Tuesday, September 29, 2015

I don't have time

I say this so often and I'm sure you do too. But it's true, isn't it?

I don't have time to sleep, but I'm so tired that I have to go to bed early, sometimes before some of my kids.

I don't have time to play with my children all day, but I make time to stop what I'm doing and listen when they talk to me. Almost always.
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Monday, September 28, 2015

Our September Must-Sees on Netflix

The love affair with Netflix continues, even with my limited viewing time. So here's our family's round up from September.

Under The Influence



Billed as a documentary about rock 'n' roll legend Keith Richards and the people and sounds that inspired him.

I think you can divide the world up into those who like the Beatles and the rest of us who prefer the Rolling Stones. So I couldn't wait to watch this.
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Friday, September 25, 2015

Homes for all is a Global Goal worth blogging for

When is a home not a home?


  • When it's just a house.
  • When it's not even a house.
  • When it's lonely.
  • When it's unsafe.
  • When it's cold.
  • When it's cramped.
  • When it's miserable.
  • When you desperately want to be somewhere else.
  • When you're terrified of going indoors and unworried sleep is a distant dream.
  • When you're afraid to go outside.
  • When there's nothing for miles, just more houses or flats or shacks.
  • When there's a war on.


Many millions of people in the world live like this.

And that needs to change.

Providing Sustainable Cities and Communities for all would be a start, and it's one of 17 Global Goals that will be adopted by 193 world leaders at the United Nations on September 25th 2015.



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Thursday, September 24, 2015

Reasons to be cheerful 24.9.15

It's been a much better week, but in a normal way, making it perversely difficult to find interesting reasons to be cheerful! But I've done my best...
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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Concerning Hobbits

I do realise that only about two of you are as interested in Middle-earth as I am, but now and again I need to indulge my obsession, and right now it's Hobbit week - my eldest daughter actually shares her birthday with Frodo and Bilbo, which has to be a sign of something.
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Monday, September 21, 2015

My cake decorating shame

Another year, another birthday. Angel is 23 tomorrow.

I wanted to do something special for her this year, especially as so much of my time and attention is given to my two teenagers right now.

So I decided to make a cake for her. But not an ordinary every day cake like the ones that I turn out every week. No, I had to bake something that she would remember.
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Thursday, September 17, 2015

No more ditzy diva!

There's a few reasons to be cheerful about the children this week. If I can still call them children now that the eldest is nearly 23...

Smiley's New Placement


I won't lie to you, I was worried. Sending a completely non-verbal young woman somewhere different to join a programme where she would be the most disabled person taking part raised lots of concerns in my mind. Would she cooperate? Would the other participants accept her? Would the staff continue to feel that she was benefiting?

Well I got the first report yesterday, and all is going better than I could have hoped:


  • She is using the toilet.
  • She is feeding herself.
  • She is enjoying the activities.
  • She is learning to be calm and quiet when necessary.


It looks as though I have been one seriously over-indulgent mother! My adorable ditzy diva is being reined a little bit, but maybe that will help her to be more accepted by her peers, and surely that can only be a good thing?

Waiting patiently for her bus.

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Saturday, September 12, 2015

Next year

Is when the big anniversaries begin.

Anniversaries of things I didn't plan, didn't expect, hoped would never happen.


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Thursday, September 10, 2015

Reasons to be cheerful 10.9.15

No intro this week, just reasons to be cheerful...

  • Realising that emotional upset does ease, even though you don't believe that it will when you're up to your neck in it. Important to remember on World Suicide Prevention Day.

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Saturday, September 05, 2015

Could the death of a child be a turning point for the world?

A small child lying damply on a sandy beach, at rest, but not from play. I saw the photo on twitter. Dead, drowned, fleeing war and terror only to die in the cold pitiless Mediterranean sea. Like everyone else I was touched, and it is an image that I will never forget, but I can't tell you that I cried, because I didn't. I've seen too many tragedies and sadly watched as each one slowly slipped from the public view. Too many times when no-one acted until a photograph or a news report pricked their complacency.

Will it be different this time? I really hope so.
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Friday, September 04, 2015

A successful start

You have to let her go, said Angel. But it's easier said than done.

I'd got used to having her Smiley face around the place, two months without any school or placement or respite meant that we did everything together. I enjoy her company, even as she wears me out. It's lovely to be needed and thanked and appreciated - I don't get that from a clean floor or a paid bill.

I'm thrilled about her new placement, but anxious too. We said goodbye to the comfortable cocoon of her school, where she knew everyone, and everyone knew her, and the days, weeks and years passed in a predictable routine. This is an opportunity and a fresh start, but she is so disabled by all her challenges, will she make the most of it?

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