New Years Advice - Saw this and thought you might like it!

DON'T waste money on expensive ipods. Simply think of your favourite tune and hum it. If you want to "switch tracks", simply think of another song you like and hum that instead.

CINEMA goers: Please have consideration for pirate DVD viewers by having a p*ss before the film starts.

RAPPERS: Avoid having to say 'know what I'm sayin' all the time by actually speaking clearly in the first place.

DON'T waste money on expensive paper shredders to avoid having your identity stolen. Simply place a few dog turds in the bin bags along with your old bank statements.

WORRIED that your teeth will be stained after a heavy night drinking red wine? Simply drink a bottle of white wine before going to bed to remove the stains.

SOLDIERS: Invest in a digital camera to avoid a court appearance after a trip to Truprint

.MURDERERS: Need to dispose of a body? Simply parcel it up and post it to yourself via Royal Mail. You will never see it again.

BURGLARS: When fleeing from the police, run with your right arm sticking out at 90degrees, wrapped in a baby mattress in case they set one of their dogs on you.

EMPLOYERS: Avoid hiring unlucky people by immediately tossing half the CVs into the bin.

BUTCHES: When listening to your favourite CD, simply turn up the sound to the volume you desire; then turn it down three notches. This will save your partner from having to do it.

GAMBLERS: For a new gambling opportunity, try sending £50 to yourself by Royal Mail.

BANGING: two pistachio nutshells together gives the impression that a very small horse is approaching.

DRIVERS: If a car breaks down or stalls in front of you, beep your horn and wave your arms frantically. This should help the car start and send them on their way.

PREVENT burglars stealing everything in the house by simply moving everything in the house into your bedroom when you go to bed. In the morning, simply move it all back again.

CAR thieves: Don't be discouraged when nothing is on view. All the valuables may be hidden in the glove box or under a seat.

MOTORISTS: Avoid getting prosecuted for using your phone whilst driving. Simply pop your mobile inside a large shell and the police will think you are listening to the sea.

SHOES last twice as long if only worn every other day.

HUSBANDS boil an egg to perfection without costly egg timers by popping the egg into boiling water and driving away from your home at exactly 60 mph. After 3 miles, phone your wife and tell her to take the egg out the pan.

McDONALD'S: Make your brown carrier bags green in colour so they blend in with the countryside after they've been thrown out of car windows.

WOMEN: Don't waste energy faking orgasms. Most men couldn't give a sh*t anyway and you could use the saved energy to hoover the house afterwards

Narnia

We finally got around to going to see Narnia today. We took the twins, who had been asking to go since it came out, so as it was good old Orange Wednesday, we went along for out two for ones.

It was very good - beautifully shot and what fantastic special effects. But the girls were a bit scared and jumped onto our knees and hid their little faces in quite a few bits. Dolly was pretty upset when Aslam got shaved and killed, and was saying Poor Yiyon, Poor Yiyon. This is very good language for Evie, as she has a severe speech and palate problem - but she is a sensitive little soul, and very kind and thoughtful. Anyway, all ended well as the Yiyon came back to life as you probably know and it was a happy ending. As a childrens film must be.

Now, I`d love to take them to see Harry Potter, but son reckons that this film would be too frightening for them.

RIP Mary

Sad to say, our neighbour Mary died last night. We were waiting for friends to turn up for a meal, and Tony noticed the flashing lights of the ambulance and paramedic car at the house oppersite. We saw poor Mary being carried out on a stretcher, and later that night heard that she had died. Dont know the details, but she has been hitting the bottle pretty heavily for the last few years. (This may not be relevent, but possibly is) Suffice to say, it was a sad thing, as she was a nice woman and was only about 59. RIP Mary ! We will miss you

After Christmas - poem

After Christmas

After Christmas

Fat and bloated we sit

Amongst discarded packaging

Of toys, already forgotten

And chocolate from selection packs

Piled high

Too much for even greedy mouths

To consume

And still we drink with festive cheer

The dregs of whisky

And sparkling wine

Its sparkle depleted

And eat

The sausage rolls

We cannot waste

But where is the renewal of our spiritual joy?

