Diary -November 2nd 2008
11/2/08 03:47 pm
Well, Halloween has come and gone again and Harry, Anna-Louise, Carly, John, Phoebe, Romy, Fern, and David went out in a group Trick or Treat {accompanied at a reasonable distance by Clive and Dan}. They all got together earlier and dressed up, and very fine they all looked too. Harry had an Horrible mask like a Skeleton with an open mouth and Anna-Louise had fangs and hideous make up. They came back laden with chocolate and other goodies and we then had a Party out back. There were 42 of us altogether. We had all the usual things, including some fireworks and apple dipping [that's not the correct word I know}. I was exhausted after ward. Rhys was up as we were making a lot of noise but BJ slept through it all! We had him downstairs where we could watch him. I think he likes noise!! Rhys seemed to have a great time. He and William got under everyone's feet and ate a lot of food, which miraculously did not make them throw up. William is a month older than Rhys but talks a lot less.
Have been reading about Gareth David-Lloyd's smoking and drinking. Evidently he does a lot of both. I am against both too. This has inevitably made him seem quite unattractive to me. OK he is 27 but so what? Stinking of smoke or drink is not pleasant. In fact it is disgusting. I am not against having a drink at a party or someplace but drinking a large amount frequently is bad for your health. Smoking is so revolting I can't deal with that. I just think that someone who has a large number of teenage fans should think about his smoking in public a bit more. Someone actually said that it was sexy. Well, it isn't. In fact, standing talking to a girl and puffing smoke everywhere is just the opposite of sexy.
I must admit I smoked a little when I was young. {I did everything and tried everything}. I gave it up before I met Dan. Dan has never smoked. He told me he has never even tried it. The kids, as a result are anti-smoking. {So far}. Actually I only know two people who do smoke and I know a LOT of people. Folk become addicted to it. It ruins your lungs, makes you stink, turns your fingers and teeth yellow and can kill you and your friends and relatives----how sexy is that?
November 4th, 2008
A letter
11/4/08 04:49 pm
My sister Gisela is the Official keeper of what we call Das Familienarchiv Hartmann. She was not long ago given, by our Mother, some letters that were written by her Father to her Mother before they were married. The letters were written from Scotland when our GrandFather returned there to tell his Family that he intended to marry our GrandMother. They are in English with bits of German but Gisela has translated them completely into English thus far. Gisela recently sent me copies of some of them and here is one, just because I think it is so lovely.
My own, my dearest wee Darling Angel,
Here I am again writing to you. I miss you so much and you are so very far away from me. I long to hear your soft delicate voice talking to me and to see your beautiful brown eyes looking into mine. I wish I could be beside you now, holding your hands in mine and if I could press my lips to yours I would be transported into Heaven.
What a wonderful day it was when we first met. The Sun was shining, the birds were singing and I was longing for Home until that fateful gust of wind drew me to you.* When you thanked me your smile illuminated my whole world and I thank the Lord for that sudden breeze. When you consented to be mine it was the happiest day of my life and I am the luckiest man in the World because I am loved by you.
When we are one I will be oblivious to everything once I hold you in my arms. I will never let you go. Your sweet face fills my dreams and your tears when I left will haunt me until I return to you, my only love. I think of you constantly and soon, my love, I will be back with you and then we shall make a little home together and never ever be parted again.
I fervently hope all your Family are well and send my best regards to your wonderful Parents who consented to your union with this Stranger from over the seas. How lucky we both are in our lives. I long for you with all my heart. When I received your latest letter yesterday I was in ecstasy. I kissed it and I could almost smell the delicious scent of you when I opened it. You have a wonderful hand. It is just like you, small, neat and perfect.
You ask about my Family. How like you to think of them and be concerned. I can assure you that all is well again. The Baby has made a miraculous recovery when we all thought everything was lost. God is really with us. We all prayed so hard and He listened and now little Eric is smiling again and gaining weight once more.* When I held him in my arms I found I was thinking of us. When we have our children, if I dare to mention such an intimate thing before we are wed, I will love them so much because they will be part of you.
