A new addition to our challengers!!

Lots of fantastic news this week. The first being that another blogger has joined Tilly and I in our challenge. You can peruse her very inspiring list here. She intends to start on May 1st. Exciting!

I have completed a task!

Yes, I have added a poll to my blog. It may look quite simple, but to be honest, it was a time consuming task. I continually changed the question, then the answers, then couldn’t work out the technicalities of how to not make it disappear. But finally *drum roll please* it worked! Have you voted yet?

Actually, I quite like it, and I may at some point, do another one!

I bought myself a new cookery book. One down four to go. I love cookery books, especially good ones, so this is a pretty easy challenge for me. I limited myself to five, just because I don’t want to bankrupt us :-).

I started my dates with Joni. We went on a shopping spree. Apparently, that’s the perfect date for a 15 year old. Now we are bankrupt.

I watched two films, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (the children loved it) and yesterday on a girlie afternoon, (involving cutting and pleating endless amounts of hair) Serendipity. A romantic comedy. Kind of sweet. I told my 4 year old to look away during the sex scenes. Afterwards, she told me that she was a bit cheeky and sneaked a peak. Then she informed me that sex is ‘hugging’.

Sometimes it’s quite difficult trying to amuse ages 15, 12, 10 and 4 simultaneously.

I can’t believe it, but I actually posted five blogs. Doesn’t seem like it (but I counted).  Which is particularly good going for the Easter holidays.

The visiting countries and flags have gone up. To be honest, they kind of work on their own. 😀

I have started trying wines, but haven’t found any that I would want to drink again. Though we did finish the bottle, in the spirit of not being wasteful.

Finally, I tried out my first new restaurant, and I even took a picture. I think I’m going to really enjoy this challenge.

I can honestly tell you that I have never eaten in a predominantly pink room before. 🙂

The bad news is that the herb garden has died. Shrivelled. Gone back to seed.

I think I have to work on the ‘watering’ part of my tasks. But I have seeds left and I will persevere.

A mother’s pride

My son has been taking part in a school holiday program since Tuesday, giving us girls the opportunity for some girlie time.

Today culminated in a presentation by both the kids on and the organisers of the course. As usual, my family stood out from the crowd.

Aden, along with three other boys had built himself a set of stilts. Sadly, he wasn’t allowed to bring them home, but I’ve made his dad promise to make another set with him, because he exuded talent in staying aboard the wooden sticks and even proved himself to be a talented footballer on wooden legs.

The organisers then informed us that our children would guide us through the building. But Aden had already departed the scene, snaking his way through the visitors to return to a delicious blue dessert he’d already prepared earlier. While he served an onslaught of visitors, we wandered somewhat disoriented through the corridors, in search of toilets.

We arrived for dessert and coffee last, of course, then settled our extensive family at a shared table. The other rather quiet family, were no doubt, overjoyed.

After a few technical difficulties the show began with how the children had made homemade spinning tops from CD’s. Spinning top, it would seem, is a similar word in German to circle, so I completely misunderstood the presentation (and the excitement) as I spent the whole time waiting for something fantastical made out of circles. I kept whispering to my husband, as politely as I could, “I don’t get it?!?” It would seem, even though he’s actually a bona fide German, that he didn’t get the excitement bit either.

Nevermind, at least Akasha was present for the entertainment factor. Desperate never to miss out on a meal she reminded us throughout the presentation, that the blue delight she ate must be categorised as, “not dinner, but lunch!” (even though we’d just eaten lunch before entering the building). Evidently she said it loudly enough and often enough to irritate visitors from another table, who also ended up telling the noisy one to: “Shhhh!” in a commanding tone.

The presentation drew to a close with various pictures of the children’s activities during the week. My husband had again left his glasses at work (I swear I’m going to buy him one of those neck strings) and repeatedly asked if our son was in the picture. Luckily though, he spotted him in the one small film that was shot. That of a young boy waving a hammer around madly, just missing his own head.

The audience gasped and laughed accordingly.

We were later informed that he was attempting to hit an annoying fly.

That explains it then.

