One infection

I just phoned my best mate for a chat. I've been feeling a bit crappy the last couple of weeks and needed some advice and cheering up. I listed my symptoms; she listened, made me laugh and promise to book a doctor's appointment on Monday.

She then told me her husband has tonsillitis. He's on 4 different types of antibiotics.

The conversation then turned to her daughter's 6th birthday last Wednesday. Guess what she bought, she asked me. Both One Direction albums. This is after having heard my son's copy of the second album last Sunday. The same album I heard for the whole of the Easter bloody holidays. My mate said "We've been infected too by them."

It was then the realisation dawned. One Direction had been the cause of both mine and her husband's maladies. We'd been Infected!

Last minute homework

Why does it always happen to us?!

Get rid of the baby stuff!

This is not a post about symbolically getting rid of all the baby paraphernalia associated with having a new baby. I haven't actually done that in the years since I realised I would not be having another baby. Never say never eh?

No, this is a post about un-babyfying Elf's bedroom. It started with Mr Humdrum asking me to tidy his room. I must add that I wasn't told in a controlling You Must Do This Housewench kind of way. More of a You Two Are Off On Holiday Still And I'm At Work So Can You Both Tidy Elf's Room.

I decided while Elf was playing computer games (a relatively new thing in the Humdrum Household, which serves to make me realise he is 7), I would tackle the room. It was only covered in dirty clothes that he hadn't put in the washing basket (yes he's 7 not 17) and some bits'n'bobs that were put upstairs when we had a party downstairs.

Elf has an odd room, it's quite small with a cabin bed, book shelves and two chests for clothes, with an inset cupboard at waist-height in the wall. Filled with all sorts, is this Scary Cupboard. Open it, and who knows what might fall out. Indeed I did. Out fell dressing up clothes that I thought we'd lost, baby baths, pram cosies, a Postman Pat train set. A Scary Cupboard indeed.

It was then that I realised I had to totally change his room around. I started on the cupboard. Out came the baby stuff - either car boot or give to a friend who's just had a baby. The Postman Pat train set - I could eBay as it's complete with all figures, yes including Pat, Mrs Goggins, little suitcases and parcels and letters even. And a postvan. Or it could go to the friend who's just had a baby. In went folded up blankets that used to lay on the bed. PE and swimming kits are there now instead of hanging off the bed.

Toys - I took two boxes of "stuff" from the downstairs IKEA toy box storage system upstairs to put under his bed, as the only things he plays with downstairs are Lego and Heroes and Lightsabers/guns!

I cleared enough room to put a little table and stool in the corner, onto which we're going to put our old laptop. He's very chuffed with this!

I cleared some space for those two Star Wars Clone Trooper helmets that seem to take over his den area downstairs. It's also for all of the Star Wars ships that he's made. Some of the kits cost up to £100 and there's no way that Mr Humdrum, I mean Elf, will allow them to be touched or played with, let alone broken up. They need space away.

Books - I moved the books that we used to read to him up to a higher shelf, and put his own books (Beast Quest, Dinosaur Cove, Roald Dahl, Diary of a Wimpy Kid etc) on a lower shelf.

And this was the bit that got me. I realised the top shelf was full of the baby gifts that we'd been generously given upon his birth. A beautiful acrostic poem, a coin presentation set, photos of when we'd brought him home (although I think that photo was staged - we'd already gone inside and then had to go out again for the photo of us in the doorway!).

I moved these things into the spare room "for sorting". Finally at 7 years old, he was to have a boy's room. It's already covered with pictures of Messi and Star Wars. No longer does that have to compete with photos of that gorgeous little bundle of gurgles and soft skin. My baby is indeed much more grown up than I realised.

The Humdrums in London

Us Humdrums took a cheeky trip to The Big Smoke for a couple of days. Our main plan was to visit the Science Museum. And not spend too much money!

We did fork out for the London Eye and it was worth it, especially the 4D experience.

Leftovers = soup!

I know this looks a bit weird but I've been whizzing up the leftovers of casseroles that I've made. If there's not enough for a freezer dinner, or even if there is and there's still more, this is where it goes.

I find Elf avoids the veg in my casseroles but obviously loves the meat and the taste. I tend to give him a small bowl if he's having a freezer/orange shelf dinner it a pizza etc. Not that I am that fussy about whet he has, but this way it's the best of both worlds.

This is leftover lamb casserole with red currant sauce, sweet potato and butternut squash.

Come to think about it, it's why I make my own soups! Duh.

Mumming-up

Mr Hundrum and I had words this weekend. About me feeling crap all last week and having to cope, before I stamped my feet in Sunday and spent the afternoon in bed.

I asked him: "Are you not interested in me being ill, not sympathetic or do you think I'm putting it on?"

He replied "I'm not a very thoughtful person." Now this isn't entirely true. Who bought me a new Touche Éclat when mine was running out?

