You're the best ref in the world!!

Everyone got up at a reasonable time and out of the house by 9:10am in order to watch Smallest play football. There was a team talk in the changing rooms to start with - no parents allowed. Small and I attempted to watch sitting upstairs behind the glass but got fed up after a while because there is no atmosphere as you can't hear anything at all and people insist on standing behind you talking really loudly.

There was some controversy with the ref who made the subs all line up on the half way line before he allowed them to come on. He was a whistle-blowing-jobs-worth today. He even took Smallest and another player aside to talk to them about shirt pulling. The team were down 2-0 at half time and by the end they won 4-2. It was a very energetic game and the coach was very happy (especially after their last game which was a disaster).

We celebrated afterwards by going out for brunch. While we were eating it started snowing/slushing but didn't settle. While we were out, we decided to pick up a few things and went to a DIY place (where Smallest hid in a box and jumped out at people and made them laugh), a mall (where the boys found gadgets to play on to make the time go by quicker) and a sports shop (where we learnt that the boys have incredibly large and smelly feet). This took us the rest of the day but we managed to get the boys some trainers and a few bits for Christmas.

At home we threw away old worn trainers, had some tea and watched TV. Later we played a game of Ticket to Ride.

 

 

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Deaf Ref

The boys had a PA Day today from school so no-one had to get up super early. It was lovely. We had a slow breakfast and we were obviously too noisy and boisterous because normally Huffle works at the kitchen table while he eats but today he scooted off to the basement.

The boys showered and finished off their homework before going on the Wii.

We all had lunch and then I took the boys to the cinema to see The Peanuts Movie. This is something Smallest has been wanting to see since it came out and Small and I were happy to go along. It was entertaining enough apart from the man in front who played with his phone till I told him to turn it off, the boy next to Small who slurped his drink all the way through and the teenagers ahead who kept banging the armrests down. The kids sneaked some wine gums in as well as a drink and a chocolate bar.

Back home Small practiced his piano while Smallest and I FaceTimed Moo. She has just got back from her week away and had a lovely time. Now she has to concentrate on getting ready to come here (which she is nowhere near ready).

We had dinner and Small and Huffle went to football. They both worked hard. Smallest and I played MarioBros and then started to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks ChipWrecked.

It is supposed to snow sometime this weekend - eeeeek

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Mr Twiddle

Everyone was tired and a bit under the weather today. Still, the boys went to school and Smallest did his last Gifted test which he said was the easiest of the three (we'll see). Small got to paint some scenery for the Christmas Concert.

I spent the morning making dinner for later. Today I made Canelloni (Beef and Spinach & Ricotta) and garlic bread.

At lunchtime I met Suffolk for lunch and we attempted to cheer each other up with a nice soup out and then a bit of a wander round a couple of shops attempting to look at Christmas presents.

I came home before the kids got home and finished dinner while they did their homework. Smallest and I played on the Wii and were joined by Small. They have both decided to finish their homework tomorrow as it is a PA Day and there is no school.

After dinner we all watched the end of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and the beginnings of a film.

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Huffles name is Derek

During the night I woke up at 2am with a splitting headache that made me feel very sick. I had to go and get some pain killers (and I'm not a huge pain killer taking type person). I did get back to sleep but I woke up with a dull headache which hurt for the rest of the day when I bent my head, almost as if my brain was too big for my head. Well it could happen I suppose! Small also woke at 5am feeling nauseous and couldn't get back to sleep. He was fine by the time he went off to school. Strange! Couldn't have been anything we ate because we had jacket potatoes and salad!

This morning I went to Aerobics and found my head was no better upside down or sideways. I enjoyed it though and judging by the many squats and lunges, I will ache tomorrow. On the way home I took back the Tuba and was told by the Secretary that Small would be doing a solo just for me on the night of the Christmas Concert to thank me for my unending picking up and delivering of said tuba. (Now that would be embarrassing for both of us). I filled my car with petrol and booked my car in for my Winter Tyres to be put on next week. (Hopefully they can look at my flat tyre and my squeaky brakes too).

I had a shower, washed, dried and styled my hair (oooooh its so easy now, anyone could do it) and had a quick lunch with Huffle. We watched a bit more of Jekyll and Hyde (wow that's a weird drama) and then I went off to Pottery.

