Sorry its late I've had a funny old day so I have. Well lets get the important stuff out the way. A stay the same. Last night I was totally at peace with this. Today I'm not so sure. I have wasted a week and in my friends words "feel lardy and yukky". I always get heartburn when I've eaten crap too.
You see I kind of continued my party mood following on from buddy's birthday bash last Monday (that was on the back of my 2lb loss). I didn't write my diary as I had a busy week and I was always playing catch up with the exercise. I managed to do 4 x workouts - Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday I went for the dreaded 'run' and managed 2 laps around the block. Not all running but much more than last time.
Should you ever wish your beloved to see you at your worse then running is the answer. I can't think of a time, in recent history, where I have looked more unattractive. I came back with a face brighter than a beetroot and this continued all over my body. Hair scraped back, middle aged matron alert! Seriously, it was not a good look. My legs were so heavy after the run and a fellow runner on twitter pointed out, quite rightly, I should be warming up.
Onto other matters. I spent over one hour trying to purchase cycling or swimming tickets for the Olympic games. I was unsuccessful in my quest. You can only buy a maximum of 4 which means buddy will have to sit out this one. Furthermore, the cheapest were £50 going up to a staggering £350 per ticket. I got so caught up in it all, that at one point, the computer was checking availability for tickets at a grand total of over £1,000. Well my husband had said it was once in a lifetime event. I asked how he would have felt had I been able to purchase tickets at this price - "not very happy". Did you also know that they are charging for you just to watch the marathon on The Mall? You know that open public area called pavement - £40 if you please.
Now this isn't even the best bit. The husband is triumphant later on because we have secured 4 x tickets to... wait for it.... women's weightlifting with medals ceremony! Yeehar. Really? Seriously? They were cheaper at £45 a pop at any event and it does mean we get to be part of the Olympics. Alas I won't get to cheer Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins at the cycling. I'll have to make do with the Tour de France coverage on ITV 4 in July.
I also had a bit of a clear out of my blog - done away with the "I've been nominated badges" and the like. I also deleted some mum websites and blog award sites I follow on twitter. I happened to comment on one re the parent vouchers on facebook. I cut and pasted part of yesterday's post. It was deleted! As long as you talk the middle road talk then you'll do fine at all these blog awards, review shit that doesn't matter and tell people what your favourite colour is.
Now when I start talking the talk and doing all these things its time to call it a day - hence the clear out. I ain't no desperado blogger. Nooooooo sorry!
Follow by Email
Monday, 14 May 2012
Sunday, 13 May 2012
One Way Voucher Please
So asides from our Prime Minister being so far removed from the ordinary man - this week it transpired he thought LOL was lots of love when signing off his emails. I don't know what I find more disturbing, that he signs off emails with lots of love, or that he is so out of touch. He probably thinks a MILF is a Mother In Lovely Frock.
I digress. The latest, lets play at running the country as I was born to rule along side my posh chum, is to give £100 worth of parenting vouchers. Never mind about people losing their jobs, pensions, double dip recession, high streets that resemble ghost towns and the mass unemployment of our young. Lets hand out vouchers! Isn't this the sort of thing he slagged off Labour for? The mamby pamby nonsense he spoke of - a bit like the vital Sure Start centres that Labour created. You know the ones that are threatened with closure along sides... wait for it...our public libraries.
This is in the same week he wants to reduce maternity pay to 18 weeks which I suspect would be the lowest in Europe. Maybe Dave, just maybe, it would be a good idea for the mother or father to raise their child and you might not need vouchers. In addition, he did away with the £250 child trust fund voucher for all children born in this country.
Before I continue I should point out that I think all politicians fail us on all sides. It is not a vocation anymore it is a career choice. They play at running the country for a few years and then do a spot of public speaking and make more money. The Prime Ministers job, as far as I can see, is about the only one in the country you don't need any qualifications for. You just have to have the gift of the gab and have spectacular networking skills.
One person this week said to me he preferred the uppers ruling the country as they don't need to steal. I would have to disagree. What about the rich MP who decided to bill us for his £2,000 bird house on his moat? They're all at it. They probably have money because they don't use their own for anything.
Now I twittered a few disgruntled comments on twitter. I received a tweet back by, I am assuming, a Cameron supporter. No doubt won over by the X-factor syle election. Remember it? Everyone was on benefits and why should we all be paying for the scroungers. She asked "Is it Dave's responsibility to budget for children he doesn't choose to have?" I am assuming she is asking why pay for children being born. I mean is this really where we're at? What a sorry state of affairs when people have this mindset.
Tories are a bit like racists aren't they? Whereas a racist will normally start a sentence with "I'm not racist but.." A Tory will start with "its not MY fault" followed by a lot of me's, I's, Jack and alright.
