed lunch about 4 o’clock. Which is good. I suppose.
I spent ages ringing round to remind people of raft building, one of the activities I organised. Then an early bath and bed. Because we had to be up early this morning and we’re not too good at that kind of thing.
It’s been chucking it down all morning. So I’ve had a few phonecalls.
“Is it (raftbuilding) still on? Even though it’s raining?”
“As far as I know. It’s supposed to be getting brighter this afternoon anyway. Try ringing the centre and see what they say.”
It’s an outdoor centre, they only cancel if there’s a chance of killing any of the clients. Bad publicity and all that.
What do I care though??
Olivia’s in drama, I’ve got the day off!!!
Time for a trashy gossip mag in a big huge bubbly bath!

I like all things froggy.
I collect froggy things.
I needed new knickers.
We went to Primark.
They’ve got froggy knickers!
For £1.50!!
I am a happy woman!!

That was Monday. I’m sure other things happened as well, but I was too busy waving my knickers in the air.

Olivia broke two bottles of sauce in the fridge….
“It’s not my fault!”
“Um….perhaps if you opened the fridge in a normal manner, and not yank it open in the hopes of scaring any fridge monsters into complete submission, sauce bottles wouldn’t then leap out in a Hari Kari style….”
“Why are they even in the fridge anyway??”
“It says on the label, ‘Once open, refrigerate.’ I’m guessing the fridge will do a better job than the cupboard.”

We’ve also eaten things again…
Jam sandwiches.

Jam on toast.

Jam tarts. But they were eaten too quickly to get a snap.
We like our blackberry jam.
More things made with blackberries, courtesy of Smitten Kitchen via Eleanor, and then veganised quite easily.

Some of us, needless to say who mind, may possibly have been eating too many blackberries….

We’ve been attending various workshops of one kind or another….

Think the most popular with the two of us was gargoyle making and brass rubbing at the Cathedral. Especially as I got to have a go too!
Also think that was the day we made a wondrous discovery in Sainsbury’s, whilst hunting our picnic down….

Oh, ’twas indeed good!!

We found a moth in the back garden, maybe not as cute as the hedgehog, but still quite impressive none the less….

From this point on you may notice a distinct lack of pictorial reportage….

Friday, we had Lisa’s girls for the afternoon. We picked them up, stocked a picnic hamper with Lidl’s goodies ( a picnic hamper that looked remarkably like two Lidl’s plastic bags….), headed up into the hills, plonked ourselves down on a rug and stuffed ourselves silly with said feast. Then meandered down to a free fun day by way of more paddling in the panny, ’til all four girls were convinced they were being sucked dry by leeches and came squealing out.
Fun day included juggling, hoop spinning, free drinks and biscuits, throwing beanbags, building a tower, skipping, plate spinning, parachute games, oh and art, but none of the girls did that. They all had a go at building the highest tower possible out of giant dominoes to win a prize of a T-shirt. Three of them managed it. But not D. Who sulked. Because her sisters had both won one, “I never win anything! They always do!!” So Olivia donated hers in order that all three sisters would then have the same. Blimey, sign of maturity in daughter!
Nice chat with Lisa before they all scarpered off for the weekend.
Our weekend yesterday started off gloriously with a train and bus trip down to Brixham to meet up with some friends. I’d printed off another Treasure Trail (more of a murder mystery though), the first clue being right at the bus stop as we stepped off the bus. So we got going with it straight away. The trail took us past the Golden Hind, so we made a detour to step onboard. Then our friends phoned as soon as we stepped off again, so we finished the rest of the trail with them.

*** SPOILER ALERT***

Just in case you ever feel the urge to do the same trail….

Marilyn Edwards poisoned a local trawler man, Rod Fisher!!!
Awful woman….

Olivia and Elliot (he’s two) bonded big time, with Elliot holding Olivia’s hand at every opportunity and doing what ever she asked of him.
Down to the beach for a paddle and late lunch. Then up to Berry Head to watch Brixham’s Castle, which told the story of the Napoleonic Fort there. Built by a woman it was, scandalous in them days apparently. And it got a bit nippy towards the end, so Elliot sat on Olivia’s lap.
We were given a lift back to Paignton to catch the train, which was jolly decent, or we’d have had to leave the show early to get the bus in time to catch the last train home.
We got back to Exeter about 10:40 and Olivia wanted to get a photo of the pebbles that light up. She went to get the camera out of her bag….
And this is where our wonderful day went completely tits up….
She left the camera on the train!!!
On the bloody train!!!
I am seriously not amused.
So the money she’s been saving up for her own camera is now being put towards mine. Well, half of it is, because I was planning on getting a new one anyway. But that’s not the point!
Almost 600 photos on that SD card!
Thank God for Flickr is all I can say!
Except for the photos from the last two days.
So she very gently tapped on my door this morning, “I made you a cup of tea, mum.”
And made my breakfast.
And she’s hoovered all of downstairs.
Think I might even get lunch as well.

