Bottles, binning, bellisimo

We were all up, breakfasted and dressed rather early for a Saturday morning today, due to the fact we were helping with the bottle drive for the Grade Eight's Graduation Trip fundraising. We met at 10am at the local co-op/Beer Store where four drivers were sent out with various Grade 8 kids to collect the Hamlets empty wine and beer bottles. This is a well known thing over here so they expect it and most collect them and put their bottles out ready for collection. Some people wait for the kids to knock on their door and some just don't take part. All bottles get money back over here so it's nice the community give their bottles (especially after Christmas and New Year) towards the fundraising. Their trip costs around $800 so whatever is raised is always useful.

A group of us stayed at the co-op in order to sort the bottles. Moo and I and Huffle and Smallest, one of the mums and her daughter and the organiser (another mum). We just got ourselves organised when a truck load came and we had to empty it and sort it and then another two came and it became a mess and pandemonium. Once again, we just got organised when three trucks came back full of bottles and we had to unload and sort again. Each wine bottle had to be split into clear or coloured and counted in twelves. Each beer bottle had to be organised in sizes and colour and boxed in 24's. All pop and alcopops also were sorted into 24's. It sounds easier than it was but there were SO MANY!

Huffle, Moo and Smallest went off to football where they found out that our Coach and the Assistant Coach had been sacked that very minute by CoachOl (DHead) and although Huffle managed to remove Smallest off the pitch, the other parents were cautioned against doing this. The kids were told nothing though obviously they had a different coach who they didn't know and also didn't know what their positions were. But that doesn't matter I suppose when you make the players play 'player centric roles'. The only good thing about this is that it made Smallest score a goal, although saying that, he scored it whilst being in a defensive potion which his normal position. Afterwards there was a meeting in the outside corridor where CoachOlDHead told them he had made the decision to fire the coaches by himself and then the parents fired questions at him that he couldn't answer. All of this discussion was filmed by our Coach's wife. No-one was happy. Everyone was shocked. We are all being called to a meeting in the near future. Can't wait! Much later we had a call from our Coach and it looks like everyone is now wanting to take the kids away from the club and take them elsewhere. CoachOlDHead called the assistant coach, just after our coach called him to let him know he was fired (he's on holiday right now) and asked him if he was ready to be Head Coach. How ridiculous (he declined) they are willing to put in a coach who knows NOTHING (no offence) about football whatsoever!!! I think that club just want nice playing, not winning, not proper footy, just niceness! Idiots!

Meanwhile back at the Co-op, we worked like troopers. Small had been out knocking on people's doors and collecting bottles for hours before coming back and helping us to sort. Moo and Huffle came back and Huffle let Small go home for a while to get warm and have some food before both Smallest and Small came back to finish off. We ended up raising over $1,500 and we think we collected 1,800 wine bottles. 3,000 Cans. 2,700 beer bottles plus various other bottles that didn't really fit into a category. We worked for 5.5 hours without stopping. It was back breaking, cold and very tiring. I wonder if it's really worth all the effort but I guess it's something. The only thing is the money goes to all Grade 8 students whether they helped or not. Not really fair but what can you do?

Huffle took us out for a lovely Italian in our most favourite place. We had a very delicious dinner and came home for a long rest.

Wow look at that sky!

 

 

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1900's speeding ticket*

Temperatures today hit -17* with windchill brrrrr. Beautiful sunshine though, lots of lovely shadows and some fabulous ice patterns on the windows.

Waffles for breakfast which were especially lovely today. Everyone helped to get things sorted and cleared away. The rest of the morning the boys played on the XBox, I stripped their beds and put fresh stuff on and with Moo's help, sewed Small's Quilt cover. Grandma had bought him a lovely cosy bed set last year but our silly Tumble Dryer shrunk it. We got a replacement (dryer and quilt) but a huge one that needed sewing. So we cut it and sewed it and now he has lovely flannelette (is that still a word, it sounds so old fashioned?) sheets, quilt and pillow cases. Lucky boy, it's going to a cold one overnight. Moo and I finished the morning with a Skip-Bo before calling everyone up for lunch.

After lunch we all donned our snow gear and headed out to our local resort for an afternoon of ski-ing and snowboarding. Everyone but me got lift passes but I just wanted to stay on the nursery slopes. I haven't boarded for two years and I always fall and hurt myself so my confidence was very low. Moo's confidence was low too but once I forced her boots on she was off and away and up on the lifts before you could say "oi I thought you were taking it easy.......!".

