Things I have learned

Here are some things I have learned over the last few days:

• Do not try to whip single cream. It will not form "soft peaks" even after 25 minutes of whipping. You need whipping cream or double cream.
  
• If the recipe says that it makes 48 peanut butter cups it will. Do not try to use large muffin trays with small muffin cases - they deform - the cases not the trays. (I only have two 12 hole mini muffin trays, hence the large ones)
  
• Hide the peanut butter cups from Mr Yoastie and my parents otherwise you will not get any.
  
• The cat can not pass his bowl over to you even if you insist. Unfortunately the three year old daughter has not learned this. Neither has the cat learned to stop meowing at the three year old with the cat food and rubbing up against her.
  
• Father Christmas uses the same wrapping paper as us. This has made number two child very suspicious. Not even her big sister explaining that Father Christmas must have bought it at the same shop convinced her.
• Do not trust Woolworths to get the ordered present to you by Christmas. It still hasn't arrived.

Christmas Princess

The girls got Christmas / Princess dresses today.

The following was overheard.

"Pim Pom went the doorbell. Who could that be? wondered Princess CS as she went to answer the door. It was the Prince.! He had come to marry her!"

Presents

CS: "Mummy, Daddy and I bought you a present. It's a secret. It is to go on your bracelet and it has green dots."

Mrs Y.:"Well sweetie, if it is a secret you had better not tell me."

CS: "CE got you a pink one."

CE: "Can you help us wrap them? you mustn't look though. Promise?"

I promised not to look. So the wrapping paper may not be straight. Hope I won't mind.

The presents have been wrapped and hidden in Daddy's office drawer. A place so incredibly out of bounds even Mummy won't dare to look there.

Work Christmas Party

It is Mr Yoastie's work Christmas party. Mrs Yoastie dislikes office Christmas parties. I will probably have nothing in common with anyone. I can't decide on an outfit and Mr Yoastie says I can't go as Goth-girl. Apparently I am now a responsible mother of two and need to dress accordingly. Hmph.

Netherlands

We have been away to NL and now I am tired. REALLY tired. We had to visit everybody and their dog.

I also believe that for every day you are away it takes about a week to get the children back to normal. So it should only take about 10 weeks then :-). They currently believe that "Chocomel" can be had on tap, someone will call out "oh, look aren't they cute" every time they do the smallest thing and if they decide not to like dinner someone will make them something more to their liking. Oh and bedtime is optional. I guess their Grandparents don't see them a lot and also they are the only grandchildren, so it is only to be expected.

More of our Dutch adventures later but now I am going to find my very own bed.

Advent Advent ein lichtlein brennt

Not quite yet but I have already built their advent calendars. On the box it states 25 min assembly. Maybe if you are a trained assembler but it took me longer. But I was watching Heroes at the same time, so maybe that didn't help.

The daughters were very impressed. The wait is just too long. Especially since eldest daughter knows what should be in there. "But Mummy it will be too dark for the poor playmobils. Shouldn't we let them out? They may be frightened."

Pom Pom

We made pom pom animals. The brown one is a hedgehog and the pink one is a cat. Now all I need to do is scrape the PVA glue of the tablecloth.

Not Well

I don't feel well. Mr Yoastie has been left to fend for himself and the daughters all day. I think he did all right. Both of them are still alive and so is he. But he is exhausted. He is not used to their demands, their petty squabbles and their seemingly endless need for cuddles. Talking of which I had better see if he needs looking after.

Advent

"Just eight more days and it will be December. Do you know what that means?"

"Yes, we get to have the advent calenders that are in the eaves room."

"Oh? And where are they exactly?"

"On top of the suitcases behind the curtain. There is a blue one and a pink one. Do you want me to get them?"

Such much for that surprise then.

Birthday CE

Yesterday was CE's third birthday. She is now a big girl. We have binned her potty. CE has decided she can now use the loo. Hurrah.

No birthday party though. "I think I see the other girls enough at school Mummy. I don't need to have a party. Only You, Papa, CS, Opa and Oma and Me. Oh and the cat." She kept insisting no party, so no party was had. We did go to Waitrose to pick out chocolate cake. (She had Waitrose cake at Opa's birthday and was most impressed by its quality). CE was allowed to choose what she wanted for lunch - a white bread roll to be eaten while we were in the shop (this is not normally allowed so the girls were really pleased). Drinks to be had with the cake were to coffee, this was vetoed by her mother for all those under five, but pink milk aka Nesquik strawberry flavour was allowed. And for afternoon snacks CE asked for Walker's Thai sweet chilli crisps. And if it really was her special day she wanted pasta with red pepper, mushrooms, tinned tomatoes and "rookworst" for dinner.

Opa and Oma brought best present ever - the Playmobil pink palace. I am sure that Playmobil never took one and a half hours to assemble when I was little but hey it stands proud in our living room.

So now we need to get back to reality and realise that not every day you get to be spoiled like that.

Nativity Play

"Mummy, why did they stay in the stable."

"There was no room at the Inn. All the rooms already had somebody in them, so there was no room available for Mary and Joseph."

"Maybe they should have booked a hotel room before they left."

"Yes, but in those days there was no telephone or internet, so it will have been more difficult."

"Could they have written a letter maybe?" Pauses to mull this over "Maybe they did write Mummy and it was stuck in the postal strike like the very old Oma's card. "

"Maybe"

Recycling

Friday is recycle day. The green bins need to be placed outside the night before because usually the bin men are round early. Not this Friday.

I was taking my two girls and the neighbour's boy to pre-school. Rory is three months younger than CE and about a foot shorter (well maybe 10cm). We toddled up the road past the green bins. We pass No 11 and their bin contains adult top-shelf magazines. Of course the children all think this is odd. "Look!" shouts Rory "Naked!" Oh great. How am I going to divert their interest? I know lets have a race to the end of the road.

Now this incident has kept me thinking. Of course recycling is good but why place such magazines at the top of the bin? Why not have newspapers on the top? Why decide to recycle on a windy day when they can blow away across the neighbourhood (as indeed they had done)? What did the bin men think when they saw this? All questions I think that should maybe stay unanswered.

Mummies and Dinosaurs

It may or it may not come as a surprise to you that I do NOT like spending money. I blame that fact that long ago I had Scottish ancestors who moved to the Netherlands. As you can imagine I was really pleased to learn that the museums (or is that musea?) in Oxford now have free entry. Hurrah, hours of priceless entertainment.

The daughters and I decided to give Opa a Dutch treat and take him to the Ashmolean to see "the dead Egyptians." For all those who have been to Oxford they will know that parking there is not easy. No problem we take the park-and-ride bus. Imagine my horror that they now charge £2.20 for the bus and £1 for the car park. Luckily the girls got on for free but Opa did not. He did have a disagreement about this with the conductor but he is not yet old enough even though he draws his pension.

