Shopping in Corby

It was a grey start to the day and the weather was just as confused about what it wanted to do  as the weather forecasters predictions. Thankfully the one that was right was the one that included sunny intervals so we did see a quite a bit of sun throughout the day and by the end of the day the weather was lovely just when we needed it.

Getting the girls off to school went like a dream. They both got up with loads of time to spare, made their own breakfast and packed lunches and were soon on their way to school. All to soon I was sitting down to my coffee in the peace and quiet of an empty house before it was time for a shower.

At ten o'clock it was time to pick up little Lucy from her mummies. She seemed in a strange mood when I picked her up and gave me the biggest cuddle ever and just wouldn't let go. Normally we just walk to the car and chat but this morning it was completely different. I asked her what was wrong but she didn't answer all she did was hug me. I think she might have been tired and clearly she wasn't happy go lucky self. All the same as we drove home via the garage she did pick up and really made me smile with one or two of the things she said. It was lovely to be with her again.

The morning was spent around the house playing inside and out. I made Lucy a train track and we played trains for a while before she headed out to the garden to play on her tricycle and play chase with George. George loves haring around the garden. He plays hide and seek in the long grass and equally Lucy loves to chase after him. After being outside for a while she went back in to play with her dolls and play shops. We had a grand morning together.

With food to get and driving to be kept to a minimum until the car is repaired later in the week we headed out to Corby to go food shopping for the rest of the week. On the way we stopped off at Greggs for some sausage rolls and drinks which we polished off while we chatted in the car. Lucy loves the sausage rolls from the bakers and today they were just the right temperature for her delicate little mouth.

With lunch out of the way we set off to get to the large ASDA in Corby. Compared to the supermarkets in Oakham it seems really big and not only stocks food but all kinds of household item, clothes and electrical items. Although I prefer the smaller supermarkets it does make a change to be in a larger store with such a large range of goods. Lucy loved the halloween aisle they had there and we had to make several visits to play with the scary toys they had on display. In particular she liked zombie with it red flashing eyes. She going to have so much fun on hallowed this year getting sweets, it just a shame she won't be going around with Emily and Catherine this year or for a few years to come. They both love dressing up as does Lucy. With most of the shopping for the week done we soon were heading home again while listening to music and having fun in the car. Lucy was so good in the shop as always, the only thing she asked for was her sweets for her and her sister Mary. 

When we got back to Langham there was just time to put the shopping away and have a quick coffee before Catherine came home. With the weather improving all the time we decide we should make the most of it and get out to the park. So as soon as Catherine got home we headed out to get Emily and bring her home via the local park.

It was really rather glorious for the time of the year when we got to the park. The clouds were high in the sky and the sun was shining down brightly. Lucy had been wanting to go to the park all day and even though it was only Langham park it was still a park to Lucy. Emily had science homework to do and was soon settling down on the picnic benches to get it done in the sunshine while Lucy played, while Catherine had popped back to the house to pick up her new bicycle. Lucy had great fun on the slide and the trim trial. She is so good on the chain bridge now and can do it without thinking. By the time Catherine had arrived we were down by the skate board ramp. Lucy love sliding down it, especially hand in in hand with Emily or Catherine, preferably both of them. Catherine is not confident enough on her bicycle to use the ramp yet but Lucy had great fun chasing her around while Emily continued to finish her home at the top of the ramp. When it came time to go home Lucy walked through the allotments with Emily who told them all about having one last summer. Lucy loves seeing all the things that grow there and Emily picked her a few raspberries for her to eat. She loved them just as much as she loved the blackberries that we use to pick outside the house and was soon asking for more.

Returning home Emily went off to play with Lucy while I got the dinner ready. A simple meal tonight, meaty sausages and mash with bake beans. Lucy did really well eating her dinner and Catherine and Emily had clean plates by the end of the meal. For pudding they all had swiss roll. It goes without saying that all was gone before not to long. Finally they all went off to play in the family room for the last hour before Lucy left us again. 

With Lucy dressed in her Peppa Pig clothes it was time for her to return back to her mummies. After kisses and cuddles from Emily and Catherine we both set off for Oakham. We were soon there and I was heading back home on my own. We had a fab day together and a surprising one in some ways. I can't wait to have them altogether again on Friday and with half term just around the conner they will have even longer with each other soon during the day.

When I got back the girls were playing on the computers. Catherine was playing games on Facebook while Emily was chatting with her friends. They did this for a while before settling down to watch so television on BBC iPlayer before bedtime. They both seem so grown up these days that it is hard to think they were once like little Lucy. Time passes so quickly.