The human warmth

The tears of gratitude for a single toy

Forever loved

A precious gift

And not a moments diversion

Until a newer, sharper thrill

Arrives to take our eye

After Christmas

We wait

And hope the coming year

Will bring us the renewal we crave

Our hopes and aspirations reborn

Our resolve for better lives

Reaffirmed in resolutions

For the coming joyous year.

A lovely day

You know, in the end, after all the usual chaos, we had a pretty  good christmas day. I actually got some beautiful presents this year - a gorgeous jacket, new coat, gold necklace and bracelet, silver ring, new Oasis CD, Les Miserable DVD. Tony (my partner) Mum and the kids were made up with their pressies too especially my son, who got a new 60 GB Ipod. It is fantastic. I wonder if they`ll come down in price by next year? I wouldnt mind one myself.
The twins naturally got loads and loads of toys - Evie , having a bit of a thing about My Little Pony, seemed to love her toy ponies best. Ellie was mad about her Cinderella doll and the wooden bunk beds Mum got them to sleep in. I wont go on any more, cos I`ll only bore you - thats if your still reading - but suffice to say, we all had a good day.
Hope you all had an equally good time. And best wishes to you all, once again. X

Merry Christmas

A hectic christmas Eve! Shopping! Wrapping! Cooking! Not much fun really.........
But it was nice going to church! We went to the christingle service and it was lovely. Especially when they turned out all the lights in the church and everyone sang Away in a Manger in the candle light. All the children looked so sweet and Dolly and Molly were gorgeous in their christmas coats and hats.
I hope you all have a lovely day tomorrow.
Take it easy

Martin Cooper - seven failed marriages thanks to Liverpool FC

A man called Martin Cooper has just seen the failure of his seventh marriage thanks to his obsessive devotion to Liverpool FC. His wives, Rosemary, Patricia, Barbara, Rosemary no. 2, Carol, Davina and Tina all eventually got sick of being relegated to second place by Martin. Mr. Cooper, who lives in Cambridge, also named his son (with Davina) with all eleven members of the 1986 first team squad. Fantastic!
At the age of 57, he is also a contender for Radio Five Live`s, Britain`s most obsessive fan. Martin, who is also honorary chairman of the Cambridgeshire Reds, the Liverpool fans group he co-founded 15 years ago, will now be Walking Alone.

Finally the end of term

Finally, the end of term is here. The kids are getting excited as christmas is getting so close - well the little ones are - son is 14 now and doesnt believe in Santa anymore. LOL. Just have to break the news to T now! Anyway, Dolly had to go for her weekly speech therapy in the local hospital, so missed most of her last morning. The therapist said she`s doing well, but I cant see it myself. She has DiGeorge Syndrome (or VCFS) and has palate issues. But basically she cant talk - or at least cant make many legible words, although her understanding is good. Today we worked on the sounds "Pe", "Pa" and "poo", said in a whisper with her tongue pushed out. She struggles with this but the ST tries to make it into a game.

We managed to get her back to school for her last hour and picked the excited twins up at 1.00pm, clutching lots of mysterious bits of paper, sweets and choocolates. We stopped off on the way home to give the lovely lollipop man, Dave, a predictable box of Roses. He seemed really pleased. What a nice man he is - always shows concern when Dolly goes in for operations.
Son arrived back some time later, after an end of term celebration at Pizza Hut with his mates. Even T was home early from work today - off on a booze up with his football mates, round town. So no jumping out of bed early in the morning. Think I`ll luxuriate in my comfy bed until the monsters come running in sometime in the morning. MMMMmmmmmmm!