That comment sums up with what is wrong with modern Britain and its not the 'welfare spongers'. The "if its not in my best interests I will oppose it" middle classes. Part of the legacy of the Thatcher era is that we have a lot of people who are only interested in policies that they can directly benefit from.
Now I'll tell you why he should be responsible. He should be working for the good of the whole society. It benefits nobody to have an underclass. You may be able to shut your door and say well I work hard, I know the difference between right and wrong but you still have to encounter people that haven't had the same start in life. When your car gets broken into, your house is broken into and when you are affected by riots. Why would someone care about trashing a society they don't feel part of?
So it benefits you to have a society where the people at the bottom of the rung actually have a start in life. You can't complain about the state of the country if all you do is think about yourself. You don't care about people at the bottom. You will encounter these people. Surely its better for us all that people have an equal start in life? That is what the £250 was all about as were the vouchers for childcare costs as were the Sure Start centres and as were the libraries - access to information free of charge regardless of wealth or status.
Now I hear the childless pipe up - why should I pay for children? I have chosen not to have children. Well let me tell you why because, again, you will encounter those children when they're adults and how they conduct themselves. They will also pay into National Insurance contributions, pensions etc. Look at the bigger picture why don't you. No matter how much money you obtain through the course of your lifetime you're invariably going to need caring for. If you haven't had children then someone elses will end up looking after you.
And so to the vouchers. I am guessing that any parent who questions their ability is probably a half decent one in the first place. The very vouchers that the government are aiming at (people on low incomes, on benefits) are not going to use them in any event. The obvious thing to do is prevent the child becoming badly behaved and this goes back to giving them a decent start in life, decent schooling and decent accommodation. Here's a thought - how about one salary being enough for a family to live off ? One parent staying at home to raise the child? The government encourages the parents to leave their children in childcare. This is so the parents pay tax, the nursery pays tax, the minder pays tax. Its all about the money. And when things go wrong - the riots being a prime example - lets hand out parenting vouchers.
I've said this before and I'll say it again this country is morally bankrupt as well as actually bankrupt. Although we are lead to believe this, has anyone actually seen the country's books? Perhaps a peoples' audit is due. How is it we can afford to provide one billion pounds worth of vehicles to Afghanistan?
It is not parenting vouchers we need but Tesco (soon to be national currency) reward vouchers. We could exchange them for a one way ticket for this, quite frankly, idiot of a Prime Minister to leave and never to return.
I digress. The latest, lets play at running the country as I was born to rule along side my posh chum, is to give £100 worth of parenting vouchers. Never mind about people losing their jobs, pensions, double dip recession, high streets that resemble ghost towns and the mass unemployment of our young. Lets hand out vouchers! Isn't this the sort of thing he slagged off Labour for? The mamby pamby nonsense he spoke of - a bit like the vital Sure Start centres that Labour created. You know the ones that are threatened with closure along sides... wait for it...our public libraries.
This is in the same week he wants to reduce maternity pay to 18 weeks which I suspect would be the lowest in Europe. Maybe Dave, just maybe, it would be a good idea for the mother or father to raise their child and you might not need vouchers. In addition, he did away with the £250 child trust fund voucher for all children born in this country.
Before I continue I should point out that I think all politicians fail us on all sides. It is not a vocation anymore it is a career choice. They play at running the country for a few years and then do a spot of public speaking and make more money. The Prime Ministers job, as far as I can see, is about the only one in the country you don't need any qualifications for. You just have to have the gift of the gab and have spectacular networking skills.
One person this week said to me he preferred the uppers ruling the country as they don't need to steal. I would have to disagree. What about the rich MP who decided to bill us for his £2,000 bird house on his moat? They're all at it. They probably have money because they don't use their own for anything.
Now I twittered a few disgruntled comments on twitter. I received a tweet back by, I am assuming, a Cameron supporter. No doubt won over by the X-factor syle election. Remember it? Everyone was on benefits and why should we all be paying for the scroungers. She asked "Is it Dave's responsibility to budget for children he doesn't choose to have?" I am assuming she is asking why pay for children being born. I mean is this really where we're at? What a sorry state of affairs when people have this mindset.
Tories are a bit like racists aren't they? Whereas a racist will normally start a sentence with "I'm not racist but.." A Tory will start with "its not MY fault" followed by a lot of me's, I's, Jack and alright.
That comment sums up with what is wrong with modern Britain and its not the 'welfare spongers'. The "if its not in my best interests I will oppose it" middle classes. Part of the legacy of the Thatcher era is that we have a lot of people who are only interested in policies that they can directly benefit from.