It has been a funny three days in lots of different ways, things that have happened and things that have been said. I know what I want from life and I know things can only get better. In fact I have always known what I want, it is something I worked at for ages, it just got lost in all that has been happening at home recently. How I get there again, well that is something that needs some thought. 

Artist of the Week - Secondhand Serenade

I really liked having a artist of band for the week to play in the car as I went to work so I'm going to repeat the idea again this week. The choice was between two artists, one a band and the other a solo artist. The band is "Secondhand Serenade" while the solo artist is "Peter Bradley Adams". Now it would have been the later, however on the X-Factor one of the singers did a cover of a the "Coldplay' track "Fixing You" that was also covered by Secondhand Serenade and given that the band have a new album out this meant they got the spot this week.

It was one of the bands I discovered last year when I listened to BBC 6 Music non stop. I liked the sound of the band and their music hit a cord with me. On and off I have listened to them since and find there sound relaxing and have I a connection with the subject of their songs, although I have never over played them so there are still tracks to discover and others to listen to again.

The band were formed back in 2004 by the lead singer John Vesely. The name of the band comes from the songs the lead singer wrote were serenaded to his wife so by the time other people got to hear them they were secondhand. The first album "Awake" was released originally on the Internet in 2005 and later rereleased in 2007 with an additional two songs when at last they found a record label. Since then the band has released a further two albums a "Twist in my Story" in 2008 and "Hear me Now" this year. The album "Twist in a Story" just after he broke up with his wife in 2008 and that fact goes a long way to explaining the content of the album.

So that is the artist/band I will be listening to this week. I hope you enjoy the band and you find something you can take away from listening to their music that means something to you. Next week it looks like it will be "Peter Bradley Adams" unless something else takes my fancy before then.

Wet Sunday

When I woke this morning and went to see Lucy I got the same welcome as yesterday but this time she told me it was cloudy. The rain of last night was still falling and the ground outside was soaking. It wasn't what I wanted to see but what can you expect from this time of year and it looked like the day was going to be spent indoors like Friday.

As soon as Lucy was out of bed she was gathering her blanket, her toy dog and juice bottle together to take downstaira with her so she could sit and watch some television as she woke up before breakfast. 

Catherine appeared from her room about half an hour after Lucy got up and as soon as Lucy saw her she followed her into the kitchen to get her the breakfast that Catherine made for her. It's so sweet how Catherine always seems to make her breakfast on Sunday and loves sitting down to eat with her. I just love listening to them chat at the table. What they say makes me smile sometimes. Catherine has always loved young children and is so good with them.

With breakfast out of the way and the rain falling there was nothing to do than stay indoors. We could hardly go out with a Sunday Lunch to cook, so off went Catherine and Lucy into the family room to be joined by Emily when she surfaced from her bed. I'm not sure what they were playing but it sounded like fun. I know Catherine got Lucy's train track out at one point and they played that for a bit because it was all over the floor. Every so often Lucy would appear for a cuddle and to see were I was and what I was doing and every time I saw her I asked her about the loo. We are making progress but it seems slow, she gets so distracted in what she is doing, but the lollipop idea is working.

For Lunch today we had roast chicken, roast parsnips, carrots, savoy cabbage and of garlic mini roast potatoes. In fact I don't know anyone that hasn't liked them since I started cooking them when I first got to Langham, which seems like a lifetime ago. We have had chicken rather a lot lately but that doesn't stop anyone from finishing their meal, but maybe next time the girls are all together we will have pork for a change. I also know one dog, George, who loves Sunday's and his mini roast dinner of meat and vegetables.

After Sunday Lunch they all returned to the family room to play again and after playing trains again for a bit, Lucy appeared in a large box pushed by Catherine playing hiding and seek and peek a boo with everyone that found her. The only problem was the box was full of toys. By the time it was time for Lucy to return to her mummies the whole of the family room looked like a whirlwind had been blown through it. Lucy had made an amazing amount of mess for someone so little, but i guess that is part of the fun of being two.

With Lucy gone the girls settled down to playing on the X-Box together. It was nice the way they were taking it in turns and working out a game together. They were both playing "Grabbed by the Ghoulies" which is a cartoon based horror story for children. I haven't seen them play it for years but from what I remember of playing it myself it is a wonderful game. This took up most of the rest of the afternoon for them. I'm glad they found something to amuse themselves because before I dinner I had to popped out specially to to take a book back for Lucy that we forgot. Couldn't have her being upset at not having her new book about toilet training.

