Highland Madness

Bear is Blooming 13!!

2012-02-10T17:37:00.003Z

Bear has always been beautiful ( age 2 above), but she's blooming into quite the young lady these days. Yesterday, I can scarcely beleive, she turned 13 in style and only as a Bear can. She had cake and a "showstopper" candle (yes, it's really called that and does what it says on the tin!) at school with her friends, presents at home and a Chinese take away for tea.

Tomorrow the festivities continue with a lunch party and more cake and candle. Having sent the traditional super-chocolatey chocolate cake to school I'm experimenting with a banana cake recipe, sandwiching it with caramel and butter icing - it's either going to be a triumph or efinately not...

This is great!

2012-01-21T15:59:00.002Z

This came to me via FaceBook - enjoy!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150472069673388&set=a.10150341805178388.343953.511403387&type=1&theater

(for some reason my linky thing isn't working so hope you can get it through the long way round!)

I should know by now...

2012-01-17T11:08:00.001Z

After a Christmas and New Year break marred by illness the girls return to school was much anticipated and looked forward to by all but it has been a somewhat patchy return and we've yet to get to normal - whatever that is!

Two weeks in and the chaos continues with Bear having a lot of trouble with side effects from a new medication. The hope was it would help her manage her compulsive behaviours but I (and I think I can speak for her too) would rather have the face smashing, the bouncing and running than the vomiting, anxiety and (yet more!) sleep issues that she's had over the past week.

As Bear's compulsive behaviours have become more and more prevalent to the point they dominate her days and nights we made the decision to try medication to aleviate the symptoms. She reached the point of not being able to take more than one or two mouthfuls of food without having to get up and bounce or run up and down the corridor, not being able to enjoy a bath without having to get out and bounce (she knows the rule, no bouncing in the bath, so she has to get out). We can ask her not to bounce, not to smash her face into a pillow on the floor from standing but we might just as well ask her not to breathe. This is something she has to do, not someting she chooses to do. This is not fun. This is not rewarding to her.

A few months ago now Bear broke her ankle. It was a classic skiing injury of a crack across her bone just above the level of her walking boots. Even though she was in considerable pain she still ran, with support, the wrong way up the corridor before going out the door for school. That's what compulsion means. No Peace, no space to enjoy simple pleasures, no chance to concentrate or learn.

After trying diet and behaviour modification approaches we didn't choose the medication route lightly, this group of drugs is heavy duty after all, but Bear deserves a chance to fulfill her own wants and desires in life, to make her own choices and learn. Let's hope we can make this last ditch attempt work for her.

VNS Update

2012-01-07T15:00:00.003Z

On 7th November 2011 Scrumpy had her VNS operation. HotHubs and I took her down to Dundee where we were thoroughly looked after, being given our own room with our own loo away from the hullabaloo that is a childrens' ward. The staff were all lovely and very supportive. When it was time for Hot Hubs to head home to Bear they came to sit with Scrumpy so I could get a drink or something to eat. All in all it was a very positive experience of being in hospital and thanks to my friend Michelle I had a good book to read to the soundtrack of Toy Story 1.

The operation itself went without a hitch and Scumpy has recovered well with two approximately 6cm scars. The big switch on was at the beginning of December and passed without incident. One of my fears had been that Scumpy would not be able to tollerate the sensory stimulous when the VNS fired (a side effect is you have a hoarse voice and a slight tickle) but even after two increases in stimulous strength she is still unaffected.

Has it worked? Well, so far so good. We have had several seizures which we have been able to treat using the magnet to boost the signal and avoided using emergency medication. The seizure has been shorter and recovery has been swifter. Previously Scrumpy would be wiped out for the day by a combination of seizure and medication but she has been more herself and up for more than watching TV in her room within hours of fitting which is a huge improvement.

Will it last or will it be a three week wonder, like all those medications we tried, who knows? For the moment we are positive and enjoying the increased "up" time. Currently seizures are at the same interval but hopefully they'll become fewer and further between as we progress with the VNS. It's early days.

New Year, New Blog!

2012-01-07T13:13:00.003Z

Well having abandoned my blog for quite some time, (mainly due to being lured away by the instant gratification that is Face Book) we have decided to blow the cobwebs off and give it a revamp. I say "we" because Hot Hubs has decided to get involved and will be lending the often over-looked Dad's voice to proceedings. As you can see from the revamp, it'll be a whole lot more personal and about the whole Highland Madness family.

Buckle up for the rollercoaster ride that is our life here in the Highlands!

Another Book Recommendation...

2011-09-01T08:54:00.002+01:00

Lydia's second book is available from Lulu.com today - I did a blurb for it and the draft I read was illuminating.

Click HERE for your copy

What's for you won't go by you

2011-07-27T12:25:00.001+01:00

On the basis Lexie is for Lydia, see this link.http://www.giveforward.com/bringlexiehome

Where have I been?

2011-07-27T11:18:00.003+01:00

Woken at 4am by next doors cows in our hay field.

Whare have I been? Up to my neck in life, that's where! Between SOAR charity funding crisis, kids crisis and trying to stay afloat this blog hasn't even made it to the outer limits of my radar, so time for an update.

Scrumpy is still having a lot of seizures and is on yet another drug regime which thay know will only be a tempoaray fix if it works but hopefully it will take us to the point of having the VNS fitted, for which we now have funding thanks to the NHS. It's grasping at straws and I think it serves more to focus our attention and make us feel we're doing something than actualy achieving better seizure control. Everything crossed for the VNS working...

Bear has started having more seizures too and as the mood leveling medication wasn't working significantly she's coming off that so we're back to a bit more sweaty bouncing and even less sleep.

Both girls are doing well though, it's not all doom and gloom! We're having fun in the holidays with lots of beach trips and a visit to Landmark yet to come.

Staff has been an issue with one new member leaving us early - I won't say I sacked her but it just wasn't working. The rest of the team has settled down though and in the wake of Surfer girl leaving us we're in a new normal.

We have a new dog - Mickey - who has bonded with Bear in a big way and I will be contcating the service dog traiing people to get some help in developing that. Don't panic, Meg is still with us caring for my sanity and getting way too excited at the mere mention of cake and candles.

Birds are all still with us although it has been a terrible year for ducklings so far as none have survived. We have two birds sitting at the moment so fingers crossed we'll have some success.

Bruce still thinks he should be a house cat. No change there!

My friend and felow autism Mum Michelle has finally found the time and courage to publish her memoir - click herehttp://http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ffullsoulahead.com%2F2011%2F07%2F25%2Fintroducing-daughter-of-the-drunk-at-the-bar&h=iAQBZe9MK - she's a lovely person and does great things with her kids after a dodgy start in life so it promises to be a well written interesting read

This is something you could do...

2011-05-17T11:16:00.002+01:00

People often ask what they can do for me, or say they wish they could help the girls. Well, there is something and my friend Michelle put it very well so over to her.

Click here

I've talked about Lydia before and regulars will know she has given me insights and perspectives on aspects of autism I could never have learned if it weren't for her. So, if you want to help, here's something you can do.

I just found this on another blog...

2011-05-11T10:11:00.002+01:00

Why the Dichotomy

I am often

Only who I'm not

But you don't care

As long as I have words for you.

You can't understand

(Through no fault of your own?)

That who I am

Is not the me you see

Do you want to work on that?

They ask

No I don't;

I want to be free

But in this world

The only freedom

Is to be

Everything you aren't

I read this and it struck so many chords on so many levels I thought I'd share it with you. Think about how you are around autistic people. Think what you ask of them. Think how you let them be, if you let them be. That question "Through no fault of your own?" Ask yourself that and answer truthfully.

Read and inwardly digest

2011-05-01T10:46:00.001+01:00

A message from Lydia... read this

Tiny Chat

2011-04-27T15:10:00.002+01:00

If you scroll down a bit you'll find a list of "Other cool stuff" and on it you'll see my friend Lydia's blog "Autistic Speaks" which is always a good read as she is very good at putting her written word across. Now thanks to tinychat.com you can have a good old chin wag with her here

Choppy waters ahead...

2011-04-24T16:07:00.003+01:00

Over the next two weeks we have some important meetings and decisions to make.

We have an appointment with the neurologist regarding Scrumpy, the VNS and where we can go now. Most likely place is Dundee to have a chat with the surgeons but you never know, he might have come up with some thing we haven't tried yet. I live in hope but I'm not holding my breath. That part happens every five days when we wait in trepidation for the seizure to happen. The good thing about increasing the medication is it has given us an extra day (at the moment) between seizures but the down side is it's another bad day spent on tenter hooks waiting for it to happen.

The other big meeting will be with school regarding Bear. You'll hear me giving it to them with both barrels way beyond the Highlands. I'm not a happy mummy.

For some time we have been waiting for the "Please don't bring her back" or "We don't think we're the best place for her" that her pre-school days were peppered with and just before the holidays we took a step nearerwith a note from one of her teachers saying she wasn't prepared to be responsible for her safety. Like I say, I am not happy. At all.

When Two Become One

2011-04-10T08:36:00.004+01:00

Well, we have been to see the dietitian regarding Ketogenic treatments (It's not a diet, by the way, it's a metabolic intervention) and it's not looking good. The specialist dietitian and her local counterpart, who is helping her in our area, (specialist covers the bulk of Scotland!) were both lovely. Helpful, supportive, talk to you like you know whats going on and consider the wider picture. Everything you want in a professional medic. The thing I like most about them is they said it how it was with no tip toeing, and it's not going to be possible to use the treatment for Scrumpy.

The dietitian took a good look at the food diary we kept for 5 days and said we had one option - the MCT version - which would involve Scrumpy drinking a specific manufatured oil diluted in milk four times per day. Scrumpy doesn't drink milk. In fact she doesn't really do dairy aside from soft cheese on a roll or, more recently, melted cheese on a burger or pizza and of course ice cream.

Her advice was that in her 17 years experience it would not be possible to get Scrumpy to give up food and start the treatment. Most foods used are wet - Scrumpy doesn't do wet food. There's a lot of cream, eggs and milk - none of which she eats. She would only be abllowed portion sizes of approximately 12 blueberries - she might not eat vegetables but she'll happily munch her way through half a pack or blueberries. She's used to having free rein with the fruit bowl.

Her level of autism means she has the understanding that she can't eat her usual carb-laden diet anymore but not the reason why. And then of course we have the Bear factor..... I left the meeting with my head spinning with information over load and the dietitian's mobile number and email address. Hot Hubs had to stay home with Scrumpy as she had a seizure that morning. In their absence I stopped off to pick up a nice lunch to take home for the debrief. I managed to make some notes so I was hoping I hadn't forgotten too much.

Scrumpy's seizure pattern is now one tonic clonic every 5 days with a 2 day lead up so 3 days out of 5 she's not up to much.

We're waiting for an appointment to see the surgeons regarding the VNS option and in the meantime her medication has been increased. Again. One more increase and we can increase no more.

I called this post When two become one because to me the option of leaving her as she is just isn't. I feel driven by a parent's need to make everything right, to protect my child and we won't give up. Ever.

Growing Pains

2011-01-20T20:02:00.006Z

I'm delighted to say Scrumpy went to a friends' house for tea last week. I didn't go, she was invited for an evening of computer games with chips and burgers for tea. An unremarkable event, and for most 13 year-olds it most certainly is, but this is the first and only time Scrumpy has been invited.