After most exciting ride on the bus "Look! We are as tall as the houses" "Look out for the tree Mr Driver." (it is a double decker and we got to sit on the top at the front) the Ashmolean was a bit of a disappointment. Well it was for the under 5's. The Mummies were "too scary"according to CE and CS was not allowed to touch anything, so lost interest quickly. So after 15 minutes it was agreed that we should go to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

We were on familiar ground here. Dinosaurs, fluorescent rocks "in the little tent" and lots of stuffed animals you are allowed to touch. Opa knew more than Mummy about the Dinos, so once again regained the place of favourite grandparent.

After a packed lunch of sandwiches (cheese, so as not to upset the stereotype) and some dinosaur hunting in the museum grounds it was time to go home. CE had a go at taking pictures but I think it will be a while yet before those can be published.

Nursery Rhymes

"Daddy, please stop singing. You are hurting my ears."

Vet

Last week was half term and it has been an eventful half term. Both girls had croup. First number one child to be followed a couple of days later by the younger one. Of course CE had it worse and she is useless at being ill. So sleepless nights for me.

To round of the week of the cat was in a fight. Not that unusual after all they are territorial creatures. But he got hurt and he now has an infected wound on his paw. Luckily he is the most docile cat when it comes to being manhandled. He purrs at the vet and we can get antibiotics into him without the aid of a towel (to swaddle cat so that he can't scratch you).

This is almost unheard of behaviour and the vet was stunned. Her normal patients are more similar to my old cat Lucky. Lucky was a lovely cat but she hated vets, injections and pills. If truth be told I think I was the only one she liked. My father was convinced she lived till she was 20 years old just to annoy him. We used to have to force her into the carrying basket. Then tend to the lacerations on the arms of all parties involved in her capture. Once at the vet any escape routes had to be blocked and the cat had to be taken hold off in a vice like grip more often seen in wrestling. The vet was no fool and would don his anti cat gauntlets. This was no use she could find bare skin. Anyway pills were impossible to administer and I still bare the scars.

Hello Kitty

We recently received a care package from our friends in the US. Mr Yoastie has already finished off the peanut butter cups and is steadily working his way through the other peanut based products.

The little Yoasties weren't forgotten. They recieved Hello Kitty knickers and Hello Kitty plasters. The knickers were tried on (all 3 pairs at once) and then shown to the girls next door. They are 7 and 8 so not as impressed as my two but then again they were not the recipients of the knickers.

The plasters were not allowed to be tried out. I know they are pretty but there is no need to just hand them out. Every time a finger was squashed or a foot was bumped a plaster was needed to make it better. At last CS has earned herself a Hello Kitty plaster. She tripped over on the way to the shops. Here is her knee in all its glory.

Sad News

There is some sad news in the Yoastie household. Mr Yoastie's new hobby (or skill depending on your point of view) has been put on ice.

The balloons have run out and now the pump has been broken. The little Yoasties thought it made a great syringe for the dolls, fought over it and now it is broken. And the dolls still haven't had their booster shots.

I could not see the much beloved so sad and forlorn. I have gone onto ebay and purchased a new balloon pump and 50 balloon.

Orthoptist

The little Yoasties have squints. This means they have to wear glasses. The squint isn't too bad when they wear their glasses but without it one eye looks at the nose and the other at you. As a result of this we have to got to the hospital on a regular basis to have their eyes checked and monitored.

Going to hospital involves two adults. I can not take both Yoasties on my own as CS will answer for CE therefore rendering test results useless. Normally my father comes along to wait with one child as I take in the other. This time Oma went along. She was informed that frankly Opa is more fun. Well that is because Opas and Papas are there for fun. Omas and Mamas need to make sure there is some form of child rearing. Well that was Oma's explanation and I think she is probably right.

Once home Mr Yoastie arrived from work and wanted to know how our day had been. "Lemony had her hair different today! Normally she wears it up but today it was loose and it is really long and brown." informed CS
"I know they have strange names at your school but who on earth calls their child Lemony?"
"She is not a child. She is the orthoptist lady at the hospital." rolling eyes of disbelieve at her farther that he could be so silly.
Well she is really called Melanie. I tried to correct CS but she now insists that the orthoptist is called Melony.

Extra Mouth To Feed

It seems that we have an extra mouth to feed. Our cat is not bothered by this intruder. We believe it is a she. For now she is called Dinner-Jacket-Cat or You. DJ-Cat was spotted in CE's bedroom having a kip in the window sill. I think she is making herself part of the family.

Strange Day

I had a somewhat peculiar day today. Well to be honest most of it was run of the mill. The strangeness didn't start till I picked up CS from pre-school. CS lost her James (one of Thomas the Tank engine's friends) zip pull. No tears or upset, "oh, well maybe teacher will find it.". There was no discussion over how long we should stay on the playground either.

Later in the afternoon we were outside playing with the girls from No 36. Neighbour at No42 pops her head round the door. Would I please come in as she wanted to ask me my opinion about something. All right, no problem. She showed me her son's soiled underpants. Did I think he had diarrhoea? He had been sent home from pre-school because he had diarrhoea and wouldn't be allowed to return for 48 hours. She didn't think that this was the case and did I agree with her that it was just a motion the child had sat in.

Well what do you say in a situation like that? I have not made a study of other poeple's soiled pants and frankly I imagine that a pre-school teacher will have seen more filled pants than me. I sort of agreed with her as I did not really want to be near the smell anymore. Anyway a third opinion was needed and the neighbour at No 44 was called in. As her insight was not conclusive either neighbour 42 decided to call the pre-school to complain.

Apparently pre-school told her that they had been in the profession for 10 years and they would rather not see the son for 48 hours if it is all the same with her. Neighbour No 42 was heard to say that she had good mind to take the pants round to confront the teacher with them.

If I hear any news I will of course update you.

Pitt Rivers Museum

We took the little Yoasties to the Pitt Rivers Museum. I thought it was very interesting but the girls were on the whole more interested in the Natural History Museum next door that had dinosaurs.
Sadly one of the teachers at pre-school passed away a couple of weeks ago. CS asked me today if teacher was buried in a sarcophagus and if they would dig her up to look at her under the telescope.

On the one hand I am of course a proud parent that my daughter remembered about the mummies at the museum and the microscope. On the other hand I really hope she does not ask one of the other teachers. I am afraid they may take it the wrong way.

Birthday Party

Well CS has had her birthday party. All the little girls were enjoying themselves and all was going well until the excitement got too much for CS. She spent the last half hour of her party curled up on my lap.

The others had a good time though and the party bags (loot bags) were much appreciated. One little girl emptied out the sweets and filled her bag with popcorn. I am not sure if that is customary but she seemed happy with her popcorn.