I must finish now so this letter will be delivered to you post haste. I will write again Tomorrow. Farewell my Darling until we meet again, love and kisses, love and kisses for ever,
Your own George.
* They met when My GrandMother's hat blew off when she was walking in a Public Park with a friend. My Grandfather ran after the Hat, caught it and returned it to its owner.
* My Grandfather was the eldest of 15 children. He inherited some money from a Great Uncle and used it to travel. Eric was child number 13. He was born just a few months before My GrandFather first went to Germany. He was a sickly Baby, evidently, and was often ill. This presumably refers to one of his bouts of sickness. He died at the age of 12 of Scarlet Fever.
No-one would ever write a letter like the one above nowadays. Our GrandFather was rather sentimental I think. When he returned to Germany he married our GrandMother. He never went back to Scotland again.
Diary--November 5th 2008
Harry finally finished his Cycling proficiency course and Dan allowed him to cycle to School for the first time. He has been cycling on his paper route for a while but that is very early in the Morning and Dan said he couldn't cycle to School because the roads were too dangerous, so he was very happy today.
However, the GREAT NEWS is that OBAMA WON!!!!! Dan sat up most of the night following the results and was ecstatic this morning. I was happy too because Dan was, and I lived in the US for 2 years anyhow. Dan was on the Phone to his Mother and to Julian and it must have cost us money we can't really afford but I couldn't complain because today is such a GREAT DAY.
Rhys and BJ have T-shirts with Obama's picture on the front and I told Rhys this morning that the man on his T-shirt will be the American President. I don't know if he knew what I was talking about but we were all very happy this morning because Dan was.
I drove Anna-Louise to school and put Rhys down in his Nursery on the way. Anna-Louise wants to do her Cycling proficiency now so that will be a good thing. All kids who cycle should do it. You have to be 9 and she is 10 now.
We are going to a Firework display tonite so I hope it doesn't pour with rain. I have never quite understood Firework nite but I still enjoy the fireworks and bonfires. According to Harry some Guy called Guy Faulks tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament but failed and got caught. I don't know why we should celebrate this unless we are celebrating the fact that he was caught-----
Anyhow, off to see Anna this morning. so will log off---
OBAMA IS PRESIDENT!!!
November 16th 2008.
Haven't time for much but just wanted to convey the news that BJ walked. Just after lunch he was standing up holding onto a chair, when he suddenly let go of the chair. He stood there for a moment looking a bit surprised and so Dan kneeled down a little distance away and held his arms open and BJ walked to him. He took 3 steps all on his own. He isn't quite 10 months old! However, he has always been very lively physically.
I called Mama and told her and she said that he sounded like me. I don't know whether to be glad or not, as I evidently didn't stay still for years as a kid. BJ is asleep right now as his walk seems to have made him tired---Rhys's reaction to this was funny. I found him by the telephone trying to call someone who turned out to be Dan's Mother {In NY}. I took the phone off him and he protested loudly-----
Diary--November 21st 2008
We had a Firework Party on November 8th to celebrate {according to Harry} a Guy called Fawkes failing to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Any excuse for a party in my case. All our friends and most of the Neighbors came and the back yard was full of kids and people. We made a great noise and only stopped when it turned Midnight. Went to late Mass and even then almost fell asleep--oh dear---. Anna-Louise woke me up---.
Forgot all about the JB tour and when to book, but Dan came home from work yesterday and told me very smugly that he had booked for London and Cardiff. We will be bankrupt. Planning to send eldest two out begging ------.
BJ is now walking even more and this enables him to grab at things which we then have to remove from his grasp. He has a very loud scream. I keep putting things out of his reach and Rhys very kindly climbs and gets them for him---. It is amazing how they interact. I watched them from behind a door yesterday. BJ pointed to a small paperweight that was on some papers on the table and Rhys climbed on a chair, got the paperweight and gave it to him. He then threw it down and Rhys picked it up and GAVE IT BACK TO HIM. He was about to throw it again when I stopped him. He screamed for it and Rhys promptly had a tantrum. I am obviously not the flavor of the week now!!