When she was little, Mums would nervously approach me to negotiate "because she is, well, a bit different.....will she manage..... I'll understand if you don't want to..." Believe me, I've heard every version of the "charity invite" that "oh cripes they know I'm having a party I'll have to invite them but please let them say no"

I started this post a while ago and as is the habit, life got in the way and called a halt to my writing. We've had growing pains of another kind - including hospital visits.

Scrumpy is still having seizures all the time including at least weekly major tonic clonic which I'm afraid to say have not been effected one bit by the last new medication. All we managed to do with that was add to her troubles so fell at the first level with that one. This week we had our first experience of seizure activity requiring hospital visit via ambulance. It all kicked off while she was at the respite centre - we got "the call" at 7.50am, definitely not what you want when you were relishing a rare lie in.

Thankfully all was well and she was able to get home after a few hours. The hospital staff were great but I'd rather not meet them again for a while.

So, now we have two - and only two - options for treatment. Ketogenic diet or VNS. Ketogenic diet is going to be tough and we're waiting for the dietitian for advice if this is even doable with Scrumpy's restricted pallet but from the little i know it could be well worth trying. The downside, and I feel it's a big down side, is all the hard work we've done in encouraging her to eat things like pasta and not white bread will be thrown away.

As for VNS, well, the same sword of Damocles still hangs in the air. Do we put her through surgery or do we hope she gets the other side of puberty and stops having seizures on her own?

----------------------------------

Now, onto outside growing - we still have ducks waiting for dispatch and I'm hoping this will happen sooner rather than later for the sake of our feed bill if nothing else. This week has also seen the start of preparations for the 2011 growing season so fingers crossed for good weather (country file forecast was for wet this week)

In other news, while I'm here, we are now a two dog family again! A couple of weeks ago, just before Bear's 12th birthday, Mickey came into our lives. He's a 4 year old black and white boarder collie with sticky up ears and a great nature. He adores the girls and is convinced, totally, that if he stares at his toy for long enough it really will levitate so he can chase it.

Interestingly, there have been a lot of "Ollie disappeared" from Scrumpy (Ollie was our dog who died 3 years ago) so for all she makes out she's not interested in dogs they obviously make a connection some how. Also interesting was Mickey's reaction to seeing Scrumpy have aseizure. He was totally unphased but showed interest to the extent I will be contacting the disability dog training people with a view to him being a seizure dog. I'm not sure what this would involve but I'll find out (at some point!) and let you know.

2011 here we come...

2011-01-07T17:00:00.002Z

So much has happened of late I've been neglecting this blog but finding a spare moment I thought I'd let you in on a bit of good news, well, a silver lining at any rate.

As I may have (or not!) mentioned Scrumpy's epilepsy control is going from bad to worse. We've tried every group of drugs and combinations thereof to no avail, she's still having major seizures and absences to the effect she's losing a day a week and the absences are knocking her confidence on her better days. All in all she's not in a good place.

One of the consequences of all this seizure activity is we have stopped doing a lot of things we used to do a lot, like going to the beach, walks in the forest and generally getting out and about. It's all about risk assessment. If she had a seizure on the beach, how would we get her unconscious body to a place of comfort and safety? Well now, thanks to a great Charity called Scottish Epilepsy Initiative, we have an all terrain adult size buggy. So wherever it happens we can retrieve her. We can go back to "encouraging" her round the forest with no fear of hours back breaking trudge home carrying her.

In the meantime we have one last drug to try and then our only option will be a VNS (Vegas nerve stimulation) which will mean a trip to Dundee to get it fitted and then frequent hospital visits locally for monitoring and maintenance. The hope is this would not only control her seizures (all types) but would also improve her mood and confidence. It's a difficult decision to make. Frequently people with autism and epilepsy spontaneously stop having seizures post puberty, but not always and no one can say if Scrumpy will be one of those lucky ones. They can't even give us odds. So, here's the thing, do we put her through surgery and all that entails only for her to spontaneously grow out of it or do we not go for it and have her suffering and retreating further into her shell? It's a tough one.

The only other option for her is to try a ketogenic diet but with a Bear in the house and Scrumpy's limited pallet I can't see that working realistically.

Talking of the Bear - she's in fine form and thanks to a bit of medication juggling we have taken the out of control manic element out of her ADHD. She's happier and able to learn and take notice of things that bring her so much joy like her birds and her books. She's still a complete monkey and will try to get her own way even when she knows it's not allowed so typical teenager...at 11!

A plane! A plane! my kids for a plane! (only joking about the kids part!)

2010-12-04T19:03:00.003Z

This is the latest venture of my good friends in Canada.

In BC? Need somewhere great to go? This is it - just tell Dave I sent you!

An amazing story can be yours to share

2010-11-15T22:27:00.005Z

Seeing as no one, not one person, wants to play my game I'm changing the rules. All you have to do is leave a comment to register your name and I'll do a draw.

It's my game, and I can change the rules if I want to.

And another thing....

2010-11-07T15:34:00.001Z

Thanks to Clare for this. Just don't go there unless you have at least an hour to spare - I could spend a fortune!!

Look what I found!!

2010-11-06T19:30:00.002Z

GLOW IN THE DARK BUBBLES

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

3/4 cup liquid dish washing detergent
4 tablespoons glycerine
4 1/2 cups water
fluorescent highlighter pen (yellow, green or orange)
plastic container with lid
bubble wand

1

Mix together the liquid dish washing detergent, water and glycerine in a plastic container; set aside.
2

Carefully cut the highlighter pen in half with a sharp knife. Don't cut through the coloured ink soaked felt - that is what is going to give the glow and dark colour to your bubbles. For best results, use yellow, orange or green highlighter pen colours.
3

Skim of any foam from the top of the soap/glycerine/water mixture that is resting on the surface.
4

Place the ink felt from the highlighter pen into the mixture; let soak for at least an hour. With a gloved hand, remove and discard the felt.
5

Shine a black light over the soapy mixture a few minutes for even a better effect. Keep container covered with lid while not in use.

FANFARE PLEASE! Let's play You've Been Framed!

2010-11-04T10:06:00.006Z

"Incredibly funny. . . A bird's–eye view into what it's really like
to love and raise kids with autism." —Jenny McCarthy, from her foreword

ALL I CAN HANDLE: I'm No Mother Teresa
(A Life Raising Three Daughters with Autism)
By Kim Stagliano
How one woman raises three autistic daughters, loses one at Disney World, stays married, Has sex, bakes gluten-free, goes broke, and keeps her sense of humour.

This is your chance to win a copy of possibly the funniest "kimoir" you will ever read. All you have to do is leave a comment of your funniest moment, autism related or not, and a la Harry Hill I will pick a winner. I'll give you a week.

If you can't wait a week, you'll just have to get it off Amazon - here you go just click here no need to thank me, but you will.

Moving on

2010-10-10T09:36:00.005+01:00

We thought we'd found our second dog but by day two she had to go back to the shelter due to way to much interest in chasing things and being we are surrounded by sheep and cattle that's not a good thing - especially as she didn't respond to her name out side at all. The cats were terrified and she almost got her head stuck under the fence chasing them (which was quite funny) but not a good fit so still a one (very special) dog family.

The ducklings are growing well and are starting to get their adult feathers. I've had to make a temporary shelter for them as they won't all fit in the nursery block duck house using feed sacks. The Font of all Knowledge would have a fit if he saw it, but I'm quite pleased with my ingenious disposable design. Time will tell if it's a little too disposable but the ducks seem happy enough.

We survived the October holiday with new holiday/relief staff standing in for our regulars - everyone was off having fun without us! The girls also had days in Holiday club which they just loved so aside from the usual chaos of seizures and sleeplessness we had a good time.

Scrumpy had a blast over Halloween going to the youth club disco in her witches outfit and Bear was just delighted to hollow out the pumpkin before we calved a face, all those squishy bits and slimy seeds added up to Bear heaven for about an hour.

The winter delights continue a pace with Bonfire night on Friday. We'll be doing our usual trip to Cromarty and this year will venture to do sparklers - we've had practice in the garden and both girls have got the hang of them so here's hoping for a dry night and warm wellies.

Our rash of visitors continues with friends staying while they house hunt. We've had Grammy and Uncle David, 'lare and 'gela, Gran and now Sue and Kevin all in the last 7 weeks or so. Love them all as I do I will be so happy to be visitor free, and the good news is the hunt may be overbefore it really got going so all good news.

Coming really soon - a MUST ENTER FIRST EVER BOOK CONTEST!!

Changes

2010-09-15T21:48:00.003+01:00

We have a new helper with the girls - so far she has survived trial by swimming with Bear and also trial by beach on a cold day with Bear - she's doing well, even when Bear decided it was an excellent idea to combine the two...well, she only sat in the edge of the sea so not really swimming but she might just as well have been for the wetness/sand factor.

No seizures yet so hopefully she'll get training before she's in the deep end with that too, but despite our best efforts she's still with us, still keen and so far so good.

When we asked Bear if she liked her, she of very few words said "Good" What higher endorsement can there be?

Ducklings are doing great and growing like weeds, already twice the size they were and will shortly be on to duck grower rather than chick crumbs.

I have cleared all other eggs away as nothing was happening. It was a bit hopeful to have chicks so late in the year but as the hens were so broody I thought I'd give them a fair go. Let's see what happens next spring.

In other animal news, we are giving serious thought to getting a second dog. I confess to being lead astray by my good blog buddy Michelle but we, Hot-Hubs and me, feel Meg would like a friend. It'll be tricky to find the right friend though because, as those of you who have met my little sanity keeper will know, Meg is a people dog and whilst she likes to meet doggy friends she also likes to meet their humans too. Truth be told she loves anyone with a ball who'll throw it for her and much as I love to think of her as mine she is a bit of a tart like that. The other thing to consider is we are firm believers in getting second hand dogs for two reasons:

1 - there are SO many dogs who need a home

2 - we don't have the time or household to train a puppy so a dog that already has the basics is a good thing.

3 - both Ollie and Meg were rescue dogs and both were and are the most amazing, loving, patient creatures ever.

OK that's three reasons. Guess we'll be visiting the local shelter a few times. I've already got a note of the visiting hours ...because it's something Bear would like to do and it's free (Yep, he fell for that one!)

We're looking for a boarder collie or similar about a year - 18 months old who's good with poultry, sheep, other dogs, cats and kids. Easy?

We have Ducklings

2010-09-05T14:34:00.004+01:00

Yes, after much heartache and misadventure we have 12 duckling from two hatchings.

This is Gracie with her 10

And this is Wander (at the front) with one of hers just moments after hatching. Tiddler (in the background) may be about to hatch a couple too. As you can see they seem to have a habit of brooding eggs right in the wrong place - first Wander thought it an excellent idea to sit under the topper in the front field, now with a little more success she thought rightin the doorway of the hen house was a good bet. Only thing is every time a chicken went in or out they had to stomp all over her and got pecked and prodded for their trouble, poor things!

I'm having to monitor the bird situation very carefully to avoid casualty to crows and/or cats. The move to the nursery block from the hen house (she was under the roosting bars!) was a little traumatic for Gracie but she's over it now and guarding her babies well.

At least this means I'll be able to give the chicken house a really good clean out - ducks don't see cleaning as a necessary part of life and will attack you for getting too close, although they do like having new bedding when the maids' been in!

There but for the grace of God...

2010-08-25T10:14:00.003+01:00

This happened to my good friend Kim, to her daughter who like my own is non-verbal, vulnerable and loved beyond reason.

Please leave a comment over at Huffington Post to keep this story up for longer and push it up the ratings to front page.

And before you get too comfortable thinking it wouldn't happen here, we have CRB checks and Disclosure Scotland checks - passing one of those only means you haven't been caught for it. That's not to say I don't see the importance and value of these checks, just don't get complacent.