One party down, next one in November for CE. BTW she is having everything in pink.

I can't go to pre-school because...

'I Can't go to pre-school! I absolutely can't."
"Why not?"
"Because .... I have a cough. Cough cough"
"No you don't. Don't you like it a school?"
"Yes, but I can't go"
"I thought you liked being in red group. Are you unhappy at school are the other children not nice to you?"
"Yes, but I can't go to school today."
"Why?"
"Because at pre-school they don't have playmobil or Barbie."
"But you can play with them when you get home."
"Can CE come to school today as well?"
"No, she only goes Monday and Friday"
"But she might play with MY playmobil and my Barbie when I am at pre-school!"

At least she like her presents. But she has gone to school and I promised to not let CE play with her toys.

Preparations

Tomorrow is CS's 4th birthday. This means that I will be busy this evening blowing up balloons and wrapping presents. I hope she will like her presents.

I have foolishly agreed to her having a birthday party. We will have potentially 8 girls aged between 2 and 5 years here on Saturday. I must be mad. I can't even think of party games or the rules. My mother is no help. My birthday parties consisted of 5 other girls and cake bought at the patisserie (my mother does not do baking. Gasps of horror of the German mothers in our town "Ach die armen Kleinen." "Wie kann das denn?") copious amounts of sweets and crisps. My mother never organised games, we were herded into the garden and told to amuse ourselves. This wasn't too difficult as the garden was huge and we had swings that were standard issue for a respectable playground. My father would then come home from work to take everyone home (normally via Eis Cafe Venezia). There was usually a fight for who got to sit in the boot of his estate.

I do not remember any negative feedback and nor does my mother. Will this free form arrangement for parties be enough though in the noughties (as in 2007, could call it 00's but that looks ttoo much like loo)? And what if it rains? So I guess I'll have to google party games. I hope the suggestions will be suitable for the under fives.

BTW I will be baking cake and I need to find Nic's recipe for apple pie.

Insurance

When I took my driving license at 17 I thought great, I have saved all my pocket money, birthday bonuses and my earnings (well you know holiday jobs, so lousy wages for mostly dull and repetitive work) I'll buy a little motor. And so I went out and bought my little Renault 5 Campus. It had a tiny engine and managed about 60mph downhill. I loved her. Insurance was steep. Much more than I expected. I wasn't worried I had no other commitments, so the money could be spent on the car and its insurance.

I am now almost 17 years older than I was then. I have many years and miles of claim free and blame free motoring (please may it continue in this way for a long time). There are myths and legends that when you reach 25 your insurance will go down. I have just renewed my insurance for another year. It is in fact the same amount I paid 17 years ago. Yes, in real terms it will have gone down (inflation and I now drive a Mondeo). I know it is not a fair comparison but nevertheless I do feel up out.

Schools part 4

Hurrah, the technical difficulties on the website have been resolved. I have applied for a school place for CS. Now all we have to do is wait till 22/2/08 to find out whether she got in.

Schools part 3

As promised the county council sent us a letter telling us that we need to apply for a school place for CS.

"You can apply using the application (available from your local school from 1/9) or why not use our on-line service. Register online using the unique registration code below." it said in the letter.

I consider myself reasonably au fait with the interweb, so tried on-line registration. I wasn't phased by the 12 digit alpha numeric code. I thought up a great password. I filled in all the details and then get round to choosing her preferred school. Oh oh the spinning beach ball of death appears (if you are not a Mac user this will not mean much to you but I believe if memory serves PCs have the hourglass of doom). The site for the county council decides to give up the ghost on me. Not to worry I know what any good helpdesk would suggest:"Have you tried rebooting?"

I have tried rebooting. I should be able to edit the form. However every time I try the site tells me that is was "expecting a semicolon". I just click a link, so no place to fill in a ; anywhere.

I will use pen and paper. I set off to the local school, which is also preferred school. I asked for the application form at the reception desk. "Yes, we should have them but the Council hasn't sent them to us yet. Have you tried the internet?"

Oh well, I have till 23/11 to complete the form and return it (submit it) maybe the internet will be fixed in time.

Water conservation

It has been felt for some time that the Yoasties should do something about the downstairs loo. I did not understand why, but it would appear that no one could flush the loo. It was simple; one short flush (pulling softly on the chain) and one long flush (quickly pull chain again once the lever has gone up) easy. Maybe not that easy but seriously not rocket science.

Anyway the plumber came and did some sucking of teeth, scratching of head and tutting. Well the whole lot would have to be replaced our 1955 cistern and loo were no longer being made and so no internal workings.

We now have a new loo and cistern. I hope that this will be easier to flush. Mr Yoastie has brought the old loo to the dump. I am now wondering should we have kept it? It was after all an original feature, if they are no longer being made like this maybe it will be antique one day?

Purple Carrots

At our local farm shop they were selling purple carrots. I had heard of purple carrots but never eaten them before, so we bought them. They taste just like normal carrots and are in fact orange on the inside. However before you rush out to buy purple carrots beware of two things:

1. It confuses the family no end, there was even refusal to try prurple carrot but then I told Mr Yoastie to stop being childish and just eat them
   
2. The colour that makes the carrots purple stains really badly. It took 24h to get the colour of my hands.

A quick handy recipe for carrot salad
4 carrots
50g salted peanuts
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp groundnut oil

Grate the carrots coarsely or chop into fine batons. Mix the grated carrots with the peanuts and other ingredients. Try to stop the children and husband from eating your salad. This normally doesn't work so double (or triple) the quantities.

Paperfree

Dear Mrs Yoastie,

Thank you for signing up to our paperfree billing service. You will be able to manage your account online blah blah etc etc


Yes, thank you for your letter but wasn't the whole point of signing up to paperfree that I would no longer receive letters from you?

Patio Doors

Our dining room did not have double glazing. "No matter. It will be fine to not have double glazing. Lot of nonsense; we never had double glazing when I was a lad and we were fine!" said the much-beloved last year when we moved in. I spent quite a few of my formative years in Germany. I too remember not having double glazing and it is cold. The frost on the windows can be very pretty but cold.

And behold Mrs Yoastie was right. It is cold without double glazing. It came to pass that one of our neighbours asked to borrow a jumper when they were invited over for dinner. Yes, real hospitality there. We'll cook dinner for you but don't expect us to pay for heating as well.

When summer came this year (I think it was a Thursday in May) Mr Yoastie was complaining that he had to walk all the way round the house to be able to sit on the patio, with his beer, and admire his estates (walk through the kitchen and look out on to the backgarden). The decision was made: the window must become patio doors and the side window must be double glazed as well (imagine Handel's Messiah the Hallelujah chorus).

