Hullaballoo: December 2008

Endurifiication

Tuesday, 30 December 2008

As a responsible parent, I thought it would be a good idea to encourage YS to write out thank you letters for his presents. It is a slow, nail scraping process. He has completed five letters in (very) longhand. I had to get him to stop because I was losing the will to live and in danger of sabotaging the whole process by completely losing patience.

by Hullaballoo :: 12 comments

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Pictures from tonigh's procession

Monday, 29 December 2008

We equipped older son with a smart haircut, a swanky new shirt, a proper camera and a monopod to lean it on. He came up with some great photos and loved taking part. Afterwards, I took him to Waterstones and bought him 'a Boy's Book of Spycraft.' He was delighted and beamed all the way home. Spectacular evening.

by Hullaballoo :: 8 comments

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Edinburgh Hogmanay

Tonight we are all going to this event. It is the annual Edinburgh hogmanay torchlight procession, where thousands gather to walk down the mound, along Princes Street and up Calton Hill carrying torches.

We all enthusiastically watched the utube video, and Bobo pointed out that there was a guy who looked like him (around 1 min 25 seconds in). He was forced to back pedal when the Bobo look alike became a bit fresh with an unknown lady nearby.

Watch out also for the Viking longboat, cos, erm, the Vikings did lots of stuff in Scotterland (did they?) Billy Connolly is leading the boat team.

My favourite part was the tinsel samba drumming at the end. I did samba drumming classes a couple of years ago, and my favourite drums were always the big ones. They make the best sound from the least effort. And dancing to them is amazing.

Here's to a good evening.

by Hullaballoo :: 1 comments

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Hearing nasty voices

Sunday, 28 December 2008

Last night I had a vision in a dream. I saw a home free of nobbly tights and tired nighties, a home full of ironed stuff, a home which was dusted at least once a year.

Since I have obviously begun hearing voices of housework I managed to dismiss before, I am now concerned.

This cannot be so. If I clear out, then I am being wasteful and consumeristic, If I ever iron, then the non-ironed stuff will look ever worse and dusting even one corner will produce a frenzy of dust encrusted shelves leering at me in an ugly way.

I have come up with two plans:

Plan A) lie around eating Christmas cake and watching School of Rock until the mood passes

Plan B) slope off to the cinema with YS to see Madagascar 2, having a sly bag of chips on the way

I think either has its merits.

by Hullaballoo :: 6 comments

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When Christmas decorations go wrong

Thursday, 25 December 2008

Tamara and Bubble Gum have had a crimbo falling out over the Christmas centre piece.

BG ended up perched on a door hook, wearing a dogy jacket from the sales and with the vaguest suggestion of festivities in the form of ivy and a strange red felt man (who no doubt symbolises menstrual blood, in pagan sort of way).

Let me point out that this is in no way funny and neither is it appropriate for Christmas day.

Next year, remind me to get my decorations from Marks and Spencer, like everyone else.

by Hullaballoo :: 6 comments

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Traditional Christmas centre piece - with a twist

This is what happens when Barbie gets to create the Christmas centre piece after 4 or 5 Baileys.

Yes, that's a boa

Yes, there are several colours of lights

Yes, that is possibly a yoga position she is adopting.

I think we will be having words later. Tamara doesn't seem to be taking this whole Christmas day thing quite seriously enough.

by Hullaballoo :: 4 comments

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Coastal walking

Sunday, 21 December 2008

Coastal walking is by far my favourite type of walking. There are no knackering hills to climb or pesky trees that get in the way of a decent view. The landscape changes all the time and the sound of the waves is hypnotic.

Bobo and I set off on an 8 mile walk yesterday (I know, us, walking 8 miles. What were we thinking of?) We had emergency supplies with us of a banana, some mince pies and a box of Milk tray choccies. Yup, that's what townies take on a country walk.

We walked from Alnmouth to Warkworth and stopped for ale and a massive helping of steak pie at lunchtime. We met not a soul on the beach, the sea was glassy still and the sun shone so warmly that it was almost springlike.