Now I'll tell you why he should be responsible. He should be working for the good of the whole society. It benefits nobody to have an underclass. You may be able to shut your door and say well I work hard, I know the difference between right and wrong but you still have to encounter people that haven't had the same start in life. When your car gets broken into, your house is broken into and when you are affected by riots. Why would someone care about trashing a society they don't feel part of?
So it benefits you to have a society where the people at the bottom of the rung actually have a start in life. You can't complain about the state of the country if all you do is think about yourself. You don't care about people at the bottom. You will encounter these people. Surely its better for us all that people have an equal start in life? That is what the £250 was all about as were the vouchers for childcare costs as were the Sure Start centres and as were the libraries - access to information free of charge regardless of wealth or status.
Now I hear the childless pipe up - why should I pay for children? I have chosen not to have children. Well let me tell you why because, again, you will encounter those children when they're adults and how they conduct themselves. They will also pay into National Insurance contributions, pensions etc. Look at the bigger picture why don't you. No matter how much money you obtain through the course of your lifetime you're invariably going to need caring for. If you haven't had children then someone elses will end up looking after you.
And so to the vouchers. I am guessing that any parent who questions their ability is probably a half decent one in the first place. The very vouchers that the government are aiming at (people on low incomes, on benefits) are not going to use them in any event. The obvious thing to do is prevent the child becoming badly behaved and this goes back to giving them a decent start in life, decent schooling and decent accommodation. Here's a thought - how about one salary being enough for a family to live off ? One parent staying at home to raise the child? The government encourages the parents to leave their children in childcare. This is so the parents pay tax, the nursery pays tax, the minder pays tax. Its all about the money. And when things go wrong - the riots being a prime example - lets hand out parenting vouchers.
I've said this before and I'll say it again this country is morally bankrupt as well as actually bankrupt. Although we are lead to believe this, has anyone actually seen the country's books? Perhaps a peoples' audit is due. How is it we can afford to provide one billion pounds worth of vehicles to Afghanistan?
It is not parenting vouchers we need but Tesco (soon to be national currency) reward vouchers. We could exchange them for a one way ticket for this, quite frankly, idiot of a Prime Minister to leave and never to return.
Saturday, 12 May 2012
Saturday Chit Chat
Bit late but never mind. So exercise wise I'm playing catch up due to a very busy week. As you know it was buddy's birthday Monday, clearing up and shopping Tuesday, visiting my friend Wednesday, visiting a different friend Thursday and baking a cake for my step-daughter Friday. So I've managed 3 x workouts thus far. Not bad. The Biggest Loser on Thursday and Friday and the Wii dance today.
I have to say I am getting fitter. I can now do about 15 burpees in one minute - it is knackering but when I started it I could barely complete a couple. I can also hold the 'dolphin plank' position for 30 seconds before collapsing to the floor. Now this may sound pathetic to all you fitness buffs and it probably is but, once again, I couldn't do this for love nor money when I started. I am working up to being able to do it for the full one minute. I've had 3 c-sections too so stomach muscles aren't my speciality. I can also do the sprint starts fairly comfortably. All progress.
I have not attempted another 'run' due to weather conditions. It has been raining a lot in the UK. I am not a hard core runner. I am a very amateur reluctant jogger so weather does stop play for me. That being said I am going to attempt to 'run' around the block tomorrow maybe twice if I'm feeling adventurous.
Food wise its been hit and miss. I need to write the food down. It keeps me on track and focused as does writing blog posts. I accept that realistically no one is going to write down what they eat on a day to day basis but for the purposes of losing weight its essential. A pain but an essential pain. When I write my food diary properly I lose weight in that week. I feel I've wasted a week, no, I have wasted a week. I doubt I'll lose on Monday.
On to other matters. We had an invitation to a 50th today. That's what happens when you marry someone 10 years older - you get lots of invites to 50/60th parties! Anyhow its fancy dress. God I hate fancy dress. Dressing up is for children not for adults. Here's a thought - throw a party and ask people to wear what's in their wardrobe. I was planning on wearing a floaty summer dress I wore to my sisters wedding back in 2005. Its only had a couple of outings as normally I get pregnant, get fat and I can't get into it. The theme will be based on the Jubilee and being patriotic. Being the 48 year old rebel that is my husband he wants to go as a punk wearing the 'God save the Queen' (by The Sex Pistols) T-shirt. I suppose I should go as one too - would look a bit daft if I go dressed as queen or something. Still, least it saves the hassle of having to fit into a dress. He did seem to think I'd get into a Union Flag dress much like Geri Halliwell wore at the Brit awards. Pah ha ha is all I have to say about that.
