Well done to Emily, Fern, Bev and Anne who took part in the Race For Life . It was great to watch them - felt a bit guilty not taking part myself - but some of us have to be there on the side lines to cheer them on.

Pathetic excuse I know - perhaps next year.... could add it to the growing list of events I reckon I might take part in....

Went on our first visit around a university yesterday. It only seems like yesterday that I was taking him round secondary schools. And hardly any time before that I was leaving him on his try out day at infants school.

This time you don't just need to get your head around the facilities and teaching on offer, it is also the accommodation. We went on a tour round some student halls of residence - which I am sure were of a very high standard - but seemed very plain and basic. I tried to big it up but not sure how convincing I was.

It is all very odd really - there can't be many other situations (other than going to prison) where you go along and are expected to live in close proximity to a number of other strangers, sharing bathroom facitilies and kitchens etc. But lots of people do it and I guess it is all part of being adaptable and flexible and all the other ..ble's that help us grow and develop into rounded human beings. (what an assumption that is!)

I'm beginning to tire of the world cup and it isn't even the second round yet. I never was much of a fan to start off with but at least I was quite tolerant.

Now every night seems to be turned over to football. I could cope with it a bit better if we only supported England - but the rest of the family seem to throw their allegiance to a different side a night.

Tonight it seems critical to follow the fortunes of Togo(!?!) Apparently if they win that means France won't, and that's good. We are going to France for our holiday in August so I think we'll have to keep quiet about this one...

Been for a lovely cycle round our local country park. It is becoming a regular event - all part of our fabulous fitness regime. In fact I feel it is creeping into a bit of an obsession. As soon as I get home from work, it's a quick change and off we go.

Today it was very windy - took the boys with us - younger one a bit grumpy as it was rather hard going. We streak ahead on our tandem leaving the kids to bring up the rear.

The picture above is not us - we wouldn't go out wearing matching outfits.....

I wouldn't describe myself as an ardent royalist but I do show a passing interest in what the royal family are up to - an interest that isn't shared by any other member of my family it seems.

I went to the East of England Show on Friday. My eldest son was playing in his school band so I went with a couple of friends to listen to them play and enjoy a day out looking at livestock (5 minutes) and the various stalls (5 hours) they have there. The weather was perfect and I had a great time.

A couple of hours after we came home, son mentioned that he had met Prince Edward earlier in the day. I was astounded he had not mentioned this before. It seems son was at the bakery stand filling in a kiddie's questionaire, when this group of dignatories came along. Son said he hadn't a clue who they were, his friend did slightly better and said she thought one was a member of the royal family. Prince Edward (sorry name dropping a bit now) said he had heard the band play earlier and thought they sounded good. They then had a little chat about the questionaire and whether son wasn't a bit too old to be taking part.

I was agog when he told me this. I'm very excited with his brush with royalty - well one us has to be. Slightly concerned by his lack of ability to spot one of the Queen's offspring. Perhaps this is a gap in his education - he's missed out on monarchy lessons somewhere along the way. I'll go and make up some flashcards now - and take remedial action.

Having the last word ........

My youngest son can be very contrary. People say it is just a phase but it has lasted for 10 years - and he is only 12.
This conversation today sums him up.

I walk past him putting on his shirt - it is inside out.
Me: Your shirt's inside out.
Him: No it isn't
(he carries on putting it on - then realises it is (YES I am right!!) and takes it off.)
Me: You always have to disagree with me don't you.
Him: No I don't.

I rest my case.....

I need some urgent advice. The children were given some sweets at the weekend - caramel with chocolate topping. Sadly they don't like them. Even sadder I do. I can't stop eating them. Large packet is nearly demolished.

The question is - is it better just to give in to temptation and eat the lot in one sitting - or try and ration them over, (well let's be realistic) two nights?

I seem to be favouring the 'eat them all in one go' tactic - but am I kidding myself that this is the best approach?

Think advice may be too late to help with this attack of the munchies but could steer me in the right direction in the future.

Past your sell by date.....

