Imran's birthday

My boy is was 15 years old yesterday. Rare pictures, as it is almost impossible taking a picture of him.

Shorne Wood Country Park

We went to Shorne Wood Country park today - that is Bonnie, Dan, Imran and me. Yes, I could talk my two teenage boys into coming with their old mum on a ramble through the woods. The boys came because they wanted to have a look at the fishing lakes in the park. And -- they liked it and want to come back!

The park is massive, and it was very very busy. We had trouble finding parking and had to cruise for ages on the (massive!) carpark. There were so many people on the main walk ways, it felt like London Bridge for rush hour!! But once we were into the deeper woods, it was a bit better and I saw the first wild primulas - right in the middle of the forest - beautiful.

Danial has hardly ever left his room since I've got the children the computer for Christmas! I went out to the sales yesterday ... no, I'm not one to go mad over the sales and launch myself into those crowds - that is something I try to avoid at all costs. And I don't really need anything, as in .. reallllly need it, so there is no need to go to the sales.

However, It's Imran's birthday of course on the 27. December, and every year the same.... I think that I wait to buy his present until after Christmas so I can get it reduced. And every year the same.... whatever he want's is not reduced. Isn't it aways the same, whatever I need is not reduced. Anyway, I went out and bought him a PSP (Playstation Portable) with 3 games - that's what he wanted. No point buying a 13 year old boy stuff he might or might not like. So, it was of course exactly the same price in 'Game' as before the Christmas. And tonight, he wants as to go to Nando's as a family.

Here is the reason - well, one of them, why I haven't been around too much. This is the latest edition to our family - Bonnie, a two year old labrador bitch. We got her at the end from a private sale. I wasn't too sure if I would keep her at the beginning. She wasn't used to walking on the lead and pulled me right - left - centre when I took her out. But she is perfectly housetrained and is as good as gold when we leave her alone in the house. And I guess everyone sort of fell in love with her quickly, she is very good-natured. I got rid of the choke chain and now bought one of those 'Halti' leads which goes around the mouth - so much better, and she doesn't pull half as much. I take her out every day after work for 1 hour, and for 2 hours at the weekend. Yes, I am dead-tired at the end of the evening, but believe it or not, it is actually quite relaxing after a day's work just to walk with her and forget about all those little annoying things in live.

What didn't help as well was that my laptop broke. I still haven't found out exactly what happened , but Imran was on the laptop (which he is not allowed anyway) and closed it with a bang. the cats were in the same room as well. When I came back and opened the laptop, half of the screen was gone. No physical damage on the outside, but all the pixels are completly messed up. as the laptop is less than 1 year old, we took it straight back were we bought it (Curry's), but they refused to help, saying that this sort of damage is not a material fault, but always accidental damage which is not covered under the warranty. To cut the long story short, my home insurance accepted the claim and I just have to see now whether it will be repaired or replaced. In the meantime, I work on half the screen only ;-))

I hardly did any cross stitch recently. There is plenty to do, but I'm just always too tired at the end of the evening. I went to the Cross Stitch Fair end of March in Olympia which was great as usual. Well, I'm a great fan of those type of Fairs. I haven't finished Rachel's poodle, of course not. So far, 1 1/2 pages done (of 6 all together). Sara's wedding is coming up in June, and I still did only, well, less than 5% I'd guess.

The Open University is keeping me busy as well... I think I have said before that I really really don't enjoy this year's course (Social Psychology). I just don't get a lot of it, because it is based not on Cognitive (experiments etc), but more on qualitative approaches such as discursive and influenced by philosophy - which is absolutely not my thing, sorry all philosophers out there. Anyway, I just try to get through with it. 2 assignments done so far - only 4 to go, and the examn in October of course. The next assignment is a preparation for a project, and the literature research for this kept me busy, and I hope I can at least write up parts of it tomorrow.'

Reading wise - currently I am reading two books, which is very unlike me, as I would normally always finish one before going on to the next. Reason is that 'A suitable boy' from Vikram Seth is over 1400 pages and not always easy to read. The other book is a German book from Johannes Mario Simmel 'Wir heissen euch hoffen'. This is an Austrian author, and I quite like his style of writing. I first read this book as a teenager, and now re-reading, I find that I understand many things much better. for example, he descripes a mental illnes and psychosis.

The weather has been awful so far here this year - no sign really of spring. Rain almost every day. I finally had my garden fence done, but didn't manage so far to do any planting.

I received a Christmas surprise from Marlies, containing 'Printen' (which is a German Christmas type of biscuit) - I've all gobbled them up already.... And this beautiful card, it doesn't show up on the picture, but is really pretty, stitched on fine Linen.

We've had our Office Christmas Party on Thursday. The venue was a pub called 'The Doggetts' , overlooking the Thames - it was really pretty. Not a lot people came though, all sorts of excuses valid and not, never mind, I enjoyed the food. Got a nice secret Santa present - a kitten calender and a dish with a fat candle - this is rather spooky as I wanted to buy both those things for myself but I'm sure I haden't mentioned it to anyone in the office - so well done Secret Santa! The (very quite) party came to an end at about 23:oo hrs - so no wild falling out of pubs stories with our parties.

