Good Friday Quicktakes

1. Much as I adore shooting the breeze here with you, my lovelies, today I don't have much time so I gotta be quick. To start with, the kids are all off school and are high on Easter excitement and thoughts of Easter Sunday's impending chocfest. I've discovered several of the boys just gazing at their impressive stash of eggs with a certain far away look in their eyes-clearly lost in a reverie of unadulterated gluttony. Neil Young must surely have been thinking of Lenten promises when he sang ' Good times are coming, but they're sure coming slow.'

2. Speaking of which, I've been less than exemplar in regards to my own Lenten challenges. One by one they fell by the wayside, EXCEPT my self imposed Facebook ban, which truthfully, was the toughest of the lot for a l'il ol' social network queen like myself!
What can I say? The first week was the worst - I HATED being out of the loop- I mean, I'm still on Twitter obvs, (Sure, the Pope himself is on there!), but it's just not the same. After that tricky first week though, I got used to it and I'm glad that I did it...but no, I' won't be doing an about turn, and preaching on about how I now appreciate real life conversations and the old fashioned telephone so much more, because I don't. Truth is, I probably went on Ebay a bit too much, texted friends a good bit more, and now and again, peered over Loverboy's shoulder when he was on FB, but that's about it. Yes indeed, you can all relax now, because I'll be back again on Sunday with bells on, clogging up your news feed and generally making a nuisance of myself. (I can hear your groans from here!)

3. We're off to the caravilla for the Easter break. Now, I don't know how long we'll stay (possibly only a few hours if its REALLY Baltic), but its the first trip of the season, and that means MAJOR packing. Here's what our sunroom looks like right now AND I'm only halfway through, which is precisely why I'm dilly dallying around here chatting with you.
The real bummer is that even when the car and trailer are packed to the neck, and we set off like Duffy's Circus, the work's only half done. When we arrive, there's the caravilla to be cleaned, the unloading and unpacking to be done AND it'll be feeding time at the zoo again too.
As tempting as that sounds, I've a good mind to load them all up and quietly sneak back into the house- with a bit of luck,  they won't even notice I'm missing until they're over the border and I'm half through a bottle of Oyster Bay and the second series of Dallas.... a girl can dream!

4. Assuming that won't come to pass, I'm packing plenty of books, magazines, a 1000 piece jigsaw and the entire first series of 'The Killing' to bring up with me. Oh, and of course, wine, chocolate and ...my knitting. Or more accurately, my beautiful jewel coloured, Cath Kidston wool, with the metallic red knitting needles, (who knew!), presented in a beautiful 'book' tin.  Unfortunately, there's no actual knitting in there though,'cos I can't actually work out how to 'cast on'. I tried last Saturday night (party on, dude!) and despite reading the 'Knitting for DumbAsses' booklet from cover to cover, and desperately, SOS ing  Mr Google, I simply couldn't do it.After about an hour of trying, the terrible truth dawned- my horrible HE teacher was right all those years ago -I DO have special needs. (Specifically, 'senile' was her word of choice.)
I looked so forlorn that even Loverboy felt sorry for me, so HE asked Mr Google, and even with half a bottle of Cab Sauv in him, managed to cast on and was smugly clickity clacking away within minutes. Ouch! So, last chance saloon, I'm taking it with me to the caravilla, giving it one more go and THATS IT. Maybe I'm just not a knitter? Alternatively, I may start up my own Stitch 'n' Bitch , cos even though I might not be too good at the first bit, I flippin' excel at the other...even if I do say so myself.

5. Finally petals, I just wanted to say thank you for all the votes over the last weeks in the MADS. It's all done and dusted now until the Awards in Septemeber, and don't I have a wee trip to London to look forward to now, thanks to y'all. So, win or lose, thanks to you, I'm feelin' the love.
 Oh, and a very Happy Easter too- whatever you get up to, may chocolate play a major role.(Easter wishes don't come much better than that now, do they!)

6. Finally finally, I'm renaming Luke's 'Boogie in the Car Seat' to 'Booster Seat Boogie', (on account of him reaching this vehicular milestone). Now, I know I've gone a bit 80s on you the last few weeks, and to prove  I was waaaay cooler than that, I was all set to treat you to David Guetta's 'Titanium' (which incidentally I love walking to!)... but then this came on the radio and I was lost-it used to literally gives me goose bumps back in the day. Turns out, I'm not remotely cool after all....but you knew that. Enjoy-you can thank me later. Happy Easter peeps xxx

Friday Quicktakes

Not our new pope but I couldnt resist...