Quotes were requested. Prices were compared and a supplier/fitter was chosen (he has done most of the houses in this street and comes highly recommended). Oh, and as he was cheaper by far the kitchen door is being replaced too. Oh, the downstairs lavatory, I think a window that can be opened maybe? After all the man will be on the premises anyway, so no need to pay call out costs again.

The Patio doors are in and so is the side window in the dining room. Tomorrow the "gentlemen with the big van" will be back to finish the backdoor and the loo window. We will be fully double glazed. Hurrah.

Harry Potter 7

I have finished HP7 but Mr Yoastie hasn't even started it yet, neither of my parents have read it and best friend K is away in Cornwall (with HP7). I am getting a little annoyed that I can't discuss the book with anyone. I will have to wait at least six weeks before the much beloved has finished the book. Luckily K will be back soon.

Buttergebäck - 2

Success! It worked.
Bit messy though. The little ones got very helpful with the flour and later on they washed the cookie cutters. Flour and water a great combination for mess.

Buttergebäck

Today was a miserable rainy day. The kind of rain the UK used to specialise in when I was a child - drizzle. My mother never bakes biscuits (well hardly ever). I love making biscuits. I have a collection of cutters in different shapes and sizes. We recently acquired new ones, so being a rainy day I thought to entertain the girls by making biscuits.

Auntie H's book on "Weihnachts Gebäck" (Christmas biscuits) was found and Buttergebäck was chosen. The sous chefs did a sterling job and all was set to go but then we came unstuck or rather stuck. The recipe says to leave the dough to rest in the fridge for an hour. I think this was not enough. The butter just went soft as soon as I tried to roll it and it stuck to the surface and the rolling pin.

Tomorrow is another day. I have tried to rescue as much of the dough as possible and returned it to the fridge. Fingers crossed I will be able to show off some pictures of the biscuits tomorrow.

Kitchen

I don't know if Mr Yoastie has mentioned this but our kitchen is useless. It was put into the house 25 years ago and the working triangle was largely ignored when designing it. To create more space we want knock through one of the walls and make the kitchen an open-plan affair.

Not a problem says Mr Yoastie, that can be done. Well excuse me but he studied Hotel-management; he is not a structural engineer. I do not want to end up on BBC's "DIY SOS" or "DIY from Hell" (ITV1). Anyway we need to find an engineer (to tell us if it is possible) and a builder (for quotes and timescales), after that a kitchen design and then we need to agree on it all.

Our daughters, who are as yet blissfully unaware of project management, have already chosen the kitchen cupboards. CS saw kiwi green ones in the show room and keeps saying that we need those. CE spotted the colour options on the glass worktops and thinks that pink or orange glass worktops will set of the kiwi green nicely. I hope they don't find out that you can get the same colours in glittery floor tiles.

Floods, Grandparents and picnics

Well so far the summer holidays have been quite eventful. On the last day of term the heavens opened and Oxfordshire was flooded. We live on top of a slight hill, so we were all right but my parents were flooded. Well their house wasn't but the street looked like a river. There was another picture in the paper with my Father on it. We know it was him as we recognised his orange safety coat.

Mr Yoastie's parents were over for a long weekend. They coped with the fact that we drive on the correct side of the road. We did worry with regards to the flooding but most of it had subsided by the time they arrived. Also they drive a 4x4, so would probably have been all right anyway. The girls were thoroughly spoiled but it was a fun visit.

Today we went on a picnic with my best friend K. The little Yoasties were SO keen to start the picnic that we had it in K's back garden. We went to the park afterwards and tested the playground. My daughters did think K and I had lost the plot when we had a go on the merry-go-round. Well it was all I could do to stop K from going on the rope-slide :-)

Camping?

I have this habit of checking that the girls are all right before I go to sleep. After I have switched of the lights I need to make sure they are safely in their beds, if don't do this I can't sleep. When I was ill a little while ago I made the much beloved check on them as I could not fall asleep otherwise.

Last night after reading HP7 (far too late and have suffered for this today) I did my usual thing. CS was in bed in her usual star shape sleep position (this ensures that if she does ever need to come into our bed both parents are left without mattress). I came to CE's room and there was her large pink blanket right in front of her door. On closer examination she was on the blanket in her pink PJ's (that was why I hadn't seen her the pink were really effective camouflage). I lifted child and blanket back into bed.

I asked CE this morning why she had been sleeping in her doorway. She was allegedly camping.

De gustibus non est disputandum

"I am going to be four in August, you know." Charlie announced.
"Oh, will you have a party with presents and cake?" Mrs Yoastie asked.
"Yes, I want a spider-action-man." Charlie was really warming to the subject "And chocolate cake and ice cream and lots of sweets."
"What does spider-action-man do? Is he married to Barbie?" Mrs Yoastie asked teasingly.
"No! He is not married to Barbie!" Charlie replied "When's your Birthday? Did you get a present."
"Yes" she said showing him her wrist"Mr Yoastie gave me this bracelet."
"Why didn't he get you anything nice?" asked Charlie.

HP 7

Sorry that I am not writing lately but I have purchased Harry Potter 7.

Summer Holidays

Today is the last day of term. As of tomorrow the summer holiday will start in most of the United Kingdom. I will have to entertain the girls for six weeks. I just hope the weather is better than today. Luckily being only 3 and 2 the back garden offers lots of interest but not when it is raining.

Yesterday I received a folder from John Lewis (a big department store). It informed me of their great "back to school" offers on uniforms. I was wondering how it could be back to school if the schools had not officially broken up for the summer.

I have one more year of not worrying about uniforms. CS will be in red group after the summer holidays ("maybe that teacher will teach me how to read") and CE will be in yellow group. CE is not sure she wants to move up the next group. She loves Debbie her teacher in green group. What if Wendy her new teacher doesn't do cuddles? I have tried to reassure her that Debbie will still be in the building, so if cuddles are needed Debbie should be on hand.

Competitive

My brother is competitive. He likes to be the best and he is not good at losing. He would never play me at Trivial Pursuit because I normally beat him. Brother preferred Scrabble, he stood a much better chance of winning that. I call it a cheap victory to beat a dyslexic at Scrabble but never mind.

We both have daughters who are roughly the same age. My niece is 3 weeks younger than my daughter. It was important to my brother right from the start that his daughter should be the better one. Somehow I was not bothered (or so I tell myself). I was not going to compete. Of course brother was not impressed when my child could sit, crawl and walk before his. In the great big scheme both girls are pretty well matched in their development.

It rankles with my brother that my daughters speak two languages. He has decided to rectify this. He is teaching my niece Dutch. My darling niece pointed out to her father that she is English and sees no need to learn the odd language he speaks to Oma. Niece has now upset both her parents as her mother is Scottish (and proud to be so). Neither parent is pleased that their daughter sees herself as English.

