What have you been doing all this time?

I'm glad you all seemed to like Violet's Tigress - you have to laugh, don't you? Toddlers are funny little creatures.

If you're wondering why I haven't been blogging as regularly as I usually do, it's because I've been stressing out over the nightmare, which is house hunting. 

You wouldn't believe the state that some folks market their houses, and expect you to pay upwards of £220k for it.  Dirty pots festering in cold dishwater, pants and socks drying on radiators, unmade beds........

House hunting is supposed to be exciting, but it's giving me sleepless nights.  I honestly cannot remember the last time I had a decent nights sleep.

We've got another 4 house viewings this Saturday - I really want to get enthusiastic, but I'm struggling.

Violet and I paid a visit to another nursery yesterday morning.  This was the closest one to where we're living at the moment.  The staff all appeared to be really friendly, and all the children looked happy, which put me at ease.  The only down sides for me were that the classroom, which Violet would start her schooling off in, was an old Portacabin, which had definitely seen much better days.  The toys seemed on the grubby side and the outdoor space wasn't much bigger than a postage stamp.  Well, that's 2 down, 3 more to go.

Last Saturday I took Violet to her first ever dance class.  She loves to wiggle, and strut her funky stuff (I couldn't even see the TV screen on Friday and Saturday night when Strictly came on because madam was spinning around in front of it the whole time).  All the other little girls looked so pretty dressed in their baby pink tutus, cardies and ballet shoes.  I can't wait to buy Violet a tutu.  I did ballet when I was knee high to a grasshopper, but we didn't wear tutus back in the seventies, just black leotards.  Whilst all the other girls were fluttering around like dainty little butterflies and bees, following the dance teacher around, Violet ran laps around the entire room, giving me a cheaky grin and waving everytime she ran past the place I was sitting.  Perhaps I should have taken her to join an Athletics Club instead!!!

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I turn my back for a minute

and mademoiselle Violet decides to become a tigress......

I won't show you pictures of what this fierce little tiger did to her teeth (yes, they were coloured in black), my walls, table and everything else within striking distance of her colouring pens.  I just thank my lucky stars that she used her washable felt tips, rather than her daddy's permanent markers!!!!!

Naughty Tiger!

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I was expecting the smell of plasticine

A very big hello to everyone.  Hope you are all well.

Sorry that I haven't managed to blog all week, but I've struggled to find a quiet moment to sit down properly, what with the other half being at home.  He always seems to be lurking behind me, trying to look over my shoulder as soon as I turn my laptop on, which throws me right off my train of thought - perhaps he thinks I'm sending emails to a lover or something - as if I've got time (or opportunity) for that! 

Anyway, yesterday was our first nursery visit.  I was expecting the smell of plasticine to hit me as soon as I walked in, and I was quite put out when that didn't happen. 

Would you believe me if I told you that this nursery school has an indoor swimming pool?????  I know, I couldn't quite believe it either when the very lovely Headmistress told us about it.  There's a whole shedload of building work going on at the moment and the swimming pool is just one of the many facilities being built. 

There was a brand spanking IT room, which was going to be decked out like the Starship Enterprise - how flippin amazing is that?

They also teach Spanish and they have 'Forest School', which is basically where lessons are held in the woods (in all weathers) and is a place where the children are allowed to take 'supervised risks'.  I actually read about this type of schooling in a parent magazine last year and it sounded so much fun.

Violet was in her element and wandered off by herself to go and play in the sandpit. I can't foresee her having any problems on her first day of school - I'll be the one weeping buckets.

When the visit was over, I walked out of the school yard wishing it were me that would be starting there next September.

This was only the first of 5 nursery schools that I've lined up to view, but this one has really set the bar for the others.  I'm left wondering what the other nurseries can possibly offer that would top a Swimming Pool and Forest School. 

What I did find a little bit bonkers was the fact that even if Violet did get picked to attend this rather cool nursery, she wouldn't automatically get a place in their Reception Class a year later.  I would have to apply all over again.  It's not just me is it?  It is completely mad isn't it? 

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Wishing you all a very lovely Autumnal weekend.

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Just popping in to say Hi

Hello everybody.  Hope you are all well.

Violet, her dad and I have been enjoying a lovely week together.

Here are a few photos from our recent trip to Bristol Zoo.

I didn't realise Fruit Bats were so darn BIG!

They were just hanging there, right above our heads too - amazing.

Aren't Gorilla's fantastic? 

Chimps on the other hand, scare the bejesus out of me.

I could have watched the Meerkats for ages.

There was a great playpark for the young-uns.

  As you can see, Violet loved the slide.

Whilst we were looking at the superb Lion they had, Violet asked where the Zebra was. She's obviously watched Madagascar too many times and expected to see Lion and Zebra living in harmony together.

We had a very enjoyable day and I can highly recommed a visit.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll be venturing upto York tomorrow.  I'm sooooooo excited.

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I'm having a few 'Blogger' problems at the moment.

I apologise for the lack of any postings of late, but I'm experiencing a few problems with Blogger at present.

I am reading all your blogs, and trying to leave comments, but these aren't always getting through to you as I keep getting Service Unavailable problems popping up, then I lose everything I've just typed - it's a bit of a pain to say the least.