Have a great weekend!
 |
| My first giant cupcake - chocolate with chocolate fudge filling. Wanted it to look like a cupcake. Piping was okay but have weak wrists! |
I have not attempted another 'run' due to weather conditions. It has been raining a lot in the UK. I am not a hard core runner. I am a very amateur reluctant jogger so weather does stop play for me. That being said I am going to attempt to 'run' around the block tomorrow maybe twice if I'm feeling adventurous.
Food wise its been hit and miss. I need to write the food down. It keeps me on track and focused as does writing blog posts. I accept that realistically no one is going to write down what they eat on a day to day basis but for the purposes of losing weight its essential. A pain but an essential pain. When I write my food diary properly I lose weight in that week. I feel I've wasted a week, no, I have wasted a week. I doubt I'll lose on Monday.
 |
| My 48 year old rebel husbands idea of 'patriotic!" |
On to other matters. We had an invitation to a 50th today. That's what happens when you marry someone 10 years older - you get lots of invites to 50/60th parties! Anyhow its fancy dress. God I hate fancy dress. Dressing up is for children not for adults. Here's a thought - throw a party and ask people to wear what's in their wardrobe. I was planning on wearing a floaty summer dress I wore to my sisters wedding back in 2005. Its only had a couple of outings as normally I get pregnant, get fat and I can't get into it. The theme will be based on the Jubilee and being patriotic. Being the 48 year old rebel that is my husband he wants to go as a punk wearing the 'God save the Queen' (by The Sex Pistols) T-shirt. I suppose I should go as one too - would look a bit daft if I go dressed as queen or something. Still, least it saves the hassle of having to fit into a dress. He did seem to think I'd get into a Union Flag dress much like Geri Halliwell wore at the Brit awards. Pah ha ha is all I have to say about that.
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, 10 May 2012
How to scare the shit out of you - 1970's style!
The other night we watched yet another nostalgic television show on terrestrial telly - ITV. As per usual there was nothing worth watching on SKY. SKY are really getting above their station - excuse the pun. We pay a mighty fee for movies, multi view room, dodgy re-conditioned SKY boxes (by all accounts the SKY engineers are told under no circumstances are customers to get new boxes) and hardly anything decent on 'anytime' TV.
Anyhow this programme was showing you clips of all the government adverts issued by The Central Office of Information. This organisation no longer exists but their adverts are so memorable, hard hitting and scary. Do you remember Jimmy Saville meeting children who had been in accidents to hammer home the safety message? They are unbelievable. I have often put a few on my blog like Charley and I were in the Park and the like.
These programmes are all the rage at the moment - anything nostalgia based and in particular the 1970's are very much in vogue. A bit like the 1960's were for many years - it seems that the 1970's have replaced the '60's in the nostalgia market.
So there were many adverts ranging from the 1950's upwards. Hard hitting stuff. Its a shame they have shut down the organisation as I do believe they served a purpose. Recently there have been 10 deaths in this country with people putting their portable bbq's inside their tent through sheer ignorance of the fact the fumes can kill them.
Without further ado here is an advert that I remember as a child. Would you show this to your child now?
On to more cheery matters and general chit chat. I managed to fit in a workout today. I am officially unable to do a workout at 8pm. I was all dressed ready to work out on Tuesday and I just thought I can't be arsed! I had buddy's party Monday, shopping and cleaning Tuesday, was visiting my friend pre-chemo treatment on Wednesday and today whilst I did visit another friend I crammed in a workout. Which means I also need to do one tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday to make it 4 x this week.
I am making a giant cupcake for my step-daughter tomorrow so will post pictures. I had another little prang in the car today. When visiting my friend and reversing on her drive (which my husband did) I thought to myself if I knocked into her brick wall pillars I could say "oh I know a man that can fix that". The next thing I hear an almighty crunch. I haven't hit the pillars or her car or dog so what have I hit? It is a plant with hard branches. There's no way I could have seen it and the little bleeper didn't go off either. Not my fault. Plants fault. I surveyed the damage - it had got caught under the car and ripped the mud guard covering the back wheel and scratched a bit of the paint work. Oh dear.
So how do I play this one? Sometimes I let the husband discover such markings a few months down the line and say "oh that happened ages ago", sometimes I hope it just goes away and sometimes I come clean. Today I thought I'd come clean. So I then think well how do I approach this? So I say "I haven't hit a car or dented our car or reversed into a wall..." "I've just ripped our mud guard and here's a picture". You see he's already thought phew to 3 of those things so the impact of my blunder is minimal. I suggest you adopt this if you find yourself in a similar predicament.
He just sighed, carried on with what he was doing and said "is the kettle on?" That is one of the many reasons I love him - minimal reaction, resigned acceptance of all car related incidents. What more could you ask for in a man?