We started on the little nursery slope and I fell and bashed my knee (lovely lump and bruise on it now!) and soon realised it wasn't wide enough for me as I like to zig zag across. We moved to the other nursery slope after the nice man on the previous one helped me get my confidence a bit. Everyone but me had one go on the little slope and all went off up the lift. I had no-one to blame for being on my own but me as I just couldn't pluck up the courage to go on the lift. However, I did walk up one hill (phew) and board down with others but not before I landed in a bush! What am I like? The man at the top lift tried to explain how I needed to get off if I wanted to go on. He was very nice and helpful, though he didn't see me land in the bush!

Everyone else did exceptionally well. Like they'd never been away. Clever family. Smallest has got much better but is still struggling to turn (I think maybe a couple of lessons will sort that out). Small is looking very confident and went up one of the bigger lifts with Huffle and Moo while Smallest and I sneaked in a hot drink and a quick rest inside. We had a good window seat view of them on the lifts and coming down.

The picture at the bottom of me praying is in fact me turning over to get up and on my feet. Naughty Huffle took it from the lift but he said he didn't know because the sun was too bright!!!!! Can't believe looking at this that I got a BAGA4.

Smallest and Moo went on the smaller lift a few more times, Huffle and Small went on the bigger one before joining Moo, and I had a last couple of go's on the nursery slope. I have no trouble boarding down (well apart from zig zagging) just getting up the bigger slopes!

As it was starting to get dark and the smaller lift closed, we decided to call it a day and went off for fish and chips.

Tired family!

*As Moo lives in Hinckley, Leicestershire, I joined the Hinckley Past and Present Facebook Group. Today I found this story.

 

 

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The pickle factory

Huffle and I went on our second daytime date today, leaving home about 11am ish and not coming home until after 3pm. We could get used to this. We left Moo and the boys at home playing on the XBox, sorting out clothes, washing, playing games etc. I don't think they even noticed we were gone.

We went to various shops and did errands. Taking things back, exchanging stuff, buying new things and then we went off for lunch. Today we tried a new place, attached to the College. It is a new teaching inspired restaurant and has a huge expanse of ground where they grow their own vegetables (obviously not this time of year because there is snow on the ground). They have their own orchard too plus greenhouses and herb gardens. They use locally sourced meat, beer and wine too. Plus they have a 'pantry' where students make products from the produce sell. The students from the college look after the garden and help in the kitchens. It's a really clever place and I would like to go back in the summer so we can see the garden in use. Our waitress said she picked herbs and berries for the drinks on her way in. It was delicious and I had a Mannicotti and a chocolate pot. Huffle had Pork and Apple and Red Cabbage with Corn Bread and French Onion Soup and a Rhubarb and Apple Tart with a WinterBerry Sauce.

Earlier today Moo and I made some Lemon Curd (one for here and one for Moo to take home) and we started a Beetroot Chutney until I realised we had no apples or cranberries (I use cranberries instead of raisin because I don't like them). While Huffle and I were out we picked up supplies and Moo and I carried on with the Chutney and made five jars (some will go in the cold room as they last for twelve months, I will eat some and Moo will take some home).

Huffle went into the basement while the boys were playing XBox and sorted all our Snowboard and ski stuff out. Everyone's boots have been tried on and helmets and goggles checked and then he checked all bindings were secure and the correct way and all boards were the correct size. Tomorrow we are planning on going to the local resort. Moo is a little apprehensive as she hasn't done it for two years but I know she will be off and up the lifts and down the terrain park within a matter of minutes. I am extremely apprehensive and don't want to leave the nursery slope as I too haven't boarded for two years and last time I fell a lot, hit my head a lot and fell off the lifts at the top (I cannot master the art of being on a lift with my board attached to one foot only. Whenever we boarded in Europe, they let you carry your board). The boys are excited and Small starts Ski Club at school next week so it will be nice for him to area good run before then.

The boys and Moo had dinner (tonight we created a cheese tart with the beetroot Chutney on the bottom. Smallest and Moo liked it but Small didn't like the sweetness with the cheese - Mr Fussy - I got the idea from my new pickling book (thank you Grandma and Grandad).

After dinner we all played WIzard again (Smallest's new card game). This time I won. I would like to say I knew what I was doing now but I'm not sure I do. Very good game though. The boys watched TV before bed.

This evening we should have been able to see the Northern Lights but we couldn't. It was a clear cold night though. Shame, I'd like to see them.

 

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Spell ich lieben fumf

Today Moo and I decided to escape the craziness of our house and go and suffer the craziness of the Mall instead. We left Huffle with the boys (he had had quite enough by the time we got back) and they got to work cleaning the Venetian Blinds in our bedroom plus a few other small chores. They did a very good job and rewarded themselves with a long play on the XBox.

