Words from a Bird

I've just sat down with a cup of tea for what feels like the first time in a week.  We haven't been anywhere to speak of (except for a short jaunt into the East End, more of this later) but there has been a lot to do at home with the pending Yuletide festivities which are just a month away. I've been cooking you see.  Now that in itself is nothing short of a miracle if you ask the husband, but he has been particularly peeved during this period of frenzied kitchen activity because every time he has come home over the last week, there has been something cooling on the worktop.  The conversations this week have nearly all gone the same way... 'Is that sausage plait you've made there?' 'Yes, but it's for Christmas'. 'But there's two there.  Surely we only need one for Christmas?' 'Cast your mind back to last year my love.  I made two which were both demolished before I managed to stuff the turkey.  So yes, we do need two an

Well ladies, the big day arrived today.  After almost five years of sharing a room with Master J and Master P (so small, it's really just a cupboard with a window and a plug socket), we finally moved into a larger room across the corridor. This room is so big that I have told the boys that I will be investing in a megaphone so that I can shout very loudly across the room, 'Whose round is it?' This normally results in a mug of your finest PG being set down next to my left elbow, and I see no reason why this should stop.  At least I am nearest to the door.  I have a feeling that a large portion of Master J's coffee may have evaporated by the time he makes it to his desk at the other end of the room.   There were some major discussions as to whether the map of the world on one of the walls could remain in situ, having been left behind by the office's previous occupants.  'I think it should stay', said Master P, standing with his back pressed up against

Have you ever grappled with a dopey wasp in the bathroom while standing naked with a view to getting ready for work, armed with just last night's pyjamas and a spray deodorant? So that was my Monday, how was yours? I am a great believer in the great seesaw of life, with a bad day being thrown in every now and again as payback for several great ones.  So I am blaming the wasp (who I eventually steered out of the Velux window with the deodorant) for today as I have had a fantastic few days spent with the husband.  The highlight was going to see Le Mans '66 on Saturday afternoon.  What happened to Terminator?  Well, I have to confess that I embarked on some grade one, top drawer wheedling on the husband about this, as having sat through the first two in the series, the thought of sitting through another without having the home based options of a power nap or hanging out the washing was not my idea of fun.   Luckily, the husband knows which side his bread is buttered,

Have you ever regretted asking a question? I have... 'Would you like to go and see the new Terminator film?' I asked the husband over a cup of tea and a couple of dairy, wheat, egg and gluten free ginger biscuits. (I don't know what is holding these biscuits together, but they are all that keeps me sane these days).  Well dear readers, his little face lit up like Oxford Street on Christmas Eve and I suggested that we go at the weekend.  This involved going to his favourite cinema where he could get a Rum'n'Raisin ice cream smoothie, and to be honest with you, I'm not too sure which one he was more excited about. 'Great idea!' the husband said.  'Which one has been your favourite to date? '   Now I could have lied.  In fact, I should have lied, but the three words ('None of them') had slipped out of my mouth before it had time to receive instructions from my brain.  The incredulous look he gave me was only rivaled by the l

So another weekend flies by in a nano second.  As you all know, I spent a lovely day in my friend Emma's vintage shop helping out and learning the ropes for when I am on my own (I am already panicking about this - how much damage can I realistically do in an hour and a half?  Time will tell...) But let's be honest here.  She has many wonderful things in this gorgeous shop of hers, and going round the shop looking studiously where the bags where, which cabinet the stunning jewellery is housed in, which dress went where etc, what I was really doing was jotting down in my head a shopping list for when the self-imposed clothes shopping embargo limps to an end.  Within the first hour of being in there, I had already bought (virtually of course) at least three dresses. a skirt, a pair of trousers, a couple of jumpers and some shoes.  And don't get me started on the bags.  I confess that I did buy a bag which is sitting reverently on my chest of drawers waiting for its first

I am officially puddinged out... Two in the steamer and another seven to go over the weekend, and that's all the curranty cooking done for another year.  This is the earliest I have ever done them, and as ever, I had my Christmas music playing loud and proud while I followed the recipe handed down by five generations on the Mother's side.   What I love about this recipe is the way that each generation has tweaked the recipe with minor weight changes, all neatly done with a pen.  The only ingredient which seems to have increased every year is the amount of rum which goes into making two puddings.  The original writer of the recipe allowed for a mere three tablespoons of rum, but as the years have gone by, it has increased to almost the half a litre which I bunged in today.  And that doesn't take into account the large slosh which goes on top of them when they are cooked.  Better put another bottle on my shopping list.  Just in case. So as you know, I am working

I read somewhere recently that to keep yourself interesting to be around, you should try and do or try one new thing every day.  Over the past twenty years of so, I would hazard a guess that the nearest I have ever been to this is changing my washing powder or eating avocado some time ago.  But today, I have managed to do not one, but three new things. Close to where I live is a donkey sanctuary, and the last few times I have driven by there has been a majestic looking white donkey with the longest ears I have ever seen.  Standing amongst the other donkeys, he was a head and shoulders taller than the others and looked almost king like.  So today, I made the decision that I would like to sponsor him.  It's a charity and I know that every penny is welcome, but it would mean that every time I passed this majestic looking beast, I could nod across to it and claim ownership.  'Do you know which one you'd like to adopt?' asked the lovely lady at the sanctuary.  Well

And so endeth another weekend of birthday celebrations... Never mind being 56 this year, after the last five days, you could add another twenty years to that and I would still be struggling.  It's been a busy few days starting with a night Oop North with son number two and the gorgeous Miss M who is featuring very strongly in his life.  I love watching our children falling in love and making a life with their partners.  I'm not quite ready to buy any head wear as yet, but I have high hopes for all of them.   So Leeds.  Always loud.  Always busy and to date, always wet.  I had a great day with son number two and the main reason for this is that I was able to actually get a new item of clothing.  Before you start yelling at me about my new year's resolution, I am happy to say that no money changed hands. My devious best friend, Mrs S, bought me a shirt for my birthday.  Thinking outside the box, she had picked a shirt that I wouldn't like in a month of Sundays, a