A great deal of fuss in the media over some old guy called John Sergeant. Never heard of him until the Dance program came on with him in it. Being such an awful dancer myself I recognized right away a person with no talent whatsoever and expected him to be removed straight away. Harry is a great dancer and was disgusted that he didn't get voted off in week one. I thought he was a disaster and was very surprised when he stayed in the competition. He has now given up himself because the Public keep voting for him and it is getting ludicrous, because folk were saying they wanted him to win which made the efforts of every one else in the competition a waste of time.
Various members of the Public and some Newspapers are now saying he should have stayed and they are complaining about the Judges and the BBC. Read some comments on Times Web site and a lot of folk said he was entertaining and the program is not about Dancing but entertaining the Public. Well he didn't entertain us here. He made me feel angry, in fact. Whenever he appeared I had an overwhelming urge to give him a good slap. I felt sorry for the Judges who have obviously been told by the BBC that they are judging a DANCE competition not a Popularity contest.
Perhaps this is after all a Racial thing as both Dan and I thought the Public would vote for the best Dancer on the night. {Optimistic fools}. I have never really understood the British passion for what they call the Underdog. As for enjoying this guy's performance--well---none of us did. If something is really bad I can't seem to enjoy it. Anna-Louise watched the last program that was on and said afterward "Why is that silly old man still there?" which is a bit rude, and Dan told her so, but to be honest I really felt just the same!!!! I knew Dan was mad about him still being there because he went and made Coffee {an almost unheard of event} and I heard him swearing under his breath in Polish, which is not good.
Back to family matters Helga is pregnant and Mama is ex tactic--a Grandchild to be born in Hamburg--also my niece Mair passed her Driving Test at her first try. This is good because she is rather quiet and inclined to get nerves. She wants a car--hmmm--not much chance yet I think---
That is all because here is Rhys crying. His favorite Teddy seems to have sprung a leak ----
Diary--November 30th 2008
11/30/08 05:01 pm
Very busy as usual. Christmas is coming. The rule here is we put up decorations on or after December 1st, so today Dan got them all out of the Attic ready. Of course he was helped by Harry, Anna-Louise and Rhys. At one time they were all up there, even Rhys, who screamed when he was left behind---.
BJ is getting more Teeth and is grumpy. He keeps holding his face and whimpering. I have some stuff which I am supposed to rub on his gums---ever tried to rub something on a crying 10 month old babies gums----well----it is very difficult---it is banana flavor so I rubbed some on myself and said how nice it was--actually I hate bananas---this helped a bit---.
Harry has been doing a Projekt at School. They could choose a subject so Harry chose the Holocaust. He was on the Phone to Dan's Mother {in NY} for ages last week. I wish he was doing a CHEAP Projekt. He asked me about the Family and I told him that one of my Great Uncles was a Member of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei. He was killed in 1943 and I don't know much about him at all.
Harry was shocked but I felt he was old enough to know. I only found out when I saw a Photo of him years ago in his Uniform. I asked Erik about it and he told me what he knew--which wasn't a lot. Evidently the rest of the Family were not exactly enthusiastic about it--. I didn't want Harry to find out the way I did. The way to make sure these things never happen again is to not to sweep things under the rug--. However, Harry is very sensible and intelligent. I felt I had to tell him that his family contained the persecuted and the persecutors---.
Anna-Louise is singing a solo in the School Christmas celebrations. Her singing lessons are going very well and when I spoke to her Teacher she said Anna-Louise was a real good Pupil. I am very proud of her anyhow--whatever she does--in fact I am very proud of ALL my kids--they are fantastic---.
Rhys's Nursery are putting on a PLAY {of sorts}. It is a Traditional Nativity. It is next Friday. Rhys is a Shepherd. When I collected him one day last week he told me that he was going to be a " Schlepper ". Naturally I am eager to see how this will fit into a Traditional Nativity play----.
Dan has managed to get another Building Job. There is less work around now than there used to be which is worrying me. After the last one was completed we both thought there would be weeks without one so we are very lucky this has come along. Dan works so hard and he is a real Professional. If he isn't satisfied with how something is going he will do it over if necessary.