After dinner the wait was on for what we had all been looking forward to since last nights X-Factor, to see who made it through to the final twelve. I thought a lot of the choices were rather interesting, especially Simon Cowells and Cheryl Coles. The former picking the two made up bands who he could shape and mould and later picking the unusual and quirky rather than the conventional even though two of those she picked failed to perform at the judges houses stage. The other two judges choices were far more predictable. All in all I think it is going to make the show interesting when it gets to the live shows next week. However, I think if Cher Lloyd doesn't do well next week then Cheryl could end up regretting her decision to put her through, there is sure to be a public backlash at her inclusion in the final twelve. 

With the X-Factor over it was time for Emily and Catherine to go to bed and settle down for the night after doing their school bags for the morning. It wasn't long before the house fell quite and the time to sit back contemplate, relax and unwind for the day was here.

I love my weekends when I have Emily, Catherine and Lucy together but I just feel I have failed them somwtimes. What I wanted for them more than anything was a stable family. I didn't want them to ever feel that they are passed for pillar to post and that is what is happening to all of them for the same sort of reasons. All I wanted to do give them the family life I had as a child with a stable family with a mother and a father together under the same roof. All I can do now is give my all to them. I love them all so much there are not words to describe it.

A Sunny Autumn Saturday

It was the most amazing way to woken up with a smiling face and shouts of "Daddy it's sunny" followed by are you getting up. When I looked out of the window Lucy was right it was a lovely start to the day and the weather forecast was right for once. It seems a long time since they got it spot on, it has been changing from one minute to the next. 

Hand in hand we trotted down the stairs and Lucy sat on the sofa with her blanket and I put on the television for her. After I made a coffee I sat down next to her and we had a cuddle while we watched "Bob the Builder" together. It wasn't long before her little tummy was rumbling and soon she was asking for breakfast. With a bowl of coco pops in front of her she settled down to eat with one eye on the television. Soon the bowl was empty and she settled down to watch a little  bit more television before she went off to find something to play with while I had a sit down and finished waking up. 

While Catherine and Emily were having a lay in after all their early mornings, Lucy and me set about making bread for lunch. She is so good at adding the ingredients for me. I just measured them out for her. Once again the only thing she didn't do was the flour, although she did try and help me sieve the flour but it was just to heavy for her. We used the same recipe that we used on Tuesday and we were hoping for the same results. She loves baking and making cakes, they all do.

With the bread on Lucy decided it was time to find some playmates and I agreed it was time that Emily and Catherine made an appearance. After all if they sleep in too long they wouldn't get to sleep later tonight, and it would put their sleeping pattens out. Soon Lucy was off upstairs to get them and all I could hear was Lucy telling them to wake up and that it was sunny. I followed her up after I heard movement to remind Catherine that her maths tutor was coming to day to do some work with her. It wasn't long before they were all downstairs and in the family room together and having fun.

At half ten, Catherine's math's tutor arrived and she settled down at the dinning table to get on with her work while Emily and myself put Plan A in place, "Operation Distraction". Thankfully it worked as there was no Plan B, Lucy was suitably busy not to disturb Catherine. It all revolved around playing outside in the garden and if need be taking George for a walk to the Church and back. The later wasn't needed and we managed to take up most of the time on the bicycle or doing stuff on the table outside by the shed. Meanwhile Catherine had a super lesson with her tutor as they worked out the things she needs help on to improve her grades.

Just before Catherine finished her lesson the bread maker went ping and the bread was done. It smelt absolutely yummy while it was cooking and when it came out looked just as good as it smelt. The idea behind the bread was to have it with some soup, but Emily and Lucy loved the pasta with the tomato sauce so much and they wanted that again. So in the end Catherine was the only person to have soup with her bread, which she cooked herself. They all sat down at the table to eat. Lucy and Emily ate most of their pasta and Lucy even finished off the last bit of soup that Catherine left. They all loved the bread and I must say it did taste as wonderful when I had some with my soup. 

With lunch over it was back to playing for the girls while I sat down and had a nice cup of coffee. Occasionally I was joined by Lucy jumping on my lap and giving me a cuddle before heading back off to play. I just love the way she does that and I will miss Lucy doing that when she grows out of it, like Emily and Catherine.

With the weather being so nice it would be have been a shame not to make the most of it so we headed out to the country park in Melton. As you will know if you are a regular reader all three of them love it there, so it is an ideal place to go with them and not too far away from Langham. So with Lucy in her wellington boots off we headed for some fun.

