tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50040252012-02-16T17:10:33.415+02:00Juggling the fun and chaos of family life, keeping track of four kids most of the time, working when necessary, and mountain-biking whenever possible.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.comBlogger3281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-17856744164128349492009-11-18T21:56:00.000+02:002009-11-18T22:51:03.160+02:00

Robyn is counting the days to the school holidays now. Eleven more school days for her (the others have to wait another week after she's released). I cannot believe this year is nearly over. I realised today that somehow the whole year went by and we didn't go away as much as we usually do - somehow April and September got skipped. We'll have to rectify that next year, though with the World Cup

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-75606208045107078112009-10-27T22:35:00.000+02:002009-10-27T23:11:54.447+02:00

Blech. Am thoroughly sick of being sick. Days since last bike ride: 12. Can almost see muscles atrophying while this stupid sinusitis dawdles on. I have antibiotics with the most catastrophic side-effects. They taste foul too - taking one is like swallowing an entire hospital wing. Two hospital wings, actually, since it's two tablets at a time.Life gallops on at an unnerving pace. Synchronising

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-16912185994340780872009-10-14T22:15:00.000+02:002009-10-14T22:20:17.074+02:00

... stopping to buy groceries on your way home on Monday night and picking out 'Sexy' deoderant for your nearly-40-year-old wife.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-10362209946766342712009-10-12T22:54:00.000+02:002009-10-12T23:07:28.850+02:00

We've had a lot of rain today. I blame this on our having recently purchased and installed a little sprinkler system at the kids' vegetable patches. Peter connected them up yesterday, but it's rained several times today so we've not been able to justify turning them on.I'm hoping that the addition of sprinklers to the vegetable patches holds the key to actually getting some vegetables (and herbs)

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-79886438796418566352009-10-06T08:29:00.000+02:002009-10-06T08:49:49.346+02:00

Annalise - We actually didn't take any pictures on the race. There wasn't really time or energy! I often do with the kids though - wait for them to catch up and take pics. There are some thumbnails here though (taken by photographers on the course). They focus on the bikers rather than the scenery though, so you can't see too much.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-91688401476470433752009-09-20T23:23:00.000+02:002009-09-21T00:08:53.203+02:00

Today was a momentous day for me - a hugely important point to have crossed on my journey away from Horrifically Unfit. I completed the "Half Hill2Hill" - together with my friend (we ride a lot together). The 105km Hill2Hill is THE one-day mountain-bike event of the year in the area, and the "half" is the short version of this race (around 43km). The MTB events around here are typically

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-7234413602181033742009-08-06T23:10:00.000+02:002009-08-06T23:37:32.431+02:00

Lisa's dog poo horror story:Had to lock Fudge in the bathroom for three hours this afternoon so that I could attend Lauren's hockey matches. She's too small to leave safely in the garden while we're out, and she can escape from the scullery no matter how much of a baricade we set up (think Mr Bean in the projection room in Mr Bean's Holiday). Not wanting to return to wee-damaged floor boards, the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-26063555145869953202009-08-05T22:39:00.000+02:002009-08-05T23:59:18.692+02:00

We have a new puppy. Or rather, Robyn does. After months of desperate pleading, we caved in and gave Robs a Puppy Of Her Very Own for her 11th birthday. Actually, we gave her a puppy 'voucher', on the understanding that she could exchange it for a puppy of her own choice after a) we returned from our mid-year holiday, and b) she managed to find a suitable puppy. Robyn was a child on a mission,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-27344990409984037752009-06-17T22:00:00.000+02:002009-06-17T22:26:46.825+02:00

I have a cold. Not quite enough to hamper this morning's ride (sore throat only) but at 4.37 this afternoon it suddenly thumped me rather hard.My fph* is steadily falling. Today my bike was in hospital and I had to ride a hired bike. Missed my baby, but I survived it so it was a good experience and a step out of my comfort zone in a different direction. The frame was bigger than mine, the brakes

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-74740525856021796122009-06-06T01:28:00.000+02:002009-06-06T02:40:53.264+02:00

Two not so fun bike-riding things happened recently. The first was that cane ride I mentioned last time. We finished it totally exhausted. Totally. Everything hurt below the chin, and I could hardly move the rest of the day. I thought maybe it was just the pace of the ride. Most of the riders were Really Fit People, and my friend and I were at the back of the pack. Idly enquiring as to what

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-17556267678810168392009-05-22T22:25:00.000+02:002009-05-22T23:58:40.205+02:00

Must go to bed soon as I'm getting up tomorrow (Saturday!) at 5 something in time to be picked up at 6. A friend and I are off on a bike ride with our group. This one is a 'cane ride' - as in a ride predominantly through sugar cane farms, with the emphasis on fitness and distance rather than on technical mountain biking skills. Depending on where we ride, we get a very different biking experience

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-78629702753778456412009-04-22T23:17:00.006+02:002009-04-23T00:50:54.849+02:00

