is it morning already

I have only been awake for 20 minutes, I can't believe I slept until 10am but I do think I deserved a lie in this morning. I have driven hundreds of miles in the last week, much of it in either slow traffic or on narrow winding country lanes. Although we took 2 cars to Norfolk we only used one during the week and I did 99% of the driving. Mother drove back from petrol station and took herself on a short drive with her camera on Thursday (practice for the long drive home on Saturday).

All week I was waking up between 6 and 6.30am (to glorious blue sky every day except one) yesterday I was busy packing by 6.30 and on my knees cleaning the floor by 8am (the carpet cleaner didn't work so I had to use a small 'soft' hand brush ~ not easy). Having left at 9am we finally arrived home at 3pm. I was hoping to have a sleep for an hour before preparing for a night out with my friends from work.

My car had been unpacked, the mouldy food left in the fridge thrown out and I was preparing to rest when I realised I couldn't find the hand bag I had used all week. I knew it was the last thing I had picked up along with my book (yes I actually read a book ~ first in ages) and keys. I had handed it to one of my sons when I got into the car. Now they all denied having it, I turned out all the remaining bits still in the back of it..............nothing just their rubbish. Eventually ?i found it ............pushed right under the passenger seat.

Time for my rest now while I contemplated what to wear for the party. I had invited Dylan but hadn't had a chance to tell him where or when so I tried calling him, his phone is switched off, switch on laptop and email him. My phone rings but it is my mum, she had passed a car like mine with an Rescue van on the motorway so she was checking that we had got home. (she had wanted to take her time driving home). She was out by our garages so I collected the few things that were in her car.

Now I can rest ..............I was just getting settled when mum rang again. Her foot had seized up as she drove away, she had managed to get herself parked up at our local shops so I had to walk up there and drive her home (keeping her car here over night). By the time I had unloaded her and her luggage, nipped to shops for food, I had one hour to bath, eat and dress ready to go out. It was when I had run the bath while my food was cooking and I was ironing my red skirt that I discovered we had no gas. My bath was freezing cold!!

JA went over the road to get some gas so I could finally have a warm bath, I was just about ready in time phew that took some doing but I hadn't had my sleep. So by the time I got home having had 4 drinks I was somewhat tired. I was nicely merry but not drunk as my boys were saying.......huh what do they know. So I have slept in this morning............now I have to tackle the washing and shopping. But first here are a couple of the many photos I took on our lovely holiday. Boys having fun on the sandy beach just yards from our caravan.

Meercat at Banham zoo

Paddle steamer on the broads at Hinkling

Never again!

Our mission was to buy a coat for me from my mother as a late christmas present.

10.30am mother phoned to say she was waiting for me in the road. Donning my legendary red fleece I joined her in her car for the short journey to our destination. I think I realised early on, as in before we had gone a quarter of a mile, that this was not going to be the smoothest journey. At the junction with the first main road you have to get as far forward as you can to see the traffic coming from the right. The railway bridge on the corner is not very transparent.

Luckily we didn't have to wait too long as there was scant traffic at this time. (they must have known). The next junction has traffic lights which were red as we approached. By now I realised mother has developed an alergy to junctions as she stops half a car length shy of the junction. Onwards we go heading west until we reach the recently improved roundabout that we have been navigating regularly for 20+ years. It is several months since work here was completed and although I have been at this roundabout with her a number of times since then she still can't figure out how the lanes work. To me they look the same as always but with an extra lane on the outside.

Cautiously we manage to get around to the required exit and head for the motorway. Turning onto the slip road I am amazed that we didn't clip the curb. We join the motorway at a sedate pace I wasn't checking the actual speed. I have never known my mother to drive at speed.

