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February 26 FarrierOliver, our farrier was due at 11.30 this morning, to trim the ponies feet. Right, so, where to begin? For those of you that don't know, horses hooves grow continually, like our nails. This means that they need them trimming from time to time. My ponies are barefoot; no shoes, so when they are ridden their feet do wear down but still need trimming sometimes to keep them in the right shape. It is a trait of farriers that they are always late. I picked Louis up from nursery early today so that if (shock horror) Oliver was on time, I would be ready. Then up to the field, where we met Momma and got Alfie out of the field. 11.30am came and went, Alfie finished his breakfast and started on the grass. 12 noon and I got my phone out. No messages so I started texting Oliver, and that's when his van turned the corner. Alfie doesn't like his feet doing, but we managed to get three done without too much fuss. When it came to the last one, Alf had had enough. He hopped, leapt and pushed all over the place. I struggled to hold on but (sign of a good farrier) Oliver remained unruffled. After one particularly impressive strop from Alfie Oliver walked over to where he had landed and looked him in the eye. With a broad Yorkshire accent he proclaimed "Nah then! Tha's 'ad too many years thinking too much up in that 'ed. And now it's all frazzled!". I just fell about. Alfie was non-plussed. Once Alf was done, I went to fetch Win from the field. He threw a bit of a wobbly because he didn't want to come out but it didn't last long. He has always been very good at having his feet done, and I actually let go of him to take a couple of photos so you can see what happens. I also met Oliver's new baby, Summer, who is now 8 months old. Last time I mentioned her she was ill in hospital but has made a full recovery and is a healthy baby girl. February 23 Stuck!So there I am, at ASDA. 5pm, I have loads of time to get on the Sheffield Parkway and head down into town to pick up the Hubs from work. The lane I need is never very busy so it's an easy run.
I hurtled down at 50mph but came across standing traffic about halfway down. I know this happened this morning, we had had the traffic news on. But I though it quite unusual for it to happen in the evening too. After 5 minutes of sitting waiting, I decided it was about time I came off the foot brake and put the handbrake on. And put the car in neutral. Still nothing moved. 5 minutes later I was getting bored and so were the kids. Theo was asleep, blissfully unaware that we were stuck.
One by one, the cars' brake lights went off, then the headlights, then the engines. We all sat there, probably hundreds of us, just listening to the radio.
A man in the van next to me turned and smiled. I smiled back. He shrugged and held out his hands; whats happening? I don't know.
People all around me were opening windows, opening doors, and getting out of cars. Two young men parked up in the lay-by beside me and walked down the dual carriageway to see what was going on.
The Van Man got on the phone. Madness! he said to me. Then the radio alerted us to an accident much further down the road. It had caused such bad tailbacks that the Parkway had been closed as it was now inaccessible.
From behind I saw the blue flashing light of an emergency vehicle. A police motorbike. Several came down, and stationed themselves at regular intervals. They directed two lanes of cars to turn around, and let us through the central reservation onto the other side of the Parkway. I drove the wrong way up the dual carriageway, crossed onto the other side and had a clear run. In the wrong direction...
The thing was, I was surprised by the way everyone had got out of their cars, chatted and smiled at each other. Usually rush hour traffic is dominated by stressed out drivers scowling their way home as quickly as possible. But as there was no chance of anyone moving at all, it seemed that the only thing to do was relax and wait.
I was stuck for more than half an hour, but I didn't worry about it, other than making sure I got a message to the Hubs to say I was going to be very late!
Hannah was busy reading the lettering on the vans and Louis was telling me all sorts of invented stories.
The only problem really was that all roads to town had become blocked by this one incident and I had to come all the way home and right around the other way to get to the Hubs.
But anyway, thanks to all the bike coppers who helped to get the traffic turned around and moving again, I'm sure it was not an easy task! February 22 Day Of MourningAustralia today has held a Day of Mourning for all those lost and affected by the bushfires. More than 200 people have been killed, with the number rising as more bodies are found. The devastation is And incredibly, much of the ruin was caused by deliberately started fires. In a time where everyone needed to pull together, a few people actually went out to cause harm. Our thoughts are with the people of Australia, with those who have lost friends, relatives, homes and pets. And with the brave men and women who went out to fight those fires. Blessings to you all. February 19 By Popular Demand Due to popular demand Craig was more difficult, the picture I found yesterday was actually taken by a completely random (to me) person who didn’t seem to speak English. I really like that picture, and unfortunately have nothing to rival it. So here we go ladies, this is the best I can do for now. My camera is currently on it’s travels without me but I live so far from my brothers there is no chance of snapping them anyway! Do these two deserve to go in my photo album ‘One For The Ladies’? You choose!
And just a quick thanks to TG, she knows why! February 17 BERTIMeet BERTI.
