Year 4

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Men!

I don't go out on an evening very often. Mainly because I like being at home with my boys and, usually, if there is something happening, I suggest Alan goes out, and I stay in with Samuel. But, on Saturday night, I had 2 options. Firstly, we had some fantastic news that our Best Man and his wife are expecting a baby, and would we like to meet with them for a celebratory meal. They live in Harrogate - about an hour away - so we don't see them very often. Plus, Alan and I don't get chance to go out together very often. Alternatively (and I had forgotten about this) we girls had decided we should leave the men at home with the kids one night and have a girly night instead. As we had arranged a babysitter and I had already agreed to going to Harrogate, I had to turn down the girly night!

We had the full postal address for the restaurant, so we picked up another (male) friend, and left the house in good faith. However, the SatNav didn't recognise the postcode or, at least, it did recognise the postcode, but it was taking us to somewhere in the middle of Harrogate and as "that can't be right", the name of the village was entered into the SatNav, and off we went.

An hour later, we reach the village. There is a pub called "The Jolly Inn", but no "Nelson Inn". So we drive through the village, turn around and drive back through the village, go back the way we came, and take a right, go back again and take a left. No Nelson Inn, so I suggest we go back to the Jolly Inn and ask the people outside where we should be heading. But, no, we couldn't possible do that!

So, into the SatNav goes the postcode. The SatNav asks for which number we are looking for. The options are from 1 to 453. Number 4 is entered (randomly) and we set off. The SatNav tells us we have reached our destination. No Nelson Inn. Number 453 is entered into the SatNav. We turn around and head for our new destination. Guess what! No Nelson Inn. By this time, we are 20 minutes late and my stomach thinks my throat has been cut. So I, calmly, suggest we go into the Shell garage over the road to ask for directions. But, no, we couldn't possible do that!

Someone tries ringing our friend on his mobile. No response!

I am rather agitated now. So, I ask that we stop at the service station and ask for directions, otherwise we spend another half an hour driving round aimlessly.

We, reluctantly, stop at the service station.

The man behind the counter is an Asian man. He has only lived in the area for 2 weeks!

I ask the lady who followed me into the shop. She isn't from round here either. but her fiance is from Harrogate and is outside, filling up his car with petrol. I approach him.

Five minutes later, we have reached our destination.

I should have gone out with the girls!

Ok, ok.........................I'm back!

...............With not alot to say! But hey, will give it a go!

I have been given the chance to go back to work.

The scary thing is...........it's happening!

It looks as though I am going back in January.

I had intended to stay off for a lot longer than this. Perhaps have another baby, see them both into Nursery school, and perhaps beyond. If I am honest, I wanted to be like my Mum. I was 11 when she went back to work. Realistically, I know that can't happen. I have done well to stay off this long. All my friends with children went back when their children were less than a year old. Sam will be 22 months in January! The money pot is running low though, and with cars to replace and holidays to go on, I am the only person to bring in the extra cash.

Since I found out I was likely to be going back, I have been having sleepless nights (not a problem I usually have, unless Sam is having a bad night).

My worries.
1. I haven't worked for 2 years
2. I haven't actually taught a class for 3 years (I did special needs for a year)
3. I haven't taught in an English school for 5 and a half years (the curriculum is very different in Scotland)
4. I have never taught Year 4
5. I haven't a clue where to start teaching Year 4
6. I don't know the curriculum anymore
7. I am afraid of not being supported by colleagues (very likely at this particular school)
8. I am worried about the behaviour of these kids, and wondering whether I will be able to cope
9. I am worried about the planning
10. I am going to miss my baby boy so much

Over the past few years, I have been wondering whether I am cut out for this profession. Having a baby had been my get out clause. But I have done that, and now it looks as though I will be going back.

I am trying to look forward to it, but I feel as though I am stepping into the unknown. I am stepping out of my comfort zone, and I don't do that very well at all.

This is the second time I have been given this chance, though, and I feel as though God is telling me to take it this time.

I hope they are nice to me!

Casualty!

We had our first trip to A&E today.

Samuel was being a little tinker and wouldn't go to sleep despite being unable to keep his eyes open. We had been out with the pushchair, I had sang to him, rocked him, even tried sitting him in the kitchen with the tumble dryer on (well, it's worked before!) I thought I would fool him and see if he would go to sleep with me lying beside him on my bed. Big mistake! Samuel decided he would try and crawl away. He succeeded, which resulted with his head hitting the floor.

