Ruth's Space

Following on from Debs Witchy Woman’s blog about pet peeves, I felt inclined to write one of my own rather than filling up her message box!

The things that bug me usually tend towards parenting choices. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I’m perfect or always right. But there are just some things that seem wrong or unnecessary to me. Like bringing your child sweets to school at hometime every day. Hometime from nursery is dinner time, and from the main school is nearly tea time (for my children at least, since bedtime is around 5.30pm). To make matters worse, a vast amount of these parents stand by and allow their children to drop their sweet wrappers on the floor all the way along the path leading out of the school gates. There are several rubbish bins along this path, but apparently it’s easier to just drop litter on the floor.

Another bug bear relating to parents (and I’m going to get jumped all over for this one) is children in pushchairs. Nursery age children, to my mind, no longer require pushchairs. Hannah was out of hers at 14 months, Louis by 18months. Admittedly, Theo still uses his on the school run, simply because over 200 people dashing back and forth while he’s trying to walk would be very intimidating. If we’re out and about I try to make sure we have time to let him walk and he really enjoys it. Of course, an added bonus is that he’s actually tired at bedtime!

The offroad bikers that frequent the bridleways around the valley our horses drive me crazy. Now, I will admit that there are not enough places for those that pursue this sport, and instead of just blocking access the councils should provide areas for them to use. But when I want to enjoy a leisurely ride and my horse freaks out because of some irresponsible offroad rider, it annoys me. There have been horse hops put on the entrances to most of the bridleways but these days the bikes are light enough to just lift over them.

I could keep on with things that bug me, but you’d just get bored reading. So, what gets you wound up? Answers below!

For those few not on Facebook that didn’t already know…

Meet Lil. The picture isn’t very good because Lil wouldn’t stay still but I took that as a good sign.

Lil is due on the 8th May, and no, I don’t know if it is a boy or a girl, and no, I won’t be finding out!

I haven’t posted for a long time (it’s already sounding like a confession!), mainly because I have just been doing the mundane, day to day things…taking the children to school, seeing to the animals, making sure everyone is well and looked after.

But when I look back, I have fitted in quite a few other things too. I usually manage two bike meets a week, where I am regularly plied with coffee and reduced to fits of giggles. I have had some issues with the groups of people I choose to socialise with, it seems that the first group don’t particularly like the second group, but I know where I fit in best and who looks after me. It gets complicated, but the looks I got turning up at a meet of the first group with the second group made me furious, until I realised that I shouldn’t care what they think of me. I make my own choices in life.

Anyway. My tattoo is not yet finished as the second sitting of and hour and forty minutes was much worse than the first two and a half hour sitting. It’s going to take some time, but the outcome will be well worth it.

The animals are all looking wonderful, as we are coming into that magical season of Autumn. It’s the season that I love best; the beautiful colours, that starting of the frosts and the darkening of the evenings. Now if I could only find the battery charger I’d be out with the camera getting new photo’s!

The three ferrets are growing their winter coats as are the ponies. Alfie is gleaming black and Winston’s bright blond mane is beautiful against his chestnut coat. Both are hugely fat and lazy, and absolutely spoilt rotten by several ‘friends’ that use the footpath parallel to their field.

Theo has recently turned one and is a very happy, independent little boy. Louis is desperate to move up to school out of nursery and Hannah is making new friends all the time.

As for the dogs, well, poor Benny doesn’t get a minute while Theo is around, that boy adores him. Ben is the most gentle beast with him though, despite being a great lumbering thing. Taggy and Jasper are as thick as thieves and are always causing trouble together somewhere. At least Jasper doesn’t escape from the garden anymore.

And then there’s Mehitabel. Why do we have cats? She is hardly ever in. When she is in she wants feeding, a quick cuddle and then she’s off again chasing rats. Unless it’s really cold out, then she wants my bed. She is a beautiful animal though, and very cheeky too.

So really, I don’t have a dull life, it’s not really SSDD. I have a wonderful family, friends I thought I could only ever dream of, and I am finding my niche in life.

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Today, I let an 18 year old loose on my body.

Now, there’s more than one person would like to get their hands on my body (!) but this was the guy I wanted.

And just look what he did with me!

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We visited my brother and sister-in-law over the bank holiday. The 200 mile journey took just over 4 hours but the children were happy colouring and sleeping in the car.

Christian had to work on the Saturday but his wonderful wife Nicki had organised a fantastic day at Tilgate Park; a huge area of woodland, parkland and a nature centre.

It was lovely, and Nicki brought a picnic for everyone. The children all wore out themselves (and us!) so it was back to Christian and Nicki’s  in time to meet another guest, also from Sheffield.

Saturday night was spent watching DVD’s and catching up with each other’s news.

Sunday is the day of The Family Barbeque. Poor Nicki spent all day running around organising, cooking cleaning up after people and generally being a more than perfect hostess.

She baked with the children, looked after them, fed them and kept everyone’s drinks flowing. As for my dear brother, he offered to buy her some new shoes when her feet wore out! Tut tut!

I can’t put into words what a great time we had, so this will have to do. And the photo’s of course!

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