The British Homemaker - One day at a time

It's a good job no-one is perfect! I know I'm far from it. It plays on my mind when things are wrong between me and another if they wont be up front about things with me. After all, what do they think I'm going to do? I've always maintained if I am causing you to be unhappy come and talk to me, let me explain, apologise and/or put right. I don't like contention yet I find it a lot within the one community I expect it least and by not talking about it is more damaging than anything because the natural inclination is to jump it up out of all proportion to the point where you loose sight of what the original issue was! But I can't fix everything. I'm not everyone cup of tea and I'm ok with that. I pray for many people, whether I like them or not. Liking someone is not a requirement but a respect is. If I don't like someone I have two choices, tell the world or keep it to myself. I choose the latter but I will always be respectful to that person, just...

What? It’s October? Sheesh! Who moved September then? Is that how you feel to? I think the whole of 2012  has whizzed by. I’m sure it was only last week we were about to sign for the keys for this house, enjoy a stress free Christmas {probably the only one ever !} and looking forward to re-creating a home for us all again. Now, as I plan for Halloween and Christmas I can’t help but cast my mind back to the wonderful things that have happened this year. I know this is a pre-mature kinda post but bare with me, all will be revealed... * January saw us in our new home, hardly able to believe we were on the way to becoming settled again. It also saw us ill {3 weeks for me!} There is nothing in the world that prepares you for being homeless, no matter how it comes about, but more than that, nothing prepares you for the time you know you can lay your hat again and allow the inside unfold...it took quite a while for us all to deal with th...

I’ve always said to my kids, don’t just leave home, plan it and I can help you. Well that was changed on my oldest sons part, he went for a visit one day and didn’t come home! We laugh about it now but he’s settled with his girls and his fiancé and all has come exceptionally well for them. No matter how many times I look at Jay, I can’t help but feel proud of the person he’s become. When Scott left it was appropriate timing after my marriage ended, since then he’s completed college and university and about to move into his own place nearby, so I’m now on the look out for some good furniture for him even if I have to do it up first. He has it together impressively well. I totally love the man my Scott has become. Now I’m determined that at least one of my 4 kids will leave home with some input and planning from me! I just always wanted to share that experience with them and Kirsten is the one that is more like me, plan, plan and more plan. While she has her l...

One week to go till school starts. One week to go till Kirsten starts college. Life will not only return to a normal routine but it will require some serious planning and preparation for the latter part of the  year now.  There are 5 things I am actively working towards... Bailey turns 2 Having a rather large doll house off my sister means Bailey gets a rather large doll house for her birthday....only Kirsten and I are decorating in inside and out as well as furnishing it. Reminds me of when I was a kid, I loved my dolls house! Charley turns 8 a week later ...

Time flies eh? So many plans were scheduled for this 6 week period but with the loss of my little Billy-Norman life has taken a couple of twists and turns I didn’t expect. The alternative hasn’t all be bad though, just unplanned! Taking up bike riding to replace the car has been fun {so far} Charley loves our night time rides out where he can just chat, chat and chat some more. Having this time with him has been priceless, listening to him talk about his day, his friends and see how he’s developing his opinions and boundaries is refreshing. The dude is totally my kid! So using pictures and a few words, here’s a little how it all went.... Kirsten doesn’t do well in the heat but she does enjoy being in the garden so this little ‘tent’ was ideal for her and Jake to chill out....odd pieces of fabric, a few canes and plenty of cushions made for a happy teen! Of course, Charley had to follow suit but he wanted something a little less ‘made up’, if I could have made a cave...

This year is the end of 2 era’s in my life, both concerning my kids. It’s also the end of my Scott’s 3 years at university...and I don’t mind saying it’s all very emotional for me. Kirsten left school the day after she turned 16 (June) and is now eagerly awaiting September to move onto college. She is so fired up about it, having chosen her subjects, seen how it will take her into the career she so badly wants (midwife) and how she will no longer have to deal with subjects that bore her senseless (science and P.E). I’m not sure how we got to this point, it was only 5 mintues ago I was attending her primary school leaving assembly, again wondering how we’d gotten to that point too! After how the last year has been for her, I stand all amazed at how she has not only gained momentum on life itself but leapt so far forward with her education that even her tutors didn’t want her to leave! Proud mommy here. ...

