Life, Death and Disasters

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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!

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!