Today's walk is rather more gentle. In a heartwarmingly Northumbrian guidebook says, "some of the rocks here can be slippery and a little difficult but you will soon be over these and working your way round the headland." Aw, what lovely encouragement, given that Bobo and I are highly unlikely to ever complete a more challenging expedition.

by Hullaballoo :: 8 comments

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Sumptuous beachy snuggle

Saturday, 20 December 2008

Bobo and I are off for a few days of beach walks, snuggle time, great company, fine wine and romantic meals. What a wonderful pre-Christmas treat.

by Hullaballoo :: 5 comments

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Delinquent smurfs

Wednesday, 17 December 2008

Liz sent me this LOL.

Som delinquent smurfs just have too much time on their hands! I am worried for her beautiful hair. Will she ever get to curl it naturally again?

They had better be careful though. Barbie is well used to getting out of tight scrapes and will be back and blogging about her spiritual awakening in no time.

by Hullaballoo :: 8 comments

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Christmas tree free zone

Tuesday, 16 December 2008

Guess who went to Woolies looking for a Christmas tree yesterday? Doh! I also put a wee post on Hullabrouhaha.

And, for the first time in my life, the shelves were half empty and there was not a Christmas decoration in sight. The music playing was inappropriate manic thrash and I couldn't help thinking of the poor staff who must be having a hell of a time right now facing reduncancy.

So, I have come to a decision. No Christmas tree this year. And I am not even going to pretend that I could get one anywhere else except Woolies. Sob. How can I be so emotionally attached to a high street store?

Some of you may remember, I got round the whole Christmas tree thing last year, by drawing one on the wall. Not even Ikea could have come up with a more space saving device.

by Hullaballoo :: 6 comments

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Getting Christmas party preparated

Monday, 15 December 2008

I have decided to put rags in my hair in preparation for our work Christmas party this week. It's ages and ages since I last did that, but it is always great fun.

Black henna, ringlets, daring make-up and sparkly accessories. It is going to be a fun night, 10 psychological pracititoners out on the lash. I have just read the January issue of Cosmo in preparation, although it's all about winter woolies and not at all festive.

Now I reach the new dress question. Should I or shouldn't I? I am sure I can rummage for something exquisite and bargainable somewhere.

by Hullaballoo :: 5 comments

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Love and consideration

Saturday, 13 December 2008

This has been a very busy week for us both, yet Bobo has still made time to treat me with kindness and consideration.

On Monday, he had to get up really early and got dressed in a different room so he didn't wake me.

On Tuesday, he brought me flowers. Because it was Tuesday.

On Wednesday, he sat and read to the boys while I stopped to have a cup of tea

On Thursday he surprised me and collected me from a late evening of work

On Friday, he wakened me with the offer of making pancakes and walking me to work, even though I had to leave at 7am.

What a beautiful week of thoughtful actions. No wonder Liz wants me to rent him out, he is a real gem.

by Hullaballoo :: 6 comments

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Delighted boys, happy friends, proud mummy

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful and creative ideas, the party went really well thanks to a lot of organisation and planning.

We played murder wink, poor pussy and belly dancing statues. I taught the kids basic belly dancing moves whilst sporting my magenta boa and coin belt and, when the music stopped, they had to strike a dramatic pose. They loved it.

Above, you can see pics of the party bags, presents and devilishly gorgeous chocolate cake.

Afterwards, we watched the Dr Who Christmas special, where the tardis crashes into a Titanic space ship and had fish and chips from tea. As we walked to the chip shop, I smiled to myself when I remembered that was the first meal I ate after YS was born. What a treat to have such a lovely 7 year old boy and to have a big enough space to entertain 7 of his wee friends.

Phew, time to put my feet up and contentedly stare into space for a bit. Well done us!

by Hullaballoo :: 2 comments

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Help, gimme party games

Friday, 12 December 2008

I am hosting younger son's 7th birthday at home tomorrow and now I am getting excited. All this week, wee boys have been running up to me in the playground and saying how much they are looking forward to it (no pressure then, gulp). The party bags are done, the Nigella Lawson yummy mummy super chocolate cake is made, the room is decorated and all the presents are wrapped for the games. I even have a huge tub of crafty things for them to amuse themselves with.

