Sunday, 20 November 2016

Welcome To The 2 am Club

Welcome one and all.

Welcome to number 347658 of the parenting handbook of what do when you teen hits town when they're eighteen , and so much more . You'll hold your parenting cards , and your teen will hold their "I've come of age cards "and you'll both have your poker face.So starts the time they'll roll back from town negotiations , on a side note perhaps they should look to us to handle the BREXIT talks ?

You are reminded that 20 texts are not needed.

You remind them to not to make it sound like the end of the world has occurred in their text leaving your mind to go into overvdrive.

The cards are shuffled once more .

And even though many teens have been to town in ages gone by , you feel it is your parenting right to offer on the mantle of advice .

Water.

I know 


Don't mix your drinks 

I know 


Avoid trouble 


I know 


Time you need to be back 


Mmmm

Ok 

2 am 

So as your teen heads off into the night ...


What about your coat ?

I don't need it ....

Tut 


So you head off to Tesco to fetch a bottle of wine for your night in , you stand behind several other parents who give you that look that look of transition .

2 .05 am

SO where are you ?

A brief explanation and you don't settle till that key is turning in the door .


I don't think boys are easier than girls , well I can't say as I don't have one but I think boys have their struggle as much to find their independence as girls do .


This parent can parent and I'll still continue to parent .

Just I'll be doing it after I've been and got my wine .... 



Thursday, 17 November 2016

Fidget And Fiddle Toys For Autism

Have you ever found yourself twiddling with perhaps blue tack , a paper clip or even perhaps doodling on some paper . It goes beyond being bored , it actually helps you relax and focus on the task in hand  . This is why autism fidget toys are so very important both at home and in the classroom. These Tangle toys are just one fidget toy that is brilliant , there are many different types starting from as little as £3 and I think it's the best £3 you'll ever spend.I can confirm it's the best £3 ( prices do vary from site to site )  I have spent( I don't mind spending my own money but you do what you do because you love the job you do. My job is as a one to one autism teaching assistant )



 They are great for help in new social situations  and in learning tasks , it helps induce a relaxed mindset, fiddle and fidget toys deliberatly use kinasethic technology to engage both parts (the left and right areas) of your child's brain. Thefore the fidget aid focuses your child's mind on an activity. This keeps busy fingers occupied and stops anxious behaviour taking over.

Disclosure as you've gathered I've brought this myself , if you root round the Internet you'll find it cheaper always the way . There are many different types of Tangle out there so I do recommend you do some research.  

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

The confidence Of Self

The confidence of self .


It's a busy start to the week , I've already had to add a PS to a solicitors letter :

" Ps sorry there's holes in the letter , my cat was having a bit of a angry moment "


Yes you guessed right it was Rollie.





My cat Jack has finished sulking at me finally , it was a mystery as to what I'd done wrong but then again cats are so fickle .


Last week I was so confidant then I started to crash in confidence towards the end of the week , problem upon problem was sneaking up on me . I screamed at the universe , and shook my fist but not the arm that had had the tetanus injection in it as that hurt like a hurry thing 

" sharp scratch , you'll not feel a thing" says the nurse with the huge needle 

" liar , liar pants on fire " I say in my head.


I felt as if I had taken the pill in the matrix ~,the one that leads you to the matrix !!

The weekend was my chance to relax and unwind 

Sometimes I feel the grip of life running away from me , it's as if I'm a kite in the wind , I feel a twang of sadness that I can get to my blog as often as I'd like . But then I start to write a few thoughts on my blog and the words at first stumble out , rush out , flow out , are thought out .



I only know myself through the words I write .



I received a gift off a colleague of a hat that's like my cat ; best hat ever in the whole wide world . There's nothing better in this world than a bobble hat , I think everyone needs a bobble hat in their life . So when I find my smile slipping I'll put on my bobble hat and give my head a little shake .


Coming home to warmth and a cup of tea then settling down to " Neverending Story " while Mr T and J are out at rugby.

You really must watch "Neverending Story " it's the most heartwarming film that really does give you that warm and fuzzy feeling . And I feel safe when I watch it it's as if I am 12 again safe with my books far far away from the school bullies . Films are wonderful and I am typing the last bits to this blog post as I watch through the gap in the door ( I am typing from the Mac now as my iPad has run out of charge )



In the words of a song  "Be young be foolish , but be happy "







Saturday, 12 November 2016

Chocolate Brownies #AfterEightBakes

I've been left to my own devices ( which is bliss ) I have had a very challenging time lately so I need these little spaces of 'me time ' though it should hip of me to say 'Hygge' time the Danish way of taking care of yourself .
And now I'm doing this I'm beginning to find myself again , I know you're thinking how can you lose yourself , I mean I didn't just turn up at the local lost and found office to find myself waiting for me .




  • 128g Buttery spread
  • 5g Sugar
  • 2 Teaspoons of vanilla extract
  • 4 Eggs
  • 90g Cocoa
  • 128g All purpose flour
  • Half a teaspoon of baking powder
  • Half a pack of 300g After Eights Mints
  • Powdered Icing sugar for dusting





  1. Heat oven to 180c (350F) and grease a13x9x2- inch baking tray.
  2. Add melted butter, sugar and vanilla extract to a big bowl and mix with a spoon.
  3. Add eggs, one at a time and mix between each addition.
  4. Add cocoa and mix until well blended.
  5. Add flour, baking powder and salt and mix with an electric mixer until blended well.
  6. Pour 3/4 of the batter over the baking tray, place After Eights chocolates evenly over the first layer and cover them with the remaining batter.
  7. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the toothpick comes out slightly sticky.
  8. Completely cool, cut into 20 slices ans sprinkle with powdered sugar.
  9. Enjoy.



Disclosure the lovely folk from After Eight send me the ingredients to cook with . Cat update the cat is still sulking at me for some unknown reason.

Thursday, 10 November 2016

Today My Cat Dislikes Me

This morning I confidently strolled into the kitchen ready to pray at the alter of the toaster and the holy tea pot of joy when I spotted the cat , I waved and said hello ; then it just looked at me and walked out the cat flap .Bemused I went to consume my toast and drink my tea and pushed thoughts aside that my cat was unhappy with me . After I went back into the kitchen where I spied the cat sitting on the mat ( they're so blooming stereotypical aren't they !?) Jack looks at me and goes back out the cat flap .... now I'm starting to get really paranoid .


So I go out the kitchen again ( I hear the cat flap go ) Jack has obviously come in again so I pop my head round the door to say a tentative hi and he's back out the cat flap . I go to the door look through the glass and show my sorrowful face , I make a heart shape with my fingers. Then Jack came back in and sat under the kitchen trolley for one hour 19 minutes ( maybe longer ) I don't know as I had to go to my job as a teaching assistant .


I returned home wishing in my heart Jack would be waiting for me with joy in his heart , my heart soared as I saw him so I sang to him , I sang Elvis "Are you lonesome tonight ?" 

Straight out the cat flap , then back in .

I mildly swore at the cat and was made to apologise .


Apologise to the cat that is .


My husband said " you know Jack only likes me singing Spice Girls"


This is true as I caught my husband singing " this is what you want what you really really want !" as he was feeding the cat treats .


I ask you I haven't a hope in hell have I ?!


Though I could sing Abba at Jack " THANK you for the meowsic"