... although you're probably not.No great way to restart a blog after a few weeks in absentia, so I'll just jump awkwardly in until I feel like going off to bed.In honour of my upcoming 40th birthday next year, I have enthusiastically embarked on a mid-life crisis. I have joined a mountain biking group and am riding once or twice a week. I am totally loving it and am possibly on the way to

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-78787047613158054432008-12-23T15:35:00.002+02:002008-12-23T16:00:06.542+02:00

OK, so Sherlock figured out why it was proving so tricky to identify which type of woodpecker we had. Turns out they're Barbets (White-Eared Barbets). Luckily I figured this out before handing them over to Bird Guy this morning. Their plumage was becoming less and less like anything on the woodpecker page in our bird book!I don't feel too bad about the mistake though. Both woodpeckers and barbets

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-14712954144724846732008-12-19T15:24:00.000+02:002008-12-23T16:32:37.739+02:00

In my other life, in some parallel (more organised, slower, balanced and well-adjusted) universe, I am one of those fun, zippy people who blog daily, or at least several times a week about events as they are unfolding.However.Almost three weeks ago, the enormous tree in our front garden split down the middle and half of it crashed spectacularly down to the ground. As always when this sort of

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-1607676071736581422008-11-29T22:20:00.005+02:002008-11-30T00:25:12.899+02:00

Life is currently a strange dichotomy of post-bereavement emptiness and frenetic year-end madness. Maybe this is a good thing, as a string of individual days survived eventually add up to a week, then weeks, and then months, and perhaps this is the only way to get through it. The long-term future without him still seems an impossible burden to shoulder, particularly when I think of my mom's loss

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-46648089638597289102008-11-05T10:50:00.002+02:002008-11-05T10:51:37.817+02:00

So, hope for the US after all.You must be so proud!

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-61291583174460108232008-11-03T23:53:00.004+02:002008-11-04T01:02:47.449+02:00

Two weeks ago, Monday 20th October, my dad died.The enormity of this is impossible to describe.A huge part of me is simply gone, and only part of me is left.The initial shock is over, but this huge hollowness is left. And tears frequently leak uncontrollably from it.My dad was a pillar of my life; for him not to be here seems an error, a wrongness, of universal magnitude. Some part of me believed

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-89106703752233438192008-10-10T22:02:00.027+02:002008-10-11T15:53:06.310+02:00

It seems a long time since the new term began - I can't believe it's only been a week. We've hardly paused for breath, and I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to claw out a time to record some memories of our trip.Unfortunately, since wildlife is only marginally more cooperative during photo shoots than five-year-old boys, many a special moment did not result in a special photograph. Also, all too

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-58393255920669896662008-09-28T01:59:00.004+02:002008-09-28T02:53:00.369+02:00

So I should be packing for our trip tomorrow to the wildlife reserve.I hope this trip helps us all regroup. Lately we've been stressed, and really struggling. Ever since that robbery we experienced last year, it's been so difficult for us to feel safe and relaxed at home. Peter in particular has had a massive reaction to the incident, to the point where he would be quite happy to move to one of

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-81900606049490939412008-09-24T22:12:00.005+02:002008-10-10T22:26:37.288+02:00

Today was a Wednesday with a difference. It is National Heritage Day, so most of the family had the day off. Poor Robyn, who goes to a school with a percentage of boarders, had to attend school as they tend to treat public holidays as school days if they don't fall conveniently on a Monday or Friday. She enjoys school though, so was quite happy about it, especially as the day was set aside as a

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-84713088034808001812008-09-07T22:21:00.006+02:002008-09-07T22:50:36.679+02:00

I blinked, and Stevie's first year went by. On Wednesday he turned one. Here he is enjoying his very first birthday.Cake (ahem, ultra-baby-friendly black forest) and candle ...balloons ...and pressies ...(at which point, some of the guests got a little out of hand)...and, finally, birthday tea with grandparents and friends on the Friday.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-85922707904507711472008-09-01T10:44:00.003+02:002008-09-07T22:55:17.790+02:00

This weekend required tricky family negotiations, as Danny wanted to attend the soccer fun day at our church, and the girls wanted to go to the mountain bike park. We had the soccer invite a whole month ago, but in a careless moment I forgot about it and half agreed to the cycling plan a few days ago. It was complicated by the fact that neither Peter or I particularly wanted to go to the soccer

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-78471247931937597542008-08-29T21:57:00.003+02:002008-08-29T22:03:39.136+02:00

The results of Lauren's efforts today:

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-34106741040652631092008-08-28T22:31:00.007+02:002008-08-28T23:39:23.191+02:00

I am typing this on Peter's new baby laptop. It measures about 22 by 16 cm and is designed for elves perhaps, or people with very thin spindly fingers.One has to try to avoid requiring the backspace, shift or tab keys, otherwise - and oops it just happened again - one tends to get totally the wrong key resulting in disconcerting window behaviour such as one's entire blog post window disappearing