The organiser finished with a “…thank you for coming…” and  a “… hope you enjoyed the show…” To which my husband whispered to me calmly, “Not really!”

“Not really?” yelled out four-year-old Akasha, “Not really? Is that a joke?”

I’m so glad I live in a country where English is well-spoken by almost everyone.

First ever poll

I have just discovered a feature on WordPress that I had no idea existed. I’ve ascertained that there’s a timer feature, allowing me to set up posts to be published at any pre-determined time I like. Now, how cool is that?

So reader, I’m asking you now for some feedback, in order to identify what time of day you prefer to read my (or any other) blog:

Are we ready yet?

We are off to a birthday party this morning. It’s a bit of a drive so I have categorically stated that I want to leave in one hour.

That’s because at midday, the birthday girl has organised a horse-drawn carriage ride for those who want to take part.

Very exciting.

Sod the children. I really want to be driven around town, with the smell of horse pooh wafting up at me, so I’m up nice and early. Trying to have everyone ready on time.

Preparations are so far under way in the form:

• Four-year-old Akasha has had all of her finger and toe nails painted, in a rainbow of colours, by her eldest sister Joni, has redressed in her dirty dress from yesterday and scrunched up her sunblock filled hair with a headband. My original plan had been that she should have a shower and fresh clothes. Oh well, at least she’s already on the second of her minimal three breakfasts.
• Aden is finally in the shower. After some refusal. Including a debate on the fact that he had a shower yesterday. Even though my memory does not serve me young man, your greasy hair is a dead give-away.
• Lori is up, showered and dressed. And has started making a birthday present, on the day, right before we leave, for the birthday girl.
• Joni has painted nails as she promised, but has now been sidetracked by a good book. Still at least she did actually have a shower yesterday. And she knows exactly what she wants to wear, to go riding!?!?
• Reini has decided he’ll cut the grass before we go. Which I would guess is a good hours work. Then he’ll need a shower and to work out which route to take…
• I’m thinking of all the things we need to pack sunblock (three types), pullovers (just in case), present, cake (fortunately two were baked yesterday, though admittedly the delicious smell got to hubby and I last night, and we started eating one, but it’s the thought that counts, right?), insect repellent, small child’s Easter gift, first aid kit, cleaning up stuff (the parties outside), tissues, wallet, party address…

And I still need to have a quick bath. Prepare the damn present. Redress the dirty one. Decide what to wear. Get the boy back out of the shower…

Don’t forget to take the Ritalin. Not me. The afternoon dose for the boy. Put it my bag.

I think I’ll just have a quick coffee first. I suspect I need some energy.

And up the mountain we climb

Now if you’ve read my previous post you may be concerned that I’m already struggling with my challenge. But I’m very happy to inform you, that that’s not the case. In fact, I’m quite pleased with how things are going:

• Tasks completed 1
• Blogs posted (inc. this) 13
• Maintenance done 2
• Gym visits 2 OK, I admit this is a bit poor 😦
• Swimming 2
• Dates 1
  
• Films watched 7 including this week: London Boulevard
• New recipes tried and tested 4 of which this week 2: kedgeree and banana custard

So the reason I’m feeling so pleased with myself, is because that adds up to 32 events finished and only 28 days have actually passed by since Tilly and I started the challenge.

To top that I’ve also made a start on several of the singular tasks and can see them coming together. The Eurovision Party guests are accepting invitations and we are being bombarded with more and more creative ideas on how to celebrate.

Two friends have asked me to join them tasting the delights two previously untried restaurants have to offer.

I have found a concert that the girls and I would like to attend, we just have to make sure that the timing works with the exam timetables.

The monastery is hosting an event next week, so all being well I plan to be in attendance.

I’ve had offers of recipes to try from various friends. I’ve spotted a Le Creuset pan I really like. The girls and I have started their cook books.

I’ve commenced growing herbs from seed. At first they looked quite tasty, but I admit, I did forget to water them. On several occasions. And they do look like they want to give up the ghost now. 😦

Oh well, at least I’ve read that the flowers at Insel Mainau are blossoming nicely in preparation for our awaited visit. Probably because I had nothing to do with their tending.

