Midweek filler

Typing blog posts on my phone is not something I enjoy, but I have no choice.
Liam has reclaimed his netbook, he's well into social networking now.

I'm lying in bed with cold feet and a  bloated belly from binge eating. I'm from the John Prescott school of eating disorders.

Along with my mum, I looked after my niece and nephew today. I returned to a mother and toddler group I thought I'd left behind 2 years ago. Margaret, 80, was still there. Margaret is a no-nonsense sort of lady, efficient and thorough. If you forget to pay your £1, cor blimey, you can guarantee she won't forget.
Tea is served in bone china cups with saucers. One gulp and I've finished.
Cath runs the group, her husband is a parson (is that the right word? He takes services at the Chapel. Too fiddly to Google it using phone mid blog post).
Cath used to teach maths at my high school. I hate mathematics, hurts my brain and makes me feel inadequate.

I was treated to 40 minute run down of all the activity I've missed over two years, including the lead being stolen, twice, from the roof.
I felt I'd never been away.

A new pensioner had joined the throng of helpers. I didn't catch her name. I'd say she was in her 70's, and that sartorial elegance is not something she is known for. Jade green jacket (short sleeved, gold buttons, mock breast pocket with floral trim), floral skirt which skirted mid-calf, white socks pulled up, revealing about an inch of blueish hairy-skinned leg. White trainers.
I was transfixed, she's quite a character - chasing the toddlers, singing and clapping very loudly and suddenly, darting about like a lead theif.
Babies, toddlers, young mums, older mums, grandparents and great-grandparents. All sat together.
I really panicked when I thought how quickly the time could pass between now and me being one of the grandmothers.

And how soon I could be sporting an "I don't give a shit" outfit.

Then it dawned on me.
Nothing is going to change!

Out of interest:
What was your favourite job?

The Anteater Strikes

I'm very grateful to Lakota for tagging me in this questions meme. Another self-pitying whine of a post would have been a bit much, I'm sure you'll agree!


1. Favourite game you played as a kid a) at home b) at school?

a) I have always loved Scrabble, and role play games/dressing up
b) My favourite game at school was the imaginary one I played solidly for 3 years every lunchtime with my friend Rhian Pugh. We lived in the wild and had a horse each, my name was Crystal

2.  Personality trait which secretly really irritates you in a close friend or partner?

I hate how I can never keep a secret from Rob. He knows everything. Arsehole

3. You get to choose one TV channel only - what do you go for?

Maybe News 24. I'm no fan of TV, but at least I'd be aware of what's going on in the world

4. Would you rather be really beautiful, or really funny? Why?

Really beautiful, you can work at being funny, but have to be born beautiful

5. What's your Native American totem animal?

What kind of question is this Lakota?! I did a bit of research, I'm definitely most like the Anteater - 'Lethargy, Curiosity, Nosiness'



6. Which fictional character do you most relate to?

Marge Simpson. May dye my hair blue and be done with it



7. Music which you couldn't be paid to listen to?


Almost all R'n'B is just dire in my mind (the Rhymes and Beats variety, not Rhythm and Blues)


8. Who would play you in the film version of your life story?

Robin Williams in a mask, probably



9. Best band you've ever seen live?

Well, it pains me to admit this - but it was Clannad! My friend Yvette and I went through a bit of a 'let's be sophisticated' phase in our mid teens.  We'd go out for fancy meals and pretend to be intelligent. I wasn't expecting to enjoy Clannad as much as I did.
The instrumental arrangement was incredible, flautists, harpists, all manner of medieval bell-type  things, I loved it. Smashing Pumpkins were the most disappointing.


10. Most annoying thing about blogging or bloggers?

You've all got better clothes than me



11. What is or would be your Superhero talent?


BELCHING so loudly the earth moves is my talent



My turn to ask 11 questions:

1) If there was such a thing as reincarnation, what would you come back as?

2) What is your favourite sandwich filling?

