October 9th 2011
Read through some diary entries and realized forgot to mention several things. For a start Aron and Sophia had a son born on September 27th. They are calling him Daniel Aron. Daniel is for Dan, of course. Dan is very pleased about that. Will and Anna had another daughter born on September 30th. She is called Georgina Anna. They now have three girls. Geraldine is the same age as BJ and Miranda is two and a half.
Herman was unwell but soon recovered, much to our relief. Gisela came to help with Octavia and it was lovely when she was here. Mair is now working for the local council and is getting married to Peter on October 22nd. Gareth is in his second year at Uni.
We are all well and Octavia is blossoming. She is now just over 6 weeks old. She smiles a lot and when she sees me she kicks and makes happy noises. She looks just like Anna-Louise as a baby.
The Trips now all have blue eyes. I thought the twins eyes might go green but they haven't. They all have my curls and Dan's ears. They will be two next month.
Dan measured the kids and Harry is now 5'6. Anna-Louise is 5'3. Rhys is 3'3 and BJ is 3'. i hope Anna-Louise doesn't get taller than Harry. Rhys is still very small but growing. I'm still 4'10 unfortunately.
Rhys came to me yesterday and said "what makes it start?" so I asked him "what makes what start?" Anna-Louise now definately has a shape and Rhys wanted to know what made it happen. I tried to explain but it was quite difficult. Any how, we had a talk and he seemed satisfied--so.
It is sunny today and they are all out back while I type this. Julian and Alex and Skye came to lunch and they are playing Cricket. Andrea, Clive and their four kids are there too. I must admit I don't understand Cricket but they seem to like trying to play it.
Off now as Octavia is awake----
Concerning Twitter and Torchwood.
10/11/11 10:34 pm
Hard to believe but I have a Twitter account. Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to post on anyone's pages but mine. I would like to reply to posts but I can't do it. I've read the instructions in 3 different languages but when I reply to a post it never comes up on any page but my own. I often see interesting discussions and when I have time I'd like to join in but I can't. I must be getting real stupid. Oh dear.
Not heard any more about Torchwood. Dan bought the Radio Times but there has been no letters there about it. Dan looked at Digital Spy and they seem already to have stopped talking about it. Very strange.
BJ gave me a picture he had drawn of me feeding Octavia. I have what looks like three breasts. He told me I was magic. Stupid but magic. Well, you can't have everything.
October 13th, 2011
More Twitter
05:56 pm
I still haven't got this Twitter business.. When you follow someone you click follow and when you log onto the page it comes up in a box saying following. There is a box saying @ and the name of the site . If you fill in something in this box you can read it on your page and people who follow you can read it but no-one else can? or what? I asked Harry and he just laughed and said "MUM" and then he went out. Have come to logical conclusion that breast may be best and it is somehow very satisfying but it makes you stupid.
October 17th, 2011
A Barbecue etc.
10:47 am
Anna-Louise is now 13. We had a Barbecue on Saturday and then she had 6 friends sleep over. We couldn't fit in anymore. There were 68 folk of all ages at the Barbecue and after the food, when it started to get toward dusk, people did what Molly next door calls TURNS. This is a feature of our Barbecues.
Clive, Will, Julian, Alex and Dan sang "no-body knows the trouble I've seen" with altered words and then did a dance with Umbrellas. This was hilarious. Molly next door then juggled, very expertly, with 6 tea cups. Skye and Alex sang a duet. I didn't recognize it. Skye did a little dance in the middle while Alex banged his teeth to a rhythm. This was weird but the dance was sweet. Anna-Louise and I sang a selection of songs from "The Sound of Music". Rhys played his Violin accompanied by BJ on a drum, which was, quite unintentionally I'm sure, extremely funny. Abigail, Minerva and Fern did a dance. Harry played his guitar. Samuel, Louise's oldest, did cartwheels and stood on his head. William and Rhys told some very weird jokes, which I later found out Rhys had written himself. Geraldine and Miranda sang "The wheels on the bus" with gestures which was funny. Then the Trips stood in a row and fell flat on the grass while Aimee-Rose said loudly "turn". We then all sang to Harry's guitar and made a lot of somewhat untuneful noise. Octavia slept through the whole thing and so did Georgina. Everyone seemed to have a great time and I am always happy to see other people cooking. The sight of a row of men in aprons is always good.
