My Mum - According to Grotbag Age 4

I did this little exercise on Facebook about 6 months ago I had great fun going it and thought I would repeat it to see how much Grotbags answers had changed. I wrote them exactly as he said them!

Grotbags new answers are in red and my comments are in brackets.

1.What is something mum always says to you? That you love me. That you love me.

2. What makes mum happy? When I eat all my dinner When I do as I am told & yesterday I was good wasn't I mum?

3. What makes mum sad? When I am being naughty. When I have been naughty.

4. How does your mum make you laugh? When you make a funny face When I dance funny.

5. What was your mum like as a child? You watched Star Wars (this is true!) You tided up your playroom (I keep telling him that I had to tidy my playroom at his age!)

6. How old is your mum? 4 (??) Don't know...21? (ha ha ha ha ha)

7. How tall is your mum? That tall *On tippee toes arms held high* That tall *On tippee toes arms held high*

8. What is her favourite thing to do? Working on the computer and playdoh. Cooking and watching television (I am surprised he didn't say the computer but then when asked what I do for a job he said on the computer so...bonus when I am on here he thinks mummy is "working"!)

9. What does your mum do when you're not around?Look after Harry & set my train set up for me. You tidy the house (Think he has me confused with some other mummy!)

10. If your mum becomes famous, what will it be for?A monster, a nice one, cause your only a girl!!!!!!! For being happy (Ahhhhh sooooo cute!!)

11. What is your mum really good at? Setting up my train set and telling daddy things (LOL) Being on the computer (Ahem!)

12. What is your mum not very good at? Playing basketball, or do the hose to put out fires cause your not a fireman(?) Doing Bowsers castle on the wii - your not very good. (The boy don't lie!)

13. What does your mum do for her job? To look after me and Bugalugs On the computer and looking after me and Bugalugs (See he thinks I am working woo hoo!)

14. What is your mum's favourite food?Meatballs and spagetti Rice (have no idea - think he just pulled these out of the air!)

15. What makes you proud of your mum? Because I love you When you tidy up my playroom (I see a theme here???)

16. If your mum were a cartoon character, who would she be? You can be anything mum an alien or a monster or anything! Naruto (His favourite character at the moment!)

17. What do you and your mum do together? Playdoh & Basketball Playdoh & Junior Scrabble & Guess Who (I do love a board game!!)

18. How are you and your mum the same? We both have the same colour hair and we both get grumpy sometimes Because we are happy and we have lots of love for each other (*sniff*)

19. How are you and your mum different?Cause I don’t have a wedding ring. You feed Harry his bottle and I play in my playroom that makes us different (??)

20. How do you know your mum loves you? You play with me and tell me that you love me. You give me lots of kisses and cuddles (*sniff sniff*)

21. Where is your mum's favourite place to go? Seeing Auntie AB and Auntie Bling To restaurants with your friends!! (ha ha have been going out with the girls a bit lately!!)

Can I have my apple now? That was lots of talking!!! (Ahem bribery works every time ha ha)

Got kids/Grandkids/neices & nephews? Do these questions with them, it's great fun to see what they say - post the answers and then link back to me!! Make sure you put in the comments so I can come have a look!! Can't wait to read them!!!

Banana Bread & Book Club

Well it has been a beautiful Spring day here in Perth. Took the kids to the park, cooked some banana bread and had the ladies over for Book Club at 3pm for afternoon tea and discuss the novel we had last read.

The Banana Bread was yummy and the first time I had made it. The recipe was on the back of the loaf tin I bought. Hear it is if you fancy a go:

Ingredients


100g Self Raising Flour
50g Unsalted butter melted and cooled
75g Brown Sugar
50g Sultanas
12g Walnuts
1 Whole Egg
225g Mashed Ripe Bananas



Method.
Preheat over to 180C/356F/Gas Mark 4
Put all the dry ingredients into a bowl
Mix the butter, egg and bananas till combined then pour into the dry ingredients
Mix well to full combine all ingredients.
Place mixture into the loaf tin and then into the over for approximately 30Min's.


EASY PEASY!!! (This is probably the best picture I have taken of my food. I think natural light is the key! If your a bit of a photo buff reading this you are probably going 'Der?' by I am learning slowly but surely - any tips on photographing food will be greatly appreciated!)


Us Book Club girls have been meaning to get together for a while but what with life and kids we couldn't tee up a time. Anyway The book we discussed was


'The Slap' by Christos Tsiolkas.


Description: "At a suburban barbecue, a man slaps a child who is not his own. This event has a shocking ricochet effect on a group of people, mostly friends, who are directly or indirectly influenced by the event."


I picked this book for book club thinking it would make a great discussion piece. Unfortunately we all thought the characters were horrible and so couldn't empathise with any of them. Also there is quite a lot of bad language which I personally don't mind but it felt like the author wanted to be crude just for the sake of it.


So onto to our next book which is 'Jasper Jones' by Craig Silvey who is a West Australian and lives in Fremantle.




Description: "Late on a hot summer night in the tail end of 1965, Charlie Bucktin, a precocious and bookish boy of thirteen, is startled by an urgent knock on the window of his sleep-out. His visitor is Jasper Jones, an outcast in the regional mining town of Corrigan. Rebellious, mixed-race and solitary, Jasper is a distant figure of danger and intrigue for Charlie. So when Jasper begs for his help, Charlie eagerly steals into the night by his side, terribly afraid but desperate to impress.Jasper takes him through town and to his secret glade in the bush, and it's here that Charlie bears witness to Jasper's horrible discovery. With his secret like a brick in his belly, Charlie is pushed and pulled by a town closing in on itself in fear and suspicion as he locks horns with his tempestuous mother; falls nervously in love and battles to keep a lid on his zealous best friend, Jeffrey Lu. And in vainly attempting to restore the parts that have been shaken loose, Charlie learns to discern the truth from the myth, and why white lies creep like a curse. In the simmering summer where everything changes, Charlie learns why the truth of things is so hard to know, and even harder to hold in his heart."

We are also coinciding this with a book club excursion to hear Craig Silvey talk about his latest novel ‘Jasper Jones’ at the Perth International Writers Festival on November 5 so I am pretty excited about that! I love hearing authors speak about their books. It gives such a new insight into the book. So can't wait to get started on reading it. Check back late in the month for my review!

Warm Fuzzy

There are so many bad things said in the media about the internet. Cyber bullying, stalkers, pedophiles preying on young kids, people stealing your identity or racking up your credit card. But you never hear about the good things that the internet has done.