Fingers crossed it all gets sorted out soon.

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Tiddly pom....

Are you aware of the Winnie The Pooh song, Tiddly Pom? 

I was listening to Violet's dad reading it to her last night, and when he'd finished, Violet turned to him and said "my name's not Tiddly Pom daddy, it's Violet Grace".

Yesterday was quite a funny day in respect of Violet.  As we all know, the weather has been quite horrendous lately, and because Violet loves nothing more than to jump in muddy puddles, I decided to buy her some new wellies.  They only cost a fiver from Sainsbobs and Violet couldn't be more happy with them.

She wanted you all to see them and share in her wellie love.

I'm not kidding when I tell you that they haven't been off her feet.

She even had an afternoon nap in them.

(can you see her clutching her 'Mummy' too??)

As I type this, she's standing in front of the TV, eating a packet of White Chocolate Buttons, wearing just her nappy and her beloved wellies.  I kid you not.

Two year olds definitely make you smile.

Last Tuesday I had to travel into Birmingham to pay a visit to HMRC and attend an interview to actually prove who I was.  (Long story and not a very interesting one so I won't bore you all with the details).

Violet and I were sitting quietly in the waiting room, reading Thomas the Tank Engine books, when I heard my name called - not by someone who had walked to the waiting room to collect me.  Oh no.  From some guy just sitting at his desk.  He couldn't even be arsed to get off his backside to come and fetch me.  He just shouted me from his desk.  How rude.   Anyway, his rudeness didn't improve, so I was very pleased and couldn't contain my mirth when Violet posted one of her Thomas trains down the back of his desk - you know the part of the desk where you tuck all the computer and phone wires into?  Well, as you can imagine he wasn't impressed at all. 

I'll just leave you with one more Violet(ism). 

You'll have to picture the scene in your head.

Violet's running in circles around the living room, flapping her arms about.

She turns to me and says: 

"I can't fly mum".

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A catch-up

Sorry I've been absent for a week or so, but I can assure you all that I have been kept very busy.

Before I start boring you all with what I've been upto, let me just say a very big thank you for all your heartwarming comments regarding my previous post.  I've been doing alot of thinking about those projects and have decided that I'm going to get them all out of their carrier bag for good, and get them out on display. 

Over the past few days I've been spending rather alot of time on the computer, checking out all of the potential nursery schools for Violet - no easy task I can tell you. 

 Lots of coffee has been drunk, lots of sweet things have been consumed and lots of headache tablets have been taken. 

What a sodding nightmare this has been, and it still isn't finished.  I've whittled it down to 5 schools and have made arrangements to go and view all of them.  I was hoping that I'd be able to do this over the peroid of a couple of weeks - the other half finishes his job this Friday and has just over two weeks off before starting with his new employer - so this would have been the ideal opportunity. Things are never that simple though are they?  I've only managed to arrange one viewing for next week.  The others have had to be arranged over the coming weeks, the last one being 20th October.

Violet will be starting at a 'Two's Club' this Friday, for a couple of hours.  Even though she is a very socialable child already, I thought it would be the perfect activity to do prior to starting nursery.  I know she'll love it, and the good thing (for me, rather than for Violet) is the fact that I have to accompany her and am responsible for her whilst we're there.

On the making front, I've finished yet another Lavender Pouch.

Check this one out.

I think this is my favourite so far.

Do you remember me showing you my original design???

I then stitched this.

I didn't want the back of the Lavender Pouch to just be bare linen, but I also wanted to keep with the same sort of theme - what better thing to do, but reverse the pattern that I'd already stitched.

Then it was just a case of sewing it all together, and attaching a cute ribbon.

Hope you like it.

The flat we currently rent is all very cream and lacking in colour - we aren't allowed to put any pictures or posters on the walls, so it all feels rather impersonal - so, to add alittle bit of colour to Violet's room, I decided to make her some bed linen, and started with a pillowcase in some Amy Butler fabric.

I love, love, love it and wish it were on my bed.

It's uber bright too. 

The pillowcase was made using just under a meter of fabric (it's about £10.40 a meter), so I have plenty left to make a couple of make-up bags for Xmas presents, all I'll need to buy are two zips.

I can't wait to get started on a duvet cover to match the pillowcase.  Though rather than do the whole duvet in the same material, I'm thinking that some applique in the same material might be more suited to a little girl. You'll have to watch this space though, as you know I'm not the most skillful of person with the old sewing machine.  Nor the fastest.

I've been quite disappointed in myself over the lack of books I've managed to read this year.  I'm not the world's fastest reader, but I thought a book a month would have been achievable, even for me.  I'm ashamed to say that I've only managed to read 7 books in just over 8 months. I must try harder.

Whilst I'm on the subject of books, I've decided that I'm going to open up a Book Box on my sidebar.  This will have a list of books that I'd like to pass on to other folk.  If you want one of the books that will appear in there from time to time, then all you need do is email me which book you'd like and your address and I'll send it to you.  After you've read it, please feel free to keep it should you so wish, or pass it onto someone else, it's upto you.  The only condition will be that these books are not for resale. Does this sound like a good idea to you?

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