Remember that nursery worker who was part of a paedophile ring? She was working in a day nursery using her position to abuse babies and toddlers. She passed a check to work there.

News in brief...

2010-07-21T16:41:00.002+01:00

Bear decided to eat two AAA batteries - licked the innerds and decided against but still had to go to casualty for a check over. Thankfully we went to our local cottage hospital where you pretty much get seen on arrival.

Scrumpy went sale shopping on the first day of the Next sale and chose a pair of hareem pants and a top all on her own. Did you get that? On her own. In the Next sale. She had two carers with her for support and safety but she chose her own stuff, picked it out from the jumbled rails and said "I'd like this one" She's growing up!

Work sheets are being done three days a week - by BOTH girls so hopefully they'll pick up where they left off when they get back to school. Bear was less than impressed to begin with but is now doing them with good grace and attention.

The weather is still pants with the odd good day thrown in.

The poly tunnel is still a mess.

Today we lost a duck. Well, last night. Tiddler is missing and there were white feathers strewn about the place when I went out to them today. We had been leaving them out over night as they have a (previously) safe compound and they like to get all the bugs and beasties that come out at dusk and into the night. They'll be put away from now on, kicking and screaming no doubt.

My Friend the Author....

2010-07-07T11:51:00.002+01:00

Lydia has a book out - Interview with Autism - which is a great read and recommended reading for anyone involved or interested in autism.

Get your copy here.

Life, Death and Disasters

2010-07-07T11:01:00.002+01:00

The thing about having animals, either as pets or as livestock, is they have an uncanny knack of dying right when you don't expect it. I'm sorry to report we have lost my favourite bantam, Cocky, to old age. She was a real character and named after her habit of having to be right in on whatever you were doing and always up with the big chickens doing her thing.

In other bird news, Chi is still sitting on eggs which I am certain are way past their hatch day. This is only the second year we have had ducklings and so far it's not been good. Wander decided it was an excellent idea to nest under the topper in the field. Sadly she got attacked (she was OK the following day) and we had to move her so of course she wouldn't sit on her eggs again in a new safe location so that was the end of that. Whilst Chi did manage to settle for the safety of a duck house for her nest her eggs don't seem to be developing as they should. I'm not sure what's going on so time to bring in the expert - Lama Chick.

Animals obviously need looking after and as the main animal carer in our house (why does it always fall to the mum?) I get to do poo patrols in the garden. Time was it was just picking up varieties of poo and the occasional twiddley that Bear dropped but these days, post cat ownership, it could be anything. Yesterday it was two moles. On a positive note it means the little blighters won't be chucking hills up all over the place but, really, this is the most unsavoury side of cats. They don't just kill it to eat it, they kill it, play with it, then get bored and leave it. It's why I will forever be a dog person. Don't get me wrong, I love Bruce and Tim to bits and I would never stop them hunting (it is after all their purpose in life) but leaving dead bodies and even worse bits of dead body around is not their most endearing feature. Cute murdering wee beasties though...

Meg still couldn't catch a cold and her purpose in life is to keep my sanity. She has started to get a little arthritic so it's a bit less ball and chasing the lawn mower and bit more walk, which, to be honest, will do us both good.

More disasters in the poly tunnel. It just hasn't happened this year. Nothing. Except weeds. Which I have killed so when I say nothing I mean nothing.

So what have I been doing? Scrumpy and Bear have been keeping us busy with appointments, behaviours and seizures. We've had medication changes for both, simultaneously, and monitoring changes has been a full time occupation. Is it hormones? Medication? Autism? Being a (almost!) teenager? Eeny meeny miny mo....

Sleep has been a rare luxury although since the summer holidays started we have had alternate nights where the girls have both (shhh! don't let on!) slept past 4am. 4am til 11.30pm makes for a long day.

In amongst all of this we have had an adventure. Hot hubby and I took Scrumpy 600 miles south to visit family in south London. We drove down with me and Scrumpy watching DVDs limo - style and Hot hubby doing the technical driving bit. We didn't hit nay traffic problems and and good journeys down and back. We just had to take our time and make a few pit stops on the way. Scrumpy was just delighted to see everyone, but definitely NOT a fan of her new baby twin cousins. Hopefully the day out at Chessington World of Adventures made up for them.

The trip was hard on Scrumpy over all, and by the time we were going home she desperately needed to be there. Even the car and DVD wasn't cutting the mustard and we saw the true cost of her not having her own bedroom to recuperate in. I'm glad we went but I don't thik we would take her again.

Bear, on the other hand, had a blast at respite for the weekend and came home with skinned knees and a huge Bear hug when we got back. Interestingly she had been watching the same part of Winnie the Pooh's most Grand Adventure over and over - when Christopher Robin is missing - and getting quite distressed but this changed to the part when Christopher is found again when we were home. She missed us and we missed her.

Bear's big adventure will be a long day trip to Edinburgh Sea Life Centre. Scrumpy will stay home with helpers, it's really not her thing, and I'm certain will have a ball.

The things people will do!

2010-03-30T10:03:00.002+01:00

Personally I think he must be off his head, but I have huge respect for Saunders doing this amazing event. Please show your support and donate here

Happy Mothers' Day!

2010-03-14T12:41:00.002Z

Happy Mothers' Day to all my fellow Mums and Mums-to-be!

Best bits about it so far? Went on a night out with CC last night leaving Hot Hubs in charge, got a text part way through dinner (being a good wife I was checking my phone regularly!) saying Bear had done a normal poo - YAY! After ten days of shall we just say not normal poo I was just delighted. School tomorrow!!

Coffee in bed and a bacon sandwich for breakfast, the sun is shining and there is no shouting in the house. Bliss.

We came, Wii saw, we ate cake!

2010-02-22T17:32:00.003Z

Well, Bear's birthday weekend was a hoot! *On the Friday we went to Catherine's house and had a shot on her Wii. I'm pleased to say both girls were interested and although Bear will need some practice to get the coordination I think it's a goer. I think we'd get a lot of use of one as a family - and the wii fit would be quite handy right now, especially as we can now confirm the baking gene has definately passed to the youngest. Mmmmmm cake! Yummy! A visit to the pigs finished the afternoon and we went home to plan the rest of the weekend.

Saturday we went for a walk at Dornoch beach. It was a beautiful day and we had great fun rock pooling in wellies, one of Bear's most favourite things in the entire universe. We regreted not taking the kite to take advantage of the breeze but enjoyed someone else's rather fancy one. Back to the car for a few refreshments then off to the play park for swings.

We had planned to go to the Highland wildlife park on Monday but that didn't work out due to seizures and the currently traditional Sunday night havoc so Bear went to the Floral Hall (a favourite spot!) and then swimming while Scrumpy and I went shopping (equally a favourite option)

The wild life park was put off again as Scrumpy and I had a mother-daughter date with CC and the middle one to see the new Disney film "Princess and the frog" which we enjoyed, although it was a bit slow in parts, good music and a proper Disney croc pulled it off.

Wednesday we finally made it to the wildlife park and saw loads of animals - snow monkeys in the snow, tigers, snowy owls and Arctic foxes. The polar bear was a bit of a disappointment due to it being asleep with it's back to us. The tracks she had left in the snow were mighty impressive though and made you realise quite how huge she is. A picnic lunch in the car completed the day out. We made it home in plenty of time to have a bit of down time before our usual Wednesday swim followed by singularly un diet-friendly chips in the cafe.

Two days back at school and it was the weekend again so more fun out and about with Bear while Scrumpy was at Saturday club. Sorry to say Sunday was no better than the previous week. What is it about Sundays? Last night Scrumpy had a seizure and was then up from about 3am, Bear was up from 4am so around 3 hours sleep for me.

In case you were wondering the diet has not gone well. Today is another week - I've not thrown the towel in just yet, it just look like it.

* Photos on facebook if I can get them from the camera.

I said, she said

2010-02-08T15:00:00.003Z

I have been undecided about posting about this for a while now and have been inspired by two friends to just do it, as a kind of therapy, in the hope that this will lay it to rest and make it go away. It won't go away because it will always be there but I'm hoping I can make some kind of peace with it at the very least.

The incident revolves around two text messages as follows:

Me to her, Friday

"Thinking of getting a Wii. Can we bring the girls over for a shot of yours? Me n Hot hubby haven't used one so would b good 2 c in action. Also I'm digging tatties do u want some? X"

Her to me, Sunday night

"As much as we would love to have the girls here we really don't think our house is Bear proof. If you are able to come along on evening with Scrumpy that would be fine. Her x"

I don't think I'm being over sensitive - please correct me if I'm wrong - but I was and still am totally gob smacked, not to mention hurt to the core. This is someone who knows and has spent time with my girls over many years. This is someone who I envisaged being a long term part of their lives. How wrong could I be?

What did she think I was going to do? Feed her blue Smarties, wash them down with diet coke and say "On you go!"? We were only talking about being in her house for an hour, maybe two, under close supervision.

Bear can be hyper, she can also be disruptive and yes she can live up to her whirlwind tag, but she is our daughter so we know this. We know how to handle her and what she will most likely need in different situations. No it doesn't always work out, so what? Whatever happened we would not have allowed her free reign to wreck the house.

I have not responded as it would not have ended well even if it started that way.

How will I handle it when I see Her face to face? I still don't know. I do know that she is off my veg box list, and if she says something to my face I will be letting her have it with both barrels, audience or not.

On an active note, we'll be going where we're welcome to test out a Wii - any pointers gratefully received by the way! (and any words of wisdom for dealing with this better than I currently am)

Do I feel better for baring my soul? Maybe a little. I'll let you know if this writing therapy gig works for me in a week or so.

Week two, not good

2010-02-08T14:55:00.002Z

Ok, so I did the dreaded weigh in this morning only to find that I had lost 0.4kg after all!! I had been expecting a slight gain if anything due to having friends round for dinner and a Chinese carry-out. This means I have lost precisely half the weight I wanted to by this point. Half is better than none.

One week down, seven to go!

2010-02-01T18:18:00.002Z

and thank the Lord for seven to go - week one has not gone swimmingly - I've only lost 0.6kg. This is not in the plan. Must try harder, and I will. This week sees me walking the legs off the dog and going to the gym while the girls swim on Wednesday. Today's food intake started badly due to a non-sleeping night but is finishing well with curry vegetable soup for tea (almost all home grown of course!) Hopefully next week I'll be able to report a LOT more success. Wish me luck!

2010, Year of Action!

2010-01-25T18:08:00.002Z

I decided this year to not make any New Year's Resolutions per se, and to just have an all encompassing "Year of Action" theme, so dodging all those negative vibes when I fail to live up to my resolution. I looked at the old spread sheet of weight loss (or not as the case may be!) and, to get back on track, I need to lose 10kg in 8 weeks.

Is this safe?

Absolutely, I have way more than 10kg spare.

Can I actually do it? Or could I really try to do it?

Yes, I can. The first part that is. I have the will power and the goal is set. By the time I collect my mother from the airport for a week's visit (yes, a whole week) I will be 10kg lighter.

2010, Year of Action!

Happy New Year...

2010-01-14T12:51:00.002Z

Half way through January already and I have finally found time to to a bit of blogging on my own site. The snow is finally, after 4 weeks, melting and the trench I trudged through to get to the birds is rapidly turning to a slippery ice causeway. I have a feeling though that any respite from the white stuff will be short-lived for us. Our usual snow season is February/March so just enough time to get this shifted before the next lot.