I was exhausted on Sunday. Anna-Louise and friends crushed into her room for Saturday night. I don't think they slept much. Rhys was updating his Diary with a fascinating description of the Barbecue which included the line "I was the success of the evening with my Violin and my magnificent jokes." He read this aloud to me and I commented it was rather big headed to say that and he replied "if you've got it. Mama, flaunt it."
October 19th, 2011
Review of "Wreckers" London Film Festival.
10:38 am
Here is a review of the movie "Wreckers" sent to me by my cousin. I have posted the entire thing. It's rather critical and contains spoilers.
SPOILERS BELOW:
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Dear Jen,
Here is my review of "Wreckers" for you. You can post it if you want.:
Since I have been a member of the BFI for many years, and am a great admirer of Benedict Cumberbatch I got 2 tickets for "Wreckers" being shown as part of the London Film Festival and went with a friend. Due to my Mother's death in April and looking after her for two years I have not been to see many films. In fact, the first for ages was "Third Star" so I inevitably compared that with this and I was disappointed. I have never been a great fan of the artifice of showing events through one character's eyes. This works well in books but, in my opinion, does not do so well in films, unless the film has really superlative acting, writing and directing, which this didn't.
David and Dawn are a young couple living somewhere unidentified in the country, but the place is evidently David's home town.They appear to be renovating a rather run down cottage and are trying for a baby. David's brother, whom he has not seen for eight years, arrives unexpectedly one day, and turns their lives upside down. We first meet him climbing on the scaffolding covering the cottage {no idea why he's up there. No idea either, why his accent is totally different from everyone else's}. At first he seems cheerful and fun to be with but very soon his hidden demons are revealed. He has a temper and smashes things, he sleepwalks and he has violent night mares. As Dawn, and us of course, as we only see things through her eyes, finds out more about Nick, David's brother, she also finds out things about David that she didn't know.
There is, during this period of discovery, a scene in a Pub where Nick cross dresses and he and Dawn, who teaches Music at the local School and sings in a choir, perform karaoke. This weird scene made no sense to me at all and doesn't fit in with the rest of the film. I suppose it was meant to show that Dawn and Nick relate to each other. I had the feeling also that this scene was meant to be funny but at the screening I went to no-one laughed. Then there is the scene where Dawn finds David with one of their chickens. It's dead and bloody and he says the dog did it when Nick left the chicken pen open, Nick says David did it himself. Later we see the chicken being prepared for the pot. Very unpleasant to a vegetarian like me.
Anyhow, the climax, so to speak, of the film, is where David and Dawn are at the Doctors {Hospital?}. Early in the film we see them hand over a sample of urine {?} and are told the results will be available in about two weeks. So this is after the two weeks presumably. The Doctor says "it might be just a glitch" and David says it isn't a glitch, it's him, and he tried for a baby with a partner before and nothing happened then either. Dawn is angry that he didn't tell her about this and, on the way home, jumps out of their car and says she's going to walk. I could understand her being mad but I could also understand David not telling her he thought he might be sterile. We don't know if he's been properly tested so he might just have a low sperm count. None of this is made clear in the film.
Dawn goes to her choir practice and on the way home the guy, a friend of theirs, walking home with her, makes a pass at her. She refuses him. Then we see her at home, the next day, {when?} and he calls on her. They then have sex on the floor. {Ugh splinters}. Later Dawn faints, a real old movie cliche that, and she's pregnant and it seems David assumes it's his {so he hasn't been tested then? Or does he think all along she's been adulterous? I couldn't tell}.
While all this is going on David makes Nick leave. Dawn finds him living in the old house nearby where he and David grew up with their abusive Father. She brings some food and supplies for him one night but he's gone again and we don't know where and he never reappears.