1. Well, obviously the big news this week is our newly elected pontiff- Pope Francis I. I know I shouldn't say this, but I never really warmed to old Benny Boy, (although kudos to him for stepping down as he did). I suppose John Paul II was the Pope I've grown up with, and there were the great memories of travelling with the rest of Ireland to see him in 1979. He really was a tough act to follow.
That said, I know it's early days but I'm definitely feeling the love for Pope Francis- I like the fact he's Latin American and wasn't a front runner for the job. I like that he lives in a wee apartment and cooks for himself and catches the bus to work. It just seems so normal and down to earth, and that's got to be a good thing for a pope to be, surely? I mean, can you imagine Cardinal Ralph de Bricassart in his flowing red robes, heating up his own tin of beans or standing at a bus stop in the rain? I think not. (I know, I know, The Thornbirds isn't actually real life but still!)

2. Staying on the holy theme, it's St Patrick's Day on Sunday!! Which of course means the wearing of the green, the pinning on of shamrock wrapped in tinfoil, and the annual rendition of 'Hail Glorious St Patrick'. Around ours, it also means fake beards, huge green glasses and leprechaun hats, and this year I've gone wild and bought light up green dicky bows for the boys as well. Yes indeed, I  like to think that as a family, we inject a little class into our patron saint's feast day.
 Traditionally of course, it's also a day of amnesty from Lenten promises, although I'm afraid I haven't needed any excuse to break mine. In fact, the only one that I've done properly thus far, is removing myself from  Facebook, and really do I want to spend St. Patrick's Day frantically catching up on my messages and status alerts? That seems a wee bit sad, and Easter's just around the corner anyway so I think I'll just be strong and stuff myself with cream eggs instead.

3. We got our septic tank emptied this week. Yes, you read it right. Along with our very own electricity generator for the delightfully unexpected occasions when the power goes out, we country folk are blessed with our very own personal septic tank. You know exactly where it is too, because the grass above the pipe running to it, tends to be more green and lush than the rest- basically there's a big furry giveaway stripe across the lawn. Anyway, the man came in his tank to empty it, and we had to keep all the windows and doors closed because the smell would knock you out. Very nice.( Between that and the annual spring slurry fest, there's two 'good country smells'  I must pop onto my 'cons' list.)
 On a side note, can you just imagine having the job of driving and operating a septic tank emptying lorry? I mean I'm sorry but no, just no. If I were single and dating I'm afraid that would definitely be a deal breaker -it wouldn't matter how gorgeous/ kind/ loving a man was-if he emptied septic tanks for a living, I'd be outta there before you could say 'human waste'.....and I don't even care if that makes me a bad person.

4. Our 'For sale' sign went up this week and even though I knew it was coming, when I saw it, it was like a kick in the gut. Then, needless to say, I flew into a blind panic of guilty anxiety about the whole move all over again.....Loverboy said it was a speed wobble and to screw my courage to the sticking point and he was right. By the next morning , the worries were still there but they were mixed with relief that the decision was made at last and the ball was rolling. I predict more similar panics ahead- when you hold the welfare and happiness of  seven people in your hands, that's pretty much a given, but we'll take it one step at a time and hopefully we'll get there.

5. Speaking of Loverboy, it's his birthday next week and I don't know what to get him. Bear in mind, this is a man who shuns clothes as presents- he's like an eight year old  - his expression clearly says 'Okay, I'll have my real present now.'
It's the same with male grooming- I once got him a hair and facial package and he only went because I told him I wouldn't go on holiday with him if he didn't. Then he told the girl just to cut his hair and skip the facial, and when he got home he behaved as if he'd done ME the favour!  The evil part of me wants to 'surprise' him with a 'manscaping' voucher, and just let on it's for a haircut, but he'd get the hell outta Dodge as soon as he spotted the hot wax, so it would just be (shoe?) money down the drain.
So then I thought I'd help him by suggesting useful present ideas-
 'What about a new vacuum cleaner - one of those Henrys, or I could really push the boat out and treat you to a Dyson? Brilliant suction- you'd have the hoovering done in half the time!'
'Or what about a new generation washing machine with a 12kg drum? They've great reviews and lets face it,  you'd get the benefit of it every day? Truly a a gift that keeps on giving, surely?' (It was worth a punt!)
 But no, he just laughed scornfully and told me it would be a cold day in hell when he'd get a household appliance for his birthday, but he'd certainly make sure he treated me to one when my birthday rolled round in July.  (Note to self- nip that little idea in the bud as soon as, or my 'helpful brainstorming' session could seriously backfire.) So anyway, have you any ideas? They couldn't be any worse than mine and I'd be most grateful...