A bit of retail Therapy

I`ve been indulging in a bit of retail therapy today. Fantastic! A good day in town wandering around the shops - AND - picked my own christmas present from my partner. Well, at least you get what you really want that way. So, I chose a gorgeous jacket from Lewis` and a knitted coat with a fur collar from Principals. Now - I just need an opportuntity to get out to wear them.
So, I`m back home now - feet up - very self-satisfied. I think I`ve bought all my presents now - most of my cards done - I`ve a few more to make though - AND - I`ve even done some wrapping. Pretty good going for the most unorganised person in the universe. This Christmas lark is a doddle - Hmmmm. Shouldnt have said that. I`ll probably burn the turkey now.
One blot on the horizon though - the washing machine broke last night!!!!!! I dont understand it cos we only got it in May, and its a goodun` - obviously not that good though! The man is supposed to be coming out on Thurday morning, so lets hope he does. What to do about the mounds of washing in the mean-time!

Command Santa - this is brilliant

I came across this link and thought I`d share it. You might have seen it already seen it already, but if not, take a look. You can make Santa do what ever you like!
Well, within reason

http://humor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.santasez.sig%2Dad.com

The Great Christmas Card Debate

Yes -this was the great debate between my mother and myself today.
It all started innocently enough when Dennis, the bald fellow next door but two, a man in his sixties, popped a christmas card through my mother`s letterbox.
Now, the aforementioned card, was of the flimsy, paper variety, with a very attractive picture of a badger on the front. Well, my mother thought it was a skunk, but I assured her that I didnt think they made christmas cards with skunks on them. My mother`s main beef with the card however, was not the skunk, but the fact that the christmas card was cheap and nasty, and in her opinion - the type of card one send someone is the measure of esteem that is felt for that person. In other words - if you only send nice cards to people that you like. But in this day and age, good quality cards can be purchased pretty cheaply in multi-packs and in her opinion, there is no need to send anyone a skunky card.
However - my argument was that perhaps Dennis sends everyone cheap, flimsy cards, and its probably nothing personal. After all, not everyone sets such great store in cards. In fact, as I pointed out, my uncle never sends anyone a card as its firmly against his principles . My mother`s answer to this was that she`d rather have no card at all that a cheap, paper card.
When I returned to my house later - I live next door to my mother - I was astonished to see skunky blue-tacked to the centre of the living room mirror.
Ha ha ha ha! Very funny mother!

Liverpool FC Wins Again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Liverpool FC wins again - Eleven games in a row now I believe. Things are looking good. Heres a little snippet from the Liverpool Echo..............

Big in Japan
Dec 15 2005
By Chris Bascombe in Yokohama, Liverpool Echo


LIVERPOOL stand within 90 minutes of world domination - after sweeping Costa Rican champions Deportiva Saprissa aside in today's World Club Championships semi-final in Yokohama.
Peter Crouch struck twice with a Steven Gerrard scorcher in between, as the Reds triumphed 3-0.
And the clean sheet means Rafa Benitez's side has now claimed a new club record of 11 successive shut-outs.
The Reds will now meet the Brazilians, Sao Paulo, in Sunday's final in Tokyo.
Liverpool made the best possible start after just three minutes, when Crouch took Djibril Cisse's knockdown from a John Arne Riise cross and struck a classy half-volley into the corner of the net.
Gerrard rapped in the second after 32 minutes, again from a Riise cross, then Crouch broke clear to sweep the ball past the Costa Rican keeper in the 58th minute.
With the game won, Benitez shuffled his pack, but the Reds still managed to preserve another recordbreaking clean sheet.

Liverpool 3, Deportivo Saprissa 0

Good Ay!

Anyhow - back to my action packed, glittering life (Not!)

Today, I trotted round the neighbourhood with my Mothers cards - and did a bit more wrapping before picking up the twins from school. The twinnies, incidently were dressed in their sparkling best - party clothes - no jeans and t-shirts for my girls. Certainly not - it has to be shiny, glittery and totally unsuitable, and as a helpless mum, powerless against the forces of 5 year old -em - I tend to go with the flow! Know what I mean! Tonight, I`m busy blogging and of course it Little Britain Night, plus the excellent Worst week of my life. Anyone watch this - is so toe curlingly, cringingly funny!

Eleven Days to go..................................

