It was a first for me last night....shopping at 9.45pm I mean. Shopping has always been a
problem for me so there is really no right or wrong time to shop or should I say anytime is the wrong time to shop. However I digress. Jamax came in last night to tell me confidentially that he had forgotten to look in his homework book and now...just now realised that he needed a cake ..
A CAKE? Well of course, just how big do you want it? His 14 years on earth almost came to an abrupt end when I realised this was not a joke but that he really did need a cake and
ingredients to decorate same - pronto. 'Could n't you just make me one now nanny?'
Ohhhhhhhhhhh!
This is what led to us both rushing into a supermarket with just 15 minutes to closing time looking for a plain cake etc., We found one of sorts and he dare not ask why it was not round as his teacher had instructed. He set off this morning with said cake, icing sugar, colouring and flavouring plus a small plaque saying 'Happy Birthday' (to some poor unfortunate soul). We did not go into the reasons why a tech lesson involves bringing a plain, cooked cake and the decorations. I was sorely tempted to buy a beatifully decorated cake for him to take for a ride to school and the bring home again for tea. Can't wait to see what he makes of creating some decent icing - it's not aneasy task. Hope he leaves it on the bus! He is fortunate that I love him.
Thursday, 14 July 2011
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
A Prayer for today
Dear Lord, So far today I am doing alright.
I have not gossiped, lost my temper,
been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or self indulgent.
I have not complained, whined or cursed and have not eaten any chocolate.
I have charged nothing on my credit card.
BUT......I will be getting out of bed in a minute Lord and I think that
I will really need your help then.
I have not gossiped, lost my temper,
been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or self indulgent.
I have not complained, whined or cursed and have not eaten any chocolate.
I have charged nothing on my credit card.
BUT......I will be getting out of bed in a minute Lord and I think that
I will really need your help then.
Monday, 11 July 2011
On the news today........
Today apparently the USA withdrew a donation to Pakistan of £300 million, this has been in addition to the 1 billion a year over the past ten years to help keep the army on the alert.
It would seem that the US think the Pakistanis have been less than vigilent by allowing Osama bin Laden to live next to their largest Millitary base for the past 8 years without 'finding' him; and now the Pakistanis are mad because the American Commandos invaded their soil to capture and kill him without telling the Pakistani government. Whatever the whys and wherefores of the arguments how can we ever understand those vast sums of money? Now the Pakistanis say they don't need the money so we might think as there is a famine in Ethiopia of catastophic preportions and thousands of people are dying; the money that the Pakistanis 'do not need' might simply be given to the aid agencies and put to better use in Africa - but no my mind is far too simple. All the mighty brains have to get together on many occasions to discuss where these huge sums of money might be redirected and that will take many more years than it did to direct it to Pakistan in the first place.
What a crazy world we live in.
It would seem that the US think the Pakistanis have been less than vigilent by allowing Osama bin Laden to live next to their largest Millitary base for the past 8 years without 'finding' him; and now the Pakistanis are mad because the American Commandos invaded their soil to capture and kill him without telling the Pakistani government. Whatever the whys and wherefores of the arguments how can we ever understand those vast sums of money? Now the Pakistanis say they don't need the money so we might think as there is a famine in Ethiopia of catastophic preportions and thousands of people are dying; the money that the Pakistanis 'do not need' might simply be given to the aid agencies and put to better use in Africa - but no my mind is far too simple. All the mighty brains have to get together on many occasions to discuss where these huge sums of money might be redirected and that will take many more years than it did to direct it to Pakistan in the first place.
What a crazy world we live in.
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
More thoughts on teenagers!
Have you ever thought how much teenagers have in common with cats?
1 Neither teenagers nor cats turn their head when you call their name.
2 No matter what you do for them, it is not enough. Indeed, all humane efforts are barely adequate to
compensate for the privilege of waiting on them hand and foot.
3 You rarely see a cat walking outside the house with an adult human being, and it can be safely said
that no teenager in his or her right mind wants to be seen in public with his or her parents.
4 Cats and teenagers can lie on the living-room sofa for hours on end without moving.
5 Both cats and teenagers eat some very odd things - at very odd hours.
6 Cats are obsessed with themselves and their appearance. Teenagers........!
CATS HAVE NINE LIVES. TEENAGERS JUST ACT AS IF THEY DID.
1 Neither teenagers nor cats turn their head when you call their name.
2 No matter what you do for them, it is not enough. Indeed, all humane efforts are barely adequate to
compensate for the privilege of waiting on them hand and foot.