6. Car seat boogie- it has to be 'Ireland's Call' this week for obvious reasons, and just because it always makes me go all teary eyed. I know now that it's a rugby song, but I didn't know that when Jude had to learn it in school and we made him sing it at every family gathering.  Now, I actually  love it so much that I've adopted it as kind of national anthem, free from baggage and negative connations. A bit like Billy Connolly and The Archers theme tune! Happy St Patricks Day, one and all. EmxXx

Quite a Week!

This week's a biggie- Lent on Wednesday, then Valentine's Day on Thursday, like oil and water, and REALLY bad timing when you think about it. I mean, say for example, that you're considering giving up chocolate for Lent. Well, strictly speaking, you'll have to wait till the 'wearing of the green' to pop those truffles! Or what if you're (re)taking the pledge for the duration? Better put that champagne on ice and treat yourself to a nice long Shloer instead-what a bummer!  And, as it happens, an entirely hypothetical situation for me as neither champers nor truffles have made an appearance around these parts since sometime in the last millennium! I'm just feeling your pain, you see...cos I'm all heart! (Geddit!?)

 Thankfully, I've given it all some serious thought, and I'm afraid that the only way around this tricky situation is to
a) come to the obvious realization that truffles and champagne do not,  in fact, fall into the categories of chocolate, and alcohol respectively- rather they are both gourmet foods, and therefore exempt.  Or alternatively, and perhaps more attractively, you could
b) begin Lent on Friday instead...or better still, why not wait till Monday? Let's face it, starting Lent on a weekend is arguably self abuse, AND as an added bonus, you'll also have a week less to do! A win win either way, I'd say, and no problem at all, peeps, just glad I could help.

I'll be honest though, I'm not a MASSIVE fan of Valentine's Day. It just all seems a bit contrived, and I can think of nothing more boringly predictable, than getting engaged/married on Valentine's Day. Yawn. Don't misunderstand, I LOVE getting flowers from Loverboy (on that blue moon), but I also love to buy them  myself, for us all to enjoy. If truth be told, I'd actually be annoyed if he bought flowers on February 14th, (especially red roses- double yawn), because they're SO bloody overpriced! Spend the same amount two days later, Lover, and get me twice as much! (He's totally grasped the concept of the first part of that statement, ....I'm still working on the second).


 Contrarily, I WOULD be hurt if I didn't get a card- I'm not quite sure why! Maybe it's a throwback from NEVER getting any in school, as in NEVER EVER EVER, and enduring the annual humiliation of watching others slowly remove them from their school bag one by one, then smugly arrange them on their desk like badges of honour! (Bitter? Moi?)

Now don't get me wrong, I'm ALL for the big, grand, romantic gestures..... and the wee, small, much less grand ones too.... but not especially on Valentine's Day. A little originality please!  How about a surprise bouquet on a wet Tuesday in April? Or breakfast in bed on a blustery Sunday in October? Or a champagne beach picnic at the Caravilla in July? (Ya listening, sweetie?) Something that shows your love just because...and not 'just because' either.

When I was at the MAD Awards in London in September, (Whoops, did I just drop something? Because DO feel free to nominate me again this year...top of the page...thanks babes), I met the wonderful Lucy who writes the fab blog Lulastic and the Hippyshake. On her blog yesterday she wrote a post about thoughtful, original, romantic FREE Valentine's gifts and I LOVED them...(especially the last two....in case a certain person's reading.....just sayin'.)
 Happy Monday! Emmax

  I've joined up with Sarah Miles at Hello Wall today for the Monday Club-go on over and take a peek at the rest! 

Let Them Eat Cake!

If there's one food group that I'm VERY partial to, it's cake-that's ALL cakes.....except fruit cake- I can take or leave that. It's funny because biscuits and chocolate can stay in the cupboard for weeks and I can be relatively restrained-the only exception being, as you well know, a good caramel square-but as soon as cake makes an appearance, I'm done for. It calls my name, no one elses, only mine over and over, until every last piece is gone.

 So wisely, because I know this about myself, I very rarely buy or make cakes, and if I do I force feed them IMMEDIATELY to the children, and any visitors or delivery men who happen to call, just so that it won't be crying for Mama come supper time. I'll be honest with you though, birthdays are tough, and we have not one, but two here in January. And really, is there ANYTHING nicer on a cold, wintery night than a bit of Gok, a cup of tea and a wedge of M&S Madeira with balloon icing and jam and cream in the middle? I think not. Except possibly a generous piece of M&S chocolate caterpillar cake, preferably the face part, but at the very least one or two chocolate feet thrown in for good measure? (Yes, I DO favour M&S as it happens- it's THE best-just trust me on this, cos I've tried 'em all!)