3) What's the most pain you've ever felt?

4) What advice would you give your teenage self?

5)  How many friends have you got?

6) What is the last lie you told?

7) What is the worst film you ever watched (so I know to avoid)

8) Do you think George Clooney is overrated?

9) What trait do you most deplore in yourself?

10) Do you get the giggles? If so, what type of thing induces them?

11) What in your life has been the biggest waste of money?

I tag Keshling  Krista Looking for Blue Sky and Sarah - please answer my questions if you have the time and inclination. Please don't feel obliged to though, I won't cry if you don't (honest).

I'd love to hear anyone's answers - I really am an Anteater you know....

Caribbean Dream

A new battery has been ordered for the digital camera (another thing that was broken). Once that is sorted, you (un)lucky followers will get to see my collection of clothes from all over the place.
Liam has been horrified by my outfit choices lately, hiding from friends when accompanying me to town. "Mum, why don't you get a job, then you can buy clothes from River Island and New Look instead of charity shops?". He just don't get it..

Daily posts proved too much to achieve. Last week was very difficult, maybe I'll tell you all about it one day. For someone who lives a very quiet, perhaps boring life, I had enough drama in 3 days to keep me going for a few years.
A litre of Jack Daniels, curry and chips, Just Dance on the Wii Fit and watching clips of early 90's dance videos (and trying, unsuccessfully to shuffle) with my friend Helen on Friday night helped to calm me down (the chips came after the dancing, thankfully).

I wandered into town last Thursday with Liam (12) and my baby niece (who I will be looking after for 3 days per week starting this week). It was warm, bright and lively.
Liam stayed off school following the tragedy and I saw a different side of him, got to know what goes on in his head. It's easy for me to get caught up with the little ones and I don't spend much time just with Liam, he needs more attention, definitely.

We laughed at a lady who was clearly three sheets to the wind, swaying around B&M Bargains. Trying to act sober by pretending she'd forgotten her glasses, this lady loudly asked for help to locate various salty snacks and spirits. As I walked past her, I caught a whiff of body odour akin to liver and onion gravy. She accidentally smashed a bottle of  Caribbean Dream (whatever that is)  and insisted it flew off the shelf. I felt sorry for her, she seemed troubled, like someone who needed support.

Later on, as we headed home I saw the drunk lady again. I pointed her out to Liam, she was trying to text and walk, not easy when sober. An elderly lady fell over, dropped like 'a sack of shit' as my father would say (not me, I'm too prim and proper). The drunk lady rushed over, picked her up from behind, I could hardly bear to watch - imagined a human pile up scenario unfolding. Next, she deposited her on a chair outside a cafe and comforted her before insisting upon getting her a cup of tea. Bless her, the concern was completely genuine.

I'd been feeling quite absorbed with my own drama, watching this scene somehow helped me. Reminded me what I love, which is the world.


I hope my coldsore buggers off ready for my photo shoot, it's a real eyesore.

Charity Shops - they 'aint what they used to be!

No more gloom.

I hope to include lots of pictures tomorrow, today I'll talk charity shops.

My mother has only ever shopped for clothes in charity shops, I can't remember a time in my life where I've steered clear of them. I'm definitely a charity shop addict.

When I visit a new town or city, finding the charity shops is usually a priority. Clothes are my first port of call, but I am not averse to the odd bit of pyrex, 50's shot glasses, ramekins, milk jugs and general kitchenalia (is that really a new word? I don't like it). Books, I'm afraid to admit, I rarely buy from them, maybe 10 a year.
Charity shops, at their best, are like little museums, or time warps. Though you'll always find a Sharon Osborne autobiography, rails of 'Atmosphere' (Primark) blouses, 10000000 piece jigsaws, with the troubling addition of a piece of masking tape with 'CHECKED - ALL PIECES INCLUDED' written in biro on it (who is counting?) and worst of all, for me, those teddy ornaments, teddies peeping out of a basket or holding a heart, you will also always find, if you're patient and look hard enough, something  fascinating or worth buying.