Our purpose for trawling the Mall was to get Moo a birthday present and Huffle and Smallest presents for their birthday so Moo could leave them behind (the presents not the people). We returned Smallest's Christmas Alarm Clock which didn't actually tell the time, just the second hand moved!! It got replaced and we went on our way. Moo decided she might like a slouch jumper thing and we went into a shop, where I made her try on four things, three of which she liked and wanted. We bought all three (very nice, very different, very modern) between us and went off for a cup of calming Chammomile and Peppermint Tea with a slice of cake.

We found a few little things for Smallest and I got something for Huffle but we soon got bored. I find the Mall very claustrohopic and airless plus it's always far too hot! So we drove off to find Michaels, the craft shop and wandered around there plus popped into the little IKEA shop. I was appalled when they told me the thing I wanted ($16) would cost $20 delivery to that particular shop on top of the $16. The worst thing is that they don't have them in the shops. How silly. We popped into one more shop but I was too hungry to buy anything so we came home.

The boys were playing on the XBox and Huffle was trying to herd them away from it so we could all play a game. He was at the end of his patience with them. We played Five Crowns and I won. Hurrah.

This evening we all went out for dinner. Nice.

This young man was sporting a lovely hat!!!!

 

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The one where we just ate all day

After breakfast, we all went out leaving Huffle home alone and happily playing on the XBox and vacuuming (I don't know why but vacuuming makes him happy). We went off to Angels house who had breakfast/brunch waiting for us. She had made waffles with fruit and cream, humus and crackers and copious amounts of coffee and juice. We couldn't eat too much because we had poached eggs for breakfast but it was nice to sit and chat and to have a hold of the baby. The boys played with the speed cube, plasma car (where they wore out the toes in their socks somehow), baseball and football and the new Monopoly. We stayed until around 1pm and came home.

First thing this morning it was really foggy and we had a weather warning to say it would stay that way until 1:30am. Also it had rained all through the night and continued raining for the rest of the day. Apart from the fact it was clearing away all the snow and slush, it was a dismal day. On the way home from Angels, the fog had lifted and was just hanging over the Hamlet!

Huffle was waiting for us with lunch ready so that was our third meal of the day. This afternoon we played Smallest's new card game Wizards (thank you Grandma and Grandad). It was quite complicated to start with but good. Smallest won somehow!

Stoke City played mid afternoon and the boys all watched that game. I wanted to go for a walk but the weather was horrible so Moo and I made a cake instead (good compromise). Huffle gave me a Bundt tin for Christmas and I have been wanting to try it since but we have had so much other stuff. We decided to make a ginger cake and the recipe was Jamaican Ginger with cinnamon but I left out the cinnamon because I don't like it ha! It came out perfectly and I drizzled it with lemon icing. While waiting for the cake to bake, Moo and I played SkipBo and made dinner.

We all had a slice of this later. Very yummy.

Meal no4 was just an eat up of yesterday's pasta and sauces and leftover calzone from our New Years Day meal out.

This evening we left Moo and Small at home and took Smallest to his football practice. We were called to a meeting 15 minutes before the practice to hear news about what the club had decided to do about the fight at the last game. Or were we? In actual fact we heard that the boy that kicked one of the opposition in the last game would get a three match suspension (three match suspension - seriously? Is that all?), and that the Mother had been spoken to but the Father couldn't come tonight (the Father that got into a fist fight at the same game) because he was working but they would talk to him later. We then had a talking to from one of the Directors, MrSchmooze, who proceeded to tell us, as parents, that we should not be shouting at the ref, nor should we be shouting to our children during the game, giving them instructions and we definitely should not be swearing. CoachOl, who from now on will be called RichardHead, then told us he had seen the videos, (kindly filmed by BigFrank, one of the Dads, purely for the parents viewing and certainly not filmed for the clubs' critism) and that he was appalled at the amount of 'coaching' from the parents. The swearing that was picked up on the videos, despite being in a different language, was obvious to them all and that the team, despite winning 14-0 were not able to pass the ball. Basically he belittled our Coach and spoke to us all while directly looking at Huffle. I wanted to slap him there and then as he smirked and laughed when our Coach said he should have come to the last game to see our boys passing 10-14 times. The RichardHead just stood there smirking and not listening. It was embarrassing. To say that we were there to hear how the club was solving a team member's anger issues on the pitch and their parents anger off the pitch and end up berating us for how we conduct ourselves during a game was quite ridiculous to say the least. A three match ban. Really? Is that the message we want to give our nine year olds. It's okay to kick another player who is not fighting back and it's okay for parents to fight in front of these same nine year olds? Wow! Huffle is now constructing a complaint.

Smallest's glow sticks in his room (and I think that's his hand behind)

 

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Don't count your chickens till the kings are wild

Moo didn't sleep well and dreamed lots but can't remember them. I slept well but dreamed lots and could remember them. One dream I was pregnant!! One dream I was at a street sports game but I don't know what it was and the fielders were using fire guards to catch the balls!