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-82553646780846612912008-08-25T11:54:00.002+02:002008-08-25T12:12:35.837+02:00

I have become obsessed with sleep.My sleep habits are attrocious and I am determined to improve them. A perfectly ordinary day can be rendered either wonderful or wrist-slitty depending on how tired I am (at the moment, and for the last few weeks, Very).Sample evening: put kids to bed, pass out, on couch or miscellaneous children's beds, at 8.17, in clothes, with head and neck at extremely

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-75415977369873765722008-08-22T22:31:00.002+02:002008-08-22T23:28:33.157+02:00

Hmmmm.Peaceful, here. All the children are asleep, and the first of the weekend laundry loads - towels - is whirring away in the washer. Peter is away on a work 'conference' - strange name for a 36 hour get together which is at best a team building exercise and at worst a complete piss up. Actually they seem to have worked quite hard this time to lean it towards the former and away from the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-8061782270225292632008-07-26T02:25:00.002+02:002008-07-26T02:33:16.665+02:00

I do miss my blog.Keep meaning to resume it.Real life interferes!

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-38790920561310858532008-05-23T10:57:00.001+02:002008-05-23T10:57:54.468+02:00

Haikus are easy.But sometimes they don't make sense.Refrigerator.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-2238852827776728302008-03-19T21:04:00.003+02:002008-03-19T21:51:29.951+02:00

Yippee! Only one more day until the three-week Easter break. Even though I am probably going to have to schedule my work hours during the evening, it is only two hours a day and so quite feasible to fit it in during the evening. And in the second week Peter and I will be on leave, so there won't be any work that week, and we have our beach trip to look forward to. And coming up is the FOUR day

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-73483999384725797342008-03-07T09:33:00.001+02:002008-03-07T09:36:45.309+02:00

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-53448875236330907192008-03-06T22:11:00.008+02:002008-03-06T23:21:33.093+02:00

Happily, as we had hoped, Daniel's MRI and blood test came back completely normal.It's funny how one's perspective shifts from day to day, and even within a single day. One day you're worrying about too much laundry, the next day you're worrying your child's eye may never be straight or fully functional, the next day you couldn't give a toss about the squint, you just want the child.Things are,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-23479761622701559872008-02-19T21:31:00.003+02:002008-02-19T22:17:43.160+02:00

I'm feeling desperately guilty about this poor neglected blog.The camping trip way (way, way) back in January was absolutely wonderful. There are some pictures here which you may have seen on Facebook already.No change to the MS? (apologies to Alexander McCall Smith for this device cribbed from the Peploe? featuring in the first Scotland Street book). Read the book if you haven't. I am constantly

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-67730968594929018892008-01-08T05:26:00.001+02:002008-01-08T06:56:32.933+02:00

Stevie woke up at about 4 this morning and although he sank quickly back into a drunken stupor I was unable to follow suit. Went in search of some Rescue Remedy only to find that the bottle had been drained and replaced, empty, on my dresser. RR is good stuff, only after a quick look at that wikipedia article I think I may just invest in a bottle of brandy instead. At least it comes in bigger

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-13204353786087498702007-12-28T04:34:00.000+02:002007-12-28T17:00:30.390+02:00

Unfortunately the lumbar puncture test I had confirmed the possibility that I have MS (to quote the doctor, my diagnosis now moves from 'possible MS' to 'probable MS').Since I want to breastfeed Stephen for a lot longer (at least another year) the current plan is to wait and see if I get another attack and only then proceed with long term interferon medication (not breastfeeding friendly). Or, if

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-81883487772795455802007-12-19T00:42:00.000+02:002007-12-19T13:26:36.331+02:00

To my surprise, the last week has flown by. I thought it would be unbearable, the waiting, but I am feeling surprisingly ok. Every so often scary thoughts will whack me out of the blue but on the whole we are coping well.Speaking of which, yesterday I got the bill from Dr B. Apparently it costs quite a lot to get a chronic illness these days. R700 for the consult alone. Brain cysts are cheaper -

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-69748706031897045612007-12-12T01:52:00.000+02:002007-12-12T14:31:44.601+02:00

Once a bad, unreliable blogger, always a bad, unreliable blogger, notwithstanding neurological problems.Actually I've been putting off posting for over a week because I wanted to post the following today, in amongst a host of other snippets of what we've been doing so far in the school holidays:After seeing neurosurgeon S again (for presumably the last time) and then neurologist B (not

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-28682626250939059792007-12-01T10:33:00.000+02:002007-12-01T23:29:07.516+02:00

Brief update as I'm really, really tired.The MRI went smoothly this time, and Stephen and I suffered no ill effects from his having bottles of expressed milk for 24 hours.The MRI showed a lesion on my spinal cord which must be causing my problem.Unfortunately the doctor is unsure at this stage what has caused it, and so (sigh) will probably be doing more tests. (I am grateful for his thoroughness