This is a small box i did as a Christmas present for my friend Rachel. it was a kit, and really easy to do, it took me approx. 2 hours to stitch and to fit it all together, it looked stunning and I was well pleased with it - wanted to keep it to myself actually LOL - Oh no, Rachel, hope you enjoy it of course.


I went to see Rachel yesterday with Imran and Ruby. Imran wanted to go and see her because of the dogs - she's got 6 poodles. Oh, they are ever so nice and cuddly, so very different from the cats - I always come back from Rachel's wishing I could have a dog, but with all of us working, the dog would be on its own most of the day, and not to mention what the cats would say... Well, one day, when I'm retiered, I will most definitely get a dog.

Here's my update on the NH afghan - first stage of block 1 (of 30 blocks ;-)). I actually enjoy stitching on the afghan fabric, it's slightly 'different' to hava a whole lot of fabric covering me - nice for the winter months s'pose. And today was payday, and what did I do? I ordered the remaining DMC colours for the afghan! the best prices are from Tandem Cottage. No, I'm not affiliated to them, but you can't beat 50 threads for £20! They even offer to wind them on bobbins for you, how is this for service.

Today I was in court, and it was quite a funny session. A lot of the witnesses were stark drunk. One of the chaps kept touching his --youknowwhat- and kept leaving (staggering out of) the courtroom to go to the toilet, and he called our coroner 'your honour'. I just had to giggle, and as they were all very friendly, I prefer this sort than the violent type.

This is our house today on Halloween. I'm not going overboard with decorations, but I thought I lead the way for the kids with our little pumpkin.

All 3 of the kids went trick-or-treating and got an enourmous loot. Everyone was really friendly to them, and I had quite a few trick-or-treaters this year, mostly really small kids with their parents.

Here is Imran in his new school uniform. I'm really impressed by him, and I think he is quite happy with Secondary School. He seems really relaxed and I don't get any of the 'I hate school' which we had ever so often in the past year. Looks like he feels all grown up and happy to be in the 'big boys gang' now. Hope it will last.


And here are Ruby and Casey in Legoland
.

Imran had his first day in Secondary School today, and I couldn't be there... I am an call, and after a weekend on call, there is no way I can take Mondays off. And Ruby went to Leogland Windsor today with Casey, lucky Ruby! I'm still waiting for them to return, they are somewhere on the M25 now!

Worked the whole weekend to get TMA06 ready. It's done now, just have to reduce the wordcount a bit. good thing is that now that I don't have OU reading to do, I can read for pleasure in the train.

Back from Holidays

Where have the 2 1/2 weeks holiday gone... We left Dartford on 06.08. and returned on 23.08. As usual, we went to Germany to spend some time with my parents. They live in a small village which is basically between Berlin and the Polish border. Flat country, lots of forests, lakes. My parent's house is much bigger (and nicer ) than mine, a huge garden, an old staple (which my dad uses as a garage and shed/workhouse. We would normally go for a long walk in the forest, sometimes go mushroom-picking which is a big past-time over there. Once, we went on a trip to Poland, there are big markets near the border and the boys loved it. I enjoyed the food. Now Dartford got me back! I feel refreshed and feel inspired to do some home improvements. Started yesterday by getting a new toilet seat hee hee! And I finally sorted out the garden today - well , at least I did the weeding and mowed the lawn.

I'm getting tired and exhausted at work, I find difficult-ish people really get to me - I think I desperately need a break. and the good news: only 2 more weeks at work and I'm off JIPPEE!

I bought myself a brand-new laptop - my new pride and joy. Nafees installed a router, and now I've got Internet on my desk upstairs - it's great. I'm even trying to get my writing started again. Not much x-stitch done over the last few weeks, well, not a single stitch really. Too tired, too busy studying. TMA05 is submitted, and now I have to prepare for the final, big double weighted TMA06. Today I went to OU dayschool in the LSE in Aldwych. I dragged my laptop with me in the hope of doing some work in the break, however, the break was only 30 mins, the laptop so heavy, and it was raining on top of it. And I'm more confused about TMA06 than ever.

here's some pictures from Imran's year 6 production - Alice in Wonderland. Imran was a card, he didn't have any lines to say, but it still looked like he enjoyed himself.

I'm frantically trying to finish TMA03 - no choice but to leave my Spring queen this week, so there won't be much progress. TMA03 is due next Wednesday, and I've never been so late with an ansignment. And yesterday was Nafees' leaving due. I joined in, we came home about 10, not too late, but still had sort of hang over this morning. And I still can't believe he's leaving his job in a BOOK SHOP!


Imran managed to do with his 11 years what I haven't managed in 38 years - he's getting published! Well, not a whole book, but it turns out that he did a drawing in an 'After School Club', his school submitted some work into a competion, and my Imran's work was chosen to get published in a book! The topic for the drawing was 'My Family' and I had horror visions of him having done a drawing of me - but turns out he did a drawing of Sugar - our HAMSTER!


Here is the link: http://www.afterschoolclub.net/default.htm