He cried, I picked him up and cuddled him, he immediately fell asleep, despite my attempts to keep him awake. So i panicked! After a quick call to good old Mum, we were sitting in A&E within half an hour.

Samuel is fine...just a bruise to the head!

He won't be lying on my bed again. NExt time he's sleepy, we'll be lying on the floor!

A Year On...

My baby boy is 1 tomorrow!

He isn't a baby anymore.

He is a little boy!

I can't believe how fast the last year has gone and then, when I think about everything that has happened in the last 12 months, I can't believe what a year it's been.

This time last year, I was supposed to be at Songsters but, thankfully, I didn't go, as I ended up in hospital at 7pm...10 days earlier than my expected due date! 5 hours later, SAmuel Gordon Tapster arrived! And our lives changed completely.

This last year has been the hardest year I have ever had, but it's been the best! I am so thankful to God for bringing Samuel into our lives. He made us wait...but it was sooooo worth it!

Tomorrow we will have a little birthday party for him so his Grandparents can make a fuss of him. But we think of the people that won't be there...close family who can't be there due to the distance/work commitments, and the people who were there for us 12 months ago when Samuel arrived. We still miss them alot!

Happy Birthday Samuel! Here's to the next 12 months!

Acceptance!

Last week was my birthday! Last night I was putting away my birthday presents and, as I had received some money in the way of cheques, writing out my paying in slip. This got me thinking.

In 2006, on my 27th birthday, I remember someone asking what I wanted for my birthday. I couldn't think of anything, but suggested they gave me money or gift vouchers and I would go and buy myself some clothes. However, I seem to remember saying I needed to lose half a stone first, so would go on a shopping spree once I had lost the pounds (in weight that is).

last year, on my 28th birthday, again I was asked by the same person what I wanted for my birthday. I gave the same response but, as I was 7 months pregnant, suggested I go shopping for clothes once the baby has been born and I was back to my desired weight.

So, that was my 29th birthday last week. What did I ask for...money and gift vouchers. This time saying I would go shopping once I had lost a stone!!!

So, there we have it, 3 years of birthday money (and Christmas money) gone unspent because in that time I haven't reached my goal.

True, I am not putting that much effort into losing the weight (I've just eaten a bag of revels). Should I start putting in the effort, or just accept that this is the size I am!?

A new look!

I've had my hair cut.

I'm not sure about it.

I went into a new salon (as in I've never been before), one of the fashionable, young, trendy hairdressers. I asked for a bob with a fringe.

That's what I've got...kind of!

If I had Dawn's blog skills (cheers Dawn) I might have put a picture on here.

I'm not sure about it (the hair cut, that is)

It's a bit too "hip" for me!

I've never been fashionable in my life. Now I am, I'm not sure I like it.

Hmmmm! How long does it take for hair to grow????

Coincidences?

Someone forwarded me an email today...it was one I have before about 9/11 in which some of those people that should have been in the building at the time of the attack where actually elsewhere, ie. taking their child to kindergarten, getting doughnuts, stopping for a plaster to cover a blister, and how these things weren't just coincidence, but it was God.

The email then went onto say how you might think of someone you haven't seen for a while, and then hear from them out of the blue, or you are looking for an opportunity that suddenly shows itself. None of these are coincidences. It's all God.

As I watched the slideshow, I had a strange feeling!

A couple of weeks ago, as the new term approached and I knew I had to start thinking about going back to work, I spoke to someone about childcare. The person had offered although, when we actually sat down and talked about it, it wasn't as straightforward as I would have liked. However, I let them know I was thinking about going back to work, if they would like to look after Samuel.

The very same day, I had a text message from an old colleague at the school where I used to work. She told me about a job, Mondays and Tuesdays in a Y2 class. Although I wasn't looking forward to going back to work, I knew that this was ideal...2 days a week, in a school with which I was familiar, and with people I knew. I also thought...what a coincidence! Arranging childcare and hearing about a job on the same day!

After speaking to my husband, though, we decided that Samuel was too young for me to go back to work just yet and we are in a fortunate position where I can stay at home with him. So we decided to leave it for a while and wait until Samuel's a bit older.

