The School Run

This morning we slept in. Well, it is heading towards the end of term, and I'm currently not getting to sleep at night with these constant lists of things to do before Christmas going around and around in my mind. So I did something I thought I'd never do. I pulled on my trackie botts, my Uggs (not even real ones), put my glasses on and headed out the door to take the girls to school. Standards are slipping...next stop will it be dressing gown, slippers and a fag on, force feeding the children a peperami at the school gates for their breakfast? Hmm? (I have seen it done, no, not the dressing gown, the peperami - but at least it was not a hot one or a wideboy...)

Ooh to look as stylish as Kate Moss on her school run. But at 8.30am, managing to string a sentence together without growling is deemed a success, I just can't imagine having time to put together an on trend ensemble such as Kates. Next year, I must try harder...

So this is Christmas...

Busy, busy.Not quite sure I like being busy. But here is why I have been busy...
Tree up and decorated. Left the four year old to decorate it (she did her level, I did the above bits that she couldn't reach) expecting to have to re-do it as soon as she went to bed, but she did a better job than I. She is quite clearly going to be some superstar creative type.
Nativity play costume got, play watched and videoed. She was an angel. She was perfect, they all were. So enthusiastic and desperate to please. It made me weep. She did three performances. When she got home she weeped. Out of tiredness. And then she whinged. Boy, did she whinge. How is she going to cope next term doing full days every day? I will cope by stashing gin under the kitchen sink and having little nips now and then so I don't lose my patience with her when she is a whinging wreck. That is my job. To be the whinging wreck. Although I feel I don't really have an excuse now my youngest is 2. OK, you can get away with saying, 'You don't know how tough it is!' when they are 12 weeks old. Not so much when they are two and four.
Presents to friends living abroad posted. For the first time EVER I made it before the deadline date. It was missing a thank you card which was found yesterday under the driving seat in the car. Sorry about that. I don't mean to be rude. I do say thank you for lovely gifts. Please buy me and my daughter a birthday present again next year.
Presents for husband bought. To be returned most probably the day after Boxing day. It bugs him that I don't get EXACTLY what he asks for. This year he wants some white converse all star trainers. I have bought him white LEATHER converse all star trainers. It could make all the difference. Other years mistakes...a book about football. He wanted one with big lovely photos, I bought one that was a series of essays about the beautiful game. His face dropped. Another year he wanted Manchester City shorts for football training. I bought kids size medium instead of adult. They didn't go up past his knees. I never did get around to sending them back...
Class Christmas cards written, and signed by eldest daughter personally. For three days I sat next to her whilst she wrote these cards with love. It's a novelty you see, she has just learnt to write. But 'To Harry, Love XXX' takes her approximately 20 minutes. There are 30 in her class. You do the maths...
Buying £200 of clothes in the sales. Today. Oops. I don't know how it happened. Boden had a sale on, so I got a jumper, a pair of jeans, which thankfully need to go back, a cute pair of trousers and ballet pumps for big girl, two tops and gold ballet pumps for baby girl, a new pair of half price Clarks boots (which I'd like myself thank you very much) for big girl, a hat, some gloves, a bag...oh shite. What have I done? Where am I going to hide them all?!
House been valued and been to view a house I like. Husband doesn't even want to move. We can't really afford it. But where there is a will there is a way...I have spent all weekend trying to persuade him. But nothing. He is not going for it. Actually, I didn't try everything(Ooh MH - Cue boobs out in a dim light whilst still wearing underwired bra, you think it could work with houses as well as babies?). Have had to call estate agent and cancel second valuation tomorrow morning. They think I am a bored housewife going to look at others peoples houses as I have nothing better to do. I think they might be right.

What have you all been doing? Don't think I haven't noticed how infrequently you're all posting of late...

Want You Back For Good?

Robbie Williams has decided he is sick of watching UFOs, growing his hair long, playing footy in LA and singing about his Rudebox...he wants to be back in Take That. But should he be allowed?
I personally think, nah. He's too billy big time and slightly odd now.
My major gripe was that he wouldn't even meet up with the boys during their documentary 'Take That For The Record', when things weren't going so well for Mark, Gary, Jason and Howard.
Now that they are bringing out some top tunes, selling out arenas etc, Robbie wants back in. Too little, too late I say Robster. It would totally change the dynamic of this man band who have sank to the depths of Celebrity Big Brother and backpacking before making it big again.
What do you think?
I had an email from Sky News asking me to debate the very important issue of should Robbie be allowed back in the band or not but I've only just checked my mails. Do you think I have missed my 5 seconds of fame?

Christmas is a time for giving...

As it's a time for peace and goodwill to all men, I am about to pass on this wonderful award that was given to me by Not Enough Mud. I am so happy to have discovered Mud, a single gal, playing the exciting 'am I going to fancy him or not?' dating game, going on amazing travels, throwing dinner parties, pretty much leading the life I think I'd be leading now (maybe not quite the adventurous travelling, I have always been one for comfort) if I was still living in London (she lives West, I used to live South).

So, lots of my fab 'old skool' bloggy friends have already had the award which means I am going to pass on to some new blogs I have recently discovered and enjoy.

Notes From My Days - something I have just found out about blogland is that there are little pockets of everything out there, something for everyone. Notes From My Days and her friends all discuss the beautiful things in life. Lovely ribbons and fabrics, making your home look so delish you could eat it, buying beautiful flowers that cheer you up for a week. I like it because I love beautiful things and it's a great escape. She has lots of things I covet plus she has the biggest back garden I have ever seen...

Now onto my next, it goes to lovely Laura whose blog synchronisation of us is an amazing read. I sat for two hours straight and read Laura's blog. It made me feel humble and embarrassed about what I moan about (which, let's face it, is pretty much EVERYTHING).

Feel free to pass the awards on ladies...

As we are on the Christmas theme I just want to ask you all some advice. We went to see Mother Christmas today and her reindeer (a real one), yes I know, I'm terribly progressive. But her wig was so bad I was just waiting for my four year old to point out it was just a lady dressed up. She has also seen one Santa already (spoilt, my child? I won't hear it!) and is off to see another on Sunday, how do I respond to her questions which I know will come such as, 'Why is this Santa different from the one we saw last week? Why is his beard shorter? Why is he fatter? (the last one we went to see was a very slim Santa, I like my Santa's round with rosy cheeks, looking like they have a high cholesterol level and a bit short of breath. Sorry, I just do, blame those Coca Cola ads) Anyway, answers on a postcard, or at least in the comments box please...thanks.