I could really go on forever about how great it is to shop in another country in your pajamas or pay your bills in-between bathing and feeding the kids. But to me, at least today, the greatest thing about the internet is how it brings people together.

No, I haven’t gone soft and squidgy nor have bluebirds singing on my shoulders.

I love logging on in the morning and seeing that overnight I have had people visit my little blog and made lovely comments. Someone may have given me a little anecdote that matched my post or a twist on a recipe I have posted. Warm Fuzzy!

It’s great to see all the blogs I follow have had new posts while I have been sleeping and with my morning cuppa tea I scroll through reading and commenting. I get a bit excited if I see a post that’s a follow up of a topic or situation I have been following. And sadly my goal at the moment is to be #1 on a SITS roll call!!

All this and I wouldn’t even know my followers if they walked past me in the street. Well apart from couple who I do actually know but at the moment 28 of you are just little faces in square boxes all in a row. And yet I have pretty intimate knowledge about some of you. I have given advice and in return have received some great advice.

It’s great to hear and be heard.

Facebook has bought its own rewards. People I haven’t seen in years suddenly sharing movie and TV reviews, checking they are OK if they are having a bad day, and laughing with them when their status update regales of a misdemeanor with their spouse. I have found I have things in common with people that I never thought I would have. I have been conversing with some people daily and yet have no plans to see them in the near future by mutual choice or because of distance. I mean, what would we have to talk about?

And yet I find comfort in knowing that they are all there, a few clicks away waiting to give me some kind of warm fuzzy connection. Facebook and blogging is like having all he best parts of all your friends in one spot. All facets of personalities and common interests spread out like a smorgasbord.

So although there are those horrible reasons that the internet can be a bad smelly place. There is also a large garden, with lots of flowers all blowing in a warm breeze enjoying each others company and giving little old me a nice warm fuzzy.

PS - If you have recently started following me or left me comments I promise to return the bloggy lurve!

Dear Amanda 1990

Dear Amanda 1990

As you sit at your Graduation there are so many things I want to tell you but there is so much that can really only be learnt by experience. You don't know what you want to do career wise now which is such a shame because you have talents that are yet to be realised and will be realised too late.

That said you will gain many many skills through working and will make life long friendships along the way which will be more important to you that a 'career' anyway!

Friends are the siblings you never had. Cherish them and nurture them but also realise when you have to let go. You will be lucky and the handful of best friends sitting around you now will be your best friends for life. One will even be the Godmother to your children. You will host your 10 year High School Reunion so you will see many of the people around you soon!

The boys will never change but would you want them too? I don't need to tell you that the boy you are seeing at the moment - you know in your heart of hearts is no good. You will find your Prince Charming, and by the time you do you will know that fairy tales are just that - stories. He will be funny, thoughtful, loving and generous and the father of your children. You just may have to wade through the swamp and kiss a few frogs in the meantime.

A major world event will change the people of the world forever and start a chain reaction in your life that you will ever pinpoint back to that day. Sad but with a silver lining.

Your parents have instilled you with good morals and values that you will take through your life and be respected for. You do have to watch your mouth though missy! It can sometimes say things you may later regret, but you wear your heart on your sleeve so what difference does it make me telling you this. Calm your anger.

You should exercise more and eat better.....some lessons are never learnt!!

Fate and the Universe will always be one step ahead of you. Be open to the bigger picture. Be grateful for all you have and never try and keep up with the Jones'! Read lots, love lots and be the person that people can rely on! Laugh often even when you want to cry.

And for the love of humanity - GO AND GET YOUR LICENCE ALREADY!!!!

Love, forever and always - You xoxo

This post was part of Group Blog Thursday over at Steph in The City.

My 30th Follower......

Will it be you?

You won't be sorry, I promise. There is a little bit of everything here so take a look around and see if you would like to become a regular in my little life!!

The Stack

This is my current book stack that is sitting on my bedside table that I want and need to tackle. They are not stacked in order of anything they just looked prettier in the picture this way!!

My bookmark is currently in Jodi Picoult's 'Handle with Care' which is about a child with brittle bone disease. Her mum decides to file a wrongful birth lawsuit against her best friend who was her ob/gyn but this means having to say in a court of law that she would have terminated the pregnancy had she known about the disability in advance. Typical Picoult heavy stuff but which is so well written it sucks you right in. I have read almost half of Picoult's books and love them although this one I am finding hard to get into because of how heavy the subject matter is. Or it might be because before this book I read 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' by Sophie Kinsella which was all light and fluff.

'Anna Karenina' by Leo Tolstoy isn't their just for looks. This was picked for our therapy club..er... I mean Book Club but we all found it a bit too hard to read as it does need to be read without distraction and toddlers round your feet are the biggest distraction of all! I still really want to read it though so will stay in The Stack till it's tackled!

I am really looking forward to reading 'The Messenger' by Markus Zusak. I read 'The Book Thief' by Zusak for Book Club and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the way he wrote and the story was so interesting and tragic. 'The Messenger' is about Ed Kennedy who one day inadvertently stops a bank robbery. He then becomes the messenger helping and hurting until only one question remains - where are the messages coming from? I picked up the book because I had read 'The Book Thief' but the synopsis intrigued me so much I bought it.

On the ABC here in Australia, the first Tuesday in every month they host a show called (funnily enough) First Tuesday Book Club. That's where I saw the review for 'The White Tiger' by Aravind Adiga. It was also the winner of The Man Booker Prize in 2008. So it must be good right? It is set in the underbelly of India . The tag line is "Meet Balram Halwai, The White Tiger: Servant, Philosopher, Entrepreneur, Murderer...." Had me at Hello!

I am bitter sweet about reading 'The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas' by John Boyne. Everyone tells me how good this book is set in Berlin about two boys living on either side of an adjoining wire fence. One who, like the other people on his side, wears a uniform of striped pyjamas. I know it is going to be sad. I have had the book for over a year. I want to read it before I see the movie. 'Nuff said.

I bought 'Eat Pray Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert when I was in Borders and they had a table of '3 for the price of 2'. I had already picked two books and couldn't find a third until I found this one. I had heard along the grapevine about it so decided to buy it. I would write the synopsis here but my mum came for dinner tonight, saw the stack and riffled through it and took this book home!

