Remembering

Without knowing it at the time, 2 years ago today I started on a journey.

(picture to come...)

Now it seems, it is time to start on a new one.

Sagittarians

The Myth: Sagittarians, so they say, are bright, breezy, bouncy types who never let anything get them down. They are all "jolly-hockey-sticks"; totally tactless and insensitive but full of energy and enthusiasm. Supposedly, they love competitions, always look on the bright side, see everyone as a friend and are suspiciously fond of horses.


The Truth: This is all a bit unfair. Sagittarians are perfectly capable of being grouchy and grumpy. They can summon plenty of lethargy and cynicism when they choose to. They can also be very delicate, diplomatic and deep. It's just that, because Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter - the planet of hope - they can never quite silence an inner voice of optimism. Events may reduce it to a whisper for a while but it always returns to a roar, the moment they spot a possible solution to a problem. Sagittarians are idealists who want everything to be wonderful. They are also extremists who hate half measures. For them, it's either gung ho or no go. And as for the horses? Only some of them, sometimes!


The Key To Success: To be a Sagittarian is to be surrounded by serendipity. Rarely do you have to go in search of anything. It naturally comes to you. Or, at least, it does as long as you know the difference between trusting your luck and pushing your luck. When you strive, you stumble. When you make the most of what's on offer, you get magical results.

Summertime

Well, for today at least summer has finally declared itself! Fortuitously just in time for local town's annual carnival, which just happens to be held in the park behind my house. Most handy!
X and I headed off just after lunch, after a sojourn to ToysRus to buy some Bindeez as a treat for being a good girl for the last few days and getting such a good school report. As well as getting level 3's in all her SATs, (the national average for her school year is 2 - and she is one of the youngest!), her teacher had the following to say about her...

"X is a kind, respectful, caring member of the class. As the year has progressed she has developed maturity, enthusiasm and commitment to do her best. She enjoys responsibility and is a fantastic helper; she carries out jobs to a very high standard. X responds well to praise and does seem to become under-the-weather if she feels she is not being praised or achieving as well as she would like. X has a good sense of right and wrong; she often takes unsure pupils under her wing or tries to sort out disputes. At times she needs reminders that this helpfulness can sometimes distract her from her work. I am sure she will be an excellent organiser, a brilliant 'people person' when she gets older."

Much as she drives me to distraction sometimes (with that helpfulness and need for constant praise), she is a good girl at heart, and I'm glad to know she is caring and kind, just like her brother. Though you wouldnt know it of either of them when they get together!!

The carnival was good, although potentially expensive, X was given £5 and told when it was gone it was gone. It was soon gone of course, but both my kids are used to this rule whenever we go on holiday or on trips, so she was fine with that. Lucky devil that she is she spent 50p on the local paper's wheel of fortune thing and won a 4disc CS Lewis dvd. Result. She did want to take a bag of Haribo as her prize!!! but was fairly easily convinced otherwise, especially when she realised there were sweets in the goody bag they also gave her!

We stayed for a couple of hours watching the shows; a great Scottish pipe band (I love that!), some local majorette/cheerleaders, an aerobics display, some local singers/bands and a fantastic boys gymnastic group that was just amazing - leaping over cars amongst other things!! Enjoyed some sunshine and some nosh (cheeseburger for me, calamari for X!!), and then took the 5 min stroll home again, for some Bindeez fun!!

Stars for the week ahead

Teenagers inevitably go through a phase of being rude, unreasonable, rebellious, ungrateful and emotionally volatile etc. This is perfectly natural and necessary. It would happen regardless of who the child was and who their parents were. Their parents may understand this in theory but in practice, they cannot help but take it personally. That's where trouble inevitably sets in. It's the same in any situation. We're fine as long as we can do it from a calm, objective perspective. The moment it all starts meaning far too much to us, we start making poor choices. You'll be fine with all this week's drama, as long as you keep your eye on the bigger picture

Flat

My world is.

Glum

Can't seem to shift this glum mood at the moment. I don't feel sad really, just flat. And a bit low. That's not to say that I'm miserable, because whilst I'm busy I'm quite laughy and jokey. It's just when I stop I can't seem to motivate myself really. Everything just seems dull, and I can't really put my finger on why.

I think money is a lot of it. I've been struggling to catch up since Vegas, especially with X and Y's birthdays within 7 weeks of each other, not to mention a bastard £200 bank charges (again!) in the last two months, and only £50 total maintenance from X's dad since April. Thought I had pretty much caught up, apart from 2 months of catalogue charges (about £240), and my after school bill (probably about £180), and then found out today I actually owe after school club (£360!). And I just don't know where I'm going to get that money unless Y goes without his Nintendo Wii, which I can't really do as I've promised him it now. It's just so disheartening to be scrabbling all the time. I just can't seem to get myself straight to stay that way.

I just feel worn out at the moment. And tonight my upper right arm is really achy, like I pulled a muscle, which is not awfully painful, just annoying. Can't even be bothered to go out for a few beers. Just seems a bit pointless at the moment.

On a more positive note, I got a fabulous cut and blow dry (think Posh Spice) today for just £10. It really needed doing but I couldn't afford it so was planning on waiting until next month, then a work mate gave me this voucher so decided to make the most of it, and am very pleased with it. Will at least feel a little professional next week.

All work...

Didn't get in from work until 8.20pm, and was bloody shattered. Still feel worn out tonight, and have got a heavy week next week too, including a two day conference about 2 1/2 hrs away on Monday and Tuesday, which is taking some organising in terms of childcare etc. I am at least staying overnight on the Monday so should be a little bit interesting.

I certainly hope so, I seem to be very 'all work and no play' at the moment...