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-72744810225056979302007-11-27T10:04:00.000+02:002007-11-27T22:45:39.702+02:00

Nothing quite compares with cancelled brain surgery.Or at least, cancelled for now. And I'm feeling very positive and excited because I am, very slightly, better! Slightly better coordination in my arm, slightly less dead feeling hand, slightly more touch in my fingertips. Yesterday I wasn't sure if I was imagining it; today there's an undeniable improvement.I have become obsessed with closing my

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-65707966171115235182007-11-26T00:34:00.000+02:002007-11-26T00:57:56.009+02:00

This weekend has been busy with a large number of real life things. Nice. Birthday parties, a kids' talent show at church, and Robyn's drama group's end-of-year play. Afterwards we popped in to friends for cappucinos and to pick up two other breast pumps she has borrowed for me from our bookclub. Now I will have three which should make the logistics of cleaning them between expressing sessions a

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-87263350534546297242007-11-22T06:25:00.000+02:002007-11-22T18:27:37.695+02:00

Formula feeding success log:Bottles prepared: 2Total quantity formula prepared: 270 mlFormula into Stephen's mouth: 2 mlFormula spat out of Stephen's mouth: 1ml

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-67783187494688717162007-11-22T00:54:00.000+02:002007-11-22T12:59:30.944+02:00

Robyn recently had a couple of days off school with a sore throat - and she sometimes likes to watch comforting, young children's TV when sick.While watching Balamory:Miss Hooley: Oh, what's this?Robyn: A torch, stupid.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-20984260111554613752007-11-22T00:32:00.000+02:002007-11-22T13:00:36.278+02:00

We've booked the op - but for Thursday next week now. It turns out I need to arrive the afternoon before, and Monday afternoon would have meant missing Danny's Christmas concert.So Wednesday lunchtime for Thursday it is.And now we just wait.And, between now and Monday, attend three kids' birthday parties and four end-of-year kids' events.And try to convince Stephen that formula is not in fact,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-79215310506938522072007-11-20T05:53:00.000+02:002007-11-20T19:18:46.597+02:00

Read slowly. This is going to be a slow post, typing mostly one-handed.My left hand does not feel like my hand at all. It is not much more functional than a claw.This has been a very emotional few days.When we spoke to the neurologist on Friday and learnt it was not a stroke, he definitely downplayed the magnitude of this thing. I was anticipating quite a simple procedure, a couple of nights in

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-75073625658111124452007-11-16T04:06:00.000+02:002007-11-16T19:09:25.100+02:00

So the good news is that I'll be having brain surgery next week (probably).This is the opinion of the neurologist who studied the results of my MRI this morning, although this decision still has to be confirmed when we see the neuro-surgeon on Monday.It really is good news in fact, because when I saw the neurologist yesterday he was pretty much of the opinion that I'd had a stroke.In fact the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-20744035861553991572007-11-15T01:12:00.000+02:002007-11-15T13:19:04.524+02:00

A few too many things happening to the people in my life at the moment, and I can't blog about them out of respect for their privacy. And now I seem to have developed some weird thingy. Sigh. Since Sunday I have been experiencing weird numbness and stiffness and clumsiness down the left side of my body from my shoulder downwards. The GP is a bit baffled. So we are going to see a neurologist this

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-23241626754935600772007-10-23T10:16:00.000+02:002007-10-23T23:19:25.707+02:00

I was quite surprised to find that I really, really enjoyed the school 20-year reunion this weekend. Walking around the school I experienced sporadic flashbacks:Walking out of a biology lesson (refusing to dissect a rat)The hair rebellion of second form (grade 8) when 'tails' were in vogueThe day school hats were abolishedThe tree my best friend and I used to sit underThe day my best friend

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-46009566519606994822007-10-17T10:19:00.001+02:002007-10-17T11:28:31.600+02:00

Bed times with the older kids are long and drawn-out affairs which I usually enjoy. We read to them, sometimes individually, sometimes to two or three at once. Even Robyn still enjoys being read to. Peter is currently reading her Pride and Prejudice, I am reading her Swallows and Amazons. And I am reading The Queen's Nose to Lauren. With Danny we have just finished The Wishing Chair Again. I am

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-4046142964729701262007-10-02T09:29:00.000+02:002007-10-02T22:14:00.815+02:00

This morning our garden resembled something of a wildlife reserve. There was an enormous swarm of flying ants, and, as a result, a flock of doves (do doves come in flocks? or something more beatific?), a troup of monkeys with babies, seven hadidas, and an over-excited cat and two dogs.Bevies, apparently. Doves come in bevies. Or in cotes, doles, dules, flights, or piteousnesses.Very cool site -

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-61049469477560642052007-09-29T11:04:00.000+02:002007-09-29T13:11:30.925+02:00

