Gappy 2

I have just been pulling the house apart (doesn't take long in a bijou little residence like this) but I have been hunting the camera...seems to have been taken my Mr Turtle - not my pet name for J - but rather the chap who lived here before...so why the search for the snapper...

Well, having told Chas that he would have to wait at least 700 days to have a visit from the tooth fairy, he continues his precociousness and has lost his first tooth! I found Alf and his friend Dan on Friday afternoon armed with some loo roll and pinning little brother to the floor as they tugged on the said tooth. Got there just in time!

The very next day Charlie chucked what he thought was a horrid hard nut across the floor - the offending thing had been found in a caramel biscuit - but, then Mum and Alf had to spend 10 mins on the floor hunting the baby tooth. Tooth fairy was incredibly generous and left a hefty two pounds!

The boys have broken up for the holidays now and I am feeling slightly queasy having just spent the last 20 mins licking paper chains! I used to pooh pooh the gaudiness of paper links and have refused to have them in every other house (what a snob!), but they now adorn the kitchen and I am feeling rather proud of myself.

Today felt a little like I had been released from jail. It absolutely bucketed down all day yesterday and I and the boys climbed the walls - here and at Mum's. This morning I ventured outside at about 8am and the whole place was covered in a wonderful eerie mist. The river has once again swept over the neighbouring field - but under first proper test - we did not sink! We have had to sand bag one corner of the Shed - but compared to last year that is child's play.

The river will soon take on a new level of importance for us, as J has been ebaying! We are now the proud owners of the £150 1960 motor boat. It is currently moored up at Auntie Anne's as J manages to fix the holes and gets the outboard motor working and then come Christmas Day the boys (I may jump in - not sure yet how girly I will be feeling) will apparently be cruising off down the Mole. This is an adventure of its own as neither J nor I have the slightest idea how far along from our little bend we can actually go. They may have to buzz for 20 foot and then have to turn around and return, but nothing ventured...

I have a New Year resolution...learn to light a b****y fire! I have been back in the shed for the past hour without J. I have just found myself asking the 7 year old how to get a fire going! How hard can this be...I know my problem is a complete lack of patience.

Hooray J is back - we shall be warm - we shall....

It has been a while!

Well not sure where to start here...

In keeping with my usual theme - let's do the weather!

The other week the winter arrived and we were freezing! Sounds ridiculous that living in a house without central heating that I should be cold...but the cold weather appeared with such a shock - we were not ready! The last vestige of normal heating is a storage heater we have in the bedroom which just knocks the worst off the night. Anyway, having spent the last 2 weeks going to bed almost fully clothed and under 3 layers each, Jeff discovered that at some point we had turn the lumpy old thing off at the fuse box. We have now spent the last week in the relative luxury of warmth! My god I was cold before!

The outside puddles have been frozen into ice pools for the past 2 weeks, but with the fire going (oh, ok and the storage heater turned back on) we are warm and very very cozy.

We have slipped very happily into our sunday lunch routine and have spent many a Sunday afternon lying on the sofa when guests and family have left having a lovely doze.

Living in our little shed and watching our roaring fire - it was unreal last weekend to discover that my cousin was caught up right in the middle of the Mumbai attack at the Taj. She is home and safe.

Boys are brilliant - everyday the excitement of opening an advent calendar remains. They even seem to like my chocolate free one, although cousin Karon came to their recuse with one full of Malteasers. We have a daily count down to Christmas presents and I have to say - I can't wait too!

Presents all over the house, hidden in full view...