Children of the Past – 26th January 2011

These photographs are of my parents when they were both five years old.

I love the innocence and happiness on their faces, and the fact that they are both playing in the garden. I used to spend hours playing in the garden as a child; with my dolls acting out The Faraway Tree, pretending I was a pop-singer on the picnic table, or being tied to the cherry tree by my brothers (by my waist-length plaits no less!). I hope The Boy enjoys the outdoors as much as his family has in the past.

Music I want my Children to Listen to: The Manic Street Preachers

 GhostWriterMummy

I was in a conundrum this week. It happens often, but someone normally comes along to bounce my thoughts against. I couldn't decide who to choose for this week's post. Then I logged onto twitter and following a conversation with Alex from CBeebies (yes, you read that correctly!!) I decided upon the Manics. The 'Phonics can wait a few weeks!

My chosen Manics' album is 'This is my Truth, Tell me Yours' (Alex's is 'Generation Terrorists'  by the way, I'm his new BFF don't you know 😉 )

It reminds me of the young me; the age that I still think I am.

'TIMT,TMY' was released in September 1998, when I'd just started University and discovered a new sense of freedom. Yes I was still living at home, out of financial choice, but I was enjoying Uni life while having a mother and father to still care for me (and pick up a very drunken me from Newport one night). That was the same academic year that The Stereophonics released 'Performance and Cocktails' following their amazing 'Word Gets Around'. Catatonia had recently released 'International Velvet'. And I was in a Welsh university surrounded by all this Cool Cymru music.

The album ranges massively in style, but in its entirety it reeks of the polished Welsh rock that was apparent at the time. The anthems have to be "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next", a real car-windows-down-sing-at-the-top-of-your-voice belter, and the fabulous "You Stole the Sun from My Heart". While the more slower-paced "The Everlasting", kicks the album off. Nicky Wire borrowed the title from a poem after spending some time trying to think of something similar to Blur's "The Universal" (another of my fave's). James Dean Bradfield's powerful and emotional voice is showcased brilliantly on track 8: "You're Tender and You're Tired".

I haven't listened to a huge amount of albums by The Manic Street Preachers, hardly any at all of late; I'm mellowing in my old age, the teenage angst never really came into fruition! But this remains my overall favourite CD by them.

Cymru am byth!

Maclaren Techno XLR

I recently contacted Maclaren via twitter to see if they were able to recommend a pushchair to replace my beautiful iCandy Cherry that The Boy is rapidly outgrowing. They suggested two, and that I pop to Mothercare to compare them and try them out. I did, and lo and behold, they sent me one out to review. I am incredibly grateful to them for this. My review shall be honest and thorough, but hopefully not boring!

Maclaren Techno XLR Stroller

Maclaren Techno XLR Stroller: in Coffee Brown and Soft Blue.

From the first moment that it's unpacked, it is obvious how much thought has been put into the ergonomics of this pushchair. With my last pushchair/pram combo, we spent an hour assembling everything. With this, you open the end of the box, pull it out and away you go. There is a comfortable and warm reversible seat-liner for use with foot-muff in Winter. It took me five minutes to undo the straps and attach it. [plus point for ease of assembly]

The Boy was champing at the bit to get at it. He liked it as much as I did. Straps were investigated straightaway and I was pleased with the results. He couldn't do them up. This is good because it means he can't undo them. The button on the five-point harness has to be pressed front and back to release the straps. [plus point for safety]

Test Drive 1

Test-ground: Urban
Weather: Dry, sunny but cold (2°c)

Without wishing to seem melodramatic, I was apprehensive. The current pushchair can be either forward or rear-facing, and I have The Boy facing me so we can talk. I don't know of any umbrella-folding pushchairs that are parent-facing; is it even possible? The clear plastic 'sunroof' in the hood does go a long way to assure parents that their child is happy. And actually he really liked not having to put up with me jabbering away at him, he was giving me a one-word running commentary on his surroundings: "tree, leaf, bird, Bobby (blackbird), gone, home, boy, boy, BOY! gone, home". You get the picture. [I'd prefer it facing me, but knowing that's not possible I'm more than placated with the 'sunroof']

We live in a predominantly Victorian town: tree-lined avenues, semi-detached houses with drives and proper 'paved' pavements. Pretty, but in reality a pain. The roots push the paving slabs up, and the pavements are full of rises and dips. There are dropped kerbs everywhere and those annoying gutter ridges down the pavements for surface water. The Maclaren copes well with all of these without getting stuck or having to manoeuvre it massively. Even the street that I normally do anything to avoid! [plus point for suspension]

The front wheels are lockable, I've yet to work out when that would be useful, but the steer-ability is brilliant. I have been known to have to excuse myself for crashing into items in the past with a "Oh sorry, I've not passed my test yet!" I'm normally very good at judging distance, but used to get caught out by the wheels on the iCandy; consequently some areas were a no-no. I used to have to open both doors at the entrance to the school where I work, and I once attempted the local corner shop, never again! The Techno fits through the doors with breathing space, and I managed to avoid playing dominoes with the bottles of cola in the shop! Excellent! [plus point for steer-ability]

I was able to put the few items (chocolate, shh!) that I bought into the handy pockets on the back. One of them is perfect for the rain-cover, the other (with a Velcro flap) is ideal to hold a purse, keys, phone, etc. The pockets are perfect for smaller purchases, especially as with our large (Boots/Pampers) change-bag in the shopping basket underneath, I couldn't fit them in as the front was a little difficult to access. I do walk up to the town centre frequently to do shopping, and I use the basket a lot, therefore for me it is an important feature. I wanted to buy a smaller change-bag anyway, which will free up more of the basket space. [plus point for the pockets]

Snuggly warm.

