Normalising the absurd

This morning whilst I was in the bath, I realised that I'd stepped in without properly 'seeing' this little scene of Barbie dolls in various stages of amputation, along with their plastic owl sidekicks.

In our home there are lots of these little absurd scenes that the children have abandoned mid play.  I love to take a minute when I discover them to work out what the storyline was.

I just dread to think the plot of the above..............

In addition - please be aware that the Queen of Clean almost begged me not to post this picture.  It's the taps not being shiny that is making him uncomfortable!  You see this bathroom really is quite grim.  Half the tiles are missing from the walls, and there is no bath panel.  We started renovating immediately we moved in, and before we realised the budget had to be spent on some more essential double glazing.

So we have kind of given up in this room on the shiny tap thing.  Just so you're clear ;-)

Shortcut Susie

I realise that I have forgotten to introduce you to Shortcut Susie.  This is the Queen of Clean's nickname for me.  Shortcut Susie because I like to do things the easiest way, while he is somewhat of a perfectionist.

Shortcut Susie appears at home mainly (although the nickname is now sometimes used at work - how mortifying!).  She assists me particularly when cooking (I cannot follow a recipe), tidying and always when trying to understand something.

The reason I have chosen this photo along with this post, is that I am proud that Shortcut Susie didn't have a hand in it.  We have an SLR camera, but Susie talks me out of using it most of the time. 

'Can you be bothered to take a light reading?'
'What about the shutter speed, what's an F stop?'
'Is the camera charged, bet you can't find the battery charger...'
'This is just too much effort, get your phone and we'll take a quick snap'

But one of my resolutions which didn't make it into my resolutions post is to learn how to use the SLR.  So tonight I picked it up, and I actually listened to the Queen of Clean (whose first job was as a photographer's assistant in London so he does know his stuff) and asked questions.  This particular shot is my own work.  All the Queen of Clean did was hold a lamp at an angle to cast the shadow from the tree branches on to the print at the back. 

Don't worry about Shortcut Susie feeling left out......she's about to help me tidy the kitchen.

One of those days

I've not had a great day today.  The highlight was probably heading outside to get these pictures.

It was a combination really of trying to look after the kids (schools closed due to snow), and work from home.  There was lots of me asking the kids to calm down, and lots of the kids asking me to help colour in/build a lego house/pour apple juice (no not in that cup, in this cup).

It came to a head when I snapped at Yoyo for helping herself to a gherkin out of the fridge.  Of all the things to get uptight about, a gherkin.

And as I type this I am almost reluctant to publish it.  To admit that I have those days where things go wrong and I snap at my offspring over gherkins.  But I am sure I am not alone.  So for that reason I will post this, and fingers crossed we will all have a better day tomorrow!

The Sofa Saga

So as you may know the sofa collapsed on Christmas Eve.   Whilst at the time it was mildly amusing and we tried very hard not to mind, smugly thinking what jolly festive spirits we were not to worry about such a catastrophe...... now it's seriously annoying me.

We attempted a repair which has shifted the break further along the frame if that's possible.  Essentially the middle of the sofa is now sitting on the floor if anyone parks themselves on it.

So we have two choices (sorry actually three if I count the unmentionable one in):-

1. Purchase the above Halo sofa that I have wanted for ages on credit (currently 30% off in Jan sale)
   
2. Attempt another repair until I have saved up for sofa above (but price will have gone up)
   
3. Borrow my Mum & Dad's spare sofa they have kindly offered (this is actually the unmentionable option - M&D I love you dearly but I am not a Multiyork floral kind of gal, sorry)

 What the heck should we do? 1, 2 or 3?

Icy faces, patience and mulled wine

My three beautiful things for today are these:-

1. Yoyo finds it hilarious if I de-ice the car by drawing faces with the ice scraper.  I indulge her this morning as we're not in a rush, and she squeals with laughter whilst waiting inside the car.

2.  The kindness and patience of an optician who understands implicitly that my daughter is desperate to wear glasses but doesn't actually need them.  She allows her to try several pairs on and gives her a thorough eye test.  Yoyo works her myopic desires out of her system.

3.  The Queen of Clean hands me a glass of warm mulled wine as I type this post.  I love this man.

A ramble about a bar stool

I had a good find today outside a charity shop, a little pine table (well that's what I thought it was) for £3.95.  I couldn't resist it - even though I had driven to town in my Ford KA and it was going to be a squeeze to get it in.

We have rejigged our furniture in the lounge and there was nowhere for anyone to rest a cup of tea if they were sat in our leather chair.  Since the sofa collapsed on Christmas Eve this leather chair is really the prime seat in the house, and we had been discussing the need for a side table for a few days.

So I bought it home, very triumphant with my find.  The Queen of Clean (who incidentally was cleaning the kitchen sink at the time) asked me why I had bought a bar stool.  Oh no said I, it's definitely a table.  Well, after much debate and googling the Ikea name stamped on the underneath we established yes, it was indeed a bar stool.

But quite frankly who cares.

 

Here it is before, in all it's ikea rubberwood bar stool glory.  I took exceptionally bad pictures today so the black and white is an attempt to disguise my lack of focus.

 

And here we after 3 coats of white satinwood (could probably do with another tomorrow) and the legs sawn down.

This little table/bar stool has made me very happy this evening.

Resolutions

I'm not great at goal setting, and don't usually make any formal New Year resolutions.

So I'll keep it simple.

Okay I'm not a party ring girl, but I took this picture yesterday and I thought the plate was pretty.

And I'm sure the message is not lost in the candy coloured biscuits and vintage plate; I need to lose weight.

I took this photo yesterday on a walk with my brood - you can just spy them over the fence playing on the last remaining snowman.

We decided yesterday that we don't do this enough and will be walking (even if it's just into town) at least every weekend.  This should help with the first resolution above, but also its great to make the time to do this as a family.

I have another fantasy list of resolutions including crochet, elaborate mortgage overpayments and highbrow novel reading.  But I'm realistic and know these will probably not make their way off the notepad.  So if I can achieve the two I've publically set myself here, I'll be pleased.

Best of luck with any goals you set yourselves this year.