My mother - who is in her 80's (she'd love me for telling you that) just can't seem to get the hang of sell by dates. Whenever we go to her house I am always cringing at the age of some of the food she serves up. She isn't too bad with the things that I suppose really matter like meat and stuff - perhaps only a few days out - but there lurking at the back of her cupbaord will be some hoarded treasure which she decides to bring out at our family get togethers.

Yesterday there were 20 of us for Sunday lunch. Her nephew and his wife had come over to stay from Spain. So she had invited his cousins (me and my brothers) along with assorted aunts and uncles. As the dutiful daughter I was helping in the kitchen. She asked me to assemble an Eton Mess (strawberries, cream and meringue).

Even my limited culinary skills can't go too wrong there. Only problem was the meringues had a 'use by date' of July 2004. When I pointed this out she started muttering about stupid sell by dates etc etc. Anxious not to cause an international incident I checked for signs of mould and made the pudding. It tasted fine. No-one has been ill. Why then say 'use by July 2004'? Is it a ploy to get us to purge our cupboards and then buy more stuff?

I must admit to being a bit of a slave to the date - I do regularly chuck things out when I think they are past their best. But perhaps these things past their prime could be some of the friendly bacteria we hear so much about??

Steaming ...

I am steaming.
A couple of weeks ago I told a colleague, D, about an idea I had to save the company some money.

Today I was in Head Office and met up with one of the directors. We had a little chat and he told me he was very excited about an idea D had told him. You guessed it, it was my idea.

I could not believe it.

What should I have done? Should I have told him that I’d suggested it to D? I thought that would have sounded a bit petulant. Should I have spoken to D about it? Not my style – much as I would like it to be.

So what did I do? I said it was a very good idea and I'd thought about it too. Pathetic!

Just Do It

I have decided that I am flakey. I'm all talk. Those that know me are probably thinking - hooray - at last - she's realised.

My problem is I have all these grand ideas but never follow through on them. Two recent examples - I decide to run next year's London marathon. I made this momentous decision a month ago - I acknowledged the training committment involved - but have spent more time choosing new outfits to wear than actually getting out there running.

Example number two - I decided not to spend money buying unhealthy mayonaise laden sandwiches at work, but to make my own more healthy options. Would have the effect of saving money and losing weight. Fantastic result that would be - go some way towards the 2lb a week weight loss I was promising on this blog a couple of weeks ago. So far I have managed to spend a lot of time and effort choosing a lovely new lunch box to carry healthy lunch to work - but have only managed to make healthy lunch once. And promised for weight loss - if I'm honest I've probably put on a few pounds.

These things may not matter much, but when I think about it, I'm not setting a very good example to my children. If they follow my lead they won't be getting very far. So in future there is going to be more discreet goal setting, with quiet perserverance and committment - and try to avoid grand declarations......

A lovely summer's evening...

Went round to Bev and Alan's last night for an impromptu bbq. It was the first day of the year when the sun shone and the wind was not blowing a freezing force 10 gale. So the need to get together, drink wine and watch men cooking lots of meat was strong . I had a lovely time - all boxes ticked. Thanks Bev.

Something for those madly revising .....

Friend at work found these in the Daily Mail, so whilst you are working away trying to cram knowledge and perhaps feeling you know nothing, here are some quiz show questions and the answers contestants gave - hopefully to make you feel a bit cleverer.....

Q: Arrange these two groups of letters to form a word - CHED and PIT
A: Chedpit


Q: Which 'S' is a type of whale that can grow up to 80 tonnes?
A: Ummm....
Q: (being helpful) It begins with 'S' and rhymes with perm
A: Shark


Q: How many kings of England have been called Henry?
A: I know there was a Henry the Eighth ..... ummm 3?


Q: Where do you think Cambridge University is?
A: Don't know.
Q: The clue is in the name.
A: Leicester?


Q: What was Ghandhi's first name?
A: Goosey Goosey?


Q: What happened in Dallas on November 22, 1963?
A: I don't know, I wasn't watching it then.



Q: What is the capital of Italy
A: France
Q: France is another country - try again
A: Benidorm
Q: No - let's try another question - in what country is the Parthenon?
A: Don't know.
Q: Just say any country
A: Paris.


oh dear..........