Friday Quick Takes

Seems like only yesterday...

• Today is Jude's last day at primary school EVER and to celebrate there's a prayer service and a concert. Having been through this last year with Anna, this time I'm going prepared. That means waterproof mascara and plenty of tissues, because it's a very emotional 'one door closing my baby's growing up so quickly and I'm crying again' sort of morning. Yes, I know it's the start of a whole new exciting stage for him, and one that I know that he's ready for.....but I remember his very first day at school, and it REALLY doesn't seem that long ago. Now, he's leaving the security of his wonderful, nurturing primary school here in the country, and joining his sister at a big grammar school in the city. It's a huge milestone and of course, he doesn't even realize it and I just really, really hope that he'll be okay....But thankfully, first there's the summer holidays to enjoy!

•  Speaking of which, we're going to take the children up to see the new caravilla this weekend for the first time. No doubt, there'll be great excitement and they'll stampede through it, slamming doors, claiming beds and finding spaces. I so hope we'll be happy there. I so hope it's the right move for us. And I so, so hope it doesn't rain ALL the time. 

• Speaking of which, (how great am I getting at these links!?), I went to Ikea during the week to stock up on 'stuff' for the aforementioned caravilla. The problem is, no matter how well prepared I think I am with my lists and measurements, when I get there, I ALWAYS get flustered, bedazzled and carried away with the bright colours, the funky prints, and the wonderfully innovative storage solutions. But mostly, I think its just the sheer, fabulous Swedishness of it all. So just like every other time, I departed with a minivan filled to the brim with stuff I didn't know we needed, and £300+ poorer.                                                                                                                     
• I'll leave you now with this little picture of a cheeky Luke, who was all too quiet yesterday morning, and when I went to find him, there he was happily ripping my cotton wool pads into tiny shreds all over the floor. As you do...when you're two!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Friday Quick Takes

• This week, I discovered Funky Monkeys and what a place it is! (For you lucky ones who don't need to know, FM is a franchise of indoor playgrounds for children.) Now, while it could certainly be regarded as a primary coloured hell on earth, and NO ONE in their right mind would go there sans children, it does have its bonuses. Luke loves it- he gets to socialize, play, climb and fall down, while I get to drink endless coffees and catch up on my emails, without feeling guilty. (I'm not altogether sold on the background playlist though- 'I'm sexy and I know it ' seemed a tad inappropriate for the under fives. Where's the Wiggles when you need them??) I also had a bit of a 'moment', on discovering Luke, hungrily licking the (stolen) Philadelphia off someone else's bagel. By the time I'd clocked him, it was too late and he was nonchalantly sporting a white ring of evidence all over his face. I was faced with a dilemma- prise it from him and risk a two year old's earsplitting wrath, thereby drawing unwanted attention to ourselves, or keep my head low and hope the rightful owners were finished eating. (Okay, I totally did the latter, and as luck would have it, they were just leaving, which is just as well because I couldn't have returned the gnawed, soggy mess anyway!)                                                                                                                                            
•  I also had a little run in with a pillar this week. Late as usual for a school pickup, I was half way up our lane, when I met a tractor and trailer coming down. To put you in the picture, depending on where one meets another vehicle on the narrow lane, someone always has to reverse, and as I was closest to a driveway, it was me. So off I went, and (I'm just gonna be modest here), expertly reversed down the lane into our neighbour's driveway. In fact, I was in the process of mentally congratulating myself, when I went a teensy bit too far and knocked our tow bar into a red brick pillar, denting the bricks at the bottom. Crap crap crap! Needless to say, Loverboy was NOT thrilled. (I mean I sucked it up and all, but the way he went on, you'd think I did this all the time! But that little bust up with the hedge was AGES ago AND it was -20 at the time, FFS). The funny thing was, when I 'fessed up to our lovely neighbour, and after he'd established that I hadn't reversed over his dog, he laughed and asked if I was looking for things to write about on my blog... You know that moment when you realize that actual, real people read the nonsense that you write...yes that!                                                                                                             
• Welllllll, I succumbed and bought 'Fifty shades of Grey', just to find out what all the fuss is about. Marian Keyes, (did I possibly already mention that she follows me in on Twitter!?), called it 'Fifty Shades of Shite' which I'll admit put me off a bit. All I know is, the main character is called Christian and it all gets very bold and dirty, but Peeps, I was weaned on my Granny's Jackie Collins collection, so how bad (or good?) can it be? If you've read it, do share...                             
•  I can't BELIEVE the weather is this awful for June. I mean, even by Irish standards this is dire. It's also slightly unsettling, when we've just spent a fortune on a 'caravilla' (Thank you Ursula! I SO prefer this to 'mobile home'). The upshot is, that we won't be going anywhere hot for DECADES...now, THAT'S depressing! But,the good news is, it's Friday, it's wine time later and I've got Christian Grey to keep me company. Happy Friday loveliesxxx

We Did It!!