Only 11 days to go to chrimbo now - cant believe it. Its been a hectic few days - hav`nt even had time to update this blog. But not much of interest to relay. I`ve been busy making christmas cards, then writing and delivering them. And of course, frantically buying presents - and even wrapping a few!!!! AND, I`ve had my hair cut - its now in a nice, neat, blonde bob just above the shoulders. Doesn`t look too bad, even if I say so myself. Now, I just need to lose a bit of weight, which obviously, I`ll leave until January now. Well - you cant diet over christmas, can you? Ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow - John Lydon`s on the British Comedy Awards - and isnt he strange! He`s just brought a tooth on stage wrapped in an old sock. And he`s just announced that our lovely Paul O` Grady has won personality of the year. Nice one Paul!

On a more serious note, theres been a big explosion in an adhesives factory in Liverpool - yesterday morning. Tragically, one man has been killed and two badly burned.

Explosion In London

What a terrible thing to happen! There has been a huge explosion in London, an accident in a gas depot I believe. Lots of people have been evacuated from there homes. I`m just glad there doesnt appear to have been any loss of life that I`ve heard of anyway!

Ellie and Evie with the geese - 05

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originally uploaded by liverpoolboxingbaby.

Me with the Tin Man 05

originally uploaded by liverpoolboxingbaby.

Me and mother in Stanley Arms - 05

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originally uploaded by liverpoolboxingbaby.

God its Cold! - Scarborough - 05

God its Cold! - Scarborough - 05,
originally uploaded by liverpoolboxingbaby.

We`re here. Where`s Dr. Who - Scarborough Aug 05

We`re here. Where`s Dr. Who - Scarborough Aug 05,
originally uploaded by liverpoolboxingbaby.

Son at Rice Lane City FARM - 05

originally uploaded by liverpoolboxingbaby.

The X-Factor - Semi Final

Can you believe that the incredible Brenda has been knocked out of the X-Factor. Mind you, the remaining contestants are so good now. I think Shayne will win now, but Journey South are amazing too. Andy is a beautiful crooner, such a nice guy, but I wonder whether the other two acts are more marketable, being such handsome young guys. It`ll be a great show next week for the final, but I`ll be out enjoying a christmas meal next Saturday, so will miss it. Never mind. I`m sure it`ll be repeated loads of times.

Friday Fever

Its Friday again. Back to my writing group after a long absence. Been doing a computer maintenance course on a Friday - but its finished now and I`m glad.
So, it was good to be back and see everyone. We read a bit of stuff out and then planned next weeks Christmas party - the important stuff! I feel like my writing has been taking a back seat lately due to focusing on other things. I need to re-focus - concentrate!
Anyway fellow bloggers - Writing is therapeutic in itself, as you all must agree - and if no-one ever reads you blogs, it feels good to get it all out. And what better reason to journalise.
Just watching Will Young on the Johnathon Ross show as I write. His new song is pretty lovely. He really has come on as singer from the Pop idol days. Don't you think. A stunning vocalist. And better yet, Jules Holland is on now. He`s such a talented and yet amiable man. Just love him. Would you believe it! Jonathon Ross just had to go for a wee in the middle of his interview with Jules. Like a trouper, Jules played the piano and covered for him. Never seen this happen before on a chat show.
Anyway - back to the mayhem of town tomorrow. There's so much more to get for chrimbo yet and I`ve got to face it. Luckily, no more LIPA for my daughter till January now, so I`ve got a few Saturdays free. Got to get cracking and break the back of this Christmas shopping.

New Portrait of John Lennon

This portrait by Tony Brown is on display from today. It is made on a background of newspaper cuttings charting John Lennon`s life. Tony is in the midst of painting 100 portraits of living Merseysiders, who have played an important role in local life, to be ready for 2007 when Liverpool celebrates the 800th anniverary of King John
granting it a Royal Charter. He is also working on a massive canvas to include great people from Merseyside's history.

