The British Homemaker - One day at a time

Just lately I have been an avid journal keeper, I’ve written about my thoughts, feelings, the day to day stuff with this house move, my friendships, my relationships, in fact anything that has been relevant to this stage of my life. By the end of each daily entry I find that I am a little closer to making sense of the mish-mash of thoughts lingering in my head. Even though the last but one post here I wrote had a very negative tone to it, it was a very big learning curve for me. I am too sensitive, I get defensive and I turn off but bit by bit I am trying to turn that around without hardening my heart. It’s not easy but I believe it’ll be worth it in the long term. One of the things that helps me to calm and slow down the thoughts and put things in perspective is my journal, good scripture study and lots of notes when I’m reading a good book. I will often sit outside at the patio table armed with this lot… Many a hour has been lost whilst I learned about a wide variety of things fro...

When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighbourhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it. Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the correct time. My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbour. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool ...

Sometimes no matter how much we put into it we can be left feeling drained, thwarted and feeling pretty low. Just like I have been feeling lately. Each time I turn around there’s another hurdle and each one feels like it’s getting higher to jump. Life as a single parent is tough, you have got to have walked a mile in their shoes to really understand the thoughts, worries, responsibilities and feelings of them. Some days we feel life is tough but we can turn it around and carry on, some days we feel like we are just walking backwards. I have been the latter kind just lately. My spirits are low, my energy levels are declining and my hope is fading.  I look back over the last 12 months with feelings of regret, tiredness and despair, yet I also see the hard work, the successes and the changes from where I was to where I am now. I review myself often, wanting to be better all the time yet not always feeling like I am worth it or ever going to make the grade. I have people who give m...

That’s what I said, NO tv! I don’t know about your household but I have come to despise the television when its not biting cold outside or dark dreary nights. So much time and learning is lost when tv rules the roost so a couple of years ago I decided to put a limit on it. Since then I can see the benefits with both Kirsten and Charley as well as us as a family. So, I have racked my brain and decided to put together ten things that we’ve tried and tested that deserve to be shared. They aren’t original ideas or come up with by me but all the same, they are fun. throw a sheet over your washing  line and grab a few friends along with a couple of soft balls, its so much more fun to play soft ball with two balls in the game! make your own target board…old paint and some duck taped sheets of card (old cereal boxes are perfect) to make a board about 2’ sq. paint two outer circles (about 6” wide)  and cut out the inner circle….each person takes turns to put their fac...

When Charley started full time school 2 years ago I would go all out to pack a fun, healthy lunch box that covered the 5 day and hoped it would come back empty. It sometimes did and sometimes didn’t. Twice in this last two weeks he’s had packed lunches (a school trip and sports day) and yet again I found I was spending far too much time wrapping my head around food that would last till lunch time in the heat we’ve been having. Over hearing another mum in the class I learnt that the school provide small fridges in each class for the lunch bags, I was very impressed and knew all would be well in my lil dudes tummy world! So I went ahead and prepared his favourites: wholemeal bread with chicken and bacon filling. frube (yoghurt in a tube ~ strawberry flavour!) 1/2 a bag of grapes chopped apple bag of chicken bites (high water content though) chocolate bar chopped cucumber & broccoli     On opening the box after school I was pleased to s...

Charley couldn’t wait to be part of sports day, even though my heart ached when he stopped, put his hand on my hand and said: I know I won’t win mom, I’m not good or fast like the others I hate that days like this are about winning. I wasn’t sure how this school done their sports days as he’s only been there 2 weeks so I was very grateful when he took on board my words of comfort; that he will enjoy it more if he does it for the fun than to try and win. True to form, he put more effort into the participation then his speed, just like most of the other kids in his class. The odd one or two were competitive and ended up in tears when they didn’t win, I felt sorry for them, they had totally lost the meaning of the day. Charley came 2nd in two races and last in the running race (out of 5) along with his girl buddy but he was a very happy boy. The down side is we had to leave half way through because he threw up and had tummy cramps. Still, I got a few good pictures and a couple...

I got to spend a whole day with my gorgeous lil granddaughter, Bailey this week, she is such a happy, fun and contented child that I just can’t get enough of her! Just like her doting auntie Kirsten…. The second she sees a camera the smiles come out, the bottom wiggles and she pitches the perfect pose!! I so love my lil Bailey Boo!!   Debs