No Time at All

After having all the girls here for the weekend and Emily and Catherine at home on Monday it seemed odd not having any children here after half past eight in the morning.  It meant the morning dragged and afternoon just flew by after Lucy arrived as loads of little thing cropped up.

It was lovely and sunny when I woke up again this morning but once again the cold wind seemed to indicate that temperatures weren't going to sore to those we had at the end of April. In fact it turned out it was rather on the chilly side if you were out of the sun. The first part of the morning went to plan. Emily went off to get a lift to school with Charlie and Catharine after making her own lunch set off for school. 

With them both out of the way I settled down with a nice cup of coffee and sat and thought about events of the past week, trying to workout what is going on. Giving up on getting any answers I set about doing a bit of housework between looking at the news and checking and posting my blog. There are still some posts to finish. I guess they will get done when time allows.

This all took me nicely to noon when I headed out to get Lucy from her nursery. As soon as she saw me and made it through the gate her little arms went up for a cuddle. In my arms we walked to the car. She only let me put her down when we got to the car when she climbed into her seat and waited to be strapped in. On the way home we chatted, for all of the short journey to the house, she wass telling us whet she has done over the last few days that she could remember. 

Soon we were home and the afternoon really had begun after lunch, but unfortunately the question of having enough money to get through the week needed sorting out too. There just wasn't enough money to feed us all. Things are that bad after losing some work the month that couldn't be helped. It is at time like these I wish I worked full time, but then Emily, Catherine and myself wouldn't see Lucy as much and that is the compromise and the price we all pay.

So the afternoon was mainly spent sorting out the money problems, finding Lucy things to do and playing with her as much as I could between phone calls as well as working out some kind of food and fuel budget that would keep spending to a minimum. One things was for sure is that there will be no heating, so lets hope the weather improves. Still even without gas there wasn't enough for anything other than one more day's of food.

Over the course of the afternoon we managed to source some money so we had enough for food and fuel for me to get to work and limited electricity. With that money we all popped off to the supermarket to buy what food we could afford. Lucy fell asleep on the way. She must have been really tired. Thankfully everything came in on budget and although there was much choice in food at least we would have something to eat. It amazes me how people think I have money. I don't know where they get that idea from. Having money is just a dream that is going to have to wait for now.

When we got home there was only minutes left with Lucy on my own before Catherine came home. I tried to make the most of them but it felt like she had been here no time at all and I hadn't got to play with her although she seemed happy enough doing her own thing with a little help. She loved doing some drawing I set her off on at one point. She was drawing pictures of me with a head, arms, legs and no body. It is funny how they do that. It shows what they visually focus on at that her age. Emily and Catherine use to do the same thing.

With Catherine back home from school she started playing with Lucy and Emily joined them as soon as she got it. While they got on with playing and going to the park, I got on with dinner for the three of them and soon they were all sitting at the table eating dinner together. The had a grand time as always until it was time for Lucy to go back to Oakham. 

After her cuddles and kisses we departed the house with sweets in hand and I drove her back chatting as we went. Once we got to the door Lucy gave me a big cuddle and a kiss, the door was opened and after a few muttered words, I didn't catch, Lucy was gone again until Friday. I felt really emotional fifteen minutes afterwards and I'm not sure why.

The afternoon was so rushed. I value every minute I have with my family and I hate seeing other things getting in the way. I know that happens but I still don't like it. I feel in Lucy's case, in particular, guilty that I don't see her everyday, given she is still so young. That feeling hasn't gone away since her mummy left. I guess, I know how it feels to be Emily and Catherine;s mum now. It is not easy when you believe that families, and that extended family members should work together for the good of the children. All I can do is the best I can and not give up, and I never give up.

Something to look forward to

I was going through the what was on the hard disk of the digital television recorder last night and I came across the film Amelie that I didn't even know was still on there. It is not a American film or an English film but an example of the best of what the European film industry has to offer. In fact it is one of the many great films to come out of Europe that people just miss because as far the broadcasters in this country are concerned we can't be bothered to read subtitles. 

