Reddy Made

46

I am very excited about tomorrow. I may have to try and speak in rhyming couplets all day!

Why? Because I will be meeting and listening to the marvellous Julia Donaldson, Children's Laureate who is coming to Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Like so many parents and teachers everywhere I have been reading these books to my nieces and then my own children for over 13 years, and I never tire of them, and neither do the kids. My favourite by far is Room on the Broom as it was the first I ever read, and it is such a beautifully illustrated book (Axel Scheffler is such a wonderful illustrator, but I'll leave that for another day).

I'll be honest, I'm not a fan of the tv programmes made of the Gruffalo and the Gruffalo's child, as for me they slowed the pace down too much and the pleasure of the rhyming pace was lost. It's the language I love the most.

So I'm going to read a few today to get me in the mood, and I may have to take my copy of Room on the Broom to get it signed.

And I'll try hard not to ask if she's having witch and chips for tea x

45

How to be a Woman, by Caitlin Moran. Have you read it yet?

If you haven't, then I urge you too. I received it for my birthday and have devoured every word since. I don't think her honesty will suit everyone, particularly those women, who were by birth or breeding naturally feminine. I wasn't. I've struggled for years to follow the rules on how to be a proper woman, and often fail at the first hurdle:

I never have tissues in my handbag.
I got mud all over my wedding dress and ruined the shoes.
I have no matching underwear. In fact, some days I have no underwear!
I bite my nails.
I only shave my legs in the summer.
I screamed so much having my babies, one midwife wished the other good luck changing shift.
I never remember my children's schedule.
In fact, I forgot my child once and left her in her pram in the bread aisle of budgens.
I can't walk in heels.

The list could go on and on.

Reading this book was like having a night in with your bestest friends, wine bottles piling up on the table. She even saves the sad bit til the end, just like the maudlin hour of a get-together before you fall asleep face down on the kitchen table.

I like her style, I agree with her thoughts on being a woman, I appreciate growing up in a working class home and having aspirations to do well.

But most importantly, I enjoyed her company.

37

Thank goodness the cake was too small for 41 candles.

36 (and 35)

A lovely weekend...

Waiting patiently for snow.
Finding snow.
Attending cake Saturday at the church.
My niece's chocolate cake taking pride and place on the table.
Cosy Saturday night, onesies on.

It was just what we needed. I can always diet another day x

34

I failed.

I couldn't keep up.

But do you know what? I set the rules, so I'm going to forgive myself. Because I can.

It's not like the sky is going to fall down, is it?

So, I couldn't find time to post every day. But I did find time today to play connect 4.

And that's an achievement, trust me!

31

Have you forgotten how unbelievably good home-made lasagne is?

I had.

30

We had a very lazy weekend. I left the house once and that was to walk yards to the village square to see if any interesting books had turned up in the charity shop. I know I shouldn't, but habits are hard to break.

I spent Sunday on my bed, marking books, writing lesson plans, eating minstrels, writing evaluations. Blah blah blah.

My bedroom prison had its share of visitors, including kids, cats and husbands bearing tea. I watched (or should that be endured) large chunks of cbbc, cbeebies and Pixar movies.

But for 2 glorious hours, noone bothered me. And I had a joyful trip down memory lane, watching one of my favourite films, Withnail & I. Its truly brilliant, and everytime I see it, I notice something I hadn't before. Bliss.

And of course, my number 1 teenage girl crush. Mr Mcgann. In all his Lennon loveliness.

So, just me, my minstrels and Mcgann.

A perfect Sunday

29

I'll never forget the moment when Dylan, reading a book, turned to me and said,

"Mum, I can hear the words in my head! I'm not saying them but I can hear them!"

I'm desperate for my kids to want to read. I know they'll be able to read, they'll be taught that skill. But I want them to want to read. I want them to have the will.

I want them to hide under their duvets with a torch because they have to get to the end of the story.

I want them to nag me to take them to the library or the bookshop because the new sequel is out.

I may even consider a kindle for them. Maybe. But not for a very very long time.

According to statistics, 1 in 3 children in the UK does not own a single book. No, I didn't believe it at first either.

I'm hoping that every time I see Dylan reading, that he's getting the will. That he has the desire to read more.

And for now, and now only, I'm happy he's hearing those voices in his head.

28 (+27)

I didn't post yesterday. I missed my yearly target for the year in January which is a bit rubbish. But I was poorly, monster of a migraine, which left me sleeping for 13 hours.

Feeling better today though, so thought I'd introduce you to George and Mildred, our African Land snails. Before you go "ewww" let me tell you that they are lovely pets, friendly and so easy to look after. Yep they are slimy, but they have the cutest faces, very expressive, even for a mollusc!

They were given to me by the science department at uni as ideal school pets. But we've grown so attached to them. I may take them into school, or I may not.

But for now, they are enjoying life with us and the occasional bath. Oh and lots and lots of cucumber!

26

I hit some sort of brick wall this week. My brain got scrambled. I couldn't sit still and I couldn't think straight. I was tetchy. I was weepy. A little bit "unstructured" on the emotional front. Do you know that feeling?

Well, it could be because whilst I'm trying so hard to educate and nurture my class, my own children seem to be missing out. Homework lost, packed lunch uneaten, books unchanged. I'm suffering from serious mum guilt.
We played a game together tonight, and suddenly they came alive again. I'm sure I wasn't imagining it. They literally lit up!

My kids. And me.

So this weekend, I'm shutting the door on the world, staying in my jammies, and spending time with the kids.
Playing games.
Eating cake.
Sleeping in.
Reading the paper.
Listening to the radio.
Watching films.
Washing hair.
Answering endless questions.
Picking up toys.
Being mum.

Wish me luck x