Overall, I'm really impressed with the pushchair: it's smart, compact, warm, easy to use and the manoeuvrability is amazing. I felt incredibly comfortable pushing it (I think I was actually walking faster, maybe I'll burn up extra calories?) and the height of the handles was perfect. The Boy was extremely comfortable tucked up inside it; he was warm and enjoyed seeing all the sights.

Thanks so much Maclaren, from The Boy and Me.

I intend to do a further review of this fabulous pushchair in a fortnight or so, having tried different 'terrains' and weather types.

For more information on Maclaren, visit their Facebook page here.

Swings, Cornflakes & Birthday Cakes

I'm trying to make more of a concerted effort to do things on the weekend. Yes it's a time for relaxation, but it's also such a precious time together as a family that I don't want to feel the weekend has passed and we haven't left the house or got any recollection of the time passed. It's tricky, especially as we take it in turns to have a lie-in on each morning; it means we only have the afternoon to do things in. However, I like a challenge!

Saturday:

Saturday saw us testing out the new Maclaren Techno XLR that they very kindly sent me to review (more on that later). We went to a local Country Park and Lakes which is stunning. I took my 365 photo, The Boy tried to chase the swans and ducks, and discovered the magic of splashing in puddles with his new wellies. He needs more practise though! There was loads of mud everywhere; my boots, hubby's boots, The Boy's boots, the wheels of the pushchair, the slide, the boot of the car, the upholstery! How much is a valet? Anyway he had fun, look at his little face:

Then we came home and made cornflake cakes. This was prompted by a twitter discussion between @Mammywoo, myself and a few others, who suggested using Mars bars in it. Yum is the result. Although are you supposed to mix something else into the melted chocolate aside from the cornflakes because they're really hard to eat! Golden syrup I think I missed out, suggestions please? The Boy did really well spooning out the cornflakes, although there were a few times that he only had one flake on the spoon by the time it got to the bowl, bless him. He loved spooning it into the cases, but he now thinks that the cases are called cakes. Don't ask, it's probably best not to!

Tricky work this cake-making business!

And yes, he does appear to be left-handed.

We then popped over to Ikea for tea. He sat beautifully and ate it all up, I was so proud of him. Then on his last mouthful of pear, it tickled his tonsils and he vomitted all over the table. Joy!

Sunday:

Party-time for The Boy's 5yr old girl cousin. My brother always does good parties, he's a chef and does enough 'proper' party food to feed the 5,000! Egg sandwiches, cheese sandwiches, scotch eggs (or party eggs as my brother-in-law calls them), crisps, chocolate fingers, tea-cakes, iced ring biscuits, cocktail sausages. Yum! My brother had hired an entertainer aswell; some of them can be way over the children's heads, but this one pitched at exactly the right level for 2-5yr olds; magic tricks, party games, balloon animals and circus tricks. Even The Boy managed to sit down for a few minutes and enjoy it.

But at the end of the day, nothing can distract from the pleasure of a Cadbury's Chocolate Finger!

Things I wish I could do

A though-provoking one from @katetakes5 this week, welcome back!

1) Play the piano

I'm not very good at music; I was kicked out of recorder club in primary school, and only managed to stay in guitar club because I knew the words. However, you've got to have innate talent to play those haven't you? Blow a woodwind instrument wrongly and it's shrill. Pluck/strum/whatever you do with a bow a stringed instrument the wrong way & it sounds like a cat being ravaged on a Saturday night. But a piano is different: as long as it's in tune, that's the note it makes, you can't hit the key in the wrong way! (This is what I am telling myself, do not argue with me) I've even got a piano! The infant school were getting rid of theirs  a few years ago so I bought it for £100. It's sat in my dining room for 6 years now, lovingly sanded back and re-oiled. The Boy will probably learn to play it before me!

2) Lose weight

I'm rubbish, I really am! I can do it, I just can't be arsed bothered. Well I have * stones to lose to be back to my wedding weight, and with our 10th wedding anniversary in November, I'd like to do it. Plus I want another child so need to be more fit; I'll be older, it will be harder.

3) Keep my temper

I'm a Leo (not whatever that stupid new zodiac says). "The Leo type is … ambitious, courageous, dominant, strong willed, positive, independent, self-confident there is no such a word as doubt in their vocabularies, and they are self-controlled (?)." Strong-willed? Really? No, I'd never have guessed! I am learning self-control and am better with age, and with being a mother, but it's still something I have to work on. Lots! It does go on to say "A Leonian can … display … excessive hastiness of temper." So that's alright then, I'm excused!

4) Keep my mouth shut

Sometimes, just sometimes, I find myself uttering a put-down or retorting to someone. It tends to be when there is a massive lack of manners being displayed by someone who really should know better. Things/people that wind me up (and I tend to find myself saying something):

  • people not holding the door open for someone. Likewise someone not saying 'thank you' when I've held the door open for them. Yes I am that person who says "Thank you so much, oh no not a problem at all you're welcome" very loudly so they can hear me!
  • teenagers playing football outside my house. I have marched out the house several times and had stand-up rows with them. One of these days there's going to be a news report of them having done me in!

5) Win the National Lottery

I'm not greedy, I don't want six numbers all to myself. I'd be happy to share it, or have five numbers and a bonus ball. £100,000 would change our lives. And yes, I am in it, otherwise I can't win it!

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