Anyhow this programme was showing you clips of all the government adverts issued by The Central Office of Information. This organisation no longer exists but their adverts are so memorable, hard hitting and scary. Do you remember Jimmy Saville meeting children who had been in accidents to hammer home the safety message? They are unbelievable. I have often put a few on my blog like Charley and I were in the Park and the like.
These programmes are all the rage at the moment - anything nostalgia based and in particular the 1970's are very much in vogue. A bit like the 1960's were for many years - it seems that the 1970's have replaced the '60's in the nostalgia market.
So there were many adverts ranging from the 1950's upwards. Hard hitting stuff. Its a shame they have shut down the organisation as I do believe they served a purpose. Recently there have been 10 deaths in this country with people putting their portable bbq's inside their tent through sheer ignorance of the fact the fumes can kill them.
Without further ado here is an advert that I remember as a child. Would you show this to your child now?
On to more cheery matters and general chit chat. I managed to fit in a workout today. I am officially unable to do a workout at 8pm. I was all dressed ready to work out on Tuesday and I just thought I can't be arsed! I had buddy's party Monday, shopping and cleaning Tuesday, was visiting my friend pre-chemo treatment on Wednesday and today whilst I did visit another friend I crammed in a workout. Which means I also need to do one tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday to make it 4 x this week.
I am making a giant cupcake for my step-daughter tomorrow so will post pictures. I had another little prang in the car today. When visiting my friend and reversing on her drive (which my husband did) I thought to myself if I knocked into her brick wall pillars I could say "oh I know a man that can fix that". The next thing I hear an almighty crunch. I haven't hit the pillars or her car or dog so what have I hit? It is a plant with hard branches. There's no way I could have seen it and the little bleeper didn't go off either. Not my fault. Plants fault. I surveyed the damage - it had got caught under the car and ripped the mud guard covering the back wheel and scratched a bit of the paint work. Oh dear.
So how do I play this one? Sometimes I let the husband discover such markings a few months down the line and say "oh that happened ages ago", sometimes I hope it just goes away and sometimes I come clean. Today I thought I'd come clean. So I then think well how do I approach this? So I say "I haven't hit a car or dented our car or reversed into a wall..." "I've just ripped our mud guard and here's a picture". You see he's already thought phew to 3 of those things so the impact of my blunder is minimal. I suggest you adopt this if you find yourself in a similar predicament.
He just sighed, carried on with what he was doing and said "is the kettle on?" That is one of the many reasons I love him - minimal reaction, resigned acceptance of all car related incidents. What more could you ask for in a man?
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Fight! Winner!
Although on Sunday it was more "play" "winner". I am referring to the original Karate Kid - you know the proper one with the lovely Ralph Macchio and Mr Mayagi of wipe on, wipe off fame. I loved the tension and excitement in that film not to mention "oh Daniel son". Remember the music at the fight tournament "You're the Best around.. la la la la la la la la la".
So what an earth am I going on about now? Well, my son played his first ever chess tournament (Delancey UK school championships) on Sunday. He was representing the school along with 2 others who were in different age groups at the Megafinals and in with a shout of winning £25. If he did well, it was on to the GrandFinals and then another final (how many finals does chess need?) with the top prize being £2,000. That's a lot of Skylanders and more besides. And here's a chessy bit of info that may shock you - the children's world championship has a top prize of £28,000!
The husband took him as, quite frankly, I'm rubbish at directions, maps and satnavs and just going anywhere off plan. My husband turns up in the Kia to a packed car park full of very well to do parents. The tournament is HUGE. My son is mighty impressed his name is featuring at the top of the score chart due to his surname. I am back home making cakes but constantly checking my phone for the results to come through. A bit like when you first meet someone and you're willing them to text or phone. I'm not even there and the tension is palpable. He has 6 matches to play which can last for 40 minutes but generally take 10 minutes, so there is a lot of waiting around in between. The husband reports back that many a rich kid are practising on their Ipads between games. My son is playing games on the husbands' phone to pass the time.
First text comes through - winner! Our son says it was easy. I'm on a high and we're all buoyed by his first match success. Could he walk this? Second match - loses and I quote "son is on the ropes! He loses to a far superior opponent". So no is the answer to my previous question.
The husband says the mother was a right stuck up cow giving pep talk pre match (parents have to leave once their child is seated at the table), wearing what can only be described as a rock for an engagement ring and brandishing a Chanel bag. You can smell the pound notes emitting from her. The child has curly hair and is wearing a chess champions sweatshirt. You get the picture.