Finally, 'Acid Row' by Minette Walters is the only one in the stack that is borrowed. It was lent to be a while ago and landed in The Stack to be tackled in the future where I will have time to read it. (ha!) I was promised it was good read and I haven't read thrillers for a while so will have to get in the right head space to read about a paedophile holding a doctor hostage. Anna Karenina might be read before this one!

So that's My Stack. Let me know if you have read any of them and what you thought!

Happy reading!

Meatless Monday (a day late)

Sorry this is a day late, this was going to be posted yesterday but I got a bit excited about my first blog award so had to blog about that first!!

I have been following Tamara over at Mad Boastings of a Cheapskate Mom since she was a Blog of Note and look forward to reading her daily posts. She was also one of my first followers who didn't actually know me personally! One thing that struck me as interesting on her blog was that she has made every Monday, Meatless Monday and drops meat from her diet on that day.

I was intrigued and as a bit of a cook and foodie I thought it would be a great way to challenge myself in the kitchen. And then like the sieve that my brain is it went straight out of my head. (this happens quite a lot!)

That is until I purchased the launch issue of Prevention Australia Magazine. Right there on page 52 was a half page article on the Meatless Monday initiative. Here's what it said:

"One meatless day per week may reduce your saturated fat intake by 15 per cent, which can mean improved wight and heart health, report researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of public Health in the United States. The Meatless Monday initiative claims to save about 70,000,000 litres of water in the US each week (producing meat requires huge amounts of water). Try these part-time-vegetarian strategies (once a week or more) from dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner:

1. TRADE MEAT FOR HEARTY LEGUMES Substitute 3/4 cup of cooked beans, peas or lentils for each 100g serve of meat in recipes; try it in pasta dishes, soups and casseroles.



2. REDIRECT SAVOURY CRAVINGS The Japanese call that rich flavour you crave umami, which means 'savoury'. Umami is common in meat and fish , but you can also find it in aged cheeses, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, tomatoes and walnuts.



3. REINVENT OLD FAVES Exchange the meat in your burger for a black-bean patty, replace diced chicken with cubed tofu and substitute edamame (soybeans in their pods; at Asian-food stores) for seafood in a stir fry"

You can go to the Meatless Monday website which is in association with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the United States HERE. They have loads of recipes and articles so pop over to find out more.

So with that in mind I declared that Mondays, including Grumpy, Middle and Happy, be Meatless Mondays in our household.

OK. Hubby was none too pleased. Monday's are his last day at home before flying back to work and usually (if I am not too grumpy) I will cook him up whatever he wants. After 2 weeks of mine site food he loves his home cooked meals so this was going to be a tough sell.

I think he thought I wasn't going to go through with it (sucker) but then saw those dreaded ingredients come home in the shopping bag.

I thought I would start with something that I knew Hubby would like, that Grotbag would not turn his nose up at and something I have cooked before. So yesterday's Meatless Monday recipe was 'Spinach & Ricotta Cannelloni'. Not the most original vegetarian meal but a start. I served it with garlic bread and side salad.

Hubby went back for more and Grotbag ate all his so it couldn't be that bad!

Now, I would have a photo for you and I did actually take a few but to tell you the truth, although in person it looked lovely, it didn't look that good in the photos so I won't post the photo.

So now I have to think of something for next weeks meal. I am thinking Vegetable Frittata because I know Grotbag will love it. Meatless Monday is certainly going to be a challenge for me to come up with new and exciting meals every week but I am up for the challenge!

So let me know if you have any good Meatless recipes. What do you think of the Meatless Monday initiative? Do you think it is something your household could adopt?

Award Winning Grumpy Monday

Hello?

Followers? Are you still with me?

Hope so because I have had a very very very long weekend which made me utter those mournful words...

"I'm getting too friggin old for this!!!!"

But knowing my bloggy friends would be there to meet me at the other side kept me going (plus all the new blog fodder!!)

More about my weekend later in the week because I have more pressing matters at hand!

For those that have been following me for a while know that today is Grumpy Monday. Grumpy Monday is the Monday before my Hubby flies back to work for another 2 weeks.

Blurghhh.

Today has definitely been GM. After a hectic social weekend where Hubby didn't get to spend much time with Grotbag they were basically sniping at each other all day before I LOST it big time (slamming doors and everything)!! But it cleared the air and they have spent some quality time together tonight and all is well again.

But now for some good news I have been SPLASHED......

I HAVE MY FIRST EVER BLOG AWARD!!!








I am eternally grateful and humbled to accept THE SPLASH AWARD from Kelly over at Speaking From The Crib. I am especially chuffed because it is one of my favourite blogs to read with my cuppa in the morning. So please go and say G'day from me, it really is a fantastic read!


This award is apparently given to alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive and inspiring blogs. Aw shucks thanks!



The rules for this award are:

1. Put the logo on your blog/post
   


2. Nominate and link up to 9 blogs which allure, amuse, bewitch, impress or inspire you.
   


3. Let them know that they have been splashed by commenting on their blog.
   


4. Remember to link the person from whom you received your Splash Award.

So I hearby bestow and forward The Splash Award to:

• Whats The Matter Mary-Jane
• One Mums Musings
• Baby Makin(G) Machine
• Mad Boastings of a Cheapskate Mom
• It's Impossible To Be Unhappy In A Poncho

Please go and visit them, stalk them and tell them I said Hi!

I am finding more and more that I look forward to visiting my favourite blogs daily and reading what my new bloggy 'friends' have been up to.

What's your favourite blog that you look forward to reading everyday and that you think I should go visit?

Matt Moran Chicken

You know how they say the camera never lies? Well mine was telling big fat porkies when I took this picture last night of our meal. It doesn’t look half as nice in the picture as what it looked like on the plate – or maybe it is my crap photography. Anyway you must give this recipe a go (despite the picture) especially if you like spicy food.

Matt Moran for those of you who don’t know is a very well known chef in Australia. He is part owner and Head Chef at ARIA an award winning restaurant that over looks the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour.

He appeared at the Good Food & Wine Show here in Perth in August and I was lucky enough to see him cook this dish. I also ate the very same dish at the Celebrity Restaurant they had set up there and loved it so much I thought I would give it a go at home. It’s not really called Matt Moran Chicken, it’s called Chicken Sauté with Chorizo & Chickpeas but that is just way too long so I like my little nickname for it better. And it is a really easy dish – especially if you have people coming over for dinner. I have cooked it 3 times now and it has come out great every time and everyone’s plates were clean as whistles. It’s now one of Hubby’s favourites.