As a young adult I grew up with European films. Watching them in preference to a lot of the mainstream American films that were on television at the time. I just found them more interesting and more relevant being from a culture that was more akin to my own. Yes, you have to read the words on the screen if you can't speak the language and this is off putting for the first few minutes but after that it just becomes a natural thing to do. Once that is past you can sink yourself in to the story and the, in the case of Amelie, the beautiful use of colour and imagery.

I haven't seen this film in years but I'm really looking forward to seeing it again. There wasn't time last night watch more than a few minutes, but when there is time watching this film again is going to be a must. It is just beautiful in nearly every way. Most importantly in those few minutes I have realised I really miss a good film with thought and meaning behind it. The sort of films made in Europe and sometimes made by the more independent producers across the world.

Just a Quiet Day

After all the excitement of the weekend today has been really an anticlimax. The wind is cold and despite the lovely sunshine the temperatures haven't been anything to write home about. They never got much past the lower teens all day. Of course being a national holiday both Emily and Catherine are both off of school.

The morning was really quiet with Catherine getting up just after nine and Emily just before eleven. All they really did was potter around the house for the morning doing there own thing playing games, watching television and chatting to friends on the computer. The day for them really didn't start too much later for either of them.

Around lunchtime Charlie appeared as if by magic and spirited Catherine away with her, after playing around with both of the girls for a while. I think Emily was glad to have some space after all the excitement for the weekend. At one point we were going to play a computer game together but that never happened for various reasons. It was a shame really because it would have been a nice thing to do together. I sometimes feel now that Emily and Catherine are getting older and more independent that I really don't do as much with them as I did in the past. I miss that.

Catherine eventually appeared just before dinner with Charlie. It turned out they had had a picnic in the park, been playing at Charlie's house, and been out with friends around the village. It sounded like they had a fine time together for most of the afternoon. Emily meanwhile just enjoyed being left alone and having some space while listening to music and generally playing on the computer. The sort of thing that both of them carried on doing after dinner until it was bedtime.

With school tomorrow it is an early night for the girls. Emily has to be up at six thirty and Catherine by eight at the latest. There will be no laying in bed tomorrow morning for either of them. I hope they both have a great time at school seeing there friends again and manage to get some work done to. It must be hard for both them and the teachers with the way the holidays are this year. I really don't think the County Council really thought it out when they set the dates.

One of the things we did discover was who wrote the mystery card that I blogged about on the 26th March. Catherine found an old journal from a couple of years ago and we managed to match the handwriting. The only things that aren't clear is when it was made or how it ended up in the bag with Lucy. My guess is that is probably older rather than newer other than that it is a mystery.

It has been a strange old day without Lucy and having Emily and Catherine here all day. It's also been a long one. I don't know why I guess it has just been one of the those days that goes on and on and you get nothing done. A lazy day.

Artist of the Week - David Gilmour

Well this is where I show my age, but when you are talking about a guitar legend then I have no problem with that. This weeks artist of the week is David Gilmour the lead guitarist of Pink Floyd. One of the greatest guitarist of our times that has produced so many greats.

Well as you can imagine I first heard him playing with Pink Floyd. It was the music my elder peers would listen to as I was growing up. I just thought at the time it was old hat at the time, but as I got towards their age I realised there was something more than magical about the band. Latter as my ear became more refined I started to understand and appreciate what a great guitarist was. He has everything and his skill is amazing.

I'm not sure what you can say about David Gilmour that people don't already know, but let's give it a go. David Gilmour is an English rock musician who was born back in 1946. He is known best as being the lead guitarist of the band Pink Floyd. And the the rest is history which can read on Wikipedia. If you read it you will realise what an amazing artist he is and nice guy to boot.

I just hope that the tasters I have given you here shows this mans skill. I think they do. I have a lot of passion in my soul and music brings it to life for me. It is why music is so important to me. I love music and I love what this man is able do with a guitar. I hope you do too even if his music isn't to your taste. Great music is great music and if it makes you feel alive it is worth listening too, and if it makes you feel passionate what more could you want.

Finnally have you noticed all the clips I have picked are live. That is for a reason. Any performer that is as good live as they are on record are the ones worth listening too. I could have posted so may great clips of this man all of them live.