They were all excited by the time we got to the park. Emily was out of the car first quickly followed by Catherine. As they headed off to the climbing area Lucy headed off to the playground. Soon she was on the horse bouncing backwards and forwards before she headed off to the climbing frame. There she was pretending that the covered area was a house and that it was raining and she kept having to go indoors. At one point she found a stick and preteneded to put under bed in her house and went to sleep, but I'm not sure why. This game seemed to form the theme of her play even when she was on the other things to do in the playground. The only thing that stopped her game was when some other children came along and she wanted to make friends and asked them their names before she started following them and get them to play with her.

After playing with her new found friends for a little while, Catherine turned up to find out what Lucy was doing. Soon Lucy was playing her game again and this time roping Catherine in to play with her until Catherine got bored and they started playing chase. At first Catherine was the one being chased until Lucy decided she couldn't catch her so she swapped it round so she was the one being chased. Once Catherine had caught her they headed off together to go and find Emily. 

Emily was in woods where she had built a den the last  time she was there. Surprisingly it was still standing and other children had added to it and now there were bridges across a ditch to the climbing area. Emily was over the moon as you can imagine, she thought it would have been pulled down and wrecked the day after she built it. Clearly someone had been looking after it, maybe the boys that helped her build it. 

When they were all together they went in to play in the climbing area. I had managed to secure the aerial runway from some departing children. Lucy watched Catherine go down before deciding she wanted a go with Emily. She is not yet big enough to do it one her own, but I can see she wants to try. Moving from the runway to tree houses Lucy found some more friends to play with including a little girl a month younger than her. You could see how confident Lucy is when climbing and running around, the little girl she met need far more encouragement and help in doing things to do thing Lucy does with out thinking although they were the around same age.

Just before we left Lucy and I went round the flower garden. Even though it is late in the year there are still a few late flowing plants there. Soon Lucy was pretending it was my birthday and saying the flowers were all mine. It was really rather cute. Just before we left Lucy decided to jump in a large muddy puddle and made the biggest splash I had ever seen her make. Of course her trousers were covered in mud. If you ask me Peppa Pig has a lot to answer for!

When we got home Emily, Catherine and Lucy headed off to the family room to play while I got on with cooking dinner. On tonight's menu, Spaghetti Bolognese. As we had Catherine favorite yesterday it was only right that it was Emily's turn today. Every so often one of them would come into the kitchen and ask for a taste of the sauce. This procedure went on until the dinner was on the table, good thing I allow for it or there wouldn't be any sauce left. They all sat down at the table and when they were finished there was hardly anything left on their plates. For pudding they had strawberry trifle and it turns out that Lucy loves it, she ended up having third's although she didn't quite finish it she really gave it a good go. 

After dinner there was an hour or so for Lucy before bedtime. She made the most of it burning off all the energy on her bicycle and toy car and racing around the house. One of the good things about not having carpet at least she can have some of her outside toys inside as long as she is careful, which she is. At bedtime she had her bath and was soon listening to a stories in from Catherine, Emily and finally me. As usual I had to read her Q Pootle 5, before she got her kisses and cuddles and slipped off into the land of nod. I can't wait for it to come out on television so we can cuddle up and watch it together in the morning. 

With Lucy tucked up in bed it was time to rejoin everyone downstairs who were watching the X-Factor together in the living room. The show really getting interesting now and the count down to Christmas begins next week with the start of the live shows. I can't wait to have a coal fire again as the nights get colder and we can all cosy up together and watch the show. It will be interesting tomorrow night to see who has made it through to the final. Normally by now I have a few people that I want to make it through to the end, for some reason this year I don't but I'm still enjoying every minute of it. The end of the X-Factor signalled bedtime for Emily and Catherine and after helping me clean up the kitchen off they went to bed.

It has been a lovely day and I'm so glad the sun has come out and we got the chance to get outside and get some fresh air. I fear tomorrow going to be wet again and as I finish this the rain is pouring down outside. Although Sundays seem rushed it still would be nice to get out and at least take George for a walk with Lucy to the Church, who knows we might see the squirrels again. 

Wet and Windy

Autumn was well and truly with us this morning when I woke up. It was wet and windy and the only good thing was it was at least still mild. Not the sort of day to be going out and about in the countryside and parks or to cheer the heart. It would have been nice to have a sunny day for the first day of the month and I hope it isn't a omen of what is to come for the rest of the weekend.

