Parents Evening

I am about to head off to H's parents evening appointment and the same sense of dread spreads over me that I used to get as a child, why is that?

My school days were fairly average, a B/C girl, a plodder, my Mum kindly called me, nothing remarkable, except the episode mentioned in a previous blog (Avoidance Tactics). I was in the top sets but usually at the bottom wishing I was top of the second set!! Sixth form was a similar experience, I think the most productive thing I achieved whilst there was a poem I wrote in my British History mock exam, on a tissue, that was later published, in a proper book (I still have it and went on to get another published too)

I think the dread comes of wanting more for my children, to achieve more  than I did, to have better prospects in this dog-eat-dog world, to shine amongst their peers and to be well liked all at the same time. Too much to ask? Probably but I think if most of us were honest that's the truth!

Don't get me wrong I am incredibly happy with my lot, as I have said before, I have an amazing family and circle of friends, I do the job I love and live a good life  so what do I want for my children? Do I want to be told they are exceeding all targets, excelling in every subject or that they are happy, helpful and work hard? Definitely the latter!

K's current choice of job when she leaves school is to be a personal shopper, although I am not entirely convinced she has grasped the concept wholly, and to marry someone rich...hang on to that thought honey they're are not many of them about, not ones you would like to marry anyway! So glad to see she has taken on board the values I have worked hard to instil in her!!!

H on the other hand harbours an ambition to be a paramedic, a job well suited to his non-stop personality!! (See 'Live life as a dog) A much more solid choice of profession and I think he would be brilliant at it!! Time to face the teachers...

L x

P.S

Wow!! H's teachers want a class full of hims!! I must admit I felt immense pride in my son tonight, hearing how he is helpful, attentive, tries hard, works steadily, how he has settled in beautifully at his new school and is the sort of boy you want your daughter to marry. Mr W and I must be doing something right then :D

Happy with Lumpy??

No, I am not talking about custard! When I joined weight watchers at the beginning of the summer holidays, in order to become stick-like for a Christmas do, this is how my friend described us! SN you know it was you and I didn't take offence.

I did really well initially, 6lbs in the first week. Then, having very nearly reached my target, I went back to work... and so began the downward spiral!! I am now very sad to report I am back at my pre-diet weight, the only pounds I have lost are the £££ I paid for the ritual weigh-in every Monday, and that the 'do' it was all in aid of is now less than two weeks away.Where did I go wrong? I am not entirely sure, although I think my love of food does not help my cause.

Don't get me wrong, I have been bigger, nearly two stone heavier when I got married (so he must really love me) and when I returned from the year-that-never-was at University I was even heavier than that, but I would love to be thinner, just a bit!!

My children, in the days when you couldn't shower alone, once gave me a brutal joint analysis on my body. Apparently my tummy wobbled when I moved (H), as did my bottom (K) and my arms when I clap * mental note to self to never applaud in public, and I was, at that time over a stone lighter than I am now!!

Now, I am very aware that I have a pre-teen girl in the house and I should be very careful about how I lose weight. Endless questions about the 'point' value of foods at meal times demonstrated that my dietary needs were influencing my whole family and that, I considered, was not healthy! We try teach our children about the important aspects of life and sometimes forget that,despite themselves, they do see us as role models and do not I want to encourage an obsessional attitude towards food and eating in them.

My friend,TL, has just started a diet and has lost a stone already, you can really tell as well. However, I do not think another slimming club is the answer for me though.

So, what is the answer? I have no idea!! I have weighed myself this morning and recorded it, as Mr W declared that the only person who can do it is me, (maybe he was not so happy with the chunky version), which is a start. I think I need to practise some self discipline and get more exercise or  just be happy with lumpy!!

All ideas gratefully received.

L x

Back on the Blog!!

A thousand apologies for my lack of blogging, it is nearly two months since the last one!! I think the move, interview and work finally caught up with me (I didn't get the job but am delighted for my two friends at work who did)

I was hoping to do this via the 'proper' Internet but as a certain telephone company let us down again on Tuesday I am still operating via the world of dongle!

We have, post move, experienced an awful lot of bad customer service, phone, gas, electric and TV to name the worst offenders,  and it makes it blatantly obvious, why this country is in such a mess!! Lack of communication, with us, previous service providers, inter-company has left us increasingly frustrated!! If I did my job how some of these people do theirs I would have serious complaints, disciplinary procedures taking place and quite possibly an even sicker child on my hands.

To sum up the worst of it to communicate our phone number, to the phone company, Mr W had to say to the operator  "You count to ten and I'll tell you when to stop" amusing to K, increasing blood pressure for Mr W, unbelievable!

Anyway, we have all settled beautifully, not quite sure how we ever managed in a smaller house! H is doing amazingly at his new school, K continues to blossom into a lovely young woman (when the attitude is shelved), Mr W loves the fact he can get on the PS3 and we can all go in the other room to watch TV and the dogs have developed a fascination with the stones around the edge of the house which hovers somewhere between amusing and annoying!!!

I am aiming to be back blogging updates of life as it falls frantically towards Christmas and the New Year and I hope you will join me

L x