I have taken some of the ‘Chefiness’ if there is such a word; out of it just to make it easier. But essentially it is Matt’s recipe and is, quite simply, delicious. The only thing to try and get hold of is the Harissa paste which I found quite hard to get and then found it at my local IGA 200 meters from my house. Typical!

Ingredients
(Serves 4)

1.2kg of chicken (preferably free range) pieces (I have used just breast, or a combination of breast, thigh & drumstick, just make sure they are cut into pieces)
olive oil
1x brown onion, finely chopped
2x cloves of garlic
100g of chorizo sausage
1x 400g can of chickpeas, drained
2x tsp cumin
2x tsp coriander
40g harissa paste
300ml chicken stock
½ head of cabbage shredded
Bunch of chopped parsley
Salt and pepper for seasoning

(My) Method

Heat a large saucepan with olive oil, large enough to hold the chicken and season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Brown the chicken for approximately 5-6 minutes until golden all over. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.

If needed, add a touch more oil and then sweat the onions, garlic and sliced and cook gently for 2 minutes before adding the chickpeas, ground cumin, coriander and Harissa paste. Return the browned chicken to the pan and cover with the chicken stock. Place a lid on and simmer for 10 minutes.

Steam the cabbage, drain off any excess water and arrange in the base of 4 bowls or plates.

Divide the chicken, chickpeas and chorizo sausage between the bowls and garnish with the parsley.

I also served it with some crunchy garlic bread and a green dressed salad.

Enjoy!

This is divine with a nice glass of Chardonnay. They served this at the show with Fifth Leg Chardonnay 2007, which has “…melon and stone fruit flavours balanced by citrus notes and a hint of oak.”

Hope you give it a go and when you do, pop back and let me know what you think!

I'm a Blog Buddy!

Today I am honoured to be featured as a Blog Buddy over at 'One Mums Musings'.

My Blog Buddy post is about the principles I followed to get Grotbag to eat and hope to follow the same principles with Bugalugs.

So click on over and have a look. Alicia's blog is really great (and she is a fellow West Aussie) so make sure you have a look around and leave some bloggy comment love! And make sure you pop back here and tell me what you think of my principles of eating - I am happy to answer any questions!

Thanks again Alicia it was fun (and nerve racking) to write!

The World According To Grotbag!

The past two days Grotbag (aged 4) has made me laugh with how his brain works. Twice he has made me giggle -hope you do too!

***************************************************************************************

Grotbag: Hey Mum look at all that rain outside

Me: Mmm I know

Grotbag: OMG Mum it's just so EMBARRASSING?

Me: Huh? What do you mean embarrassing?

Grotbag: Well, just look at it all Mum, it's so EMBARRASSING?

I had said that word on the phone to a friend the day before which is where he got it from and used it with such emphasis.

Me: No honey, the rain isn't embarrassing. Embarrassing is when Mummy makes you do your dancing in front of her friends and you go all red and shy. Or when Mummy gives you a big kiss in front of all your friends.

Grotbag: Oh I see. *Grunts and walks away!*

*************************************************************************************

Grotbag: Mum, Auntie Bling still feed J milk from her boobies doesn't she?

Me: Yes she does.

Grotbag: Why don't you still feed Bugalugs milk from your boobies?

Me: Well, because Mummy hasn't got any milk left.

Grotbag: *thinking* Well why don't you just go to the shops and fill them up?

Me: *giggling* Because it doesn't work that way honey my body used to fill them up.

Grotbag: Well if I had boobies I would go and fill them up. *grunts and walks away*

*************************************************************************************

Grotbag

Never a dull moment in this house!!

PS. Thank you for all your kind comments and for those who are now following me I really appreciate it! I will soon be popping into your blogs to say hello and return the bloggy love!

Happy Monday

Well when it gets here it seems like it came around fast but at the beginning it feels like forever. What am I talking about?

HAPPY MONDAY!

For those new to my blog I call the Monday before my Hubby comes home 'Happy Monday' as I get very excited about his imminent arrival. (He works on a roster of 2 weeks away and then has one week at home). There are 3 Monday's in my house, Happy Monday, Grumpy Monday & Middle Monday. It doesn't take much to figure out which comes where!

I tend to skip and smile a lot on Happy Monday. I usually take Grotbag to a play centre (like I did today) to have a run around and play with his mates or to a play date. Makes the day go quicker.

I have been a bit of a homebody this week which is a bit unlike me. I am usually a Social Mummy Butterfly, catching up with friends, play dates and trips to the shops every other day. Although this is great it also means I neglect things like housework, washing, and general tidying so then I have a big stress about it and spend a whole day doing all three and feeling like its just all too much and getting on top of me.

This week we had two play dates but they were here at home and I only made one trip to the shops for food so most of the week has been spent at home. And what a difference! I have managed to some things on my To Do list which has made a difference and made me feel like I have actually accomplished something. I put into place the starting of a little business idea I have had as I want to start working from home. I have kept on top of housework, although DUST is my enemy and one thing I cannot seem to control. It seems to laugh in my face every time I sweep some away and double the next time! It is a never ending battle. The washing is all up to date too and I don't have a load in the machine, a load on the line, a load to be put away or a load in the dryer ALL AT THE SAME TIME!

The boys have benefited too. Grotbag and I have played games, had chats, read books more than normal and he has loved it. Bugalugs has had lots of sleep in his cot rather than in the car seat or the stroller! So all in all it has been great. I don't feel overwhelmed just before Hubby gets home, which I usually do after being the only parent for 2 weeks. So I think I will make more of an effort to stay home a few days in a row in the future, especially the week before Hubby flies home.

So this week with Hubby being home can look forward to:

Sharing my bed again (and snoring!)
A lay in at a some point
And afternoon nap (sleep seems to be a common theme here)
Having my Hubby actually attend a social event rather than me going stag (The Wedding)
Having someone drive while I can have a drinky poo at The Wedding
Have an extra pair of hand when the 4 o'clock train arrives
And lots of kisses and cuddles (nudge nudge wink wink)

I am grinning like a Cheshire cat!!!

If The Genes/Jeans Fit….

Hubby and I are off to a Wedding next weekend so for the past month I have been saying to myself “What the f**k am I going to wear???”

I really can’t afford or justify a new purchase so have decided to go with one of the many dresses I own. I am not a dress kinda girl. Or a skirt kinda girl. I blame my Mother for this as she put me in LOTS of dresses and shiny shoes as a kid when all I really wanted to wear pants and sneakers. So in my 30’s it seems I am still rebelling!

