Rob is 34 today. We first got together on March 27th 1991, just before his 19th birthday. Bit of a headf**** that one - such a long time together!
We both had to work this morning but spent the afternoon in Dulwich Park - we hired a bike with Rob's birthday money - a double seated bike - not a tandem - you sit next to eachother on proper seats and pedal with your legs in front of you. We had a trailer on the back for the wee man.
I made a big birthday "spread" for the boys when we got home - Rob reminisces about Sundays at his Gran's - she used to do a big tea every week and so I recreated it. We had tinned salmon sandwiches, sausage rolls, scotch eggs, corned beef sandwiches, crisps, pickles and quiche. For afters was Rob's favourite - blancmange (blech), trifle and birthday cake. Needless to say both of them stuffed themselves and Oscar seems to have inherited Rob's second stomach - for puddings only.
Nice day.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
A quiet day (thank goodness)
Yes - a quietish slightly dull day but I ain't complaining! We went to our local library in the morning for songs and nursery rhymes. Oz lost the plot when he didn't want to play ring a ring a rosies but it didn't last long. Went to Gea's for tea as usual- lovely.
Oz didn't eat lunch (wasn't interested in anything) but slept for 2 hours which gave me time to get lots of car insurance quotes. Every time I decide to nap when he naps he only sleeps for about an hour - when I do something else even when I'm tired, he always sleeps for ages! Sods law.
I roasted a chicken this afternoon while Oz played with next door's cat in the garden. The evil frogspawn is more like jelly now as the water evaporates from it - still enough for Rob to get rid of tomorrow. He's home tomorrow! YAY!
Oz watched Baby Einstein for ages too this afternoon - he's obsessed with Baby Newton I think it is - the one about shapes. Very useful. Gave me time to get all the meat off the chicken so I could make Chicken Amore - my mission for the day.
But by the time I'd done bathtime, read my email, tidied up a bit and started cooking, I didn't have it cooked until about 10 minutes ago. It's easy but takes a lot of pre-cooking ingredients. A bit late for my dinner. I've had a small bowlful which was hard as I wanted to stuff my face with it - it's lovely - but if I eat too much this time of night, I have indigestion all night.
So here's the recipe if you want it. I hate spicy food - I like aromatic food but anything hot or chilified puts me off - even though there's curry powder in this, it isn't hot at all. I hope Oz likes it cos I made a ton! This is my Mum's recipe and it's a wierd mixture of lbs and grams! And mls - I used Oscar's medicine spoon to measure out the lemon juice and curry. I didn't use that quantity of chicken - 3lbs is a lot! I used a medium chicken from Sainsbury's worth.
Chicken Amore
300g fusilli pasta
3lb cooked diced chicken
7 level tbsps mayonnaise
2 tins cream of chicken soup NOT condensed
15 mls lemon juice
15mls grated lemon rind
½ red pepper cut into strips
5 mls curry powder (can add more to taste if you want it spicy)
1 clove garlic crushed
500g brocolli - blanched
grated cheese to top
Cook noodles. Toss in oil to stop them sticking. Mix soup, mayo, lemon, pepper, curry powder and garlic. Add pasta and chicken and mix. Poke broccoli into dish evenly and cover with sauce. Grated cheese on top. Gas Mark 4 until hot and bubbling. (about 40 minutes)
Enjoy! I'll dig out that Chicken Congo recipe if anyone still wants it.....
Oz didn't eat lunch (wasn't interested in anything) but slept for 2 hours which gave me time to get lots of car insurance quotes. Every time I decide to nap when he naps he only sleeps for about an hour - when I do something else even when I'm tired, he always sleeps for ages! Sods law.
I roasted a chicken this afternoon while Oz played with next door's cat in the garden. The evil frogspawn is more like jelly now as the water evaporates from it - still enough for Rob to get rid of tomorrow. He's home tomorrow! YAY!
Oz watched Baby Einstein for ages too this afternoon - he's obsessed with Baby Newton I think it is - the one about shapes. Very useful. Gave me time to get all the meat off the chicken so I could make Chicken Amore - my mission for the day.
But by the time I'd done bathtime, read my email, tidied up a bit and started cooking, I didn't have it cooked until about 10 minutes ago. It's easy but takes a lot of pre-cooking ingredients. A bit late for my dinner. I've had a small bowlful which was hard as I wanted to stuff my face with it - it's lovely - but if I eat too much this time of night, I have indigestion all night.
