Margaret's Mother

As you can imagine, I don't write much these days, mainly due to time constraints - actually it's nearly been three years(!)  Blimey.  Well, just to bring things up-to-date, Nick and I split a couple of years ago and I've been alone ever since, which doesn't really worry me because it means that I can allow my ladyscaping to grow a bit wild(!)

My Aunt Marjorie died at the weekend who was Margaret's mother.  I can't say that I ever really warmed to the woman, but it's always sad to mark a passing.  I have offered to help out with the funeral arrangements.

Welcome back....

Clearly I don't really use this blog enough but I am back. The last six months or so have been 'challenging' - Nick's long gone and it's just me and Seb, still residing in suburbia. Today was one of my days off and I had my hair cut and ran a few errands in a neighbouring 'burb. A woman in the hairdressers was being given a set of hair extensions which immediately reminded me of the wedding scene in Kath and Kim where the latter's hair switch adheres to her bottom and she's subsequently mounted by a randy horse. Hilarious! I was just getting into the cleaning and ironing (you know how much I love that kind of thing...) when the phone rang - it was the school calling to say that Seb had tripped in the playground, grazed his face and had to be collected. Oh well, let's just say that my son's skin is covered in at least 50% grazing at the moment - I suppose that's boys for you!

Twenty Twelve

Well, the new year's upon us and what a beautiful start too - grey outside and spitting. I'm sitting here typing away, Seb's in the front room watching an inordinate amount of rubbish on Nick Jnr and the gerbils are gnawing away - yes, I have gerbils, they're very sweet and munch cardboard all day with their sharp little teeth. I have named them Rachel, Monica and Phoebe after the girls in Friends. I can see Rachel breaking the mould though but not without considerable personal pain and unrestricted access to her private life.

Sorry I haven't written for ages, lazy I know but I've had writer's block which seems to be lifting. This new year's going to be all change for me as I've got a new job in the civil service starting on Tuesday, 17th January, I've no doubt there are lot of engaging challenges ahead.

Nick and I are still together although if I'm honest the relationship has faded a little. He's currently in Suffolk with his family and will be returning later on today prior to taking us all out to London tomorrow. Hurrah, it'll be nice to get out of the house.

Do you know what?

I haven't written for ages but I really felt the need today. Since I last posted Seb's started school and has been formally diagnosed with mild to medium autism; I can't say that dealing with either issue has been particularly easy but I'm getting there - Nick's been a great help and I'm very grateful to him.

As for the rest, do you remember that I'd experienced issues with a clingy and overbearing friend from my NCT antenatal group back in June? As a consequence I'd not attended any of the parties to avoid her? I'd been in contact with one of the others who'd promised that we'd meet up at some point but nothing ever came of it? Well, I looked on Facebook today and lo and behold there's a series of pictures pertaining to a Halloween party. How cosy. Petty I know but I deleted and blocked the lot of them. They knew about Seb's autism too because I told them at the Christmas Party but nobody cared to ask for any updates.

Right, moan over - I'm attending the school Parents' Association AGM next Friday to get involved and meet new people.

Wet Saturday

Last night's date was amusing - Nick sought Margaret's advice regarding the choice of restaurant and her, well being Margaret, suggested the venue for her 40th birthday - The Bienvida. I suppose it was both retro and amusing, Nick was slightly mortified, but we had an enjoyable evening. Being a Friday night there was entertainment laid on for the lucky diners, tonight's act was a Tina Turner tribute act. She was ok actually, I'm not sure if the septuagenarian male sitting near the makeshift stage really appreciated the power of Ms Turner's performance, but I suppose it gave us all a bit of a laugh.

Nick's just left for Wood Green; he has to attend a residents' evening riot fundraiser tonight, which I'm sure is as exciting as it sounds. I could spend the time dusting this room couldn't I? Yes, I suppose I could, but I don't think I will. Laziness abounds.

Right, I suppose that gives me a bit more time to write about my relationship with my late/estranged husband doesn't it? Well, he split from his long-term girlfriend and categorically stated that he wasn't interested in another relationship which I respected. Anyway after a couple of times of meeting up and various fumblings I accepted that but the office gossip told me that he was 'seeing one of his female friends' and indeed he was. I fell out with him for a long time after that, I thought he was pathetic. Sadly, I got re-involved with him a few years later, I can't say that I'm proud of that so I won't go into details.

Childcare dot com

This is now the third day I've looked after my son Seb in a week, it may not seem like a great deal but for me it's a bit of a record these days. Days have become very routine - breakfast, walk to a local playground (two different ones in two days now - a veritable 'playground crawl'), lunch, baking, TV, reading, maybe even some colouring. I can't say that I hate it but couldn't imagine being a stay at home mum, perhaps that's because I'm a rubbish housewife or hausfrau as the Germans call it. I am looking at the airer which contains a huge pile of ironing, the only way I like to iron is in front of the TV, but there's currently only one set in this house and Seb's currently bagged it.

Mum's taking Seb overnight because Nick's taking me out for a romantic meal. The venue's a secret and he's told me to dress up. Reflecting on my relationship with Nick is quite nice really, it contains none of the fireworks, worry and passion of my late husband, which can only be a good thing.

I don't think I've ever said how I met Roger Cuffley, well it was back in late 1994 I'd completed my secretarial studies and it was difficult to find a job during that particular recession. Anyway, Roger, I and about 150 other recruits began work at the records department of a huge central Government Department; he was a recent graduate, ambitious and looking to progress, I just wanted a job. He worked in a section which mended broken microfiche records (we are talking about the late twentieth century here!) which I'd wittily dubbed 'Peter's Poking Section' (you clearly had to be there to understand that joke). On first acquaintance he was darn cute, brown hair and eyes, olive skin, medium build and a cheeky demeanour - I was hooked. Sadly, he had a long-term girlfriend and that was that really. I'll fill you in with the rest of the story during a later post - the ironing pile's calling me.

The history of Miss Polly

Oh, just to let you know that Polly was charged with theft and public disorder at the weekend as part of last week's London riots. Apparently she smashed the Wimpy Bar's windows in and stole 35 burger buns, 20 'bender' sausages and 12 catering packs of fries. I've thrown her out and retained her deposit in lieu of the clean up job I'll have to do on the spare room and to cover the cost of a taxi to transport her belongings back to her mother's house. No more lodgers!