A trip to my yesterdays...

Today was a trip into my distant past!  I actually left school 22 years ago (not a nice thought as in my head it is closer to 10 years ago) and today was a huge open day to celebrate 125 years of MGGS.

Before anyone thinks anything, I was not an original pupil...but I did leave before any of the current pupils were born...not a thought to stop you feeling old!!

On arrival you signed Iin by decade dependant on when you attended the school, wrote your name on a label and added a smileu face or two, again depending on your time at the school! So for today I was a Wilson again with a nice blue smiley face as my years were 1984 to 1989. This did mean as you walked around school you were looking at womens chests to see what colour sticker they had!!

Sadly I only met 1 person from my year - but she was at least in my form and I think the same house as me! I did meet a current day Viking and they still never win anything! It is good to know that the tradition we started still continues! It was odd walking through the front door (a huge no no when I was a pupil) but the house lists that used to be on display have vanished! It was also odd to see that one of the head girls has a beard and is called Jack!! If boys had neen allowed in my time I would never have passed a single A Level!!!

One of the first things to do was to find my third year form room (we started at 13 and did the first 2 years at a high school) the layout was as I remembered but the old wooden desks with lift upnlids are long gone, along with the very hard, splinter ridden wooden chairs!! I wonder if the current pupils know how lucky they are with interactive whiteboards and desks and chairs that don't draw blood!

My fourth year form room was a good old mobile...but we felt it was boring andsomehow got the ok to redecorate! We painted the walls baby pink (with sheep for added interest) and the ceiling blue with fluffy clouds!! If we had been in a form room in the school there is no way we would have been allowed to express ourselves like that!! But we loved it :-)

Thankfully our work of art is long gone and replaced by a rather impressive new home for the 6th form...complete with a large patio are with rather nice silver tables and chairs. I wonder if the current generation of foxes are well fed. Although we were told not to it was hard to resist them at times and sandwiches flew out of the window with alarming regularity.... kept us amused in our tiny rabbit hutch of a form room when in 6 1.

Most of the place has changed beyond recognition...but it was hard to get over the amount of carpet in the place...we just got concrete floors. And iron framed windows with large gaps that blew open if the wind was on the wrong direction.  I'm sure in 1938 they were state of art, but but by the late 80's they weren't!!!!

Wish I was 3 again...

This has been quite a 4 day weekend! Mikey started his celebrations on Thursday, his actual birthday, by covering the floor with wrapping paper as he proved he has mastered present opening (he did practice on one of Nanny's earlier this year) and did actually pause briefly to even look at what was contained within the paper! He has shown very little interest in anything clothing shaped or cards, those are simply passed to Mummy to deal with!

Since Mummy sold his slide earlier this year we had put a new bigger one on his wish list (anything to keep him busy!!) and Grandad arrived around 10.00 to construct it.

 And Mikey decided that  his assistance was required (at least he decided that I was allowed to get him dressed! I'm not sure Daddy, his Uncle of his cousin would be impressed by his new T-shirt, but I know Auntie Nicky would approve - and much to Daddy's disgust there is now chance he'll grow out of it any time soon!

Luckily the slide went up with no bloodshed or swearing )that I heard at least) But the rain didn't hold off for the first slide to take place in dry weather...But a little rain is no challenge to a 3 year old who has been busy missing his slide, so the first try left a dry slide and a rather damp bottom!!

 And once he'd started convincing him to come back in to a dry house wasn't happening - plus he'd also discovered his sand table and that also required his close attention, but at least in his house he did have a roof, although the wide windows on both sides didn't keep that much drizzle out! He has also discovered that it is deep enough to bury trucks and cars in...once I can kneel without screaming in pain I'll check to see what might be buried in there!

Nanny and Uncle Martin came over later in the afternoon so it was more presents and cake - Mikey made pretty short work of his piece and didn't spray too much over his cake as he blew his candles out! 

It is actually hard for me to accept that my baby is now 3 and will be going to school (hopefully) next year...Who decided that they grow up so fast? I find it hard to remember the baby who fought so hard 3 years ago and was tiny (to me) and I had nurses telling me I couldn't hurt him and not to drop him on his head... It was possibly the best piece of advice I as given - I was terrified trying to burp him after a feed, but there was always a nurse at hand to help me out - or in one case to spend half an hour late on night trying to get him to burp - I took him back and within seconds he let out one massive burp for such a tine person!! I wish all new Mums could spend longer in hospital to be honest, it gives you time to really learn about how to look after this tiny creature you produced!!