Two junctions later we exit the motorway again finding it difficult to stay in the designated lane for our destination. We manage to get onto the right road but miss the turning for the superstores. I suggest we take the next roundabout and use the other entrance to the superstores. Mother agrees but doesn't change lanes as she is intending to circle the next roundabout and go back along the dual carriage way back around the motorway junction to try again. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

I manage to persuade her to change lane and turn left at the roundabout then at the second roundabout turn left again which takes us to the superstores. We are now faced with a massive car park jam packed with cars. Now the fun really starts. After driving around for a time we find ourselves back on the perimeter road. I spot a space at the very end of one of the parking areas and another car is reversing leaving two spaces. I notice there is an elderly (ok late middle age) man with two walking sticks standing in one of the spaces helping a huge 4 x 4 to manover into the end space. Once in place we turn into the parking area ready to park but the man with sticks is still in the second space. I dread this but persuade mother to reverse into the space. As she is waiting for man with sticks to move another car moves up alongside us waiting to exit the car park. I manage to stop mother from hitting him as she tries to swing the car into the waiting space (she hadn't even noticed the car beside her!!). By now I am thinking it would be safer to jump out and help her into the space. Finally we are parked.

Now for the walk to the store which is humming with humanity of all sizes, shapes and sounds. Mother finds herself a perch whilst I walk around looking for a coat. Perhaps it was only to be expected that I didn't find one that was suitable. However did buy a very nice black jacket with red lining to wear on special occasions, along with a black lace top and a caramel coloured satin blouse and a pair of chocolate stockings. So the trip was not a total waste of time. But next I had to brave the journey home.

Oh how I wish I hadn't directed mother towards the main exit which comes out next to the motorway junction. It meant stopping on a fairly steep slope as we waited for the lights to change. Mother has not had the confidence to do hill starts since the incident on the Isle of Wight ferry a few years ago. (Now that was scary). Hmmmm I don't think I have ever travelled on the hard shoulder before!! Oh and before we got back to my home we did curb it once.

Mother says she seems to have lost some of her confidence after not driving very much in recent months. I would dearly have loved to take over the driving today but that would have made another dent in her confidence.

I love my mother dearly but she has never been a good driver and now I am afraid it is probably only going to get worse.

From Jeans to Macaronni

On friday I nipped into Asda on my way home from work as I needed to get some food in for my tribe of gannets whilst I was away. Whilst there I decided to buy myself a pair of new jeans for travelling in. Now for me buying jeans is not all that easy. For a start I am not your average size 12/14 or even 16. Thankfully I am no longer the size I was a few years ago, but neither am I the svelte 14/16 I was 2 years ago sob sob. So I am very limited to what I can find that is in my waist size. But to make matters worse I am only 5'0" so I can't wear the standard length jeans so I certainly can't wear the long ones. So many times I have looked through the racks and come across standard and or long but not short. But on Friday night I bought two pairs labelled 'short'.

Saturday I wore pair one (dark blue) short!! they were still dragging on the ground as I walked (even in my trainers) Today I wore the light blue bootleg cut pair........still too long, still dragging on the ground......what height do they think "short" is? Oh and to make it even worse my new jeans are so loose they keep slipping down................oooops perhaps that means I am loosing some weight big big smiles.

We had a lovely evening, lovely people, most of who I have met before, obviously as hostess there was the Fabulous Firebyrd, Quintessential Queen Vixen, Talented Trousers, Marvelous Mei Del and a new face for me Wonderful Wake up and smell the Coffee. Some of us took part in a joint experiment. The bubbles flowed (from bottle to glass to lips) very easily. The home made curry was delicious and I even ate some of the rice (I have not eaten rice for many many years so I am proud of myself for that).

On the way home I had a brief stop in London where I was treated to a kiss from a handsome Frenchman...............no don't get excited it was only a polite greeting from Mei's handsome partner.

On arriving home I was pleased to discover it is still in one piece (still untidy but at least I know I am in the right house). But I did start to wonder when my little boy you know the one that turned 13 less than a week ago, decided to cook macaronni cheese (from scratch for himself OJ and ET for dinner). Can you believe it he turns 13 and starts cooking.

meeting up with such lovely people is well worth 10 hours of travelling in two days.

are you local?