So of course I had to enlist my BFF to help me choose. My dilemma started because although it is Spring here in Perth it is still quite cool and has been a bit wet too. All my dresses are short sleeve/shoe string strap dresses so was scared I was going to freeze my butt off. AB (said BFF) has the solution in owning a rainbow selection of pashminas so bought them over for me to try with different dresses.

After a small fashion parade we settled on my favourite LBD (Little Black Dress). Teamed with my red heels, red pashmina (which was also mine, the only colour AB didn’t have!) and cute little red cluch bag. Gorge! I feel great in the dress, have worn it to quite few weddings and formal dinners and is always a winner (I wonder why I bought all the other dresses!!) So I was feeling happy.

But what I was most happy about was the fact that the said LBD was originally bought for Hubby’s and mine Engagement Party. 7 YEARS AGO!!! So after 7 years and 2 kids later it still fits and looks good. Yay for me!

Hubby & Me at our Engagement Party August 2002

And that was where today’s post was going to end.

Until this morning when in the shower I began thinking. The fact that the dress still fits me (and did I mention looks good) after 7 years means (and I calculated) that for the past 7 years my weight has only really fluctuated about 9 kilos/20 lbs, apart from when I was obviously pregnant. I realized my dress size has been pretty much the same for the past 7 years too. So does that mean that this is the size I am supposed to be?

When I started getting fitted for my wedding dress I remember the dressmaker saying that I will probably loose quite a bit of weight before the wedding. I clearly remember telling her that actually I probably would just stay pretty much the same. Even though I was watching what I was eating and working out nearly 5 times a week at the gym I really just toned up rather than slimmed down. So when the final fitting came there really wasn’t that much to alter much to the dressmaker’s surprise, but obviously not to mine.

There is no doubting myself that I probably need to be at the lower part of that 9 kilo/20lbs to be healthier and at the moment they are around the middle third of my body, which health wise is not good. In July I blogged about my Weight Debate as I had just started weight watchers for the umpteenth time. I am currently no longer attending now as my weight loss was up and down even if I had the most angelic of weeks.

I think I actually eat pretty well nutrition wise. I eat whole grains, fruit and lots of vegetables. Takeaway is not a staple in our house and I make a majority of my meals from scratch. But I have suddenly realized that what I really need to do is exercise. I really don’t do enough (read any!). When I was going to the gym the 6 months before I got married I really toned up and felt good even though there was no dramatic weight loss.

I have also had a look at my family tree. My mum has 6 sisters & 1 brother. My mum and all her sisters have exactly the same body shape, the same one I have inherited. Most of my girl cousins are the same (and some of the boys too). I have to think that some of the blame has to be genetics so I have realized I will always have the same body shape.

So what does this all mean? I don’t think it is a get out of jail free card that’s for sure but I am a little relieved at my revelations. Mostly I think it means I need to move my butt and get some exercise to tone up and give the muffin top back to the muffin man. I still think I need to eat in moderation and watch my portion size.

But mostly I think I just need to smile and be happy with myself because if the genes/jeans fit (or in this case the LBD) then that’s OK by me!!

My Inspiration – What’s The Matter Mary-Jane?

I guess this is a bit like a Featured Friend post but I really wanted to share who was my inspiration to blog.

I love reading and writing and loved it in school. I took Creative Writing in High School and in my 20’s went back to college and did a PR Diploma (I loved “fannying about with Press Releases” re: Bridget Jones!). My work life took a different turn and I ended up looking at numbers all day not letters.

Mary-Jane (MJ) and I used to work together in the late 90’s. We worked on a large team Project together. It wasn’t until Facebook (or Arsebook as MJ likes to call it) that we became “friends”. Her status updates about her family were always hilarious and then she started to blog. I loved reading her posts and then one day, while writing a really long status update on Facebook it was like a light bulb went up above my head. Ohh I thought – I would like to blog.

And so became My Life Badly Written.

So in honour of MJ, for her inspiration and her very creative and fabulous blog. Here are my favourite posts from her blog What’s The Matter Mary-Jane - A modern day Carol Brady without the hair or Alice... but with much sexier Tupperware.

The Teary One – Whoa, get your tissues ready. A wonderful piece written about her step-daughters fight with Cancer and a small insight into MJ’s world.

Step-Parenting 101 – A great post and shows you what a fantastic modern Step Mum MJ is.

Parenting Palaver – The Movie Spoiler – I laughed so hard at this one – she truly has great wit!

There are many more so please go check out her blog. She has just signed to SITS and I am sure she will be inundated with followers soon enough – but it’s always nice to get a front row seat!!

And thanks MJ…you know what for!

A Sad Day

Well, as I woke up this morning and realised the date today my heart skipped a beat, for today is a sad day.

On September 11th 2001 at around 9 - 9.30pm at night here in Perth, I remember I was doing a college assignment on the computer when my mum called me to come and look at what was happening on TV. As I came into the room I saw the second plane hit.

I couldn't speak.

It looked like a movie but it was real.

As I watched the reality unfold in front of my eyes my head spun trying to think if I knew anyone that could be there. I watched TV all night and all the next day. After that I couldn't watch anymore. And to this day I cannot watch any movie or documentary which depicts the happenings of that day. It's just too sad.

I can say I have been lucky enough to go to New York. In February 1999 I went with my good friend J from London. It was a last minute thing to go and we booked our flights and stayed 5 days in that most wonderful city. I still can't believe I was there (although I remember how cold it was -the coldest I have ever been).

I went to the World Trade Centre. Bought a bag from a shop underneath. Seems kind of trivial now.

But September 11th changed my life in another significant way. You see Hubby had not entered my life yet. In September 2001 he had just received his Australian Resident Visa and wanted to book a flight to Melbourne or Sydney to immigrate from the UK. But because of September 11th the flights in the travel agents were just falling from the screen cancelled. He turned to the travel agent frustrated and said - "just get me on the next available flight to Australia". The only one they had was to Perth. And so he came to me.

That day changed the course of the world and many many peoples lives. May the innocent men, women and children who lost their lives that day Rest In Peace. You will always be remembered by the world.

Taken by me from the top of the Empire State Building (I think) - 20th February 1999

My First Job

I am joining in on Group Blog Thursday over at Steph In The City and this week it is all about your first job.

1987 I got my first job while I was at school. I was 14 and it was at the local shopping centre at a well known shoe shop (SS).