Christmas was brilliant and we more than made up for last year's debacle of sickness and hospitals and the like. We had Christmas stuff on every weekend from 28th November right up to the main event. Scrumpy was in her element and thankfully no more seizures than usual to break the fun momentum.

We went to a local castle and made biscuits with Mrs Clause before winding our way through real secret doorways and passages to find Santa by the fire. Not sure which was the best bit for Scrumpy, seeing Santa or getting to climb up on the proper four poster and cupboard style beds.

We saw the lights switched on in the city and watched the lantern launch which was beautiful. Unfortunately Bear had to go to the loo right at the wrong moment and having done excellent waiting for half an hour missed the main event! Scrumpy loved it though, fireworks and all.

Hot hubs helped out the man himself and filled in as Santa for SOAR and Saturday club parties (he has the right physique after all!!) but Bear saw right through the disguise and whipped his beard off "Boo!"

We went to see the lights on the river islands - and if I can get the photos off my phone I'll post them - 10' Santa in fairy lights and faces on the trees made it quite spectacular.

Bear was singularly unimpressed with the reindeer - because LOOK!! It's ducks and gulls and I LOVE ducks and gulls! We all enjoyed the miniature train ride though, even if we did get frozen bums.

All in all the girls were off for three weeks and a day from school and thanks to all our lovely helpers we did have a lot of fun. The Giggling Farmer let us go sledging on an amazing hill with no water at the bottom for Bear to head for (see cool runnings on FB) and Scrumpy went for another session on Lama Chick's steeper hill (with the water hazard, hence no Bear) so the three man sledge we got the girls for Christmas has seen some serious action.

Tonight the girls are both away to respite for more fun than you can shake a stick at so Hot hubs and I are off to Surfer Girls house for dinner - expect a full report later - but I just hope her cooking is going better than mine. I volunteered to do pudding and was making a baked cheesecake (simple effective and SG's favourite) but some how I managed to put it in the oven and part cook it without having whisked the egg whites ad put them in the mix. How I did this I do not know. So that's a trip to Tesco on the way for a shop one. Not the same at all so I'll have to make her another one. The pseudo cake looks OK though so will be interesting to try it any way, will most likely be brick-like in texture!

In a fit of social whirlwind we also have The Font of All Knowledge and Catheirne coming for tea tomorrow - menu is home grown leek and tattie soup, home grown roast lamb and all the bits, dried fruit jelly and creme fraische. The pudding is in the fridge and looking good so one out of two not bad, just the soup to go tomorrow and hot hubs is of course doing mains. I've done my bit for that, I grew it!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

2009-12-21T19:57:00.002Z

Yes, it really is that time of year again, already, and I am for once reasonably organised. Hot hubby struggled through the snow to get the last of the food shop today while I stayed at home and made sure the fire didn't go out....girls were home due to adverse weather and I can't see them getting in tomorrow either as getting home could be an issue so Christmas holidays have started a few days early. the only sad thing is that means no carol service and nativity which is always one of the real highlights of the season.

So, that's 2009 almost over and I was only on May! Hope 2010 is a little slower.

This just in...

2009-12-09T09:26:00.002Z

I saw this on my friend Michelle's page and I loved it! Watch right to the end, it's so funny.

A High Old Time at Highland Madness!!

2009-12-04T12:49:00.002Z

I'm home again after a day and night away Christmas shopping in Aberdeen. Lots of lovely lights, lots of shopping and no I do not feel in the least bit guilty about missing pilates as I spent 5 hours trudging round shops with only one - yes ONE - tea stop. Hot hubby stayed at home with scrumpy while Bear was away at respite. It was me and my shopaholic sister in law hitting the town unsupervised! It has become an annual event, well this is the second year we've done it.

After Meg let me do something aside from fuss her (I left her! What was I thinking?? I was back! YAY!!) I checked my emails and found this which I thought was great! Still lots more Christmas stuff to do, but I made it back in time for the school coffee morning (so now it really is officially Christmas)

Hijack a Holiday!

2009-11-27T10:26:00.002Z

HAPPY THANKS GIVING!!

To one and all but especially those across the pond!

Remembering how lucky we are is always a good thing but turkey and pumpkin pie will not be on my list of good things...bleuch!

Live and unleashed!

2009-11-21T23:10:00.004Z

Click here for the link to BBC Scotland iPlayer and we're about 45 minutes in...I'm not sure if people outside the UK can see it but this was our four minutes of fame! Feel free to laugh, cry and comment - it's only up until 28th November so don't say I didn't warn you.

I'll not let it go to my head......

2009-11-03T14:56:00.002Z

Had a call from the BBC. Our producer spoke to Press Office and now they want to use us for the advertisements for Children in Need.

Tesco shopping will never be the same again

- "Do I know you?"
- "Oh you may have seen me on the telly...."

Can you imagine it?? Oh this is just so funny!!

One neighbour is in on the reality TV joke and is primed to confirm if asked by the one who "happened to walk by" when we had our day filming. I'll let you know if it comes off, well, I'll get my people to tell your people.....

Confessions of a rotten mother

2009-10-28T18:52:00.002Z

Scrumpy is very seldom naughty, and when she is it's short lived, but yesteray I went to check on her in her room to find that not only had she moved her pine double bed across the room in an attempt to get it out the door (again) she had also detached the head board. The bed is dead.

I sort of lost it. I didn't shout, but I dished out the punishment big time. It was the ultimate and in retrospect it was maybe a little heavy handed. I confiscated the video remote control for two sleeps.

She cried.

For about an hour, she cried. A little puffy face came and said "Control disappeared"

"Yes" I said but as the word left my mouth I realised all too late what I'd said and she crumpled again - "Disappeared" means gone for good. I tried my best to convince her, to get her to understand it was not disappeared just gone for two sleeps (a concept she can understand) but the sobbing kept getting in the way. We went through all our usual comfort things, reassurance things, what's happening things - including the return of the remote - I did all I could do.

I am a bad mother.

She cried herself to sleep. Scrumpy never cries, and I made her cry herself to sleep. I'm hoping I have done the right thing in sticking to my original plan and not caving (which I really wanted to do!) but only time will tell. Tomorrow the ordeal will be over.

Fame at Last!

2009-10-23T10:56:00.002+01:00

As you know, our girls get to go to holiday club and after school club run by a charity and although we pay for them to go , places are heavily subsidised to maintain the right staff ratios. It works brilliantly and provides a lifeline to a lot of families, sometimes it's the only form of respite they get.

The charity got a large donation form BBC Children in Need and to cut a long story short we got asked to do one of those "Why we still need your money" slots they show on the fund raising nights. By the way, Children in Need is 20th November this year.

Yesterday, after a multitude of questions over several long phone conversations with the researcher we spent from 9.30 to 5.30 filming with the BBC. What a day!

First they filmed us arriving at the holiday club venue with the girls. Scrumpy was good and walked in with Hot Hubby but Bear decided to go all camera shy and locked her arms around my neck saying "Hug you! Hug you!" so I had to walk her backwards to wards the door. Once in she took a moment to get her bearings and then she was off. Phase one (for us) complete, they continued to film the girls doing activities while we dashed home to have a meeting with the speech therapist and some of our support staff.

Just as we finished with the therapist, the film crew arrived and we barely had time to wee before they had us interviewing outside the house. We were really nervous but the crew were really good at putting us more at our ease and encouraging us to stick with it. Not sure what the neighbours thought but I did see one lot "happen to walk past" - we're going to kid them on it's for a reality TV show.

From the outside slot we moved in to the house and I had to do a little talk about each of the rooms we have specifically for the girls - wet room, Bear's chill out room, that kind of thing, followed by the "Oh yes, and here we have one of our many keypad locks....."

We then had to do sit down interview and got asked all sorts of questions about what autism means (hope I did it justice, I managed to get in that what it means to us is different to what it means to other families but I laid in bed last night and thought of so much more I wanted to say!) and what the funding from Children in Need means to us and the charity.

We just about had time to stuff back some lunch before collecting the girls and heading home to be met by the crew who filmed for another two hours - you know that chaotic time between coming home from school and tea? That's what they got.

All in all, it was an exciting, exhausting experience. Considering the finished article will only be a 4 minute slot there'll be an awful lot of us on the cutting room floor. I certainly wasn't prepared for it to be as full-on as it was and I'm not sure I'd want to do it again - for one thing Bear would DEFINITELY get the hairy sound thing, it just escaped this time....but next time.....

We will get a DVD of the final film after they show it on 20th November, BBC Scotland. I will post a linky thing if possible.

Twenty years and counting!

2009-10-09T18:37:00.002+01:00

On 7th October 2009, we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary (yes, I was a child bride!) and to mark the occasion we had a great big idea to go camping and have special meal out. We stuck to the plan right up to the point we saw the forecast was for high winds and lows of freezing. We would have still gone but our nights of total respite (both girls in at the same time) are precious and as we were both already tired we decided to ditch the adventure in favour of a bit of luxury.

Heaven is an hour and a half north in Helmsdale!

We booked into the Bridge Hotel in Helmsdale and had the most amazing food ever. Hot Hubs and I are partial to seafood and chose, after long deliberation with a G&T, lobster and crab to start. They get them from the harbour at Helmsdale and keep them live in tanks. (Anonymous stop reading NOW!) we were shown our lobster prior to cooking so it really was just about as fresh as you can get. It was just amazing. We absolutely stuffed ourselves on beautifully cooked starters and had barely any room left for our main courses. Hot Hubby stayed with seafood and had his ultimate favourite of queen scallops and I had a roe deer dish which was cooked with an array of mushrooms and was just divine. The dessert list looked great but sadly there was no way either of us could even contemplate it.

We retired to our suite(!) to veg on the sofa and watch a film with the end of our wine and a coffee. No children, nothing to do, just us.

We were woken in the morning by the clock tower chiming outside and (some of) you will have no idea the luxury it was to lay there knowing we didn't have to get up and no one was going to leap on us or drag us out of bed by the ankles (thank you "Lady & the Tramp").

We wandered downstairs for a spot of breakfast just after nine (scrambled eggs and I didn't have to wash the pan!) and hit the winding road home just after 10am. We took a back road which had been recommended for the stunning scenery and we weren't disappointed. We did wish at a couple of points we took the Landrover instead of the Mazda but it was good fun and we were back in time to relax before the girls were home ready for the holidays.

Got something to say?

2009-10-05T19:21:00.004+01:00

I LOVE getting comments on this blog or on Facebook. I also love to know who thinks what so I have gone down the comment moderation route and from now on no name, no comment.

Think it, say it stand by it.

Love
Amanda

Today, tomorrow and the day after

2009-10-05T19:07:00.002+01:00

Today I collected a box of 15kg of lamb. I peeked inside as I put it in the freezer and was pleased to see a range of lean looking joints and chops. Tonight I've got to crate up 17 ducks ready for transport tomorrow.

Tomorrow I'm going to be processing 17 ducks.

The day after I'm going to be gutting 17 ducks.

Anonymity in numbers is a good thing.

On the subject of anonymity, the previous commenter will be pleased to read that my original 6 ducks will be remaining unharmed as usual in their happy home. Malcolm and his girls will be flying around the place tormenting next doors dogs for few years yet and it's not just because they're too old to taste good.

The deed is done

2009-09-29T10:57:00.004+01:00

From this

to this

and then to my freezer.

Yesterday I took Sean to the slaughter house and next Tuesday I'll be collecting a big box of bits. I'm planning a celebration dinner of Roast Lamb and all the trimmings.

