Looking back...

So, roughly 4 yrs ago I was devastated that my lovely little girl was going to a school I didn't want her to go to. She was having to go to the third choice... An infant school in a tatty shed under the shadow of a tower block. Goodness I am glad she did!

So child number four is off there in September - the school is no longer a shed, it's a three form entry primary school with a roof terrace, a dance studio and beautiful outside space!

Happy!!

Husbands, houses and hard things.

The above are all connected.

Hard times for the wives of husbands close and far away. Houses that are too empty or too full. 

My husband has decided that the road wasn't for him. I was not convinced. I understand his logic and and totally delighted he wants to be here every day but I didnt think that a conventional job will fit into his non conventional personality. Or our non conventional life. We have been like this a long time. It works. He has very rapidly come to this conclusion after taking a normal job and feeling very trapped very quickly.

I am also thinking of someone that I love who has lost someone they love. Just want it out there that I am thinking about them. I hope they are as ok as they can be. 

All change please, all change.

The teenager is being vile again. A one day exclusion for throwing chairs, pulling trunking off the wall and throwing water on the floor.

The school can't cope and have refused to have him back in September. This is a relief and a stress.

He seems to not care about what others want, and does a good line in telling people what they want to hear.
I have applied for a different school for him but currently I can't see how he would manage anywhere. He won't do anything he doesn't want to and I can't see how that wil change.

Then on to the next thin. G has quit the road. He has given up touring with Ghost to run a pub from the end of July. Shock!

Plans for a Saturday night

Once upon a time I would have worked gen caught the bus back to our house just on the edge of the sticks, then run around like a headless chicken until my friend JP turned up and decided which of my two outfits I should wear, generally both far too short and not enough fabric! Then he would driveon into town and we'd party into the night then I would go and crash on my friend fern or Sally 's floor to get up the next morning walk into town and catch the bus home.

Tonight I am sitting and debating just how early the kids will accept going to bed in the hope that I might manage to study for an exam I have on Tuesday. I am under prepared on the grounds that the distance learning course has been distant to say the least. I have basically been given a rubbish crib sheet and left to my own devices. They charged £200 for this plus £70 for the exam fee, and £100 to 'mark' the tasks. Amazing.

I also want to sew. So many things to do.

And sleep on my own with being hassled by the kids at 5am. It's not funny guys. I am so tired.

Oh well. I shall stop moaning.

Rainy Day

Today is Friday and I have the day off. There are many things I could be doing. I should be tidying up - I did the porch and hall and have sat down! Whoops.
I could be doing the sewing tasks that I have to do. Leotards for Emjay School of Dance, a dress to finish for a lovely lady I know, sewing shorts, finishing knitting I have started, mending things that want mending.
I could be eating my breakfast but I can't find anything I fancying the cupboard. I could be revising for my exam on Tuesday.
I could be planning and doing the paperwork for dancing, show stuff, workshop stuff for school, popping out and measuring the mirrors and barres.

Instead I sat down.

Am already bored of the husband being away. We are 30 days away from tour finishing and I am bored of himself being away. It's easier for him to maintain minimum contact when they are on the bus. And it's less fun because the crew have changed. Same stuff just a different field.

In other news my manager has broken her leg. Tib and fib while walking the dog. Which is bad. So from next week I am being drafted in to do the prescriptions in the morning. Drop off at the school run then whizz round and do them then go home! Not ideal but not forever.

Busy times.

Poor old Mr G was back for a week then off again. We'd just about settled back into routine - not stalking around each other like cats from neighbouring houses! Slightly grumpy and snappy at each other for conducting normal life in each others personal spaces!

I think that I actually tend to manage far better than him. He may be running around Europe on the rock and roll scene with one of the planets rapidly rising metal stars - partying to the Jackson five on a tour bus with 11 other blokes in a town somewhere at 3 in the morning, hanging out on stage sides with Metallica or Dave Grohl - the drummer out of Nirvana or the chap from the foo fighters dependant on your demographic - eating steak in posh restaurants - flying places like I catch a bus...

I on the other hand stay home and do the lot. I work seriously hard - teaching and all the work that goes with that for about 16 hours a week, work the day job for 8 hours, exam invigilating, and keeping house and dealing with the day to day running of 4 children. Two of whom aren't 'typical'.

There are days I would swop in a heart beat! I think he would swop for 10 minutes a day. Time to see the kids and play and not have to worry about babysitting 6 grown men and their guitars or keys or drums! And I think he would swop to sleep in his own bed! Bunks on a bus?

They are a lovely bunch of boys though!

Anyway - back to the grind - 4 loads of laundry done yesterday! Going for 5 today! Oh how te other half live!

Life with one small peep. (& a big one)

This weekend I only have n in the house to really look after. S is here.

He is three. It is a breeze! His siblings D and T are on the Isle of Wight with their grandparents and their aunt, uncle and cousen. They are there from last night at 4pm till the ferry home at 6:30 tomorrow. That's nearly 48 hours with only one small boy to look after!

He stayed up later last night, no nap for him! And this morning he got up at 7:15! We got up and dressed and were out of the house by 7:35! We had been to the post office to collect a parcel, to the tip to dump some junk, to the DIY store to buy some bedding plants, and to a well known takeaway emporium to get pancakes for breakfast, all by 9am!

We have gardened and had friends round for tea and cake and problem solving, we have had tidying up times, and laundry time, and we are currently enjoying sitting on the sofa watching DVD time.

Hopefully he will snooze in a minute to prime himself for a party this evening.

1 child has been like a total rest!