On a sad note, the pampas grass looks rather gloomy. Some of its leaves are still pointing in a sort of upward direction, so I’m hoping that the poor thing, what with some assistance from Mother Nature, is still in with a chance.

Can you believe that I’d never before in my life, eaten banana custard? Having eaten it this week, courtesy of a delicious recipe found on Earlybird’s homepage, I have to inform you that I am starting to suspect that I suffered a deprived childhood.

If you haven’t tried it, then click here, for Earlybird’s easy to follow recipe and you’ll have silky smooth custard.

Oh and the kedgeree was yummy too. Well I thought so and Reini too, although the children were less sure.

Sarsm is at the bottom of the mountain…

Not to worry you or anything, but I thought I’d have a breakdown break down the lovely tasks I’ve set myself, into easily manageable numbers and see exactly where I’m at.

The challenge states 101 tasks in 1001 days, and I have 973 days remaining.

I have so far completed 1 task.

I still have to find 25 tasks. But, of the 76 tasks I’ve already set myself, 17 are not singular events.

So, actually, I still need to:

• Blog 291 times (after this)
• Maintain the list 31 times
• Go to the gym 99 times
• Attend 3 classes at the gym
• Go swimming 28 times
• Try 26 new recipes
• Buy 5 new cookery books
• Find 5 delicious wines
• Introduce 3 people to sushi
• Eat at 10 new restaurants
• Read 3 German novels
• Watch 94 films
• Date my hubby 32 times
• Do 4 car boots sales with the children
• Date 2 of my daughters 12 times (so 24)
• Home therapy with my son 52 times

This adds up to 710 events.

In the remaining 973 days.

Breathe.

OK. No. Wait. Because that only covers 17 of the tasks.

There are also 59 singular tasks.

And then, as I said before, 25 tasks are still to be found.

If I average out those 710 events through the 17 tasks I can round that up to 42 events per task.

Furthermore, if 17 of the 101 tasks are more than singular events, (which equates to around every 6th task), through the law of averages, I would expect that approximately 4 of the remaining 25 tasks to be found, would also be multi-eventers.

And if each of these 4 tasks then, took the previous average of 42 then I would expect to add another 168 events to the challenge.

Pant. Pant. Pant. BREATHE.

Where were we?

Erm… yes, 710 events plus another 168. So 878 events.

What?

No. Sorry… Incorrect.

I have not added on the already selected 59 singular tasks previously mentioned.

878 + 59 = 937

Gulp.

But, oh… Silly me. I still have to allow that 21 of the 25 remaining tasks would also, by the law of averages, be singular challenges.

So: 937 + 21 = 958 😯

ARGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Therefore, I’m faced with 958 events to be completed in 973 days.

If you are considering joining our challenge, please don’t let this deter you, after all I still have 15 whole days left (if I succeed in 1 event per day) to: find another 33 Facebook fans, achieve another 13 flags on flag counter and another 56 countries, notch up another 42,875 hits on my stats counter and to donate 77,410 grains of rice.

The really good news is: I never did like cleaning. 😀

That’s a day in the life of a typical teenage girl

They stay in their beds
don’t raise their sleepy heads

There’s noise all around
but they do not hear a sound

Then they can’t sleep at night,
have trouble switching off the light

The bathroom’s full of potions
all kinds of creamy lotions

The wardrobe’s full of clothes
but they’ve nothing to enrobe

When they see a boy
their gestures are all coy

They start to giggle
at every dash and every squiggle

Then they are enraged
by such small things, I’m amazed

They don’t hear me speak
as their ear phones pulsate musique

They’re never alone
someone’s always on the phone

They go to the shops
know just how to spend the dosh

Yet when I am sad
they take a moment
make me glad
with a cuddle and a kiss
and a heartfelt wish
and a look in their eye
that shows
they understand why.

The blagging power of a blogger

My original intention today was to present you with two blogs.

But for the life of me, I can’t remember what the one was.

I have heard people say, in the past, that, “If you forgot about it, then it couldn’t have been that important.”

??!?