At the start of the film we see David and Dawn with a baby that seems to be theirs. At the end we see them again with the baby. David is carrying him. They meet the guy that Dawn had sex with and his partner {wife?} The guy holds the baby for a moment. Then when David takes him back we realize that he is thinking that the guy might be the baby's father. That's how it ends, with no real resolution.
Photography is OK but there are some scenes that are so dark the entire screen went black. Intended to be atmospheric, I uppose, but actually wasn't. Directing was OK but nothing extraordinary. No real scenes of brilliance. The same went for the writing. We should have been profoundly moved at times, but we weren't. Acting was the same, good but not brilliant. TV movie standard. Highest marks go to Shaun Evans as Nick. Benedict Cumberbatch does a good job but nothing like the standard he achieved in "Third Star". However, this is poorer material. Claire Foy was a disappointment, I had never seen her before and have to admit this does not make me want to see her again. She was OK, fine even, but the lack of a great story to work with has inevitably resulted in the whole thing being somewhat sub standard. More like an episode of a long running TV series than what I expect of a movie.
Altogether, this was OK but not something I would want to ever see again. 6 out of 10 and that's being generous. My advice, Jen, is don't bother with this. It's not worth it.--------
END OF REVIEW.
{Note. I haven't seen this and these opinions are those of my cousin.}
November 9th, 2011
Big Family update plus Torchwood note and JB at Palladium.
10:32 am
I have been very busy but have finally gotten around to updating this. We had our usual Halloween Party, which, in our case, involved a Barbecue {any excuse} and a bonfire and dressing up and Trick or treat for the kids. This year Harry watched over the gang of around 15 kids, including Anna-Louise dressed as a witch and Rhys dressed as Satan {don't ask}. They had a great time and came back with heaps of chocolate. Harry told me they were all very well behaved too.
In the afternoon a bunch of us females got together and made cakes with spiders on the top and a variety of home made sausages, both veggie and meaty, shaped into various odd shapes, which due to our marvelous combined modeling skills no one recognized for what they were.
The barbecue was a success and a large number of folk came, including most of our friends and many of our neighbors. We played all the usual daft Halloween games and I demonstrated my amazing skill in bobbing for apples, managing to soak my now very long hair in the process. Then it dried and went even frizzier than before. BJ was most impressed and told everyone his Mama was a real witch.
We then had singing to Harry's guitar and Anna-Louise and Rhys played a Violin duet. Dan, Clive, Julian, Alex and Philip then played paper and combs and sang and danced. I must add here that none of them can sing or dance or play paper and combs and they were all wearing hats and skirts made from red paper. Someone told me afterward they were unforgettable. I don't know if that was a compliment or not. I suspect not. At the end of all this fun we all stood in a row and, for some unaccountable reason, did the can-can.
Molly next door watched over Octavia and the Trips while all this was going on as she had a slight cold. She promised not to breath while she babysat.She is lovely.
We went to the local Firework display on November 5th and again Molly babysat Octavia, who is sleeping better now. The Fireworks were fantastic and the Trips, in particular, found it very exciting. As a result they can now all say Firework, which is so useful. Hmmm. They will be 2 tomorrow, and fools that we are, we are having a party. The Trips can all say party and sweetie and candy. All such useful words.
My niece Mair got married in Wales on 22nd October. We couldn't go although we would have loved too. It was just too difficult to arrange, what with the Trips and Octavia and all the others. It was a quiet Wedding and they have gone off to somewhere hot for their Honeymoon and I have forgotten where. Oh dear.
Skye will be 7 on November 14th. According to both her and Rhys they are engaged to be married. Rhys, however, is currently engaged to at least 3 other kids. He is a terrific flirt. I know from investigations that some very intelligent kids have problems with bullying etc but as far as I know Rhys has so far had no bother at all. In fact, Rhys seems to have no bother at all with anything. He sails through his days with a wide smile on his face and everyone loves him. If only we could bottle whatever he has and sell it the world would be a very much nicer and more friendly place.