My son was magnanimous in defeat, relief, kids can be highly unpredictable. By all accounts several children throughout the day leave in tears "they couldn't handle the pressure or shame of defeat!". So onto the next match - wins! By this time I cannot focus on much more than the incoming texts with the latest results. I ask the hubster if he's as tense as me and he says "is that why your punctuation is so poor? I am chillaxing in my sons glory. He is even more relaxed than that!"
Onto the next match. This one is a "nail biter" says the hubster. The next boy has won 3 out of 3 and is up against our son next. The tournament is very fair in that if a child has lost a match he then plays someone that has also lost and vice versa. He wins! The other child is fighting back tears and my son comes out with a wry smile. Next match - he wins!
Fifth match if you please. A small oriental boy. My son eyes him up and down and on the basis that he is smaller than him says "this will be an easy one". My husband points out that just because he's small doesn't mean he can't play chess. Its a draw. Lesson number one learnt.
So it comes down to the last game. I can't take much more of this I can tell you. He needs a draw or a win to take him through to the GrandFinal. He is up against an equal opponent. And here's the little twist. I get a text that says "Vladimir (I kid you not on the name) is the lead boy. Have just been propositioned by opponents father whose boy is on 3.5 points. Suggested the boys play for a draw so both qualify." What?! Immediate phone call from me "play to win, play to win". I'm thinking what if the boy changes his mind. Anyhow the hubster tells my son its down to him - play it how he wants to.
Later the phone rings - the hubster gives me the news - he lost. But by all accounts he played to win. I'm gutted. He was half a point from going to the finals. Did he play to win or did he have the draw in the back of his head? Does it really matter? Of course not but you know me yes it bloody well does! Should the husband have told him about the draw? No he shouldn't have. He's already in the bad books despite the fact he's given up his Sunday to be surrounded by posh snob folk types and he doesn't even know it.
When the boy wonder comes home he gets a hero's welcome. He arrives clutching some improve your chess type little books and details of some more competitions. By all accounts he did have a little cry on the way out but the husband promised him £20. Little did he know I'd also said, if he conducted himself in a fine manner, i.e not swiping the board of pieces in defeat I would give him £20.
Later on I was like a dog with a bone. I had to let it drop though for the sake of my marriage. Under cross examination the hubster cracked and said the dad, upon hearing my son say he lost, exclaimed "What, oh my god, I'm so sorry". I then asked my son did you play to draw - yes was his answer. My husband is now cross. He says you weren't there he came out and said he played to win and tried some new moves.
It did later transpire that my son, whilst reading his new little chess books, decided on the crucial decider match that he would try them out. NO! Another lesson learnt. So I can now sleep easy at night knowing he did play for the win. I am a sorry individual, what can I say, but you lot already knew that. Marital harmony has now been restored.
I may take him to another tournament in June, whether I'll be able to cope is another matter entirely. And to cut a very long story short my son came about 8th/9th out of over 50 boys.
The boy done good.
 |
| Dainel son and Mr Mayagi |
So what an earth am I going on about now? Well, my son played his first ever chess tournament (Delancey UK school championships) on Sunday. He was representing the school along with 2 others who were in different age groups at the Megafinals and in with a shout of winning £25. If he did well, it was on to the GrandFinals and then another final (how many finals does chess need?) with the top prize being £2,000. That's a lot of Skylanders and more besides. And here's a chessy bit of info that may shock you - the children's world championship has a top prize of £28,000!
The husband took him as, quite frankly, I'm rubbish at directions, maps and satnavs and just going anywhere off plan. My husband turns up in the Kia to a packed car park full of very well to do parents. The tournament is HUGE. My son is mighty impressed his name is featuring at the top of the score chart due to his surname. I am back home making cakes but constantly checking my phone for the results to come through. A bit like when you first meet someone and you're willing them to text or phone. I'm not even there and the tension is palpable. He has 6 matches to play which can last for 40 minutes but generally take 10 minutes, so there is a lot of waiting around in between. The husband reports back that many a rich kid are practising on their Ipads between games. My son is playing games on the husbands' phone to pass the time.
First text comes through - winner! Our son says it was easy. I'm on a high and we're all buoyed by his first match success. Could he walk this? Second match - loses and I quote "son is on the ropes! He loses to a far superior opponent". So no is the answer to my previous question.
 |
| My son has these in his room - purchased from Debenhams |
The husband says the mother was a right stuck up cow giving pep talk pre match (parents have to leave once their child is seated at the table), wearing what can only be described as a rock for an engagement ring and brandishing a Chanel bag. You can smell the pound notes emitting from her. The child has curly hair and is wearing a chess champions sweatshirt. You get the picture.