But I can see what he means. It's easier not to be thoughtful when that would mean taking control of the Boy and the household. Let's just pretend she's alright really. Or that she will be better in the morning.

So instead of mumming-up and making myself even more ill, I shall spell it out for Mr Humdrum.

I. A. M. I. L. L.

I. N. E. E. D. T. O. G. O. T. O. B. E. D.

Did I mention I'd been ill?

Having been ill for one week now (not that I have mentioned it much, or moaned about it, or been sent home from work because of it, or been sighing every 10 minutes - something I inherited from my dad), I just hope I'm at the end of the cold-morphing-into-sinusitis.

Mr Humdrum returned from an overnighter in Brighton on Saturday, and threw this at me: "I suppose you'll be going to do our weekly shopping?"

I threw this back. NO. Last Sunday I managed, whilst feeling awful (did I say I had been ill?) to cater for and throw an afternoon party for 20 adults in my house for Mr H's mum's 60th birthday, then during my two days off in bed, I managed to cook for all of us, and pick the Boy up from school, take him to Beavers and swimming, then when I returned to work for two days, only to be sent home early each day, I still picked the Boy up and cooked, oh and looked after him on the aforementioned overnighter when the sinusitis was really kicking in.

AT WHICH POINT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY I CAN'T COPE? I JUST WANT A REST.

So he went shopping. He cooked me a delicious steak in peppercorn sauce. He cleared up. He put the Boy to bed whilst I bathed. He brought me a cup of tea in the bath. I got a lie in, albeit woken up already by the Boy but at 8.30 (not bad), and I have just finished my breakfast in bed, which was two warm croissants with slithers of butter and blueberry jam, oh and with a cup of tea.

Thank you Mr Humdrum. It's just what I needed.

Testing my Blogger app 123

You can tell how long it's been since I blogged properly. I didn't know there was a proper app! This will be fun ...

To test the photo upload, here's me as a baby and my recent Mothering Sunday card. Wow I can upload more than one?!

Liberty, illness and mini Love Bombing

I think I've had a few revelations this week. Firstly this isn't a new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book excerpt, it's a unique JH. He was referencing an artist he'd learned about at school that day; for the life of me, I can't remember the artist's name. His mum and dad will be proud one day, and you saw it first here.

Liberty - Having been off work ill for two days this week and sent home early for the consecutive two, I either didn't feel like looking at Facebook, or when I did, I didn't want to be posting rubbish as I was really at home ill. So I lurked. I read, I commented in my head, and didn't actually comment on anything. There is one post I must go back and comment on - a friend's OH has added his Blackadder quote on the Blackadder Status Day Update last week. But it was liberating to realise that actually, I didn't miss out on anything by not commenting. I didn't feel the pressure to "like" or comment on something. These are the questions I asked myself:

1. What happens if you don't comment within 2 days, do I look rude if I comment on something else and not that?
2. How about those people (you don't know who you are for precisely this reason) who you comment on their posts, because you have something you thought interesting to say, or you asked them a question - but they never reply?
3. Do I feel that my lack of motivation for blogging coincided with my increase in FBing? Yes.

What am I going to do about it?
1. Comment if I really want to, but not if I just feel I ought to.
2. If I need to communicate with someone about something important, I will do it by text or phone. In any case privately.
3. Blog more!

Illness - This is just a rant at myself. I've already said I've been ill this week and I feel a right doughnut saying "It's a cold". I do really suffer with colds, I can't take decongestants and so can't clear my nose. I get sinus infections and they just wipe me out. I am lucky as I don't ever get S&D or anything like that, I just have a weakness for colds. I returned to work too early this week, and got sent home. Next time, I promise myself I will only return to work the day after I feel ok!

Mini Love Bombing - a la Oliver James. Mr Hudmrum is on a boys' night out tonight, and so the boy and I have had a lovely evening on our own. I told a little white lie that no one was going to Beer O'Clock tonight, because I couldn't face going out in the rain and, oh did I say I'd been ill? Well I just wanted to rest. I thought we could watch a film, he chose Finding Nemo. I'm sorry to say I've never seen it but thoroughly enjoyed it, snuggled up under the blanket on the sofa together. He is now asleep next to me, bless him.

I was grumpy earlier. I've since had a chat with my bestie on the phone, and am now feeling happier, except the sore sinuses! And I'm slightly disturbed by the descriptions of the Burlesque show that Mr Humdrum is at...

Beaver Patrol

Mr and Mrs Humdrum and The Messengers are in the pub. The boys at a Beaver sleepover and we are out on the town. We have played pool and darts and are currently annoying a group of lads headed up by Mr Jason Statham the scaffolder. Well a lookalike. The pub is empty. Mrs Messenger may get twitted in a minute.

Hairy korma

 

Mrs Humdrum is obsessed with Hairy cooking at the moment. We've had in the last week and a half: chicken korma, cassoulet, spag bol and today lamb tagine is in the oven for tonight, with rice pud to follow. I bought the Hairy Dieters' cook book during half term after I saw a couple of the recipes at a friend's house. It was reduced and I think I paid about a fiver for it. I was tempted not for the diet reasons, but it had what I call "proper" meals in it - casseroles, pies etc; food I would want to cook regardless of being "healthy".

