Didn't Know a Heart Could Be Tied Up and Held For Ransom...

There goes my baby. 

And here's me facing possible electrocution because I'm crying onto the keyboard. He literally ran all the way to school, and then joyfully started making pogo sticks out of playdough, whilst I plastered a grin on my face that I'm sure looked like a scream. Managing to keep it there just until I walked out the classroom door before falling all the way apart. 

I know it's normal to get a bit upset, but I'm not sure I can get through this really. I just want every moment of the last 5 years back. All the sleeplessness, all the exhaustion, all of it. I want to do it all again, and never let him go.

Here's to The Murph,
Always and Forever

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mama

How Many Days Does it Take to Change a Habit?

Not 3 obviously, otherwise I wouldn't have a week long void on my blog. To be honest, there wasn't much to report apart from asthma/no sleep/colds/fatigue/grumpiness. The poor old Murph has been suffering - but fortunately, the medic thinks he'll grow out of it since it only affects him in the winter. Thanks be for that, I thought it was another defective genetic trait I'd passed on.

No time for adding pics today I'm afraid. But  a short list of things making me happy:

1. The high pitched child's voice in the back of my car, singing 'Rock, Rock, Rockaway Beach.'

2. J Mascis on a recorded episode of Spick & Specks - it turns out you CAN go home again, sometimes you just have to wait awhile, until things don't hurt so much. To whit and henceforth, I will be hitting the sample button on iTunes until I can afford 'Several Shades of Why'.

3. Gingerbread Loaf.

4. A mini pile of Sight & Sounds borrowed from the library.

Now Look...

I know I should put things to rights, and in their proper order, but the photos that I wanted to add first (HG's most very excellent crocheted scarf) are on my external hard drive thing, and irretrievable until old Jim comes home from Newcastle. So, and hence I'm adding a pic of our newish book cases which COMPLETELY change the look of the room that both Hazel's have seen.

Then, and for no good reason, a few Star Warsy ones for Harry.

Here's to you,

Bertie Blue
xx

First Hurdle?

Gosh, I almost didn't make it to two days of posting! The Murph has hit stage after a few days and nights of asthma where you feel weak and generally grim - and in 4 year old terms, that means clingy and pretty pathetic.

I did get as far as uploading some pics to Flickr so I can add them here, but best intentions are about all there's time for right now. Tomorrow for certain...provided he makes it to Preschool.

Not such a bad day though, despite . Went down to the Bogey Hole for some breakfast, and a little hang at the beach. Then off to the library for a bundle o' books.

I love the Bogey Hole. It's easy going, and the coffee's always fine.

http://bogeyholecafe.com/

Here's The Murph with enough porridge to feed 3 men.

And the beach on a calm day.

Here's to you,

Bertie Blue
 xx

Annus Catchupis

After not writing for so long I was actually surprised to see my blog still existed. It seems that while time waits for no blog (in my life anyway), a blog will wait, and wait and wait for that next update.

Well, I shall reward that patience with this: Graham Greene may have had his 500 word quota, but I will now have my own daily quota of one post a day. It may not be literary, it may not even be vaguely interesting, but the attempt will be made.

We've spent the last three days at home while The Murph has asthma and general sickery. I'm guiltily wondering whether, knowing firsthand how rubbish asthma is, I'm being too soft - not making him go to his swimming class, letting him watch extra tv etc. You can spend so much of your life not wanting to be like your own mother that you end up doing everything opposite. Whether it's the right thing or not who knows?

Now, since I haven't written in so long, I haven't posted any pics either. A post topic for tomorrow then!

Here's to You,

Bertie Blue

xx

Happy Birthday, Nana!

So, we recently celebrated my Nana's 99th birthday. 99, and healthier than I'll ever be! We had a lovely party, and everyone made delicious food.

The Murph and I have been ill with various filthy things for the last three weeks, so it was a highlight just to get out of the flat for the day!

I made a pretty good potato and chorizo tortilla, and a few sweet things. One of them was a dead easy, but very tasty little number that simply combined dark choc, cream, butter, chopped dried figs, and chopped Savoiardi biscuits. This was all set in the fridge, and cut into small squares. Cousin Tav ate almost an entire platter of the stuff!

It's been raining for most of the last month, SERIOUSLY! I love it, but it's been pretty trying having a verr sick child, and not being able to get out on the days that he bucks up a bit. He's all good now, fingers crossed, so we can get out and splosh about in puddles if nothing else. Apart from that, I'm spending every spare second poring through my NEW cookbooks (more on those later), and discovering the extraordinary glory that is David Sedaris. How have I not read him before? How?

Here's to you,

Bertie Blue

xx

Happy World Copyright Day!

It's flipping almost May, and this is my first post for the year! I'd like to say I've been asleep all the while, but no. I have not. I won't apologise; what's the point? Anyone who may have wanted to read my blog must surely have given up some time ago.

So, I'll just start afresh.

Today I found this excellent dispenser of info:

http://www.earthcalendar.net/index.php

I will be using it to celebrate all food related feast days and whatnot.

Here's to you,

Bertie Blue

xx