I just got a text from my brother Christian, telling me to look up BERTI. He is on display at London's Science Museum and is the creation of Craig Fletcher, our brother.
SO PROUD!
Check out Craig's website: Elumotion.
I tried to put up a picture, but as usual it's not working. So you'll just have to look for yourselves!
 This is the only picture I could find of Craig, and BERTI
 February 16 TaggyMomma and Jim's dog came round to play yesterday. As I have mentioned before, she sometimes lodges with us; mostly she invites herself and just turns up on the doorstep. Taggy is a similar age and build to Jasper, but can be very nervous. However, when she comes out of herself she is very excitable and great fun for Jasper to play with. She stayed overnight with us, and this morning she and Jasper decided it was playtime. Theo was a little worried at first but all the children soon realised it was a game, although it was rather a noisy one!
This is the sort of companion I wanted for Jasper when I took Archy on, but Archy didn't know how to play at all. Mind you, I can't cope with two medium/large dogs hurtling around the house all the time!
February 15 Night OutUrrrggghhh! Actually, surprisingly, I don't have a hangover today. I'm probably just still drunk and it will catch up with me later.
Having failed to secure a table anywhere in Sheffield for a Valentine meal, we decided to eat at home and then go out for a drink. It's a long time since the Hubs and I have gone out together, partly because of how we view other people on a night out.
Anyway, more about that later. Or in another blog.
The Hubs cooked a meal for us; trout stuffed with ricotta and spinach, with new potatoes, carrots, broccolli and salad. Huge overflowing plates; it was wonderful.
Afterwards, Momma and Jim arrived to babysit and to taxi us down to town. We started out on the one drink rule, but it started to depend on what sort ofmusic was playing in each bar. The Hubs even danced with me, but only because a bloke had just congratulated him on pulling me! The cheek!
We ended up in a bar where the Hubs cousin works as a DJ, and I boogied along to his music even though it really wasn't my style.
Half the bars we went in were manned by doorstaff that I knew so there was a lot of hugging and kissing going on. Ever noticed how touchy feely bouncers are?
It was great having a night out together, thanks to Mum and Jim for looking after the monsters. February 12 Oh dearThere I was, on the school run and on time for once. Hubs had already been dropped at work and we were on the home (or school!) straight. Then CRUNCH!
Don't panic, it wasn't mine. I had been heading up to a junction (on the main road with right of way) when someone pulled out on the car in front of me. He hit it, and the car that had pulled out spun round into another car coming the other way. Debris littered the road and three cars were in pieces blocking the entire junction. Since I had seen it happen I pulled over, stuck the hazards on and dashed over to see if everyone was alright. Luckily they were and the bloke from the car in front of me was already on the phone to the police. He was from the TA centre just up the road which probably explained how calm he was. Although when I nudged him, "um, mate, think you're going to want to turn your car off", I got a puzzled look and "huh?" in return. "Your engine's still running, love" I told him. Slightly panicked look and sprint across the road. The car in question (an Audi) was smashed to bits on the front end and leaking fluids everywhere but the engine was merrily ticking away.
After establishing that no-one needed my help I carried on my way to school, somehow still on time!
Unfortunately, after not very long, I got a call from Hannah's teacher saying that slapped cheek syndrome was doing the rounds and Hannah was looking rather flushed so could I pick her up please?
On the plus side this afternoon the Hubs came home from work early and I managed to take Winston out riding. Yay!
He was like a spring lamb, leaping all over the place. We had a really nice ride in the snow and finished it off with a good gallop up the path by our field. Can't wait to do it again, and one day soon it might even be Alfie that goes out, although he didn't want to today. February 11 Listen Up!Okay peoples, I have much to say, (blog coming inspired by Moongoddess and our recent conversation!) but first of all...
I need a car. There's nothing wrong with the one I have (Ford Mondeo estate, diesel, runs perfectly
 ) but I need something BIGGER!It seems that car manufacturers don't take into account the fact that these days we need to use car seats. It's very difficult fastening in all my children when the seats are squished so closely together. Soon Theo will be needing the next seat up, and the base of it is wider than his rear facing seat. I'm just not convinced it's going to fit. No, it will fit, but the other two might not fit around it...
So, the Mundane, sorry, Mondeo has to go and be replaced by a 7-seater. I'm just not sure which one. I just missed out on a Renault Espace for £550, for why? The Hubs refuses to ask if anyone will exchange for our car! If you don't ask, you don't get! A lot of car dealers at the minute will not part-x and we can't get a new (second hand) car without selling ours. Catch 22. As usual.
So, if anyone has a 7-seater tucked away somewhere and they fancy swapping for a Mondeo, I'm your girl! Oh, and I dont want an auto. Sorry for being awkward, but there it is.  February 08 Stew-pendous!We wrapped up warm and braved the drive over to Rotherham to catch up with the children's godparents. Actually, all the roads are clear, (or were last time I looked out of the window) so it wasn't much of a brave decision!