Actually, next Tuesday is shaping up to be a big day. Not only do I collect Sean but it's also the day I take the ducklings to be "processed". I'll have a far more hands on roll in their journey from field to freezer and, having had a training session I know what to expect, it's not so bad as you might imagine. I'll spare you the details but if you really want to know I'll email you.

Autism parents (and others!) take note

2009-09-14T16:00:00.002+01:00

I have found a great blog called autisticspeaks.blogspot.com. Read and inwardly digest, people, you will learn a lot from Lydia. And for those of you who know my Bear - read very carefully, for this is what we have. They are so similar it is scary.

The source of all that chunkiness is....

2009-09-14T15:56:00.001+01:00

Toads. Tim has a taste for toads. This morning, in my half asleep state putting my dickies on for bird duties, I couldn't make out what it was on the floor in the half light. On further investigation in turned out to be a live toad, about 4 inches long and breathing hard. On the worktop sat a cat looking very pleased with herself. I put the toad outside and by the time I got back it was gone - I'm hoping to the undergrowth not Tim's tum!

I'm back...

2009-09-12T18:51:00.002+01:00

Not sure where to start so let's just dive right in and start with the menagerie.

Sean the sheep is still with us and eating like a demon. He's due for the chop first week in October or when we can get him booked in after that. I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand I feel privileged to be in a position to grow my own meat, to know exactly where it's been and what's happened to it. I'm looking forward to tasting the difference - and the best part is the price lambs are fetching at the mart is up this year so I'll be saving even more money! On the other hand he's our first lamb and we've raise him as an only one so no anonymity of scale and numbers. He's chewed my dickies, butted my hand for a pat and made a dash down the corridor when Bear let him in the house. He's still going for the chop.

The ducks have all grown like weeds. The first hatch will be ready for the oven in October. I have no worries about these as we have 21 of them. They've only been here for 16 weeks when they go so no emotional attachment. Just don't try anything with my original six. Two have already gone as livestock and another pair will be going shortly once the fox proofing at their new residence has been tested.

The chickens and bantams are all in good health, entertaining as ever!

On to the cats. Bruce is a murderer. He's been catching swallows in the garage and eating them. I have no problem with this - he's just being a cat after all - but does he have to bring them in to eat? I think not. I have put a request in that if he must catch birds can he make it a crow. He was listening, watch this space. Tim is cheeky as ever and getting quite chunky so she must be earning her keep.

Meg is still a big sook and doing her best to keep us all in order.

Scrumpy has been having a high old time of it with different medications, seizures and treatments. Will we ever get her seizures under control? Possibly not until we get the other side of puberty, but I have hopes for the current new drug. At time of writing she has been seizure free for 7 days. Don't go getting too excited though, historically this is just to lull you into a false sense of security. She has a pattern of a good spell of a week or two after we introduce something then it's back to square one. MRI, play therapy and an EEG to come. The play therapy is to desensitize her head so she can tolerate the EEG. Aside form all of that she's really enjoying school and the routine of term time. Since coming off one of her medications she's much brighter and has come out with "You've just made a serious mistake!" in response to a request to tidy up videos and "Nice try" when caught "borrowing" toys from the respite centre!! My favourite was "Whatever!" when asked to pull her trousers up. She turns 12 this month, my baby's growing up!

Bear is just the best. Language is coming in spurts - "Pasta, Wow!" and "Please" best word is "Cheese". Sleep continues to be a non-event passed 4am, that combined with Scrumpy's 11pm settling doesn't give me a lot of time in between. Speech therapist and school are working on a plan for her so although she's still in the same class (should have moved really) she'll have her own itinerary and a more appropriate work load.

Aside from the lack of sleep I have to report a good year for veg growing, shame about veg sales. Last year it was the opposite way round. Maybe next year we'll get it together? We all ready have the prospect of a weekend down south as my sister in law is expecting twins (!!) in April. A three year old boy and twins - God bless her! Who knows what else is in store. Can't beleive I'm already thinking of next year and we still have three months left of this one. Am I wishing my life away? No, it just seems to pass me by way too quickly.

Good news! I don't have to do two weeks jury service next week - YAY!! It would be quite interesting to do jury service but just not now. I have a birthday to plan for a very special 12 year old, a 23 yearold to hold up at the dentist (root canals don't hurt, do they?) and 20 years of marriage to celebrate. I do not have time for jury service now. Ask me another time, when things are calmer. Huh? Well, when it's not the best birthday of the year then.

Ah, um, well, it's like this....

2009-08-18T16:29:00.002+01:00

I have been absent, a bad blogger, for a while now because of several cumulative factors - primary of which is the lack of internet connection but I must confess that life has a peculiar way of interrupting. We've had weddings, school holidays, sickness, seizures - all toppped off with WAY to much to do. So, you see, I haven't exactly had much time to write and now I'm only stopping by to say I don't have time. I'm off to do farming things while the kids are back to school and Hot Hubby does the property developing thing - we just bought two houses to rent out seeing as the bank rate is in free fall. Oh no, wait, it hit ROCK BOTTOM, any lower and we'll be paying them for the pleasure.

Hope to give you chapter and verse in the not too distant!

At Last!!!

2009-06-29T18:56:00.003+01:00

I FINALLY have my order, my COMPLETE order from Argos. 44 days and numerous monumental Argos stuff-ups later I have my order. I'd like to say I'm happy but I think what I'm feeling is better described as relief. Relief that the whole s@*ding nightmare is finally over. CC reports I am not alone. So - why didn't you tell me BEFORE I ordered?? Now there's two of us sworn off Argos on-line.

The shambles that is Argos on line

2009-06-25T16:24:00.003+01:00

Never again. Never ever again will I shop at Argos on-line. Complete and utter shambles does not even come close to describing their complete incompetence. Here's the story of our one-date-wonder.

16th May we decided to take advantage of a scheme run by Family Fund and get a discount on goods bought at Argos. The registering and purchasing was a song and dance in itself but having eventually completed the order we sat back to wait for the thud on the mat. Like most Autism parents we're experienced internet shoppers. We know how it works. Argos on-line apparently do not.

Time passed and our order didn't arrive. I called the customer services number and was told it had been shipped and should be with us by the end of the week. The end of the week came and went. No order. I called again and customer services was not happy when I wouldn't be fobbed off again with the same story. They gave me the scary music treatment but finally told me it had been delivered and signed for. What?? Well not by me matey!

After much persistence on my part they eventually found out they had sent vouchers for my order to the Family Fund office. Why would I ask for vouchers to take to the store?? I'm shopping on-line because it's more convenient!! This isn't rocket science. I order goods and pay for them, they dispatch them to me. At this point I start to loose patience. Thankfully they put me on to someone who appeared to have use of a brain cell who called me back to say what had happened and that she had sorted it out. My order would be dispatched and would be with me in the next few days. Again we waited. Again no order arrived.

I called her back. She gave me dispatch numbers so I could track it on line and sure enough a week later HALF the order arrived. By this time it was 222nd June. I talked to the delivery guy - we live in the back end of no where, we know our delivery guys - who said if he wasn't here by half ten he wasn't going to be here. The next day, you guessed it, no order. I went on line (thankfully our internet connection was holding up) to discover someone had signed for it in N7 not IV7. By this time I was beyond shouting. Steam was coming out of my ears.

I called again. Apparently, even though Parcel Force were able to deliver the other items, they "had trouble finding the address" and the other items had been returned to Argos depot. I sit here seething, quietly waiting for the rest of my order. I have a new dispatch number and I know how to use it. If it's not here as promised on Monday there will be big banana trouble.

Watch this space for further developments and in the mean time don't even think about using Argos on-line unless you are loosing the will to live. You have been warned.

We have ducklings!!

2009-06-13T17:07:00.003+01:00

Our very first home grown babies. Cute or what?

I'm back all too soon....

2009-06-05T19:39:00.012+01:00

For the most part I will let the photos talk for themselves. Hot-hubby and I had a wonderful two days away (well, one night, but I want to big it up!) on the west coast. There was no mobile signal anywhere. We were incommunicado. It was warm and sunny, we sat outside the pub (no kids around because they're all in school) with a pint of local beer, or two. Life just doesn't get much better.

a view on the way

The sign at the beginning of the road....

The view up the valley

and the view back down the road we just drove

and the view from the top of the highest road in Britain! That's Skye and Raasay you can see, what doesn't show is how cold and windy it was up there!

Camp Highland Madness! Look at that sunshine!! I actually regretted not having sunscreen with me.

Those hills again but from Applecross Bay....well, just outside the pub actually, right before the second pint!!

Having gotten the camping bug we intend to get a better tent, a WAY better bed accommodation (self inflating mattress my eye!), not to forget the chairs or the tea pot and to get some enamel mugs because tea out of plastic mugs borrowed off the kids just doesn't taste good. Next trip, Cairngorm national park...

Ging gang goolie and all that ....

2009-06-03T11:21:00.008+01:00

We interrupt this planting marathon to go camping at Applecross!! We have a tent, camp cooker and a self inflating mattress. Just call me Bear Ghrylls!

(not sure if that's how you spell it but you know who I mean!)

Yes of course it's just me and Hot-Hubby, I'm not brave enough to take the girls. There now, I've broken out in a cold sweat just thinking about it! Full report and possibly pics to follow.

What if....?

2009-06-03T10:20:00.001+01:00

This, amongst other things, got me thinking again about the age old question - what if my girls were "normal"? Where would life have taken us? What would life be like? One thing for certain is we would not be here at Highland Madness. the girls being the way they are was the catalyst that gave us the push, the drive and the courage to make such a dramatic change to our lives, both geographically and actually. If they were "normal", we wouldn't have the quality of life we now have. Hot-hubby would still be working 25 hours a day, I would have gone back to work once the kids were at school, we would have lived comfortably, as we did in our previous life, but would we have been happy? My guess is probably not as happy as we are now, or maybe it would just be a different happiness.

All in all, I am so content here, having dropped out, planting trees and currently feeding lambs, thinking how tasty they're going to be and trying to remember to water the blasted poly tunnel.

I wrote this post some time ago and have been too busy to get round to publishing it. I can report no change, just more jobs and more planting - I'm on to veg and strawberries now!

Every home should have one!

2009-05-23T16:58:00.003+01:00

Sean's filling out nicely, all those early morning feeds are paying off. Unfortunately Spot didn't make it. He got pneumonia and despite my best efforts and the guiding hand of the Sheep Whisperer he is now pushing up the orchard. It was all valuable experience and hasn't put me off keeping livestock. Sean goes for a little trip to Munro's in the autumn when (fencing allowing!) pigs arrive. There is a hopefully minor hurdle to overcome for all of this to be successful. I need to learn to reverse a trailer. I'm hoping to persuade the Sheep Whisperer to teach me - apparently if I didn't have Grandma rights I'd have to take another test in which I would have to parallel park in a space no longer than 1.5 times the length of the rig drop the trailer then pull forward and reverse in to hitch up again only getting out the car three times. With 1" leeway each direction that's hard.

Granny Power

2009-05-08T08:14:00.002+01:00

Scrumpy and Bear's Gran (my Mum!) is walking the West Highland Way to raise money for SOAR Youth Projects. It's a long way over rough ground and she almost wasn't able to do it due to surgery on her shoulder last month. Let her feel the love by sponsoring her here. It's lashing wind and rain right now so she needs all the encouragement she can get!!

Pig flu Party!

2009-05-07T18:20:00.001+01:00

Facebook

2009-04-28T19:23:00.005+01:00

I'm on a roll. Not only have I faced my technofear demons to add the follower's button on here, today I blasted them and joined Facebook. So far I really can't see the point of it - the people who are my friends and wrote on my wall would know my email address and I got emails to say they had written on my wall and what they had written. So why do I need Facebook? They can just email me. I'm obviously missing something monumental.