May Day

May has started off as April ended with a lovely sunny day. Thankfully the wind predicted in the weather forecast was no more than a breeze when I ventured outside first thing in the morning. Although not as warm as it has been it was a lovely day weather wise given the time of year. 

First up this morning was Catherine. She must be getting use to Emily's alarm because it was about the same time that is set for she woke. According to Catherine she just lay in bed until she heard Lucy wake and then went off into her room to read her some stories. It was at about quarter to eight that I heard a little person knock on the door wanting her breakfast. So I got up to joined them and as usual the first thing Lucy said was it was sunny, and when I opened the blinds she was right. It was a lovely morning.

As soon as they both got downstairs Catherine turned the television on for Lucy and after I got back from making my coffee they were both snuggled up together in the chair. I did take a picture but it came out blurred in the low light. It would have made a nice addition to the blog. Anyway it wasn't long after I finished my coffee that the requests for breakfast returned in and soon they were at the table eating together before Lucy carried on her food delivery game on her toy car from yesterday.

When Emily got up we discovered why Catherine had woken up so early, it turned out that Emily's alarm had gone off. She normally gets up at half past six in the morning to get ready for school and head for Charlie's. Anyway as soon as she got downstairs she headed into the family room to find Lucy and they played together before I got Lucy dressed and Emily and Catherine took her down to the park in the village. Just for fun I gave them an old camera that I bought at the Argos discount warehouse in Corby a few years ago for Lucy to take some pictures with, while giving my camera to Catherine to use.

By all accounts they had a great time in the park. Lucy's pictures didn't turn out too good but I guess that was to be expected. Give her time we will get her shooting like a pro once we can stop her finger covering the lens. As for enjoying herself, according to Lucy, she had fun on the slide and the rope bridge and loved chasing Emily and Catherine around the park. The rest of what she did she had forgot by the time she got home. All in all, they were out for about forty five minutes or so playing in the sun together. 

When they got home we set off for a quick trip to the supermarket to pick up something for lunch. Everyone wanted something different from what we had planned and so a compromise was needed and that meant popping out. In the end instead of a cooked meal we ended up with sandwiches which I guess was easier to prepare and quicker to eat. 

After lunch the all the girls played together inside and outside the house generally having fun until it was time to get Lucy ready to go back to Oakham. Since she didn't have a bath last night we gave her a bath and did her hair before she went home so she was all nice and clean. We washed her hair, I got her dressed, did her nails and Emily dried her hair. She looked really lovely when she left. Her hair was straight but not too straight that she still had a hint of her lovely curls. 

With her all ready she played in her bedroom for the last few minutes while I gathered her stuff together. After a kiss and cuddle from her sisters we both headed out to the car with some sweets she took a fancy to in her hand. The drive back to Oakham was lovely and we chatted as we went. I made her promise to be good and told her to have fun. All to soon I was I was heading back home again, smiling at all funny things that had happened over the weekend.

The rest of the afternoon has been quiet, as it always is after Lucy left. Emily and Catherine went back to doing there on separate things. Emily was in Lucy's room chatting to friends and watching television on the computer while Catherine took over the family room for herself with George. I don't think they felt like going out and enjoying the sun. Catherine was just too tired and I think Emily just wanted a rest from socialising, something she is doing more of now she is getting older. Shame really it was lovely and clear for most of the day.

For dinner Catherine at last got one of her favorite meals, chilli con carne. She can never have it as hot as she likes it or as hot as she use to have it, because  everyone else, other than me. complains too much. All the same she loved it and there was hardly any left on anyones plate so I must be doing something right on the cooking front. I still think if I up the heat in stages we might approach how Catherine likes it at some point. It's just a question of getting everyone use to the heat which to my mind leaves you just wanting more. 

With Dinner out of the way both Emily and Catherine went back to what they were doing before. Emily was playing a game she likes and Catherine watched a DVD on the television. This took them both up to bedtime and soon they fell asleep, ready for another day off school tomorrow.

I love having Lucy here and all the girls together. I wish now, given what happened last time Lucy was here for the weekend that I had arranged the extra night differently. It would be lovely to be waking up in the morning knowing they were altogether. It has been a nice weekend despite some of the things that have happened, but I'm a optimist and I think good will come if you wait long enough. From every low comes a high. Things have to get better.