On several occasions, I have forgotten my own name. The first occurrence happened when I was pregnant with my second child, Lori, (more about her later). I stood at the reception desk, the head of a long line of waiting patients and asked for my pregnancy test results.

“The name?”

Gone.

I could remember my two-year-old’s name. And I, of course, informed the waiting receptionist (and the queue) of that fact, not wanting to appear completely incompetent. When I finally realised what my mother had called me, and she had announced the positivity of my test, I could at least exclaim, “See, the symptoms have already started!”

I had no such excuse a few weeks ago (promise) when making a doctor’s appointment for myself. I took what felt like an eternity to remember who the hell I actually am. Or the following day, when I signed for a parcel, and used the wrong surname.

Luckily, I noticed my mistake immediately and therefore informed the rather young and scared looking delivery guy, “But that’s not my name!”

He made a quick getaway.

But my memory skills don’t only fail me with regard to my own name.

No. If it were that simple, I could wear a name badge.

They also desert me, in normal mundane tasks.

Like, the time a couple of years ago, that I forgot to lower my panties before sitting on the loo.

It was rather messy and not unimportant at all! I had to be rescued by my own children yet again. And I haven’t even reached the age of forty yet.

So today, I forgot what I wanted to write to you. I’m sorry, but I have no idea. It could have been of international significance, or it may have just been some blabbery dribble.

I’ll let you decide.

The second post I wanted to write, should have been a progress report on my well… Progress, with my 101 challenges. Do you remember? (ha ha). The challenge I’m doing with the one and only, hilarious Tilly Bud over at The Laughing Housewife.

But I have been somewhat waylaid. Mentioning no names, Lori, sorry it slipped out… Helped me with dinner yesterday. That is, she kindly put down her book, rose from the sofa and went downstairs and took pizzas out of the freezer.

And left the freezer door open.

Did I tell you my hands are really cold and it’s uncomfortable to type? Due to emptying ice cream and rescuing dead fish.

Anyway, I’m now cooking in mass proportions, researching – ‘Shit, some dreamy bloody person left the freezer door open, no, not on purpose, but for God’s sake the freezer was full!’ on the internet, and stuffing almost fully thawed chocolate éclairs in my gob perfectly formed mouth.

Thus, here’s a quick update:

• I’ve watched two films, Tron (the new one) and Little Fockers. The older Fockers are much better, but I squeezed in a few laughs and Tron? Let’s just say my husband is really enjoying this challenge. But the effects were good, I do admit that.
• I went to the gym!!! Michael greeted me with a warm smile and is apparently really pleased to have me back. So much so that we toasted the event with a lovely lemon quark drink. My husband is jealous. No one has given him a free drink there yet.
• I started my date night with Reini. Very nice. My lovely husband and I enjoyed an equally lovely meal at a local restaurant.
• I went swimming again.
• I have started inviting people to the Eurovision party. If I haven’t invited you yet, it’s because I’ve only just started calling people. Or, I don’t know you. If in a week, you think that I do know you and I still haven’t called, refer to the above section on forgetfulness and send me an email.
• I have decided that some challenges are actually going to be more challenging than I thought. For instance the Freerice one. I am already bored. Especially, as they keep denying that my password is correct. And I keep having to send for a new one. I know that I remembered it correctly. At least, I think I do…

I have to go now, the once frozen steaks are actually ‘mooing’ at me to cook them.

… And at least I can laugh at myself

The WordPress prompt asked:

What rare talent do you have that most people don’t know?

I would have to say that I’m really very musical. Honestly. If you had heard me running up and down the stairs this morning, then you would know that I provide a beautiful percussion background, with my clicks and creaks from various body parts, to accompany the usual morning chaos here.

I am my own regular one-man band. Particularly talented body parts include my knees, ankles, feet and wrists.

WordPress also asked:

Bonus: If you don’t have a rare talent, what talent do you wish you had? Why? What’s stopping you from trying to get it?

Well, as I’ve said I do have a rare talent, but I am somewhat greedy. So, there is a talent which I have wished for, my whole life long, although it is not a rare one. (Makes the fact that I haven’t ‘got it’ even harder to swallow). I have always wanted to be able to draw.

