Not tagged - stolen

From a random blog I accessed via another blog. But I like...

Three names I go by:
1. Zoe
2. Mrs Davies
3. Mummy :)

Three screen names I’ve had:
1. BayouBouffant
2. Reisling
3. no others

Three physical things I like about myself:
1. my boobs
2. my hair - on good days today is NOT one of those
3. my skin

Three physical things I don’t like about myself:
1. belly
2. facial hair
3. top of my arms

Three parts of my heritage:
1. Irish
2. Welsh
3. don't know!

Three things I am wearing right now:
1. Jeans - size 16 (hurray!)
2. Brown scoop necked top
3. turquoise round pendant

Three favorite bands/musical artists :
1. U2
2. Pet Shop Boys
3. Robbie Williams

Three favorite songs:
1. Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack
2. Groovejet - Spiller
3. Where the Streets have no name - U2
- today anyway

Three things I want in a relationship:
1. a best friend
2. sex
3. equality

Two truths and a lie
1. I was once in Prima Baby magazine
2. My wedding ring cost £5
3. I sent an audition tape for the first Big Brother but they rejected me

Three physical things about the preferred sex that appeal to you:
1. Eyes
2. Shoulders

3. Smile

Three favorite hobbies:
1. Reading
2. Sudoko
3. Shopping

Three things I want to do badly right now :
1. Eat chocolate even though I am full
2. Have another glass of wine
3. Call in sick tomorrow (onlly 1.5 days to go!!!!)

Three things that scare me:
1. Dying and leaving my son motherless
2. Fish in tanks make me cringe
3. Terrorism

Three of my everyday essentials:
1. Lipstick
2. Jewellry
3. Coffee

Three Careers you have considered or are considering :
1. Management - check
2. Teaching - check
3. Shop Ownership

Three places you want to go on vacation:
1. New York
2. Australia
3. Moscow

Three kids’ names you like:
1. Ava
2. Patrick
3. Finn
( I have used my favourite!)

Three things you want to do before you die:
1. Go in a hot air balloon
2. Sing in a club and be applauded
3. Be chatted up by someone unbelievably attractive - and turn him down

Three ways I am stereotypically a boy:
1. I like football
2. I swear quite a bit on occasio, patricularly at other drivers
3. I like drinking

Three ways I am stereotypically a girl:
1. I like shopping
2. I have given birth
3. I love shoes

Three celeb crushes :
1. Jack Davenport
2. Dermot O'Leary
3. Robbie Williams

Three people I am tagging:
1. Dix
2. Sally
3. Beege

A weekend of culture!

Kinda

Took Alfie for his first ever theatre trip yesterday - we went to see The Snow Dragon at the local theatre (I got free tickets) - it was good, the acting was a bit hammy, but the appearance of the Snow Dragon itself was very moving - my heavily pregnant sister was nearly in tears!

After a quick whizz around the shops we went for coffee at Cafe Nero.

Today, Viv and I took Alfie to see Madagascar while Mike was at a triathlon. It was pretty good, not a lot of substance, but Alfie proclaimed "I loved it!" when it was over, which is all that one needs! Then we went for a pizza and had a quick look at the Next sale - I got a pair of denim shorts which I love - they are sort of knee length and were £10 reduced from £22 - I waltzed about feeling like SJP in them and my snakeskin wedges when I got home!

I have spotted the most divine handbag and necklace in a local house/accessory shop - total cost £65, I am SOOOOOOOOO tempted, but balking at the extravagance. I don't have much money at the moment, but I do have a VISA card and a pay increase and joint account reduction from September, so I could...

Maybe I will take Mike there on Friday when we try to have a date, to celebrate the last day of paid childcare!

Questions for Sally

1. You have the opportunity to appear in any production (film, theatre, tv, whatever) and play any role. What would the production be, what part would you play and who would be your co-stars?

2. If you could choose any food in the world to be calorie/Points free what would it be?

3. If you could give Oscar the perfect 1st birthday party, with money and practicality no object, what would it be?

4. Do you have any regrets in your life? Is there a role for regrets or do you subscribe to the Robbie Williams' philosophy "they don't work"?

