Well The Big Day, arrived and the nerves had set in, but it was me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was a nervous wreck. Yep I flutterd around and fidigted and lost things, and could'nt remember where I put things down and burnt the porridge.

Never the less we were on the road by 10am, the Theatre is just next to my previous place of employment so all I had to do was park across from the building, I spent years working in, yet I got it wrong. I took the wrong exit off the motorway!!!!!!

Still I managed to get round the back of town and woosh we were there on time, just.LOL The girls, Mary and Ruth, were met at the stage door by their teacher and Sarah and I were dimissed. Our supporting role as parents was done, we were no longer needed. Now you might think we were a little nervous at this point, but folks, here we are in Winchester and only two hours to go before curtain up, no time to feel emotions. Oh no , the dreaded shops were in need of some custom and we were for once in need of retail therapy.

So charged up, plan of action set, "Coffe shop, quick cuppa, frock shop and shoe shop". We head forth into the town and lo, The Hat Fair is on? Now the Hat Fair is not a market selling hats, it is a weekend of buskers and artists, jugglers and bands, showing off their talents for pennies in their hats. So the ten minute walk to the coffee shop, took an hour, we just kept getting distracted by the performers. On arriving at coffe shop, we order and sit to chat, for a few mins. Uhm well, next thing, it was 12.30pm and time to head back to the Theatre. No new posh frocks nor shoes.Ugh.

We take our seats, three rows from the front, and the show begins. First up were the littlies, giving us a grand little sketch on the enviroment and life according to Ants and grasshoppers. Then the primary level gave us hilaroius sketch set in Mexico, involving a village preparing for a Fiesta.

Then it was the Upper school, and Ruth's turn. Their sketch was about a fancey dress party where Aliens, turn up to study human kind. On they come take their places, and the lights go up. There is Ruth, she is supposed to speak first.

Well she looks straight out to the audience, suddenly she takes a mmmmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssive gulp,sets a gargantuan grin on her face, eye's bulge, a second's silence!!!!!!!!!!!! She then recovers herself, starts to shake her booty which travels through her entire body, head to toe, just like a wet dog would do, stands up straight and  say's her lines, word perfect, through chuckles from the adudience. The next twenty mins were just grand, the poor leading Lady, tripped and fell, but she kept going and improvised it into the Play beautifully. What a bunch of little stars.

At the end of the show, a presentation ceremony was conducted, where the children were awarded various certificates for there efforts throughout the year. Ruth got a "Best at Improvisation Award" and a " 1 year Acheivment Certificate". Little Mary also achieved her 1 year certificate and a special award for effort. We were so proud of them.

As a special treat at we took Ruth out last night for a post performance meal at her favourite Resteraunt.

Oh and young Caty? Well, she spent the day with her Daddy, her best friend Alice and her Daddy at the Local Park, where they had an open Day. There were face painters, bouncy castles, mini golf and puppet shows. Oh yes and the Daddies were happy because cream teas were on sale to raise funds for the park, they participated with verve and enjoyed three cream teas each.Me thinks cycling to work is definitely the goal of the week for both of them.LOL.

Luv Winnie.xxxx

 

Well Ruth has her acting debut tomorrow at the Theatre Royal Winchester, and it has suddenly hit her. The pre - stage nerves just jummped up and punched her in the tummy.LOL.

As a dyslexic Ruth has a wonderful memory for remembering things she has heard, so if you read her a book, she can repeat back verbaly, great tracts of the story from memory. She also has a powerful imagination and an ability to improvise a story at the drop of a hat.

When she felt she was failing at school, and not being able to keep up, her confidence took an nose dive into the deep. The school in an endeavour to find something that she could be good at, suggested a "Developement through Drama" course, for children who lacked confidence or social skills. Well, outwith school Ruth did in no way lack confidence, and she would talk to anyone willing to listen, well actually, even if they were'nt.LOL Ah but anything to help her build self esteem is not to be sniffed at, so we got in touch with the Drama Academy and yes they had a place for her.