By the way I'm on there as Amanda highland madness

The new bit on the side bar....

2009-04-26T20:07:00.002+01:00

I've fought the techno-fear and added a new feature - you can now sign up and be a follower of my blog. Just click on the button thingy on the right and do what it says and you'll get to know when I post a new story, and I'll get to feel less like Billy No-mates!

Not for the calory challeneged....

2009-04-26T18:39:00.001+01:00

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

4 tbs flour
4 tbs sugar
2 tbs cocoa
1 egg
3 tbs milk
3 tbs oil
3 tbs choc chips (optional)
splash vanilla plus your favourite tipple

Add dry ingredients to your largest mug and mix well.
Add the egg and mix thoroughly
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using), vanilla extract and a drop or two of your favourite tipple
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high)
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous)
Those of us who don't eat cocoa can of course substitute flour for cocoa and design our own flavours!

Todays the day!

2009-04-24T07:02:00.002+01:00

We're off with out the kids!!

No, we're not abandoning them with a little sign around their necks saying "Please look after me" (tempting as that is) we're off to a family wedding. We even get to fly in a proper aeroplane! I'm so excited!! Flying, posh hotel and frocks - what more could a girl ask for?

Scrumpy and Bear would not enjoy it so they're going to have more fun than you can shake a stick at in the respite centre. Whoever's looking after Bear's going to get a work out. The evenings are getting lighter and that means mischief. Unfortunately she thinks it's hysterical to pee on her bed and put her fingers down her throat to make herself sick. I'm hoping for a short phase. That and a new washing machine with a bigger load capacity.

Hotel AND a washing machine. Does that make me high maintenance??

This is actually pretty cool...

2009-04-20T11:12:00.003+01:00

Did you know Mars is going to be the closest it's ever been in human history in August this year? It'll rise in the east and fall in the west, growing throughout the month but being at it's peak on 27th August. It'll be the next brightest thing in the sky to the moon and of a similar size.

Here's hoping for some clear nights in August, it'll be worth a few late nights as it won't happen again for another few thousand years - something to do with Pluto apparently.

Don't say I don't tell you anything interesting.

2009-04-18T12:19:00.001+01:00

We have new arrivals

2009-04-16T11:28:00.005+01:00

One of the many joys of having proper farmer friends is you get to help out with orphan lambs. Spot and not spot were chosen for the fact they have a distinguishing feature meaning I can identify them without naming them. They are not pets. They may be impossibly cute but they are not pets and someday in the not too distant future they will be taking a short trip to Munro's. After that they'll come home to live in the freezer....This is the thought I kept in the front of my mind when I was up at 6am in the freezing cold feeding them. They've just had a top up and spot is not gulping down quite as much as not spot but I'm hoping this will sort out and is not a bad sign. I have been warned they have a habit of dying on you before time.

So here they are

and here's not spot feeding

How cute is that? Now think rack of ribs and sunday roast....

We're hoping to swap lamb for bacon with Catherine who has one of these

and if we can get our fencing sorted we'll maybe produce our own next year.

Bear is in her element and is just delighted with the lambs. She was equally excited about Catherine's pig so maybe we have a budding farmer in the family. Her excitement was tempered with gentleness with the animals but the joy on her face was uncontainable.

Livestock means we have to get a stock trailer and I have to learn how to reverse it. I'm going to book a course so if you're wanting a good laugh, watch this space.

A sigh of relief and a bacon roll

2009-04-14T09:16:00.002+01:00

Aahhh! That lovely feeling when term starts again, and my treat for the first day back - bacon roll for breakfast after they've gone. You all know how much I adore my girls but it is so good when they're in school, and they'll be going everyday except one until the end of June.

We had a lot of fun over the Easter break, in fact I would go so far as to say it was two weeks of fun and mayhem. We got out and about nearly every day and the weather was so good Scrumpy was paddling in the sea in bare feet on two days. Everyone else had waders or wellies on but she was in there, happy as a sandboy, gradually turning blue.

Now of course I have to catch up on all the jobs that didn't get done because I was bunking off, plus all the chaos because it was school holidays. Oh well, there's no such thing as a free lunch as they say so I s'pose I best get going.....swimming tonight followed by chips in the cafe.....more fun, Yippee!

Happy Easter! (and happy baking!)

2009-04-12T14:09:00.000+01:00

NEIMAN-MARCUS COOKIES (Recipe may be halved)

2 (500 ml) cups butter
680 g chocolate chips
4 (1000 ml) cups flour
2 (500 ml) cups brown sugar
2 tsp (10 ml) Bicarb soda
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
2 (500 ml) cups sugar
500 g Grated Cadbury chocolate
5 (1250 ml) cups blended oatmeal
4 eggs
2 tsp (10 ml) baking powder
2 tsp (10 ml) vanilla
3 cups (375 ml) chopped nuts ( optional )

Measure oatmeal, and blend in a blender to a fine powder.
Cream the butter and both sugars.
Add eggs and vanilla, mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt,
Baking powder, and Bicarb (soda).
Add chocolate chips, grated Chocolate , and nuts.
Roll into balls, and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet.
Bake for 10 minutes at (180 ?C ) 375 degrees. The above quantities make ? 112 cookies.

SUCCESS!!!

2009-04-07T18:29:00.002+01:00

Today was a good day. We went to Landmark Forest Theme Park and not only did we all have a good time, our visit was seizure free.

Last year we tried a visit, packing two extra pairs of hands as one does, and had a disaster with Scrumpy having a seven minute seizure at the top of a 30 foot high slide. we then had to carry her, post emergency meds and post-ictal, down the assault course that was the approach to said slide. Not fun at all.

Today we packed three extra pairs of hands and arrived feeling mildly confident that the park would not beat us this time to see the longest queue to get in you have ever seen. Scrumpy and Bear just about made it while we found a place to park, there was no way we were going to queue. Luckily I spotted a person who looked like they worked there. Actually she didn't but she did get the general manager out for me and he very kindly walked us right to the head of the queue (I can still feel those eyes burning into me. Oooooh the venom!) He actually remembered us from last year (still not sure if that's a good thing!) and offered to get us to the front of the line for one of their new activities. Not only that but he apologised for not being able to take us to the front of the waterslide for fear of being mobbed with complaints. I'll give him that one, it is very popular and we couldn't expect the red carpet everywhere!

Everything went brilliantly, even the promised heavy showers didn't materialise until we were driving home. The only snag was a Scrumpy special - the longest loudest and most demonstrable tantrum you have ever seen in your life. It started before we left the park and carried on for the whole hour driving home. at one point we had to pull over to calm her down and get her back in her seat. But, Bear coped well and did not retaliate.

Like I said, today was a good day.

Oh the joys of Easter Holidays!!

2009-04-02T08:53:00.002+01:00

Day six and I still have all my hair.

Last night we went swimming after Holiday club, much to Scrumpy's disgust. She really needed to go home first and then go but the "Disabled session" time meant we had to go from one to the other. She had a tantrum/meltdown all the way there (partly because we were NOT going to the aquadome, home of the guarnteed seizure) and then, after much persuasion to get out of the car, laid down on the door mat in reception. For half an hour, give or take.

I did my usual is she safe? Yes. Ignore it routine, much to the amusement of a mum sat at the other end. She completely understood, in a been there done that got the t-shirt kind of way, and the staff as usual were amazing. They followed my lead ignoring her and then when she calmed down one of the guys came over and asked if she wanted to go swimming.

"NO!!" as only scrumpy can

"OK" quite matter of factly and he walked away.

I love our leisure centre staff.

She did eventually get in the pool and had a great time. The staff ran the flume for her and then put all the water features on too. Just for us. Did I mention how much I love our leisure centre staff?

Bear was just delighted to be swimming again with Surfer Girl and Aussie.

Credit crunch bites Chicken!

2009-04-02T08:43:00.002+01:00

Hot Hubby went to get more wood shavings for the chicken house. The guy at the suppliers said he didn't know when he would be getting any more in because construction has taken a down turn.

Eh?

The joiners aren't working so the saw mills aren't getting orders so the wood shavings aren't being produced.

Straw it is then.

Eat like a King for 9p

2009-03-27T14:42:00.002Z

Hot hubs has found the delights of Morrisons near closing time. They reduce all kinds of stuff down to 9p.

Swordfish steaks £3.50 down to 9p
Pack of four fresh meat pies down to 9p
5 pack of doughnuts - 9p

Why 9p I have no idea but it works for me!

Meat loaf, enough to feed four hungry people - 9p
Cooked boneless roast pork - 9p

So, see you there around 7.30pm?

Spinach Hairs

2009-03-27T13:26:00.004Z

This week saw a leap forward for Scrumpy. She started going to Youth Club run by SOAR youth projects. Surfer Girl is going with her just to keep her away from the dvd's and computer but other than that she's on her own, with her friends, hangin' with her honeys. What would I give to be a fly on the wall?? She's not a little girl any more, she's started her teenage years already. (sniff!) As part of the deal the SOAR bus picks her up and drops her back at a half way point so it really is going out without the parents! (sniff!)

So she would know what it was she was going to we first took her for a visit. We went in and she was immediately off with a girl she knows from school - positive start I thought - I hung around and felt quite the spare part so nipped off and got a take away for tea. When it was time to go (cold curry not such a treat) Scrumpy was having none of it. she wasn't going home, not even for TV, videos or computer. Serious indeed (autism mums are with me, right?) and just proves what a hit youth club was going to be.

We eventually persuaded her to come home. On the way I had a full and detailed report from Surfer Girl, "she really loved the spinach hairs"

"Spinach Hairs? Who are they?"
"No, spinnin'chairs"
"Never heard of them, I've only just caught up with Scouting for Girls"
"No, spinnin'chairs"
"Who?"

By this point Surfer girls was killing herself laughing

This went on for a while so I'll cut to the punch line...

"S-P-I-NN-I-N-G C-H-A-I-RS!!"

Fork handles any one?

Scrumpy has also had a hair cut - it's now a short layered bob with a fringe and opinion is divided as to weather she looks older or younger with it. Whichever, it looks great and she's just full of herself doing the whole hair stroke flounce thing. In order to get her out to the hairdresser for the 4.30pm appointment Surfer girl ran in and confiscated the TV remote before Scrumpy got in the house from school. Scrumpy was not impressed. We had our first door slamming moment. I am quite proud to say I managed to ignore it, more due to shock than anything else, and we made it to the hairdresser on time.

It wasn't the best time for Scrumpy as she was over tired but after a couple of false starts and lots of "brother bear"s (big hug) we managed to get it done and went for a bag of chips to celebrate.

In other news, Hot hubs and I had a hot date while the girls were both in respite. We took a drive down to Carlisle in the little black car to see Big Help - she who left us for love. It was a beautiful day and we had the top down, music blaring all the way to Perth where the motorway starts. There were no serious hold ups but it still took about 5 1/2 hours door to door. So much for Big Help's "4 1/2 hours tops".

Hot hubs drove there and I was able to take in the beautiful scenery as we zipped along. Thanks to John Robison I also had a new appreciation for all the ancient bridges we passed and a sadness for the 1960's concrete spans we passed under as we blitzed the motorway section of our trip.

We arrived safely and found Big Help and her house. A quick tour of the farm, cows, calves, dogs etc and we hit the pub for a couple of pints. Proper beer in a proper pub. Can't remember the last time we did that. Then it was back to Big Help's house for Chicken fajitas and a glass or two of wine.