The day I applied for the job I was shopping with my mum and she asked if I had thought about getting a job. I said I hadn't but"..er...OK?" The first shop we passed was SS so my Mum said "What about in there"

Again"...er...OK?"

So I walked up to the desk and just came straight out and said "er...do you have any casual jobs going?"

AMAZINGLY, they said they did and and took my name and number but they never called. So the next week my Mum made me call them and I got and interview and was offered the job on the spot!! I was the stores youngest employee.

I worked Thursday nights and Saturdays and my first weeks pay was exactly $30 that came in a little brown envelope.

I had to give it straight to my Mum as I had asked her to lend me the money to buy a new top before I got paid!!

I worked there all through school till I was 17. I really enjoyed it, the boss was nice and the staff were really great even though I was the youngest. The money was better than the fast food joints and the department stores plus I got 33% off all full prices shoes and 10% off sale items. I had soooo many shoes!! I got trained up as a Clarks Fitting Specialist and would fit all the kids shoes which was so much fun!

I wanted to work there Full Time but the boss knew I was going to take off travelling in a year so wouldn't let me. I found a full time job in a novelty shop in the city and because I as only casual I just called the SS and told them I wouldn't be back!

It's a shame because I learnt so much there about being in the workforce, hard work and respect for other employees and the boss. It was a great job platform.

Only bad thing was peoples smelly, dirty feet that had toe jam....blluuuggghhhh!

What was your first job?

Prince Harry

So this is a blog and why my mum is on the computer so much!

Hi there. My Name is Harry (AKA on Mum's blog as Bugalugs). Today my Mum is pretty excited because I am 7 months old. That's me in the picture above. I'm a pretty happy kid and love to smile for the camera. Mum says it's so easy to take a cute picture of me because I smile so much.

At 7 months I am not quite rolling over yet. But Mum takes me to physio every 3 weeks so I can do some training. Lot's of tummy time which I don't mind sometimes but I get tired pretty quickly and then have scream a bit for Mum to turn me over. Works every time :-). Sleeping is one of my favourite things. Mum seems to like this very much and by 6.30pm I am soooo ready for my cot. I am so sleepy that I don't wake till 6.30am. Mum thinks this is the best thing ever. Something about sleep deprivation?

I am loving the veggies Mum has been giving me. But my favourite time of the day is bath time. If I am lucky my big brother will hop in the bath with me and we have so much fun. He loves to make me laugh by pouring water over his head and making silly noises. I also love making very loud noises at the moment. The sound of my own voice is great. I like the word "bah" a lot so will have to work on my vocabulary if I am to get a word in around here!

Even though today is 7 months since I was born I wasn't supposed to arrive till 5 weeks later! I am what they call a Prem Baby. You see while I was in my Mum's tummy all snug and warm, she was feeding me some really good stuff. Like cakes, chocolates, and pretty much anything she wanted. But then some silly nurse told her she had Gestational Diabetes so all I got from then on was lots of whole grains and not a scrap of chocolate. After a couple of weeks I had had enough so decided it was time to get out!

This was much to my Mum and Dad's surprise. You see Dad was still working away and couldn't fly back in time. When Mum called Dad to say "Guess What? my water just broke" the first thing Dad said was "I told you you should have packed your bag!!!!". He got a flight the next day and I met him that night. I love my Dad! And he picked my name!

Poor Mum had just had a lovely day at her baby shower with Auntie Bling when I decided to "burst the dam"! I didn't know it was 11pm at night did I? Mum had to call Grandma and Grandad and Auntie Bling and Uncle Pirate to come over as my big brother Grotbag was in bed. Bling and Grandma were running around all over the house because Mum had left packing her bag thinking she had plenty of time. Bling then drove Mum and Grandma to the hospital.

The lady, Dr M who pulled me out of Mummy's tummy is lovely and Mummy always says how special she is. She also pulled Grotbag out of Mummy's tummy too. Dr M apparently also put me in Mummy's tummy when I was just a couple of cells. I wasn't on my own though, I had another cluster of cells with me but they decided not to hang around and left me to have the cosy little nest all to myself. I caused Mum a bit of sickness most mornings and gave her a few scares. She was very worried about these scares as she had lost a two lots of cells like me in the first 8 weeks previously but Dr M always let her come in and have a scan to make sure I was OK. The scares weren't my fault though, there was a little thing called a hemorrhage near where I was that would bleed if Mummy did things that raised her heartbeat too much. Dad was none to pleased about the "no doing things to raise your heartbeat" rule that Dr M imposed (nudge nudge, wink wink).

Still, I arrived a little yellow but apart from that safe and sound. Mum calls me her little miracle Prince Harry that she thought she would never have. Mum said she knew I would be OK because the day that Dr M put me in her tummy it was her birthday - she says it was a sign.

All in all I love being in this house with this family. My Dad sees me every 3 weeks and spends LOADS of time with me and I LOVE playing with him and hearing him say silly sounds. When he is home he baths and feeds me to give my Mum a break.

Anyway, I think Mum is on her way back so I better get off the computer. Nice to meet you all, I hope you pop back to read my Mum's blog. She loves it when people read what she has written, makes comments and follow her. It makes her happy, and I don't really mind her typing on the computer. She usually does it when I am in bed anyway!

See ya..
Love
Harry xoxo

No Blood Thank You, Your A Mad Cow!

Never been before here's a little bit about me to get you started

I LOVE living in Australia.

I believe in the "If You Don't Love It - Leave" philosophy.

And I truly think that my mum's decision to marry my Australian Citizen Step-Dad and move us to this wonderful country was by far the best decision she ever made for us.

BUT - somethings really FRUSTRATE me about Australia. And this is one of them....

I am unable, even thought I am willing, to donate blood.

Phew! Some of you might be saying (especially those who have fainted already at even the thought of a needle!) but it is something that I would love to do. I think it is a very important thing to do that doesn't cost anything but could save someones life.

And this is the reason why the Australian Red Cross Blood Service will not accept my blood....because I resided in the UK between 1980 & 1996 for more than 6 months and I might be a mad cow. Well all those that know me, know I am a little bit bonkers but calling me a cow...humph! The correct name for the disease known as "mad cow disease" is Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Below is the direct passage from the Australian Red Cross FAQ's page (obviously people frequently ask!)