So here's the recipe if you want it. I hate spicy food - I like aromatic food but anything hot or chilified puts me off - even though there's curry powder in this, it isn't hot at all. I hope Oz likes it cos I made a ton! This is my Mum's recipe and it's a wierd mixture of lbs and grams! And mls - I used Oscar's medicine spoon to measure out the lemon juice and curry. I didn't use that quantity of chicken - 3lbs is a lot! I used a medium chicken from Sainsbury's worth.
Chicken Amore
300g fusilli pasta
3lb cooked diced chicken
7 level tbsps mayonnaise
2 tins cream of chicken soup NOT condensed
15 mls lemon juice
15mls grated lemon rind
½ red pepper cut into strips
5 mls curry powder (can add more to taste if you want it spicy)
1 clove garlic crushed
500g brocolli - blanched
grated cheese to top
Cook noodles. Toss in oil to stop them sticking. Mix soup, mayo, lemon, pepper, curry powder and garlic. Add pasta and chicken and mix. Poke broccoli into dish evenly and cover with sauce. Grated cheese on top. Gas Mark 4 until hot and bubbling. (about 40 minutes)
Enjoy! I'll dig out that Chicken Congo recipe if anyone still wants it.....
Monday, April 03, 2006
A much better day
Thank you - as always - for your encouraging and lovely comments. I'm going to endeavour to not winge in this post to make a change!!!
I got to bed nice and early last night and Oz, bless him, didn't wake up till 7.40. Hoorah! So I feel more rested. We had a nice morning, had to get ready to be out early and drop the car off at the garage by 9am. I was a bit worried actually but luckily my friends Nicky and Julie also planned to be in Bromley that day. Cos we were in so early I had the bright idea of going to the local library and having a book sesh with Oz - he was very happy running around and reading. We met up with the others at 10 and wandered for an hour - then went to Starbucks. Oz was being good up until that point and lasted about 20 minutes before losing the plot - but I had time for a lovely skinny mocha and skinny blueberry muffin.
I went for a walk with Oscar to stop him ruining everyone else's coffee break - went to a couple of charity shops and picked up some bargain books - really new titles for £1.50 each. And a book for Oz to keep him quiet.
Bought him a sausage roll and then he conked out in the pushchair. Julie and I had a lovely lunch in Miso (where I should have had lunch with Mum and Dad yesterday) and a really good chat in peace. Oz woke up as we left and Julie gave us a lift home. Hoorah again!
Oz spent most of the afternoon in the garden -the spawn is still there but I put him in his waterproof trousers and jacket - I thought I'll just hose him off if he gets covered in it! He was happily playing with next door's cat for nearly an hour - giving me a bit of time to do the washing and stuff. AND phone Rob - finally managed to get hold of him at 7.30am his time. Was really lovely to talk to him and Oscar had great fun saying "pop" down the phone. Don't know if he's americanising his name for his Daddy or just saying the word cos he likes it!
My mum came round and minded Oz while I took the 2 buses to get the car. It was only (!) £300 which was better than I expected - full service, MOT and repairs to the bumper. We're already in money troubles this month so I've booked an appointment with my accountant (Mum) to go through our bank statement and work out where the money is going and how to stop us haemorrhaging money each month. Time to stop overspending and really tighten our belts. I'm dreading it but I need to do it - I'm so rubbish with money!
Oz didn't beat me up at bath-time - I managed to distract him when he did start to hit - I don't think he means to - he just gets a bit giddy when he's tired.
So tonight he got his 2 stories, his milk and his song and although I can hear he's still awake, he's quite quiet. I feel much better about it. I hated last night - felt really down (as you could have told from the entry).
So I can cope on my own. I'm going to cook a pork chop for my tea (Rob hates pork so it's an opportunity for me to have a yummy dinner I wouldn't normally get). And watch Desperate Housewives from last week which my lovely mum taped for me.
No plans for tomorrow yet but at least I have a car in good nick again.
I got to bed nice and early last night and Oz, bless him, didn't wake up till 7.40. Hoorah! So I feel more rested. We had a nice morning, had to get ready to be out early and drop the car off at the garage by 9am. I was a bit worried actually but luckily my friends Nicky and Julie also planned to be in Bromley that day. Cos we were in so early I had the bright idea of going to the local library and having a book sesh with Oz - he was very happy running around and reading. We met up with the others at 10 and wandered for an hour - then went to Starbucks. Oz was being good up until that point and lasted about 20 minutes before losing the plot - but I had time for a lovely skinny mocha and skinny blueberry muffin.