Everyone is well over there, we had our cuppa and chat and made our way home. On the way back we checked in on the ponies, where I warmed my hands up under Winston's rug. Alfie hates me doing that but will have a cuddle with his head on my shoulder. Alfie needs a new rug, his is torn on the back so any rain or snow is going to get inside and we don't want him getting cold; he's an old man.
Once home the Hubs got on with cooking tea, stew and dumpling (with suet borrowed from Momma) while I had another cuppa with Momma and the kids hassled Jim about cooking some tea for them.
I decided it was about time Theo had a taste of some real food. I fished some potato out of the stew, moshed it up with some of the gravy and offered it to Theo. He couldn't get enough of it! He kept making enthusiastic noises and opening his mouth for more. And it must have done something for him, because now he is lying on the floor learning to roll over. He's done it once, but can't seem to get back the other way yet. He's having fun trying though.
Oh, okay, just turned round and he's back on his front. And now his back. Think he's got it!
But no, no photo's, because I managed to leave the camera in Rotherham.
Apparently there's more snow to come tonight, so be careful tomorrow everyone!
 February 04 Right then...Right, that's it. Time to dig my self out of this depression I've had since Archy went. I still regret the desicion but it is done, he has a new home and I hope he behaves for his new family! Anyone got a shovel???
 Theo, for the first time ever, decided I needed to be kept awake last night. Must have heard me threatening to put him in his own room. Aound 1am he started screaming, something that he never does. He just wouldn't be comforted; didn't want milk or water, didn't want his dummy. The only thing that soothed hima little was letting him turn against me and hum. It's his favourite sound, a kind of 'Brrrrr, Brrrrr'. This went on until my T shirt was really soggy, then he screamed again. Eventually he wore himself out enough to fall back to sleep. Two hours later, he started again. This time the Hubs took over and they went downstairs to watch television together.
Theo is fine this morning, I suspected the change of diet (to formula milk and starting to wean) was to blame and judging by the latest nappy change he's got it sorted now. And the washing machine is on again.
 The ponies were terribly unimpressed with the snow, Winston had a look at the snowman the children built in the field and decided it wasn't worth bothering with. Alfie was just glad he was getting fed!
 Right, I'm off because Theo is hungry again. He says Brrr, Brrr!
 February 02 SnowSnow, snow snow.
Louis says it is magical, while Hannah thinks it might be Christmas again. Not sure why since we haven't seen snow at Christmas for several years (for the pedantic amongst us, the last 'real' white Christmas was 1970, with snow falling and lying).
Anyway, I digress. As usual. The snow meant that the roads were blocked. Now, let me back up a bit...
Louis and I came down with a nasty stomach bug over the weekend; he was throwing up everywhere while I thought for a while I might have to actually sleep in the bathroom. This meant that come this morning I was feeling better but quite weak, Louis wasn't allowed back at nursery for a couple of days (48 hour rule) and I suspected Hannah would come down with it the second I left her at school. So an executive decision was made, I would keep all kids at home, we would rest and recover and be back fighting fit tomorrow. So the Hubs took the car to work.
And the snow came down. I would have had to fetch Hannah back from school early as per their strange rules, so it was probably good that I hadn't taken her anyway.
So back to the blocked roads. I usually expect the Hubs home at around 6pm since he finishes at 5.30. Today he left work at 4.15pm to get home. And at 7pm I was starting to worry. At 7.30 pm Momma called to say she had spoken to Liam, my brother, and it had taken him 2 hours to get home through the traffic. Eventually, at around 8pm the Hubs made it home. It had taken him nearly four hours to get home when in usual rush hour conditions it would take 20-30 minutes. The problem, he says, was that people were not attempting to drive up the hills until the car in front had made it all the way. As Sheffield is famously built on 7 hills (yes, like Rome), that was a lot of waiting for a lot of people to make their minds up.
The Hubs does not carry his mobile phone, for the simple reason that his boss calls him constantly, in and out of work hours. So I had no way of contacting him to see if he was alright, and he had no way of contacting me, unless he had thought of stopping off at a pay phone. But that would be silly, right?
Anyway, I realised how white Jasper wasn't, but he had a great time playing in the snow. Mehitabel has never seen snow like this before, and didn't really want to venture outside. But her bladder got the better of her and she discovered it was actually quite fun, if a little cold.
And a quick update, Archy is reserved for a new family, and I hope it all works out for him. I still wish I had never let him go, but as a new family came along so quickly it makes me wonder if it was meant to be. At least he was with us for 5 months instead of sitting in a kennel going slowly mad.
And finally, Happy Birthday Momma! Hope you had a good day and you enjoyed the snow. My computer tells me it's your birthday all day, lucky you! XXX |
total, houses, lives and belongings simply gone. 
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