I read with interest an entry from Midwifes  Muse about 20six playing up and not letting her post.  I had never had too many issues until; then but the last few things I have written have not published and it is more than frustrating.  Hope I don;t have yo move but will if I keep having difficulties.

That is one of the reasons my blogging is slow, the others are that the children are all out of school and also my in-laws have been staying for the last 2 1/1  weeks (felt like months)  More on that later.

2 nights ago I went to see the film 'A mighty heart' with Angelina Jolie as Marianne Pearl - the journalist wife of Daniel Pearl - the US Jewish Journalist who was kidnapped and beheaded.  It was a good film with brilliant acting.  It has had a lot of hype here because of the Angelina/Brad connection but is not doing well at the box office.  It is a very deserving film but people know it is not going to be uplifting - they know the outcome -maybe this puts them off?  BUt I walked out of the cinema with a non too good feeling about the BBC correspondant Alan Johnston and his fate.

So imagine my delight as I logged ontpo BBC News last night before heading to bed and seeing he was free. Amazing.  Relief.  His family must be ecstatic.  I hope they never saw the movie as it would not have given them hope. 

But there is always hope.  Next - fingers crossed for the McCanns.

For anyone in USA wanting to feel SLIM go to OLD NAVY where their latest line has very G E N E R O U S sizing.  It will make you feel very good about yourself!

I stood on the scales today for the first time in weeks.  I have been feeling very calm about weight and appearance lately and have not felt the need to comfort eat too much despite the kids at home etc...

But I have a downfall:

http://www.starbucks.com/retail/nutrition_beverage_detail.asp?selProducts=139

I am thinking that may account for the extra 3lbs  that have crept up... unless I can blame the scales and altitude for this too????

I consider it a treat for my lot if I take them to a proper hairdressers (instead of me with a pair of scissors)....and then I read this.

Don't feel sooooo bad!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19510304/

that actually this time was quite interesting to read....maybe I gave it more time as the friend I received it from is having a tough time - her father is in a hospice with terminal bone cancer.... so having her do this could well have taken her mind off it.  Here's how I completed mine.  Anyone else care to try???

>> >>Welcome to the 2007 edition of getting to know your >>friends. What you are supposed to do is copy (not >>forward) this entire e-mail and paste it onto a >>new e-mail that you'll send. Change all the answers so >>they apply to you, and then send this to your friends >>including the person who sent it to you. The theory is >>that you will learn a lot of little things about your >>friends, which you might not have known! >> >>1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:30AM >>2. Diamonds or pearls? DIAMONDS >>3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? >>ONCE >>4. What is your Favorite TV show? ER >>5. What do you usually have for breakfast? CEREAL >>6. Favorite cuisine? ITALIAN >>7. What is your middle name? LOUISE >>8. What food do you dislike? VEGETARIAN! >>9. What is your Favorite CD at the moment? THE VIEW/FRATELLIS >>10. What kind of car do you drive? SILVER NISSAN QUEST/GREY DENALI >>11. Favorite sandwich? SALMON >>12. What characteristics do you despise? ENVY, JEALOUSY, RASICM, HOMOPHOBIA >>13. Favorite item of clothes? SHOES >>14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, >>where would you >>go? >>RUSSIA >>15. What color is your bathroom? CREAM/BROWN > >>16. Favorite brand of clothing? ANN TAYLOR >>17. Where would you retire to? uk >>18. What was your most recent memorable birthday? 30 >>19. Favorite sport to watch? TENNIS >>20. Furthest place you are sending this? UK >>21. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? >Fee - SHE HAS GUESTS >>22. Person you expect to send it back first? SallA? IF SHE IS NOT TOO >>TIRED >>23. Favorite saying? IT'S FATE >>24. When is your birthday? 12/7/70 >>25. Are you a morning person or a night person? NIGHT >>26. What is your shoe size? 8-1/2 >>27. Pets? NONE >>28. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with >>us: JUST GOT MY HAIR CUT AND COLORED - HARDLY EXCITING >>29. What did you want to be when you were little? POLICEWOMAN >>30. How are you today? QUITE RELAXED >>31. What is your Favorite candy? MALTEESERS >>32. What is your Favorite flower? TULIPS >>33. What is your full name? YOU KNOW!! >>34. What are you listening to right now? KIDS IN THE BACKGROUND >>35. What was the last thing you ate? 1 BITE OF A CRUNCHIE >>36. Do you have children? 4 >>37. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? YELLOW >>38. How is the weather right now? HOT AND STICKY >>39. Last person you spoke to on the phone? HUSBAND >>40. Do you like the person who sent this to you? OF COURSE!! >>41. Favorite soft drink? DIET COKE >>42. Favorite restaurant? SAN LORENZO >>43. Hair color? BLOND (THIS WEEK) >>44. Siblings? 3 1/2 BROTHERS >>45. Favorite day of the year? THE FIRST SNOW DAY >>46. What was your Favorite toy as a child? AN OLD TYPEWRITER >>47. Summer or winter? WINTER >>48. Hugs or kisses? HUGS >>49. Chocolate or Vanilla? CHOCOLATE >>50. Do you want your friends to email you back? YES >>51. When was the last time you cried? 2 WEEKS AGO >>52. What is under your bed? SUITCARRIERS AND NEW PILLOWS WAITING TO GO ON >>BED >>53. Who is the friend you have had the longest? KATIE FROM SCHOOL >>54. What did you do last night? WENT OUT TO A TALK ON FEEDING KIDS! >>55. Favorite smell? LAVENDER/ FRESHLY BATHED BABIES >>56. What are you afraid of? SEEING MY KIDS GET HURT >>57. Plain, buttered, or salted Popcorn? HATE POPCORN >>58. How many keys on your key ring? 2 >>59. How many years at your current job? 9 >>60. Favorite day of the week? FRIDAY >>61. How many towns have you lived in? 12 >>62. Do you make friends easily? NO >>   | |   | | | Inbox

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So the children have been off of school for a good 6 weeks and today is the first day that I have got things organised for all of them - Mac is at his pre-school summer day, Bee is at an animal Day summer camp and Paddy is in a little 2 hour art class. So it is just Rory and I.  And he is finally walking.  He is very proud of himself but if you give him praise or a clap or anything he falls down and puts his head on the ground out of shyness. 

I have been having a bog clear out - got rid of a lot of children's toys and just dropped them off at the charity shop.  With the little boys' clothes as they (or rather Rory) grow out of them I put them in a pile to give away or keep the odd thing for sentimental reasons.  I remember the things that were gifts and who gave them when, or shops where I bought them and which child they were bought for.  But the toys, I am just glad to be getting a bit sorted out.  i have to watch that I don't get rid of things which still could have educational value for the littleones and things that weren't necessarily a hit with the older ones attract the younger ones in a different way.  It is strange because normally having an 18 month old (yes, he IS a late walker, I know) I have been coinsidering having another baby.  But we are past that - the maternity clothes are gone - our crawling days are pretty much over.  My kids are growing up. 

There are so many new estates being built here.  Just when you think the area is fully developed they squeeze in a few more plots.  When Bee goes horse riding the houses are closing in - the building sounds are spooking the horses and i think it is only a matter of time before the stables are made an offer they cannot refuse.

Saw another bumper sticker that got me the other day 'Suburbia - where they cut down all the trees and name the new housing estate after them.'

Quite true - round here at least.