This morning I happened to mention that it might be time to 'start' taking the decorations down. In my mind this meant a few things here and there slowly over the next few days. In Moo's mind this meant EVERYTHING. Oh well, I guess they've been up for a while now and half a house of decoration doesn't look so good!

Huffle and I left the boys with Moo who put them straight to work, clearing away their Christmas stuff and then putting away the tree decorations. Then they got to play on the Xbox. Huffle and I went to four shops and bought Smallest a small tree for next year in the sale. We also bought a laser light for next year which projects lights onto the house. We are hoping this will save us putting the lights up. It projects green snowflakes all over the front of the house, though we only tried it in the kitchen. We picked up a few other things plus a new toaster as ours broke - dodgy wiring, nothing to do with Moo though she was using it at the time ;). We also picked up some food for dinner later.

We got home for lunch and afterwards played one of Small's new games - Five Crowns - which is a variation on Ace to Ace. We liked it. Small won (Moo came second - she just shouted in my ear). More decorations were taken down and table tennis was played and then while the boys played on the Xbox again, Moo, Huffle and I made pasta.

Huffle made the pasta with Moo adding some super speedy rolling and drying it on our new drying rack. Moo and I made garlic bread, tomato sauce and Alfredo sauce, roasted some butternut and sautéed some vegetables. We had butternut ravioli using our new ravioli tin and tagliatelle. Very yummy.

We also had chocolate and white choc mousse which we ate whilst watching the end of The Storks. Feel fat now!!!

Yesterday my new step counter counted over 15,000 steps and today I have done over 11,000. Just saying!

 

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A plethora of wildlife

Wow January again already. Happy New Year.

We started our day watching the film Storks. We only got half way through before I asked if we could have a break. I had only just got up and I was falling asleep. Moo, Small and I played Cluedo (Clue here, too long a word!!????) and Small won - he always does! Smallest and Huffle played table tennis. Both boys built their minuscule Lego style things they had for Christmas.

I asked my lovely family if we could possibly go for a walk and enjoy the beautiful sunshine (in the -3* cold). I persuaded them that it wouldn't be a full blown walk, just a little one to feed the chickadees by the lake. They agreed and we had lunch and then packed a bag with birdseed, treats for us and water.

Around 1pm we set out and went to the lake where we then walked over 8km. We started on a trail that we diverted to give the couple and dog in front of us some peace. This trail was much longer and treacherously icy. The trail joined up with the couple and we went off into the forested part where we tried to feed the chickadees. There was a woman in front of us with a huge bucket full of food so we didn't fare too well and walked instead towards the water. We encountered some huge turkeys on the way and managed to feed some of the smaller birds.

The beach was surprisingly warm and so we sat on a tree trunk and watched the water. I had a silly idea to continue along the beach and back onto a trail we have done many times, not realising the trail was further away than I first thought. The beach walk was nice and sunny but the water was coming in and we had to duck under and around some trees to get where we wanted to go. We recreated the Grand Tour Beach Buggy episode. Moo was James May, slow and steady and always at the back. Huffle was Jeremy Clarkson, arrogantly ahead. Smallest was Richard and Small was Hammond and constantly annoyed Jeremy/Huffle. I was Giovanni - the butler.

We fed some more birds, saw a rabbit and a red squirrel, more turkeys and an owl, plus some deer (mostly alive but one dead) and several huge dead fish. We found our old trail and walked through the forest and out onto the road of slow cars where Smallest found a caterpillar and called him Gary. Small was annoyed we had walked for so long but I think he secretly enjoyed it. (Small edit - NO!!!!!!). On the beach we sat and enjoyed our treats and water before carrying on.

We were all hungry and Huffle managed to find us an unassuming pizza place where we had PinoSticks (lovely soft breadsticks dipped in garlic butter and Parmesan) and played 'Headbandz' until our calzones were ready. YUM yum, these were delicious and the staff were very accommodating plus they had a sense of humour. When they brought our food out they told Huffle his had anchovies in it.

Back home Smallest wasn't feeling too well. Very cold and tired so we put him on the sofa and covered him up. Small and Huffle played on the XBox and Moo and I went out again to see the Fantasy of Lights. We had to go in Huffle's car as my windscreen has a crack in it. Very weird, don't know when that happened! Unfortunately we had to drive through the light show as the car parking was in a different place but when we got to park we then walked around the whole thing. It was very cold but really nice. Lots of lovely music and hundreds of different light displays. I think we walked round twice.

We came home and put Smallest to bed with a game of Beano Top Trumps. He was very lively and feeling much better.

This evening we watched Through the Keyhole and The Crown.

 

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