The journey home the next day wasn't quite so exhilarating as it was too cold to have the roof down but it was fun all the same and we made it home in time to get a cup of tea before the girls came home from school. We were tired but it was fun and we some how felt recharged in a knackered kind of way.

As you can tell by the length of this post, the weather is too wet to get going out side. We have puddles in our poly tunnel and it's not funny any more. On a positive note the chucks are laying well and provided the Easter presents for the staff at school. Scrumpy and Bear decorated egg boxes and we filled them half with real eggs then topped them up with chocolate ones. We had quite a production line going and I'm pleased to say both girls did their bit, which funnily enough wasn't filling the boxes!!

Easter Holidays start today and I'm looking forward to two weeks of fun and mayhem. We have organised a lot of help so with two days a week at holiday club and getting out and about with us the girls are in for a fun time. Pray for dry weather. Pray really hard or we're going to get wet.

PS Cats are now earning their keep. Bruce has brought two dead bodies in to play. I found him batting a dark shape across the floor and leaping on it. "What's that act got now?" I thought "Oh." Thankfully they were very dead and still intact so easily disposed of. Tim seems to be keeping her "activities" outside, which is to be encouraged. So should I praise Bruce for his efforts or reprimand him? Cat's are too dense to get "Good boy but keep it outside next time"

PPS Just got a letter in the post with respite dates - we have another night off in April. WHOOPEE!! What shall we do?

The after shock - I mean shot!

2009-03-21T16:53:00.004Z

So here it is, proof indeed that Hot-Hubs has sexy legs, complete with logging scars. He was very brave and even let amateurs have a shot at ripping the wax strips off his leg.

There's still time to donate HERE. to boost the current running total for the fun day of £745. Come on let's make it a round £800, you know you want to! Wasn't that picture worth it??

Hot-Hubby gets in touch with his feminine side!

2009-03-15T12:49:00.005Z

On 21st March these legs will not only be sexy but waxed in public at the SOAR Fun Day. You can make it all worth while by making a donation HERE. I told him it wouldn't hurt so please be generous!

SOAR provide after school clubs, holiday clubs, youth clubs and a YOFI group (Youth Opportunity For Independance) for children and young people affected by disability.

'mooning in America

2009-02-27T12:09:00.002Z

My niece and her betrothed are planning a road trip from Atlanta to Nashville for their honeymoon - anyone got ideas where they should visit and what they should do? They're going in August this year.

2009-02-15T18:39:00.002Z

It's a hard life being Bruce!

Oh the shame of it! Who thought ginger and pink was a good look?

A waste of good wine

2009-02-14T11:41:00.002Z

I confess, I like hospital dramas. There you are, it's out there for all the world to know, sort of like an AA moment - "Hello, my name's Amanda and I like hospital dramas" I tend to record what I want to watch and then view it around kids and house in snatches. Occasionally, as last night, I get to sit down with a glass of wine and watch a bit while Hot-hubs is chef-ing. Holby City - I feel you cringe from here but come on, it's harmless as vices go - the story line unfolds about an adult with Aspergers' who's current obsession is his illness. Fine, no issues so far, then the consultant character says - and I quote as closely as I can - "Autism's a gift, no big deal, like being left handed." That's the wine spewing moment. "Like being left handed" Words fail me. Auntie Beeb has obviously sacked it's researchers. They certainly didn't ask any questions before that went out and I wonder how many people complained about the misrepresentation? Probably none. If a similar throw away coment had been made about a kid in a wheel chair you can bet the phone lines would have been jammed.

Better late than never!

2009-02-02T11:31:00.002Z

OK, so I'm a month late with this, the healthy eating and exercise routine has started today. We had a hideous weekend and ended up eating way too much pizza last night washed down with a couple of glasses of wine. The good thing is it triggered my "THAT is IT!" response so this morning I was up earlier and Meg has had a good walk round our forest circuit. I'm doing this every morning with her no matter what and timing myself so I can see any improvement and also get a bit fitter for the Race for Life on 9th May which I will be doing with Llama Chick. I'll let you know the details later but feel free to sponsor me! this mornings' time was 50:45 -not bad for a 4 mile circuit but I still hope to get it down nearer 45 or maybe faster. At the end of the day I will f course be governed by dodgy knees so no running for me...you burn more fat walking anyway.

Back to hideous weekend - Bear is off her ADHD meds and having got her over whatever ailment it was she is now making up for lost time. Obstructive, boisturous, I think the professionals call it "challenging behaviour" she may well end up back on the meds sooner rather than later. Scrumpy was doing a very good impression of normal hormonal teenager complete with door slamming and fighting sister. We made it to the playpark for 10 minutes (Bear refused to get out of the car) but that was about it.

Today they are in school, Scrumpy is away tonight and Bear has after school club. Surfer chick is back after a weeks' holiday and all is right with the world.

(Surfer Chick works with the girls after school most days and a day at the weekend. She loves water sports and snow sports so Surfer Chick it is!)

Ginger twits are now venturing outside first thing of a morning with Meg. Hot Hubby has confessed he would miss themif they went to live in the stable so they will live in but still go out at night to hunt. I'm thinking cat flaps everywhere EXCEPT the house so they don't bring anything home to play.

OOPS!!

2009-01-26T17:38:00.002Z

We are now in the habit of feeding Bear's water addiction by going swimming on a Tuesday and Wednesday after school. Scrumpy just adores going too so it's a great night out as we stop off for chips in the cafe on the way home.

Last week we had a disaster I'm afraid to say of my making. Some how we managed to leave the house two kids, two carers one parent and a stack of bags only to get to the changing room to find we had managed to leave Bear's costume behind. It's pool side changing cubicles. The whole leisure centre knew Bear was not happy. I ran back to reception to ask if they had any costume in lost property or to buy - receptionist had a look but came up distressed and empty handed. While we were trying to figure out a way of getting round the missing costume issue - was pants and vest an option?? Bear was trying to limbo under the cubicle door naked. She was going in the pool, costume or not. Thankfully she is now too big to get under the door but she was giving it a good go.

Just when I was really starting to panic one of the poolside team went for a hunt around and came back proudly brandishing a suitable costume. He'd actually gone to find some shorts and was so pleased with himself to have found a costume. The smile that Bear gave him was reward enough.

This isn't the first time I have been moved by our leisure centre staff going the extra bit. We've been the only people in the pool in a disabled session and they've put water features on for us and run the flume. Just for us, to see my girls smile. That is special, and never will it be taken for granted and always will it be appreciated.

Ginger Twits venture outside....

2009-01-12T17:46:00.002Z

and back in again at a rapid rate!

Thinking Bruce and Tim needed to get more stimulation and, more importantly, off my kitchen table I tried to get them outside for a bit today. To start with, my big bad barn cats ran for the safety of their hidey hole in the coffee table when I opened the patio door, so following this flying start I grabbed Bruce and took him out. He was singularly unimpressed and showed it by scuttling back in the moment I put him down on the grass. Tim, being a girl, was more adventurous and got further out only to be beaten up by the birds. I had to rescue her from under the water butt. I think my fears of the birds getting attacked by the cats have been laid to rest.

So, we will try again tomorrow but in the mean time, if anyone has any good tips about training a stupid cat or two that paws belong on the floor or outside I'd be most grateful.

Don't expect to hear from me....

2009-01-05T09:05:00.002Z

well, not for a bit anyway! Burst pipe at school means MINIMUM extra two days holiday, my house is definitely post Christmas and I have a stack of jobs to do.

After that? You might get lucky before I sit down with my new book! Santa brought me Lottery by Patricia Wood and Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison so following the post holiday shake down that'll be me, nose in book and a big fat do not disturb sign above my head.

what happened to Twiglets?

2008-12-28T14:03:00.002Z

This Christmas has been a Twiglet free affair here in the Highlands. No Twiglets anywhere. Is this a battle won by the Marmite Haters or are they another victim of the current financial crisis and no one told me?? Have the Marmite Lovers taken supplies hostage and not released any for us up here?

Twiglets - where are you??

So, 2008, where did it go?

2008-12-22T11:44:00.002Z

I can't belive that I'm writng the annual catch up again already. Where did 2008 go? Was it two months for the price of one and no one told me? Apologies for those who signed in prompted by the note in the christmas card - I had great intentions of getting this done ages ago but life got in the way, so no change there!

This year has been a kind of a stop start year for us at Highland Madness. It started with having to take the kids to and fro for school, severely impacting on our day in more ways than the hour round trip twice a day. We had to spend the time in between fighting the council for an extra escort for the bus to ensure safety for all concerned. Our epilepsy nurses were not happy to put it mildly.

Once this was sorted - six months later - we had more time to spend on the market gardening side and did manage to produce and sell successfully. We learned a lot along the way and will be better prepared for 2009 as a result. We still have a lot of potatoes in the ground as well as swede and beetroot which has not been harvested due to storage issues.

The good news is the extension is coming on really well. The bad news is we have no space in the garage and the weather has been too wet to put the barn up since we dug the foundations so no space to make more propagators, hen houses or storage for root veg.

In spite of their dilapidated housing the birds (10 bantams, 10 hybrids and 6 Muscovy ducks) are doing well and are still producing eggs. We're looking forward to breeding our own ducks next year and may even sell a few if I can get the dispatching right.

Summer holidays passed more easily this year as we were able to get some help with the girls and therefore out and about, including visits to various beaches and Landmark Forest Theme Park.

Unfortunately Scrumpy's epilepsy is becoming more unstable and we have had to use emergency medication in the most awkward situations. It's an on going issue but life goes on regardless and we take it in our stride. She's a real trooper and copes with it so well. Bear seams to have some awareness of it to as she has several times comforted her sister during a seizure (so much more preferable than the other option of running a muck!)

Our household has somewhat swelled this year with the addition of 26 birds and two cats and four staff to work with the girls. The cats arrived in November as barn cats but it soon became obvious that cats are animals of very little brain and they are currently house cats. IF I have the heart they will be outside cats but it's more likely they'll be utility room cats and we'll put a flap in the door. I'm still clinging to my original idea of pest control...

We're looking forward to 2009. More help with the girls means more adventures and more time to work. Farming, computing - yes, it took 3 1/2 years but he's back at it - and helping out in school and Youth Project will keep us busy.

We have two family weddings to look forward to and we already have visitors booked in as far ahead as May, so if you were thinking of dropping by, we'd love to see you but get penciled in now!

A wonderful Christmas and fabulous New Year to all.

Happy Advent to One and All!

2008-12-10T20:13:00.005Z

Thanks for the climbing frame mum!

Three days ago Hot hubs and I went back to the Tattooist and got inked. We screwed up our courage and went in, a few minutes late, to find he was doing someone else and we had to go back in half an hour. We retreated to the bakery cafe for Dutch courage after raiding Woolworth's closing down sale. At the allotted hour we returned and Hot hubs went first. Having lost numerous medic alert bracelets he now has a tattoo on his wrist announcing his condition and I have to say even at this early stage it looks really good.

Then it was my turn and having seen Hot hubby's finger tips going white as he gripped his arm while it was being done I sat in the chair with a fair amount of trepidation. Here goes nothing. It took an hour and a half of scratching feeling but I now have a Peacock butterfly on my back. I found my happy place and it didn't hurt as much as I feared. Until now. Now I feel like I missed a bit with the sunscreen and have a bad case of sunburn. It didn't occur to me that it would hurt after having it done. Washing it and applying bepanthen cream three times a day didn't register as a healing process for some bizarre reason. Apparently the bruised sunburn feeling will fade over the next couple of weeks.