5. What is the best thing that you can imagine overhearing someone say about you behind your back?

Interviews

I'm being interviewed by Dix

Here's how it works:
1. If you want to participate, leave a comment below saying "interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions -- each person's will be different.
3. You will update your journal/blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Here are my questions from Dix and my answers

1. You are going to live in a foreign country for two years. Which country will you pick and why?
I would choose France. Now, I know lots of people aren't keen on France and the French, but it's a country I've visited lots and always had a great time. I speak the language, and I'd want to live in mid- France for decent weather. Love the food. Love the siestas. Love the little shops at the side of the road. Love the wine. It's near the UK so I could visit home, and I could drive to visit lots of other countries and have some nice visits. I could drive to see Dix and B. I may even look into this as a real possibility...

2. Jose Mourinho has asked you to dinner - strictly platonic of course. What will you wear and what sort of restaurant will you choose for dinner?
You see, Jose is currently on my "list", so I'm not sure how platonic it could be. I suspect Jose likes his ladies to be ladies, so I think I would be wearing my best black low cut show lots of boobies top and a knee length black chiffon skirt, which I don't own, but have just invented, natural fish nets and some pointy toed high heels. I'll have done a good fake tan, and naturally I will be well coiffed and made up.
I think that I would choose a restaurant with finger food and a bit messy as food can be quite erotic. Chinese maybe? No, perhaps somewhere intimate and quiet for some snogging, erm, I mean chatting


3. If you were forced to pick a career for your son, which would you pick for him?
I would want him to do something worthwhile but that would make him monetarily comfortable, and channelled into his talents. At the moment, he is especially good at singing, trampolining, eating ice lollies and kissing, so it's not really clear what kind of career he is fit for. I think that I would like him to be something like a ...I cannot believe how long it is taking me to answer this question! Everything I think of I can think of a reason I DON'T want him to be it. I think that a person that I know who I think does a worthwhile job for a lot of money is a friend of ours who is a Family Solicitor - he acts on behalf of children in domestic matters. I think that it must be harrowing sometimes, but that because he knows he is helping children, he gets a lot from his job, so perhaps something like that. Or maybe a fashion designer specialising in the more mature, curvier woman

4. You get to follow a band around for the duration of their European tour dates. Which band are you following and will you make an attempt to actually meet up with the band?
I had such a great time at U2, I think that it would be them. I don't think I would make an attempt to meet them though, I have always thought that that would be a disappointment

5. You are given the opportunity to do one of the following - which do you pick? A Saturday morning lie-in, lunch with one girlfriend, a night out with your best friends, or a facial and a manicure.
A night out with all my best friends without a doubt. I love a good night out, and to have all my favourite ladies there (see my alphabet post for who they are) with a meal, drinks, dancing would be my idea of heaven. A lie in wouldn't compare, nor a facial and manicure, as nice as they are.

If you would like to be interviewed, please leave a comment!

Well, I got the job!

But it's been a peculiar day.

The interiew was fine from my point of view - it was roasting hot today and I had to wait a long time to be seen.

Anyway, the presentation went really well, but I didn't think that the question part of the interview had gone that well, but when I came out, Jayne, one of the deputy heads followed me and whispered to me that I had been fantastic, but I wasn't particularly convinced.

Anyway, Tina, the other deputy head came over to my classroom 20 minutes later and asked me to go back. I sort of hoped that they were going to offer me the job, but I really wasn't sure. When I got in there, the Chair of Governers immediately offered me the job "if I wanted it". Obviously I accepted.

But, the wierd thing today is the reaction of the other girl who didn't get it - she has barely spoken to me and been wierd. I know that it is hard, but I also know that I would not have been like that if I hadn't been successful. The whole day has been wierd.

Now of course I am panicking that I can't actually deliver what I have promised. But Mike and I have had some champagne, so that's nice.

I pinched this from Paul, whose blog I originally found through, I think, Marybeth maybe?