Liverpool Remembers John Lennon - 25th Anniversary of his death

Can it really be 25 years since John Lennon was shot? It seems like it was only yesterday to me. I can still remember the shock back in December 1980 when my Step-Dad called me to tell me the news. There`s a lot of special events going on in Liverpool in rememberance of John over the next few days. There`s a feature on Granada news as I speak and its so sad to think that he wa shot down in his prime.
Prayers are being said in Matthew Street today and hundreds of balloons are being released over the Albert Dock, with messages from fans all over the world. Children from a school for the deaf will also be miming songs by John Lennon. Finally, a civic ceremony will be held in Liverpool Parish church for people who actually knew John - they will give their individual memorys of John and celebrate his life. Wish I could be there.

Exerts from the Liverpool Echo

Tribute day starts in Mathew Street
Dec 8 2005
Daily Post


FANS will mark the 25th anniversary of John Lennon's death today with vigils and concerts across the globe.
In his home city, tributes will be led by the Liverpool Beatles Appreciation Society, in a short ceremony in Mathew Street, at 11am.
The Dean of the Metropolitan Cathedral, Monsignor Peter Cookson, and Canon Hawley from the Anglican Cathedral will offer prayers for peace.
They will create two "shrines " where fans can come together to lay flowers and cards, one at the Lennon statue in Mathew Street and a smaller one at the Beatles Monument in the nearby Cavern Designer Shopping Centre.
At noooon, hundreds of white balloons trailing cards bearing messages from the public to John Lennon will be released from the Brittania Courtyard outside the The Beatles Story, at the Albert Dock.
Later Knotty Ash School for the Deaf will perform their own renditions of Beatles numbers in Sign Language, at Clayton Square from 1pm until 2pm.
There will be a special hour-long service at Liverpool parish church, Our Lady & St Nicholas' opposite the Pier Head, from 5pm when pupils from John Lennon's former schools, Dovedale juniors and Calderstones, will lay flowers.
Speakers will include Bill Harry, founder of the 'Mersey Beat' newspaper,, and broadcaster and Beatles expert Spencer Leigh. Former Quarryman Colin Hanton will also attend.
Broughton Hall High School pupil, Michelle Strahan, 15, will perform Beautiful Boy as a solo, followed by the Notre Dame Catholic College choir, singing All You Need is Love, In My Life and Happy Christmas/War is Over.

The service will conclude with prayer and blessing by the Rector of Liverpool, The Reverend Steven Brookes and there will be a Book of Commemoration.
Liverpool's Lord Mayor Cllr Alan Dean, who described Lennon's contribution to music as "immense" will introduce the civic service.
The focus will return to Clayton Square from 5.30pm with live music by local musicians Steve Roberts and Santa Carla.
Then at 6.30pm there will be a screening of rare documentary footage - courtesy of digital radio station BBC 6 Music - featuring videos, interviews, performance and even John's poetry, under the banner of 'Lennon Remembered'.
The anniversary will also mark the start of a special light show celebrating his life. Until December 14, there will be a nightly projection of Lennon images onto George's Dock Building, between 4.30pm and 11pm.



I wanted to kill him so I could finally be somebody
Dec 8 2005
Liverpool Echo

Chief feature writer Paddy Shennan reports on tonight's controversial Channel 4 documentary: I Killed John Lennon.
THEY want to take us down again - into the warped mind of fame-hungry assassin Mark Chapman, the man who cold-bloodedly murdered John Lennon 25 years ago today.
Way back in January, 1993, American investigative reporter Jack Jones was plugging his new book: Let Me Take You Down Inside The Mind Of Mark David Chapman, The Man Who Shot John Lennon, which was published by Virgin Books.
He had corresponded with and visited Chapman and, after gaining his trust in 1990, he spent nine months recording over 100 hours of interviews.
Jones told the ECHO in 1993 that his book was an effort to try and understand the murder: "I think that people can learn from studying specimens like him (Chapman) - like they can from bacteria in test tubes.