I went for a walk with Oscar to stop him ruining everyone else's coffee break - went to a couple of charity shops and picked up some bargain books - really new titles for £1.50 each. And a book for Oz to keep him quiet.
Bought him a sausage roll and then he conked out in the pushchair. Julie and I had a lovely lunch in Miso (where I should have had lunch with Mum and Dad yesterday) and a really good chat in peace. Oz woke up as we left and Julie gave us a lift home. Hoorah again!
Oz spent most of the afternoon in the garden -the spawn is still there but I put him in his waterproof trousers and jacket - I thought I'll just hose him off if he gets covered in it! He was happily playing with next door's cat for nearly an hour - giving me a bit of time to do the washing and stuff. AND phone Rob - finally managed to get hold of him at 7.30am his time. Was really lovely to talk to him and Oscar had great fun saying "pop" down the phone. Don't know if he's americanising his name for his Daddy or just saying the word cos he likes it!
My mum came round and minded Oz while I took the 2 buses to get the car. It was only (!) £300 which was better than I expected - full service, MOT and repairs to the bumper. We're already in money troubles this month so I've booked an appointment with my accountant (Mum) to go through our bank statement and work out where the money is going and how to stop us haemorrhaging money each month. Time to stop overspending and really tighten our belts. I'm dreading it but I need to do it - I'm so rubbish with money!
Oz didn't beat me up at bath-time - I managed to distract him when he did start to hit - I don't think he means to - he just gets a bit giddy when he's tired.
So tonight he got his 2 stories, his milk and his song and although I can hear he's still awake, he's quite quiet. I feel much better about it. I hated last night - felt really down (as you could have told from the entry).
So I can cope on my own. I'm going to cook a pork chop for my tea (Rob hates pork so it's an opportunity for me to have a yummy dinner I wouldn't normally get). And watch Desperate Housewives from last week which my lovely mum taped for me.
No plans for tomorrow yet but at least I have a car in good nick again.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Absence does make the heart grow fonder.
It's wierd you know. I've been away from Rob a lot - since Oscar was born as well - and every time I've missed him but never this much. You see I was always the one going off to do something (usually with Oscar in tow)- visit Kirsti, film something....I think this is only the second time PostOz that he's left us.
And it's really hard! I haven't managed to get a thing done this weekend - all the usual weekend washing and chores and stuff - because I'm sole carer and Oscar just won't let me. He's not exactly clingy but he likes you to watch him do stuff or sit next to him while he does something. And he grabs you or pushes you to get you to go where he wants....we had a huge tantrum this morning - we went out into the garden - I was trying to knacker him out (he was up at 6) and thought a kick about with the ball would do it. We used to have a pond in our garden - had it filled in over the winter. There have been a lot of frogs in the garden but I didn't think much of it. The little f***ers have laid frog spawn all over the grass - almost outlining where the pond used to be. It's gross. And bloody sticky! I've been trying to shovel it off the grass but it won't budge without taking half the lawn with it. So I was trying to keep Oz down the non spawny end - and the ball out of the goo......he wasn't happy. So I retreated to my Mother's house. We were supposed to be meeting for a yummy lunch out with my Dad who is home for the weekend. Instead we had a few hours this morning playing in her garden and kitchen and when Oz started to get grumpy I brought him home. And had a tin of beans for my lunch instead.
My mum has been fantastic. She came round again this afternoon for about 40 minutes and enabled me to hang one load of washing out, do another, load and run the dishwasher and make soup. I'm knackered.
Bath time tonight was really horrible. Oz has slept today - only an hour - but was very overtired and excitable at bath time. We were doing ok until teeth cleaning. He was asking for Daddy all the time, then threw the toothbrush and paste at my head and started hitting me.
A lot.
And hard.
I stopped him - did the usual warning, stern voice, eye contact. Then held him in my arms with his hands pinned down (like they do on Tiny Tearaways) and ignored him for a minute. Then asked him to say sorry. He did - then hit me again. So I did it again for a minute. No effect.
So instead of the protracted bedtime routine - 2 books, a cuddle, milk, twinkle twinkle little star....I just put him in his sleeping bag and said goodnight. And shut the door. I planned to wait 5 minutes till we both calmed down. He screamed for a bit then went to sleep. When I went back in after 5 minutes I stroked his head and told him I loved him and goodnight but he was barely awake. Not a peep since.
I have tried to call Rob 3 times and am now on chattable terms with the receptionist at Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City - don't know where he is but I got an email saying he had arrived so will try him again tomorrow. I'm going to bed now.....