This was Mikey on the 21st June, I find it hard to see the little boy with blond curls and big brown eyes who is completely entranced by any vehicle with a siren (Thank you for the loud fire engine Auntie Nicky) But it was wonderful to see him charging around after a football with his cousin yesterday! He also sorted out spilling coke on the floor at Auntie Nic Nic's by sitting in it!But that problem was easily dealt with changing him into he Jake the Pirate costume!!

Tomorrow is going to be a rather different day for him, I have an interview so he is going to see Nanny and Grandad, as I'm also seeing an agency after the interview. Provided, of course, if I can get Mikey up in time...he got up at 10.30 this morning and keeps laying on the floor!! Maybe an early night will help...although Nanny might like a quieter Mikey tomorrow!!

3 Today

Three years ago I had my own personal miracle.  My son was born at 5.44 in the afternoon and from that second both my and Andy"s lives changed forever.

The last 3 years have whizzed past at horrific speed, but also I'm finding it hard to remember life without him... it almost feels as though he has always been part of my life, that shadowy figure you catch a glimpse of out of the corner of your eye...but never really see properly! I quite like the thought that our children are always with us, whatever happens in our and their lives.

I'm not sure if Mikey really understands what a birthday is...various people have been trying to explain that yesterday he was 2 and today he is 3. He just looks at you as if you were mad and carries on with whatever he was doing. Some of his looks are wonderful and I have loved seeing his character emerge as he grows up. I suppose it is especially treasured by me as I had thought it would never happen - and the vow I made on the Stroke Ward would remain unfulfilled.  But that evening in November 2009 when I couldn't stop the tears as I tried to sing 'When A Child is Born" will be a moment I will never forget as it was then things clicked into place and I worked out why I was feeling so odd...I was now we!

Part of me feels sorry for men, it is hard to explain the connection you have with your baby. I think I knew from that evening in Godinton House that our tadpole was a boy.The confirmation at our 20 week scan just confirmed what I already knew (although I still can't see how they knew)

Maybe I'm strange but I miss being pregnant and I really can't remember giving birth as being painful. .. my memory is of it being uncomfortable, nothing more! Perhaps I was meant to have more than one, but I now intend to be the best Mum I can for him. I just want him to have as good a set of parents as I had.

Hitting the ground...again

It's not been a great week to be honest...I still felt sleep deprived from last Saturday night and the neighbours    wake up campaign in the early hours, plus I've been missing my parents as they were still cruising through the Fjords and I managed to get an interview - but the salary was in the area where I'd be paying to go to work when you calculate childcare, travel costs and wear and tear on the car...

But Tuesday was great, Mikey and I went to Visit Auntie Nicky and drop off Jake's Birthday present. If I'm honest, growing up Nicky and I had a few issues, but once she went to University we got on loads better and now we are probably closer than we have been for a very long time. I know I'll always get a straight answer if I have a problem and I know I can trust her. If anythings happen she could end up with our Monster. She has done a great job with my nephew so I know Mikey would be in very safe hands. But I'm not planning on going anywhere any time soon - so I guess socialising Mikey is down to me...!!!

Wednesday was Interview Day, although I knew where I was going Tim was programmed just as a back up! Probably a good thing although he took me up Detling Hill which did throw me for a while! Especially when a van pulled out of a side road and then seemed to pretty much grind to a halt. I had forgotten how long that hill is and I finally managed to get past him, but in  low gear as he had killed my healthy speed when I'd had to stop for him. So by this point I was rather wound up and I hadn't even got to the interview yet!

A short(ish) drive along the A2 got me to my destination, but parking was a bit of a challenge so I ended up leaving my car keys with reception so my car could be moved if it was on the way as I had, basically, abandoned it!

During our visit on Tuesday a visit had been made to an international toy shop chain as it is a certain person's birthday next week. One of the toys requires some assembly so I had decided to put it together on Tuesday evening... As it turned out this was a wise decision as it had a large hole and crack in one side - not ideal for a sand/water table! So as I was back in Medway on Wednesday it seemed like a good idea to take it back.

My interview had seemed to go well so I set off to go back the way I had expected to arrive and return the table. I had calmed down from feeling road rage and worrying about the interview but once I arrived in the car park it all went a tad wrong. As I got the box from the back seat I went very dizzy then everything went black. I then picked myself up and a quick glance showed I was bleeding nicely!! Luckily the skirt I was wearing was long enough to hide the injuries!!