….we haven’t been. Not since I said it anyway. So although I have plenty of time to blog, I haven’t actually got much to blog about.

We should have got to South Wales yesterday for our next camping adventure. But we didn’t. We’re still in Exeter. Not that I’m bitter or anything. But if Olivia thinks she’s getting any crisps this week….
Fortunately, Exeter has an abundance of free activities this summer. That are free. FREE!! Me likey. A lot! So many freebies in fact, that I doubt very much the necessity of us stepping outside the confines of Exeter’s city boundaries. Wahay!!

Anyways, back to our “not being very busy” weekend….
I’ve been reading a lot, but just lately, every book I’ve read that is set in America has mentioned “Naugahyde”. I had a feeling that it was that plasticky type chair cover, but I wasn’t completely sure. Being of an inquisitive nature, the next time I came across the term, I immediately headed to Google to help me out. And I was right! What I had no idea of though, was the history behind all the little Naugas, who so selflessly donate their hydes in the name of doctor’s waiting rooms.
Kind of reminded me of the adorably cute Haggii, to be found in the wilds of Scotland….

Yes, as you can see, when given the opportunity, I spend my precious few allotted seconds on the ‘puter looking up totally mind blowing information, which is, of course, entirely for the benefit of humankind….

So….apart from reading, we’ve also done a bit of eating….

The alfalfa in our Sunday lunch rolls was very nice, although I had to buy a new bioSnacky for the pleasure. The jar for the old one disappeared. The lid is still lurking in the kitchen though. But how can the jar have vanished so completely? Mind boggles. Unless of course it went on a little sojourn with the cutlery. Or one of the kids have broken it and have yet to ‘fess up. Olivia is useless at lying though, not even if her life depended on it. She does try though, bless her little cotton socks, but you might as well just stamp her sweaty brow “GUILTY!” I shall interrogate Adam when he returns from work. Not that he’ll have any idea what a bioSnacky jar is though.
And Adam loved the (vegan!) blackberry pie so much he licked the plate clean. Literally. He really did lick his plate. But ran away when he saw me reach for the camera to document his table manners….

Which reminds me, we went blackberry picking again….

….on our own this time. And I got caught short. Less said about that the better. A lot of nettles about.
“What did you use for loo paper mum?”
“I didn’t.”
“Ewwww!!!!”
“Shut up!”

And did all manner of things with them and the elderberries….

Olivia met Elvis!

Well….not technically the real Elvis….

Olivia’s been all of a stone age quiver (Me too! Wha…? It’s fun!)….
A stone age scene is being made, but it’s a work in progress and I’m banned from taking photos. At the moment. Give me time.
She’s currently reading Secret Water, more Swallows and Amazons adventures. She’s fortunately got over the sniggering every time Titty makes an appearance.
She’s also been blogging and Flickring like mad, completely overjoyed with all the comments she’s been receiving….
“How many have you got mum?”
“Shut up!”
(I’m really going off the entire concept of children…)

And, oh my gosh, we even thought about watching some TV!
But there was nowt on….

And I’ve had even less time on the ‘puter because Olivia has discovered the joys of Yahoo groups. The EO children’s one to be precise.

And another doodah from Shirl….

What Your Favorite Color Green Says About You:

Balanced — Relaxed — Flexible Compassionate — Philosophical — Humble Loyal — Inventive — Unique

I looked humble up in my Concise Oxford….I am sooo not humble….

Bizarre question from Adam today, “When you’re, like, grey all over, d’you want me to put you in a home?”

Bizarre comment from Olivia today, after I noticed she hadn’t washed up the mixing bowl properly, “Well it’s not my fault if you get pastry all up the sides!”

See you next Sunday!

Edited to add (because I was gob-smacked!)

Are all my efforts at home educating my daughter completely in vain??
Yes, we have the return of …. Dah Dah Dah!! …. “Stupid Question Of The Day”

“Mum, what’s the opposite of long?”

I hang my head in shame. Have I taught her nothing?? Three years (and more!) and she not know???!!!