Everydaystranger

We have the pox, of the chicken variety.

Nick developed them late last night. This morning? They’re everywhere, including on his tongue. Any minute now Nora – who currently has double ear infections and laryngitis – will come down with them.
I’d laugh and do the “I told you so dance” but I’m saving [...]

They say that travelling can be a good test of a relationship. Or spending the first holiday together, where you alternate between families and have inadequate fumbles on your lover’s mother’s living room shagpile carpet. Or perhaps it’s the arrival of a new baby, that’s supposed to be very hard on a relationship [...]

I’m off today for an overnight conference in London. I’ve been putting it off and putting it off, but there’s no longer any chance for escape. I really, really don’t want to do it, largely because it will be the first time I am not just away for putting the babies to bed, [...]

A quandry.
The babies have been attending their nursery since March. It’s a nice nursery, a good nursery yes? Yes.
Will now be singing Fiddler On the Roof songs for the rest of the day.
Anyway. The nursery they attend is several villages away from where we live. It was the only nursery in [...]

I’m having a bit of an issue at work, a small power struggle going on for the drinking bird project. What the chap doesn’t know is that I won’t fight him for the project, there are a lot of things to do and many projects to work on. He wants it? Fine. [...]

Regarding last week’s post about being conflicted – thank you all (except for you, lady) for your input. A lot of people spoke up for the first time here, in which case: Hi. And for those who are directly impacted by people like the Cowboy, like lizvelrene, then I am so sorry. [...]

It’s my five year anniversary of blogging today.
It will be spent researching radiators, stripping woodchip paper, taking care of babies, and installing kitchen cabinets.
It will also be spent celebrating Father’s Day – Angus’ first as a father of four. He enjoyed a Father’s Day card presented by the babies (one corner slightly chewed), a [...]

I was raised an officer’s daughter in the U.S. Air Force. For those who had similar backgrounds, you’ll understand what this means – moving every 2 – 4 years, base housing, commissaries, PBXs, but above all it meant I was sheltered. Very sheltered. My father flew the planes, my mother kept the [...]

I have a hard time talking about the babies. It may not seem that way here, they get mentioned all the time, but I find it hard to put words to them. It’s that way in my real life, this silence about them. When people ask about them I divert the questions. [...]

We worked like maniacs this weekend – the Cowboy told us he needed the room we’d been using as our Piece of Shit Temporary Kitchen. The place was barely functional, but it was the only kitchen we had. That space is about to become a utility room and a wet room (I think [...]

Here’s a strange thing – on Sunday I will have been blogging at this site for five years.
Five.
That seems like a long time, doesn’t it? Five years. Kinda’ significant, don’t you think?
I remember where I was when I created this blog on the 15th of June 2003 – I was sat at my [...]

We had a great day walking the Race for Life cure for cancer walk in Guildford. Nora and I finished the 5K walk in 53 minutes and 45 seconds. The weather was beautiful and warm, we enjoyed our day, and Nora got her photo taken and may be in the paper shortly.
One of us [...]

I am completely exhausted and worn out. I don’t know how much more we can take. We’ve had a month of flu, colds, flu, conjunctivitis, ear infections, teething, the Queen Mother of nappy rashes, Nick getting bitten three times (and we instructed the nursery to keep the biter away from our sitting ducks [...]

This one won’t be a long one as:
1) I have two technical documents to write today
2) I have to paint the kitchen before sundown (aka When the Flies Come In)
3) First I have to buy the paint, as we’ve changed our minds about colors
4) Both babies are going into nursery late as Nora has an [...]

Oprah: We’re here talking to Helen Adelaide, the blogger, talented tiler, maker of fabulous risotto, and wouldn’t you know it, she’s stunningly gorgeous to boot.
(Oh come on. I’m writing a fictitious interview with Oprah here, I can add that line if I want.)
Helen: (blushing modestly) Hello Oprah, it’s great to be here.
Oprah: Is that [...]

OK, so I’ve had to hit the ground running today. We’ve had intermittent power for a while as they’re updating our electrics in the house. Angus and I have been busting our asses tiling the kitchen floor. It’s raining in the nursery again. I have work a mile long to do [...]

Yesterday Nora broke three teeth through her top gum, and she was irritable, hot, and uncomfortable. Nick is following suit, and for once the babies did not go to bed easily. We’ve been up loads during the night with them, which we haven’t had since January.
At 4 am Nick started to shout. [...]