Sunday morning I set off with my mum for the long drive up to Norwich. But first we had to stop for fuel. Being the attentive daughter I am I prepared to deliver the fuel to the car but mum decided to do this herself which was fine until she had finished. As she removed the nozzle from the tank she must have given it another squeeze. Yes you guessed it she splashed diesel down the front of the long skirt I was wearing. I thought I had managed to jump out of the way but no. It wasn't really until later that I realised the extent of the damage. Even hanging my skirt in the en suite bathroom couldn't hide the fumes. Each time we opened the door of our twin room the stink of diesel hit us smack in the face.

This meant that I drove hoe on Monday wearing the pink chiffon skirt I had worn for the wedding, not my casual beige skirt as I had intended.

The drive up didn't take as long as it could have done, primarily becasue after an hour and half of travelling at about 60mph (why did we have to be in the middle lane !!!!) we stopped at what I have been told are the most expensive Services in the UK, whether that is so I don't know. Fro there I took over the driving as mother's leg was hurting. so now we could go at a more comfortable speed, 70mph until I was sure I was not only used to the car but that mother was comfortable with me driving and began to relax. Soon I was making good time keeping to around 80mph. I was enjoying the freedom of driving a car that I knew I could accelerate easily to over take whenever I wanted to, no need to get stuck behind slow traffic simply because I was afraid of trying to pull ou and pass them with faster cars coming up on the outside. I could keep up with anyone. I was the Lady of the road for those few hours. (my version of king of the road).

The hotel was lovely (only about 20 rooms) , the groom was very nervous until the bride arrived. The bride was beautiful in a gorgeous gold lace dress. The food whilst nothing spectacular was good. The bestman (groom's sister) gave a very funny (humourous not odd) speech. I won the raffle prize for our table, the glass vase containing single red rose complete with jeweled pin. (But I left it behind on Monday). The dancing was energetic for me as I rarely dance, I was glowing so much that must have been at least 1lb of my weight although it felt like 1stone.

Next morning we all met for english breakfast in the main dining room before setting off in convoy to have a tour of the happy couple's new home. Huh I guess the groom is not used to leading a convoy especially along mile after tortuous mile of country lanes and staggered junctions. He set off at such a pace with others in hot pursuit that the car behind me couldn't keep up. Plus the bride and one other car had been left behind. I tried to keep far enough behind the car ahead of me that I could keep track of where they went whilst keeping the car behind me just about in my mirror. This was managed until we crossed one A road too many. The car behind lost sight of us and was not to be seen for the last few miles. I couldn't hang back and wait for him as I would have been lost too so I caught up with the others. Once at our destination I mentioned that we had lost our friend. Not to worry too much as they phoned for directions.

The house and garden are perfect as were our host and hostess. Can you believe that just before we left we discovered that among us were a family who live less than a mile from me and I drive past their house everyday. Yet I had to drive 458 (round trip) to meet them.

complicated

Why is it that what should be a nice simple saturday turns into one of the more complicated ones.

All Week JA has been asking if I can take him to the village on Saturday morning. His friend is having a few mates round for his birthday. They are going to this place but have to pay for themselves. So he told me that he wanted me to take him to the village where Daz lives. But could I take 3 of them to the playzone. He kept phoning Daz to find out what was happening. He wanted me to take him to Daz's for 9.30am they were going to playzone at 10am I assumed he meant to be there for 10am. My plan was to drop them off then dash back to our town to collect my computer that I had taken in for repair last week. I also wanted to get some more paint for my bedroom. As we are leaving home JA says he had forgotten to get a card for Daz so we went to the local garage, anyway I needed to get some money for him. So by the time we ahve done this it is about 9.35 when we get to Daz's house I say I will turn my car around (its a cul-de-sac). He says come back for us at 10

hang on a minute you mean you had me drop you off at 9.30 expect me to go away then return in half an hour?

yes

no way I am not spending my whole day driving to and from here.

It is then agreed that I will come back between 10 and 10.30am. So off I go to collect and pay for my computer. when I get there I am asked to come back in 1 1/2hrs

'It should be ready if you come back around 12 noon.'
Off I then go to get some satin paint for the woodwork in my bedroom. Again I got my paint at staff discount price 'for looking after us'.
Drop the paint off at home grab my sunglasses as the sun has now come out.

