Nope, nope it isnt actually my birthday. But two evenings ago, on wednesday I had my birthday present. Ben and I drove to manchester to see Billy Joel in concert…..

i think about 20 years ago I watched him do a concert in Moscow on TV or something, might have been a video. But i remember it vividly, you know like when people say they can remember a time so exactly that they can still live the event. It was a bit like that. I remember being in the front room, i remember the fire place on which i was sat and i remember thinking…. ‘wow, it would be awesome to see him in concert’

and boy did he rock. I mean properly 25 songs, 2.5 hours nearly of rock. I mean don’t get me wrong he won’t be winning any ‘most handsome’ man competitions but who cares right?

Of course he left Piano man till the last song, which as it happens was quite good really. Given the day i had, had and also just discovering the lost buggy scenario. i think if he had sung it first I would have burst into tears right there and then:)

……..and this little moment in my life inspires me to believe that dreams can happen. You know, even when they seem ridiculous and who knows how far off in the future….it can happen. It gives you this enormous amount of perspective. Its worth hanging onto those seemingly unreachable things……

So thank you Mr. Joel. You quite definately are ‘the piano man’

and just because i couldn’t resist another layout…..nothing to do with Billy but…here it is….

okay, so tuesday was a bad day. But the real cherry on the cake of a bad day was discovered on wednesday evening. How it went….

me: ‘ben, did you take the single buggy out of the car last night?’

ben: ‘No’

me: ‘you didnt take it out when you got the double buggy out?’

ben: ‘no’

me: ‘ well its not in there, i went to use it this morning and its not there’

ben: ‘i havent touched the single buggy’

me: ‘hmmmm, well its not in the house’

ben: ‘when did you last have it?’

me: ‘at nursery yesterday’

ben: ‘did you put it back in the car’

me: ‘ ummmm….i thought i did’

ben: ‘oh dear’

me: ‘ ‘

so it would appear that in my frenzied, hot, grumpy-kiddy haze on tuesday, i threw them all in the car and then jumped in leaving our buggy sitting on the kerb and drove off in a blast of airconditioning and frustrated kid screams. Oops.

But all was not lost someone obviously saw this happen and took the buggy back to the nursery and said that someone had just driven off leaving the buggy behind and can you believe it they narrowed it down to me quite easily!!!!

I just must have had a ‘i am hanging on by my last nerve’ look on my face.

We haven’t got the buggy back yet as i didnt get to them in time and they are now closed till september but we should be able to get around that one….i think…..

anyway i have some other things to sing about but i will save it till tomorrow…….in the meantime.

A little girl in a very very hot yard…..doing the only thing you can do in 34degree heat.

laters

i am going to just have to mention the weather!!!

I have been trying very hard not to moan, talk too much about our weather but today it has put me a bit to the test…and not entirely on its own…a bit of a catalogue of events saw me yearning for a very cold, chilly…even, windy day.

these events were:

1. Isaac’s last day at nursery for the summer today and he could go to the party as a pirate. Isaac is not a particular fan of fancy dress. But he had said he wanted to go as a pirate so i borrowed a costume. Should have guessed there would be problems when he was standing in the bedroom minutes after me putting the pirate shorts on him..saying…’maisie wear pirate shorts?’ and taking them off. So, i managed to convince him to keep them on and then went through the same spiel with the waistcoat, hat, eye patch etc etc. so by half nine this morning I was at the point of ‘Go naked to the party for all i care’ stage. Hmph

2. Maisie has just discovered the land of independence and is trying to get into the car and her car seat by herself, slight problem…. she just aint tall enough….so i help her and then listen to the wails and screams of her insulted heart and take some very DEEP breaths.

3. Got to nursery and discovered that the buggy has a puncture. WOOHOO. So now i have to try and re plan by ever so fast shopping trip while isaac is in nursery and figure best thing to do is Poppy in baby carrier thinggy and Maisie in the single buggy.

4. So on nearly the hottest day of the year. I am charging around the shops with my 7 month old strapped to my chest, getting us both very hot and bothered and my 22 month old sitting in a single buggy crying because she cant have ‘yot yot, yah, yah’ (yoghurt raisins)

oh and thank you to the nice man who chased me round the car park to tell me that i had got Maisie out of the car and walked off leaving the back door wide open. DOH!

So we had a cranky day today. I think Isaac enjoyed being a pirate. But boy, has he got to be begging me next time he wants to do fancy dress.

Just hanging onto that last nerve……

little biddy layout i did. See i do love him really….

🙂

who i have the honour and privilege to share a bit of time with, totally ROCK.

oh yes they do.

We set off in various vehicles, in what initially seemed like very ‘various’ directions but then all came together again on the wiggly squiggly roads of Wales.

and yes….we had some sizable amounts of fun. Spirits visibly rose in the elegant surroundings of hendre house and the Welsh hills. The sun shone, food was eaten, drink was flowing and we just had a whole bunch of lovely moments.

*sigh* these times, these little snippets of being the playful characters that we often, as women, forget, help to centre the soul and I love it.

So as Davina says on Big Brother (not that i watch it….*cough, cough*) these are you’re best bits…..

The gorgeous model that came with us…..

i think the one photo that sums up a LARGE percentage of the weekend…..

yes…..the gradient of that hill really WAS that steep!!!

the place, we sat.

some paddling took place….

just beautiful…..

and it makes me smile…..

so does this……

3 amazing, funny, wonderful, happy bits of the future sat right there on my sofa in my kitchen. That does my heart SO much good I think it might pop.

Have a good weekend y’all. I am off for a night away with the very groovy and wonderful women in my cell and so will check back sunday evening and ladies….i am bringing the camera…….