Broken resolutions

I made a list of new year's resolutions. One of them was finally learn to sew. Well I broke that one - again. The In-laws are coming over. I needed to take up some curtains. Well needed, as my brother puts it no one is making you do this with a gun at your head. Rather than doing it myself I gave in and called my mother. She came to my rescue. The curtains are now straight.

Oh well, at least I am now making the birth sampler for my first born (another resolution). Who knows maybe it will be finished for her 4th birthday.

PS 2

I complained to my mother that the much beloved has an i-mac. Normally not a problem but you just can't find good games to play. I have finished the Harry Potter game we have, so what do I do now? My mother offered that I could borrow her Play Station 2. She had some platform games like Tombraider I could have as well. I would love to borrow it but what about her? Apparently since my father retired she hasn't been able to play. My father does not approve of his 65 year old wife playing "computer games". Shame I thought it was sort of cool that my Mum has a PS2.

Anyway Mr Yoastie is currently trying to rescue baby elephants in Wallace and Gromit project Zoo. I guess I will just have to wait my turn.

My father also does not approve of my mother's gambling - 1GBP per week on the national lottery. She promised she had stopped. Lets just hope she never wins the jackpot :-)

Black and white cat

Our garden seems to be home to a small black and white cat. My youngest daughter loves this cat and wants to adopt her. I have tried to explain that she looks too well cared for to be a stray.

This cat has been hanging around for a while and when Bas and his family were here the cat was around as well. CS asked what it was Mrs Bas had called the black and white cat. "She called it Tuxedo cat because its black with a white front. It looks a little like she is wearing a black jacket with a white shirt. Of course we are in England, so really it should be called a dinner jacket cat." (I am sorry to admit it but I am pedant- are there support groups for that?). The girls now ask our tabby cat if he would like to have dinner jacket cat as a friend.

Yesterday DJ cat was having a nice nibble of our cat's food. He just watched. I am afraid that we may soon be feeding two cats.

Oma's Birthday

It was my mother's birthday. I promised to make a cake. The girls had other ideas. They wanted fairy cakes. I checked with mother and she was up for this idea.

Nigella Lawson's Forever Summer was consulted and I made "lemon cupcakes". My sous chefs assisted me at every step (or hindered maybe is a better word to use).

Oma's birthday arrived we came to present the cakes. "Didn't they have little lemon sweets on top when you made them last time?" Oma asked "Yes, we helped Mama and ate them!" CS replied proudly "I helped too. I licked the beaters and the bowl." CE not wanting to be outdone.

Cat's Dinner

Our cat used to be the most useless hunter in the neighbourhood. However since we moved to the country he has developed his skills and now regularly brings home birds and mice.

I am not keen on the bird killing. I have a fear of flapping wings, so when he brings home half dead birds I scream the house down. I have passed this fear onto my youngest daughter. One time the cat brought in a living robin, which decided to fly around the dinning room. In a panic I phoned my Dad to come and rescue me (or should that have been the bird). He abandoned his coffee and jumped into the car to come over. I think the screaming grandchild helped to convince him of the urgency of the situation.

This Saturday Charlie, CS and CE had just relocated to the dinning room for some juice when I heard panicked squeaks outside. The cat was playing with a large mouse or small rat. I closed the door and the catflap. I did consider rescuing the poor rodent but having seen it I felt it was best to let the cat finish what he started. The three children found all this very interesting. "Just like animal TV!" (nature programmes I think)

Charlie was later collected by his father. The most exciting thing he had done: seen the cat with the mouse. "What happens to the mouse now?"asked Charlie's father. "It gets eaten by the cat."CS informed him. "I guess the cat won't want to eat his dinner in that case." replied Charlie's father. "Well, that's his problem, isn't it?"said CS.

Frogs

CS really likes frogs. I don't know why. Maybe because they are green but she just does. Her two favourite cuddly toys are Lillypad (big green frog) and Mr Jeremy Fisher (little green frog). It was no surprise therefore when she like the frogs in "Flushed Away". However after having watched this film CS now claims that:
English frogs say: ribbit
Dutch and German frogs say: Kwaak
French frogs say: We surrender!

Identity Theft

Identity theft seems to be the new thing one needs to worry about. Mr Yoastie decided we needed a shredder to avoid this happening to us. I suspect the fact that it had a plug and was on sale may have had something to do with his decision.
There are two members of the household who think this is a great addition. We had snow in June.

In Touch

Yesterday my girls were playing with the neighbourhood children. Charlie noticed I have a carabiner as a keyring. He went to find his "lock". He came back with his big brother (nine years old) in tow. Could they come and play with the girls at their house. Yes, but only if their mother agreed. Also was E sure he wanted to come over? All the toys we have are for younger children and mainly aimed at the under 4's. Barbie is really the only toy we have in his age group. That was fine he likes "women's things" "oh, are you in touch with your feminine side E?" "Eh?" "Do you like dresses, Barbie that kind of thing?" "Eugh! NO!"
Well I did not think it would be a success but E and the little Yoasties had great fun this afternoon sticking love-hearts and cutting out pictures of flowers and the like out of old magazines and brochures. They made beautiful collages with glitter and everything. Charlie found "What Car?". He will either drive a BMW or an Alfa Romeo when he is older or maybe both. (He did not like the Octavia much)
Maybe E who normally charges around like a lunatic when he is with the other boys is in touch with his feminine side after all.

Embarrassing

"Mummy? Why do some of the girls call their granny Mummy?" CS asked outside the door of pre-school.
"Well darling, if they call her Mummy maybe she is their Mummy? Don't you think?" Mrs Yoastie feeling slightly worried that this was overheard.
"No! That's not their Mummy! She looks like a Granny." CS replies full volume with half suppressed laughter.

It is at moments like this that I regret teaching them English.

Carrot Cake

Last autumn I made Dutch apple pie a la Nic, so I thought I would return the favour by including a recipe for Carrot cake. Word of warning though, this is not suitable for people on a low calorie diet. It is however very yummy or should I say Lekker.

Ingredients
250g/9oz unsalted butter
375g/13oz caster sugar
rind of 2 oranges, grated
4 eggs
450g/1lb carrots, grated
150g/5oz almonds or pecans, chopped
1 tbsp vanilla extract
juice of 1 orange
250g/9oz plain flour
2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp salt

For the icing:
225g/8oz full fat soft cheese, at room temperature
65g/2½oz unsalted butter, at room temperature
400g/14oz icing sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla extract

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
2. Grease a 23cm/9in spring-form cake tin.
3. Beat the butter, sugar and orange rind until they are light and fluffy.
4. Slowly add the eggs, beating well to incorporate each addition fully before adding more.
5. Fold in the grated carrot and chopped nuts.
6. Add the vanilla essence and orange juice.
7. Finally, sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, spice and salt together, then fold into the cake mixture.
8. Pour the mixture into the prepared spring-form tin and bake in the preheated oven for about 45-60 minutes. The sides of the cake should be coming away from the sides of the cake tin and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake should come out clean.
9. To make the icing, cream the cheese and the butter together until smooth.
10. Add the icing sugar and vanilla essence, and beat until smooth. This frosting is rich thick and delicious.
11. Spread the icing generously over the top of the cake.