Finally a free moment (she said, pausing as she heard a mutter on the baby monitor, but no, all is still quiet) to post an update. Things are good but busy. This week has been the kids' short spring break from school so it has been even more hectic than usual. The big kids are off on their traditional holiday two-nighter with our parents at the moment, so it's just us and Stephen in a big, empty,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-38761525909630882702007-09-15T06:40:00.000+02:002007-09-15T18:48:35.196+02:00

Quick update as Peter says I am too sporadic in my posts and that I only post when nothing is happening.From the moment I came around from the anaesthetic I felt a thousand times better. Abdominal pain totally gone, headache almost gone, gory previously omitted details totally gone. Came home yesterday afternoon. Now just a course of kick-ass antibiotics to finish things off, and it looks like I

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-56435204967442087712007-09-13T00:43:00.000+02:002007-09-13T12:56:40.123+02:00

I am writing this from the hospital. I woke up this morning with bad abdominal pain from my hips to my rib cage, back and front, and a temperature. Other off-putting details omitted.Came in to see the doctor who diagnosed an infection in the endometrium and, after doing a scan, determined that some placental tissue is still present. This probably triggered the infection, along with the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-54864403283677999612007-09-12T09:52:00.000+02:002007-09-12T22:31:17.377+02:00

The days are rushing by and in 23 minutes Stephen will be nine days old.He was born at 10.15pm on Monday the 3rd of September. This is also his Grandpa Glynn's birthday.Here he is with his siblings.With his Dad:And with me:There are more pictures here.After all the uncertainties and angst of the last nine months I was totally unprepared for how fiercely and immediately I would love him.Seems

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-29540338934601104432007-09-03T10:25:00.000+02:002007-09-03T10:26:10.944+02:00

Sigh.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-60187732549985266032007-08-30T10:20:00.000+02:002007-08-30T10:47:48.075+02:00

Still here and still 9kgs overweight.I actually packed a bag last night - thought things might be happening, but no.With Robyn and Lauren, things started with my waters breaking (considerately, at home, at night, and very undramatically and un-movie-like). At least then you know things are really happening. With Daniel it was all very civilised with gentle contractions starting early on Easter

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-83129073932957972282007-08-24T08:48:00.000+02:002007-08-24T08:49:52.735+02:00

The phrase 'Let sleeping dogs lie' was almost certainly coined by someone with children and a puppy.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-67442547429640715012007-08-22T09:22:00.000+02:002007-08-22T21:27:18.189+02:00

Milo the Puppy has the attention span of a very small attention spanned creature.Sample of 30 seconds of consecutive thoughts:chew blanket chew blanket nibble toes chew blanket chase ball nibble toes chew blanket chase ball bark chase ball scratch nibble toes chase ball chew blanket climb into bed pass out

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-17947384816634301712007-08-21T11:24:00.000+02:002007-08-21T11:35:42.221+02:00

Looks like I have made my first puppy-rearing mistake already.In attempting to google the amount of sleep a six-week-old puppy is likely to need, I have found out that six weeks is too young to be taken from the mother and litter in terms of socialisation skills and behavioural issues.Robyn heard about the puppies needing homes on Sunday and I phoned on Monday and asked if they were ready to go

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-36966922099621502802007-08-20T10:29:00.000+02:002007-08-20T22:48:53.519+02:00

We have a new puppy.Her name is Milo and she is six weeks old and needed a home.The kids are ecstatic.The dog is suspicious.The cat is cross.I am presumably insane.Milo is currently asleep with a hot water bottle on an enormous new bed in the scullery. Both girls donated their hot water bottles for the night. She is a lovely mixture dog, optimistically described by the vet on her certificate as

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-84840146375875582642007-08-17T09:49:00.000+02:002007-08-17T09:58:17.430+02:00

Sad that the aspect of the labour and birth I dread the most is the hospital and nurses. For the most part, they don't get it.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-28385041959404753862007-08-16T08:30:00.000+02:002007-08-16T08:55:18.288+02:00

Happy birthday to Lauren today!Is it just my kids, or is it a general trend, that kids are sticklers for accuracy when it comes to saying how old they are. If you ask most parents how old their child is, they'll probably say 'nearly seven' or 'seven in August' if the child is within a few months of her seventh birthday. However, someone asked Lauren two days ago how old she was. Six, she

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-90262754267192272642007-08-15T10:21:00.000+02:002007-08-16T08:56:21.399+02:00

I finished reading The Enchanted Wood to Danny tonight. He's really loved it. However, we've been reading the modernised version. I read the original to the girls a few years back. We had started reading the original from the library, then got given the other as a present, but continued with the original rather than switch.I remember being amused at the time by how Jo, Bessie, Fanny and Dick had

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-25142449458752947122007-08-15T08:42:00.001+02:002007-08-15T09:22:04.900+02:00