Today is the First Sunday in Advent. We lit a candle at home and BJ forgot his sore mouth and became very excited. Rhys kept wanting to touch the flame so after a few moments we blew it out. This made both BJ and Rhys cry. At the minute BJ is asleep and Dan is entertaining Rhys. Harry and Anna-Louise are next door. I must finish now and get a meal----
Note about JB' s bits.
12/1/08 05:33 pm
Evidently John exposed himself very briefly on a Radio Program. 1 person complained and all the papers are full of it and John and everyone else has had to apologize. Of course, no one in Britain has ever seen a male penis or testicles or heard them mentioned on TV or the radio, and in Britain we are actually going backwards in Time to the Victorian age. What a manufactured fuss about nothing. As for John's bits--he can come and expose them to me anytime---.
Most of this seems to be based on the erroneous notion that the average child in the UK does not know what a naked male looks like. Except other males of course--oh and kids with Brothers --and er--kids that ask other kids to show them their bits--and--etc etc. Oh and we must NEVER talk about them--it is OK to talk about breasts and expose them but a Penis--OH HORROR----
This also reminds me of something my next door neighbor once told me about teaching about Gay people in Schools. A large number of people were under the impression that telling a kid that there were Gay people would make them gay themselves. This of course should have made my Harry Gay as Dan explained to him quite some time ago that Julian was Gay and what it meant. I told Anna-Louise that some folk fall in love with people of their own sex in the same way as Dan and I fell in love. She accepted this without question.
I do not believe that the human body in all its various shapes and forms is disgusting and should be hidden at all times and neither does Dan. Little kids can teach us something about this. Rhys saw Geraldine having her diaper changed and noticed she lacked a penis. I could tell he was wondering where it had gone so I told him girls look different. He is only 2 1/2 so it was hard to explain but I tried to be honest. I tried to explain that little girls have all their bits inside and boys outside. This has worked before and he seemed satisfied. Kids look at each other and know that adults will be much larger. They are not stupid.
I am so tired of this new prudery in the BBC. I was hoping for some sensible adult programs in the future but I can see everything will be sanitized until late at night. At the same time as the BBC and newspapers get uptight about someone exposing themselves on the radio they are quite happy to put a Program ON TV like the one with Martin Shaw with all the blood. I would rather my kids saw a naked man than someone pretending to KILL someone and mutilate them. It is not as if John did anything with his penis other than show it briefly. Personally, I have seen dozens of them--- all sizes too---
Note about more bits--but not John's--
12/2/08 04:01 pm
I have just gotten home from collecting my daughter plus 2 friends from School. I left Rhys and BJ happily playing next door with William. We stopped on the way home to buy a kids magazine. As we stood there looking at the rack of magazines I could not help but notice----on the top shelf but fully visible ---a row of magazines featuring woman with huge naked breasts. On the shelf underneath was one of those magazines with so called true life stories. Fully visible was a headline that said "my husband's Willy is rotting" {or something almost like that, at any rate the word Willy was quite clear}. Evidently they all knew what that meant. In our family we try to call things by their proper names. I know some people that actually disapprove of this. Presumably they are Daily Mail readers!
Judging by today's Daily Mail headline they are not actually complaining against John in particular but against the BBC. According to them the BBC is descending into the Gutter. Perhaps the BBC should abandon all programs for adults and just have things like the Teletubbies--oh Hell--I forgot one of them is a Male who carries a woman's handbag--not an option then---.Thomas the Tank engine--no--there is The Fat Controller--obvious this is not very correct---Fat--no---. Let's just concentrate on Dramas with Women showing their Breasts because this is OK--and lots of killing and blood and violence of all sorts----obviously people will not object to that---our kids can happily sit and watch without the terrible fear that they might HEAR someone mention male bits----this would really corrupt them for ever---they will not be worried or upset or corrupted by all the naked FEMALES they can see and hear about everywhere of course---because we females are just objects-------.
Anyhow, having produced this very successful piece of sarcasm {at one time I found it impossible to be sarcastic in English} I made myself feel much better by earlier complaining to everyone I could contact about the lack of nude males in the media in comparison to nude females. In this, so called, age of equality I said we need more nude males--it is only fair---.