3 You rarely see a cat walking outside the house with an adult human being, and it can be safely said
that no teenager in his or her right mind wants to be seen in public with his or her parents.
4 Cats and teenagers can lie on the living-room sofa for hours on end without moving.
5 Both cats and teenagers eat some very odd things - at very odd hours.
6 Cats are obsessed with themselves and their appearance. Teenagers........!
CATS HAVE NINE LIVES. TEENAGERS JUST ACT AS IF THEY DID.
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
'very gifted children'
I was booked to do a tour for a group of 'highly gifted children' yesterday and worried more than usual beforehand imagining high flying questions about architecture or a subject of my least expertese from a load
of little smart asses. However they were lovely kids quite out of their depths until we reached every child's
favourite character from history - Henry V111. At one point I was telling them of one of the Abbot's of yesteryear and said he was known as a 'workaholic' and expected all his community of monks to be the same as he which did not make him very popular. Seeing what I thought might be a few blank faces I said rather condescendingly 'are you all familiar with this term - workaholic?' - lots of nodding heads so I said 'explain it please someone' and a very bright kid from the group said - 'Abbot David drank a lot and forced them all to join him' amazingly this was accompanied by a lot of nodding heads. Mmmm! and I was really worried about
'highly gifted children'...... that was just the answer I would have expected from my favourite boy in all the world,
my grandson, Jamax, who though is perfect cannot be called 'highly gifted' when it comes to academia.
Lovely afternoon spent with some amazing kids - how lucky I am.
of little smart asses. However they were lovely kids quite out of their depths until we reached every child's
favourite character from history - Henry V111. At one point I was telling them of one of the Abbot's of yesteryear and said he was known as a 'workaholic' and expected all his community of monks to be the same as he which did not make him very popular. Seeing what I thought might be a few blank faces I said rather condescendingly 'are you all familiar with this term - workaholic?' - lots of nodding heads so I said 'explain it please someone' and a very bright kid from the group said - 'Abbot David drank a lot and forced them all to join him' amazingly this was accompanied by a lot of nodding heads. Mmmm! and I was really worried about
'highly gifted children'...... that was just the answer I would have expected from my favourite boy in all the world,
my grandson, Jamax, who though is perfect cannot be called 'highly gifted' when it comes to academia.
Lovely afternoon spent with some amazing kids - how lucky I am.
Saturday, 2 July 2011
St John the Silent
I read today that there is an actual Saint called 'St John the Silent' who stayed in his room for 75 years
(probably suffered from agoraphobia before anyone had heard of it) refusing to talk or be nice to anyone.
Two things struck me, firstly what on earth did he ever do to become a Saint and secondly could this be the
patron Saint of sulky teenagers?
(probably suffered from agoraphobia before anyone had heard of it) refusing to talk or be nice to anyone.
Two things struck me, firstly what on earth did he ever do to become a Saint and secondly could this be the
patron Saint of sulky teenagers?
Friday, 1 July 2011
Duane Eddy
I read this week that the old rock and roller Duane Eddy has published his first album in 25 years and at 73
years old is about to embark on a tour of the UK. Wow! that news took me back a few years and brought
lovely memories of people I used to know. In those far off days I worked in the offices of a multi national company who never stinted on treats for it's staff - we had many. Every year the Office Manager called us all together to plan the Christmas party when we would provide the entertainment and the company would provide a sumptuous spread served by a waitress or two. One lovely young man who always provided the music was
again asked to bring along his 'records' but said the Office Manager pompously - 'Could we have something else please Rodney apart from your constant supply of Eddy Duane music?' A reverend hush fell upon us all
as we saw Rod's face as he heard his great hero so maligned. The laugh was on the Boss when we all burst into raucous cheers and laughter as he really had no idea what a faux pas that was in those rock and roll years.
years old is about to embark on a tour of the UK. Wow! that news took me back a few years and brought
lovely memories of people I used to know. In those far off days I worked in the offices of a multi national company who never stinted on treats for it's staff - we had many. Every year the Office Manager called us all together to plan the Christmas party when we would provide the entertainment and the company would provide a sumptuous spread served by a waitress or two. One lovely young man who always provided the music was
again asked to bring along his 'records' but said the Office Manager pompously - 'Could we have something else please Rodney apart from your constant supply of Eddy Duane music?' A reverend hush fell upon us all
as we saw Rod's face as he heard his great hero so maligned. The laugh was on the Boss when we all burst into raucous cheers and laughter as he really had no idea what a faux pas that was in those rock and roll years.
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