A couple of years ago I had to go on medication for a stomach complaint, the side effects were migraines and weight gain, well they are the ones that affected me. After the course finished and my issue settled I was left with extra, unwanted poundage. Being the other side of 40 means unless I become a workout freak I have to work extra hard to lose it again. But I’m a lazy a$$ when it comes to working out, yeah I’ve given a few workouts a go, the best one being Jillian Michaels . However, now add in a knee injury that isn’t healing and you have a physical oxymoron!! See the beagle cheeks going on there?   I’ve never really had a weight problem, I’ve been lucky in that way, though saying that, it took my marriage breaking down to loose the weight a year after having Charley! I do not recommend the divorce diet! Losing 2 and a half stone in 6 weeks is not the way to go, but darn I looked good!!   Being 5’2” doesn’t do me many favours, having a small frame but bein...

Charley is an innocent 7 year old who loves all things magical and imaginative. Last year everything was scored off the scale, from the mention of Santa to making cookies. He would do the I-need-a-pee dance at the sight of the tree or a gift. This year he’s taken it all in his stride. He has taken any opportunity to bake, make and create yet until the gingerbread house he hasn’t instigated anything himself. This worries me. Is my baby losing the magic, or has it been the toll of the year just pulling him back? Admitted I have lost all momentum this year with all the things I’ve had to deal with but I’ve tried hard for it to not affect him. Maybe I didn’t do enough, I don’t know. Then we watched The Polar Express together and he was back to a million questions a minute needing the answers to be just right. It was then that I saw that the magic is still there for him, he still believes. I’m not ready for him to question the magical side to Christmas . I’m not ready for him to st...

Tomorrow is my birthday. I don’t usually make a deal over it, I don’t have much care of it one way or another. This year though I have had some friends start the celebrations early by posting funny/cute things on my Facebook wall! All week I’ve been getting comments and texts wishing me a wonderful day. It is very sweet. Yesterday my mom and I took off out for a couple of hours and she treated me to some fabrics and stuff then this afternoon we went to Monkton Elm with the kids. The first stop was right by the car park……   My lil dude totally fell for this huge dino! Nanny love! My mom, poor unsuspecting camera victim! The boy met some temporary friends in the play area, but in this heat he is thankfully drinking like a fish! Me, I’m the lucky owner of some gifts today…and more to come tomorrow…my actual birthday!! This weather is a killer, going out for just a few hours was all we could manage, it was a welcome break to later sit in moms garden, s...

Being homeless has many levels of meaning and circumstances. After two stints I do not believe it is something to be taken lightly. I have seen people around me this last two weeks who walk round this hotel looking like they have the world on their shoulders. There is no typical person to fall prey to the situation either. I chat with a couple of people who have obviously had the daylights knocked out of them primarily because of a relationship breakdown of some form and through mean and sometimes spiteful choices they can’t control and are out on the streets whilst their partners are in the home…the shocking thing is the people I am referring to are mothers with young children. It breaks my heart that my kids are going through this again, through no fault of theirs or mine but to see a 2 and 4 year old come out of the bathroom freshly bathed and in their pjs I wonder what effect it will have on them in the future. I look at the mom, say hi and stop to chat for a few minutes and I de...

The start of a new school year can be exciting yet expensive and time consuming, over the years I have learnt what not to do and how best to do the challenge. Here are my top 9 must-do’s:   Don't wait till the week before school starts! Two weeks before is fine {that’s what I usually do}. Make a shopping list for each child then go house shopping. It’s surprised what items we already have that we’ve stashed or forgotten about, especially stationary. Decide on your labelling system and get the kids involved. Be it a permanent pen or sewn in labels, most kids can do an effective job. Don’t try and do other shopping in town at the same time, make it a specific day for school shopping. With older kids, give them their own budget and let them go off and pick up there items. If you are like me and buy reduced priced items when they aren’t in season now is a good time to get them out, last year I didn’t buy many uniform items other than logo sweaters because...