Note about the BBC
12/4/08 08:26 pm
I am mad with the BBC. They made John apologize when 1 person put in a complaint but when Chris Moyles offends an entire community and gets 32 complaints and probably more by now--what do they do--they support him--he doesn't have to apologize--no-one apologizes--they announce it was a joke----
Diary--December 5th 2008
12/5/08 05:31 pm
I have been rather cross this week. First all this fuss about John, and I noticed he apologized YET AGAIN on "Loose Women" which was, it seems to me, a colossal mistake because it gave that piece of shit The Daily Mail another opportunity to attack him. Whose brilliant idea was that?
Now Dan is mad with the BBC because of Chris Moyles comment about Poles and Prostitutes. So I have had him on the Telephone gabbling away in Polish to all sorts of people and he has already sent several complaints to the BBC and is now waiting to sign some sort of Petition. I am sick of it all.
As if this wasn't bad enough BJ is teething and nothing I have tried seems to ease his discomfort. Now Rhys is getting the last of his Babies Teeth and so he is teething too. Being vocal he has complained about it loudly. He keeps saying to everyone he meets "mouth sore" and "sore mouth". I had a nightmare last night in which I was being chased naked across a beach by numerous enormous teeth. It sounds funny but it was terrifying. Dan said the fact that I was naked was probably significant. OK I admit it--I am an exhibitionist---that is probably why I never wear any underwear unless I am pregnant or Breast Feeding. I hate underwear and while I am on this subject--the underpants of a teenage boy are disgusting. Sometimes Harry's look as if he has cleaned the Cooking Oven with them---. As for his socks----.
Anna-Louise has a boy friend. He asked if he could come home from School with her and his Mother said yes, so he is here now. He has red hair. They are both 10 years old. They came out of School holding hands. A woman next to me said "Oh look at those two--isn't that sweet." HMMM
John evidently has a throat infection so will not sing at the Concert Tonite. What a shame. He is really having a foul week. I hope he does not let all this bother him or spoil his exuberant attitude to life.
Thinking about socks--what the hell happens to them in the Wash? I put pairs in and get odd ones out--I think the machine eats them. BJ chews and sucks everything at the minute and this morning I had to remove a sock from his mouth. He screamed so loudly it gave me a headache so I handed the sock back to him. This is weak willed of me but that scream--
Went to Rhys Christmas Play. 24 kids between 2 and 5 in a play--it was amazing--Rhys was a Shepherd. I had to go along with a hoard of other Mothers and dress him. He seemed to enjoy it and actually stopped complaining about his mouth for a while. At the end they all sang and Rhys put his hands over his ears--I really hope he doesn't have perfect pitch--it can be painful on these occasions. I left BJ with Andrea and he was asleep when I got home. William already has all his teeth and proceeded to show them to me. Just what I needed --MORE TEETH----.
As for underwear and exposing yourself, I was standing at a Bus Stop some years ago with Harry and Anna-Louise and I was wearing a very long loose skirt. A sudden fierce gust of wind blew it up over my head and exposed everything. No-one seemed offended and when I said "sorry" and mentioned the wind a man next to us in the queue grinned and said "well, I didn't mind at all, it was very nice." I had shaved too--the unmentionable bits---so----------. Compared to this John's activities seem quite tame--- to me anyhow----.
If some of these moaning prudes could visit our home----.
December 8th, 2008
12/8/08 02:59 pm
My cousin has two tickets for the evening of January 6th, A3 and A4. They cost 19.50 and she just wants 19.50 x2 plus postage for them. Please contact me if you want them and I will put you in contact with her--if you know what I mean---
Brief Diary--December 16th 2008
12/16/08 07:30 pm
It is all shopping and taking kids to parties and going to School Christmas Celebrations at the minute. I have a cold and am exhausted. Harry can now take himself to Parties but Dan likes to make sure he has an adult to take him home. Anna-Louise has to be taken and fetched. This year Rhys is going to Parties. He seems very popular. I have a popular toddler--help---
Anna-Louise played her violin at her School's Christmas Play. She was also a clown---{don't ask me how that fitted into Christmas--please}. Harry played his Guitar at his School Celebration, which was in the evening and included a song from "High School Musical"!!!!! At the interval Harry and three friends came on and did a performance of "Silent Night" which their Music Teacher had rearranged as a Calypso. It was actually good to my immense amazement! Christmas is not like it was when I was at School. You send your kids to a Catholic School and this is what you get---total weirdness---it was good though--just--weird. I must be getting old--41 on January 6th--oh HELP.