I don't know how single parents do it. I don't appreciate enough how much Rob does. Well I do - but you don't really know what you've got till he's gone.....
2 more nights.
And it's really hard! I haven't managed to get a thing done this weekend - all the usual weekend washing and chores and stuff - because I'm sole carer and Oscar just won't let me. He's not exactly clingy but he likes you to watch him do stuff or sit next to him while he does something. And he grabs you or pushes you to get you to go where he wants....we had a huge tantrum this morning - we went out into the garden - I was trying to knacker him out (he was up at 6) and thought a kick about with the ball would do it. We used to have a pond in our garden - had it filled in over the winter. There have been a lot of frogs in the garden but I didn't think much of it. The little f***ers have laid frog spawn all over the grass - almost outlining where the pond used to be. It's gross. And bloody sticky! I've been trying to shovel it off the grass but it won't budge without taking half the lawn with it. So I was trying to keep Oz down the non spawny end - and the ball out of the goo......he wasn't happy. So I retreated to my Mother's house. We were supposed to be meeting for a yummy lunch out with my Dad who is home for the weekend. Instead we had a few hours this morning playing in her garden and kitchen and when Oz started to get grumpy I brought him home. And had a tin of beans for my lunch instead.
My mum has been fantastic. She came round again this afternoon for about 40 minutes and enabled me to hang one load of washing out, do another, load and run the dishwasher and make soup. I'm knackered.
Bath time tonight was really horrible. Oz has slept today - only an hour - but was very overtired and excitable at bath time. We were doing ok until teeth cleaning. He was asking for Daddy all the time, then threw the toothbrush and paste at my head and started hitting me.
A lot.
And hard.
I stopped him - did the usual warning, stern voice, eye contact. Then held him in my arms with his hands pinned down (like they do on Tiny Tearaways) and ignored him for a minute. Then asked him to say sorry. He did - then hit me again. So I did it again for a minute. No effect.
So instead of the protracted bedtime routine - 2 books, a cuddle, milk, twinkle twinkle little star....I just put him in his sleeping bag and said goodnight. And shut the door. I planned to wait 5 minutes till we both calmed down. He screamed for a bit then went to sleep. When I went back in after 5 minutes I stroked his head and told him I loved him and goodnight but he was barely awake. Not a peep since.
I have tried to call Rob 3 times and am now on chattable terms with the receptionist at Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City - don't know where he is but I got an email saying he had arrived so will try him again tomorrow. I'm going to bed now.....
I don't know how single parents do it. I don't appreciate enough how much Rob does. Well I do - but you don't really know what you've got till he's gone.....
2 more nights.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Car trouble....and a trip to town
BAD BAD day yesterday. Wasn't too bad in the morning except I got a call from Rob confirming that he would be going to Utah and not on Sunday but on Saturday. Which blew my plans for Saturday (more later).
I was picking Oz up from Louise's house - drove into her private car park - very narrow passageway into a teeny car park - no space to park - or to turn around - so I had to reverse out again. I HATE reversing. I'm totally crap at it - always have been - I turn the wheel the wrong way, I hate going backwards. I get it out of the passageway (there's only about 2 inches clearance on each side) and am relieved and turn the car to go out onto the road - and the next thing I know, there's a crunch and a scratching sound and the front of my car falls off. I have NO idea how I did it. I didn't seem to hit anything but I must have done. The whole bumper came off, complete with number plate.
I didn't know what to do! I pulled over to the side of the road and picked up the bumper...getting some sniggers from ever so helpful passing traffic....then rang my Mum! She suggested I park the car in a car park nearby - put the bumper in Louise's car park and go get Oscar. Eventually Sue her friend with a hatchback, came and got the bumper and I drove to Mum's house with Oz. There was something dragging on the front wheel so I wasn't happy to drive home - I rang my breakdown cover who took an hour to come out. They towed me home - Oz was very excited to be in a lorry.....Mum took pics.
It took all afternoon to get it sorted - I originally was going to claim it on my insurance - I have a protected no claims bonus - but didn't in the end and my local garage who are amazing fixed the front back on temporarily and I'm booked in for a service on Monday.
God knows how much it will cost. Oscar was difficult too - especially at the garage - so many deadly and dangerous things to try and play with....
I was shattered last night but still went out to Biggin Hill for Alison's birthday meal. It was lovely and I'm really glad I went - great food, great company. Happy Birthday Al - know you're not having a brill one but lots of love from us anyway.