A is for Age: I am 33 - all the threes, the age my mother was when my Dad left her with no job and three kids - God I'm lucky
B is for Booze: I like, especially wine. In fact, I don't think I drink anything else these days - the occasional G and T.
C is for Career: I am a Primary School Teacher
D is for Dad's Name: John
E is for Essential Item to Bring to a Party: A bottle (see B)
F is for Favorite Songs at the Moment: "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt. "Sometimes You Can't Make it on your Own" U2, "Vertigo" U2
G is for Goof-off Thing to Do: Surf t'Internet.
H is for Hometown: Sale, Near Manchester, England
I is for Instrument You Play: Guitar, also clarinet but not for a long time. I have a hankering to learn the piano
J is for Jam or Jelly You Like: I'm a jam fan, I have a lovely blackcurrant organic at the moment, I also love Lemon and Lime marmalade
K is for Kids: One, the divine Mr A
L is for Living Arrangement: I own a Victorian semi with my lovely hubby
M is for Mom's Name: Helen
N is for Names of Best Friends: apart from Mike and Alfie - Nicola, Clare, Gail, Sarah (R), Sarah (P), Rowena
O is for Overnight Hospital Stays: Broken leg (1984), nail in broken leg out( 1987), induction, birth and recovery from birth (2001)
P is for Phobias: I'm not keen on fish. And heights
Q is for Quotes You Like "No-one can make you feel inferior without your consent" Eleanor Rossevelt.
R is for Relationship That Lasted Longest: I've been with Mike 13 years and married 9 years
S is for Siblings: one sister, on brother, both younger. A step sister.
T is for Texas, ever been there?Never - only been to Florida
U is for Unique Trait: I don't think I have any!
V is for Vegetables You Love: Quicker to say the one that I don't - butterbeans. Love veggies!
W is for Worst Traits:Excessive self doubt
X is for X-rays You've Had: Lots - arm, leg, skull, hips, ultrasund scan of kidney and pelvic area, prenatal ultrasound scans, teeth
Y is for Yummy Food You Make: Mexican and chinese food, pasta ratatouille pie,moussaka, butter chicken, feta salad
Z is for Zodiac Sign: Scorpio - feel my hotness - rawr!!!

Perspective

It's my interview tomorrow for the SENCO post.

I'm watching a special BBC programme about the bombings, and (God knows how they managed it) they have people talking on it who were involved and also those who have lost people - except, they don't really know if they have lost people because no one knows their names yet, but thier friends and family are missing, presumed dead.

It gives me some perspective. We never know the day, the moment, that we could experience this bereavement and this pain. My greatest fear is premature death, not especially from my own perspective, but from the point of my son and husband, who would have to live without me; or that, God forbid, I would have to live without one of them.

Whatever happens tomorrow, it's not the end of the world.

It's times like this that I can't believe the human race.

My son was 2 1/2 weeks old on September 11th, and I wondered what kind of world we had brought a child into.

Yesterday I wondered again - I know that atrocities of famine and war take place daily, but I still feel that the absolute deliberate indiscriminate premediated actions in the name of GOD for goodness sake are just an outrage.

My God doesn't want this

I pray for those who have been bereaved and those who are injured, those poor, poor people, just minding thier own business. It could have been any of us.

*tap, tap*....this thing on..?

Not quite one month since I posted. Do I have any readers left?

Done some things since I last wrote!

This weekend I went on the Year 6 weekend away to an outdoor activity centre. I did a HUUUUGE thing for me:

I did a zipwire. Now, one of the big things about me is I HATE heights and anything even vaguely extreme sportslike. Spiders - no problem. Wasps - bring 'em on. Snakes - so?? heights - oh my f***** God. When I was 13, I went to Paris with my parents and had to go up the Eiffel Tower with them because otherwise someone would have had to stay at the bottom with me. I experienced pure fear, I clung to the centre part at the top and kept my eyes shut the entire time.
The whole point of the weekend was to help the Year 6 to get ready to leave the school to go to secondary school by facing challenges - some of these are things like the zipwire and trapeze, others are intellectual such as IT simulation and there are also some team challenges. Also, for most of them it's thier first ever time away, so it's an exciting and sometimes traumatising time.