Admittedly I haven't been following the dieting part of the book (have you seen how much pasta 50g actually is?) but I have justified this by feeling inspired again about cooking, and have been enjoying cooking from scratch with healthier ingredients. Maybe I'll start the diet thing later...

The only downside is that the recipes are quite time-consuming (two hours approx each), but then you would expect that if you wanted "proper" food wouldn't you? I made the cassoulet with half the meat, and froze the remainder of the sauce. Next week I only have to cook some sausages and add the defrosted sauce. Next time I will make double and freeze the korma sauce, and may try it with vegetables. The spag bol I might bulk out with a few more beans and vegetables. 

But my verdict so far - fabulous! I will update with a review of the lamb tagine and rice pud later.

Family 5-a-day challenge

I just had a random idea to draw up a 5-a-day fruit n veg challenge wall chart for us. This should work in tandem with my Shuffle not Sniffle pledge (previous post - running and eating soup to stop me getting the kids' germs at school). (Not at the same time.)

It then struck me - I'd only had one apple to register today. Elf had nothing despite having school dinners! He quickly asked for an apple, laughing. I will ask Mr Humdrum but I suspect he will have one item and that'll be the garnish in his bought sandwich.

FAIL!

Must try harder tomorrow!

Please can you help the teaching assisant Miss!

Today I supported a few children in Year 5 in their Science lesson. They were doing a test on light, shadow and the solar system. I realised I need to gen up a bit on the terminology used; I haven't studied this since I was at school... 30 years ago?!

This evening I "redesigned" my two blogs - this one and my personal, private one. Do you like the new layout?

Elf is 7!

Last week Elf turned 7. My little boy. I'm not allowed to call him little anymore. I'm also not allowed to kiss him, or hug him, or well, do anything with him. It's all daddy at the moment. Do 7 year old boys cut their apron strings and velcro themselves to dad?

We had a lovely family meal at Pizza Hut, very civilised, on his actual birthday. The next day we had his local friends to come over for cake n juice. Then tomorrow his exuberant celebrations will be topped off by a football party. This is the cake made by my friend - it's a football match, Man U -v- Real Madrid in 4 4 2 formation. Cool!

Except it's snowing and the football ground is outdoors. Why was he born in January?

Soup two

Today's effort was good old leek and potato. I amended the recipe slightly (blended it all rather than keeping the waxy potatoes more solid, using all floury potatoes and keeping skins on - more from the point of laziness!). Even Ben ate some, not bad.

I'm also currently chilling sweet potato and sweetcorn burgers that I made earlier. I've made 2 beef ones as I'm sure the boys will turn up their noses at veggie dishes - especially as Ben doesn't like sweetcorn!

I went for my New Year run yesterday and I'm going out again with Ally tomorrow as I finish at 1pm.

Ben's holiday work is done, decs away, shopping done, new trousers bought for work ... Almost ready for the new term tomorrow. I just need to do my nails tonight and get my own school bag ready.

Six weeks til half-term! Yay!

Operation Shuffle not Sniffle starts

New Covent Garden Soup for January 17th "Cream of turnip with smoked ham". Being Cornish I used a swede instead of turnip. It was a lovely consistency but I'm disappointed with the lime taste. It says to add a thick lime slice, and to make sure it's properly blended. Unfortunately for me it's overpowering. But Mr Humdrum and I consumed our bowlfuls for our starter. Fish course later.

The next soup? Leek and potato (January 27th). I may swap cream for crème fraîche though.

2013 Day One!

A rare pic of me as Warden at our New Year at the Cells New Year's Eve party.

I wish you all health and happiness for 2013. And to myself too.

2012 was a year that started off in the first month with the shattering news of my redundancy. Four months, s lot of soul searching and hard work later, I started a new job in a role I'd always wanted, and I've never looked back. That's the happiness bit sorted out. It also covers wealth, which I don't like to include if it means financial wealth. I have enough, less than before but I am richer in other ways that I couldn't have dreamt of.

My 41st birthday in June heralded the start of health issues with high blood pressure. I thought I'd been lucky but it's up again.

Resolutions? To look after myself. I've shelled out £25 on the New Coventry Garden Soup book, so I can ensure I put the right stuff in. I'm fed up getting the school kids' sniffles!

And I need to get out onto that common again with my "shuffle running", and I'm also going to start swimming again.

There - only a few little resolutions to keep up. I call it Operation Shuffle not Sniffle!

"Elf, I am your father" said Santa

A Humdrum Mum would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

This is Elf - not realising his dad is playing Santa next to him at the school fayre. Bless.

Afternoon Tea @ The Ritz!

With my mum. X

Afternoon Tea @ The Ritz!

With my mum. X