Um July...sorry I've been busy

We've just done an hour of manic weeding, battling the fading light to try and get it done before watering. This was preceeded by all six of us lifting the doryphore (colorado beetles) off the potato plants - an incredibly boring and time consuming job that Toby has been largely doing on his own every day for the last 10 days or so.

No problem too great

I don't know what is the matter with me at the moment - my normal get up and go seems to have got up and gone while I was looking the other way. Perhaps it is the usual February thing - fed up with winter, although we have had two stunning spring days and today is a third, and yesterday we mananged to plant the 40 new strawberry plants, rather than watching them rot in their plastic bag in the hall. I think the thing is I have still got too many things on my 'to do' list: too much that I should be doing (washing, cleaning, changing sheets, writing the French description of a house that we visited about 2 weeks ago, etc.) and too many other things that I would like to be doing (walking with dogs, exercising my poor old muscles, reading the EODD, reading anything, cooking the lunch, writing this blog and so on).

Part of my lethargy stems, I am sure, from the fact that I am fat. 73.9 kilos at the moment. Now, for me, that doesn't mean anything because I was brought up in stone and ounces, so it really hasn't sunk in just how overweight I am. I think I should be about 65 kilos so I should be aiming to lose about 10. But this is all so much jibberish - measuring in kilos is a self-kiddery which completely defeats the object of weighing at all. So I've just taken the plunge and converted my weight into stone: 11.637257982490201 aaaargh - I knew it. That's over 11 and a half stone! Jes-us - no wonder I feel old and tired.

So I need some goals: well Sylvie and Magali are having a party to celebrate their PACS (civil wedding)next weekend so that's a start. Obviously it's too soon for me to have made a huge difference but schools are back tomorrow so no more late nights and long lie-ins; the new disciplined me awakes tomorrow with sensible eating and exercise plan.

The following deadline is April 2nd for the mayor's party, and then, of course, the summer! I am going to jump off the viaduct with a piece of elastic round my ankles this summer and I do not want to be waddling around with no clothes on this year - a bikini-ready body is imperative! I'll let you know how I get on.

Birthday party

 

 

Yesterday Harriet and Fred went to a birthday party of the eldest son of a family with five chidren and two mothers, let's call them M & S. They are lesbians, although I assume this has not always been the case as evidenced by the kids. And before you all start shouting, I have heard of the turkey baster method, among others, but I think, in this case there were actual fathers around. I'm no expert and I'm not sure how you define these things, or perhaps one shouldn't try for fear of being pejorative but I find this a fascinating subject - endless food for thought. They have had relationships with men and for one reason or another have ended up together. Anyway, I was just wondering about how the children (4 boys, one girl) might be affected by the absence of father. Reminds me of a line from a B B King song: 'I gave you 7 children and now you won't give them back';

In the late 80's and early 90's I used to work for Centrepoint Soho, housing the young homeless in London; an organisation which is (or was then)staffed almost entirely by gays and lesbians, which was fun, I enjoyed it and was educated. Here in rural France, never mind that 15 years have gone by, there is so much more prejudice that it's hard to broach the subject in a sensitive way, especially since my language skills are rather limited. So, I find myself waiting for information to be volunteered. Yesterday, M was saying that she doesn't know how to give mother's love having grown up in a foster home and never knew her mother. She only knew her father from the age of 12, and he died when she was 18! So I remind myself not to be judgemental and to count my giant heap of blessings.

Generally the French are not judgemental; they don't judge each other in a negative way like we do in England. Wait, this should be a new post. Please add your comments; it is nice to know that people are reading the blog. I was wrong in the beginning.

Two sick kids and a dead dog, including Harriet's blog

 

Terrible day yesterday. Anna had to be put down.

Here's the story: she and The Mean Dog from next door have had an ongoing battle for ever. He has taunted her mercilessly and they growl and bare their teeth a lot whenever they see each other. Well, it seems that on Sunday his heckling finally got too much for her and in frenzied attack she tore him to pieces leaving blood and flesh all over the road. Jean Jacques was understandably very distressed and even the vet was apparently quite taken aback by the amount of damage.

Toby and I knew at once that our only option was to have her put down. Once a dog has attacked you cannot keep it with a clear conscience - imagine if it had been a child! So Toby took her up to the vets and stroked her face while she had the injection. He said he felt treacherous as she trusted him and he betrayed her.

Since then we have all been feeling sad and empty. We all miss her.

So on to the sick kids bit. Harriet and Gus have both spent today in bed as they have really bad coughs. Here is Harriet's blog:

This is dedicated to me, myself and I

Okay, so I'm doing this because I am bored and it's something to do. I'm in bed, ill. I suppose I'm mad but if anyone reads this you can write your comments but I might not read them. I can't believe Anna (our dog) has been put down xx So only Elsa (Anna's daughter) and Lizzy(little yappy black dog); but my best friend's dog is pregnant so fingers crossed.

I like being in bed but my feet are getting a bit numb. Next step is pins and needles. My bedroom is quite (not very) tidy; it feels me. I know a boy who has a Wii, an xbox 360 mega and a laptop in his bedroom. oh yeah, and a telly. I wouldn't like all that. Just maybe a telly. And a PC. Sorry about the appalling handwriting, it's horrible but maybe next time it will be better.