An added complication of the January double birthday whammy is, as usually occurs, the boys' actual birthdays fall midweek, while their parties are scheduled for the weekend. You see where I'm going with this? That means not two but FOUR cakes, and I'm feeling quite faint right now just thinking about it. I've tried to think of ways around it- perhaps buying a boring old cherry cake, or a Christmas cake on sale, just to do our 'family' parties, and that way I'm not tempted to have even the smallest piece. But seriously, can you imagine? I'd be run out of the house before I got to the 'For he's a jolly good fellow!' part if I tried to fob them off with that..and rightly so!

What disaster?

Whoops-a-daisy!

This year for Rory's birthday, I decided to make a cake for the family gig and he requested a 'jam' cake, (my old nemesis the Victoria sponge), so I dusted off my Kenwood and got cracking. Actually, I used to do a fair bit of baking, but now I blog instead....and it shows. There was a teensy bit of a hiccup, as you can see, when the whole top of one half refused to come out of the cake tin. (In these circumstances, I automatically blame the Aga, but truthfully, I should have just greased the cake tin properly.)

It's wonderful though, how a buttercream filling, ( NOT margerine-cream), good quality raspberry jam, and a bit of icing sugar over the top, can pull a would be baking disaster back from the brink, and the end result was deemed a resounding success.... and not just by me! So good in fact, that Cormac specifically requested it for HIS family birthday party the following week, which has sadly been and gone, but I've PROMISED to do it this weekend instead. Hmmmmm, and that would be the weekend before Lent begins.....which is surely cake free....so stick the kettle on- I don't mind if I do!

Soooo Over Lent

I want that t shirt!

Well,  we're two weeks in to Lent and it's all going swimmingly. Really? Really? No, not really, and in actual fact, to be brutally honest, it's been a bit shit. If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, then I'm on it, cruising a steady 50. And it's not even as if I'd set myself incredibly lofty or unrealistic goals to begin with-my Lenten promises were humiliatingly modest.
First, I'd toyed with going off chocolate, (and I KNOW my arse would have thanked me), but then I remembered the endless 'diet years', so I self righteously convinced myself that I'd 'done my time'. Apart from anything, the thought of that little red Lindor choc with my nightly tea, motivates me to get up in the morning, thereby getting everyone else up as well, and its SO important to see the big picture, don't you think?.
So next, I (briefly) considered going off wine, but in the same vein, I recalled the many years of pregnancy and feeding, when wine was but a beautiful and distant memory. Have you any idea how many Lents I did? Back to back? With no St Paddy's Day in the middle for a bit of a blow out? Well, I do, and I can tell you that I'm all squared up there till Lent 2047.
So, this seems like a good time to come clean and confess that I'm a terrible picker...I mean, the worst.. really desperate altogether. Combine that with all the children, and being at home, and  preparing or serving food all the time and its not a good situation... at all. As the fridge magnet quite rightly says, 'Big pickers wear big knickers', and, between you and me, my knickers are a fair old size, (except for *ahem* a few 'less practical' pairs at the back of the drawer).
Therefore, I decided that *drumroll* I'd go off picking for Lent! And kill all manner of birds with one dirty great stone. And I can tell you that its going.....really really badly. The biggest problem is that I don't usually realize I'm even doing it, until a child screams delightedly, ' Mummy, you're picking!! You're breaking your Lent!', which is usually swiftly  followed by 'Can I break mine too?' Another issue is that I tend to pick more when I'm stressed, which coincidentally, is often when I'm trying to rustle up a dinner for seven, while asking spellings, listening to reading and overseeing piano practice at the same time. I know, I know- Excuses, excuses!
I'm also a teeny bit ashamed to admit, that the fact that the children are all off chocolate and doing very well, thank you very much, is making me feel worse. Now, obviously, this doesn't count Sundays and the odd forgetful lapse and they DO have a questionable flexibility as to the definition. As in chocolate 'chip' cookies don't count , nor does chocolate 'flavoured' ice cream. But still...
So, I'm getting back on track-we're only 2 weeks in ( see -glass half full! ) and I CAN DO THIS. I'm going to screw my courage to the sticking point and turn over a new leaf. At the same time. Yes, indeedy, MY Lent starts right here, right now!
Okay, strangely and rather dramatically, I'm hearing an orchestra and imagining myself a la Scarlett O'Hara, (if she were a ginger chubbster and much less gorgeous), sunset in the background, hand held aloft, crying  ' As God is my witness, As God is my witness ....'
(Now, I've only just gone and spoiled it by googling the rest of that quote and it's '... I'll never be hungry again', which really isn't the point AT ALL, but never mind.) So here I go, wish me luck cos I'm going to need it!