Julia's Blog

For no particular reason I am moving my blog to here:

www.juliacroyden.blogspot.com

Just fancied a change.

1.   I  am officially falling apart.  I was stung by a bee on the neck, I have an insect bite on my wedding ring finger and can't wear my rings as my finger is all swollen and I sat on my water bottle and got water in my pants.

2.  Lucy was hurt by her fall - a graze on her side and a bump on her head.  She's fallen over lots today and has just banged herself into the toilet and bitten her tongue.  Poor little sausage.

3.  My colleague, who was junior to me, is now my line manager.  This is what having children does to you.

4.  My other colleague has had 4 observations this year.  I have had none.  I'm still a f***ing teacher, for f*** sake.  This is also what having children does for you.

5.  It's so f***ing unfair, I could scream.  I won't, but I will be looking at going back full time once this new baby is two. 

6.  I must phone Lucy's nursery tomorrow.  Arse.

7.  Nothing else.

We have a raised bit between the conservatory and the garden, a result of poor design, as far as I can tell, and Lucy normally hops straight over it without a thought.  Today, however, she's just fallen headfirst over it, in slow motion with me watching, and unable to move fast enough to catch her.

Luckily, she's not hurt at all, except for a little graze on her side, which doesn't bother her, and was very annoyed with me for picking her up and cuddling her.  I think she was more shocked than anything else. 

Mummy, on the other hand, is in need of a big drink and a little lie down.  *vapours*

I don't want to complain about the heat.  It's so rarely nice in this country, so even though it's been about a billion degrees in Nursery (a portakabin, nice and cold all winter, boiling hot and muggy all summer) and a billion and one degrees in the Nursery playground (all concrete, no shade, almost too hot for the children to be outside), and I'm carrying a whole lot more blood than normal, I'm just going to say that it's nice to have a summer and it's a shame that it's during term time.

We had a lovely weekend; my dad rang on Wednesday, inviting us out to Cambridge, so we went along.  They've lent us some money towards our loft conversion, so we got that as well.  It's all gone to the builder now, which was a bit scarey, but he's taking it off the final bill, and paying in installments makes everything seem less horrifically expensive.  The plans are still at the planning office, but we've already paid nearly half.  By the time it's finished, we should have enough to pay the lot off in one go.  Hurrah. 

We spent most of the weekend in my parents' garden.  They have a suntrap paved area, so we sat there a lot, and Lucy was in and out of her paddling pool, and it was all rather idyllic.  I couldn't live with them again, but it was nice to go along for a short break.  Plus, they put her ladyship to bed on Saturday night, and we went to the deserted pub.  That was an odd experience - the only other people there were a bunch of moany and loud teachers.  We left after one drink, and went home and

I've popped out now, there's no hiding the bump.  It can almost be seen from space, but I know I've got months and months to go.  My more observant mums are congratulating me, which is nice, and I'll tell the others this week or next and I'll tell the children on Friday.  I'm quite looking forward to that.  Lucy keeps patting my tummy; sometimes she'll say "beeboo" before she hits me.  Then she'll pat herself and say beeboo.  I think we're going to have fun.

I've finished knitting the rabbit.  It looks gorgeous, and I'm pleased with it.



Lucy seems to like it, and Elsie definitely does, so I will make her one for Christmas.  New baby can have one too, so lots of fiddly knitting ahead. 

Not much else to say.  Work is still work.  Lucy is still a terrible almost two.  Simon is still a very nice husband. 

Gosh, crumbs etc.  I can't believe I've not written on this for ages.  I suppose I'm just naturally lazy, and being 4 months pregnant doesn't help. 

I'm still feeling sick sometimes, especially when I'm tired and/or hungry, but overall I'm feeling a whole lot better.  I think I've felt the baby move a bit, which is exciting.  We had our scan, and everything was fine then, but I've not heard a heartbeat yet, so I'm still a little bit worried about that.  If I'm still nervy next week, I'll go back to the doctor, but I think I'm just being paranoid and silly.  The baby is fine, I am fine, Lucy won't try to kill it and everything is fine.

I've been knitting a lot, but not finishing much.  I'm making Lucy a rabbit, which is nearly finished except for a leg, an arm and an ear and a face.  It is super fiddly but not very difficult.  I'm also making a blanket for us, which is not even half finished but will be eventually.  I'm sewing it up as I go along, and it's nice and easy stocking stitch squares, so it's suitable for baby brain, which I have in spades at the moment.  I'm also finishing off a plain garter yoke cardigan, which is also easy, and I'm not sure when I haven't finished it before now.  Inertia again.

Work is the same.  Another colleague is going to Lady Margaret's in Southall, where our former head works.  It's bad for us, because she's been here for ages, but also good in that it opens promotion options.  I'd like to go back full time in a couple of years, so there might even be a more senior job for me.  I'm a bit annoyed that  I haven't had an observation all year.  While it's good that no one's "checking up" on me, it is part of my "continuous professional development" and if we have to sign up to all that rubbish, we may as well do it probably rather than in a half arsed manner.  We're not sodding teenagers, we shouldn't be mucking about and sulking about rule changes not being to our taste.  Ho hum, maternity leave starts surprisingly soon.