"Although the number of cases of vCJD (the human form of 'mad cow disease' or bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in the United Kingdom is declining, in the absence of a screening test, the full extent of exposure is not known.
Since 2004, there have been a small number of reported cases of patients in the United Kingdom (UK) diagnosed with vCJD who have been infected through blood transfusion.
Based on this information, and in the absence of a reliable screening test for vCJD in blood, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service has implemented guidelines to reduce the risk of vCJD transmission through blood transfusion in Australia. Currently we exclude people from donating who:
Have resided in the UK between 1980 and 1996 for a total (cumulative) time of 6 months or more, (that's me!)
or
Have received blood transfusions in the UK since 1 January 1980.
Unfortunately, because of the extensive time period covered by the deferral and the possibility of unknowing exposure to beef or beef products, it is not possible to exempt vegetarians who have resided in the UK for a cumulative period of six months or more during the risk years.
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service is monitoring progress in the development of a reliable blood screening test for vCJD. Should this deferral policy be changed for any reason, please be assured that this information will be disseminated widely." click HERE for the source.

As per the Australian Bureau of Statistics 23.8% of the Australian population as per June 2005 were born in the UK. That is a HUGE amount of people who could possibly be excluded from donating blood. Don't get me wrong, I totally understand the reasoning behind the decision, but it is such a shame that there is the huge divide between those Australian's in need of blood and those wanting to give it.

According to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service Website "...only a very small proportion of people (one in 30) actually give blood. Yet sooner or later, one in three of us will need it."

I guess one of the reasons I am fully supportive of giving blood is that Grotbag had to have 2 blood transfusions while in the Intensive Care Unit when he was 4 months old after an operation to correct the bone structure of his skull. (I will blog about this another day soon...when I am ready!). I am totally thankful to those that unselfishly gave their blood so that my gorgeous little boy could have it.

So regardless of where you live, and if you qualify, think about giving blood. Every whole blood donation can actually save 3 lives. You may not know the person who will receive it but you can bet that they will be truly thankful. Like we were.

The Final Quarter

Never been before here's a little bit about me to get you started

Depending on where you are in the world you might be thinking by the title of this blog that it is about the upcoming AFL (Australian Football League) Grand Final. Maybe you are thinking that I only have one coin left in my purse or that I am going to talk about fractions (?).

Actually this post is about the final 3 months of the Calendar year. Yes I know it's only September but I am getting a little bit excited. To me this is the best part of the year namely because Spring has definitely sprung by October here in WA which is my favourite season. The calendar starts to get full of events and social gatherings so every weekend there is something on!

The most obvious event in the final quarter is of course Christmas (only 110 days to go!). I have already started to get organized for Christmas this year as per this post I did a couple of weeks ago. In fact, the whole family has been organized and rather than have one of the family host Christmas Lunch, in July we booked to have Christmas lunch at a resort close by so that none of us have any cleaning up to do - woo hoo!

I also can’t wait for our October holiday in Busselton – This is becoming a bit of an annual event, well we did it the same time last year and are going the same time this year. We stay at my parents holiday home The Great Escape and just chill out for a week. Grotbag loves it and this will be Bugalugs first family mini break! However we struggled last year fitting all our “stuff” in the car WITHOUT Bugalugs as he was safely ensconced in my belly so who knows how we are going to fit everything in the car. But really I can’t wait!

Spring in the Valley is also held in October and for as long as I can remember my girlfriends and I have got a bus load together and headed out for the day. It’s an Annual festival held in the Swan Valley, a great day out with friends and for the first time in a few year I won’t be pregnant/trying to get pregnant!!

I also get a bit excited about Melbourne Cup day – Grotbag will be at school and us Kindy Mums are going to get together for lunch…should be interesting after the night out we had the other night!!

December by far is the busiest Month in the final quarter. Already we have lunches & dinners planned with friends and Hubby and I are going to the Green Day concert at the beginning of December. I am more excited for Hubby as he was desperate to go and so I was stoked when I got tickets for us both. Hubby will also be home for THE WHOLE MONTH of December which will be fantastic. He turns 40 at the beginning of January and so most of the final quarter will be spent organizing his birthday party.

But I am REALLY excited about the 5 day get away to Melbourne I am doing with 3 of my closest BFF’s. NO KIDS just us gals hanging out, shopping and being something other than wife/girlfriend/mum/boss. We are also going to Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Restaurant - I am a HUGE fan – and meeting up with a heap of friends who have since moved to Melbourne. We hope to squeeze in a show too and LOTS AND LOTS of shopping. Did I mention the shopping?

So the final quarter is looking eventful and exciting with plenty of blog fodder and probably (knowing my life) lots of drama’s – especially with Hubby’s party preparations. But this is what makes it all the more exciting!

So....Stay Tuned!!!

A Quicky...

Never been before heres a little bit about me to get you started.

Just a quick one today as I have been nursing a hangover all day (will I EVER learn - Big thanks to Mum & Bling for coming and taking care of me and the kids) and have a 50th Birthday Party to go to tonight - and I am taking the kids since Hubby is not home!

Converstation I had with Grotbag last night while he was in the bath...

Grotbag: Where are you going tonight?
Me: Out with the Kindy Mums
Grotbag: Are you wearing that? (my NEW 3/4 trackies and matching top)
Me: Er no, why do you not think I should?
Grotbag: Mum! You can't wear your old clothes to go out.
Me: Their not old...
Grotbag: But they are your indoor clothes (??)
Me: Oh, so what should I wear
Grotbag: Something to make you look like a Beautiful Lady (said like David Walliams from Little Britain which is disturbing as I don't think he has ever watched it)
Me: Like what?
Grotbag: How about your red shoes (he had seen me trying them on earlier with an outfit)
Me: OK then, just for you I will wear my red shoes
Grotbag: smiles and is very pleased with himself for picking my shoes!!

It's the little things!

Love the little guy!! This is why I like to blog as this may have come and gone and been forgotten in a week!

Have a great Saturday everyone!!

Mother's Not Welcome

Never been before heres a little bit about me to get you started.


So as Father's Day is this Sunday here in Australia, Grotbag's school hold a special Dad's Night before Father's Day where Dad's can go with their children to see some work they have done and also give their Dad's the cards and pressies they had made. It was from 6.30pm to 7pm in their class and Grotbag had no Dad to take. This happens to us all the time, as Hubby works away in the mines for 2 weeks and then is home for one week (one of the pitfalls) but luckily we have a great family network and so he had a few other replacements to pick from. He chose his Grandad (my Step-Dad) who was pleased as punch to be asked.


