The Boy no more

Yesterday Big Dude ( or should I now address him as Mr Armstrong) became 'of age'. In my day you were 'of age' at 21 not 18, but like everything these days it all seems to happen sooner than in the olden days. The poor lad will have to carry ID with him for some time I suspect as he still has his boyish looks and is as tall and skinny as a lamp post. However, he is now 18 and can do grown things like vote and drink and get a credit card!

Last night we took him, Little Dude and Grandma and Grandad out for a steak ( although Grandad insisted on paying which was a nice surprise for hubby!)

Big Dude had been given his main birthday present back in September while we were in Florida as he said he would like a Macbook and some photography software to use while doing his photography course at college. We played it down and told him not to expect anything other than a few bits and pieces on his actual birthday.

What he didn't know was that because his mobile phone contract was due for renewal next month, we decided to get him an iPhone 4 instead of some other phone that he had mentioned he would like. He thought an iPhone was out of the question as we had said that they were too expensive and that we weren't going to pay the £30+ a month on contract.

However, hubby being the kind of man who likes nothing better than seeking out a good deal managed to get a contract that was a fair bit cheaper then the usual, plus quidco cash back and came out smelling of roses as usual.

So, after opening all his 'bits and pieces' I gave him his last carefully wrapped present.

I so wish I had taken a video of him opening it. He looked at the iPhone box in disbelief for a good few seconds and then a huge smile crept across his face. Of course seconds later he was up in his room connecting to his iTunes account, followed by an evening of exchanging contact numbers and adding new apps.

Once back at home , I lit the candles on his 'giant chocolate cupcake' and managed to get him to allow me to take a photo of him. Yes just the one!

This is the cake! There isn't even a small crumb left of it. Greedy pigs.

Angels and Demons

This is Little Dude at his cutest (aged about 4). He's actually very cute when asleep, smiling, colouring or playing nicely with his friends. He is an angel at his Grandparents, his childminders and while playing at friends houses (apparently!) One of our neighbours thinks he's an absolutely delightful child.

Tonight faced with his teacher at Parents Evening I was told that he is a lovely boy, inquisitive, confident and a delight to teach - despite the fact that he sometimes forgets his PE Kit and weekly fruit! (although I suspect I get the blame for that)

So how come, the minute he steps over the door frame he becomes............................?

Seven Things You Didn't Know About Me - Meme

This is one of those meme things that sometimes I do. This one I nicked from Exmoorjanes blog.

Feel free to nick it again for yours!


1. When I was 13, out on the hockey field in the Centre Half position, I was hit in the mouth by the ball causing my two front teeth to snap in half. I was despatched to the dentist who attractively stuck two 'half crowns' - no not the money ones! onto the bottom of what was left of the real teeth. Three years later I went to have two proper crowns fitted, enduring hours of drilling and grinding. I have never been able to stomach the smell of grinding tooth since.

. When I was about nine, on holiday in Spain with my parents, I was in a souvenir shop and saw a small jade budda charm. I asked if I could have it and was told no. So I kept it in my hand and walked out of the shop. Yes I'm a shoplifter. For years I lived in fear of my Dad finding it hidden in my room. My Dad was a Policeman and I was sure I would be put in prison for my crime.

3. As a young teen I was a bit of a closet punk rocker. I would only dress like one when I went to concerts with my friend Carol, the rest of the time I was a normal teenage girl. I decided to write to Smash Hits magazine and complain about the way 'we' punks were being treated and that people shouldn't judge who we were by the way we dressed etc. It was actually printed in their letters page. I daren't tell anyone because I thought they would laugh at me pretending to be a hard core punk!

4. I had an obsession with Ray Winstone after watching him in the film 'Scum' a million times. I even wrote a letter to him telling him I thought he was really fit. He sent me a signed photo 'To sexy Gail with love Ray', Swoon!

5. I love Pork Scratchings and Pork dripping on a slice of white bread and sprinkled with salt. I wish I hadn't thought of that one now as I really want some. Only a drillion calories per slice.

6.The first naked man I ever saw was Captain Sensible from the band The Damned at King George's Hall in Blackburn. I was there in the crowd aged about 16 as he did his party trick of stripping off his big mohair jumper and the rest of his clothes. I didn't know where to look but thought at the time " Eeewww - is that what all the fuss is about?"

7. I have met four members of the Royal Family. The first was Princess Anne when I was introduced to her while in the WRNS. She was so small and petite! Then I was presented to HRH The Queen at a Colours Parade in Portsmouth - although more like she walked past and smiled at me! Prince Andrew and I had a disagreement over some work he wanted me to do and I made him bring it to me personally as it was confidential. ( I didn't know it was him at the time when he was on the phone!) and I met Princess Diana while working in Harvey Nichols in London. It was before opening time and I was cleaning up the Clarins counter. She walked up to the counter, started to look at some makeup and I asked if she needed any help with anything. She had very little makeup on but was much prettier in real life than in pictures.

Nothing earth shattering I'm afraid, and there are plenty others involving drunken nights on the town, but I would hate to spoil the illusion of me being a quiet, angelic type.

Why is it that....

This little angle faced boy is soon to become a tall gangly (and I'm afraid to say a little spotty) eighteen year old. At the end of January he officially becomes a man and will hopefully start behaving like one.

