The eagle, his wife, children etc

You know that eagle that landed on Saturday? Well, he forgot to mention that his wife, his multiple children, their spouses, his grandchildred and some neighbours were arriving on Sunday....all at the same time.

We have been planning a surprise for some dear friends for ages. The surprise was to take place at approximately 1230. At 1130, I thought it would be a good idea to try and put munchkin down for a nap. So, up the wooden steps we went with the hope the Bedfordshire would be nigh. Munchkin played in his cot for a bit cooing and gurgling, then he yawned...yes! The train was approaching Bedfordshire. T had nipped out to get some paper plates and extra charcoal (he likes playing with fire!).

Suddenly, Munchkin SCREAMED! He was inconsolable. I picked him up and noticed a familiar yeasty smell permeating from his person. So, like any responsible parents about to receive company, I decided to change him. EEK! As a removed Munchkin's clothing I noticed mustard all the way up his back and in his hair.....what was I to do? This hadn't happened before. I set to work, trying to get his clothes off. This didn't work as clothes were affixed to his person by said mustard. I decided we would continue to mission in the bathroom....

I picked Munchkin up but the mustardy slick resulted in an eel like munchkin. He slid out of my arms and onto the floor with a little thump. I managed to get him into the bath and decided that he needed to be hosed off. I proceeded to do this only to have our wretched high water pressure get the better of me....the shower found a mind of its own and decided to behave ala a cobra being charmed by a snake charmer.....and resulted in Munchkin being squirted square in the face and the orchids high on the shelf getting a watering (saves T a job later!)

Munchkin was hosed down and bathed when the doorbell went. The first guests had arrived. I composed myself and answered the door (with Munchkin in arms wrapped in a towel - I could have said it was a toga party I suppose!). T arrived home at the same time so I bolted upstairs got munchkin dressed and down for a nap.

I then noticed that the mustard had decorated my previously white top. Ah well, I didn't really want to wear that top anyway.

The eagle has landed

Just a short one today as we are having a bit of a manic weekend (more about that tomorrow).

After a short wait, we were showered with blessings and presents alike. After all that hype, it was a bit disspointing...or so we thought.

As the cliche goes, it is not the quantity, it is the quality that counts. Hmm....if only we had a scratch and sniff option....then and only then would the true sense of quality be appreciated. If I draw parallels to the Malaysian vegetable Petai, some of you would understand. For the others, petai is also known as "stink bean" and known to have very pronounced effects after ingestion. My father has many stories about the affectiveness of petai, he says that eating petai is particularly handy at football matches or indeed any crowded places, when you fancy a bit of personal space.

Still, at least it means that I can stop eating the dried figs...though...I have now acquired quite a taste for the things...they are like fig rolls. without the roll bit...but I guess that is quite obvious.

Patience is a virtue

Being a novice at the mothering lark, I depend on the oracles that surround me to pass down knowledge and also Munchkin Chucky to show me the ropes. We all learn, together.

Munchkin has been a regular little boy since the day he was born.....a few times a day regular. Then this week, it all stopped. I haven't had the blessing of a poo-sode since Tuesday. By Wednesday morning I was panicing. Would I need to administer the juice of prunes (like my evil mother did when I was little!)? Somewhat concerned, I contacted Milkmonster's mum (chief oracle) who assured me that this was normal. The next day (still nothing) I rang the health visitor, she said "Ah....damned if they do and damned if they don't!" She assured me that it was very normal for fully mummy fed babies to not actually have a poo-sode for a whole week!!

I dread what "blessing" will appear when it finally does. His usual "presents" are hideous enough (and I am saying this as his mother wot sees and smells him through rose tinted spectacles and rose scented filters). Yesterday I bought and ingested some figs (I hate figs). Also (mama will be proud), I boiled up a batch of cure all tea (which consists of 4 types of dried dates - it is a chinese witch's brew). And now, we wait............

Chucky

I am fully aware that I see munchkin out of extremely biased mummy spectacles. I think he is the best boy in the world (apart from my other boy). Looking back at photographs when he was first born though, I have to say....eek! He was a funny looking little mite.

I was discussing this with T last night and shared some photographs (which I thought were wonderful) of Munchkin. T went silent for a while. He then said "Munchkin looks demonic" "What DO you mean?" I asked seeing only a little angel complete with halo and radiance. "Well, he looks a bit like Chucky!" said T. I looked closely....to my amusement....T was right. There is a slight Chucky resemblence..EGAD!!!! Ah well, some mothers do 'ave 'em!

Our girls

Here are our girls, Sophie on the left and Chloe on the right. Also know as Mayhem and Chaos at the vets. I had to ring to make an appointment for their annual jabs and checkup this week. We tend to also try to get them wormed at the same time to save a trip into Bristol. The telephone conversation went something like this...."What are the cats' names?" "Chloe and Sophie" Then there was a silence...followed by "Ah! Mayhem and Chaos the Bengals, best make sure we have the right people on hand to make sure those tablets go down then"

Hmm....next week could be interesting. The last time we went, the vet surrendered in defeat. Chloe was sent home unwormed and very, very grumpy.

Still, the girls are lovely. They have been a part of my life for 6 years now and every minute has been very entertaining...like the time Sophie escaped on to the roof and had to be retrieved by T (who was tethered to a radiator with a climbing rope and harness)...but that is another story!

Things that go parppp in the night

Picture this...T and I had retired for the evening. All was calm and quiet. Even the girls had settled down for the evening. As I was drifting off into dreamland (this happens very quickly now as the munchkin wears me out!), the beautiful silence was broken...by a fart unrivalled in duration and volume.

T started to shake with laughter..."Was that you?" he asked. "No! It wasn't me, I thought it was you" was my reply (not that ladies ever need to do that sort of thing and IF they did it wouldn't sound like THAT!). We both shook with laughter as we realised that the foghorn sound had come from the crib. Bless him....the munchkin was making some post parping noises - cooing happily as if to say " Ahhh! That feels much better, thank you!"

All was well......until I went to change munchkin this morning...hmm....now I know why he felt better!!

My boys

These are my boys. This week they have mainly been bonding. T has been taking Munchkin in the afternoons to give me a break so I have only had to do the Daisy moo bit in the usual 3 hoursly intervals. T has also taken it up chef duties for the dinner service and resident sommelier. I am a lucky girl!

Yesterday, we had arranged to meet some lovely friends of ours, who have moved to the dark side of the valley, for breakfast. The agreed time was 1030. At 1000 munchkin was still feeding (greedy little thing) and I had yet to have a shower. I was finally released (literally) from Daisy moo duties at 1010. As I whizzed in for a power shower, munchkin got whizzed off in the opposite direction to get changed into nice, presentable going out clothes (which didn't have 'ick on it and didn't smell of munchkin poo). When I finally emerged, dressed and painted (10 minutes later), I was presented with a very smart looking munchkin.....so I should have been proud and not said "uhm.....his top is on back to front". T spent the next 15 minutes saying that it was more logical to have the buttons fastening at the front and that the design of the top was obviously, seriously flawed.

We survived breakfast, munchkin behaved and my boys spent the afternoon watching the Grand Prix qualifying. They also watched a little of the England vs. Israel match but had this cut short by the fact that munchkin had to get ready for bed.

Today, the boys have been playing peekaboo and horsies (to aviod hanging the washing out and sifting the kitty poo trays). Munchkin lights up when he hears or sees his dad and Daddy is always rewarded with a huge, beaming smile and chuckle (Yes! I think your dad is a bit funny too, munchkin) As I watch them, with a tear or two in my eyes, I know that joy is not in things, it is in my boys....and my two furry girls (a bit more on this later)