Coping With The Summer Holidays

The world of parenthood seems to be divided in to two camps when it comes to school holidays - especially the six-weeker during the summer. The first group being the ones who totally and utterley dread it and the second being, those that don't. Its as stark as that really and I can actually understand thoughts from both sides of the camp wall. But does it actually have to be that bad? This is the last year that Ardvaark will be free from the realms of term time restrictions, we have always pretty much done what we want and when we want. So this year, I thought I would get in to a little bit of practice. Now, those of you who know me - might think I am ultra organised. Those of you who know me really well know that it is all a good facade and in reality I like to think I can be organised but all to often it goes to pot. So, I am going to attempt to document our Summer Holidays and hopefully give you all some inspiration along the way. For those who don't know me at all, I live near Berwick upon Tweed in rural Northumberland in the UK and have 2 adult children who live down South and 2 children here 'oop 'narth aged 3 and 4 years old. So today the ankle snappers and I spent our morning in the library - which is a very pleasant place to be actually. They always have a table with pictures and crayons for the children to colour in and a corner where there are some nice toys to play with.

When we eventually got home - me staggering under the weight of childrens books, we had a good look through them. They are allowed 20 out per card - so I made sure I lied when Arvaark asked how many she could take out. Lunch was eaten and then the children amused themselves for a while before we embarked on making jam tarts. This usually easy activity, was a complete disaster - the pastry just went horribly wrong. Mummy had a bit of a hissy fit and binned it all. We then went on to make some butterfly cakes.

Its a nice easy recipe 6oz butter 6oz caster sugar 2 eggs 6oz self raising flour half a tsp vanilla paste splash of milk Cream the butter and sugar together, add the eggs one at a time and mix well, as the vanilla paste, then the flour. Fold in well to make sure there are no lumps of flour, splosh in a glug of milk. Then divide between 12 case cases. Cook for about 12-15 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 160 degrees celsius. But by this time, it was periously close to dinner time, so we didn't get to decorate them - this will be a job for the morning.

After dinner it was a bit of tv watching before a cats lick, teeth brushed and pj's on. Tonight we had decided to let them sleep together in Ardvaarks room - something they were both very excited about. We knew there was likely to be incidents of noise, laughter, getting up to no good and no sleep. But we thought it might be fun for them. It lasted 30 minutes before I had to go up, intervene and seperate them again and within a few minutes they were both asleep in their own beds. Perhaps this is something to try again in a year or so? So today has been a good one, the children have enjoyed themselves, I still managed to do things around the house and haven't gone potty and I haven't spent any money! Bonus.

Lazy or Just Unskilled?

So, earlier today I posed on FaceBook, the question 'Is it lack of knowledge and skill behind the reason why people say they can't cook good, healthy, cheap meals?' My panel of experts - well the people who answered - seemed to be very much of the opinion that it was either the way people had been raised or that they were actually just plain lazy. I was talking to the hustacle about this evening and I think that nowadays we have pretty much whatever we want, whenever we want it, its almost expected and we seem to have a need for instant gratification. I learned how to cook, not gourmet meals by the way - from ever since I can remember by my Nan. My grandad taught me the basics of gardening (which I still find a challenge!)I could mend a hem, darn a sock and do basic diy. These were all skills that were passed down to me and as the years have gone on I have added to my knowledge by learning things myself and from others. Although we all think about money nowadays when we budget our family finances, some of us are still buying convenience foods, takeaways and spending a heck of alot more than we need to but why? I appreciate that most 21st century people are busy, working and bringing up families - it is exhausting - I know that and I have even been heard to say 'can't be bothered to cook, lets get a takeaway', but this is a choice - for some they seem to choose these options because its too much like hard work to cook a meal or genuinely they dont have the first idea of how to shop for, prepare or cook a meal from basic ingredients. So, are we losing skills because they are just getting lost as each generation passes? or are we becoming a nation of unskilled who will starve to death if all convenience was taken away?

Houdini Posts

Well, am I narked off or what? All my ramblings since February have gone and disappeared. I am wondering if Blogspot Police felt my entries too boring, too crazy or just offensive. But to be honest, I don't think me prattling on about my life would actually warrant more than a deep sigh and subsequent snoring. It's a shame as I thought I had quite a bit to say - in fact very good stuff to say and I can't remember what I wrote and when to even get near replicating it. So I won't sodding bother! So, it's onwards and upwards - let the insanely boring chatter re-commence. Don't say I didn't warn you......

It's Not Me, It's You!

I have been guilty of taking my eye off the ball when driving once or twice in the past. Serious incidents have been averted in the nick of time, my heart has been in my mouth and beating a million miles an hour but most importantly, I have learned by my mistakes and never repeated them.

A tame(ish) example - as in one that won't get me imprisoned - is I forgot to put my glasses on when setting out in the car. Halfway in to my journey (I was on my own) I realised and started fumbling about for them in my bag which was on the passenger seat.

I look down for a second and when I look up my car is now on the other side of the road and there is a great big lorry is heading towards me. One massive swerve later and I was out of harms way but I did not feel normal for a good few hours and I now if I have forgotten to put my glasses on - I pull over in order to do the bag rummaging.

I was pondering near-misses yesterday and wondered just how many of us now have actually forgotten how to be safe and dice with danger on a daily basis but so far having averted death or serious injury?