Even BJ has been to two parties. The first one had 10 kids aged under two---enough said about that--the second one invited Rhys as well. There were 32 kids there and the oldest was just under 5. I now know that Hell is not all fire and brimstone but 32 kids at a party all under 5. The adults came away in a state of schock. The kids were either asleep or so exited they were shouting with joy. When I got home I was so tired I fell asleep and when I woke up Rhys was asleep next to me, cuddled into my side. Dan had put BJ to bed. He later admitted he had taken a photo of Rhys and myself. Rhys looks sweet in it but I look as if I have been in a reenactment of some War.
We are going to the Pantomime in Cardiff next year with JB. That is, if I survive that long-----
December 20th, 2008
Please note my cousin has sold her Panto Tickets. Sorry I should have said this quicker----
December 24th, 2008
12/24/08 11:00 pm
Frohe Weihnachten und ein gesundes neues Jahr!
Note:
12/27/08 05:34 pm
Very busy but can I just point out the following---JOHN AND SCOTT HAVE NOT BEEN TOGETHER FOR 16 YEARS, THEY MET IN THE SUMMER OF 1993 AND GOT TOGETHER JANUARY OR FEBRUARY 1994. TO ME THAT IS 15 YEARS EARLY NEXT YEAR. I WISH FOLK WOULD GET THEIR FACTS RIGHT.
My excuse for this is I am very busy and have had the influenza,
Note--Dr Who
Just off to Mass but had to post about the new Dr Who. He is someone called Matt Smith. Never heard of him so looked him up--he seems to be a bit inexperienced--and ugly as hell--he makes DT look like an Angel and everyone knows I can't take him seriously--
January 4th, 2009
Note.
Just read that 4 Israelis and 1 soldier have been killed since this trouble began. Over 500 Palestinians have been killed. Quite shocking this. All those kids and Mothers, struggling to exist and now this.
Toilet humor.
1/6/09 07:38 pm
Here is our cat Herman in the downstairs toilet. It is cut from a larger image showing the toilets walls. Hence the poor quality. BJ threw one of Rhys's Pirates down the toilet and so I heard Anna-Louise yelling "There's a Pirate down the loo." How many other folk can say they have had a Pirate there?
January 6th, 2009
Note.
Meant to add I am 41 today--HELP!! Going out in a minute and Anna and Will are babysitting. They are spending the night because Anna is huge. Very crowded here as a result---
January 8th, 2009
E mail from BBC.
Dear Mrs Sierakowiak
Thank you for your e-mail regarding 'Switch with Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw' on Radio 1. I understand you were unhappy at an apology being issued by John Barrowman following complaints about his appearance on a recent broadcast of this show.
Please accept our apologies for the delay in replying. We know our correspondents appreciate a quick response and are sorry you've had to wait on this occasion.
Irrespective of where a complaint originates, or the number of complaints received on any given subject, all the complaints we receive are judged on their own merits before deciding what, if any, action to take.
Nevertheless, I appreciate your views and understand that you feel an apology was unnecessary. I'd like to assure you that we've registered your concerns on our audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback we compile daily for the benefit of all programme makers and senior management within the BBC. It will ensure that your comments are circulated and considered across the BBC.
Thanks again for contacting us.
Regards
Stuart Webb
BBC Complaints
Just got this--interesting-- I told them I thought after receiving 1 complaint only, a Public apology was unnecessary--I also complained about too much violence, which as a Parent I find much more disturbing than an occasional brief glimpse of unaroused male anatomy---
Diary--January 9th 2009
I have been very busy since I last wrote a diary entry. We had Christmas to start with and Tom, Gisela, Mair and Gareth came to stay. They left on January 1st because Tom had to return to work on the 2nd.