My son was magnanimous in defeat, relief, kids can be highly unpredictable. By all accounts several children throughout the day leave in tears "they couldn't handle the pressure or shame of defeat!". So onto the next match - wins! By this time I cannot focus on much more than the incoming texts with the latest results. I ask the hubster if he's as tense as me and he says "is that why your punctuation is so poor? I am chillaxing in my sons glory. He is even more relaxed than that!"
Onto the next match. This one is a "nail biter" says the hubster. The next boy has won 3 out of 3 and is up against our son next. The tournament is very fair in that if a child has lost a match he then plays someone that has also lost and vice versa. He wins! The other child is fighting back tears and my son comes out with a wry smile. Next match - he wins!
Fifth match if you please. A small oriental boy. My son eyes him up and down and on the basis that he is smaller than him says "this will be an easy one". My husband points out that just because he's small doesn't mean he can't play chess. Its a draw. Lesson number one learnt.
So it comes down to the last game. I can't take much more of this I can tell you. He needs a draw or a win to take him through to the GrandFinal. He is up against an equal opponent. And here's the little twist. I get a text that says "Vladimir (I kid you not on the name) is the lead boy. Have just been propositioned by opponents father whose boy is on 3.5 points. Suggested the boys play for a draw so both qualify." What?! Immediate phone call from me "play to win, play to win". I'm thinking what if the boy changes his mind. Anyhow the hubster tells my son its down to him - play it how he wants to.
Later the phone rings - the hubster gives me the news - he lost. But by all accounts he played to win. I'm gutted. He was half a point from going to the finals. Did he play to win or did he have the draw in the back of his head? Does it really matter? Of course not but you know me yes it bloody well does! Should the husband have told him about the draw? No he shouldn't have. He's already in the bad books despite the fact he's given up his Sunday to be surrounded by posh snob folk types and he doesn't even know it.
When the boy wonder comes home he gets a hero's welcome. He arrives clutching some improve your chess type little books and details of some more competitions. By all accounts he did have a little cry on the way out but the husband promised him £20. Little did he know I'd also said, if he conducted himself in a fine manner, i.e not swiping the board of pieces in defeat I would give him £20.
Later on I was like a dog with a bone. I had to let it drop though for the sake of my marriage. Under cross examination the hubster cracked and said the dad, upon hearing my son say he lost, exclaimed "What, oh my god, I'm so sorry". I then asked my son did you play to draw - yes was his answer. My husband is now cross. He says you weren't there he came out and said he played to win and tried some new moves.
It did later transpire that my son, whilst reading his new little chess books, decided on the crucial decider match that he would try them out. NO! Another lesson learnt. So I can now sleep easy at night knowing he did play for the win. I am a sorry individual, what can I say, but you lot already knew that. Marital harmony has now been restored.
I may take him to another tournament in June, whether I'll be able to cope is another matter entirely. And to cut a very long story short my son came about 8th/9th out of over 50 boys.
The boy done good.
  |
| Remember this boy and turned into the man Gerry Kasparov and those chess games in the 70's/80's. I can dream right? pictures - ebay, wikipedia and my phone |
Monday, 7 May 2012
Monday Weigh In
Hello. People. I have returned. Have you missed me? Well I have been mighty busy what with Buddy's 2nd birthday preparations. I left you on Friday to start making IgglyPiggly from In The Night Garden who was, quite frankly, a total wanker to make. He might look easy, oh yeah I can do that, bit of blue - bish, bosh, bash - no he wasn't. He was a cocksucking wanker. Anyhow he took up most of Friday as well as covering the bottom of the cake in green. I was mighty proud of myself for doing a workout on Friday evening - this is unheard of for me. I don't do evening workouts. Evenings are my clocking off time.
Then on Saturday I spend most of the day decorating the night garden but also managed to fit in a work out. Sunday was cupcake preparations, the sky man changing my box (MATRON) over again and looking at my phone all day for text messages from the hubster about my son's progress in the school chess championships. I will write a separate post for this one.
So without further ado I lost 2lbs. I'm pretty sure I've put that all back on today. I had a few crisps, a sausage, a burger, chicken and chorizo with salad, some birthday cake and a few frazzles not to mention 2 glasses of rose.
The party was great fun. My sister phoned at 9.45 am to say she was ill and wouldn't be coming and that she hadn't made the pavlova. Even if she had it wasn't going to be making its way up to my house anytime soon. But I had enough cake to go around and my friend had brought fruit for an exotic fruit salad. This gave me the opportunity to show off my pineapple corer - if you don't have one you must get one. Its the only way to dissect a fresh pineapple. She squealed in delight - this thing has squealing powers I tell you.
