Wise words to live by

I just love these. My friend Tracy sent them to me and I'm very grateful. I've already put them on Facebook so apologies for the repetition if you've read them. They just resonate with me (as Mr English would say).

Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

When in doubt, just take the next small step.

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

The most important sex organ is the brain.

No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

Forgive everyone everything.

What other people think of you is none of your business.

Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

Your children get only one childhood.

If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.

Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

Every time I re-read them another one jumps out at me. Love it. Thanks Tracy B....

Summer hols are here

Whoop de do. Can you tell I'm not that excited? Well it's the first week of the holidays and it's pissing it down with rain. Boo. So I've cheated a bit - put the boys in the creche at Downham (thank God Oz doesn't turn 5 till the end of the summer) and come into the library to surf the net, drink coffee and read Nora Roberts (my latest discovery - excellent easy reading books!)

Up until today we've been having a blast. School broke up on Wednesday, on Thursday we went to Worthing. Well Oz and I did! With Claire and her two girls - Toby was in the nursery all day. I didn't feel like driving so by only having 1 kid we could all go in the one car and it was a lot less hassle than having Toby along too. Oscar is much easier on his own! And it was lovely - we had some time just the two of us when Claire and family went to visit her grandma. So Oz and I played on the beach - flew a kite, threw stones, balanced on the wooden thingies that run up the beach (what are they called?), had cuddles as we were very windblown. All lovely. I can't show you the pics as I'm in the library but will upload them soon (though most, if not all the people who read this are on FBook so you can see them there).

Friday we hung out with Claire again and the lovely Tracy and her two girls. Went to Gambado which was quite insane but with good company and cappuccino we coped! I love going there now as both boys just disappear for most of it. Toby did throw a mother of a tantrum and got tutted by another woman (I don't believe she was a mother, think she was an auntie who hadn't got a clue what 2 year olds are like). It was fun. We had Claire's girls round on Saturday too which meant Oz was amused and ecstatic all day.

Sunday we went down to Whitstable which was excellent. My friend Julie lives near in Canterbury and I hadn't seen her for ages. Her daughter Georgia came too and as she's a couple of years older than Oz, he fell in love instantly. He spent most of the day following her around and talking talking talking like a madchild. We arrived at Tankerton and got out of the car though and Toby threw up. Bless him for waiting till we got OUT of the car....he was very pale (though it's hard to tell with my kids) and not himself. He perked up a bit, had some apple juice and we met up with Julie and Georgie. We went to Tesco to get picnic food and Toby was in the buggy - he pulled the hood down over his face which he often does and then when we got to the beach and I pulled it up, he'd puked again and was just sat listlessly in it. He hadn't cried or anything.

We got him cleaned up, sat on the pebbles and he started to eat Doritos with a passion. He perked up again.....he seemed fine after that - went paddling happily, ate an ice cream and jelly snakes. Oscar swam on his own in the sea (following Georgie's example) which was a huge achievement - he usually wears a swim flotation jacket but I hadn't brought it with us. He was so proud of himself!

We had to leave a bit early to get home for a shopping delivery but we'll definitely do it again. Absolutely fab day. (Apart from the puking).

Toby has been fine since though. And slept fine. So now it's today and we woke up to stormy weather. Nearly all my friends are gone for the week- Claire went to France, my school mum gang are all visiting relatives, Clare and James are in Oslo......so the creche is a godsend. And it's given me time to update this blog!

Our summer holiday plans begin on Saturday - my birthday! I'm escaping and having afternoon tea at the posh hotel in Marylebone we went to for Lee's hen do. Then on the Monday we're off to Butlins for a week - the boys will be in heaven - I might need valium! Then on the Sunday after we get back we're off to see (courtesy of Mum and Dad) Walking With Dinosaurs at the O2.

I can't imagine how excited (and scared) the boys will be! It looks amazing from what I've seen on Youtube and the website. The dinos are life size. They will both believe they're real. How cool is that? To come face to face with your favourite extinct thing? It would be like me having tea with the fairies.....I will take pics and share I promise.

Talking of pics - anyone know anything about digital cameras? The camera on my phone is taking washed out pictures - almost sepia - and I've reset all the settings. It's like something is burned out or something....anyone got any ideas? I'll have to phone 3 and see if they'll replace it.

Ok - off for coffee and guilty pleasure of Nora Roberts.....

Oscar's first school report....

Wow. Oscar is coming to the end of his first "year" at school (since he only started in January it's two terms instead of three but still...). I got his report in the bookbag today and I'm quite pleased with it. Bear in mind he is the YOUNGEST kid in the whole school. He turns five the week before he starts Year One.

Here are some extracts

"Oscar is sometimes involved in small disputes and now needs to develop his skills of cooperation and negotiation to overcome these difficulties appropriately. He will need to consider the consequences of his words and actions for others much more and I feel sure, as he matures, he can achieve this".

"Oscar has the potential to do very well in school"

"Oscar's communication skills are very good....he is very good at reciting stories and experiences brought from outside the setting. "

"Oscar shows a keen interest in mathematical activities"

"He takes part in whole class singing and music sessions with enthusiasm. Oscar has enjoyed using musical instruments and moves expressively and rhythmically and enjoys movement lessons"

"Oscar is always enthusiastic to partipate in physical activity and eagerly awaits our weekly PE sessions."

Oscar also contributed to his report. When asked what he liked at school he says
"I like playing Hide and Seek. I like to write and I like to build with lego blocks. That's all I can think of. I can't think of anything else."

When asked what he was good at he said "Running. Hiding. Counting up to ten. That's all I can think of".

Supposedly when he leaves school he wants to be a builder. Which was news to me. But better than an alien which is what he usually says he wants to be when he grows up.

There are areas to work on, but he's done well this year. The most important one for me is the first line "Oscar separates from his parents in the mornings with confidence and is keen to enter the class". Can't ask for more than that! He's also got 100% attendance with no lateness.