But nearly 13 years on, we're still being asked to focus on one strain of particularly unpleasant bacteria - the original nowhere man, Mark David Chapman, now aged 50 and continuing to rot in Attica prison, New York state. He was denied parole for a third time last year.
The taped interviews featuring the droning Texan drawl of the self-obsessed killer are old news. No wonder Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, believes there is nothing new to learn from Chapman who, when Jones's book came out, was interviewed by the veteran CNN chat show host Larry King.
After learning of tonight's Channel 4 documentary, and a similar programme on NBC in the States, Yoko said: "I think that it's horrible for Channel 4 to do this . . . Myself, John's family and so many fans will be hurt by the showing of such a programme."
The two books which, through no fault of their authors, put Lennon within Chapman's distorted sight are also highlighted - J.D. Salinger's The Catcher In The Rye and One Day At A Time, Anthony Fawcett's book on the former Beatle.
Chapman, who is serving a 20 years to life sentence after pleading guilty to second degree murder, identified himself with Salinger's anti-hero Holden Caulfield, who, as narrator John Simm told us, spent two days in New York "mocking the hypocrisy of the adult world".
Chapman then read the Fawcett book, later telling Jones: "There was a successful man, who kind of had the world on a chain and there I was - not even a link in that chain, and something in me just broke."
Lennon was a somebody. Chapman was a nobody. He knew it and he was sick of it. It was time, in his deranged world, to get mad and even.
He adds: "I remember just seeing what I perceived to be the phoniness of Lennon in the Fawcett book versus the Lennon I had known and practically worshipped as a Beatle - and seeing these terrible inconsistencies, and I remember saying in my mind 'What if I killed him?'
"I remember thinking 'Perhaps my identity could be found in the killing of John Lennon'."
Enter the Devil. Allegedly. Chapman claims: "I had sessions trying to invoke the Devil's assistance, probably three or four times calling out to the Devil 'Give me the opportunity to kill John Lennon'."
He had, at this time, two parts to his personality, according to Jack Jones - an evil child and a phony adult.
And Chapman says: "The child was praying to the Devil and the adult was praying to the Lord 'God help me. Save me, God, from this!' But the child was saying 'No, no no. Help me, help me, Devil, help me. Give me the power and strength to do this.'"
The child, via Chapman, apparently continued: "'I want to be important. I want to be somebody. Nobody ever let me be anybody. I couldn't be anybody. I failed at everything. Please, I want this. I want this so bad'!"
In his self-serving account, Chapman said he was operating "under total compulsion" and was like "a runaway train - nothing could have stopped me."
Clinical psychologist Dr Susan Young wasn't impressed by Chapman's performances, saying: "There's no sense of any consideration of anybody else's feelings. There's no remorse, no guilt. All that's there are pages and pages and pages of justification for his actions."
While Chapman expert Jack Jones, himself, points out in the documentary: "Throughout this entire tragedy, there was one person in control of everything and that was Mark Chapman."
But on that fateful night outside the Dakota building, the cool, calm and collected killer - cool, calm and collected enough to adopt a combat stance before killing his former hero - again claimed he was not alone. A child and an adult were said to be vying for space in his sick head.
Chapman says: The adult wanted to go home, the child was 'No, no, no. I want to kill him. I want to kill him'."
But it was Mark David Chapman - and nobody else - who killed John Lennon.
Forget the child and the Devil, because there's only one guilty voice you will hear on tonight's documentary - his.
Let's just hope it won't be heard again on the 30th anniversary of Lennon's death. Or the 35th. Or the 40th. And so on and so on.
* I Killed John Lennon, 10pm tonight on Channel 4.

Liverpool Draw with Chelsea

So it was a draw for Liverpool and Chelsea. And now we`re first in our group.

I didn`t get to town after all as I spent too long fiddling round doing stupid stuff. But I went to a local shopping precinct which was pretty chaotic too. Get a few more pressies - and even started to put the tree up when I got home. Hows that for festive spirit?
My eyes are burning again with too long on the pute, so better get off and do something else. Now, Medium`s on the televsion soon. I do like this programme!

Our Mutt Sandy

Better tackle the christmas Shoppin................