The Hubstacle and I were driving to the Big Smoke the other day and instead of chattering and staring at the scenery, I decided to look at what other drivers were doing as they sped along.

Here is the top ten

1. Speaking on Mobile Phone
2. Texting or dialling on Mobile Phone (obviously I wasn't that close to tell!)
3. Picking their nose (glad I wasn't that close!)
4. Talking to their passenger and not looking where they were driving
5. Rubber necking as they went by an accident
6. Facing the back of the car telling children off
7. Reaching for something in the back of the car
8. Doing their make-up
9. Fiddling with their sat nav
10.Kissing their passenger

Quite the list isn't it, and this was in just 30 minutes! As I said before, I have made mistakes and done things I shouldn't but why do we seem to be able to make excuses for our own bad driving yet go nuts at everyone elses?

I hear lots of people say 'I am a safe driver', yes, you might very well be, but its odds on your accident will be a direct result of one of the clowns mentioned above!

Stay Safe Everyone!

Does Safe Driving Equal Cheaper Car Insurance?

I like to think that I am a pretty safe, experienced driver and to be honest, I think that I should be rewarded for this. We are all looking for ways to reduce our expenditure, but loads of people I know simnply stick with providers they have instead of spending time researching the best deals available to them.

This just does not make sense to me in the slightest, but in addition to finding the best deal, we can all make a difference, especially on the roads where we all want to stay safe.

Sainsbury's Finance are guest blogging with me today and its all about....


How driving safely can reduce your car insurance premium



You can spend less on fuel, keep your car in better condition and reduce the risk of being involved in an accident if you drive carefully and safely - and it could also mean cheaper car insurance.



Make safety your choice

Many factors that affect the car insurance quote are out of your control, such as age and number of years driving. So it only makes sense to focus on the things within your control that affect your premium. Driving safely - thereby reducing the likelihood of having to make a claim - is one of them.




No claim discount

While being a safe driver won’t guarantee that you’ll avoid accidents, it will certainly make them less likely. For each year of claim-free driving, you will receive a no claim discount from your insurer. So the longer you go without making a claim, the cheaper your insurance should be.




Five areas

When concentrating on safer driving, pay particular attention to the following five areas:

1) Acceleration. Keep it steady, gradually picking up speed.

2) Braking. Make sure it is appropriate for the situation.

3) Cornering. Anticipate well in advance and don’t take corners too fast or wide.

4) Speeding. Always stay within legal limits and reduce your speed accordingly in adverse conditions.

5) Distractions. Safer driving also means staying focused behind the wheel. Using a handheld phone while driving is both dangerous and illegal, so don’t do it. Avoid any unnecessary hands-free calls, too. Similarly, don’t fiddle with the sound system, apply make-up or eat and drink while driving - you’ll risk an accident as well as falling foul of the law.




Enjoy the good life

Safe driving shouldn’t be regarded as ‘boring’ driving. The economic benefits extend beyond your no claim discount - you’ll be saving money on fuel and repairs. You’ll also be making the roads a much safer place for you and your fellow motorists, and you’ll feel much less stressed both during and after your journey!

Annie - A Musical For All The Family

Annie - now there is a feel good musical - all about a little girl who never gives up hope.

Escaping from the clasp of the nasty orphanage manager - Miss Hannigan, in to the world of a billionaire and his lavish lifestyle.

Huh! OK for some eh?

Berwick Operatic Society are presenting this show at the the end of March and by all accounts rehearsals are going splendidly. It is a brave amateur theatre group who take on a production with 20 kids, but it seems that the local youngsters love to tread the boards.

Some of them are involved with other groups and in school productions - the more experienced ones bringing out the confidence in those less so.

Its all hands to the deck now, as there are less than 5 weeks until curtain up.

So if you fancy a great family night at the theatre, see faces you know, doing things they don't usually do, then get yourself down to The Maltings and book your tickets!

Annie runs from Wednesday 21st March until Saturday 24th March. Easch performance is 7.30pm and includes a matinee on Saturday 24th.

Review of the show to come!

Tomb Raider?

Freecycle is a wonderful thing. Since being a member of the group I have given good homes to a number of things and also acquired a few bits and pieces myself.

Having got a rather nice and useful book from The Hubstacle at Christmas (and i must admit - he is not too bad at the present buying game!), it meant that i needed some bits and pieces to get going.

The book was 'Homemade - gorgeous things to make with love' and I was itching to start on a couple of projects but am sadly lacking in the equipment/material department.

So before I went out and blew the family finances on haberdashery, I thought I would give free cycle a go. In a couple of days I had a reply from a chap, offering me various items and we arranged for me to pop along to collect them.

On my arrival, I realized pretty quickly that he was living on his own, and after realizing that he was not the needlework type of guy, I reached the conclusion that his wife must have died. Sure enough he told me his wife had died last year and that these things were doing no good sitting in the spare room doing nothing.

I was very appreciative of everything i received and told him that it would all be well-used and well-loved, and it will be. On the drive home I started to feel a bit uncomfortable and wondered if I was in fact tomb-raiding. I know it must of been a huge decision for this chap to start sorting through all of his beloved wife's things and to give them away to someone he doesn't know is certainly a very difficult thing to do.

So my question is should I feel a little guilty at benefiting from another persons death?

I can't say I do feel guilty (that might come later), but I do know that it has made me appreciate every item that he has passed on to me and every project that i do, i will give a moments thought to the lady who also once lovingly used these things.