Anyhoooow, I was determined I would do something that challenged me. I did archery for the first ever time, but this wasn't scary or expecially fear facing. I really wanted to do the zipwire, but I was terrified. What I did was go to each groups session ( we had three groups of 11-12 children) and volunteered to attach them to thier harnesses to climb up. The climb was the most worrying thing to me: you had to climb a seven foot ladder to the tree and then climb up the tree using what can only be described as large iron staples as footholds. Once you got 40 feet up, you swung over to a small platform, where an instructor hooked you to another different harness and you stepped off and slid down a long line about 150 feet to the end of the run, where the other participants were waiting. I attached all the children to thier harnesses and watched them attempt it - some were like little gazelles, revelling in it and practically running up the tree and sliding down with glee, and then others not manage past the ladder and still others really conquer thier fears and make it despite being terrified. Also, being involved in a mundane task to do with it kind of desensitises it. HOWEVER, I did not like or trust the man at the top on the platform - he just did not do it for me at all, and I didn't think that he was particularly empathic to the children. I ended up not doing it.

I was very pissed off with myself that night - I felt like a wus, but my colleagues were so encouraging and supportive that I really determined that I would at least try the next morning with the last group. I don't really believe in the hocus pocus stuff, but I really tried to visualise myself doing it. So, this morning, I went down with the group - all the other teachers cam along too, but instead of harnessing the children in, I stayed with the ones at the end, and got into a harness and a helmet. Most of the group I was with did it fairly easily, although one girl could not even attempt the ladder and one boy reached the top of the ladder as his own personal challenge. The good news for me was that it was a different man, and he was someone that I much preferred.

I got to the bottom of the ladder and called to the man at the top that I was terrified and he had to be kind to me. And then I started to climb. I knew that I had to do it really quickly, because if I thought about it I would stop and come down, and I knew that for me I had to do it. I more or less sped up the climb, and I simply couldn't even think, but I was shaking and more or less hyperventilating all the way up, but I kept hearing such encouraging shouts like "Go on" and "you're three quarters of the way there". I got to the top and burst into tears on the platform, and I told the guy I couldn't do the zip, so he said, I'll harness you and then we'll talk about it. The other teachers at the bottom were being really supportive and laughing because I said I needed the Fire Brigade to come and get me, and then he asked me to hold onto the rope with both hands so he could do something... and pushed me off.

For one split second I felt sheer fear - and then the tension went into the rope and I was fine - I even enjoyed it a quite a bit although I couldn't let go of the follow rope until I had nearly stopped. I got off and I was okay with the children but when I got back to the other teachers I broke down totally. I am so proud of myself. I know I would never have done this five stone ago.

Alfie had his visit to school - it went really well - he was fine. Mummy wasn't.

I went to see U2 - it was a fabulous experience. Gail got last minute tickets and we went together which was fab. One live. Where The Streets Have No Name live. Vertigo live. Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own live. Boy live. Oh . My. God.

Got an interview for my promotion - 12th July. A presentation. Shit.

That was the Zoe news.

stole this fun little photo meme from Kara who nicked it from robin.
Directions:
Go to Google and click on the “Images” link. Type in the following and post the first (or your favorite) picture the search engine finds.

- The name of the town where you live-
Sale (what a wierd picture!)
The name of the town where you lived as a child
Southport
Your name-
Zoe - euw!
Your Grandmother’s name (yeah, I know you probably had 2 (or more); just pick one)-
Alice
Your favorite food-
Italian
Your favorite drink-
Wine
Your favorite song-
Unfinished Sympathy
Your favorite smell
Aromatics Elixir

How wierd some of these piccies are!

Feeling a little bit better

I had a good talk with myself the other night - I think I was a bit tired and sickening for a cold. Anyway, I got some new make-up (green to go with my eyes) and some beauty flash balm type stuff and some Johnson's Holiday skin to perk me up. had a chat with M about how I've been feeling and we are going to speak to one of the girls from the nursery about babysitting. So I do feel a little better.

Plus, it really is up to me to manage how I feel re: friends and everything.

Had a great day with Alfie yesterday, which always perks me up!

Thanks Dix and GoddessNoir for the pep talks!

Well it's the holidays, and time for me to write my reports on my class, which is a huuuugee job, that I am making small inroads into - I think I've done about 9, although they all need adding to.

Having a bit of a crisis about myself, which began on Saturday. I went to a wedding, and wore cream trousers that are really too big for me, but I thought they looked ok, and a black top and jacket and a black hairpiece - you know the kind, all net and feathers. I thought I looked nice, until I met my friends who were all wearing flirty summery dresses with wraps and sandals and stuff, and I felt like shit. I had a nice time at the wedding anyway, although I continued to be dissatisfied with my appearance - my make up and hair are looking a bit tired these days, and I'm not sure what to do about that.