Back to the village collect 3 lads to take them to playzone. The smallest one is sat in the back watching my speedometre trying to get me to go faster go faster. 'My mum drives at 100'
WE hit the motorway doing 65 but are soon upto 90 but not for long as I ease off the pressure as we head into the roadworks which are so much quieter at 10.30 on a Saturday morning than they are at 7.15am on a weekday.

We arrive at playzone, I pay for JA and give Daz's dad my mobile number so he can let me know when to come back for them. We chat about computers and sons for a while. Then I get the phone call from 'Home'.

Mum do you know where my car keys are?

If they are not hanging up on the key hooks then how am I supposed to know?

He had gone out last night I didn't know where he went but he wasn't home when I went to bed at 1.45am

He has checked everywhere.....apparently he had gone out to his car in the evening but hadn't locked it. his car is unlocked and his keys are missing!!

What have I done to deserve a son like this. (yesterday he had schemed with OJ and bought a PS3 for around £400) it isn't as though he can afford to do this. He has looked everywhere I suggest. He has asked the friend who took him to The Other City last night where they went to a club. I suggested he phone the club but it was too early and he only got the answer service.

He makes a few phone calls and has now got a Suzuki locksmith coming out on Tuesday at a cost of £160.00. Tonight his band are playing in Basingstoke. I ahve been expecting him to ask if he could borrow my car again!! Whilst all this was going on I made a phone call to get our broadband service switched from Orange to Talk Talk. They have been trying to persuade me to do this ever since I changed our phone to Talk Talk which is free but no, in my infinite wisdom I preferred to pay £17pm to stay with Orange. I didn't want to have both with the same company.

But it isn't the money I will save that has convinced me it is that we cannot connect any of our laptops to the internet using the wireless connections yet DC says he can connect his at other people's homes where they have other networks like Talk Talk. We will see.

So I have now gone back to the computer repair shop paid my money and have a fully cleaned up computer with newly installed internal wireless card. Next its back on the motorway and off to Playzone again. gathering up the 5 boys and 1 girl we head back west again. This time I am being urged to 'catch them .....over take ......yay we are past them' much excitement as the two cars vie for the lead on the way home. Finally the other car is ahead of mine as we reach the (mile long) slip road, there is lots of arm waving from windows which resulted in the other driver losing his book out of the window. When we reach our destination the lads run in to join their friends for a bbq whilst I go home at last for aquiet afternoon and evening. By quiet I mean quiet. JA is sleeping over at Daz's, ET is going to a friend's party and wont be home until the morning, DC has a gig in Basinstoke (if they ever get there). OJ is the only one home tonight but even he has an indoor soccer match. So I shall have an hour on my own on a saturday night (novelty or what).

Back home and ET asks if I can take him to New Town for the party later. DC finally gets hold of his drummer and asks if he can borrow my car so he can lend Drummer some money for petrol so he can then take them all to Basingstoke in his car. Well thats a relief at least he hasn't asked to use my car for the night. So he drives off to New Town but is back about an hour later in time fro me to drive to New Town with ET.

As we are eating our dinner OJ asks me what time we are leaving

'what do you mean? don't you have a lift?

So 8.15pm just as I am in the middle of writing this I take him here for his match which then becomes 2 matches as his team are asked to play a friendly against a team who didn't have any opponents. It is interesting that this venue is next door to the place where I was this morningt o buy my paint. I was a little surprised when the lads had finished their match before the second one the manager came over to say hello to me. He asked where my lad was as he had seen me sitting by the pitch but he couldn't see him. I pointed out that my lad had been in goal, he didn't recognise OJ because he had assumed it was the talented footballer that is DC who was playing. DC started going there for fun weeks of football triaining and competitions from the age of 9. He had shone as an outstanding player but they decided after he had won Junior Player of the week a few times that they just couldn't keep giving him he award every time but they still felt he was the best player.

So today has been a day of doing things twice.

Going to Playzone twice

Going to computer repair shop twice

Going to paint/soccer centres twice

my car has been to New Town twice