What I would like, dear blog chums, is some inspiration for a couple of easy to organise party games which don't encourage mass destruction and hysteria amongst boys. Any ideas?

by Hullaballoo :: 7 comments

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Hilarious apparitions

Monday, 8 December 2008

Has anyone else seen Apparitions on BBC1? Martin Shaw plays a Jesuit who hunts down baddy demons who cause miraculous happenings. By the end of the hour, he has had several encounters with the de-VIL (mostly through windy railings) but, just as he did in the Professionals, he manages to promote the candidate to sainthood just in time. This is generally after they have wriggled around on the floor a lot, levitated a bit from their bellies and looked generally wide eyed and gothic.

To underline the fact that he is a priest and not say a super sexy judge (Judge John Deed, super swoon), his hair is swept back with Bryl Cream. It is a look which is neither convincing nor flattering as it emphasizes his facial lines and does nothing for his profile. Perhaps I should write to the BBC about this?

In the background, there is an intransigent nun whose job is to (sometimes literally) pour cold water on his exorcism adventures. When leaves start blowing about, lampshades rock, bloody foot prints appear on the chapel floor, you just know that the de-VIL is about to appear and do Jesus's whole walking on water party piece, but this time with dry ice and waves. In case you didn't know, Satan speaks with a cockney accent and wears army and navy store cast offs. When pressed or if he wants to show off, he speaks in Aramaic.

Watch it on iplayer, it's a blast, really it is LOL.

by Hullaballoo :: 10 comments

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Fish pie is lethal

Sunday, 7 December 2008

Bobo's homemade fish pie will be my downfall. After three pre-Christmas nights out on the trot, last night we snuggled down to a freshly baked supper and some frothy TV. His fish pie with sweet potatoes and mushrooms is irresistible, so I had three helpings, then had to lie on my tummy for a while to recover before returning to scrape the bowl clean. Now I am looking forward to his delectable Christmas cake.

Today, I settled down to write the first part of my dissertation. The good news is there are only 23,503 words to go. I should have it polished off by tea time. This time, I am on lasagne duty. It seems that winter time is about lurching from one indulgent meal to another, with an emergency bar of fruit and nut chocolate hidden somewhere in the kitchen.

by Hullaballoo :: 7 comments

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Credit crunch survival

Thursday, 4 December 2008

I interviewd Barbie recently and asked her for some tips on credit crunch survival. As you can see from the picture, the imminent closure of Woolworths has meant that Barbie has been forced to knit her own fashion choices. She recommends keeping a pet, like the one in the picture. It calms your nerves and lowers your blood pressure. Statues of pets are preferable as they don't sh** everywhere and leave hairs on your jumper.

Barbie has noticed that her anger levels could easily be controlled by reading self help books. When she is premenstural she did have a tendancy to march down the centre of the street dressed all in white singing Glory Glory Hallilujah until social services picked her up. Happily, she now practices more socially acceptable anger management techniques.

Like Paris Hilton, Barbie blesses the credit crunch for allowing her to realise how shallow she used to be.

She has now taken up the rip-wan-winkle-shaballah faith in earnest (you know, the one Madonna's into).

Barbie now reports that she transcends all personal strife.

It's an urban jungle out there, even Barbie has had to make personal sacrifices on the road to beating the economic downturn. How does she manage to stay positive in the face of potentially poor fashion choices?

by Hullaballoo :: 9 comments

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Coco

Wednesday, 3 December 2008

As I walked home through Bruntsfield in Edinburgh, all the wee boutique shops were lit up and there were Christmas stalls being set up on the edge of the Links. In the dark, the shops were all the more enticing. I decided that Coco was my favourite, a dreamboat full of wondrous chocs. They offered samples of organic chocolate flavoured with rose - posh turkish delight to you and me. None of the chocolates were affordable, but it was relaxing to dream. I made myself a steaming Green and Blacks hot chocolate when I got home and resolved to return to Coco with Bobo.

by Hullaballoo :: 3 comments

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