Feeling under the weather

Have a bit of a cold and feeling sorry for myself so I didnt go to zumba this morning, and it has made the day drag a bit (son2 constantly asking to watch tv).  Also, I am feeling a bit home sick.  My friend from Kuwait (!!??) skyped unexpectedly the other day and it was lovely to speak to him.  I was feeling particularly home sick that day so it was so nice to speak to a loved one and see them in person.  Most people we skype dont seem to have their cameras set up or working, so they see us but we dont seem to see anyone from home.  :-( As a result I have been day dreaming and checking calendars to see if we can conceivably schedule an unscheduled trip home, but its not looking promising, even if we could afford it!  So I am sitting out the back in the sun, which is helping, and crochetting my zig zaggy blanket, progress on which as slowed as the zig zaggy bits seem to be cancelling themselves out and are looking decidedly straight.  Anyhow, because no zumba this morning I dragged the weans to my LYS to replenish my stock of purple so I may continue my zig zaggery.  Rather naively I said I didnt want my skein wound into a ball, I havent bought much wool like this before and thought, romanically that it might be nice not to be wound.  Now, it is a tangled mess, made worse as I am in the garden and there is a slight breeze.  So, new lesson learnt, say yes when asked if you want your skein wound.

PS yesterday, this is what we made...

Yay!

Am going to try to make it again at the weekend for a wee get together we are going to.  Glad I got to do a test run though :-)

rainbow cake

feeling a bit chilly, I think I am just tired. I was thinking i would like to make this soon....http://www.omnomicon.com/rainbowcake . Wish me luck. 

Pottery pottery pottery pottery

I have just had 4 days in a row of pottery, not full days obv, but been to pottery 4 days in a row.  Its been great.  last week I was feeling a bit deflated about my potting skills but was signed up to a 2 day workshop with Claudio Reginato. Day one I was feeling quite embarrassed about my 'skills' and not happy with what I was throwing, but by day two, I was trying to emulate his hand positions when throwing, he put a big emphasis on this (in him quiet, Italian way!) and by jove I think I got it!  But seriously, at the end of day two I was feeling a lot more confident.  So then I had my class Monday evening and had planned to go back Tuesday as it is a quiet class (which I like, less intimidating) as I had a lot of trimming and finishing off as a result of the weekend. And now, well I just want to go back again! mmmm I love pottery, its beautiful stuff.  Am looking forward to the upcoming sales at the end of the month!

Hairdos and hairdon'ts

The day had not started well, Son 2 is still being torturous and son 3 decided that he didnt want to sit on his new trike any more on the walk home from school, but instead walk in zig zags or just sit on the floor.  Once at home, he wanted to be carried, other wise he would place himself between me and what ever I was trying to do and push me away, or else just put his face right into mine. It was very not conducive to rushing.  Then as I was getting us ready to go out for a much dreaded hair cut, he locked himself in the loo.  As he is only 22 months this meant I had to dismantle the lock to get him out.  Once in the car, I then hit my head on a sticky-out pipe in the garage (and swore a lot).  Anyhow, since being her I have had a terrible time with hairdressers, with them going 'there you go, thats lovely' and me wanting to run for cover to the nearest hat shop.  There is no other way to say it, I miss my hairdresser back home. So much so that I have seriously considered (for 5 seconds until I think about the cost), flying home.  I was lulled into a false sense of security, and had the carpet whiped from under my feet (not that I am one for mixing my metaphors) and for years I havent paid attention to what he actually does when he cuts my hair, but only that when I came out of the salon I enjoyed swinging my locks and that Just Stepped Out of the Salon euphoria.  Plus he was always good craic. And now, suddenly I have had to actually think about what he did.  After 2 DISASTEROUS dos I had decided to go cheap, seeing as price didnt seem to be a factor in the quality of stylist, and used a Living Social coupon I had purchased in desperation.  Anyhow, I am just back, and possibly with the help of a couple of photos of my and my hair in former times, and the fact the stylist was older, and had picked up on my trepidation, its not a bad cut at all, bit shorter than I usually like, but at least I dont have to tie it back everyday now. So yay to Heip and Regus salon.

Now because this salon was in a Maul, I did a bit of window shopping and have ended up with not one but 2 new pairs of Converse Allstars.  I have been looking for a while and the only colours they seem to stock for women over here are Durge, and Plop.  Neither of which I like.  Really and truely I would like a pair of the sparkly Sketcher slipons I see the little girls in my sons preschool class wearing, but they don't do them for women, again, seeming to be of the opion that women like Durge, Plop or PINK!.  I don't.  Anyhow, in this shop they had some limited, but decent colours, in my size AND if I bought 2 pairs I would get $10 off.  Who could resist? Not me!  So I didnt :-)

Day 2

It is officially day 2 as day one was yesterday, 'the day I bought
some new runners'.  I know they are the right kind because they were
in the section marked ladies - runners.  Plus they were on sale AND I
had a coupon for that shop.  Plus plus.  Anyhow, today the plan was to
take son 2 and son 3 for a brisk walk to the park, as part of my
training regime.  Plans went ary as we were a bit slow to get things
together and everyone was a little tired due to the excitement of
daddy and son 1 being away for the night.  They were sleeping with the
fishes... literally, they were on an overnight with the scouts at
Monterey Aquarium (neat!), they got to sleep under the sardines!!!
Anyway, as a result there was some bed hopping and occasional light
switching on in the middle of the night as son 2 was looking for his
torch at all hours of the night.  Then I was woken to the sounds of
Auld Lang Syne on the Crocodile organ piano toy and Weetabix being
crumbled in my bed by an excited 22 month old.  Anyhow, by the time we
were about ready to head to the park, son 1 and daddy arrived home,
and so son 1 came to the park too, which is only a ten minute walk
away, but I am new to all this, so baby steps.

Anyhow, home again after all that exertion and lunch and a treat of 3
mini kit kats, (which were bought to go in plastic eggs for school but
turns out they don't fit, so they are refugees in my larder now) I
figure I need the extra calories now I have started training in
earnest.  Then off to Pottery class, a special course on this weekend
with the esteemed Claudio, who visits this way once a year to give
master classes.  I can tell you , in my case, much needed.  My ability
to 'charm mud' is, well, challenged. Anyhow, I managed to coax a bowl
(my biggest yet") and a, erm, vase in the 3 hours I was there.  Then
home again home again jiggedy jig, picking up a second hand trike (thru the South Bay Parents online network!) with
a handle, on the way.  And that, unplanned diversion in the day
brought about my second bout of exercise in the day.  Rather impromptu
myself, son 3 and son 1 took a wander round the neighbourhood, waving
off our neigh and his son as they speed off for an evening burn on
their motorbikes.  We trundled about taking in the sights of the
neighbour hood, and instilling a feeling of well being and good
intentions.  I must do this more often.  I might be able to handle
this run after all.

Anyhow, its has been a torturous day for son 2, he has been most
inconsolable about most things, although now, as bed time approaches
he is, rather cutely singing 'all I really need is a song in my heart,
and my family' (no, i don't know it either).  He is the singer in the
family.  Which isn't saying much.  Anyhow, I have to go wrangle the
children bedwardly....

Wharf to Wharf

Eek what have I done.  The combination of turning 40 this year, moving away from friends and family have caused me to be more 'open' to new experiences.  So, when a few friends suggested taking part (note, they all already ENJOY running when the have a free moment) in a 6 mile run later this year, it took a week or so, but I have registered.  SO, what now.  I have to train for this now.  And to be honest, sheesh, well, I am a lazy and the idea of it even exhausts me...