Just 1 word is bothering me - school. I must have loads of work and catching up to do. I like school it's okay I suppose but I miss having fun with my family. Learning - another one of those words. Your parents are saying you need to try harder; Your teacher says you need to improve. Pressure. They put too much of it on you and you need a break. Weird :)

But right now I don't want to think about 1.school 2. learning or 3. pressure. No, I want to think about hmmm lunch. One for all and all for lunch. Funny saying that, I got it out of a book called Maggot Pie by Michael Lawrence. It's quite funny.

New Year's Resolutions

Make pigs fly (no, that one's silly)
Make my bed every morning (that's if I get out of it)
Write nicer (starting from...... NOW)
and others

Now, this may sound weird but it was weird: Daddy was asleep on the sofa and I was watching telly. Elsa came to me and licked me so I told her to do it to Daddy. She did. She never understands me, I mean come on, what kind of a dog without training knows what "don't lick me, go and lick daddy instead" means? You have to teach dogs everything.

I can't stop blowing my nose and it's really annoying. I'm going to ask Mummy if my lunch is ready yet. And I'm going to ask her by dun dun dun phone. Yep, phone easy and it doesn't cost a penny and I don't get my feet cold; WOW. Ok - be back in five. cough cough blow blow (I told you I'm ill)

Done. That was easy. I'll need to hide this while she's in here though. I am going to put Fantastic Mr Fox on so I have something to listen to. While she's up here I might ask her to change my hot water bottle. See how cheeky I am. Well at least she doesn't have to come back up here afterwards. I just heard from my tape 'Bean was a turkey and apple farmer' ok, thanks for letting me know

Ooh this soup is lovely; so creamy and yummy. slop. Got to go now as I am eating my soup (or drinking)

I love my room, it's lovely and it makes a lovely writing room. Now Mummy wants to read this for some reason and I think she will laugh. Bother, I forgot to ask mummy to fill up my hot water bottle. Oh well, I will ask her next time; I am so not bored so not. I wonder if Daddy's finished on the phone. He has; he just came in asking for my mug and bowl (soup and hot lemon squash mmm)so I would say he's finished. I'm sad I'm not at school but hey, if I want to get better I am going to have to stay in bed. Freddy will bring my school work home.

I wonder if 3 pages is enough maybe yes. Bye bye me, myself and I

Harriet or Hedgy

COMMENTS

If anyone bothers to read this please leave a comment please please please and say who it's from. I suppose I might know by the handwriting but that's unlikely. Thanks. Harriet.

I'm here. I know, I brighten the room.

I just read this on sleep talking man which incidentally I am really enjoying.

It reminded me of what people used to say about my grandfather (apparently - he died before I was born)which was that he was so loved, and so confident that everybody would always love him that he positively brightened a room when he entered! I would be proud if I could instill this sort of confidence in my children - what is the secret? I don't think positive affirmations are the answer - although they certainly help me. I wrote this six and a half years ago and I think Gus and Freddy both have this gift! What a joy - Gus suddenly emerged from being an incredibly shy little boy to being full of confidence, handsome, tall and funny and Freddy too, although he is still only 15 has an amazing confidence that makes everyone adore him.

sun days

Sunday morning - it's very damp outside, the children are making pancakes for breakfast and are in very high spirits; lots of whooping and making up crass jokes. Handsome husband has just brought me a lovely cup of tea, proving that he is kind and considerate as well as handsome. How lucky am I?

I am in the middle of negotiations for the clients I drove around with in the ice and the snow; you remember, the ones that had tea and coffee with the sellers; who have absolutely fallen in love with the house that they looked at purely for comparison purposes; it is on the market for 35k more than they wanted to spend. Bound to happen really, as it is about 35k nicer than the others! The wheeling and dealing has gone back and forth a few times so far and I am currently waiting for the sellers to get back to me on the most recent offer (only 5k less than the asking price) so fingers crossed.

It is now Sunday evening and Toby and I have been at the lemon drops (with chilli vodka; we didn't have any plain vodka in the house). Cor, quite a kick! Nice tho'.

Tomorrow morning we are due to take on a house with six owners, which can be tedious as it takes forever to get the mandate signed. But it's in a lovely village and is cheap!

I need to get some photos on this blog - anyone know how to do it?

Bedtimes

We didn't go to bed till three last night, so getting up this morning full of beans and ready for ten sun salutations or an fym workout just wasn't gonna happen. I crawled up at ten to seven,with sore eyes and no zest for life; Gus was still in bed so I had a little chat with him and offered him scrambled egg immediately. The big two got off in time for the bus and the little two were late for school which was entirely my fault for not being ready to take on house which is almost two hours drive from here. (Normally we wouldn't contemplate going that far but it is for a friend.) Anyway, apart from the strength and stamina thing going by the wayside we did manage to achieve what we were supposed to. Nice house too, but quite a schlepp from here if anyone ever wants to view it.

Fred rather pointedly asked me if we could get to school on time tomorrow! Just to be sure I'm off to bed now. It's ten to ten. This is almost unheard of!