Week In Brief

I can't believe how quick the days and weeks are flying by. It seems forever since I wrote a post and it's only been a week.

On Sunday, I took the car to Bury St Edmunds (where I learnt to drive) to go to a local clothes shop. I got some nice new trousers for going out when we go out for festive celebrations next Saturday. Then we went into the town. That was a job for hubby. Passing my test just a couple of weeks before Christmas is sort of a curse as the roads are busy, some drivers obnoxious and well, as for parking in busy car parks - forget it.

Monday was Matthews school play. He had quite a large part and had 27 sets of lines to learn. He was a fantastic innkeeper and you can see the boy loves to entertain. I have ALWAYS said that. But he looked in his element on stage and acted out the songs with facial expressions. Unfortunately my other children, Liam in particular didn't enjoy the play as much as I did and refused to sit down. After Matthews scene I had to take him for a little walk to get him to behave.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I had various trips into town. I managed to get hubby a Christmas present from the kids yesterday. I think he'll like it.

I dyed my hair red to feel nice and festive.

I don't like it..

The weather was rather awful yesterday so I thought I would surprise Matthew and pick him up from school. It took a little courage to get the kids into the car without the support of hubby in the front seat. I haven't driven much this week due to frost and ice conditions but yesterday I felt brave!!! I did use my "P" plates and I didn't drive far. We left VERY early hoping to get a parking space in the area I wanted however, since it was the last and most popular afternoon for the years 3, 4 and 5's play I wasn't able to park in either the road I wanted nor the side roads I thought I would. Even turning around in the cul de sac I wanted was a challenge as cars were parked both sides of the road AND on the corners so I headed home and parked perfectly out the front looking down the hill ready for the next journey. I've never parked on a kerb before nor had to get so close to a wooden fence but I did it without incident and the two boys in the car were little angels. James even said I was a good driver. I love my boys.

Thursday evening we took an evening trip to nearby town Stowmarket and ended up buying most of our Christmas food. My family are coming over on Boxing Day so we've stocked up on party food and snacks. We've got a completely full freezer (amd it's a big American style fridge freezer) and our larder is at full capacity. We just need to get our fresh vegetables at the end of next week when we return from our christmas break.There's a wonderful farm shop on the way back and we will get our last few bits there,

Thursday was also the day the sickness found my family. Liam didn't eat his snack in town and bith hubby and I were annoyed with him as visit to said bakery/cafe cost £8 for 3 drinks and a sausage roll that Liam didn't eat. Once we got to collect James, Liam started being sick. He seemed ok afterwards and was fine until we went out again in the evening. Yesterday he seemed his normal self other than having some rather runny and stinky nappies and still having no appetite. He managed a jacket potato and cheese for his dinner and has had some equally nasty nappies since.

Also yesterday, Matthew didn't seem himself. He insisted he was fine other than a headache but a mothers intuition told me otherwise. Matthew got up this morning complaining that he felt very hot an proceeded to the bathroom and was also sick. He's now having a good sleep. I know when my kids aren't quite right and on this matter, I knew Matthew more than he knew himself. I'm hoping this bug is pretty much over and it is just these two who are affected. However, we all know that once the bug is in the house it normally goes through everyone or all the kids at least,

Today I congratulated and wished my next door neighbour luck as she went off to get married. She looked stunning in a full length gown, a little furry shoulder drape thingy and tiara. My neighbours have been together years but both have had health scares. They must both be in their mid to late 50' - Maybe even early 60's for him and I think that's what made them go for it in the end. Now, when I say I wished her luck, I meant it. Most nights you hear the pair of them arguing, shouting, swearing and having a barney of some sort. Quite often it's over money and her sister gets blamed for alot of things from what I hear through the thin walls. Still, if they've made it this far, something must be going right.

We are very much in the spitrit of Christmas here at home and enjoying all the Christmas movies and specials on tv.

Finally, I end on a sad note thinking of all those killed in Conneticut yesterday. A large number of children and some of their teachers gunned down in their school. Like the rest of the world, I am very sad to read this. We send our kids to school as a place of security as much as education and for those poor teachers just doing their jobs, it is horrendous that we still hear of such things in this troubled world. Thinking of those who lost their lives and for the families that are going through and will continue to go through tremendous grief this holiday period.