Thank god that days like yesterday are few and far between.The kids were doing their best to out-dreadful each other.Robyn came home from school determined to find fault with everything and everyone at school and at home.Lauren was treating her upcoming birthday (tomorrow) as a shopping experience and placing orders left right and centre. And also being completely unreasonable with her homework -

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-32596017096114721692007-08-08T08:57:00.001+02:002007-08-08T09:02:05.315+02:00

Danny went to play with a friend after school yesterday.Afterwards, in the car:Me: So what did you and Jarryd play?Danny: A gun game. Only Jarryd doesn't have any guns, so we had to make them out of Zoob.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-68173921835893839182007-08-08T08:43:00.001+02:002007-08-08T08:55:50.202+02:00

Photos of Robyn's party, Lauren's party, and our recent trip to the Wild Coast.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-74558006355759598412007-08-01T09:22:00.000+02:002007-08-01T09:26:41.251+02:00

Found in lunch box, inscribed on serviette:I Loveyoumumfrom Robybobs

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-18200439277351457932007-07-30T10:51:00.000+02:002007-07-30T10:52:49.598+02:00

On Friday night I finished The Book.Feel a bit lost without more Harry Potter to read. Ever.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-63517625866589785122007-07-30T09:47:00.000+02:002007-07-30T10:51:37.313+02:00

One of the things I like about men, is that in general, they don't ask you, every single time they see you, When you are Due.And no, I'm not grumpy.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-19945936152461545682007-07-26T07:55:00.000+02:002007-07-27T07:58:40.226+02:00

I am about two thirds of the way through The Book.Have been too busy to blog, and as always, postpone catch-up post until photos are done, hence never post catch-up post.Spent a good chunk of the kids school holidays on leave, and went to Kob Inn on the Wild Coast for 5 nights with Peter's family. The four siblings arranged the trip to celebrate their parents' 40th wedding anniversary. It took a

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-53688762143138224022007-07-02T03:12:00.000+02:002007-07-02T15:30:41.862+02:00

The kids are spending two nights in Maritzburg with their grandparents - a night with each set. I am missing them and am feeling uneasy and wracked with something feeling unpleasantly like guilt after a nasty incident last night. I threw my toys at home in response to just one too many messes to deal with. Actually I threw their toys. Not in the bin fortunately. (Did that once before. Retrieving

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-42284478373800311172007-06-29T09:54:00.000+02:002007-08-15T09:23:31.704+02:00

Peter and I went out last night for a late anniversary celebration. Thanks to Margaret for holding the fort for us at home.We had supper first. Seems both of us are feeling a lack of vegetarian cooking in our diet as we both chose salads for starters and vegetarian mains. I would like to cook more meatless meals, only I need some basic recipes that a) the kids will eat and b) I will have heard of

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-79124366651255224582007-06-27T08:52:00.000+02:002007-06-27T21:43:01.174+02:00

So much for deadlines.The term ends this Friday anyway, and there will not be any school until next term which starts in two weeks time. We have been asked to pick up school reports for the semester and worksheets from the school before the end of the week. Pity these worksheets could not have been made available over the last three weeks. Now we have school holidays upon us and the kids will

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-85996282057894192982007-06-20T06:25:00.000+02:002007-06-20T18:32:38.855+02:00

Government has presented a final offer, with a 6pm deadline. We are waiting for news but not with much real hope.I took today off as trying to work yesterday was a total disaster. Thankfully Peter's folks spent the day so I was able to lie miserably in solitude as much as I liked - this was a particular godsend with the ongoing strike. They are staying the night and we were going to go out for a

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-66189219100763022652007-06-19T10:40:00.000+02:002007-06-19T10:41:32.219+02:00

!^@@#&$%&^Q%@*#^(Q@The girls' school is closed again. There have been bomb threats at schools which attempted to re-open yesterday.I have a sore throat and feel dizzy and nauseous.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-19780161677114158012007-06-18T09:03:00.000+02:002007-06-18T10:06:55.951+02:00

The girls' school re-opened today. The news on my car radio this morning said that according to the unions, "the strike is still very much on and the education department, calling for schools to re-open, is jeopardising the safety of school principals".I can't help being a bit anxious about this situation. The girls are so desperate to get back to school that we didn't really consider keeping

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-84669170439257340802007-06-12T08:10:00.000+02:002007-06-18T09:29:15.207+02:00

If you're not in the country you may not have heard about the public servants strike which is now in its 12th day. Virtually all schools are closed now. The girls' school was one of those which initially took a decision not to join the strike (though our school had decided to cancel afternoon extra-murals to show a measure of support). On Wednesday last week at 9.30 we suddenly had to come and

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-72686125774607643642007-05-22T08:28:00.000+02:002007-05-22T09:03:06.233+02:00

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment. We are already so busy I feel daunted at the thought of fitting a baby into all that.Poor Lauren is sick at home with tonsillitis.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-43983945298368901432007-05-14T10:00:00.000+02:002007-07-25T10:47:53.704+02:00