When I dropped Grotbag at school the day before the Dad's Night there were rumblings between the other Kindy Mum's. Knowing my predicament with Dad's Night they cautiously informed me that at the Pre-Primary Class across the playground, the teacher had put up a sign (yes she actually put one up for all to see) that read "Please note: Mother's are NOT welcome on Dad's night" I couldn't believe it. Really in this day and age where there is no such thing as a "normal" family that she could actually put up a sign to say that the Mother's were not welcome!


Imagine being in a situation where the Father of your child, for whatever reason, was unavailable to go to "Dad's Night" at the school and you had no other male figure in your child's life that could also go along. Now imagine having to tell your child that he can't go to school for Dad's Night, even with Mum because the Teacher said Mother's were not welcome. This could have well been the case for our family if we didn't have any other family close to us and it just makes me so mad. How insensitive!!


There are so many what if's like what if there is no Dad around because of separation, illness or because they have passed away. What if the child has two Mummy's or two Daddy's (can they both go?) - and I am sure you are thinking of a dozen more right now - that make the sign SO WRONG.


I am thankful that my child's teacher does not share the same mentality and welcomed any family member to go. Grotbag's Grandad was welcomed warmly and had a great time looking at all of Grotbag's school work.


There are so many family dynamics these days that consideration and sensitivity at these special night should be taken into account. As should we all have the same consideration and sensitivity to others in life.


Mother's and Father's should ALWAYS be welcomed when it comes to being a part of their children's lives.


Sure hope Grotbag doesn't get her for a teacher next year. I can feel my claws coming out now!!!

Grotbag & His Grandad

It’s All About Me People!

When I first started writing my blog the only people that read it were family and friends and let’s face it they know all about the real “me”. But I thought I would write a bit of a back story of myself to let those new and wonderful people who come across my blog know a little bit more about moi!

I was born in the UK, London to be precise.

My parents divorced when I was 9 and when I was 12 my mum married a wonderful man who is my step-dad.

My step dad is English but lived in Australia so we immigrated to Perth Western Australia in 1985. Best decision ever!

My dad still lives in the UK, we don’t speak often, he is re-married.

I am an only child. I have no siblings not even halves or steps. What are the chances of that! And no I was not spoilt. However, I am very close to my cousin Bling who is like a sister. She also lives in Australia and we speak nearly everyday.

I went to a local high school. I was the girl that got along with everyone, very bubbly and just your average student. I am still friends with the girls I went to High School with. They are the family I choose!

I had a steady boyfriend through High School. A few long term relationships (and a few doozies) in my 20’s and met my wonderful husband on a blind date through a family friend in 2002. We got married in beautiful winery in 2004.

We had our first child together in 2005 – a beautiful boy named Oliver AKA Grotbag.
My hubby has been married before and I have two teenage step-children who live in the UK. The eldest has visited us here in Australia the other one will be out here in a couple of years to visit.
After 2 miscarriages in 2007 Hubby and I went down the IVF route and were extremely lucky first time. In February 2009 my gorgeous little miracle Harry was born AKA Bugalugs.

I have worked in retail and hospitality. I have been a Business Analyst, wanted to work in PR but was too old (?) and most recently worked in Accounts. All “jobs” no “careers”.

But my favourite most rewarding job and also the hardest one I have ever done is being a Mother. I strive to be the best mum and wife every day even though that does not always happen.

I have two dogs, a chocolate lab called Sye and a cocker spaniel called Jasper. We all live in a modest 4 bedroom 2 bathroom home north of Perth CBD and 5 minutes from the ocean. Perth really is Australia’s best kept secret. My Hubby works away for 2 weeks and is home for one so I am the only parent for 2/3 of the year. It works for us.

I have recently discovered my joy of writing, even though I am not very good at it, I could sit at the computer all day and just type and type. I want to “pimp my blog” but don’t quite know how or have the time to look and find out!

I love to read, catch up with friends, spend time with my family, my boys and write my blog. I also love to cook (and eat!) and want my boys to be able to cook too. I am really organized as well as completely disorganized and I blame that on the fact that I am a Gemini. Hey I’ve gotta blame something!

My main goals for this year are to finish our and de-clutter our house as it is the one thing that plays on my mind most of the time.

So that’s me!

Another Week That Was

I have neglected my blog this week as Hubby was home on his R&R and I get the guilt's if I am stuck on the computer too long.

We had a busy week this week and after my spat about living in the house that Jack built, hubby set to work getting things fixed as soon as he came home. The tap is still the wrong way but at least I can sit on the toilet without fear of falling off!!

Wednesday saw my hosting a small dinner party for my good friend B who was over from London visiting his friends and family. B & I went to school together here in Perth, and then later, in our 20's, house shared for 18 months with another friend Ho, in a place we liked to Club 180. Good times, many parties, lots of tears and funny funny moments. He was also MC at my wedding which I will cherish forever and it really was the funniest and heart felt speech I have ever heard, and Yay it was about me!!!

I really miss him when he is in London, especially as he refuses to go on Facebook. So it was great to see him and cook for him and hear all his news, good and bad. In fact writing this blog has made me sit and reminisce about Club 180 so will have to put that in a post for another day!!

Me & B Circa 1997

Wednesday also saw the start of poor Bugalugs struggle with constipation for the first time. Poor little fella. After prune juice and baby laxatives (who knew?) Thursday night I couldn't take any more of his screaming and ended up taking him to Emergency. Where of course he pooed while we were waiting! The good news was I was being a complete over paranoid Mother and the constipation was not diagnosed as severe (apparently he would be vomiting as well) but the bad news was he had got a small infection through straining and so a round of antibiotics were dispensed! Sigh.

Friday saw Bugalugs having some physio to speed up his development for rolling and sitting and Saturday night we had the night off and went to Mum's for my Step dad's Birthday dinner.

Sunday saw me hosting a lunch for friends with an international flavour. There are 3 couples and we each pick a country and cook two meals, a combination of entree, main & desert, and bring them along. Now I normally love to cook up a storm but I just couldn't get motivated. So I cheated. Gasp! My country was Sweden. So I went to Ikea. Swedish Ikea Meatballs and Swedish Apple cake for all. I got ribbed for it but figured that was my one pass out!

Grump Monday rolled around way too quickly and saw me (finally) get my Wii Fit out of the box and Hubby, Grotbag and I had a lot of fun before I cooked a yummy "last night" dinner for me and Hubby.

And then today Hubby was gone before I knew it and the long 2 week stretch starts again.

Still means I can at least get some blog time in the evenings! It's good to be back!

How has your week been?