Dan, Julian, Alex and I went to see John Barrowman at the London Palladium on Monday. He was great, as usual. He was born to be on the stage. I particularly liked his version of "You raise me up". It was very moving. I liked his dancers the J4's and they can sing too! It was a lovely evening and we all came out smiling. The Palladium is a great old fashioned building. The only problem there is lack of leg room. This wasn't a bother for me, or Dan or Julian, but Alex is 6 foot 5 and he got rather stiff. Jodie Prenger has a good voice and seems very nice but she's gotten fat. She's attractive though and some folk are just designed to be bigger than others. She and John have a fantastic rapport and are obviously good friends. John's voice seems to have improved since I last saw him. He looked fit and well and his suits were gorgeous especially the last one with the sparkles. Very good audience and not much flashing of cameras which can be distracting. Lovely night out and we went for a drink afterward.
Read this morning that Torchwood is "in limbo". Surveys seem to have revealed that people would like more of it but not if it's like Miracle crap. At John's concert, while he sang one song, he had photos come up of people he said he cared for in his life. The last photo was one of the old original Torchwood team before RTD ruined it. There was a roar of approval from the audience at that. What a pity RTD couldn't hear it.
Logging off now as washing is done. Octavia is sitting in her little rocking seat in front of it watching the wash. How to amuse your infant----place infant in rocking seat in front of large amount of laundry.
November 22nd, 2011
Colds
11:30 am
I have had a cold. Dan has a cold and is evidently dying with it. Harry, Anna-Louise, Rhys, BJ and all three Trips have had colds. Octavia is fine and hasn't had a cold thank goodness. Overheard fascinating conversation between BJ and Rhys about Daddy dying from his cold. Tried to remember it because it was so great. Here it is:
BJ: Daddy says he's dying. What's dying?
Rhys: Daddy isn't dying.
BJ: But what's dying?
Rhys; It's when your body stops working. You go to sleep and you don't wake up again. Then they have a Funeral and your Soul goes up to Heaven to be with God and Jesus and Mary and all the Saints.
BJ: What's your Soul?
Rhys: You can't see it. It's what makes you human. It can't die.
BJ: Magic?
Rhys: Yes. No-one ever really goes away. We just can't see them any more.
BJ: I'm going to play dead now.
Rhys: We'll have a Funeral then and I'll bury you out back.
Hmm. Back to reality then. Outside getting dirty.
November 23rd, 2011
Update---JB etc
02:08 pm
John Barrowman's calendar after the Panto is totally empty. What is he doing? I think, myself, he was expecting to be doing Torchwood and it seems there is to be mo more. If there is more, it evidently will be when his Highness RTD decides.
Weirdness surrounds Torchwood anyhow. Jane Esperson admitted in an interview she didn't know what was happening in an episode she was listed as writing. Someone asked her why a character did something and she didn't know and said RTD would probably know. Er, WTF?
We are all improving in health and Dan is no longer dying, which is a great relief to us all. Joke. I have left AO3. Tired of the abject stupidity of it. It seems no-one on the web is capable of having an intelligent chat or making sensible comments about anything. This, I hasten to add is a phenomenon found on German sites as well as ones in English. Everything soon becomes rude, insulting and idiotic.
We are spending Christmas at home. There are too many of us and it's too difficult to organize a trip. Octavia is now sleeping more at night and has become much livelier. She is cute and smiles a great deal.
Off now to see why Aimee-Rose is screaming.
Nov. 25th, 2011 09:50 am (local)
I always thought it was rather premature for JB to say he was happy to do 7 seasons of Torchwood {he seemed to think he would be doing them} when this one hadn't even been shown on TV yet. His calendar for next year seems to be totally empty as a result, as presumably he was leaving the first few months empty for Torchwood.
Eve buying a home in Hollywood seems to have been a case of typical delusion brought about directly by RTD. He kept telling her she was great and fantastic and who can resist that?
I watched a little bit of Miracle Crap and it was just that, crap. Obviously other folk thought so too. Aron told us that no-one he knew was watching it. [Dan's brother, he lives in new York.} He's a doctor and he knows an hell of a lot of people and he told Dan the medical aspects of the story were such utter rubbish he had no words bad enough to describe them.
Even allowing that it was meant to be Scifi it was rot and everyone he mentioned it to agreed.