It was one of mornings where Emily needed a lot pushing out of the door. She just didn't want to get up and get going. She just wanted snuggle back down and go to sleep, however with a bit of nagging she managed to make it out the door and into Oakham to just about make her first lesson of the day. Catherine although sluggish had no such problems and made it with ease to school as always. Now she not going with Emily she is never late.

With the girls in school I had time to sit back read the news on the BBC website before a shower and shave. It is really nice when the house is quite just to listen to the silence. With the windows closed unless a plane flies over then you hardly ever here a thing here. I'm sure a bit of silence is really good for the mind now and again and lets you think about the bigger picture and what you want from life and how to achieve it. 

As ten approached I set off for Oakham to get our little Lucy from her mummies. This nearly always puts me in a good mood these days and nothing can spoil that moment of seeing Lucy again. Today after I picked her up we headed off to the CoOp together for some important supplies. We needed some fresh bread, milk and lollipops for the toilet training. As we picked the lollipops off the shelves I explained what they are for and she was quite happy not to have one and wait for her rewards bless her. 

Soon we were home again only to be welcomed by George and a wagging tail. Soon Lucy was telling him to sit and bossing him about. He takes it all bless him without complaint. Most of the morning was spent inside the house there wasn't much else to do, it was pouring down nearly all day and the during the morning it was at it's worse. Lucy was quite happy playing round the house and managed to make an almighty mess getting toys out in the family room until she found what she wanted. The one thing she had most fun with was Catherine's bicycle helmet which she wore for ages as she drove her little car around the house. All the time I kept asking about going to the toilet and although she used it once the other times were more of an excuse to wash her hands again. At least now she is sitting on the seat and not complaining that she will fall in the toilet. So are we getting somewhere and are passed that problem. 

After lunch the nothing much changed in as far as what we did, it was still raining and we just played in the house until it was time to go to the supermarket to pick up supplies for the weekend. We tried to cover all the main meals and lunches so if the sun does come out over weekend we can make the most of the good weather. I really don't like being stuck in the house it doesn't feel like you are doing anything, but I guess I'm going to have to get use to it as we move towards the winter. I prefer the warm spring days and the summer when we can get out and about. I would rather be in a park with the girls than sitting at home. They get far more out of just letting off steam than just sitting around.

With the shopping out of the way it was time to head home to get Emily and Catherine from school. Of course they both got a big Lucy welcome when she saw them and she followed them around playing with them, making up for lost time. I just love the way they all get on most of the time. It's not like they don't fall out, that is bound to happen, but a lot of the time there just play together and all you hear is happy voices. That is what I like about families, the times of harmony and fun. They just eclipse the moments were it all seems not to be working. All you have to do is remember the good times and they are sure to come back. Yes, children can be difficult at times but that is part of their learning process and those times pass. 

For dinner we had a chicken curry with pilau rice and nan bread. It is Catherine favourite dinner and for her the hotter the better, Emily and Lucy however have to lace their curry with yogurt to cool it right down. All the same they all love the rice and enjoyed their meal and I think it makes the house smell lovely for the rest of the day. I discovered the curry sauces that we used completely by accident last weekend when we visited the farm shop at Ashwell. They are really yummy restaurant style sauces and the best I have ever tasted. 

Before bed time we did some cleaning together. Catherine and Lucy did the family room and Emily and myself did the kitchen. Catherine and Lucy did a really good job of cleaning up most of the mess that Lucy had mad during the day and emily was amazing in the kitchen cleaning the walls and the surfaces. Once we had finished there was just enough time for a quick play before Lucy's bedtime.

Everyone gave Lucy a bath this evening. I don't think there was one person that didn't help out at some point or another. She was so good in the bath and enjoyed it so much it was a struggle to get her out, but out she came and was soon wrapped in her ducky towel and sitting on my knee being dried and then dressed ready for bed.

Tonight she also wanted everyone to read her a story. Catherine went first, then Emily with a story about a potty, and finally it was my turn for the last story of the night. With kisses and cuddles from all the people that matter in her life she was soon asleep. She must have been worn out bless her because there wasn't a peep from her for the rest of the night.

With Lucy in bed it was time to do some final cleaning up for the day and put the last of her toys away for the morning. With the living room clear everyone could relax and Emily and Catherine want off to catch up on their favourite soap. Eastenders, before it was their turn to join Lucy in the land of nod.

Despite not being the best of days weather wise it has still been a good one on the whole. I would rather have got out a bit more and had some fun in the sun, but not everyday can be like that and I'm so looking forward to the rest of the weekend with the girls.