Resuming normal programming with news in brief.Pregnancy has reached 23 weeks.I don't enjoy being pregnant.I hate the clothes the most. Why do they make the legs tent-size too. My legs aren't pregnant.When the baby is born, the average age of our children will decrease from 6.67 to 5.The age range of our children will increase from under 5 years to over 9 years.The kids are really excited about

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-25358185729530444982007-03-30T01:22:00.000+02:002007-03-30T18:29:34.832+02:00

I feel like I have been through an emotional mangle the last week or so.The kids broke up this morning for their Easter break. They are peacefully and happily playing some sort of make believe game all together in Robyn's room (I am often struck by how different growing up without siblings must be) and I am enjoying peaceful computer time in a clean house. Not only that, I am actually sitting in

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-76569617613641499982007-03-22T08:44:00.000+02:002007-03-22T08:45:12.241+02:00

A study conducted by UCLA's Department of Psychiatry has revealed that the sorts of features a woman finds attractive on a man can differ depending on where she is in her menstrual cycle.For example: If she is ovulating, she is attracted to men with rugged and masculine features. However, if she is menstruating, or menopausal, she tends to be more attracted to a man with a spear lodged in his

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-79416321203010235472007-03-20T08:12:00.000+02:002007-03-20T08:33:14.195+02:00

Owing to the fact that I spent half an hour yesterday getting our gas cylinders refilled at the camping shop, the electricity came back on yesterday evening.Hip, hip, hooray!The electricity people were on our street from mid morning until almost dark when we were switched back on. I skipped down to the gate to thank them. It was just in time as I was starting to come to the end of my tether. I

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-60425983896095589392007-03-19T08:28:00.000+02:002007-03-19T09:00:58.196+02:00

Ack. I have just remembered we were supposed to skype overseas friends last night. I totally forgot. (Sorry!)There have been a few other things to think about at home, as we have had no electricity since Thursday night. There was an incredibly bad storm. Trees came down all over the place, and on Friday morning when we went to look at the damage it was clear we would not be having any power any

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-20721624314609896902007-03-12T09:53:00.000+02:002007-03-12T10:03:00.182+02:00

In our family there is one lark and there are four owls. (I suspect, in fact, 4.3 owls.)The lark is Lauren and we bow in awe before her larkness.She is up, with no need of alarm or wake-up call of any form, at around 5.45, dressed, breakfasted and washed a few minutes later, and starting on the school lunches soon after that.I am also up at around that time of day, but in more of a staggering

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-61737470608961757732007-03-08T06:52:00.000+02:002007-03-08T18:56:13.037+02:00

Email from my Dad.Exercise for Over-30s1. Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 2kg potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, then relax.2. Each day, you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-75266305887952138112007-03-07T10:47:00.000+02:002007-03-07T23:16:48.448+02:00

On having four children:http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/hart050301.asphttp://www.nypizza.ru/articles.html?id=10http://www.beliefnet.com/story/152/story_15291_1.htmlOur Last Baby will be arriving in September.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-67876041714577446912007-03-05T09:06:00.000+02:002007-03-05T21:14:44.552+02:00

So some time last year we thought, ok mainly I thought, about having a fourth baby. I was pretty keen for a while until I came to the eventual conclusion that it was impractical, infeasible, and totally out of the question.And, thanks to some sort of Sense of Humour Out There, I am now pregnant.On the negative side.impracticalinfeasibletotally out of the questionOn the plus side.The kids are

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-52164550454080733302007-03-01T11:30:00.000+02:002007-03-01T11:35:44.660+02:00

Sitting here bored, demoralised and angry.They've known I was coming back today for about three weeks, but no one could be bothered to have anything ready for me to get involved in. I sent a friendly reminder to the higher layers that I needed billable work, and received the following helpful reply:We have lots of work :-)There followed, by chat, a vague mention of 'chatting to me later'.I miss

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-26998905233177621082007-03-01T09:46:00.000+02:002007-03-01T09:55:05.635+02:00

So, I'm not going. And I feel pretty bleak about it.The clash with Peter's deadlines next week would make it too unpleasant and stressful for everyone other than me.Sometimes I miss my career.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-27776155864629504502007-02-28T09:34:00.000+02:002007-02-28T21:57:01.178+02:00

I am feeling pretty horrible right now.I just found out this morning that I have an opportunity to go to a course in Cape Town next week (Monday to Friday). After twelve hours of Bad Mother agonising, and indecision, I put the idea to the kids this evening.It did not go well.Lauren sobbed for a good ten minutes about my being gone for the week. As she was eating chicken casserole at the time,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-32263256569966156782007-02-28T08:22:00.000+02:002007-02-28T08:28:59.824+02:00