Soooooo, after our fruitless reconnaissance visit to Donegal last Tuesday with the boys, a follow up was hastily organized for Friday, this time just the two of us. Weather wise, it could not have been worse-the rain was coming down in sheets, there were flash flood warnings everywhere and my hair was completely flat. I did wonder if we were mad, but I told myself that if we STILL love Donegal under these conditions, then we're doing the right thing. The plan was we'd lift the three older boys after Sports Day, drop them & the bambino to my mum's and get on the road as early as possible. Easy Peasy. Only of course it wasn't.
 First of all, unsurprisingly, Sports Day was cancelled because of the rain, so we set off to drive the 20 miles to my mum's later than we'd hope. Halfway there, and it hit me that crucially I'd forgotten to pack Luke's blankie. The very same blankie that Loverboy once drove 50 miles at midnight to retrieve on another occasion. So, knowing instantly what had to be done, without a word he turned the car back in the direction of home.
Thirty minutes later, with Blankie safely on board, we were back on the road, when I suddenly became aware of Rory jigging frantically up & down in the backseat. This could mean only one thing- we had a high alert Code Red Toilet Emergency on our hands and I knew it was bad when he didn't even try to deny it.
 Now, normally this isn't a big deal- with four boys, we've made these unscheduled bio breaks numerous times, fertilising many a hedge in the process, but with rain bouncing off the road and windscreen wipers at full tilt, it was a most uninviting prospect for all concerned.
 'He can't get out in that, he'll be drenched through...and I'll be drenched too!'
'If he stays in here, he'll be drenched anyway, and so will the seats and there's no way on earth I'm driving to Donegal in a car stinking of pee!'
 Nodding in agreement, we were just about to opt for the lesser of two evils, when Rory, understandably put off with the idea of relieving himself in torrential rain, insisted he could hold it. The twisted expression and ongoing rocking may have indicated otherwise, but I told Loverboy to put the boot down and we immediately initiated a distraction campaign of relentless joke telling and songs, which worked for a good 10 miles at least. But a mile or so from my mum's, it became abundantly clear that Rory and his bladder had reached tipping point, and the only solution now was an emergency stop and immediate evacuation. The problem was we were outside a service station, in a built up area, without a hedge in sight.
No time to discuss- outta the car, down the alleyway, baby wipes in hand, and the job was done as I called aiming instructions from the sidelines-
'Down the drain, Rory, down the drain, son. No, mind the shoes! MIND THE SHOES!'
 Eventually though, we made it to my mum's, swiftly deposited the children, and headed for Donegal at last in a pee free car.....it's the little things. Just a few hours later, we'd done the deal and we're now the proud new owners of a mobile home from home with central heating, double glazing and en suite- honestly, if Carlsberg did mobile homes, my lovelies! We spent that night in a cosy little hotel, drinking wine, making plans and dreamin' dreams, and thankfully when we stood on the beach the next day in the rain, we DID still love it.....Who knows, at this rate, I may even get a fleece!

Quick Takes

• Anna's exams finish today. At last. This year, for first time, she's been grappling with revision timetables and end of year tests. We've been trying to walk the line of taking them seriously...but not too seriously. She is only first year after all. Of course, it's been beautiful exam weather for much of it, but she finishes today in the pouring rain. Typical!

• Jude has observed her workload over the last months, with a mild but detached interest at what lies ahead for him next year. But Mummy, sure that's AGES away yet. God help us all.  

•  Spotted this on Rory's bag yesterday and had to show you. It's the little proof picture from Cormac's Communion photos. He rescued it from the recycling bin and with cardboard, string and staples made this for his schoolbag. Sure you couldn't help but love him!

• We got a new sandpit this week, and as sandpits go, it kicks ass. The wooden cover folds back to make little seats on each side. Here's a snap taken earlier in the week, before all this torrential  rain. An entire day spent digging, designing, building, rebuilding, moat making, eating... and did I mention they were out there ALL DAY. So it would be fair to say, that we're ALL diggin' the new sandpit. (Pun totally intended!) 