He has already had his main birthday present. We bought him a top of the tree Macbook Pro and some photography software for him starting his Photography course at college in September. He isn't expecting much else as it all cost a pretty packet. But parents being parents and all that we are intending to buy him a few surprises too. One of which is hopefully a photo book of him growing up, holidays and other significant events over the last 18 years.

I'm trying to upload all the photos of him that have been saved in the big photo box - the ones before the age of digital photography! (and along with the 500 or so honeymoon, wedding and holiday photos that I also intend to upload at some time in my life!)

The thing is...

The nifty little hand scanner gadget I bought specifically for the cause about 2 years ago insists on putting a big line right through the middle of the picture and I don't know why.

I suppose I will have to go and sit in the cold spare junk room and spend as long as necessary using the all in one jobby that probably won't work first time and will need lots of tinkering on with to get it to synchronise and scan properly.

Why is it that.....whenever I want to do something, something technical always nacks it up and makes life difficult for me.

Exhausted!

Two weeks is all.

Two weeks spent lounging around the house, pottering, dozing, shopping, eating and generally doing very little.

So, how can I feel like a wrung out dishcloth after just 7 hours at work?

Night, night.

In Need of Sunshine

I need sunshine. I'm weary of the winter and seeing brown, dreary fields and trees. Oh I know it seemed brighter when everything was buried under almost a foot of snow, but its all gone now and it's like living in a land of mud. The older I get the more I feel like I ought to have a winter residence somewhere a little more exotic than Northumberland.

It was only five months ago that I was complaining about the heat beside the pool at The Hard Rock Hotel in Florida. Luckily hubby was generous enough to cool me down with endless supplies of Pina Colada. (actually he almost fell off his sun lounger when he got the bill after the first one and told me to make it last!)

and it's not that long ago that we were having a ball at the Scouts family camp - just a few miles down the road. It's amazing how much fun you can have when someone else is organising your kids and you know they are safe climbing trees, falling into rivers and poking long sticks into bonfires while you sit sunbathing and chatting to other chilled parents.

I almost amazed myself in the horticulture department this year too. My back garden actually looked half decent. (apart from the corner where the dogs trample everything). I was extremely impressed by this (I think it's some kind of Lily) that appeared from one of the pots I had tucked away. I'm a 'chuck it in and see what happens' kind of gardener so my garden is very random - none of this' groups of three' and 'in layers' business for me!

This was one of the hottest days of the summer. The patio was scorching hot and these two dogs are wearing triple thick coats designed to withstand the freezing temperatures of Norwegian winters. Could I get them to go inside where it was marginally cooler? Could I hell.

They just rolled over and looked at me as if to say "Bloody hell it's a bit hot out here"

So please Mr weather, no more snow now. I think we have had our fair share recently. A few dry sunny days (not necessarily hot or anything) will cheer me up immensely. Not to mention dry out the skatepark so the Dudes can go and burn off some of their pent up energy.

Thank you

For F's Sake

Five 'Effs' I'm going to share with you today.

FESTIVITIES - It's over. I will be putting all the tinsel and baubles back in their boxes and wrestling them into the loft. I'm itching to have a good clean up and get rid of the clutter. Don't get me wrong, I love getting it all out and looking at it (for about a week) but also love putting it away again and getting back to normal.

FAMILY - We need some changes around here. We all need to stop eating junk. Lots of bad habits have crept in over the last few months and having crisps, chocolate and biscuits on hand isn't doing any of us any good. Both hubby and I are putting on weight, the Dudes are getting hyper with too much sugar and a little too mouthy for my liking.

I also want to start doing more research on my family history. I did some years ago and then when other commitments came along it got put away. I feel I need to do this now as my family are getting frail and who knows how long I will be able to ask them questions about those who have already passed away.

FITNESS - I have no excuses for not doing more exercise this year. I don't need to spend evening studying and I'm home at a reasonable time. Hubby is signing up for the Great North Bike Ride again this summer so will be out cycling a lot. I want to find an aerobics class I really enjoy that will motivate me to exercising at least a couple of times a week as well as using the step/bike collecting dust in the bedroom and playing on the X Box Kinect.

FORTE'S - I used to be pretty good at art. As a child I would spend hours drawing, painting, making and creating crafty things. A few years back I made cards and scrapbooks. I have enough art and craft equipment to set up an art college. I'm getting an inkling to do this again. I think if I just get things out and make a start it won't be long before I'm up in the spare room dabbling with this and that. Watch this space.

FRIENDS - I'm not one of those people with a million friends. I don't need to be surrounded by them but do value their friendship and like to see them now and again. I have a few long term friends who I rarely see, seldom speak to but when I do it's like it was only yesterday. I think thats a forces thing. You make friends quickly but then have to move on.

I have my 'virtual' friends online who make me laugh - and cry, as much and maybe even more than those who aren't online. I love that I get to know so many people all over the world. Some of whom I have actually met and have been quite normal and not as crazy as you might think.

So this year I want to try and catch up with some of those I haven't spoken to in a while, maybe start writing proper letters again and who knows I might even get to meet up with them. I also want to do a bit more blogging and get to know even more of you.

There that's my Five Effs. Please feel free (ooh look another two!) to do your own if you like.