A fantastic decision on my part as I love being at home with Samuel every day.

However, I can't help but wonder now, have I passed up one of God's opportunities? Or was it that God was in my decision not to go back to work? How do you know? I know it feels right staying at home at the moment...but is that my decision or God's? I just don't know!

Zombie-fied

Why is it that, between the ages of 16 and 24 (ish), I could stay up until the early hours of the morning, whether it be out with friends, watching tv, finishing coursework, and I wasn't affected by it and yet, now, at the tender age of 28 (29 in 17 days), I am utterly exhausted!

To cut a long story short, by 1.45am this morning, not 1 of the 3 inhabitants of our humble abode had been asleep! The cause...teeth! Samuel's teeth to be exact! We have waited for weeks for his top front teeth to come through. One arrived, with quite a lot of discomfort, on Sunday afternoon (Hip, hip hooray!) and I don't think the other one is too far behind!

Today, I sent a text to an old friend who has a baby of a similar age. She suggested AShton and Parsons teething powder. Any of you Mums heard of it and, if so, why has no one told me about it before!

Does it work?

It's hard to tell but, put it this way, this is the first night in over a week that Samuel has gone to sleep of his own accord!

Fingers, toes, hands, arm, legs, feet, crossed that he stays that way!

House Update

We have been in our new home for about two months now, so I thought I would give an update on the restoration!

Despite viewing the house a couple of times before we moved in, I don’t think Alan and I appreciated the extent to which we would have to restore the house to get it the way we want it!

We spent a day before the removal men came cleaning the house, and are we glad we did. I don’t think the house had seen a duster or a hoover for at least 7 years (the amount of time the previous owners lived here), and that’s no exaggeration. The place was filthy! It took my in-laws a whole day to get the kitchen rid of any grease. Even the curtain rails were black! We had someone here cleaning the carpets and the water at the end of the day was like gravy. Yuk!

Work on the house started pretty much straight away. We have had that many doors replaced/hung that I have lost count. Firstly, we (that’s the Royal ‘we’) replaced the glass-panelled down into the lounge with a normal wooden door. After having 2 sets of glass panelled doors in Aberdeen, I decided to get rid of it straight away. Then we arranged for a company to come and change 2 sets of patio doors and the side door as the old ones were a bit flimsy. The biggest job was a door from the house into the integral garage. At first I thought this was a bit indulgent (is that a word) but it’s actually really handy. My recycling no longer sits at the back door for days, waiting to go into the relevant boxes and, when Alan disappears, I don’t need to go outside to find him! The builders who put the door in, though, were a bit useless when it came to actually hanging the door, so Alan and his dad finished it off in the end!

We have replaced the saloon-style swing doors into the kitchen and utility room with ordinary wooden doors, and the door into the downstairs bedroom has been moved so that the room is now square instead of having a pointless corridor! (I realise that none of this makes sense unless you have actually seen the house!)

The next ‘door’ job is happening on Saturday when we are having a door-sized hole knocked through from the dining room into the study. You currently need to go through the bedroom to get into the study, which is a bit of a pain, so I came up with the bright idea of having a door (some ideas should be kept inside your head, I have come to realise!) Then we can block up the door from the bedroom into the study, and all the downstairs rooms with be accessible from the hall/dining room.

Other than that, we have had a new fence round the perimeter of the house, all the electrics sorted (I have never been in a building where there are so many switches that don’t do anything!), blinds fitted, shelves put into cupboards, oh, and another door to make an understairs cupboard where there was once just a hole!

We had 4 huge bags of gravel delivered this morning (they should have arrived yesterday but they were sitting on the drive of number 2 instead of our house, number 20!) to replace the tiny bit of lawn at the front of the house, and we collected our new sink and toilet for the downstairs toilet this afternoon as well.

Our original estimation to get the house decorated, etc, was 6 months! That was then increased to a year, and is now 18 months. By now, we were going to have a new kitchen and at least 1 room decorated. I am quite glad on the kitchen front as we have changed our minds that many times that I wouldn’t have been happy with it.

Perhaps, if I ever work out how to do it, I could put some before and after photos on here as we do each room. We’ll see!

I’m sure it will be lovely…when it’s all finished!

Big Brother is watching you!

How sad am I?

