Brain Food. Week 2

From the top down

A Moomin tribute

Carol Ann Duffy from a friend to widen my horizons

Linda Grant bought because I enjoyed "The Clothes on Their Backs"

Lush architectural yumminess, a birthday present from boychild. (He really can take a hint that boy !

Ooyay - one of those ones where you play on Amazon and think "Oh yes, why not ?"

The two hardbacks were birthday presents from my Mother. Now I understand the Paxman, good choice. But the WI book ? The paranoia kicked in there and I'm afraid I took it as a subliminal criticism of my domesticity (or lack of it). Last year she gave me "Mrs Beeton" but obviously, as I still have no staff, she feels I need the "D.I.Y" option. Oh well, off to find my pinny.

Small, warm smile.....

Well, Friday was so much better than I expected, even though it was my 7am start at work. I was told the young had presents planned for later but there were cards and a huge bunch of lilies, (often wonder if I have a BVM complex my love of lilies is so great) Work was ok - other than my boss asking me, as she returned my annual evaluation, if I felt fulfilled there, and had I looked at something that might stretch me ? "not that I want you to leave, no, it's not that at all, no" which did get the paranoia sensors on red alert !

After work I met some friends and we drank coffee and giggled ( an underrated pastime I think) before ambling home to see what had happened in my absence. Both of the offspring are now at home, busy turning time backwards and living nocturnal lives - any activity seems to take place over my bedroom at 3am, one WIIfitting, the other testing computer games with the sound off but so loud the floor shakes. It's killing aliens that does it apparently.

During the night they seem to generate mounds of washing and use innumerable cereal bowls (11 on the draining board just now) and it all rather reminds me of the household Nurse Matilda went to, prior to her arrival.

I decided that it was not worth recriminations and smiled sweetly as I was given a can of gin and tonic flavoured with pink grapefruit, a box of Turkish Delight and the mysterious promise of a surprise tomorrow.........

In the evening a crowd of us went to see "The Boat that Rocked", not in any way cerebral but great fun and the inestimable Bill Nighy on top form, lots of potential singalonga too, so suspect I may treat myself to the soundtrack. Finally on for a drink after the inevitable "well I don't mind", "what about you?", "does anyone want to eat ?", "oh, no, don't go there on a Friday" conversations (every pub, bar and purveyor of alcoholic beverages was packed, couldn't have done falling down drunk even if I had wanted too) I did feel slightly hazy after a pint of Speckled Hen, a half of Riggwelter, and 2 Alabama Slammers. This comes with the warning "Do as I say, not as I do"

All in all, a much better day than last year, and many thanks to all of you for your best wishes !

Boychild and the frazzled mother

I was really excited about boychild coming home, yay for boychild etc, etc. That was 48 hours ago.
Reality has kicked in.
(Please remember while reading this post that I was a perfect teenager/student and caused my parents no grief whatsoever)
OK, first up - seven loads of washing
By Sunday evening 7 pint glasses had disappeared into his room but not returned (this did not stop complaints that there were no clean, large glasses - it did result in me having a dead leg, but that is just too complicated to explain other than it wasn't his fault)
Monday morning - I had a long conversation with boychild about the importance of him attending his dental appointment at "2pm, yes, that is two-o-clock, yes, this afternoon, today.... " It wasn't a complete surprise to me when I got a phone call this afternoon, at ten past two, asking me what time his appointment was. When I remonstrated with him I was told that when I spoke to him this morning he was actually asleep ?? WTF ?
There is no blood on the carpet but I am counting the days............

Mothers Day and hubris

So, there I was, thinking I wasn't doing too badly as a Mum now - hasten to add I was all time appalling champion of bad motherdom when mine were young, but now - communication takes place, I am allowed out with older offspring and his friends (very occasionally) and even girlchild says thank you sometimes and the disdainful lipcurl is seen less often.
But today, humph... I was given an orchid (to replace the one eaten by her cats), but with no more than a "here, oh, btw, can I have the car later, I'm not going to be in this afternoon now" and no card.................. at all...................... from a creature doing graphics !
Boychild did ring, (not quite spontaneously, as I had marked today on his calendar, when I visited him last week, with a thick black marker pen. I am not known for subtlety). He did then admit that he would appreciate further funding having bought himself sandals (he is disinherited) and some Tommy Hilfigger swimming trunks (he is no longer my son). Mothers Day is full of surprises isn't it ?!

Who watches the Watchmen - that'd be me....

Well, what tales to tell ? It has been a good week, the temptation to kill people has been at Defcon 4, which for me is very acceptable, (probably very acceptable to the NHS as well ), a sash window has been removed, reglazed, repaired and replaced all in the space of a single afternoon, albeit the afternoon with horizontal sleet, an day was spent at "Spooons" hanging with my boys (sorry) and a trip to London looks as if it is going to happen.


For those who haven't already lost the will to live, details as follows.

Dogs/windows and windowcleaners make a lively combination. Digger decided that naughty, rude windowcleaners should not, under any circumstances, be allowed to even look at his windows. Nobody told the windowcleaners this, so dog went through the window to tell them himself. Silent one decided he knew how to mend this destruction, and he did. Unfortunately it is a long, painstaking job, more unfortunately it had to be done when the weather was testing its full Northern repertoire, from damp to f**in' freezin'. This time even lying on the sofa under the newspapers wasn't enough to save me from the chill. I took to my bed.


On Wednesday I went to visit boychild at Uni, and gathered a tribe to go for beer and a burger at Wetherspoons. (yum). Some of his fellow students I knew from school, others are more recently acquired friends, and had apparently requested the opportunity to meet me. Whether this is because I sound utterly fascinating or because they want to meet the woman who made boychild the man he is (saving for therapy as we speak) I don't know, it may even have been the offer of food and beer - "surely not?!" I hear you cry - It would appear that I have agreed to accompany one young lady, who is reading languages, on a train journey across Spain to catch the ferry to Morocco where we will lie on flat roofs, draped in white linen, smoking sheesha pipes and channelling our inner Talitha Getty (Don't worry, I will explain who she was to the young !).


Oh, Oh ! went to see "Watchmen". Loved it, numb bum at 3 hours, but still very good, my only criticism would be the marriage between reproducing the graphic novel, and the morality tale with huge special effects was a little clunky. It has also enabled me to find my new fantasy me, Silhouette, a superhero from the 1940's, gorgeous costume and cheekbones to die for. Actually the only picture I could find makes her look like the bastard lovechild of Adam Ant and Michael Jackson.

but see, we could be sisters ?




Cassandra has tagged me for a Me!Me!, so shortly you will be treated to a list of why I am happy with my lot. Hope I don't have to think too hard, but the Empress is tired, she must leave you now ...........



Until tomorrow