Before you say, “Just practice!” I have. As a child anyway, and now that you know that, your laughter may echo around the room even more resonantly as you read on.

If you were to ask me to, say, draw an elf, it would look exactly like this:

And honestly, I really did try!

Now, I’m thirty-eight-years-old, I doubt my skill can improve much, but my four-year-old, that’s another story, she’s starting out like this:

No, she doesn’t have three arms, the middle one is the arm, and the outside bits are her sleeve.

She’s even initialled it. Bless.
Her drawing really is improving.

Soon, she will surpass me. *Sigh*

But just to elaborate (in case you’re not convinced), I thought we’d attempt dragons. As you do on Monday mornings.

At first, I thought I’d draw mine side on (after looking in a child’s picture book) but it started out like this:

Now you know I’m honest. Because I could have tried to convince you that I was reasonably talented in drawing ducks.

*Please note any talent here is purely accidental.

So, I tried again (after even the four-year-old laughed):

That’s more like it.

Yes, that’s 38 years of experience. Right there.

What’s that?

I should give up?

You’re probably right.

So, I turned my attention back to my four-year-old who, as you might gather, used the very same picture book as me.

I also coached her somewhat.

I should probably stop coaching her now and encourage her older, wiser, much more talented twelve-year-old sister to be her art teacher instead.

Because set the same challenge, Lori impressed us all (especially me) with:

Remember:

Only 12

No training

And with me as her artistic mentor!

Round 2

Well, last Friday I promised you updates on the whole 101 tasks in 1001 days challenge, and by jolly, it’s Friday, again!

So, what have I done with my week?

Erm…

Well, I have found another couple of tasks to add to my list, one being to make it to 101 countries on my flag counter. I thought it a more hefty challenge, because every time I look the flags have gone up, and I’m not far off 101 already. Just so you understand, the flags counted represent both countries and the American and Canadian states.

I also completed a challenge! 😀 To buy and plant pampas grass. It may not sound much, but I have really wanted one of those plants in my garden since I was a small child. We used to visit my godmother, who had one in front of her house, in her wonderful garden. Now all I have to do is keep it alive. This will not be so easy. My husband describes me as being ‘black thumbed’.

On that note, I have managed to kill another houseplant this week. I was particularly sad about it, as it’s the one my husband and daughter bought me to commemorate the 31st anniversary of my father’s death.

Which was on the 13th of March.

2011.

If I set myself the challenge of killing 101 houseplants in the shortest time possible, I would have a second task completed by now. But I’m not going to do that. I try not to be a plant murderer. Despite my apparent ability.

I know the next achievement is not on my list. But I had to tell you about it anyway. I managed to unreasonably annoy my four-year-old daughter this week. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so annoyed, as she told me that I “laugh far too much!”

Considering I read somewhere that: “Laughter is the best medicine” and “Adults don’t laugh anywhere near enough”, I found myself feeling over-joyed (despite angelic Akasha’s harsh tones). I figured that all of that excessive laughing will take me into a long and healthy old age (as well as a happy one). So that makes it an achievement worth a mention.

I haven’t been to the gym. But I promise to go over the weekend. I absolutely promise. Really. I do. I do have an excuse. Honestly. The four-year-old has been at home all week with her hand in a bandage. She has also been entertaining me with a high fever and a strange rash. Thus, we have been entertaining doctors in various settings.

I watched the film ‘Freakonomics’. I had already read the book. The film was interesting, not dazzling, but interesting.

A good friend of mine offered to teach me how to make a Hefezopf (a kind of sweet German bread). So I’m going to take him up on his offer, the task can be part of my 30 new recipes challenge. He tells me it’s not much work, but will take around 4 hours. So we’ll also squeeze in breakfast together.

I held off with some of the foodie stuff until now because I wanted to wait until I found out if I really am lactose intolerant or not. You can read here why. Yesterday, I had the scientific test which came out negative. I am lactose tolerant. So last night we had a cheese fest and drank down some red wine in honor of cheese, milk and all dairy products. We even raised one to the humble cow.

I should probably set one of my tasks as ‘learn why not to drink half a bottle of red on a school night’.