We were all unwell and I had the influenza. On Christmas day we had all of us plus Tom and family plus Dominic plus Clive and Andrea and their 4 kids plus Will and Anna and Geraldine to dinner. There were 9 adults, 3 teenagers, 4 kids, 2 toddlers and 2 babies. The house was full and I spent all day coughing and cooking and cleaning.
I had time to recover before New Year when we went out, leaving Molly next door to babysit, much to Harry's irritation, as he thinks he is more than capable of managing on his own. However, he went to a Party---so---.
We went out again for my Birthday and Anna and Will did the babysitting. Anna is enormous. She didn't want to know if it is a boy or a girl, but I think it is another girl.
Dan had no work and then suddenly he got a Fantastic job which is renovating a one storey house and making it into two storeys and extending it. It will take at least six months and maybe longer. He has had to employ two more men to do it. This has made us both very happy and is a great relief as there are a lot of builders who are having trouble getting work. Dan has Certificates though which must make a difference. To celebrate we all went out to dinner. Everything was fine until BJ and Rhys had ice cream. They were sitting side by side in High Chairs and BJ picked up a large piece of Ice Cream and threw it at Rhys. Rhys threw his then. It made an awful mess and wasn't improved by the fact that Dan, Harry and Anna-Louise all laughed.
Memorandum--NEVER LET YOUR UNDER 3's HAVE ICE CREAM OUT OF THE HOUSE.
Harry and Anna-Louise had a Wii Console for Christmas so all they talk about now is getting more games. They like the Tennis, but I think it is seriously weird. I must be getting old!! Rhys had a Bicycle and BJ had a babies laptop, which was quite inexpensive, but is very good. They had other things as well, of course.
I took the two little ones to see Santa before Christmas and Rhys was impressed with his beard. BJ took one look at him and screamed and sobbed. Rhys sat on his knee and proceed to speak only German, which he didn't understand at all. When Dan came home that evening Rhys made it clear that he would like him to have a beard. He kept saying "Daddy --no hair" and stroking his chin. I do not care for beards myself and stubble is prickly and I have very fair skin. So--no beards here!
The kids are back at school now and Rhys is at nursery three mornings a week and one afternoon. I would have preferred four mornings but they couldn't fit him in. He loves it and would go everyday if he could. He often emerges with some piece of art or craft he has done and they have to be hung up or pinned onto the Bulletin board in the kitchen. He likes red so there is always a lot of red on his art work. According to Rhys even the sky is red!
Harry is taking 3 exams a year early and is having what they call {I think} mocks soon. I am sure he will do well. He acts like he isn't nervous but I am sure he is a bit worried anyhow. Anna-Louise is average in her class except for Music, and unlike Harry, she doesn't like Math. The kids have so many tests now and so much Homework.
News from New York--- Aron got married!! This is Dan's older half-brother. He was almost 18 when Dan was born, so Dan never really got to know him. This is his second marriage. He has no children {perhaps now?}. He actually sent us photos of the event! He has never shown any interest in Dan before. We were amazed. Then we discovered from Dan's Mother that it was her and Sophia {the new wife} who got Aron to contact us. Dan is happy about this sudden change of heart. He is very forgiving. More than I am.
Anna and Will have already asked me to be Godmother to the new baby and it isn't even born yet! They are so organized and I am so disorganized. I have been attempting to tidy up Closets and have found a number of items I thought we had lost.
Lastly some sad news and some happy. Jimmy, one of our Rabbits, died on Boxer day. He was just curled up and seemed to be sleeping, but he was so cold. Bobby was sad so we have gotten a new companion for him. We kept them separate for a few days and then introduced them to each other slowly. Bobby is a calm Rabbit and accepted Oscar right away. Luckily we chose the right Rabbit and Oscar is settling in now and they are becoming friendly. We have gotten a new Hutch but have not moved them in together all the time yet, just in case.
