Rambling On

This week my childminder was on holiday. Not normally a problem but since my 4 year old started school this month I was faced with something I haven't done much of since becoming a parent 14 years ago. The daily school run!

Usually it's get up at 5.45am (hopefully an hour all to myself to do the chores and have a coffee)before the yelling and stamping begins. Somewhere between 7.30 and 7.45 I manage to drag my 14 year old from the dark stinking depths of his duvet - threats of violence and kissy monsters are usually involved in this process. By this time my 4 year old will have emptied every toy out of his toybox, fed the dogs his breakfast, left a 'present' in the loo and applied dad's hair gel in copious amounts in an attempt to become a dinosaur.

7.50 starts a heated debate on the reasons for cleaning teeth and washing skin. Followed by me in screaming banshee mode putting toys and dogs away, and getting both of them out into the car so i can get no.1 to school and no.2 to the childminders. Of course No.1 just grunts and slopes off across the carpark - much to cool to say goodbye to his frayed mother.

This week however I had to adjust my timings to accommodate taking No.2 to his new school. No.1 thought this meant a lie in so was even more un co-operative when he got his first alarm call. No.2 needed his cute uniform to be in pristine condition so was dressed while walking out the door. Almost forgot his book bag twice (luckily I remembered so didn't have to face the wrath of Mrs Peart). The journey was back to front as I had to take No.1 first then come all the way back to drop off No.2.

School carparks are full of smug people who know the best places to park, regardless of the amount of space around them. It only took a day or two to find that I could do the same if I arrived a few minutes earlier! Then came the stampede five minutes before door opening time. No leisurely stroll for me - it was like Mad Max only with buggies and prams! Luckily I'm quite light on my feet so danced my way through the hoards of grandparents, childminders and dinky little children intent on tripping me up or whacking me with their multi-coloured book bags.

I always feel rather intimidated in the playground. Like a 'lesser' parent. There I am smartly dressed for work rather than in some tracksuit/slipper ensemble. Everyone seems to know each other and chatter on about washing machines and the price of squash at Aldi this week. I catch a few sidelong glances as if to say "Look at that working mum, should be ashamed of herself". I know that's not what they are saying but that's how it feels.

Then off he goes, into his line, ushered into the classroom by his teacher - not even a goodbye! Within seconds adrenaline races into my body for the mad rush back to the car before the hoards to get out of the car park first. Ten minutes later I'm in my safe secure office with other 'lesser mums' sipping cappucino. Thank God my childminder is back next week - she deserves every penny I pay her.

My husband?? Oh he gets up, gets dressed and goes out to work!

It was one of those funny old days today. Strange goings on. At work we are about to be restructured. I keep getting an image of Mr potato Head when I say that for some reason. Today was THE DAY when what was previously 'strictly confidential' was to be 'free for all'. I kept saying "There's no point doing that until we know what is happening". At 1.30 the tension began to build, trips to the loo, application of lip gloss (no idea how that would affect anything!)and nervous chattering as we gathered for THE NEWS.

Now at this point, after weeks of uncertainty about jobs and lots of speculation you want something big, powerful and sparkley to happen don't you? Even if it's totally traumatic you want to be part of it. Like the build up to a row in an electrical retailers because they won't exchange the tv - they say they can't find anything wrong with it. You want to get it all out, blow your top, make yourself heard, feel important!!

Today we were told - " This is kind of how it will be but it's not really finished yet so don't worry about things we will speak to you all individually" That's like the sales assistant telling you they value your custom and of course they will exchange your tv AND give you a free sky box as a good will gesture. What do you do with all the tension? I wanted to know how, what , where and who with!

So as the day progressed, I got stuck in traffic, had a 4 year old 'helping' me cook tea which took twice as long and then being unable to juggle four packs of M&S ready meals delivered by the in laws accidentally threw a pack of organic beef stew at the lounge door.

Having dogs around is very useful - within seconds it was licked clean.

Now the TV doesn't work (not the one that was exchanged by the way) so I'm giving up on today and going to bed to read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince as the film is due out next November and I haven't read it yet.(You may remember that books send me into deep sleep so I need plenty of time for this!)

AND wasn't it wintery today?

Toodalloo

If I were you and about to read a blog from someone I have never heard of I would want to have a bit of an idea as to the sort of thing I may have thrust at me. I'm certain I would find it difficult to get a feel for them if I were only to read about some minor mishap involving the new fridge freezer. So in a vain attempt to entice you into my world (does that sound sinister?) I will start my blog by telling you a bit about myself - don't worry it won't be like war and peace or anything!

White, female, 44 almost, happily married, 2 boys age 14 & 4, full time college lecturer, 2 dogs, several fish - numbers vary depending on who has eaten who lately! Hobbies when I get a minute to myself are scrapbooking, surfing the www. and walking the dogs. My dreams involve living somewhere rural (on Tesco's home delivery route), writing something and working 2 hours a day while earning pots of money.

In previous lives I have worked in various places, my CV is as long a a loo roll! Starting in retail before joining the Royal Navy for 9 years as an aircraft machanic. Back into cosmetic retail for a few years, working in top London stores, another few years at the airport - I'd forgotten about the wet, damp conditions and filthy fingernails at that point. A detour into a school art & design department, back into cosmetics and then I got hooked on vocational training which is where I have been for the last 7 years ending in me gaining teaching qualifications and landing a job as college lecturer.

Music - I was into indie/punk/loud stuff when younger and still like a lot of the same now but have a more mature outlook and enjoy lots of different types of music. It's easier to say what I would switch off (Country and the awful 'new monkey' that all the kids seem to play these days - no wonder they are all hyperactive and on drugs!)

Reading - I love to read but these days find I'm asleep before I get the the end of the second page and then end up reading it again the next night. I have read all Edward Rutherfurd's Epics, Lord of the Rings several times, and often enjoy 'thin' best sellers. Sometimes I have a few on the go and it depends how I feel as to what I fall asleep with.

Flms - Adventure, comedy, cartoons, mild horror - actually anything really as I tend to fall asleep through them too! I usually end up with Spiderman or X Men for the kids rather than anything I would choose to watch.

Clothes - Whatever fits comfortably and is clean. Preferably in grey/black/cream patterns as that doesn't show the dog hairs. Certainly not a follower of fashion, my 'style' is often a subject of discussion in the office. My response "I'm here for comfort not for speed". Not that I look like a middle aged frumpy bag lady, I have been told that I look much younger than I am (I knew all the free cosmetics would pay off!) and I do like to have a nice 'easy to do' hairstyle. At present it's a kind of windswept 'Victoria Beckham' look.

Parenting - As written in all my school reports - "could do better". I love my kids and would die for them but I think some of my genes are missing that ' let's make cakes and stuff the housework' thing that 'good' mothers have. I don't cook very well. That's official in our house. I do a damn good job of ironing though. I do have to have everything tidy - can't be doing with things cluttering up every available space except in the craft room where it's allowed because it's all my mess. I do enjoy doing things with the kids as long as it involves take away food and lots of opportunities for a coffee!

I have a fetish(ises) too. Pens and notebooks. I love nice pens with black ink or coloured markers, coloured pencils and multi-pens with various colours in one pen. I detest pens with blue ink though. I have been known to 'accidentally' walk off with nice pens, which is why everyone in the office now writes in blue! Things have to be 'squared' off (throwback from the Navy) and I struggle with circular things that can't be squared.

I'm now aware I am half way through war and peace so will leave you to think what you will about me. If you feel I'm weird then please ignore my ramblings in future. If you are exactly like me or in danger of getting close then I would love to compare notes in a kind of mutual therapy session.

Too-dalloo