This week was our last week making. We made square boxes. Mine is supposed to be a herb container, or sugar or (maybe I'll wait to see how it turns out). It had an oversized lid and a rustic spoon and the whole thing is organic looking (that's code but not very square). I enjoyed making it but am sad that it's over. Also the teacher is going off for a year's sabbatical which is a shame.

I came home, made dinner and checked over homework. Tonight Huffle and I had homework and we had to mark one of Smallest's pieces of work. Actually it was quite interesting, bearing in mind we had a 'rubric' to follow.

This evening I took the boys to basketball and left Huffle soaking in a hot bath. There is only one more session left after tonight. The boys have thoroughly enjoyed it and have learned a lot.

 

This time four years ago today, we were homeless. We had moved out of our forever-never-would-have-thought-we-could-afford-a-house-in-the-country house. Our furniture was in a big storage container and had left the Village for pastures (well rough seas) new. As far as I can remember, Huffle and Small stayed at Grandmas and Smallest and I stayed at Moo's. We all had a big party at Grandmas.

 

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A sheep bathroom!

Another tough getting-up-time this morning. Maybe I'm starting the hibernation process. The boys went to school and today was the first day of Smallest's Gifted Test (he said it was easy, but then so did Small and he didn't pass!). He has two more days of tests. I don't know when we get the results.

This morning I made the Christmas Cake and despite the fact that everything I did went wrong today (especially when I sneezed as I was putting my egg in water to poach it and it ended up on the floor, plus I knocked my water all over the floor, the gate was stuck!!!!), the cake turned out fine. It is now firmly wrapped up in parchment and foil awaiting MrHuffle's weekly feeding of alcohol until the boys and I decorate it (usually Christnas Eve or eve eve).

I went to the wooded area at the back of our garden and picked some lovely dark red stems from the dogwood for the Winter Containers on the porch. I'm not ready to add the mini Christmas trees yet even though I see Christmas lights going up everywhere. I added some silver birch branches and then went for a walk in the field next door and the bottom bit again looking for lovely greenery and then put the containers together. They will do for now and it was a nice walk.

Huffle and I had lunch together by briefly and then went for a walk for half an hour. It was cool but beautifully sunny. When I got back I visited the beer store to take back our empties. We had managed to collect (over a very long time I'm certain) 30 wine bottles and 20 beer bottles. That got us a free bottle of wine and I picked up salt bags for the water softener. I dragged them to the house and Huffle took them downstairs and added them. They are extremely heavy.

This afternoon I sorted washing and made dinner. The boys came home and did homework, practiced piano and tuba, put away their clothes, complained and played on the Wii. After dinner, there was more Wii and then Huffle and Smallest went on football for a team talk and a practice. There are going to be some longer sessions until April (2hours!!) and the team is reducing from 12 to 10. I wonder if that's just to make them work harder to keep their place?

Small and I played MarioBros and then watched Jeopardy - I've heard if it but never watched it. I even answered a few.

Lovely HB at her Graduation yesterday - well done HB xxxxx

 

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Itty Bitty Corner of World

What a disappointment to be woken up at 7:40am, not only to learn I had overslept but to find out it was a Monday and I had to get up at all. BOOOOOOO. Smallest was up already but too busy watching Elf (hasn't anyone told that boy it's still November?) to get anyone else up and Small was just waking.

Smallest went to school dressed in a coat and hat (with gloves and fleece in his bag - just in case) - good boy doesn't want his poor Mummy humiliated by busy bodies at school again ha ha!

I went off this morning with a huge list of things to buy. I started with the Christmas Cake ingredients. This year we have decided to halve the cake as there is too much and really only Huffle and Moo eat it. I was very happy with my purchases of ingredients despite the fact I couldn't use the scales. They were in kg's (which is what my measurements were) but were covered up by pounds stickers. Hang on a moment, that's not progress is it? Surely pounds didn't come after kg's? So I didn't weigh the stuff, instead I carefully placed them in a bag and held it out at arms length as if I had any idea how heavy the things were. Of course, when I got home I was way out but I'm hoping I looked confident enough to any onlookers.

My next job was to buy tiny things to put in our homemade advent calendar. This included tiny toys, sweets and Pokemon cards. Huffle and I will then supplement these with anecdotes and the boys will add lovely Christmas drawings and insults about each other. Nice traditions. I managed to get both boys a pair of snow pants and wellies (OMG Small's feet are like boats, I could wear my wellies inside his now).