Well it turns out that she is rather good at this acting thing, and very,very good at memorising her lines, so she takes to the stage, to participate in a sketch, that she and a few fellow actors have put togeather to entertain us Parents and families and share with us their new found skills. They moved Ruth up a year group, so I was rather worried she would struggle, but not so.

However, last night, it hits her. "Mummy I have forgotten my lines" and big tears. I quickly grab the script and do all the other parts, and lo she made no errors in her parts, unlike Mummy, ooops and I had the script, yet she corrected me. She knows everyones lines off by heart,hehe.

This morning she was chattering on about!!!!!!!! well I am not sure?, something about a bird and a nessy type monster, out to save the world, because the groots? had stolen all the clouds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any way, there is sudden silence and a little voice pops up, "Mum how many people will be there watching us?" Hmm two hundred or so, I say. Silence, then:

"Mummy I dont think I can do it, those in flight nevers, that Miss L told us about have stolen my thoughts. My brain has gone all dark and mushy, and if I have to go on the stage, it might ooze out my ears and make the people feel sick. The cleaning people wont like that. So can I sit with you instead"

I think she meant nerves,LOL. I loved the cop out though. I wonder what the next amazing excuse will be? I did say she did'nt have to do anything she did not feel happy about though. That soon changed her mind, the show must go on, even if everyone gets sick.LOL 

Fingers crossed for her and all the youngsters taking part in their annual show.

Luv Winnie.xxxx

 

Well we had Ruth's report from school today, and all we can say is that we are so proud of her achievement. Ruth 7yrs entered Junior School with a vocabulary to match any fourteen year old, but her reading was at a 3-4yr old level and her writing just marks on the page.

She entered the year with a timid and unconfident air, not surprising really as her Dyslexia had only just been diagnosed and she really had no understanding, of what that meant. As far as she was concerned she was the only kid who could not read or write. On arriving at the Junior school, many new rules were set forth, giving Ruth the impression that she was not going to cope.

One of these rules was that children who did not finish their set written or reading task was sent to Time Out Zone during the break to complete it. Time Out Zone was also for those who mis behaved. So you can see the conundrum building in this little girls head. She had never managed to complete a written or reading task in the Infant School, and was not likely to in the Junior, so this must be a bad thing if one gets sent to TOZ. Fear set in, that she was going to be in TOZ a lot.

Infact the whole thing came to a head one day when she refused point blank to go to school, because they would have to write a poem for the HeadMaster, and she feared she could not finish it in time and be sent to TOZ. I had to phone the school and ask to speak to her teacher, who was lovely. She spoke to Ruth and assured her that because she was such a good girl and always did her best, she would never be sent to TOZ, and there was nothing to fear from the head, because if she was sent to him, he would more than likely give her a cuddle than a lecture.

Happy, Ruth went to school and did everything that was asked of her for the next school term. In Ruth's report today she recived 5s and 4s for effort in all subjects 5 being top effort. Then to find that her reading level has gone up from 0 to yr2 level and her writing to yr1 level was the icing on the cake.

We are so proud of her and for her, she is beaming away with a smile that would light up the world if it could be seen. This report tells Ruth that she can officially read and write. I can only thank the team that came togeather to help our wee girl, to achieve this in only 9 months and her teacher Mrs Short, who never once allowed Ruth to feel she was not achieving something in all that was undertaken no matter how small that achievment was.

I dont really try to reward this sort of thing with much other than praise, but just to make her dream a true reality, we agreed to take her to buy some books that she can read herself. Not that she does'nt have books she must have 500+ up those stairs, "but Mummy read them all to her".LOL.

Luv Winnie.xxxx

 

It has been a really funny week !!!!!!!!!!!! You know, the type of week where you sit down for five mins and two seconds later you are up again. The phone, the door,children arguing, husbands confused, unexpected visitors and the goal of the week, to rid yourself of ironing before the weekend. Well I achieved the ironing, yay. False uphoria, because it will all be back by Monday night, but for now it has gone back into drawers and cupboards.