This program was actually ruined by RTD. Just reading Jane Esperson's weird comments about episodes she was supposed to have written was odd enough for me. She appears to have not known what was happening or why!
RTD is happily working on a program called "Cucumber" and the less said about that title the better. Anyhow, the apparent death of Torchwood has prompted me to start working on "Jack Harkness's Schooldays" again. I have already written a scene in which Gwen has a massive nosebleed and ruins a tray of Boghaven toffee.
{Apologies for self advert}.
November 27th, 2011
I am writing again.
02:02 pm
I don't think anyone reads what I post here anymore but if anyone does I appreciate it. I have written an Interlude between parts one and two of Chapter Eleven of "Jack Harkness's Schooldays" and started on part two proper. I had to do it that way as I had forgotten what I intended to write and lost all my notes about it. The interlude is a sort of bridge between my original writing of this and the new writing. It's the same story of course and just as daft.
12:09 pm - Robinson Crusoe --a review by Flora MacDonald.
My second cousin Flora went to see Robinson Crusoe and has sent me a review. I thought it was interesting because, unlike every other review I've read, it is somewhat critical. I asked her if I could post it here and she said yes, so here it is:
{Note: Jamie is her brother. She is 13 and he is 10.}
Robinson Crusoe a short review by Flora Macdonald.
Me and Jamie went to see Robinson Crusoe at the SECC. It was the first time we were allowed to go on our own and I like John Barrowman so we went. Dad drove us there and we got a program and found our seats which were in the front row. I didn't enjoy it much. There were some good things but more bad.
Good things:
John Barrowman.
The Mermaid.
The Villain.
The 3d effects.
Bad things:
John didn't sing enough and there wasn't much interaction between him and his leading lady.
There wasn't enough singing or dancing.
The acrobats were on too long and had nothing to do with the story.
The Krankies were on too much and were generally just unbearable.
Everyone except me seems to love the Krankies even Jamie. I didn't like them much last year and this year they were on more. Ian looks like our Granddad and is a waste of space. Janette is awful. Watching her is like coming home and finding your Nan mooning the window cleaner, and they did the same sketch at the end that they did last year where Ian had her sitting on his knee and throws her about and she pretends her finger is a willie. She sings too and she can't. Her song in the first half was a nightmare, really stupid and nothing to do with the story. Her other song was even more awful and she was pretending to be pregnant with a balloon stuck up her costume.
For me the Krankies spoiled the night out. I didn't like them last year but now I hate the sight of them. John is great for a middle aged man and seems very fit although a bit overweight. If I was marking this I would give it 4 out of ten.
We rang Dad and Jamie told him it was fantastic. I was glad when it ended and I could escape from the dreaded Krankies. I never want to see them again ever.
12:25 pm - Saturday in the Sierakowiak Household.
Here is a brief description of one Saturday morning not long ago:
After breakfast Harry goes out to help teach a beginners karate Class. Carly comes over with her Clarinet and she and Anna-Louise start an impromptu session with Anna-Louise playing the piano. After a short while Rhys joins in on his violin, They tell me they are improvising. So that's what it's called nowadays!
Julian arrives with a DVD of Elvis of all people. They put it on and begin to sing and dance along with it. For some weird reason I don't enjoy the sight of two men, both over 40, doing Elvis Presley impressions. Things deteriorate further when the Trips decide to join in. The sight of them doing Elvis impressions is simply the funniest thing ever. Aimee-Rose attempts to sing too. She stands wiggling her non existent hips and shouting "ay, ay. ay." Presumably this is what Elvis sounds like to her. Oh well.
I retreat to the kitchen where Molly next door and BJ have the table covered with a large picture of what appears to be elephants. Molly is drawing them and BJ is coloring in. Molly can't draw and the fact that I can tell these things are elephants is a miracle in itself. One of them is pink. I ask why it's pink and BJ tells me Tink did that one. So, we have a color blind frog. Interesting.
I go through to the utility room and move the washing into the dryer. Then the baby monitor in the kitchen erupts with a series of wild anguished screams that sounds as if a baby is being pierced with red hot knives someplace. Go and deal with baby who stinks and is hungry. Moving baby from one breast to the other to avoid being lopsided causes more screams. Glad she has no teeth.
