This is me

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A lovely thing happened on twitter a week or so ago.  A very special blogging friend mentioned that she was going to nominate my blog for the MADs.  I never ever thought that would happen, and it got me thinking.  I’m not sure what category my blog would fit in.  Unless there’s a “most neglected blog” option perhaps!  I have been rather quiet on here recently, though I’ve had plenty I could have been writing about.  I have hundreds of photos of the children doing wonderful, creative things, and I should blog them but I’ve been finding it really hard to do.  I need to get back into a blogging routine, and I’m sure I will, but I think I need to deal with what’s been stopping me first.

This blog has been, from the start, mainly about the children.  I love having it as a record of our family life and our home education, but there has been something missing.  It hasn’t really been about me, and I’ve suddenly realised the significance of that.  My life hasn’t really been about me for a long time, and I think that needs to change.  I have tried to put other people first and keep myself in the background.  I think that’s ok up to a point, but I need to fit myself in somewhere.

So this is me.  In the words of my lovely husband “a bit loopy”, and I can’t say I disagree.  Struggling again with depression and anxiety, which has come and gone over the years but never left me.  Often found on twitter at 2am hanging out with fellow insomniacs.  Some days just getting through the day.  Other days feeling impossibly lucky and loved.  I have a wonderful and endlessly patient husband, four funny and lovely children and some truly amazing friends.

Today is my birthday, and this post is my present to myself.  I’m reclaiming my blog, and I hope normal service will now resume, though it might be a new normal.  I can’t finish this without a mention for the people who have made it possible for me to get to this point.  Paul, thank you for putting up with me.  I’ve no idea how you do it but long may it continue!  Sarah, thank you for picking up the pieces every time I fall apart, and I will try to stop doing that every day so you can have a bit of a break.  You are always there for me and I know how lucky I am.  Merry and Jennie, thank you both for being lovely and helping me more than you know.  And as for the MADs, I’m not kidding myself that I will be there, but Merry thank you for making me love my blog again.

This is me.  And I think I will be ok.

me

Muddypaws’ New Friends

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Rabbit loved this book from Parragon so much that she wanted to write the review herself!

muddypaws 2 two

Muddypaws’ New Friends, written by Steve Smallman and illustrated by Simon Mendez, Parragon Books, paperback, £5.99

I love the Muddypaws book because I like little puppies.  In the story, Ben and his puppy Muddypaws go to Puppy School.  Muddypaws makes some new friends and plays with them.  I like the bit where Muddypaws gets all wet in the puddle.  I like the boy because he is called Ben and I know someone else called Ben.  I like Muddypaws because he is a nice dog and he is fluffy.

muddypaws 1 one

Thank you to the lovely people at Parragon for sending us this book, we really enjoyed it!

We were sent the book free of charge for the purpose of this review.

Birthday Interview with Monkey 2014

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Monkey is eight today.  This is his birthday interview.  You can read last year’s interview here.

What would you like to be when you grow up?

An actor or a Lego designer or a film director.

What’s your favourite colour?

Yellow

What’s your favourite book?

Star Wars Character Encyclopedia

What are your favourite toys?

Lego

What is your favourite food?

Mango

What is your favourite thing to wear?

If I had any Star Wars costume it would be my favourite but I don’t have one.

What do you like doing with mummy?

Going shopping

What do you like doing with daddy?

Sort of technical devices

What makes you happy?

The stuff which doesn’t make me sad.  The stuff which I do like.

Tell me a joke

Knock Knock

Who’s there?

Abby

Abby who?

Abby Birthday to you!

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Sunday Afternoon at the Park

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This post is written by Suburban Dad.

Although this linky is called ‘Country Kids’ I’m hoping it’s ok to blog about last weekend’s suburban experience, as after all, we almost live in the country. Near our house is the rump of a park, nearly 10 hectares in area but only one-tenth of its original size. The park has lakes, ponds and canals that were laid out in the early 18th century and filled by diverting tributaries of the river Wandle. Nowadays, with much of the Wandle being diverted into local sewers, the canals are dry, and have been for many years – that is, until the wettest January for 250 years filled them up with fast running water, more than I can remember in my lifetime.

wandle 1

On Sunday afternoon it was beginning to get dark and only half our children wanted to go to the park, so we had the choice to fight it out with the rest of them, or take half the children to the park. I set off with Monkey and Tiddler, and parked up next to the new river running through the neighbourhood. They were interested. For about 500 yards, the six-feet-deep grassy depression they normally run up and down in was coursing with water. We walked up it, all the way to the Italianate grotto at the top of the canal, then headed over to climb up the climbing frame and get a good view of the unexpected waterscape.

wandle 2

Monkey went halfway down the slope of the former lake now used as an amphitheatre for local festivals, and the bed had filled up to a depth of ten feet. When we got home Monkey and Tiddler reported the exciting water find to Owl and Rabbit, and now they all want to go and see it. So, we are hoping the rain will abate and spare the country, but are also aware that, once dry, the local park may never look so beautiful to us again, even if we end up taking grandchildren there.

wandle 3

 

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

Basbousa

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This week I have spent a lot of time planning and preparing a Middle Eastern meal for two very lovely friends.  I am so looking forward to a relaxing Friday evening combining good company and Egypt nostalgia, and if the food looks presentable enough I will inevitably be Instagramming it.  I couldn’t resist posting a sneak preview yesterday of the basbousa, and several people have asked me for the recipe so here it is.  If you are observant you may notice that I didn’t use an 8 x 12 inch cake tin.  If you don’t have one, a 10 inch round one will do!

basbousa

½ cup unsalted butter

¾ cup caster sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

2 eggs

2 cups fine semolina

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

¾ cup yoghurt

blanched split almonds

Syrup:

2 cups sugar

1 ½ cups water

1 tablespoon lemon juice

  1. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla essence until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time and beat well.
  2. Sift semolina, baking powder and soda twice.  Fold into butter mixture alternately with yoghurt.
  3. Spread batter into a greased 20 x 30 cm (8 x 12 inch) slab cake pan and place almonds on top in rows.
  4. Bake in a moderate oven – 180° C (350° F) for 30-35 minutes.
  5. While cake cooks, make syrup. Dissolve sugar in water over medium heat, add lemon juice and bring to the boil.  Boil rapidly for 10 minutes, then cool by standing pan in cold water.
  6. When cake is cooked, spoon cooled syrup over the hot cake.  Cool thoroughly and cut into diamond shapes or squares to serve.

The recipe comes from The Complete Middle East Cookbook by Tess Mallos.