So today the weather is fine, not too hot, not too cold, a good day to tackle the jungle that last year was called garden. So today's task, was to relieve the herbs of their unwanted annual visitor ,Herb Robert. Actually a rather prolific, sweet smelling and colourful weed. Having said that, there is nothing weedy about it. It spreads everywhere fast and glorious. Thankfully it does not have a deep root system and pulls very easily.

So Caty and I set too, she with her little barrow and me with mine. We filled them, stamping down, every so often. An hour later we were done. Satisfied we empty the remains into the council garden waste bag, Herb R, does not go into my compost, uh,uh no way. Kettle on, minti moment, but the phone again. Seriously I think I will take it off the hook tonight, just to get some peace.

Well back to the garden and the shock, the herb patch just looked so, whats the word, uhm, Managed, thats it. It looked too nice and neat and ornamental. What happend to my nice wild, greeny,pinky colour that I so enjoyed looking at while stuck at the sink. I had just massacred it. How could I be so mean. Humph, serves me right for being so rightious about ousting old Robert from his digs.

Next year he gets a trim, just a little thining, weed or not, herb or not, he brought colour to my world, for that alone he deserves a permanent home in the herb patch. So ladies, if you even get a hint of me looking to rid my world of Robert next year, remind me of this years folly.LOL

Luv Winnie.xxxx

Oh and the Quiet. The French contigent have gone home, all 15. I have my floor space back, and the girls are back in their own rooms at last. My Lovely Hubby has departed also, and is on a marathon cylcle of a hundred and odd miles a day, raising money for The Sue Ryder Charity http://www.suerydercare.org/ . He is acctually the oldest participant, and though fit, I still think 555 miles over 5 days will knacker him, but he is keen and determind to do the best he can.

My English tongue is returning to a semblance of normal, funny though you just get into the flow with another language and wham they all bog off, and leave my brain feeling unsure of its vocal duty.

The girls are playing up a bit at bed time, not surprising having spent last week camping out in our room, and having Daddy away, means the routine is slightly different, so all avenues of prevarication are being explored. A little leaway was allowed the first night, a bit tougher last night, and tonight it is solid brick wall.  No giving on my part tonight, no way kiddos. I am making the most of the peace and quiet for the next few evenings.

A weird thing happend the other night though. My Dad who is very sleepy and does not interact much these day's, was found on Friday last to be in a state of high agitation. Someone in the family was poorly and in Hospital according to him. My Sis tried unsuccessfuly to reassure him that we were all o.k. No! he was not having it, so out came the mobile phone and all were phoned and he was partialy soothed. Now not half an hour later the phone goes again, and It is The Western Infimary in Glasgow informing me that my Uncle had just been admited to the A&E and would be tranfered to another Hospital in the morning, for further tests.

Well I laughed, once I got over the shock. Uncle was fine, but needed a little treatment, however if there is two people in this world that, do not see eye to eye on anything it is My Dad and his BIL. Funny old world, Dad has a second sight revelation, but about Uncle A. Call us twisted, but that cracked us all up, even Dad and Uncle A. Life is very strange at times. He,he.

Luv Winnie.xxxx

 

Well it matters not where one goes, be it family, hotel or tent, there is nothing quite like your own corner and your own bed. At last we are home and I for one, am so glad, to be looking forward to being in my own nest tonight. We had a good time though, at my Big Sisters, and managed to spend time with my Dad for a while every day, before the girls tired him out. Not to jinxs the situation, but he is doing well at the mo, makes a sparrow look positively obese and his left lung has given up completely, but the new fangled anti- biotics from USA seemed to have hit all the infections on the head. So the Docs are optomistic that he may get a bit of respite from Hospitals and enjoy the comforts of Hospice care for a while, fingers crossed. My Sister really needed the respite from caring for Dad. It is all very well to say, "Oh dont come in today, he does not remember your visits and you know we look after him", but well he's your Dad and thats that, the one time you dont go, is the one time he needs you, as has happend so often to Sis.