Take baby downstairs and pace her on a mat with a toy. Toy was a present. It is soft and hideous and when you shake it it emits a loud noise that sounds like a very old man wheezing. Think this is probably a result of toy being placed in washer despite label saying only wash by hand. Octavia, being a Sierakowiak, loves it.
Sit down near baby and shut eyes to avoid seeing husband and best friend and Triplets shaking hips and singing "I aint nothing but a hound dog." Note that Aimee-Rose is now shouting "dog" over and over again and Twins are making growling noises. Wonder if going insane. Decide already there. Doze for a second and wake up when BJ jumps on me waving a screwed up picture of numerous multi colored elephants. Wish that elephants really were that interesting. Promise to cuddle frog while BJ joins musicians in next room with his drum. Watch baby waving hideous toy. Despite noise manage to have a nap. Wake up exhausted with crick in neck.
Go to kitchen to start lunch. Immediately am joined by Rhys, BJ and all three Trips who want to help. Decide to run away to Timbuktu. After lunch though.
{Meant to mention all 4 cats are out. No doubt intending to please me later on by bring me gifts of dead mauled wild life. Afternoon already looking promising.}
10:53 am - Christmas Play Kindergarten Fashion.
I can't recall if I said that the Trips started in BJ's Kindergarten. That is, the one attached {if that's the right word} to the School, but they have. Anyhow, all the kids were in the Christmas play, including, of course, the Trips. Dan took some time off work and we went to see it.
BJ was a Wise man, the one with the gold, and the Trips were Shepherds. All the smallest children were Shepherds or Angels. I was glad the Trips were not Angels. I could just see what they would do with wings!
The kids were all dressed up and looked great. The Shepherd scene was great fun. A teacher narrated and as the curtain came open we all saw a group of small children sitting around a pretend fire. I don't know what it was made of but it glowed. Then the Angels came on and while the teacher said the usual words they had to raise their arms. One of them managed while doing this to knock another's wings which made her cry, so there was a brief hold up while someone ran on and fixed them. As they left two of them appeared to be fighting but we all made out we hadn't noticed.
The Shepherds were supposed to look scared and then get up, carrying a nice collection of toy lambs, and follow the Angels off the stage. There was a brief problem here as Joshua had a lamb and Joseph didn't, which was a seriously bad move on someone's part. As they got up to leave the stage Joseph grabbed Joshua's lamb and there was a tussle, during which the lamb's head came off, spilling stuffing liberally. They went off quite happily then, much to the amusement of the audience, Joshua carrying the lamb's body and Joseph carrying the head. They looked so cute. As they left the stage Aimee-Rose, having no doubt decided her brothers had had enough attention for one day, turned to the audience and shouted: naughty naughty. Everyone loved this. Dan and I have produced three little stars evidently!
BJ appeared eventually with the other Wise Men. They marched up to the Nativity Scene and gave the play Joseph, a plump 4 year old called Grant, the gifts, while the narrator told us all what they were. This was not good enough for BJ and one of the other Wise men, a girl called Holly, who BJ rather likes. Holly gave Joseph her box and shouted out, very loudly, Frank's Incense. BJ promptly followed suite, yelling Gold. The other wise man was totally silent, fortunately for the audience.
At the end all the kids sang "Away in a Manger". Most of them seemed to know all the words. Aimee-Rose has been practicing her version for them for ages. She can't say most of them, but that doesn't put her off at all. She just shouts the one's she knows. My poor ears. I was sure I could hear her now and then shouting things. The Twins just stood holding hands and swaying out of time. It was lovely but my perfect pitch was upset.
Afterward the kids all got goodie bags and we all had mince pies and coffee. I didn't have a mince pie of course, as they probably weren't suitable for vegans. The kids were fantastic and getting all those little kids dressed up and organized must have taken some doing. Teachers, in my opinion, don't get enough money or praise.
Next will come Rhys in his play. According to Rhys he is the star. Well, there's nothing like self love, is there? Rhys is so confident and nothing bothers him. Which is good, I think!