Mr Yoastie's Birthday

It was Mr Yoastie's Birthday on Thursday. I did not manage to find him a suitable present (I did like the idea of the weather station but wasn't sure if this could be linked to his computer). Instead his birthday present will probably have to go towards a new computer. The one I am using right now keeps overheating.

Just in case you feel sorry for Yoastie he did get two plants from his daughters ("with pots daddy") and we made fairy cakes with candles (we made enough for all the candles but the girls ate some, so we didn't quite make it to 34 anymore. Also I ran out of candles.) But as special birthday treat Yoastie was allowed for a day out at - yes, you guessed - Ikea.

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

I know I have the most beautiful daughters. They are blond and fair skinned and have intensely blue eyes. I sometimes think it is a good thing that they wear glasses, that way other girls will have a chance. Well I am their mother and all mothers think their own child is the prettiest. At least that is how it should be.

I spoke to my friend M to congratulate her with her daughter's third birthday. Of course there was the necessary boasting about our respective children's various achievements (think the workplace is competitive wait till you are a mother). Anyway we discussed the idea of ballet/dance class. And this is when M really shocked me; she thinks her daughter isn't pretty enough for ballet classes. At first I thought I had misheard and said something about but the dancing doesn't look pretty at this age most of the girls just stomp about. No, she thought her daughter wasn't pretty enough. I was dumbfounded, all mothers think their child is the prettiest.

I felt really sorry for the poor little girl. Your mother should be there to help you build your confidence. Your mother should not at such a young age talk you into a complex. I really hope M does not say this sort of thing with her daughter present. It is amazing what they pick up on and how this can affect them later on.

Chickenpox part II

Well they told me that the incubation period for Chickenpox is two weeks, so I was expecting CE to come down with it soon. I did not however expect her come down with it exactly 14 days after her older sister. CE has lots of little bumps all over but no temperature to speak of, also it does not seem to itch too much for now (famous last words?).

Peru

Out of nowhere Aidan decided to start a conversation with me. "Daddy says its too expensive for all four of us to go to Peru." he told me looking very serious.
"Oh, are you going to Peru then?" I asked.
"No, Peru is too expensive." replied Aidan looking slightly annoyed and disappointed that I had not listened to him.

Cinderella

CE.:"Mummy, is Sheree R and M's mummy?"
Mrs Y.:"Yes, she is ."
CE.:"And Riley, she is his mummy?"
Mrs Y.:"No, not Riley. She looks after Riley while his mummy works. Sheree is his childminder."
CE.:"Sheree looks after him instead of his mummy?"
Mrs Y.:"Well, only till she picks him up. But yes, Sheree looks after him instead of his mummy."
CE.:"Oh, is Sheree Riley's wicked stepmother?"
Mrs Y.:"No, why do you think that?"
CE.:"The wicked stepmother looks after Cinderella instead of Cinderella's real mummy. Sheree is Riley's wicked stepmother."

Harvest

Our first batch of strawberries are now ripe. Well when I say batch I mean five. But the girls and I had great fun looking over all the plants to see if we could find berries that were ready to eat. We managed to find a family. They were played with for a while but all strawberries met with the same fate.

Birthday Present

It is Mr Yoastie's birthday on the 14th. I don't know what to get him as a present. Normally he will have made suggestions but this year he dos not know either.
This is a plea for help. Does anybody know a good present?
Useful things to consider: Mr Yoastie likes things with plugs and things to do with computers.
You never know he may get the USB lava lamp after all.

Chickenpox and rain

Not much has been happening here. CS has chickenpox. She did frighten me slightly when she came out with them, just before the spots appeared her temperature shot up to 40.2 and she went very gray and limp. Almost as soon as the spots appeared she got better. About 15 min later her temperature came down and she was lively again. Of course by now we are at the out of hours doctor. Well "better"; it is now a week on and she is no longer itchy. Just have to wait now for CE to get it.
It has been raining all week. Today is the first day that we have sun. I hope it lasts for long enough to dry the grass sufficiently for the girls to be able to play on it without being drenched.

Obedient Wives

Mr Yoastie thought this would be a good programme for me to watch. "maybe you can learn something :-)"
The women in this programme did everything their husband's asked of them. For some it was a religious thing for others it was based on the teachings of Laura Doyle.
All I can say is that it is not for me! One husband left his wife a to do list as he went to work. As if looking after the house and children is not enough without being given a list of things like "sort out my sock drawer"(no, really).
Well I can honestly say that I do not wear the trousers in our house (don't like wearing them; in fact I think I only own one pair) but this programme made me want to become a dyed in the wool feminist.

Booster Shots

My oldest daughter had to have her "preschool immunisations and assessment". I thought this a trifle early as she won't be going to school till September 2008 but as they say "in for a penny in for a pound". Also the Surgery had sent me a reminder 3 times already. After studying the information provided ("Pre-school Immunisation - a guid to vaccinations for 3 to 5 year olds") I booked the appointment. I was surprised to learn that first CS had to see the GP (general practioner -doctor to you and me) and then the nurse for the actual booster.

We arrived on time for our 3pm appointment at 2.55 pm. After waiting for 35 minutes we were finally allowed in to see the GP. The little yoasties are not interested in Women's magazines and as there were no toys in the waiting room or suitable children's books it was a long 35 min. The girls did have me read all the information leaflets to them. There are now several people in our little town who now know more than they wanted to about bladder weakness. Luckily we were called in before I had to read the leaflet "about the people kissing" or "Chlamydia".

The GP weighted and measured CS. CS and the GP discussed shoes, the difficulty of finding the right ones and explaining about CE's shoes. After less than 5 min we were free to wait for the nurse. After another 10min and leaflet on the benefits of breastfeeding we got to see the nurse. Immunisations were had; CS was "awfully brave actually" (her words). We left after a quick explanation to CE that if it says 'Staff only' you can't just walk in at 4.05 pm.

All in all a visit that could have been carried out by one member of the medical profession (I do not know why the person who studied for 6 years had to measure and weigh her when the nurse could have done this just as well). I very much felt that this is one hour of my life I will never see again.

Birthday

It's my birthday. I am 33 today.

Weather

Y.:"I think we should have some garden furniture."
Mrs Y: "All right. What type do you like?"
Y.:"Not wood that needs too much upkeep."
Mrs Y.:"Well what about this then?"
Y."Too much like a terrasje in NL."