The kids had a Funeral for Jimmy and he is now buried in the Back Yard, with a marker and everything. They allowed Rhys to attend the Funeral and when Anna-Louise cried he cried too. Harry told me he asked Rhys why he was crying and Rhys told him that he was crying because Anna-Louise was sad, which I thought was very sweet.
Note about crash
1/13/09 06:24 pm
Coming out from side of road after picking up Fern and Anna-Louise from School, some idiot hit me. Car is damaged but drivable and we are all OK, but it was a great shock. Idiot driver, an Arab wearing a skirt. I am not prejudiced, but my Insurance says they couldn't trace him with the insurance co he gave me details of. So, he probably has no insurance. He said to me that it was my fault--- but he was speeding and HIT me. I am afraid I was more mad than anything else and shouted at him in German, which quite obviously gave him a fright as he was much more pleasant to me after that. I was leaving a School area with kids. What was he thinking of? Both Anna-Louise and Fern were crying and lots of people gathered about which didn't really help. Although they were trying to help, I know.
I am not feeling very fond of Arabs at the minute because of this and Dan going on and on about Israel all the time. I must be more relaxed and not get sucked into this prejudiced thing. Arabs are no different to anyone else. There are good and bad. However, it was HIS fault. I would swear that on the Holy Bible if asked.
January 14th, 2009
Note about Harry
1/14/09 10:44 am
Last night Harry came up to me before he went to bed, kissed me and gave me a ten pound note. He said it was to help. That was just it--to help. I had an urge to give it back to him but I didn't because he was deadly serious and it would have hurt his feelings. My kids are so great----it must have been from his Paper Route money---
Diary--January 15th 2009
1/15/09 05:43 pm
I am driving the car although it has a hole at the bottom of the front. I am waiting to hear from my Insurance.
Our Heating Boiler went off but I managed to relight the Pilot light and get it on again. Very difficult to do with both BJ and Rhys trying to help!!! Rhys is very talkative now and kept saying "put light on" over and over again, and then, when the Pilot light flames were visible in the glass panel, he very helpfully shouted "Feuer".
BJ is One Year old next week. We are having a party. We are obviously slightly insane here. Very exciting news is that BJ's hair seems to be growing straight! It looked as if it might get curly but it is now NOT. {I know that is not good English but-----}. He is seriously gorgeous but VERY Lively.
Rhys is still tidying things. It is slightly maddening actually. No-one seems to appreciate how irritating and unusual it is. When I tell folk my toddler is tidy they just laugh or say they wish their toddler was tidy. His favorite English phrase is "Rhys put it away." He gets very cross with people who leave things lying around. {Which here is everyone except him.}
At Nursery Rhys had a tantrum yesterday. I was told when I collected him. He was evidently mad at some kid who kept taking crayons out of the container and not putting them back again. Rhys kept putting them back in and this kid kept taking them out again and in the end Rhys threw himself to the floor and screamed. In frustration I suppose. Oh dear.
I tripped over a drain cover and have an huge graze and bruise on my arm. I was pulling up a weed at the time. I don't know why. I usually just leave them.
Harry is studying like crazy for his exams. He has the [forgotten the word--preliminary--no---the try outs} coming up next week. Anna-Louise took a singing exam and passed very well. We are awakened most mornings by Rhys banging our door, BJ shouting and Anna-Louise singing scales. Lovely---hmm. {Found the word in a previous entry--mocks.} Haven't time to alter---
January 21st, 2009
BJ is one year old today. We got him one of those talking Teddies, which also sings {help!} and a Learnaround Playground, which we got for half price in a sale. He is playing with the Playground now so I can write this. Rhys is at Nursery and the others are at School. BJ keeps hitting the top so the lights and sounds start. There is also a Frog which turns and sings that he has found. There is lots more to discover. {Thank goodness}.
No-one commented on my last fic so I presume everyone loathed it. I admit it was rather depressing at times and my only excuse is I wrote most of it when I had the influenza!
We are having a little party for BJ later. Common sense prevailed and it is early in the afternoon and not too many folk and babies are coming.
Have to go now as the Frog is singing again---I hate singing Frogs---