So now on to lighter things, we managed to get the girls out and about to see the delights of Essex most days even though the weather was awfull for most of the week, so who kidnapped Springtime, thats what I would like to know.LOL

Ruth though was very much into highjacking her Aunties wardrobe and this little picture which I love, is Ruth giving us her Sophia Loren style.

Then Ruth gave us further cause for mirth, as she highjacked a friendly motor bike cop, and begged for a go on his bike,LOL.

This was at the Southend Air Show, it was freezing cold with cutting winds, but the kids enjoyed watching the displays, down at the front prom and did not argue once.hehe.

A day out without Animals is a must, so we ventured to Tropical Wings, and met up with some wonderful creatures, Butterflies, a Cuckaburra he was so cool when he did his flying display then there was the Owls, wow did Ruth love them, again getting in on the act.

and the white wallabies were definitely my favs.

Then to finish with we have the beach, if that is what one wants to call it,LOL. A streatch of sand clinging to the mouth of the Thames Estuary, but wow did the girls love it, you see as far as Caty is concerned all holidays have sand, so who are we to say no.

Caty and Ruth on The Beach.

And that you will be relieved to hear is the last of it. Well actually we did loads of things and took millions of piccies, but I do know when to stop, honest I do. LOL. Wow, wee, it is just good to be home.

Luv Winnie.xxxx

 

We live in a big old rambling victorian semi, that is in urgent need of a face lift.LOL. Well with pennies being in short supply due to me not doing much on the contibution to finance front it has to wait, and wait and wait. Well in and effort to keep this aged old domecile usable we hit the DIY store last week for essential bits for the bathroom. New shower head, and waterproofing sealant.

While there I saw a Kitchen, it was just the thing to suit our little cooking corner, but at £6000 to buy and install, well a girl can dream cant she. So back to the bathroom aisle,showerhead and bits bought we leave the store.

Yesterday hubby is up at the crack of dawn with the girls, and shortly after I hear drilling and thumping, I groaned in anticipation of a new and disasterous project taking place in the Kitchen. What could it be this time, a go cart to mow down unsuspecting pedestrians, home made scooters for the dolls, that they forgot to sand down, splinter heaven. Nah I could stand it no longer, up I get to go check and ensure over enthusiasm was not running out of control.

I stumble in to the said room and Wow, Oh my word, well goodness me, speachless. Taking shape was a new Kitchen. Not the full monty, just the doors, the very ones I was drooling over, in the shop. Hubby went back when he was out on his cycle, and enquired as to price of doors. Apparently the Kitchen bits were on offer at half price, and he had a voucher for a further 20%, so for a cool £130 he got the doors. Went back to pick them up on Friday on his way home from work.  To top it all he went back this morning and purchased the sink unit aswell. It looks fantastic, and I cant believe the difference in the room.

Now I know that we dont have that money to spare, all finance is accounted for, so where did he get the pennies. Well it turns out that he used his Music Money. Every year his one indulgence is to take off to a "Hands on Music" weekend where musicians of traditional persuassion, share techniques, hone their skills and yes get merrily inhebriated. With Dad going through this slow painfull demise, my hubby decided not to book his place this year, incase he is needed. So as a little something to cheer me up he bought the doors with his savings for the weekend.

I really am gobsmacked and kind of speechless, but bless I do love him to bits. Daft I know but I keep running into the Kitchen and going Oooooh aaaahhh and hubby is getting a lot of hugs, and I mean a lot.hehe.

Luv Winnie.xxxx

Well the Summer has been in her full glory this week, and though it will go hide in favour of rain and cloud again tomorrow, we have really enjoyed the warmth in the old bones. Ruth had her first fall out of a tree last night, thankfully nothing more than a bruised hip and her pride. Will it discourage her from sitting in trees? No not one bit, half an hour later she is back up in the old oak singing imaginary songs to the birds. People having an evening walk on the common were quite amused at the site of her.

