Friday 8 June 2007

A.D.P.S. All day pyjama syndrome

ADPS was being discussed this morning.
I was happily on my way home after the third morning school run thinking how fabulously lush the countryside is looking today. I passed two vehicles, must be rush hour! Suddenly I couldn't believe me ears, Mothers dropping their children off at school, still wearing their pj's! Even if I had pj's I wouldn't wear them to the school gate, that's for sure. Not only to school, but these mothers actually get onto buses and go to the hairdressers lie it? Why anyone would get a bus to the hairdressers I don't know!

Wednesday 6 June 2007

Friends for Tea

Miss C. came for tea today. She's a lovely, very confident 8 year old, Mum works in the city, Dad farms, one part time Nanny.
She was really well behaved, even when Sophie bit her sister (Sophie's sister) very hard, she remained calm and did not attempt to join in the fight that resembled a Christian and Lions. I couldn't quite see what was going on, as I was trying to have a civilised conversation with a gentleman interested in buying some of my husbands' Aberdeen Angus Cattle. After apologising for the noise and removing Jazzie's arm from Sophie's teeth, the naughty step was implemented and toys tidied up. They ate tea without dropping any on the dog (v. disappointed) and had a nice time. Dad turned up to collect Miss C. She refused to leave, ignored eveyone for half an hour, and then walked up to her father fists clenched, screamed how mean his is to her kitten and then stomped into the car. It was almost the most amazing strop I've ever seen. The timing was perfect for ultimate dramatic effect, if a little irrelevant to the situation.
The best strop Miss C. threw was three years ago when she was 4. Jaz kept bouncing on the trampoline (as you do) and Miss C. wanted her to stop. Eventually, hands on hips, she shouted "Jasmine, my Nanny will not tolerate such behaviour!" Poor Jaz didn't have a clue how to react and wisely stood very still and quiet hoping to become invisible.
She'll be famous one day, no doubt about it.

Tuesday 5 June 2007

Karaoke

I heard on the radio yesterday that a gentleman abroad was singing at a Karaoke Bar and was shot by a security guard for singing out of tune. I really laughed and then felt quite mean about it afterwards. This morning Terry Wogan was in hysterics about the same story (I feel I've had a reprieve). Apparently in the Phillipines the hit song 'My Way' by Frank Sinatra, has been removed from many Karaoke Bars because it 'results in too many fights and even deaths'!! That's seriously bad singing. Eldest daughter hates darling hubby joining in with My Chemical Toilet Brothers, but even in her teenage tantrums I don't think even she'd go that far!
'Daddy, you are majorly embaressing!'
Mc Fly also amuses Daddy beyond belief, being a farmer, he can think of no worse name than muckfly. Why bother going to see them in concert? there's plenty in the barn....

Monday 4 June 2007

Half Term Heaven

It's over, Thank goodness.
The holiday, the chicken pox, the what are we doing now and constant 'what can I eat' fades like a bad memory.
I haven't been blasted by My Chemical Romance yet today(affectionately known by my darling hubby as My Chemical Toilet Brothers).
The oldest daughter was v. lucky. Because of chicken pox I didn't get out the house and to the dry cleaners with her school blazer until Saturday (14 mile round trip). I went to collect it and found the shop closed, luckily my loud but ladylike swearing, attracted the attention of the manager walking down the street. He galantly opened up and returned the said blazer. She was lucky..
The best bit is my cleaner has been in today..I can see the floor in the living room again, she's my very own household cavalry.

Planning a Children's Birthday Party

We always seem to think about this time of year as the start of the party season. Of course, there are Birthdays every day, and parents all over the country can be heard groaning with despair at the thought of arranging yet another birthday party for their child. How can we make them different and special for our children?.

Over the past few years, birthday parties have moved away from the “jelly and ice cream and pin the tail on the donkey” concept to parties that are almost elaborate in the extreme, with each child (or is it really us??) wishing for something “different”, something “special”. In reality, most children would probably enjoy themselves more if you gave them large cardboard boxes and lots of sticky tape, but no, we parents make our lives even more difficult than they should be through a ridiculous kind of peer pressure to create the dream party (and give ourselves a near nervous breakdown in the process).

The basic ingredients of a fabulous party are as follows: lots of cakes and jam sandwiches, and lots of balloons, with a few games such as Pass the Parcel, Blind Man’s Buff, and Musical Bumps. Additions to this recipe for success are the obligatory birthday cake, preferably homemade, and the must have “party bag”, without which no party could ever be complete. And of course, choose from the wealth of professional party services here in Wales, who will assist with all sorts of wonderful party ideas.

Party Organising Checklist

· First and most important is to agree with your child exactly how many friends they are allowed to invite.
· Decide on the party venue together, there’s no point forcing your child to have something they won’t be happy with. (If you desire a professional entertainer, be prepared to book well in advance)
· Send out the invitations two weeks before the party and be prepared to make follow-up phone calls to find out who’s coming and who isn’t. Invitations often stay in school or get lost on the bus.
· Check for food allergies when planning the Birthday Tea, so many children seem to have them these days.
· If you forget something, you’re probably the only person who will notice, don’t worry about it!
· Have a takeaway organised for the evening meal when you get home!


A twist on the traditional game of Pass the Parcel:

Instead of the usual parcel, cunningly contrived so every child ‘wins’ something, put one prize in the middle of the parcel. Between each layer of wrapping paper place a slip of paper with a ‘forfeit’ written on it. On the first slip put ‘Howl like a Wolf’, that will get them all giggling. Other suggestions for forfeits are: quack like a duck, walk like a crab, hop like a bunny. This will raise far more giggles and smiles. A plate of homemade biscuits in the shape of parcels, at the end of the game would do down a treat!

Unusual Presents for the Birthday Child?

How about a potted plant to put out in the garden or keep in their bedroom? A Venus Fly Trap or Cactus never fails to fascinate.