The kids were all delightful running in and out the house between rain showers. My eldest son did, however, come crashing down the stairs as he chose to lean on the stair gate (I've told him 100 times) which collapsed and he went with it. His ego was hurt more than anything else. I had a few glasses of rose and felt myself getting a bit loud and disorientated. I keep thinking games, I have games! They played pin the blanket on IgglyPiggly, football pinata and pass the parcel. I find that game so stressful I don't know why, it should be simple but its not. You've got to make sure the child doesn't take off too much newspaper, keep track of who's had a sweet, make sure your children don't win, decide who will but mid way through...hate it.
My dad cooked the "shit burgers, they keep falling apart, where did you get these, they are just bread" on the BBQ next to his Chelsea flag he had brought with him after their FA cup win on Saturday. They are off to Munich for the Champions League Final. My mum measured up my daughter for a Queens outfit she is making for the schools Kings and Queens day in June, my BF and husband looked well as did the kids, my sister arrived with a funky potato head for the little fella, my cousin thought the party was at 1pm not 11 am. She was mortified as its not like her and said "I'll see you in a minute" which was funny as she lives a good hour and 10 minutes away. I kept meaning to phone her earlier to see where she was but I kept getting distracted. My other friend came with her husband and kids who didn't seem too put off by my family. So all in all an excellent day. Buddy was most displeased that he had to go to bed and leave his wooden garage and cars behind.
So back to a fairly normal week, except I do have a giant cupcake cake to make for my step-daughter's birthday on Saturday.
Until next weeks weigh in.
Then on Saturday I spend most of the day decorating the night garden but also managed to fit in a work out. Sunday was cupcake preparations, the sky man changing my box (MATRON) over again and looking at my phone all day for text messages from the hubster about my son's progress in the school chess championships. I will write a separate post for this one.
So without further ado I lost 2lbs. I'm pretty sure I've put that all back on today. I had a few crisps, a sausage, a burger, chicken and chorizo with salad, some birthday cake and a few frazzles not to mention 2 glasses of rose.
The party was great fun. My sister phoned at 9.45 am to say she was ill and wouldn't be coming and that she hadn't made the pavlova. Even if she had it wasn't going to be making its way up to my house anytime soon. But I had enough cake to go around and my friend had brought fruit for an exotic fruit salad. This gave me the opportunity to show off my pineapple corer - if you don't have one you must get one. Its the only way to dissect a fresh pineapple. She squealed in delight - this thing has squealing powers I tell you.
The kids were all delightful running in and out the house between rain showers. My eldest son did, however, come crashing down the stairs as he chose to lean on the stair gate (I've told him 100 times) which collapsed and he went with it. His ego was hurt more than anything else. I had a few glasses of rose and felt myself getting a bit loud and disorientated. I keep thinking games, I have games! They played pin the blanket on IgglyPiggly, football pinata and pass the parcel. I find that game so stressful I don't know why, it should be simple but its not. You've got to make sure the child doesn't take off too much newspaper, keep track of who's had a sweet, make sure your children don't win, decide who will but mid way through...hate it.
My dad cooked the "shit burgers, they keep falling apart, where did you get these, they are just bread" on the BBQ next to his Chelsea flag he had brought with him after their FA cup win on Saturday. They are off to Munich for the Champions League Final. My mum measured up my daughter for a Queens outfit she is making for the schools Kings and Queens day in June, my BF and husband looked well as did the kids, my sister arrived with a funky potato head for the little fella, my cousin thought the party was at 1pm not 11 am. She was mortified as its not like her and said "I'll see you in a minute" which was funny as she lives a good hour and 10 minutes away. I kept meaning to phone her earlier to see where she was but I kept getting distracted. My other friend came with her husband and kids who didn't seem too put off by my family. So all in all an excellent day. Buddy was most displeased that he had to go to bed and leave his wooden garage and cars behind.
So back to a fairly normal week, except I do have a giant cupcake cake to make for my step-daughter's birthday on Saturday.
Until next weeks weigh in.
 |
| chocolate cupcakes |
 |
| Flower pot cupcakes |
 |
| Wanker |
 |
| Semi forgiven |
 |
| World's highest cake alert |
 |
| Much better |
 |
| Ta Dah! I put his name in blue sparkly letters on the left hand side |
Friday, 4 May 2012
Its the real thing...
..to rot your teeth and to crave sugar but you've gotta love a coke. The New Seekers were huge in the 1970's. Our ABBA equivalent I would say. Anyway I thought I'd pop this on to cheer up a rather gloomy, weather wise, Friday. I am off to make buddy's birthday cake and work out - so much to do. I'll post pictures later. I am on fire this week with both exercise and food and entering danger zone - the weekend. Got to keep the momentum going. Think bikini. Think bikini.
Have a wonderful weekend people!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)