Christmas Shopping-- and all I want for Christmas is a skeleton.
On Wednesday we went Christmas Shopping. Being the idiots we are we decided to go to Oxford Street. We went on the underground. There were Carol Singers and Rhys joined in. Rhys is so retiring--joke. He has a lovely voice however. He just ran up and stood in front of everyone and started singing with them. They were from the Salvation Army too. Finally we got him away and everyone hugged him and said how great he was. Rhys has that affect on folk.
Everywhere was busy. Harry went to spend the day with J--- and Anna-Louise went over to Carly's. Half way down Oxford Street we met Julian, Alex and Skye so we had lunch together. The Trips and BJ were very good. Skye and Rhys held hands and looked very sweet. Fed Octavia while the others finished lunch. Got home at around 4pm and was exhausted.
Rhys told me he didn't believe in Santa because the whole idea was illogical. He promised not to tell BJ or the Trips. The Trips can all say Santa. Aimee-Rose can now say quite a lot. The Twins are slower.
BJ wants Santa to bring him a real live Frog. Rhys told me what he wanted more than anything else for Christmas was a full size Skeleton. Dan found a site that sells them on line so Rhys is getting one. Is this weird or not? Enough said.
House is full of people and I am writing this in the kitchen. Dan and Harry are peeling potatoes and Anna-Louise is making a cake. Rhys and BJ are playing chase someplace as I can hear them running and screaming. Octavia is asleep in front of the wash. The Trips are on the living room floor playing with Duplo. Everywhere looks a mess. Happy day.
12:54 pm - Christmas with the Sierakowiak Family. 29th December 2011.
Christmas is over and Dan is even now organizing a New Year Party. We had Julian, Alex and Skye over here on Christmas day. Dan and I were awakened at 5 am by the Trips and BJ. BJ was shouting that Santa had come and all three Trips were shouting Santa, very loudly, so we got up.
The Trips got tricycles which they mastered very quickly. BJ had a LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Tablet, which is fantastic fun and educational at the same time. {advert advert}. Rhys had his skeleton of course, which he promptly took apart and reassembled in the Kitchen, of all places, so most of the day we had to content with him saying things like "mind that metatarsal". We got Anna-Louise and Harry new laptops. They all had other things too, of course. It cost a fortune. We got a jumperoo for Octavia. I bought Dan some sweaters, as he has a collection of seriously old ones and a pure silk tie for special occasions, among other things. I now have a very large Vegan cook book, which weighs more than Octavia does, and a variety of perfumes.
We had a busy Christmas day of course. We went to early Mass and left Dan with dinner preparation and Octavia. As a result of this we managed to finally sit down to eat at around 3 pm. I refused to let the kids have candy until after our meal which made BJ and all three Trips have tantrums and then Ringo came in with a bird in his mouth and let it loose in the living room. There was pandemonium as the bird flew about chased by all 4 cats and a variety of kids. Dan rescued it and let it loose out back followed by all the cats.
After dinner we settled down to watch "Happy Feet" which is a great favorite with us all {even me}. We are waiting for the new one to come out on Blu-ray now. Naturally when it finished we had to have music so Rhys, BJ, Skye and the Trips could dance. So we pushed all the furniture out of the way and we all danced, except Octavia of course. We were making a lot of noise so Dan went next door and asked Molly and her son, who was visiting, to come in and join us. Andrea and Clive and kids went away for Christmas otherwise Dan would have asked them too.
Later, after we had finally gotten Octavia and the Trips to sleep, several of Dan's Polish workers came over. They gathered outside and sang something. Dan said it was a Carol. None of them can sing in tune. We invited them in for a drink and they sang some more and Dan joined in. Then BJ tried to join in. Then Anna-Louise got out her trumpet and Rhys fetched his Violin so I joined with them on the piano. Harry went and got his guitar then. The noise we all made was tremendous. It woke up Aimee-Rose and she suddenly appeared, saying loudly "noise" and holding her ears. I guess she might be going to be musical. The Twins and Octavia slept through everything.
We all slept late the following day. I was exhausted.