                                                               

• I'm off now because Loverboy and myself are away on Caravan hunt 2.0 today-THIS time with slightly revised numbers and expectations. (Him, not me, obv.). My theory, and bear with me 'cos it's a sound one, is that unless it's comfortable, (by my standards), and warm (double glazing and central heating a MUST), I'm not gonna want to go up there. FFS, that's the Atlantic ocean just over that sand dune, and let's be honest here, NOBODY goes to Donegal for the weather!  (Which isn't to say I don't love it, cos I do, but Babes, a fleece just ain't gonna cut it.) So wish me luck, and hopefully next time I'll have all kinds of exciting caravan news to tell you!  (Did I say caravan? You KNOW I meant mobile home! ) Happy Friday my lovelies!!

Carry on Camping!

With Cliff Richard back in mothballs, and Union Jack cupcakes half price, it can mean only one thing - Jubilee weekend has left the building. Then again, the best thing about a lovely long weekend, is the wee hop to the next one! Eight year old Cormac, has actually pronounced this to be his best week EVER - off school on Monday and Tuesday, school trip today, Family (so not!) Fun night on Thursday, and sports day on Friday. No doubt about it, summer's just around the corner.
On that theme, the big news around here is the decision to procure a mobile home,  because as those of us with larger than average families know only too well, unless your name is Brangelina, the bigger a family becomes, the more holiday choice dwindles. So called 'family deals' to sunny climes assume a neat family of four and not an untidy seven, and despite California dreamin', family holidays for us in the forseeable future, will probably involve renting a house somewhere in Ireland.
 Reluctantly, we ruled out the possibility of owning a second home, mainly because most of our first belongs to the bank,  but recently we began to flirt with the idea of a mobile home instead.  Now, everyone reliably informs me, that these aren't the mobile homes of old. No chemical toilets, plastic floor strips, folding tables and nasty tie backs, these babies are mini palaces, with central heating, double glazing, flat screens, en-suites, and huge wraparound decks! A home from home..better even.
So, it was with high hopes that we called at two suppliers yesterday. New to this game, it's a learning curve for me-for instance, I didn't know that the suppliers had ties into the sites themselves. You have to buy exclusively from them, and you can't buy any old piece of tat either. Most sites have a certain standard, and vans of a certain 'vintage' aren't allowed. With the recent recession, these rules have relaxed somewhat, but they're still very much the norm and some sites are stricter than others. Honestly? Between you and me, I wasn't nearly as gutted as Loverboy upon learning these particular guidelines. Oh aye,  I tut tutted along with him, but inside I was thinking 'Thank Feck for those snobby site rules, because God only knows what seventies flashback we'd end up in otherwise!'
Now, don't get me wrong, I understand his reservations about spending a fortune on a depreciating asset, especially as I'm not what one might call the outdoorsy type. A wardrobe of running shoes and fleeces make me slightly queasy, and when an experienced caravanning friend happily confided that she didn't bring any jewellery  at all, as though this was a good thing, I don't mind telling you, I was shocked. I mean, how much space do you need for one or two statement rings and a few key pieces? What's next, no make up?
But back to yesterday's window shopping. I had just spent a delightful half hour en route imagining myself, reclining on a plush sofa in my new 'holiday home', glass of Oyster Bay in hand, surveying our children frolicking  in the sand, through my double glazed floor to ceiling windows. Any lingering doubts, about my not being  cut out for this sort of holiday, had magically melted away. On arrival, greeted by the sight of rows of shiny new mobile homes, I was only too ready to embrace this new shopping experience. Our stipulation was a 3 bedroom, the bigger the better, not brand new, but definitely not old either. The owner nodded thoughtfully, then led us down through the park, passing lots of lovely, very acceptable looking vans....but he just kept on walking,  past row upon row of these glossy specimens, until he came to the back corner of the site. THEN he took out his keys.

What he's thinking....

What I'm thinking.....

Aghast, I looked at Loverboy, expecting to see the same horrified reaction, but no, he was already climbing enthusiastically  into the first rust bucket. 'Come on in, love. It's really very spacious.'

 'I'll give you spacious, as soon as we're back in the car', I thought, because it was suddenly very clear to me, even before I gingerly peered into the tatty, grubby interior, that he'd had a quiet word about certain unrealistic expectations and necessary budget restraints. Standing there in Caravan Siberia with tumble weed blowing past us, you probably won't be surprised to learn that we didn't reach an agreement yesterday, but negotiations are ongoing, so watch this space!


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