Yup! Better start getting it done today and tackle the insanity of Liverpool City Centre in December. Why does the whole country go into a mad frenzy when December arrives? Me included. How I`d love to go somewhere hot and sunny for christmas and just sit quietly reading a book and sipping a cold drink.
Fat chance! And all the christmas decorations are sitting on the floor - looking at me - waiting to be put up. Inspite of my moaning, I do sort of like it when all the deccys are up and the tree is dressed and twinkling away in the window.

Yesterday, was my last day at photoshop class until the New Year. But we were all upset to learn we may not be able to continue as the centre needs to pay £4,400 for the software licences for Photoshop and is not sure whether the funding is available. Still, we trotted off to the pub for a pre-christmas drink and a chat, exchanging emails in case we never se each other again. I hope this doesnt turn out to be the case.

More trouble! The dog is in serious bother as its been chewing everything and mmaaking a mess in the house. Its over one year old now, and Sandy, our Yorkie, is still acting like a pup. Will it ever change? I fnd I`m constantly having to defend it against the growing lobby to get rid of it - but I`m not having it. Me and the kids love the mischievious little rogue and the dog is here to stay, for better of worse.

Oh well. Better make a move and drag myself away from this laptop.
BTW. Liverpool is playing Chelsea tonight in the champions league. Come on Liverpool!!!!!!!!!

He`s Big
He`s Red
His Feet stick out the bed
Peter Crouch
Peter Crouch


(As sung by teenage son!)

Ellie in Full Diva Mode

A Typical saturday!

Today was another day of facing the madness of approaching christmas. I had to go to town to take Ellie to Liverpool School of Performing Arts or LIPA as its known as. She only goes to the kiddies Saturday school, but its very good and she loves it so much, being a bit of a drama queen. Anyway, off we went into the chaos of Liverpool City Centre which is in the middle of its fantastic metamorphis - or the Big Dig as its known as - or something similar. Luckily, the roads were quiet, as Liverpool were playing at home today against Wigan and the supporters were safely ensconced in the ground before we set off. ( Hurrah - Liverpool beat Wigan and Peter Crouch scored his first goal) Unfortunately, our car was blocked in by two big vans that were there installing new windows over the road and a new wall and drive way in the M and K`s house. Totally unable to get safely out of the driveway, I had to ask k to manoeuvre the car out. Last time I attempted a similar feat, I bashed the car on the gatepost, so didn't want to repeat this. Hmmmm.

We got to LIPA in good time and dropped Ellie off for her class, which was to be a Christmas party too - being the last day until January 7th. In she trotted, wearing a pink wig and a feather bower, much to the bemusement of the rather serious young ladies running the class - that's Ellie though - and off we went into the centre of town. I headed off too the paper mill and bought some stuff for my latest card making endeavour. Little Evie was a bit scared of the Christmas lunatics, rushing round with frantic faces, grabbing stuff wildly off the shelves. Well, it is the 3rd of December! I must admit, they scare me too!
When we got back to LIPA, some drama students were rehearsing a play in the area where we usually wait for the kids. I`ve never seen such a depressing play - it was like one huge big eight-headed argument. Wont be going to see that!
Then a nice, kindly faced man in a Santa suit decided to sneak up on Evie, to give her a pleasant surprise - not knowing that she`s got a pathological fear of Father Christmas!
I must say, I`ve never seen Evie`s cute little pixie face so absolutely contorted with terror! When the screams eventually died down and Santa scuttled off shamefaced and crest-fallen, we went to fetch Molly who strolled out last bedecked in the pink wig and feathers. No-one else seemed to have gotten dresses up, but this didn't faze our Ellie. She was just delighted cos she`s managed to get Father Christmas`s autograph, in her new little book.
So, after this, home, a few glasses a White Zindanfel, and feet up to watch the "X-Factor" and "I`m a celebrity Get me Out of Here"
"Is Sharon Osbourne totally nuts?"
"Will Carol Thatcher win, I`m a Celebrity?"

Well, oh no! Is that really the time? 13.30 am. Bedtime for me a think!