I just decided to google myself! I was quite taken aback about how much information was shown on google when I typed in my name, and it's all from my blog page! It showed my full name, birthday, where I live, how many children I have, what I do for a living, etc, etc. I have decided to delete my profile! I don't mind people reading my blog, but I'm not sure I want every Tom, Dick and harry reading my personal details! It might be worth googling yourself to see what it brings up!

The Incredible Hulk (That's me, by the way!)

I am not usually one to have a moan (quiet, Dawn!) but I think I have reason to today.

Yesterday morning I woke up with a tingling feeling in my toes. My guess...chilblains! My own stupid fault for a) wearing 2 pairs of socks and b) for putting my cold feet on the hot radiator!

Later in the day (approximately 4.30pm, as I was about the feed Samuel) I had to remove my socks as they were irritating me around my ankles. I noticed a few red blotched but thought nothing of it.

Two hours later, I notice a small rash on my leg!

By the time Alan had arrived home from his trip to London at 10pm, I was (literally) covered from head to toe with a horrendous, red, angry-looking rash. Not very attractive.

Alan and I then spent an hour debating whether to call NHS24, ring for an ambulance, or just got to bed. We chose the latter!

I spent a very restless, uncomfortable night, waking at 3am for a jolly good scratch.

When I turned the lights on at 7.30 this morning, I realised I am now one big rash. It starts on my scalp (I can't see it, but I can certainly feel the little monkey), right down my face, neck, chest, arms, back, stomach, legs, feet, toes...it's even on the soles of my feet!

The culprit?

A course of antibiotics, that were, supposedly, to make me better.

I am now left looking like a giant beetroot and I know that the only cure is to sit in a cold room with absolute nothing on...but my father-in-law is in the next room and I don't think he's quite ready to meet his Maker yet!

I daren't leave the house, Samuel keeps looking at me as if I'm some kind of monster, and I have a Christmas party to go to in a few days...Help!!!

The joys of Motherhood

My 18-year-old cousin asked me yesterday what it was like to be a Mum!

Surprising both her and myself, I hesitated before I answered. My answer should have been "Motherhood...It's fantastic! Amazing! I love every minute of it!"

The real answer?

I have never been so tired, stressed, happy, sad, anxious, scared, overjoyed, in awe, thankful, (I could go on) in my life.

It's a mixture of emotions.

It's a rollercoaster ride.

It's the hardest thing I have ever done!

Even harder than teaching a class of 34 Year 6 pupils? Definitely! You can send a class of kids home at 3 o'clock!!

Never have I cried so much.

Never have I laughed so much.

Never have I worried so much.

I worry that he's not getting enough sleep. I worry that he's sleeping too much.

I worry that he's hungry. I worry that he's overfed.

I am desperate for him to start crawl. And yet I dread the day he does!

But, yes, even after all that, it is wonderful! And I have so much to thank God for. I wouldn't change it for the world!

I am so blessed!

Living in the past!

Can someone please tell me how to change the time and date on this thing? I posted a blog yesterday (monday 3rd December) but it says I wrote it on Tuesday 20th November.

Am I on a different time zone to everyone else?

Is the room I am sitting in some kind of time machine?

Please help!

People are so rude!

Alan, Samuel and I took a trip down south this weekend to meet up with Dawn. She usually comes to visit us in Aberdeen between the October half term and Christmas, but she couldn't this year as we're not there...duh! So we decided to meet halfway, in Huntingdon (when I say halfway, it isn't really...we had to drive a bit furtherthan Dawn!)

It was a short and sweet meeting. We met at lunchtime on Saturday and left mid-afternoon on Sunday, but it was fantastic to catch up and for Samuel to see his Aunty Dawn. He changes so much every day that, even when Mum and Dad haven't seen him for a few days, they notice a big difference in him, so I am sure Dawn saw a massive change in him!

On Sunday, we decided to go into Cambridge, mainly because the weather was minging and we knew we could just go from coffee shop to coffee shop if we needed to (I'm turning into Grandma Watson!) We took the Park and Ride into Cambridge (Samuel's first bus trip...very exciting!) On the way back, we were in the queue to get on the bus (typical, we were at the front, but the bus stopped at the other end so we ended up at the back!) when there was a commotion in front of us. Basically, there had been a misunderstanding in which the bus driver had asked the people at the front to wait until the people had got off the bus but his hand gesture suggested that they should proceed! The mother and daughter who were at the front of the queue were apparantly very rude (I didn't hear what was said) and the bus driver asked them to leave his bus. Then followed a 5 minute slanging match between the driver and the women while everyone else quietly got onto the bus. One poor fellow, who obviously felt sorry for the bus driver, went over and said that he would back the bus driver up, as this lady wanted his name to report him to his manager. This innocent man then received a load of lip from the woman as he shrank back into his seat.

