NotSheep

An assortment of stuff.

Good stuff: :sunny:

I have done a fair bit of the Christmas shopping, and even wrapped most of what I’ve bought.

I have finished – yes, finished! – writing my Christmas cards. I did it in short spurts, because I figured I wouldn’t get arms-free time for a long spurt. And I’ve finished. I might even get them posted on time this year.

Someone told me I didn’t look old enough to have six children – which is weird*, because I’ve certainly been feeling old enough recently.

Barney got his OU books – and confirmation that he’s receiving full funding for his course.

And he turned 14 (see below).

George and Freddy graded at ju-jitsu. George, who took some time out from ju-jitsu, is a belt behind Freddy, so he was tested for, and passed, his orange belt grading. Freddy was supposed to do his blue-and-white belt grading in two weeks, when he’d have to go to a leisure centre in the city, because he’s at the stage where they start to grade outside the club – but due to a mix-up, we were given three hours notice that he was going to be grading at the club last night. Still, he passed too.

Toby had an assessment with the paediatrician, who is no longer at all worried about him (I think her worries disappeared about two minutes after she met him and me, but anyway…) and who has discharged him. I was going to ask if we could just drop the assessments anyway, because there really is nothing to worry about now, but as soon as I mentioned it, she said she’d been going to suggest it too. She says she’s “quite certain that if there are any concerns, you will access whatever he needs”

During a conversation with Barney (remember, he’s 14), I said, “I’m far from being a perfect mother” – and he looked thoughtfully at me and replied, “You’re very near, actually.” Cue tears from me – I don’t think I am at all, but it’s lovely to hear he feels that way

Bad stuff: 8-(

Ju-jitsu grading. Yes, I know that’s under “good stuff” too, but this is about the badges. The ones that are really difficult to sew on, and are really huge. As someone said, on hearing the size of the blummin things, “That’s not a badge, it’s an advertising hoarding!” Indeed.

Jack’s breathing is not good – he’s been using his inhaler regularly recently. I’ve made an appointment for him at the asthma clinic, but it’s still a couple of weeks away. You’d think they’d prioritise things like breathing.

Someone hacked into a retailer database and got a bunch of credit-card numbers – just the numbers, no expiry dates or names or anything – including mine. And the credit-card company decided to cancel all the accounts and re-issue the cards. And that meant I couldn’t shop on-line until the replacements arrived. When I pointed out it was a month before Christmas and I’d six children and about eight websites with full baskets, the guy said he’d get the cards sent special delivery. Good – except that I had to be home to sign for them. So I waited at home. And waited. For 11 days, before they finally showed up – in the ordinary post, with no signature required.
(Yes, I could have used another credit-card – but I get cashback on the main one. And yes, I could buy on-line with my debit-card. But I like the legal protection and extra insurance I get with the credit-card.)

Louie has a wicked rash on both cheeks. I’m hoping (but not very hopeful) that it’s not eczema <:-(

Cute stuff:

Jack, in the middle of a discussion (involving all the children old enough to talk) about why giraffes have such long necks. “I think,” he announced, “that it’s so they can watch the clouds go by.”

Jack again – this time, cleaning up the kitchen after breakfast – with a tea-towel slung over his shoulder, like a proper little chef.

Toby, on the umpteenth request to do something, responding with his impression of a stroppy teenager.

Louie. In general. But also in particular the tuft of hair which sticks straight up, due to his double-crown, and which has resulted in him being nick-named TinTin – which seems to amuse him

Weird stuff: :boggle:

I got ogled whilst breastfeeding Louie at a shopping-centre! By an old bloke, who was obviously also a rather sad bloke if he had to rely on glimpses of my flesh for kicks.

Words from Freddy, while Jack was trying to get out a pizza-cutter: “Stop it! I don’t want this turning into a blood festival!” Erm…

A phone-call from…well, I don’t know who it was from, because the caller asked for someone I’d never heard of. I told her she’d reached the wrong number. She replied, “That’s okay, I’ll give him a call later.” Uh…

We spent part of Barney’s birthday on Youtube, seeking out Showaddywaddy vids. It’s a bit of a long story, but it involves Mock The Week, Hugh Dennis and Jimmy Saville. I’m sure you all understand now.

*Maybe the bit about me being told I didn’t look old enough to have six kids should have been in this section.

Ranty stuff: :rant:

I still can’t cope with the website for the library system. Or it can’t cope with me. Either way, it’s horrible.

As-yet-uncategorised stuff: :eyebrow:

Tomorrow, Barney is off to Liverpool, to fly planes – his first time (he was supposed to do it before, but the weather was uncooperative). At least, he’ll be off to Liverpool if they let him on the plane to Liverpool. Because his passport expired earlier this year, and we weren’t told until last night that he’d need a passport. Or a driving-licence. He’s how old? Oh yeah, 14. Right. So the plan is that we’ll take him to the airport with his expired passport and keep our fingers crossed. According to the Easyjet website, he can use the passport for domestic flights up to two years after it expires. Also according to the Easyjet website, under-18s don’t need photo ID anyway – but the Cadets woman says they’ve had problems with this before – so, uh, why couldn’t they have mentioned the passport thing more than 33 hours before the flight? :banghead:

Imusttakesomephotos… Imusttakesomephotos… Imusttakesomephotos… Imusttakesomephotos…