And it's kind of mushroomed into a crazy vine - each time I look in the mirror I am just really pissed off with myself. I feel like I can't manage to look ok, at 33 I haven't really a clue what to wear! And then I'm cross with myself for being so shallow. I have fab life, a great husband, a great son, a great job, a lovely work/life balance, a lovely home... so how can I be jealous of my beautiful girl friends, who are both single, pulling lovely men at the wedding on Saturday ('cos that's really what this is all about...) I bet they would both love to be me and have what I have - yet I am jealous of them. It's because I know deep down that if I were single, that wouldn't have happened to me, and unfortunately, even after ten years marriage (nearly) I still find myself judging myself on the opinion of a man. How sad is that? It doesn't help that Mike (who came down for the evening part of the wedding) wouldn't dance and sat a bit stony faced - he can do that stuff quite often, which really pisses me off, because I would like people to know that we are together, you know? We had a small row about that, but it was easily sorted, and he has apologised to me for it.

I feel like this is random blathering, I suppose I am feeling a bit lonely right now. I have tons and tons of friends, but my three best mates have just had babies and clearly have no interest in anything but thier babies, and rightly so. Two of my closest friends are moving away soon, my sister is pregnant, and I feel in a limbo place. I think it's unlikely that Mike will agree to us having another baby, so I'm in a place where soon my son will go to school and my interests regarding him will be different to all my friends who have one Alfie's age and another smaller one. My career is at the beginning, so I was out on a limb when we went away with our friends the other weekend as they are all ten years into thier careers that we all started together - I'm the only one to have bailed out and changed. I like my work colleagues, but I hate office politics, so feel detached, although friendly with them - certainly not in a place where I want to socialise with them outside of school, especially as I hope to progress managerially within the school.

God only knows what this is about... I do feel a bit better though. Off for lunch with three friends now ( see, see how I really have NOTHING to complain about??)

I have officially arrived in the land of blog!

'Cos I've been tagged by Dix!

Here's how it works: I pick five of the following and answer them, and then I tag three people to do the same.

If I could be a scientist...If I could be a farmer...If I could be a musician...If I could be a doctor...If I could be a painter...If I could be a gardener...If I could be a missionary...If I could be a chef...If I could be an architect...If I could be a linguist...If I could be a psychologist...If I could be a librarian...If I could be an athlete...If I could be a lawyer...If I could be an inn-keeper...If I could be a professor...If I could be a writer...If I could be a llama-rider...If I could be a bonnie pirate...If I could be an astronaut...If I could be a world famous blogger...If I could be a justice on any one court in the world...If I could be married to any current famous political figure...

1. If I could be a chef ... I would develop a fabulous amount of healthy delicious low point dishes and open a restaurant for people looking after thier figure
2. If I could be a musician... I would amaze and please people by being able to sit donw at any old piano and playing requests
3. If I could be a painter... I would have the most fabulously visual classroom in the world
4. If I could be an inn-keeper...I would wear the most fabulous low cut leopard skin tops and lean on the bar sipping dry white wine, flirting with the customers and listening to thier problems. I wouldn't let in bitchy girls with attitude either.
5. If I could be a writer ... I would write novels that inspired and interested women like me.

I tag... um no-one as all the bloggers I know who visit here have already done it. *sob*

Ruminations....

Been so busy, and yet there hasn't felt like anything of any interest to the passing reader for me to blog about!

Had a good week at school, today was the First Holy Communions, so spent the morning (a Saturday morning, no less!) calming over-excited seven and eight year olds in suits and white dresses and veils down. Made me feel poignant - won't be too long before that's Alfie! I told Mike that when I got home and he started getting pouty about whether or nor Alfie should have to make his HC or not. I said; "Hey - you're only letting me have one, so we're raising him MY way. Give me another one and you can have that one for the heathen!" That shut him up.