We went into London during half term and looked at some elephants.  They are rather exciting really.  Lucy seemed to like them, and had fun running riot around London.  She is being an interesting combination of total ratbag and total angel.  She's having massive tantrums over food that she wants that I'm not giving her (bad mummy), kicking me when I'm changing her nappy and hitting me if I don't respond immediately.  But then we have lovely days where we have lots and lots of cuddles and kisses, and she's brilliantly behaved.  It's hard bloody work.  I hope that number 2 is less bossy.

I made a cherry cake on Tuesday night.  Both easy and delicious.  I'm going to have a bash at some French type macarons soon, but they look irritatingly fiddly.  We'll see how that turns out.  Maybe I'll have a go at steeks as well - face all your "fears" in one go. 

Hmm.  We were in Cape Town over Easter, and have just got back.  Lucy had a wonderful time.  We did too, but it was a bit stressful not knowing when/if we were coming back.  Pictures will follow at some stage. 

I am pregnant.  I didn't intend to be, but it happened, and I am very, very happy about it.  Baby is due in December, which is smaller than I thought the gap would be, but I think it will all be alright.

I am shattered. 

Lucy is ace.  This is why.

She gets up at ten to 8 and sings "shyo, mamma, dadda, hey-o, sassa" in her cot for ten minutes to mnake sure we realise that she is up and ready for her breakfast.

She sings along to the Timmy Time theme, clicks her tongue when the Pontipines go to bed, waves and dances like Upsy-Daisy and claps her hands when she hears music she likes.

She could eat her own weight in sausages.

She turns the oven timer on all by herself and then goes and tries to put the washing machine on.

She kisses other babies by backing them into a corner.  She also makes kissing noises whenever simon and I kiss each other.

She can amuse herself for about an hour just wandering around exploring her things.

She's almost always asleep by half 7, and then sleeps through,

I can't wait to have another one.

1.  Felt pen is not the best colouring implement to give to a one year old.

2. I hope it washes out.

3. Strawberry and chicken yoghurt is not very nice.

4. Knitting mitred squares is addictive, and I have to force myself to stop and make jumpers again.

5. Plums are good, but more than one plum is not good for said one year old.

6. Assessing children while sitting in the sunshine is the best way to spend a work afternoon.

I am ill.  Not very ill or anything, but just annoyingly ill.  I lost my voice for a few days, and now I have a cough, but that is all.  Lucy has a horrible cough too, poor little rabbit.  It doesn't seem to trouble her much though, which is a relief, and she's still sleeping through the night.  Hurrah.  My cough is making me irritable, and I can't lie on my back for long, so sleeping is a bit of a trial.

We went to London today, which was an underwhelming experience.  I wanted to get a drying rack and a tablecloth and a couple of books from Persephone Books, but I only managed a tablecloth.  Rubbish.  We did have tea with a friend though, and I got some needles and a new pair of pyjamas for Lucy, so it wasn't all wasted.  I bought some wool off the internet this evening in a flaming orangey red, which I will turn into a new jumper, and it will be wonderful, so that sort of makes up for the whole book disappointment.  I might get the books from their website, and ask them who stocks their books.  Foyles doesn't, or anyway, the wally at the information desk couldn't find any. 

I've just finished Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple.  It's great, although the happy ending feels a bit forced. 

It's half term, which is great.  Everyone could do with a rest - the children are all tired and need a bit of a break from behaving properly, and a week is just long enough to recharge the batteries and not so long that you forget their names and horrible little habits.  Of course, we are ridiculously busy going to Greenwich and Cheltenham and Kew and Wisley and all sorts.  Lucy's going to the childminder's on Wednesday afternoon, so I think I'll go to Mrs Moon's in St Margarets and have a nice browse around the wool.  I'll also go to Tesco.  Oh the glamour.

I'm knitting a jumper for the Knitting Olympics.  It's my first cable project, so it's just as well that the bulk of the jumper is stocking stitch.  I'm getting on with it very well; I'm going to be able to start the sleeves soon.  Hurrah.

Not a lot else to say really.

Look at this thing.  Please fill it in. It is all about you.  I would like to know these things. Thank you.

01) Are you currently in a serious relationship?
02) What was your dream growing up?
03) What talent do you wish you had?
04) If I bought you a drink what would it be?
05) Favourite vegetable?
06) What was the last book you read?
07) What zodiac sign are you?
08) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.
09) Worst Habit?
10) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride?
11) What is your favourite sport?
12) Do you have a Pessimistic or Optimistic attitude?
13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
14) Worst thing to ever happen to you?
15) Tell me one weird fact about you.
16) Do you have any pets?
17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?
18) What was your first impression of me?
19) Do you think clowns are fun or creepy?
20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
22) What colour eyes do you have?
23) Ever been arrested?
24) Bottle or can soda?
25) If you won £10,000 today, what would you do with it?
26) What's your favourite place to hang out at?
27) Do you believe in ghosts?
28) Favourite thing to do in your spare time?
29) Do you swear a lot?
30) Biggest pet peeve?
31) In one word, how would you describe yourself?
32) Do you believe/appreciate romance?
33) Favourite and least favourite food?
34) Do you believe in God?
35) Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?