Charity shops used to seem to be run solely by volunteers, usually middle-class elderly ladies. The stock was reasonably priced, no separation between 'vintage' and modern stock, the stuff would stink, and the bag would always be an inside-out 'Fine Fare' carrier. Now, they have a well-paid manager, who will be closely monitored by an even better paid Area Manager, the clothes are steam-cleaned, there will be lots of 'new' stock in the shop like keyrings, trinkets, notebooks and gifts and there'll be a posse of volunteers. Unemployed people wanting to keep their CV full, people with special needs, people on Community Service, people with mental health issues - all falling over each other (is this the case just in South Wales?). I'm not suggesting these volunteers shouldn't be there, it's just a shame there are so many in one place, and so few volunteering for more desperate charities.
Strict pricing guidelines have to be adhered to, but what makes a BHS coat so special that it's priced at £15.99 compared to a Jaeger one at £5.99 I do not know.

Don't know about you, but I wish they would stop fussing so much with the stock. T-Shirts and vest tops are ten a penny from the high street and Supermarket, being greedy with the pricing is a waste of time.

I can't remember the last time I went into a charity shop in town without someone trying to flog me a raffle ticket, sign me up for their 'lottery' or being disgusted by some of the prices.

Am I alone? Are the days where you unearth something of a hidden gem long gone? I hope not.

RIP

Today I had some very sad news.

My ex, the father of my eldest son, got in touch to tell me his partner had given birth, full term, to a stillborn girl.

The cord had strangled her in the womb. My son, Liam is understandably upset, he so wanted a sister.

This post is dedicated to Macy. May she rest in peace.


Thanks for all the lovely comments yesterday, it's good to be back.


Until tomorrow,

Goodbye


Lucy x

Broken, on the mend

I'm going to try and post every day for a while, get back doing things I enjoy.

I can't show you my presents today because all the pictures are on my (broken) phone. And that is true!

Everything has been breaking, everything. Life goes like that, even my fancy Global knife snapped clean in half as I chopped an onion.

I've been a misery, upsetting everyone. Traipsing around the supermarket like some sort of lost soul, even the sight of some people enthusiastically rifling through the selection of reduced bakery items compounded my misery.

I got home, washed my hair, read the back of the shampoo bottle - "The result is brunette hair that looks rich in depth with a spectrum of tones and multi-dimensional shine".


What is life all about eh?

Maybe if I keep blogging I'll find some answers.


I cannot thank you all enough for supporting me, cheering me up and offering wisdom.


I've been VERY busy in the charity shops, so lots of pictures will be appearing, with accompanying stories.


I'm going to cheer up, I am, I must!


Lucy x

Er, anybody there?

"I'll write a blog post today!"

I've been saying that for ages. I haven't been busy at all.

I've been meaning to show you all the fantastic gifts I received from fellow bloggers.

Imagined writing a sarky and possibly touching post about my youngest boy starting school (which turned out to be him saying "bye mum, see you later" followed by me coming home and drinking litres of tea, stopping only for cheese toasties and to come up for air). Most unremarkable.

And comments! I love to comment. Where have I been? Not to London to visit the queen, that's for sure.

I have been busy in my brain. Doesn't burn the calories though, does it?  I'm hurtling towards a life of inactivity brought on by knee strain, exacerbated by obesity. I MUST step away from the cheese, slowly. 

"This is the hour, this is the day, this is THIS" (A great album title, I think, from Pop Will Eat Itself 1989)

I'm allowing a quiet, contemplative few weeks. Then I will be very busy. I have places to go, people to see, things to do. I've been locked in the attic with stale bread and water for years.

No more.

Out of the usual pure nosiness, what is your stance on the cliché "you only live once, live life to the full"?

Thank-you for all your patience, concern, and wishes, I look forward to catching up, before finally showing off my presents, next time. Honest!