Waves Ta Ta to November

The last couple of weeks of November seemed to have whizzed past.

My oldest child turned 15

I know I am biased but she is just so pretty.


The Christmas lights in our nearest city got switched on, and what chaos that was.  We got stuck in a mass crowd, and quite frankly, I feared of a stampede.  J was on his Dads shoulders and was getting distressed as I was getting farther away from him.  So he did the coolest of things which immediately cheered him up - he crowd surfed.  It was the only way M could get him to me.  Very funny.  J did get to see Santa and after the big switch on we managed to get back to a smaller gathering, where there was fake snow - and great fun was had by all.

The two photos below are more or less the same, but the first one you can see a big fake snow flake falling down towards M's head...

 LOL - now it is over his eye  (I really dont know why I find this so funny)

Our next switch on was our little towns Christmas Parade last Thursday.  Quite a few people turned out for the event, but I am not quite sure what happened to the children in the parade, and the promise of snowflakes and elves and Santa himself.  We all stood on the side of the pavement looking down the High Street for the Parade to begin, I could hear singing, then all of a sudden we realised that the Parade was on the pavement, and I think we may of ended up in it as we couldn't get out of the way in time.  Anyway, it kind of consisted of older people, as in older than me, dressed in Chirstmassy clothes, playing instruments and dancing.  Also there was a man with just a scary wolf mask, what was that all about.

Anyway, onto the switch on of the big tree in the square, and after three attempts the lights came on.

Then Santa appeared, giving out very hard boiled sweets to all the children.

Onto the late night shopping, which although only a few shops were open, it was very festive, with most shops offering sweets, and my nearest Charity shop servicing non alcoholic mulled wine, which was really nice and even the carpet shop were giving away cakes.

Yesterday it was the Mulled Wine and Mince Pie evening at the Rugby Club, and it looked really festive and cosy.  I didn't have any of the mulled wine as I already had one glass and we had to be up early for the Coach trip to Twickenham.  J did have several Brownie bites, smothered in Clotted Cream, and the spoon in the clotted cream only had to get changed once after he spooned  a big dollop into his mouth!

Twickenham  Barbarians v Fiji

Not to early a start, had to be at the Club for 8.15am.  It was a fun journey up, and managed to keep J occupied, despite leaving his DS in the car!

Had great seats with  a brilliant  view as we bought our tickets earlier on in the year

Journey home was fun, lots of singing, drinking and with a lot of teenage boys on the bus, farting too!

And that concludes November x

Remembrance Sunday

Lest We Forget

A poem for Remembrance Day 

“Please wear a poppy”, the old lady said 

And held one forth, but I shook my head 

Then I stopped and watched, to see how shed fare 

Her face was old, and lined with care, 

Yet beneath the scars, the years had made 

There remained a smile that refused to fade. 

A boy came whistling down the street 

Bounding along on his carefree feet 

His smile was full of joy and fun 

“Lady” he said, “can I have one? 

As she pinned it on I heard him say 

“Why do we wear the poppy today?” 

The lady smiled in her wistful way 

And answered “this is remembrance day” 

“The poppy is the symbol for the, The gallant men and women who 

died in the war”. 

“And because they did we are free, that’s why we wear the poppy 

you see” 

“I had a boy about your size, with golden hair and big blue 

eyes, 

He loved to play and jump and shout, free as a bird he would 

race about” 

As the years went by he learnt and grew, and became a man as you 

will to”, 

He was fine and strong with a boyish smile, 

But he seemed to be with us a such a short while 

When the War broke out he went away 

I can still remember his face that day 

When he smiled at me and said goodbye 

“I will be back soon, so please don’t cry” 

But the War went on and he had to stay 

All I could do was wait and pray 

His letters told of an awful fight 

I can see it still in my dreams at night 

With the tanks and guns and the cruel barb wire 

And the mines and bullets, the bombs and the fire

Until at last the War was won 

And that is why we wear the poppy son 

The small boy turned as if to go 

Then stopped and said “Thank you lady, I’m glad I know” 

That sure did sound like an awful fight 

“But your son, did he come home all right”? 

A tear rolled down each faded cheek, she shook her head 

But didn't speak. I slunk away, head bowed in shame, 

And if you were me, you’d have done the same, 

For our thanks in giving is often delayed 

Though our freedom was bought by the legions who paid. 

And so, when you see a poppy worn 

Let us reflect on the burden borne 

By those who gave their precious all 

When asked to answer their countries call 

That we at home, in peace may live 

Then wear a poppy, remember, and give. 

Bonfire night and walks in the rain

Despite the rain this week, we have managed to get out and about, including going to an organised Firework Display, something the children have never done before, as we have always had a big enough garden for a bonfire.  Was quite good though

M and I took J for a walk and a scooter along the sea front, and it was very wet and windy, certainly blew all the cobwebs away as they say

This coming  week is the build up (there is always so much build up) for my Daughters Birthday, she will be 15 years old (and of course is going on 18).

Tomorrow  -  off to the Rugby Club the first round of the Cup - thinking it will be a difficult game in very muddy conditions.   KO is at 11.02am, after we have all observed the two minute silence.

Halloween and Christmas Planning

Halloween has now been and gone, and I have to say it was such fun preparing for it with J, much more fun than the actual day itself in fact.

I bought in lots of sweets for trick-or-treaters, and J dressed up as Frankenstein.  We decorated the house, with cheapy decs from tesco and poundland and made a few ourselves.    We went out in the evening expecting there to be lots of other T-O-T ers, but there were hardly any, and most of the houses, in fact, all of the houses in our little area had their lights off - which means DO NOT KNOCK!

We had to venture a little further and found a few houses that were decorated, they too were wondering where everyone was.  This is our first Halloween at our present address, and I expected to see a few more children out and about, as in our previous house we were quite secluded.

Anyway, we did get a few callers, and my parents popped over for wine, beer and worm slime jelly.

Apple bobbing was top of the list:

D also had County rugby trials yesterday, which was very muddy.  Seemed to go well, but none of the lads will know if they have been selected until February.

We are actually rugby free this weekend, and this is also the only free weekend we will have free now until the 22nd of December, with B's 15th birthday being in between.  So I thought it would be a good idea to have a weekend of Christmas planning and organizing. 

 I have bought some presents already, so will get them wrapped, and maybe get a few stocking fillers this weekend. This gives us an excuse to watch Christmas films and have a bit of a Special Roast on Sunday. Also will be making our Christmas Cake.

I may even write my  Christmas cards!   Only 54 days to go :-)