Why do people of today think that they have all these rights? The procedure of letting people off the bus before other people get on is obviously something that all the bus drivers do, and most of the public obey. But something in these two women told them that they didn't have to wait. They had the right to be on that bus and, even if it meant creating a commotion, they would let everyone know that they had been badly treated.

I left Cambridge feeling quite upset. I don't like ill-feeling, whether I know the people involved or not. People don't seem to have respect for each other any more. And I'm beginning to think they I am in the minority of people who think that we should respect each other, and that we should be courteous!

The frightening thing is that generations are becoming more and more ill-mannered, and they are passing this disrespectful attitude down to their children, and their grandchildren. When is it going to stop?

Is there anyone alive out there?

Now, I have an excuse. I was without a computer for 2 weeks and I am trying to refurbish a house!

But where is everyone else? Is there anyone else blogging at the moment or am I just talking to myself (it wouldn't be the first time!)

Or perhaps everyone is now just on facebook and I am living in yesterday.

I have signed up for facebook, but I don't get it.

Some people seem to spend hours on there. But what are they doing?

I just like looking at photos of other people. However, if you're on facebook, you will notice I haven't put my picture on yet. I am waiting for find a nice one, especially as some old school friends have requested my as their friend, so I want to look amazing. The problem is that I can't find a photo that shows me looking amazing! I might be waiting a long time!!!

Anyway...I went to see a certain Songster brigade with mum and dad on Sunday night. They were pretty good, but they sang 2 songs together, and I almost had to leave the room. 'You are the light' and 'My strength alone'.

I miss Aberdeen Citadel!!!

In all other aspects of my life, I am happy. I love my new house, I have an amazing husband and son, I am living close to my family and lots of friends nearby. But I miss going to Aberdeen. I miss the songsters, I miss (certain) people, I miss Cell group, I miss the friendliness and welcome. People say it shouldn't matter where you worship. They are right! But it doesn't stop me missing them!

The most boring blog in the world!

It's such a long time since I blogged I don't actually know what to blog about. So much has happened in the last month or so, but I am going to make this short and sweet.

We have moved into our new home, and it's definitely "home". It feels as though we have been here for years! There is a lot to do to make it ours, but it will be fab once it's all done.

It's fantastic being around our family and friends again. I was caught complaining last week that I was too busy! I wasn't actually complaining! It's great to have so much to do.

I haven't thought much about Aberdeen since we left. The one thing I do miss is the Army! There are a select group of people who I would have liked to pack into a box and shipped them down to Middlesbrough with us! But that's not possible, and there's always a compromise somewhere. No doubt I will catch up with them soon.

I have just read this blog back, and realised how boring it is! I'm sorry. I'm not going to delete and start again. I will just change the title!

I have confidence! (at last!!!)

Having written an uninspiring post 10 minutes ago, I have decided to write another one!

I was thinking about being so busy here, and why I am so busy!

I guess when we lived in Aberdeen, I worked for 3 and a half years and went to the Army on a Sunday, so was busy 6 days out of 7. Then, when I suddenly stopped working, and Samuel arrived, I guess I just accepted that that was my life and I met up with the people I had met through work and the Army when they were free. Yes, I made some new friends through the baby groups, but I wasn't very proactive in those friendships. We met once a week for coffee, and that was it! If I didn't have anything to do, that was that, and Samuel and I either stayed at home or went for a walk on our own. It never crossed my mind to ring anyone.

Since moving back to Middlesbrough, though, I seemed to have developed a new-found confidence I never knew I had. I am not particulary shy, but I'm not very good in social situations. I can't start conversations easily, or continue them when someone starts talking to me. I'm not ignorant or stuck up(which I think I can come across as being) I'm just not very good at interacting with other people, unless I know them really well!

