BOYS!!!

Oh I don't know........ I love my boys to bits but they drive me INSANE at times and i feel that I am losing control of them as they become physically bigger and stronger.

Last night was a typical example, nice relaxed evening, just Charlie(18) Joseph(13) me and the lodger at home having supper, all fine and relaxed. Messing about starts when I ask them to help clear which they do after some considerable pffaffing. So , a good time for me to do some piano practise. I had just had a lesson earlier and was full of inspiration. i had literally played 6 bars and the shouting starts. Some unseen incident and Joseph is MAD with frustration and slamming doors and screaming at me to tell Charlie off, which incidentally is a complete waste of time. I decide to take the no intervention approach and carry on trying to practise in spite of all the shouting etc. Its only when I hear some very loud banging that I stop as I fear Joseph has taken a weapon of sorts to Charlie's door and we have only recently had all the doors painted.

Anyway all rather boring but after quite of lot of shouting from me and idle threats I manage to get them both to stay in their rooms for the rest of the night, but the thing is, it was close. I really felt that they could do whatever they wanted and I am in no position to make them stop. Charlie is 6ft+ and Joseph isn't so tall yet but VERY strong and in the heat of the moment was pushing me around a bit which I am NOT happy about and was the reason he had to stay in his room. Rather sweetly the 1st thing he said to me this morning when i woke him was"sorry Mum"........

He is the youngest of the 4 , you think I would have worked it all out by now and know how to handle teenagers.....???

Did actually go back to my piano practise and beginning to master a lovely piece by Einaudi called "ombre". Even Ian almost gave me a compliment.... he had had a few pints though!!!

RAINY SATURDAY MORNING

why is it that every weekday we have woken up to sunshine and come the weekend it's pouring??? just had tea and toast in bed with two wettish dogs joining us looking out at a very grey scene. BAD WEEK..... a bad week for blogging but a good week overall...... We had a lovely weekend in Norfolk last week and even mangaged a lovely sunny walk on Holkham beach with the tide and the sun out. it is the most impressive beach and the tide was soooo far out the sea was only just visible. Apparently it's the beach that was used in the final scene of "Shakespeare in Love". We had a bit of a giggle going to a WI sale in Holt..... We were hoping for chutneys, jam and tea costs but sadly it was quite a lot of crimplene and polyester.... we all bought a ring..seemed to be the safest option! COFFEE IN THE SUN Managed to meet up with a friend who I haven't seen for ages and we sat outside.....yes OUTSIDE and drank coffee and chatted for a good couple of hours,nothing like a girlfriend natter..... Nothing is off limits for us two...it's hilarious! Not sure what our husbands would think though!!! also went shopping in the sales and did very well and then later that evening...another girls night sitting OUTSIDE again round a fire while one of us cooked paella, what a treat.... Photos to follow. sat out untill midnight ,it was blissful......!!! FAMILY I have been doing some bonding with my middle son this week and it's quite a treatI can tell you! he has just left school , where he was ALWAYS in trouble and is now venturing out into the BIG world! since he started talking we have argued and both said some vile things to each other,it's a prickly relationship to say the least ...but just lately things are improving......Yesterday we were in Oxford St together to get some things for his leavers ball last night! we chatted and had a bit of a laugh trying on designer sunglasses in Libertys and even sat in the sun having lunch....... Very, very pleasant, I am thinking there is hope for us yet!! hope so! MIDWIFERY I am struggling to write about this without breaking any confidentiality so unless I can find something more general to say I think I will leave that for a while! well, I can't really believe it but the sun is out and there is blue sky visible! Am off shopping with Joseph as poor lad as NO trousers to wear , he is growing FAST just now!!

DATE NIGHT

Every Wednesday Ian and I try to go to the movies as its "orange Wednesday" meaning we can buy one get one free on tickets! We go early and have a drink, Ameretto on ice and a beer, and a packet of revels which we have to eat by the time the trailers are finished.
This week we saw"A Royal Affair". Subtitiled danish film, based on a true story. We gave it a 7.5/10.

MIDWIFERY

Breast feeding workshop yesterday, a quiet group so it makes it a harder class to do. One question really made me realise the power of the formula milk companies. A youngish girl expecting her 1st baby was asking about when we should start her baby on "follow on milk". It took me a while to understand her question and then i realised she was thinking that breast feeding was a to be done just very briefly before going on to the "bottle" and all the various milks that these companies sell to women to feed their babies.The power of advertising... thank goodness she came along , she seemed delighted to know that we were advising exclusive breast. How many others are there like that who don't come along! Lets hope she will spread the word and become an ambassador for breast feeding!!


FAMILY


My 12 yr old is starting to change into a rude and mouthy teenager......NOOOOOOO! I can't bear to think that this sweet boy with  peachy clear skin and a lovely sunny nature will soon be a spotty, grunting adolescent. Its difficult for him being the youngest by 5 yrs as everyone else is moving on and he will be stuck at home with us for a while now ,on his own!