Feeling smug after my excellent shopping trip, I popped to a supermarket and picked up a nice baguette for lunch, some fruit and some salad. Huffle and I had a bit of lunch and spent the rest of his lunchtime clearing leaves from the gutters. Well he cleared and I had the very important job of placing the ladder, holding the ladder with my foot planted firmly on the bottom rung and obviously taking photos as the sun was out, the sky was blue and the shadows on the house were amazing.

Then I met NoCustard for a lovely walk in the forest. Today we went completely off track and followed a wiggly trail which was lovely until we hit a huge upward hill. Then we met a trail we have done many times and did it backwards. It was a proper adventure but absolutely lovely and took us an hour and a half with some good uphills.

At home I sorted washing and made dinner. Tonight we had Macaroni Cheese which has been requested by the boys for ages now and I had promised. Big and Smallest bears had chicken with theirs and we all had a bit of salad and a piece of crusty bread.

The boys had their piano lessons. Smallest was asked to play his piece 'cheekily'.

After dinner we all headed off to one of the Scout Leaders houses for Investiture. Now normally this is the time when Huffle and I get to escape all things small boys and annoying men and go and have a lovely walk by ourselves or play tennis etc. Today we were asked to attend as Smallest was being invested as a Cub. Thank goodness I bought those wellies today.

Huffle and I went as Huffle is trying to make an effort at social events, in order to help me integrate more. The evening started with the leader that hosted the evening telling us where to park the car. The kids all ran around the garden and the adults stood around uncomfortably. There was a small fire, a couple of games for the kids and then an hour of 'investiture' where new Beavers, Beavers moving to Cubs and Cubs moving to Scouts got welcomed. More games, some interesting marshmallow burning (the highlight of Huffles evening) and some very good hot chocolate. I mentioned to the host it was the best hot chocolate I had had since being in Canada and his reply was "thank you for the compliment". I think his wife had made it. The evening wasn't so bad after all and we didn't smell too much of fire.

At home we watched I'm A Celebrity.

 

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Why doesn't the old coach take a day off?

Good sleep, no snow, just a bit of frost. We had a late breakfast and Small and I left Huffle and Smallest playing on the Wii and went off to football development training. I spoke to a few of the Mum's from the game yesterday and they weren't pleased with the fact that the stand-in coach changed the positions of the team. I bet the normal coach wasn't too pleased either but I didn't see him today.

Lovely clouds and perfect day for shadows

I knitted whilst I watched Small whose eyes kept rolling back in annoyance at some of the exercises they had to do. Even when he played the game towards the end, I could see his frustration as the game was constantly stopped to get everyone back in to position. Very annoying. He is not enjoying these Sunday sessions at all but it is good exercise and will be good for him during the Winter. We are going to try and keep him going for now but I wouldn't be too disappointed if he didn't go every week.

We came home briefly for a shower and to pick up the others and went off for dinner and then a walk along the beach and lakeside. The boys played on the park and Huffle and I walked along the beach picking up interesting stones. We found some interesting mushroom stones.

Sunshine, water, reflections and park

Lots of stones

A bit more of a walk and we all sat down and made stone sculptures. Smallest made a house and a cave. He wasn't very happy today. It seemed we wouldn't let him do anything he wanted. The fact that all the things he wanted to do were dangerous, silly or bad had nothing to do with it of course and he gave up talking to us for most of time there.

Falcon, bright sunshine

Huffle found some 'detectorists' to take photos of for his own amusement and we watched a lady being photographed with the lovely power station behind her, we met a man with a dog called rusty who wanted us to stroke him (the dog, not the man, that would be wrong) and saw a huge hawk or falcon sitting on top of a pole.

Posing in front of the power station, tree, shadows and reflections

The place we went to today was Frenchmans Bay where we last went on Canada Day when it was hot. Although the sun was out today, it was a completely different place. All the little cafes and shops were shut and there were just a handful of people walking. We had a nice stroll and got to see the sunset over the harbour while some fishermen shouted a naughty word. We couldn't be sure if it was a Chinese word though (that's what we told the kids!).

Beautiful sunset

Back home, the kids practised their piano and tuba pieces.

 

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