Freebies

One thing I've always loved is a "freebie". In fact the bulk of our household contents are either freebies (both new and used) , discounted in some way, swops, skip finds or just plain old second hand.
Today whilst walking Ellie and Oscar back from nursery, we discovered a three wheeler buggy that had been abandoned in Coplestone Alley. A quick inspection revealed that the front wheel forks were hanging off rendering the thing practically impossible to push, all the tyres were flat and it had that all too familiar smell of puke and stale milk that all buggies acquire after only a few months. Nonetheless, I loaded Oscar into it and after a bit of a struggle got the thing home. First job was to tighten the nut that holds the forks on, easy peasy - that was the wheel problem fixed. Then pump up the tyres - no punctures, just flat... Next I stripped it down, chucked all the fabric bits in the washing machine, oiled the wheels and jet washed the frame. I even put some of that "back to black" stuff on the plastic bits to make them all shiny and new looking. And now I have a perfectly working, clean and rather posh buggy that retails for around 250 quid. Well chuffed.

Pony

I've spent the last couple of days pretty much confined to the house doing laundry, cooking, tidying etc. I could post some pictures of the kitchen sink, which is what I spend most of my time looking at, or even the pile of laundry that needs hanging up, but perhaps you would rather see a very happy, but slightly nervous Ellie riding a pony whilst in France last year.

Big Ears

I found this picture of me whilst rummaging through my photo album, and thought I should upload it so that you can all have a good laugh.

Artistes

Today I staplegunned a 6 foot by 4 foot sheet of bright yellow paper to the wall in the kids bedroom, and gave them a couple of pencils. Ellie pondered a while before starting work on it, Oscar just dived straight in and scribbled like mad for about ten minutes.

I may have done something really silly here, I can only hope that they can understand the fundamental difference between:
a- drawing on a piece of paper that is hanging on a wall
b- drawing on a wall

Frankie

My mate Dom came round last night with his wife Tanis, their daughter Tilly, and their new baby boy who is probably called Frankie. After 3 bottles of fizz and 3 bottles of wine, I somehow managed to succesfully operate my camera and get this rather fine photo of the Littl'un and his Dad.

Protect your Bananas !

At last I have found the banana guard I've been looking for all these years. Lets face it, nobody wants a squishy banana in their pocket and these chaps have come up trumps with their latest banana guard design. Available in a few tasty colours and on sale here in the UK... please Santa, I've been a good boy , honest !

Homecoming

Alison has returned from Cape Town at last, and the kids are very excited because they know that this means 'presents'. Amongst this trips' offerings are a train set, tin airplane, toblerone, pink dress, two pairs of rubber clogs, xmas tree decorations and 200 fags. Needless to say, everyone is delighted.

Yikes !

Finally the news that we have been dreading - it seems that there's a bit of Scritchy Scratchy going around the nursery... Just looking at this critter makes me itch all over. Ellie and Oscar seem uncontaminated at the moment but I'm taking no chances, have invested in a magnifying glass, nit comb and bottle of special shampoo. Lets hope the stuff works and I don't have to resort to shaving everyones heads.

The day after

Everything trashed - food and detritus - wet bits - slime

After the Show

Remember when you were a kid and sparklers were the best thing ever?

Souvlaki

Ellie, Oscar and I met up with Laura, Luke, Lola and Lara and went up to town to see the Lord Mayors Show. We arrived just in time to see the parade and even got to see the Mayors Carriage. Afterwards we walked over the Wobbly Bridge and managed to get a table outside the Souvlaki Bar. We got a bit carried away and ordered everything. Plus ouzo, retsina and metaxa... Some of the lamb was a bit undercooked but otherwise it very good and reminded us all of the last time we were in Greece. The kids were mostly well behaved and only one thing got broken. Then it was back to ours so that everyone could wreck the place that I'd spent all day tidying up.

Shepherds Pie

After reading Silvanas recipe for yummy cottage pie the other day, I decided to give it a go, but, because I am a bit pushed for time, I took a few shortcuts. Here's the recipe...

Start by transferring a supermarket 'ready made' shepherds pie into an old plastic container ( I used a neopolitan soft scoop ice cream tub). Now pop the lid back on (or if you have lost it, slide the whole thing into a placcy bag) and microwave it for exactly half the time suggested on the packet. Then remove the lid and pour frozen peas on top, replace the lid and leave for a few minutes so that the peas can thaw. Now you can microwave on full whack for the remaining time. When you are ready to "plate up", you can simply scrape the peas off first onto one bit of the plate, then dollop out the pie. Add some ketchup et voila ! Happy kids and a happy daddy.

Ellies Hat

Ellie has a hat as well.

Hello

Hello, my name is Ellie.

Shampoo

Here's a drawing that Ellie did today at nursery. If you compare it with the self portrait she did yesterday, you can clearly see that I did indeed (as promised) wash her hair and put conditioner in.

Hello Mum

This one is for Alison who is hard at work in Cape Town and surrounded by other peoples kids. Just to let you know that everything is fine back here in London, and I promise to wash their hair tomorrow. And put conditioner in. xxx

More Ellie Drawings

This one is of the sun and some flowers and some butterflies. Or ladybirds possibly.

Bunking off

Ellie announced that she wasn't feeling very well today. Said she had a "tummy ache". I would have believed her except for the fact that she alerted me to this problem about 5 minutes before we set off to her nursery. Now I know this scam well, as I used it all the time when I was a kid, so I made sure that she spent her day off doing useful things like tidying up her bedroom, wiping tabletops etc. Next time she'll think twice before throwing a sickie. Strangley enough she seemed much better after a couple of Quality Streets. Whilst tidying her room we found some pictures she had done recently, the self portrait is particularly fine I think.

Oscars hat

Just couldn't resist posting this picture of Oscar sporting a very stylish hat that he found in Ellies fancy dress cupboard. Lets face it, a gent should wear a hat whenever he can. I shall be on the look out for hats of all kinds from now on, Fedoras, Homburgs, Gauchos, Derbys and Porkpies.