Last Sunday, I took Samuel to the nearest Corps. Alan didn't come with me. (He was trying to fix our house alarm.) I went on my own. I wouldn't have done that 5 years ago. In fact, Alan had to come with me the first time I went to Aberdeen. I wouldn't go on my own.

Last Wednesday, I took Samuel to the local mother and toddlers group. We didn't know anyone there, but I thought it would be a good chance to meet new people. For the first half hour, no one spoke to us apart from the lady running it. After a while, Sam started smiling at a group of women over the other side of the room, so I picked him up and went to join them. I definitely wouldn't have done that 5 years ago! Turns out, this group was lovely and I am meeting them again this week.

This morning, I took Samuel to the Health Visitor for a weigh-in. I was told by the Health Centre to wait for a Health Visitor to get in touch with me. Well, I have been waiting 4 weeks now for someone to call. They haven't, so I took it upon myself to take him to get him weighed anyway. How bolchy is that!!

I find myself doing things I never thought I would. And, without being too big-headed, I am quite proud of myself.

However, I ask myself, would I do this if I didn't have Samuel to hide behind? A lot of the time, I use him in situations to speak to people and get invited to things. People come and speak to Samuel, which allows me to start a conversation with them (usually about him), but then that develops into something else. I took him to mother and toddlers to meet new people hoping that, when he is older, I will still be in touch with them.

Perhaps I'm not as confident as I thought I was!

The Worst Place To Live

It's official...we have moved to The Worst Place To Live In Britain...according to someone on the telly! I wonder how accurate these surveys actually are. It's true that there is a lot of crime in the centre of town, that there are people who are jobless, homeless, penniless, etc, etc, etc. There are also plenty of thugs about who have decided to spoil this area for the rest of us. Instead of labelling Middlesbrough as such a horrible place, though, why isn't something done about it?

I get really annoyed at some of the stories in the news. I was listening to the radio last week and heard that vicars have been advised not to wear their dog collars in public when not on official duty to prevent being attacked. Apparantly vicars are being attacked on trains, in supermarkets, on the street, etc. So, some bright spark has decided that the victim is at fault, and that he/she should stop aggravating the thugs by wearing the one thing that identifies them as a religious figure.

I watched a TV programme the other night in which a man had been "egged" in his car and stopped some passing policemen. Did the policemen immediately follow the accused? No, the victim was arrested for being too loud, angry and abusive! Of course the man was upset and a little hopping mad, but he certainly wasn't a threat.

A few days later, I was reading an item in the newspaper about a woman walking her dog in a park when some teenagers fired a pellet gun at her. She reported it to the police, who advised she walk her dog somewhere else to prevent being attacked in the future. Again, the victim is to blame!

Is it just me, or is this country going mad? Why aren't the attackers/thugs/morons/whatever you want to call them being moved on/warned/arrested/jailed. Who decided that the ordinary bloke-next-door-type of person was in the wrong? Who decided that the thugs should be given the right to rule the country? When is someone going to realise that, if something isn't done about these kind of matters, this country isn't going to be a safe place to live at all? If I want to sit on a train, I should be able to wear whatever I like, safe in the knowledge that, if someone did approach me, I could call the police and something would be done about it. I should be able to walk through a park, down the road, around town and know that the streets were being kept safe. What is happening?

The Long Journey Down

I don't know how many times we have driven from Aberdeen to Teesside and back again in the last 4 years, but it's definitely more than I can count on 1 hand.

Our journey on Friday, though, as we left our house for the last time, was definitely the worst.

WE eventually left at 11.15am. Ten minutes down the road, we had a phone call from the estate agents asking us to collect something, so we turned back. By then, it was Samuel's lunchtime, so we decided to feed him, and have a sandwich ourselves. We set off for a second time at 12.30pm. Driving through Aberdeen was horrendous! There was so much traffic. Then, before we had even reached Dundee, we were stuck in roadworks. We took a wrong turning in Edinburgh (how many times have we driven that way?), and all this before we had even left Scotland! There was more to come.

Needless to say, during the journey, I asked myself several times, were we doing the right thing?

God answered my question late on Saturday afternoon when I couldn't get Samuel to sleep, and had a million and one things to do before he went to bed. My mother- and father-in-law offered to take him out for a walk. I had 35 minutes to myself, to get on with other jobs!

This is why we have moved back to Teesside! Thank God for Grandparents!!!