The Hell that is a childrens party

My mother and I have just spent the early hours of this evening in the Hell that is a children`s party in a Wacky Warehouse. Bah Humbug! Sounds like I`m being miserable I know - and the kids did love it - but what a headache. Near where we sat, close to the under 5`s section, 14 hyperactive boys around 8 or 9 years old ran rampant, chucking balls everywhere, mainly trying to knock out one of the lights. We sat patiently for 15 minutes getting rained on by balls - a fact that was studiously ignored by the Wacky staff who turned a blind eye to the manic behaviour of the group of boys. Finally, I lost my temper when A ball torpedoed towards our table knocking Mums drink everywhere, over the table, floor, coats and everywhere else. I went over to the staff who were gathered in a group having a good chat, totally oblivious to the chaos and told them what was going on. They looked at me blankly, obviously not noticing anything - but one did come over and tried to get the kids to behave, calling their parents to control them. One man, who seemed to be looking after them came over and I told him about the kids throwing a ball at our drinks - and he said "Oh - I`m sorry about that" before hopping it, pronto! Never offered to replace drink though. I just hate rudeness so much!

Finally, we the two hours were up and we could go home. But what happened to the lovely parties I used to have as a child with Pass the Parcel, Musical statues and so on. Oh the joys of having small children. NOT! in this case.
Good night then - from the Cantankerous one!

Ps - The conference in Newcastle was good and we stayed in a lovely lodge right by a gorgeous old pub. But! Theres always a but. Teenage son, came down with a really bad tummy bug on the Friday which lasted all weekend, so we had to cancel the Ice Skating Party on Saturday and just watch tv in the hotel. Never mind! We did manage to purloin a nice bottle of wine to sip while we watched the telly. But why do things never go straight forward? I`m sounding more like Victor Meldrew every day.

My mother and I have just spent the early hours of this evening in the Hell that is a children`s party in a Wacky Warehouse. Bah Humbug! Sounds like I`m being miserable I know - and the kids did love it - but what a headache. Near where we sat, close to the under 5`s section, 14 hyperactive boys around 8 or 9 years old ran rampant, chucking balls everywhere, mainly trying to knock out one of the lights. We sat patiently for 15 minutes getting rained on by balls - a fact that was studiously ignored by the Wacky staff who turned a blind eye to the manic behaviour of the group of boys. Finally, I lost my temper when A ball torpedoed towards our table knocking Mums drink everywhere, over the table, floor, coats and everywhere else. I went over to the staff who were gathered in a group having a good chat, totally oblivious to the chaos and told them what was going on. They looked at me blankly, obviously not noticing anything - but one did come over and tried to get the kids to behave, calling their parents to control them. One man, who seemed to be looking after them came over and I told him about the kids throwing a ball at our drinks - and he said "Oh - I`m sorry about that" before hopping it, pronto! Never offered to replace drink though. I just hate rudeness so much!
Finally, we the two hours were up and we could go home. But what happened to the lovely parties I used to have as a child with Pass the Parcel, Musical statues and so on. Oh the joys of having small children. NOT! in this case.
Good night then - from the Cantankerous one

Ps - The conference in Newcastle was good and we stayed in a lovely lodge right by a goreous old pub. But! Theres always a but then, teenage son, came down with a really bad tummy bug on the Friday which lasted all weekend, so we had to cancell the Ice Skating Party on Saturday and just watch tv in the hotel. Never mind! We did manage to purloin a nice bottle of wine to sip while we watched the telly. But why do things never go straight foreward? I`m sounding more like Victor Meldrew every day.

Some of my family photos

My twin girls - Ellie and Evie aged 5
Halloween 2005



Me and partner Tony - September 2005


















Me and one of the Anthony Gormleys iron men at Blundellsands, August 2005 "Another Place"

Hi - Just introducing myself

This is my first proper go at blogging; to introduce myself, my name is Carol Ann and I come from Liverpool, am in my 40`s with three kids. I don't know if anything I have to say will be of any interest, but I`m going to give it a go. I am a graduate in Health and am a trained nurse - not working at the moment due to having a sick child. It can get a bit frustrating - or should I say limiting being at home all the time and its nice to have an outlet. I'll see how if goes. Who knows?