This type of discussion went on for whole three weeks that we had glorious weather. We finally settled on cheap plastic as we couldn't decide and it is weather proof. I did think that it was a silly move to buy garden furniture as we were bound to have 40 days and 40 nights of rain. I was right. The day after our purchase it rained and it hasn't stopped since.

Schools part 2

I have found out that the council will write to me when CS needs to go to school (in June or July) and I need to then choose three schools listing them in order of preference. Then in about November I will be notified of where she will have a place.
I am glad that the lady from the Education department was definite about the time scales. Also she was not confused by CS having a birthday in September at all. Hmm we'll see what happens.
In the mean time CS will have her pre-school boosters on Monday. That should be fun as CS is no fan of the medical profession and certainly not jabs.

Shoes

Yes, as any of you out there who have children know buying shoes is a living hell. Not only do you have to fork out somewhere between £25 and £40 per pair but you have to try and find some which a) fit and b) pass the committee vote, easier said then done.
With the note from the pre-school in mind (Children with open toe sandals will not be allowed on the jungle gym) we set of to town.
CS has narrow feet and only wants to wear green. When I say narrow I mean a D fitting (F being standard move down the alphabet to get narrow and up for wide). We tried Clarks but no luck there (I don't know why I bother. The last time she fitted into their shoes was two years ago). After trying on half the shop's supply of size 9 or 27 we finally found a pair of shoes - in turquoise almost as good as green. They met with all round approval.
CE has narrow flat feet - slight valgus on the right foot or so I have been told by the Health visitor. Not only no open toe sandals but also needs good support, oh and they need be pink or pink and orange. We thought we had found the holly grail of shoes - velcro fastening, dahlia colour (fuchsia to you and me), good support and closed toes. We get home and it turns out they have given us size 24 shoes in the size 25 box. Phoned the shop and they have a size 25 but not the same style we are welcome to try those though.
Tomorrow I will be phoning round some other shops to see if I can find the larger size in pink not white or rocket or espresso.

Update: Hallelujah CE has new shoes
Went back and indeed the other style did not fit her. I asked if they could order them but apparently no more pink shoes to be had in the UK. Well how about other colours? Oh we have a white pair in 25.

Confused

Charlie, the three year old from two doors down, is confused. We now have three cars on our drive. This in Charlie's view is odd. There is only one Mummy and one Daddy in our house, so two cars should be enough. And how do we know which car to drive? They are all silver. It was helpfully pointed out by his older brother that one was gold- actually. (Mr Yoastie chipped in at this stage with Platinum - Actually). Mummies and Daddies do not drive the same car. His Mummy and Daddy have different cars and so do Sam's and Rowan's - therefore you should each have a different car. And the third one needs to go.
I thought about explaining about the company car and the different number plates (to help you tell them apart). I even considered explaining about the fact that we are trying to sell one of the cars. I have to admit to telling lies to Charlie. I told him that Mr Yoastie was collecting silver cars. This seemed to satisfy him.
Today he asked me if my daddy had outgrown the car and that is why he needed a new one. Charlie has outgrown his tricycle and has just been given a bicycle.

Ill

CE is ill. She has 39C and feels very sorry for herself. Her temperature goes down when I give her paracetamol, so hopefully she will be on the mend soon. In the meantime she is milking being ill."I can't eat bread with cheese I am ill. I can only eat bread with Nutella."
I can't get anything done as I have CE on my lap all the time. She "needs cuddles and hugs". When the paracetamol has kicked in she is happy enough but then CS is in need of cuddles to make up for lack of attention.
Fingers crossed tomorrow they will all be well.

Missing

Saturday was fabulous weather and all the neighbourhood children where outside playing in the road. CS was playing with M (4 years old and lives across the road). I turned my back on them for about 30 seconds to help CE and they were gone. At first I didn't think anything of it. They were bound to have gone to M's house. Went to look there. No M and CS weren't there. Checked at no44 as their gate was open no not there either. Then to add to the confusion one of the older boys thought they had gone up the road with his little brother, as his brother was missing too. All the parents and older siblings were hunting these three toddlers.
After 10 minutes or so they were all safely found in the little boys bedroom. They had neglected to tell anyone that they had gone there.

School

Next year CS needs to go to primary school. She will only be five years old. I have no idea how the school system works. I went to school in Germany and then to public school when we moved back to the UK. I should explain that public school means private school.
I understand that parents now have the choice of where to send their child. Great how do you choose? There are reports with scores but these are all pretty much the same round here. I have to say I don't even know if you have to put the child's name on a waiting list. My friend K is a teacher in Berkshire. There you have to put the child's name down before they are four. Is it the same in Oxfordshire?
Well my mission for the coming few days (weeks?) is to find out go about choosing a school. The girls in the last house of our close recommend Ladygrove school. Their mother is teacher at the school for the reception class (the five year olds).
I will hopefully be able to have an update on choosing schools soon.

Superpower

I took a folding chair out of the shed. On the back of the chair there was a butterfly. It didn't do a lot. I assumed that it had died on the chair over the winter months and left it as something to be dealt with later.
CE and CS thought it was an odd thing and kept going over to look at it. I told them what I thought had happened. "why won't it flap away?" "I think it is dead." I picked it of the chair to show to them properly. As I do this the butterfly decides it has warmed up now and flies away.
CE:"oh, pretty orange." CE is obsessed with orange.
CS:"Mama you made it come to life again!"
"No, the sun warmed it up I it must just have been hibernating or something."
CS:"No, it was dead and YOU made it life again."
"Yes, that would be right Mama has the power to do that".
I should now point out that sarcasm is wasted on the under 4's. They have told the neighbour of my superpower, my parents and Mr Yoastie.

Passports

While we were in NL in March there was a lot of discussion on whether one should be allowed two passports. As it happens I have dual nationality. The rules were changed in the 1980's but I being "really old" still have two and will be allowed to keep them (well until they change their minds).
It has been useful having two passports. Mr Yoastie insisted we marry in NL and that is a lot easier if you both have NL passports. The gentleman in Den Haag where we had to register our intention to marry was very confused that I had not been 'uitgeschreven' but that is a different story.
The little Yoasties are allowed dual nationality as well. The British rule is the child has the mother's nationality this trumps the only one allowed rule. Strange but true.
We went to renew our passports. The photographer who is next to the consulate had been briefed on the way one should look in the picture.
"Oh yes, Mr Consul sends a lot of business our way. We have the official instruction on what is required. Now we need to see your ears in the photo. New rules I'm afraid."
"What happens if you wear a headscarf or a turban? You can't see the ears then can you?"
"Religious reasons are allowed."
"Well for religious reasons, I think I would rather not look like a muppet on my passport photo. My hair looks really unfashoinable like that."
"I your religion based on the teachings of Trinny and Susannah? Be glad we can see your ears. Mr Consul sometimes sends people back because the ears aren't clear. Try as I may I can not get their ears on. Their faces are too chubby or something."
"Hmm not really the done thing to call your customers freaks is it?"
"No, but luckily Mr Consul is understanding when I put that on a note with the pictures :-)

Well I have my passport and I do look like a muppet.