In spite of all this, I am still glad I had it done and I'm pleased with the results. Judge for yourself.

For those of you who don't know, Peacock butterflies are a rare breed native to Highland grassland areas. They grow to about 7cm wing span and are quite beautiful.

I'm NOT a cat person.....they're NOT growing on me....

2008-12-02T12:53:00.003Z

At 11 weeks old Tim and Bruce had their first vaccinations at the vet yesterday. Neither of them stopped purring through the whole thing, needle and all. They got weighed again - Bruce was 1kg 3 weeks ago, now 1.6kg, Tim was 900g and is now 1.26kg. Vet is pleased with their progress and thinks Bruce is going to be a BIG cat. That's my big bad barn cat on the right, Tim's hiding behind her brother. As you can see they're not cute at all.

To Tat or not to Tat - that WAS the Question...

2008-12-02T11:39:00.003Z

Now I'm deciding on a design for my oh so original Christmas present from Hot-Hubby. I have narrowed it down to a butterfly, indigenous to the British Isles, hopefully Scotland but at least to find one that lives where we do. Why a butterfly? Because it's a symbol of rebirth, renewal and life. Photos will be posted, so no it's nowhere the sun never shines!

Of course there are downsides to having a tattoo. I won't be able to give blood for a bit, it will hurt "like a hot cat scratch" according to the tattooist but is that going to be like "tiny scratch" by the doctor as you nearly hit the roof? It will be there forever so I have to be very sure about it and I can't whimp out part way through, it's an all or nothing deal.

On the up side my mum will hate it and I have to admit this does appeal to my inner teenager - sorry mum!

Just for Michelle...

2008-11-27T19:46:00.003Z

Another duck picture for scale - or - dinner time!

Bear Update

2008-11-21T20:24:00.003Z

Bear is still on her language spurt. Cats are earning their keep! Lots of "Daddy" and "Mummy" and tonight "Ritz" for the required savoury biscuit AND generalised it to ask Daddy!

Also in cat news...Hot-Hubby thinks they "need" to come through to the front room for a cuddle at night "so they get more used to us" They are growing like weeds and feel like they have doubled in size in the two weeks we have had them.

In duck news - they're taking over the asylum!!

and yes that's snow on our roof - more falling at time of writing so hoping for enough for sledging or a melt by morning. Nothing more irritating for Scrumpy than not enough snow!

osina not othy - now it all makes sense!

2008-11-13T16:36:00.003Z

Cats have had a trip to the vet where it was confirmed that Tim is actually a girl. Need I say more?

Tim gets stuck, Tim shouts for help. Bruce gets stuck, sits there silently like a numpty.

Both are growing on me and purr like out board motors, so much so that Tim had to have surgical spirit wafted up her nose to help stop her purring so the vet could hear her chest! Tim also had to have her eye checked but all in order except a short course of antibiotics to cover cat flu infection.

Bear is still besotted. Scrumpy also quite beside herself and wants to hug them all the time. They are now dual purpose cats, big bad barn therapy cats. Bear has said more sentences since we had the cats indoors than she has said in the last year. Never underestimate the power of animals.

What a day! or Dreams can come true...

2008-11-12T21:47:00.003Z

Yesterday we found Squeak in the wall of the tack room - today, we found him in the tiniest tube in the wall, upside down and looking very much worse for wear. Stupid cat. Having got him out of the wall we brought him in and left him with food and water on top of the boiler in a pet carrier. He soon picked up but then our attention focused on the absence of Ratty, who was eventually found in the wall on the other side of the stable. So today has been spent rescuing cats - head down the back of walls bum in the air trying not to join them. Not the most elegant position but needs must.

I decided to call in the big guns and got the lady from the cat protection league to come out. A lovely lady who has lent us a double size carrier so they can be contained with food and litter tray and we can keep an eye on them. She also confirmed we have two brothers so their actual names are Tim (as in Nice but Dim - Harry Enfield and Hot-Hubby's choice) and Bruce which was my choice and due to a dream I had. Tim has the snots which I'm hoping is due to dust and dirt and nothing more but we need to keep an eye on him. Next episode - a trip to the vet for jabs and worming.

Mid-week Highland Madess Howler

2008-11-11T21:50:00.004Z

Put your tea/coffee down and watch this but please be warned, language is definitely "adult theme"

And for those of you preferring "Aww!" to "BWAHAHAHA!!" here's a picture of Squeak - sibling Ratty is the same colour but slightly shorter coat and more of a splodge than stripe effect. Squeak is more adventurous (or should that be less clever?) and got stuck down the wall this morning - stupid cat had climbed up the wood pile and over the gap at ceiling height into the tackroom nextdoor to the stable (we use it as a garden shed.) Did Squeak land in the comparitavely vast area of the tackroom? No, stupid cat fell down the wall - a gap of about 3" at most - and I had to pull the hardboard off to let the thing out. Then I had to catch it - Squeak NOT impressed!

But none the worse for wear

and still cute, for a cat.

Decison made!

2008-11-08T17:25:00.001Z

We now have two adorable ginger kittens currently living in the stable. I collected them today from the Giggling Farmer's connection.

Photo's to follow

Decisions, decisions

2008-11-06T09:25:00.003Z

What colour wetwall should we have? Where should the radiators go? The lights? The switches? How high do we want the shower head? Where and what's going in the kitchen? The list is never ending! Extension is exciting and progressing but also so consuming.

Then there's the mouse issue - should we trap them, poison them or get a cat or two? I'm in favour of option three so watch this space (had a dream we had a barn cat called Bruce!!)

And now the ducks have moulted and regrown feathers do we clip them or trust them to know what side their bread's buttered and stick around? The books say they fly around not away and they do look amazing zooming around at head height...

Answers on a postcard please....

I'm off to prepare the house and food for friends round for dinner - when the kids are away, mum and dad will play!

Elections, Recession, Depression...Here's a Highland Madness Happy to Lift Your Spirits!

2008-11-01T08:56:00.003Z

Click this link to see Eddie does Darth

Hedonism at Highland Madness!

2008-10-23T13:26:00.004+01:00

Well as you may recall, sometime ago, I posted about a trip we were planning. It came off and I am now sufficiently recovered to tell (not) all. It started with me getting up at sparrows doodah to meet The font of all knowledge to collect some more hens. I was up and they were all asleep, I returned and they were STILL ALL ASLEEP!!! Unfair or what? That just never EVER happens. I put in a complaint.

Hot-hubs toook Meg to stay in her holiday home which she rushed into without a backward glance - something about 6 mile a day walks and lots of fuss was mentioned in her own doggy way. Then it was back to load up the car with kids, cases and all the paraphernalia of holidays.

Dropped the kids off to their holidays and equally with less than a dismissive glance they were off. By this time I was getting a little bit of a complex, no doubt compounded by my separation anxiety. Were they all that unhappy with me? What was I doing so wrong?. I tried to follow Hot-hubby's lead (or should that be front?) and be happy they were going to be having as much fun if not more than we were.

We were truly on our way now and decided to grab some lunch at the garden centre (great cafe, don't laugh!) on the way to the airport. (Had to send a wee text to Big Help to let her know where to take kids for cafe trip on the way home - Christmas stuff in at the garden centre - Scrumpy was delighted!!)

All went smoothly, the car was parked, the plane was on time and would you believe the guy doing the bag security and the guy in front of us both had a sister in the same place as Hot-Hubs! What's the odds of that? We arrived in the South East. I know it wasn't hell but it was doing a fair impression. The people the traffic the noise - lost count of the number of "Beam me up Scotty!"s.

We made it to Hot-Hubby's sister in one piece and was just delighted to see nephew was still up. He soon disappeared off to bed and we consumed the odd glass of wine catching up on all the family news. Staggered up stairs - (both flights as we were on the top floor, just a bit different to our single storey living as my thighs told me by the end of our stay!) and slept with out interruption 'til 7.30am, a luxury we don't often have.

After receiving a reassuring text from Bear's carer we spent the day Friday playing with nephew who already could say my name and point to me when asked where I was - he's an 18month old genius with a real sense of humour. When asked who mum is will only say "Daddy", first word was "hoover". Mum was not pleased he was saying "Amanda" after an evening and a morning but what can I say? I must have made an impression!! After some quality nephew time and getting more acclimatised we headed off to She who introduced me to Hot-Hubs for Friday night in the pub with old friends. It was just great to spend time with everyone again and those of you who didn't make it, we missed you!!

Alcohol levels suitably adjusted we slept well again!

Saturday was the big day for She who introduced us so we helped out with a few last minute things then headed off to our old next door neighbours for a slap up lunch. This served two purposes - one, to allow Mr & Mrs S-W-I-U to panic in privacy and two, we got to catch up with more friends and remind ourselves how much we miss our neighbours and their cooking!

Suitably refreshed we headed to the hotel and had a (ahem) leisurely get ready. We don't often dress up these days so it took a while. Once scrubbed up we braved the glass lifts to the bar area and met up with people we haven't seen for about 15 or 20 years in some cases.

The wedding went without a hitch (and nearly without the brides knickers!!) and was followed by a great evening of drinking and dancing and laughing with old friends and a few new ones too. Unfortunately even the suitably adjusted alcohol levels couldn't drown out the noise of the trains and we didn't sleep as well that night, but a slap up breakfast brought us back to life and we headed back to nephew to meet up with other brother in law and his family who had travelled three hours down the road just to see us.

Sunday whizzed passed in a whirl and before we knew it we were in the all you can eat Chinese with a bottle or two of wine and a sister in law eager to enjoy a rare night out. What could I do? I could hardly let her down so had to join her in a glass or two.....you guessed it, alcohol levels suitably adjusted and we were dead to the world until after 7am again!

Monday morning and we were going home. You know that going home feeling, the one where you want to stay but you really want to get home right there and then, preferably by teleport? Well we had it BIG style. Having kept my homesickness under control by being so busy it came over me in a wave of tsunami proportions and all I wanted was to be home with my girls and my dog and my chaos. No more high density living, just space and quiet. BEAM ME UP SCOTTY!!

Thankfully the journey home was uneventful and we were home safe with our girls - who had survived trial by respite for four days and enjoyed a cafe treat with Big Help on the way home. I can honestly say we all enjoyed our four day holiday but we're all glad it's over. Scrumpy particularly had a hard time spending that long in respite, even having as much fun as they did Bear also had a moment of sitting by the door with her suitcase (but then she has done that before on an overnight when asked to eat shepherd's pie!) I think we'll stick to a maximum of two nights in future.

Scrumpy turns 11!!

2008-09-21T22:04:00.002+01:00

I can hardly beleive it but Scrumpy is 11. She has had the most amazing brithday weekend with a party and chocolate cake a la Hot -hubby's at school on Friday, cake and candles at play scheme on Saturday followed by tea at Burger King then home for cards and presents and blackerry and fruit picking on Sunday. It doesn't end there - next weekend it all starts again when family visit for more cake and candles and presents and cards. Birthday octave? This is birthday bonanza!!

Yes, you read that right, fruit picking. Scrumpy LOVES fruit picking, just don't expect to get any of it home! That'll be her five a day for the next week or two...

Hot -Hubby has been peeking.....

2008-09-17T12:36:00.000+01:00

PS I've had a complaint about misrepresentation - to be clear, picture of M3 is newer than the one we had and ours was green but that was the only picture I found on the net so illustration only. The picture of the Morris really is/was mine and the picture of the MX5 is actually an older model than the one we're getting and ours is in black but you get the idea!!