Caty on the other hand is now convinced that female humans should stay firmly on terra firma and that tree climbing is not a sensible occupation for little girls, so she proceeded to lecture her big Sister on the danger. When Daddy asked if it was o.k for him to climb trees, she said, "it alright cause you a boy",  Hmm dont think she has any idea of emancipation of the sexes.LOL.

Ruth is really coming on well at school since they implemented the new SEN programme for her, she now has extra one to one with all subjects and not just literacy, this has really boosted her confidence and she is interacting more and more in class situations. The school has implemented an extra dimention by involving all the children in understanding why there is extra time for some children, and why that is necessary. The SEN children have been encouraged to talk about their difficulties and how life at school is a little harder to cope with at times. This has helped all the children to understand each other more and acts of help and kindness have been more forth coming with each other. So far Ruth has talked to three year groups about her Autistic issues, young Ben about his Downs Syndrome and Lizbeth about her Cerebral Palsy, long may this openess continue.

My Dad is still with us and looks to be fighting the inevitable, he is not ready to go, but is very tired and frail. Trying to fight two cancers is a lot, but he is not giving in just yet. The paliative care team are doing a super job in trying to keep him pain free, which is a blessing and as much as we can hope for at this moment in time. He is so unaware of his illness that he just thinks it is all rather boring, to have this irritating pain. The viral dimencia is spairing him any anguish, thankfully.

Well I suppose I have to go get domestic, or the clothes will be upping stiches and starting a revolution, the dust will be shouting about clean working enviroments, and the freezer will be reporting me for starving it. LOL.

Take care of you all. Luv Winnie.xxxx

I am popping in during a quiet moment to say thankyou to all those who have mailed and sent compliments. I am not avoiding minti, promise. I am at my Sisters as things are taking a downward turn with My Dad. Please pray that the end is near. Though he has consistently come back from the edge, what a man. Poor Dad he does'nt even know now he is ill. In some cases dimencia can be a blessing.

Luv,Winnie.xxxx

Arna made a comment in a recent blog that I must be sad about the girls growing up. How true that was Arna. When Caty turned three it brought home to me that my Baby day's were over. I would love to go on and have a troup of little one's but time is not on my side, and energy is not quite what it was, the menopause has hit big time and the body and mind just would not cope with further sleep deprivation.

However on Sunday when we took the girls to see "James and The Giant Peach" up at the Uni,  I had the most wonderful revelation. Caty did not get to the theatre to see the short Play's the Uni puts on for toddlers as we had other commitments on Saturday's untill recently. So this was her first trip and it was a full production of two and a half hours.

I dithered as to whether to take Caty as, Marg I too flap, and the blurb stated "to suit 5yrs and up". However nothing ventured nothing gained and Caty got to come. Well the look on that little girls face was magical. When she entered he Auditorium she was blown away by the low lighting and the Giant peach on stage. When James came on she let rip and shouted look Mummy it's James and Mummy, Mummy there is a spidey. James talked back to her and asked her name and what age she was and would she like a story. Caty beemed as she told him and said she loved stories. For the next hour and fifteen minutes, Caty sat mesemerised at the events unfolding on stage.

During the break, she could hardly eat her Ice Cream for chatting about what she had seen and what would happen next. In the second half she was one of the first to get on stage to dance with the insects and bugs and the actors all got a cuddle from her as she came off stage. Now the revelation is that I would have missed all this if another bub was here, I would not be able to interact on the same level as I get to do now.

The sadness of leaving behind the baby years has gone and I look forward to getting to experience events that are old and established for me, with a totaly new perspective. I will get to see the joy of Ruth and Caty experiencing life and its Joys first hand rather than second hand through Hubby or the girls themselves.

So no more what ifs, or what might have been, I have found that for me, there is a shift in perspective and no more sadness, only joy at the delights I can now share fully with our growing girls.

Life is good. Luv,Winnie.xxxx