Preschool

All children in Britain once they are three years of age have right to a government funded place at preschool. There are as always certain provisos. But essentially five sessions a week are funded (a session being 2.5 hours). Preschool is very similar to Kindergarten in Germany. Mostly playing with some indoctrination - sorry teaching.
It was CE's first day at preschool yesterday. She is not three yet but the school CS goes to offers places from the age of two, provided you pay. She has been very excited about going. CS goes and all the other big girls go too. Now that she can go she is big too. "I am not a baby, I go to preschool."
CE chose which clothes to wear the night before. She helped to pack her extremely pink rucksack all ready for the next day. She was a little taken aback when CS was not in her group. But with the help of her trusted bunny she was left behind. No tears or tantrums, so slightly guilt ridden I went home.
Two and a half hours later I picked them both up. CE told me all about what she had done. There had been songs, milk (cold not warm), bread and butter, play dough, cars in the garden, a blue potty and tomorrow she would go again. I explained that as she was not three yet should would only go twice a week. Then CE told me that was good because she had cried for her Mummy the whole time she was there. "When did you cry CE? I didn't see you cry. Mummy I didn't see her cry when did she cry." "The whole time""You did not""I did""You did not cry I didn't see you.""I did" and so it carried on.
I think that she did like. I checked with the teacher if she had been all right. The teacher said she had been very shy but other than that fine. Also the fact that today when we dropped CS CE was about to put her things on her peg makes me suspect at someone is fibbing about crying all day.

Needlepoint

My friend K and I have know each other since we were 21 years old. We are quite different but at the same time we share many (not necessarily cool) interests. We both love Jane Austen Novels, period dramas (preferably on the BBC - "they do them so much better..."), classical music, films and needlepoint.
K is into knitting, sewing, embroidery and quilting. As she has no children of her own yet she has time for all this. She knits fun jumpers for my girls. I tend to be too precise and take ages to finish things. I'll unpick it if I think it isn't neat enough.
As a homage to all things needle work I would like to refer you to the sites below. They made me laugh out loud.
http://whatnottocrochet.wordpress.com/
http://whatnottoknit.wordpress.com/

Pots and Pans

A couple of days ago when we arrived back home I was wondering why there was a big plastic bag on my stove. I wouldn't have put a plastic bag on my stove; would I? In it was a new pan. No note or anything
There are few people with the key to the door who will mysteriously break in and leave a pan. I called my mother and yes she had left it. "Well you know how you always strain your potatoes into a colander?" "Yes, Mother I am aware that I have not mastered the required technique for
straining potatoes. How have you managed to live with the shame?""Oh, I haven't told your grandmother, so don't worry. But this pan has a special lid you can strain through. I bought one for A (sister-in-law) too she is just as inept with potatoes as you."
The new pan has been tested and it does work. :-)

Books

Yesterday was quiet fun. We went to story time at the library. Young Yoastie 1 (CS) loves it. She knows all the actions to the songs and stories and has to be at the front to dance along. CS is normally very shy but she loves showing off that she can dance. She has such a serious face when there is a new rhyme she doesn't know yet. Young Yoastie 2 (CE) is not so bothered. There is a big wooden train in the library and she would rather climb in that than dance along.
At the end of the 30 min you get a sticker for your "book crawl" record (local initiative to get children to read more books). CS very nicely asked if CE may have a sticker too. CE was on the boiler (of the train) and wasn't getting off. The lady from the library looked a little amused and gave her the sticker. Later she found me and said it was lovely to meet children with good manners but maybe CS needed to learn the difference between how to address gentlemen and ladies. CS had said:"Please sir, may I have a sticker for my little sister."

Coffee

I love coffee but maybe I need to wean myself off it slightly. I only say this after Young Yoastie 1 said to Young Yoastie 2 "you have to behave Mama hasn't had her coffee yet."
Maybe I am becoming dependent. Not sure I am ready to go cold turkey though...

Childminding

My neighbour is a childminder by profession. She was on holiday and so I agreed to look after the eldest two of her charges, two brothers aged 11 and 6.

I had forgotten how difficult life is if you are pre-pubescent. Eleven year old was in a really glum mood. "What's up?" "It's school disco tonight. I have to go." "well it could be fun" "No! Mrs Dodd said we have to dance with girls! I don't like girls!" "Really no girls at all?" Blushing "There are one or two who might be all right. But it's really gay that we have to dance with girls." Hmmm gay to dance with girls not sure that's quite the way I would have phrased that.

The six year old was on the whole easier to entertain as he played hide and seek and catch with the little Yoasties. He was very sweet when one of them cut her toe and he helped clean up the cut and everything. I did have to promise that I would not tell anyone that he played with girls and toddlers at that.

Holiday weekend

Well it is a holiday weekend and it is lovely sunny weather. This leads to the following consequences here in Britain.

1. Gradening: Not a problem as far as I am concerned. People mowing their lawns is fine by me unless it is related to point 3.
   
2. Clothing: It is over 20C so the average Brit feels it necessary to shed as many items of clothing as possible. Our neighbour wore hotpants. Now you may say you shouldn't be peeking into his garden Mrs Yoastie. However he was in the front garden watering the plants. Oh and when I say hotpants that did not include a shirt.
3. BBQ: It is not raining, so we must have a barbecue. Even if it is below 0C, it is not raining and it is a bank holiday weekend you have to have a barbecue if you have a British passport. This weekend that would be fine as the weather is lovely but it does get chilly of an evening. Luck would have it that I have two passports and today the Dutch one wins. I do not find burnt food nice and will therefore not suffer barbecues just because it is a bank holiday.
   

Well our neighbours know the rules. They mowed the lawn, wore too few clothes and had a barbecue. I now have sheets that smells of bunt sausages but other than that it was a lovely weekend.

Billy

Friend K:"How is the office coming along?"
Mrs Y.:"Oh, fine we have painted carpeted ..."
Little Yoastie 1 interupts:"Yes, Daddy moved his desk in and all his computers. And he moved Billy into the office too!"
"Really",bemused look on K's face"Who is Billy? Is that the cat?"
"No. The cat is called Yoast." look of how can you be so silly only a three year old can have.

Maybe I should explain that Billy is the Ikea name for the kind of bookcases we have. It may now be time to stop calling the furniture by its Ikea name and start using the real terms.

Hello

Some of you may have met Mr Yoastie. Well I am Mrs Yoastie and I have decided to keep my own blog.

I feel I need to have somewhere to document my conversations I have had, things that I have wondered about or just generally to complain.

Hope you may like some of my blogs.