Getting the table changed took quite a while as the customer service assistant was having a chat on the phone (it didn't sound like a business call to me) plus I'd screwed up the receipt as I fell, but she didn't ask to see that, just went and got me a new one - I checked that one to avoid having to make another return trip! I staggered back to the car and tried to call Nicky in the hope I could clean up a bit at her house, I hadn't got my key for Mum & Dad unfortunately. But Nicky was out or busy so I hoiked my skirt up to stop it absorbing more blood (It was cream...) and headed off down the M20 to get home. Thankfully I didn't have any more dizzy spells as I drove and thinking back I hadn't got around to breakfast before leaving home...add in getting stressed and I think I've solved what had happened. Once home I retreated to the bathroom to try to clean my knees up. Touching my knees was best described as agony so I could only rinse them to try and float the grit out (Please could carparks have surfaces without dust and small stones) I also had a look at one toe which was worrying me as moving it hurt - by yesterday it had a rather intriguing circular bruise showing, but has stopped hurting so much, which is more than I can say for my knees.

Next was to get my skirt in the washing machine...thankfully the blood was mostly on the lining, but Bold worked it's magic any the pink/red stains have vanished! I admitted to Andy what had happened, and why, but he got some stuff to patch me up. It took a while for everything to stop leaking out of my knees - probably due to my anti clotting medication!!

All change?

It has been an odd sort of week here. Right now I'm having an early night here on the coast. I feel and look totally knackered.  I have a feeling that if I was a horse I would have been shot by now!!!

Mikey has been a good boy on the whole... He has started roaring and/or blowing raspberries at his mothet if he doesn't get his own way so next job will be killing that off somehow. Maybe devine inspiration will strike this weekend!! I'm determined to be super positive while we are out of Ashford. ..After all it doesn't happen very often!!

Life not involving Mikey has been very quiet ovet the last few weeks...Potty training is on hold for now but hopefully will commence again soon. I just need to build up some courage too!! But in the meantime I do have a job interview next week so being positive that may be the thing to kick start the changes my life needs.

One thing I do want in my new improved life is fewer bruises. I seem to keep finding new ones that I don't remember getting. I can only assume somebody is beating me up every night!!

The photo is Mikey in fully relaxed mode-I so wish I could switch off the way he does...

Lack of news...

Not much has been going on in Heather's world recently. I'm still crazily filling in books for the job centre to prove I am looking for a job while they don't pay me at all. I wish I'd attended the class on how to play the system as I'm rather fed up that I have to drag poor Mikey into the Job Centre every other Tuesday to sit with the unemployed masses. Apparently I don't appear in any jobless figures as I don't get paid any benefits! I'm sure if I hadn't been born here I'd have got benefits coming out of my ears.

This week Mikey charmed another lady who really looked as though she would rather be anywhere than say waiting for her advisor. I noticed quickly that she had a hearing aid so I just made sure I looked at her when I spoke and her lip reading was fantastic, unfortunately the advisor she saw was far more interested in her computer screen (which I assume told her that her client was deaf ) and just yelled loudly at her. I know I get  annoyed at the way the deaf are treated as my grandmother was deaf, and I adored her. I suppose growing up with someone who has a 'disabilty' you automatically slip back into old habits. My grandmother never let it stop her, when my parents arranged for a new colour tv to be delivered to her flat with cefax so she could read subtitles she flatly refused to use them as they were too distracting! She was also a massive snooker fan - I never quite worked out how or why with her old black and white tv.

I'm not sure why I've been thinking about her so much recently, she died over 20 years ago but recently she has been in my thoughts an awful lot. I would have loved her to meet Mikey, she was one of the few people I felt comfortable talking to during my teens, I even wrote letters to her as she lived in Yorkshire and didn't have a phone. I've realised while I was upstairs sorting Mikey out, today would have been her birthday. I just hope Mikey will have the sort of relationship with his Nanny as I had with mine.

My Parents are currently cruising round my favourite place in the world, Norway. And today they are in Olden with a brilliantly sunny and hot day - pretty much the same as it was in 2009 when we renewed our wedding vows on the bridge thanks to the Captain, at least I can remember that day unlike the day in 2002 which is sort of broken up in my memory.  I will admit that I don't remember all of the evening as we got through a fair amount of champagne...not enough to stop me feeling very embarrassed on the ships version of Mr & Mrs (Which we were supposed to win) but we did end up with another bottle of bubbly, plus another bottle was sent to our cabin by some friends from our table at dinner.

This was us on the flying bridge with the captain after we'd done our vows. I was still upright which wasn't so easy a few hours later!! But the scenery in Olden is amazing - I was pleased the Captain chose there for us. Mum and Dad are on a much bigger ship, there isn't much space there to turn ships around and they are so big they have filled the whole quay, a Thompson ship which is also there is having to tender it's passengers ashore! Thankfully we were the only ship there in 2009.