We're having friends for dinner tonight - the lovely Sarah and Chris, our bessie mates who are moving to Exeter (something we said?) and the heavily pregnant Suzanne and the drop dead gorgeous Mark. We are making Indian food - I have done onion bhajis and chicken makahni and naan bread and Mike is making paneer and peas. My stuff is WW friendly - Mike's: not so much.

Speaking of WW, after last week's 2lb loss I have put 2 1/2 on this week, so , back to where I began really! It is TOTM, but even so I was pissed off yesterday. So, I am taking a short break from it. Not to start eating chips with a Cadbury chaser, but not counting points - just making sensible choices. Today, I have had porridge and sausages in pittas with some grapes. And you know what? Not been hungry. And you know what? Not snacked. And you know what? Only had 11 points so far today. Interesting. I'll only panic if I can't get in my 16 trousers!

I love my job!

Yesterday was a big moment in my career - my first "Good Work Assembly". This is where parents are invited, the whole school attends and the children present examples of the work we have done. It's stressful for a number of reasons. It's like a production; children don't just hold up pictures, they have to talk about the work. The parents are there, which is always tough. The other staff are watching, and when you're new to a school like me, you feel under scrutiny. Add into the pot that you teach 5-6 year olds and it's a minefield.

Anyhow, the childnre were fabulous! They did extraordinarily well - we have been rehearsing for weeks but you never know what it's going to be like. Here's what we did:

• showed a Shape poem we wrote about a set of spooky stairs - we did this in a stair formation too
• showed a retelling of a traditional tale using a puppet theatre - three Billy Goat's Gruff
• two children read extracts from thier stories
• showed sunflowers we are growing
• showed observational paintings of sunflowers
• talked about our history project about homes
• demonstrated number bonds to 10 and counting in 2,5 and 10
• performed a musical version of In The Ning Nang Nong
• talked about our Geography field trip
• showed nice words we had thought about on 100th day

...and then I collapsed in a heap!

They really were fab, I was proud of them and the parents really enjoyed it. Everyone on the staff was really complementary.

It's been a good week at school, everyone is very enthused after a trip this week to see a wonderful school in a deprived area. Long may it last!

Picture the scene

04.49am - Dragged from a deep slumber, as Alfie's bedroom door opens and he takes himself to the loo. He gets back in bed. I ... don't get back to sleep at all. Not a doze, not a snooze, wide awake. So at 05.22am, I get up, get a coffee and do the ironing. So, as I write, it is 06.51am, I have done an hour's ironing and watched this week's Desperate Housewives that I videoed as I was too tired to watch it.

Oh, did I mention that it is Saturday? And I have a girls' dinner tonight? I may need a second taxi to carry my under-eye bags with me.

YAYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!

Champions League final here we come!

Groundhog Day

- he did the same again last night. Bless him.

I am typing on here to distract myself from the fact that as predicted by me on Dix's Blog Liverpool are winning 1-0

Bank Holiday trip!

We went to Dunham Massey today with my Mum for a picnic and walk/football. It felt soooooo good to be able to run around playing football with Alfie without feeling embarrassed about how fat I was/out of breath. Had a lovely picnic of ryvita, hummus, quorn pate, coleslaw, potato heads, cherry tomatoes and fruit. Love that my boy scoffs stuff like that and all his veggies!

Nappi-less, nappi-less...

It feels like a million years since I had to actually initiate any "child development" matters. By that, I mean, making decisions as to when Alfie will take the next step towards something. When they're really little, you decide everything - when they come off the breast to the bottle, when to introduce new and different foods, all that stuff. As they get older these sorts of decisions get taken out of your hands - you can't say, "Right now you can start counting up to three" or "please write your name today". You can encourage and assist but these things are out of your hands.

So, it was an unusual feeling yesterday to initiate something. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you: a child who went to bed with no nappy on last night.

We've built him up to the process and prepared him, bought extra bedding and a rubber sheet and made a star chart.

And it went - ok. First he got up four times in between 7.30 - 8.30 to wee, which is wierd because normally it's lights out, no noise for 12 hours, but we've put this down to nerves and novelty. Then, he made it all the way through until 6am, when he wet the bed - I'm putting that down to him waking and forgetting that he had no nappy on. Also, I think it's probably good for him to experience that feeling, as I'm pretty sure that he won't want to experience it again. Watch this space...