So on to today....Rob was supposed to be childminding as my friend Andrea had free tickets to the Ideal Home Show. I've always wanted to go...but now I had no childcare - no one could help - my Mum was out all day....so I took Oscar! Bonkers. He wasn't as bad as he could have been - we travelled up to town on the same train as Mum so she kept him amused. He went to sleep at Victoria then woke up once we'd arrived at Earls Court. He lost it a few times....I had my colours read (by choosing a little bottle with coloured water in - very interesting - more another time) and he wouldn't sit still for me to listen. He didn't want to be in the buggy but didn't want to walk.....I managed to see a bit of the show and get a few free samples of cheese and alcohol. I was determined not to spend any money but I did buy some fudge, and a bottle of the most amazing Irish Cream Praline liqueur - like drinking alcoholic liquidized ferrero rocher.
So that's my next few nights sorted!
We left Andrea to it at 3pm - we'd only been there about 2 hours but Oz had had enough. He was fine on the train on the way home and fell asleep in the car. I'm about to wake him up so he sleeps tonight. I'm so tired and I'm all on my own for a few days so I need a good night's sleep tonight.
I treated myself to one more thing - there's a wasabi sushi stand at Victoria (there used to be only one in London at Charing Cross so it was a pleasant surprise to find it today)- you can choose your own sushi - it's £1 per 2 pieces and it's yummy - so that's my dinner - sushi followed by alcohol. Yum!
Right - off to wake the munchkin!
I was picking Oz up from Louise's house - drove into her private car park - very narrow passageway into a teeny car park - no space to park - or to turn around - so I had to reverse out again. I HATE reversing. I'm totally crap at it - always have been - I turn the wheel the wrong way, I hate going backwards. I get it out of the passageway (there's only about 2 inches clearance on each side) and am relieved and turn the car to go out onto the road - and the next thing I know, there's a crunch and a scratching sound and the front of my car falls off. I have NO idea how I did it. I didn't seem to hit anything but I must have done. The whole bumper came off, complete with number plate.
I didn't know what to do! I pulled over to the side of the road and picked up the bumper...getting some sniggers from ever so helpful passing traffic....then rang my Mum! She suggested I park the car in a car park nearby - put the bumper in Louise's car park and go get Oscar. Eventually Sue her friend with a hatchback, came and got the bumper and I drove to Mum's house with Oz. There was something dragging on the front wheel so I wasn't happy to drive home - I rang my breakdown cover who took an hour to come out. They towed me home - Oz was very excited to be in a lorry.....Mum took pics.
It took all afternoon to get it sorted - I originally was going to claim it on my insurance - I have a protected no claims bonus - but didn't in the end and my local garage who are amazing fixed the front back on temporarily and I'm booked in for a service on Monday.
God knows how much it will cost. Oscar was difficult too - especially at the garage - so many deadly and dangerous things to try and play with....
I was shattered last night but still went out to Biggin Hill for Alison's birthday meal. It was lovely and I'm really glad I went - great food, great company. Happy Birthday Al - know you're not having a brill one but lots of love from us anyway.
So on to today....Rob was supposed to be childminding as my friend Andrea had free tickets to the Ideal Home Show. I've always wanted to go...but now I had no childcare - no one could help - my Mum was out all day....so I took Oscar! Bonkers. He wasn't as bad as he could have been - we travelled up to town on the same train as Mum so she kept him amused. He went to sleep at Victoria then woke up once we'd arrived at Earls Court. He lost it a few times....I had my colours read (by choosing a little bottle with coloured water in - very interesting - more another time) and he wouldn't sit still for me to listen. He didn't want to be in the buggy but didn't want to walk.....I managed to see a bit of the show and get a few free samples of cheese and alcohol. I was determined not to spend any money but I did buy some fudge, and a bottle of the most amazing Irish Cream Praline liqueur - like drinking alcoholic liquidized ferrero rocher.
So that's my next few nights sorted!
We left Andrea to it at 3pm - we'd only been there about 2 hours but Oz had had enough. He was fine on the train on the way home and fell asleep in the car. I'm about to wake him up so he sleeps tonight. I'm so tired and I'm all on my own for a few days so I need a good night's sleep tonight.
I treated myself to one more thing - there's a wasabi sushi stand at Victoria (there used to be only one in London at Charing Cross so it was a pleasant surprise to find it today)- you can choose your own sushi - it's £1 per 2 pieces and it's yummy - so that's my dinner - sushi followed by alcohol. Yum!
Right - off to wake the munchkin!
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