Today is my last day at the place at which I have been contracting since September. Except for a mind-numbing recent few weeks with Oracle Reports-From-Hell, I have really enjoyed it. The people in the team were very friendly and welcoming, the work was varied and interesting, there was very little bureacracy and general red tape (one might, of course, interpret this as verging towards the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-66206042776617434462007-02-25T10:33:00.000+02:002007-02-25T23:05:59.806+02:00

It was a nice weekend, at home, in whichRobyn baked four dozen cupcakes.The kids iced four dozen cupcakes.The kids ate three dozen cupcakes.Peter got one pink eye (a decidedly un-nice part of the weekend).I felt guilty about the above.We played Cluedo.Peter and the kids printed out photos.Lauren painted a wooden dolls' house she is making from a kit.There was an A1 Race in Durban.Patriotically, I

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-68099463811404514392007-02-23T10:02:00.000+02:002007-02-23T23:01:55.461+02:00

Lauren had a friend to play this afternoon. She is enjoying the opportunity to meet new friends, being in a bigger school now. She seems to get along with everyone, not like her very much more selective sister.I have noticed that in general, my kids eat way (way) more vegetables and salads than other kids. The girls don't think a ham or cheese roll is worth eating without lettuce and tomato in it

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-29613887534537977812007-02-14T03:48:00.000+02:002007-02-14T15:50:55.894+02:00

When I dropped Robyn off at school this morning, I had to go in with her as she had so much to carry - enormous school bag, container of lovingly-baked cupcakes, and cumbersome packet of hat-making equipment.I dropped off the cakes for her at the kitchen while she went on to her classroom - and managed to find a space for them on the table alongside the hundred or so packages of Woollies cupcakes.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-20871845931304670202007-02-13T11:41:00.000+02:002007-02-12T08:42:55.295+02:00

It's almost midnight, and I should probably be trying to sleep, but being such a reliable, regular blogger, here I am loyally tapping away.At 6.30 this evening Robyn suddenly shrieked and remembered the grade 3's are supposed to supply cake for tomorrow's school fund-raising cake sale (one grade takes cake, all kids bring a few rand and get to 'buy' a few yummies of their choice). In a

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-83899418877416158012007-02-12T08:28:00.000+02:002007-02-12T08:41:32.111+02:00

Hooray!After the right eye made a brief stab at getting in on the oozing action, both eyes suddenly started to get better on Saturday afternoon, and now I have whites of the eyes which are, in fact, pretty much white. This is indescribably exciting.Was glad not to be a hard-core fundamentalist christian, as my eye was making me pretty crotchety.Had the thrill of driving Peter's vroomy machine to

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-22306472025046775312007-02-09T09:16:00.000+02:002007-02-11T14:12:45.342+02:00

I am really tired of having pink-eye.Pink-eyes, in fact, as it has now spread to the other eye. I now have two matching pink eyes, slightly paler pink than the single pink eye I had earlier in the week.Itchy, burny eyes.And the left one is oozy and periodically glued shut during the night.I was supposed to go back to the doctor if it wasn't looking better by Wednesday, only I haven't had a chance.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-55175029026149901322007-02-05T11:12:00.000+02:002007-02-05T12:18:04.965+02:00

Been a few days since I last posted...I am currently off work sporting a disconcertingly brownish pink, or is it pinkish brown, left eye.Conjunctivitis. Sounds so much more grown up than pink eye.I woke soon after midnight on Sunday with my left eye really painful - too painful to keep closed. A few hours of TV later it had eased up a bit but I woke in the morning to find it glued shut. Managed

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-15009957612660708662006-12-15T00:26:00.000+02:002006-12-15T12:45:46.829+02:00

Concentration levels are not exceptional this morning. An hour and a half before I go on leave for a month. Can't wait.This afternoon I have to go and fetch the kids from my parents. They've been there since yesterday morning. Peter and I went out last night to finish (very nearly) Christmas shopping for the kids. I love buying toys for them. I love to watch their excitement on Christmas morning.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-66980590862011717052006-12-12T09:38:00.000+02:002006-12-12T22:08:15.284+02:00

I have just experienced one of the most intensely heavenly baths of my life. Second only, I think, to the shower I had shortly after giving birth to each of the children.Today I ... got the cast off!What a huge, huge relief. And as an extra early Christmas present, I don't have to wear a boot or anything. The doctor originally said that I could probably switch to a boot after four weeks, and use

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-38405130793336505672006-12-10T10:00:00.000+02:002006-12-10T23:04:00.847+02:00

So much for my back-from-the-black-hole-blog. I try.It's been really busy here and I've got to admit I'm not feeling all that Christmassy yet. I'm sure finishing work this Friday is going to help enormously though, particularly if I can get this wretched cast off this week, and switch to a boot. It has caused a surprising variety of pain all over my body. First there's the agonising crop of

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5004025.post-51520097541143722372006-11-30T08:53:00.000+02:002006-11-30T08:54:35.948+02:00

OK, I suppose it wasn't a main feature (the toilet seat). More of a supporting act.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08491361207907482981noreply@blogger.com0