Friday 10 June 2016

Five on Friday






Joining in with Amy and Five on Friday.

1. It's taken me a while to get back into the swing of things after half term. I have lists of things to be done, here, there and everywhere. A To Be Done Very Soon list, a Don't Forget This Needs To Be Done At Some Stage list, an Allotment List, a separate Garden List and a Writing List. It's not always clear what the things on my list mean. There's a list in the kitchen that simply reads "Warrior Queens".  Say what now??? And one that says "Make a plan". I know what that one means. I've been drifting along with this writing thing in no particular direction. I need a focus. And I need more structure to what I'm doing.  X amount of time doing marketing, pitching etc. X amount of time messing around with a website, that sort of thing. But mostly I need a direction, something to focus a laser-like beam on. Well, that's not really me, I'm more of a floater arounder. But I do feel I need a Plan.

2. I've been faffing around in the garden this week (instead of making that plan). It's been gorgeous pottering weather. Pick a strawberry here, pluck a weed there, sprinkle a little water about the place. Late yesterday evening I was out there talking slugs over the fence with my next door neighbour. It was that cool, calm, blissful time of day. You know, after the children have gone to bed.

3. The biggest boy, who is 12, is now the same height as me (5'9" ish). I like to think I am a shade taller, but realistically even if I am he will be my height by next week. I have to buy him Small Man size clothes now and size 10 shoes (which is size 11 in the US I think). I can't keep up. I'm still heavier than him though.

4. I had a stroke of genius when it came to the backspace key on my laptop that's been driving me bananas. I swapped it with the Caps Lock key which is the only one on the keyboard the same size. I never use Caps Lock, so it's worked out perfectly. I can't tell you how happy it made me after a week of buying the wrong thing online. I have a key that doesn't fit, a bathroom lightbulb that doesn't fit and something that came from the US meaning I had to pay a fortune in Customs fees. The website had prices in pounds sterling so I didn't realise it would be coming from abroad. I was Not Happy. But the good news is I can hammer away on my backspace key so there's no limit to how long I can ramble on here now.

5. Photos from last weekend. We went to Cirencester for pizza to celebrate the littlest boy's 8th birthday. Pizza is just about his favourite thing ever. That and dogs and his beloved bear Jo Jo. Over tea today the biggest boy said, "When you get your dog, you'll wake up one morning and Jo Jo will be laid on the floor without his head. And your dog won't be feeling very well and they'll x-ray him and inside his tummy they'll see a bear's head." The middle boy, who can take any story and run with it said, "And they'll sew it back on and the next night he'll come to life and eat the head off of your dog". Nightmares anyone?

30 comments:

  1. Love reading about your boys conversations, you must have hours of fun listening to them or worrying what they come out with next. My youngest is taller than me but I'm only 5'1" so that isn't hard at least I'm taller than the dog. However the towering males in my house do tease me about the dog growing taller than me. Rocky Hound has never in his life eaten a bears head and my brothers dog has a toy chest of stuffed animals all still with their heads attached to their bodies. Millie does however like to eat the squeak from inside said animals though! XX

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  2. I like to make a good list, and lists of lists occasionally. 'Warrior Queen' sounds intriguing. I love evenings outside at this time of year after the heat of the day has subsided, and it's nice that you have strawberries now. Ours are a bit behind. Boys do grow very fast once they get going - before you know it they will all be towering over you. Have a good weekend.
    Cathy x

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  3. Loved this as always, CJ, and decided to join in myself this week too! (With a little reference to your lovely blog at the top, hee hee...) https://wolvesinlondon.com/2016/06/10/five-on-friday/

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  4. I don't make lists anymore, they stare me in the face and laugh at my inability to do anything in order, or at all. Pottering is good for the soul, it should be prescribed to anybody by their GP. I do a lot of it. I have two children taller than I now. Sam is much much taller, Annie a smidgen only. She is delighted. I remember my excitement when I grew taller than my mum. I think the only purpose of shrinking in old age is to make the growing taller than mum part easier for children. Happy Friday! xx

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  5. Hasn't the weather been truly glorious? It's raining now but even that is a good thing given how dry the garden was getting.

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  6. Your boys conversation made me smile, how do they think of things like that??
    Great shots from Cirencester, it's been many years since I was there.
    bon weekend.

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  7. Ha! I have an assortment of lists too, but much prefer to potter. I have been wondering if you have acquired a dog yet but looking at number 5, it seems not yet. I can't keep up with my 13 year old either, she seems to grow out of things much quicker than her sister did. Have a lovely weekend xx

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  8. Good pictures and and an enjoyable five on Friday. Have a good weekend. Flighty xx

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  9. Your photos look wonderful. I had to laugh at #4 and the backspace key. I currently don't have an 'h' black key on my keyboard. It fell off. I tried to put it back on, couldn't, spent ages on it, almost ended up throwing it but finally gave up and I now type without it lol. I still have the key so maybe I'll try again...one day.

    Have a great weekend!

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  10. Thankfully my three daughters are taller than me, which is a good thing as I am only 4' 11" it won't be too long before the Grand children are taller. I love a list and swear by them to keep me organized. Have a great weekend.

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  11. I love your photos. Cirencester is a lovely place - all that beautiful butter coloured stone. Pottering is good. Many hours can be happily passed pottering!

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  12. Beautiful photos dear C.J, England certainly is 'a green and pleasant land', ancient stone architecture, beautiful daisies and I love that inviting opening in the hedge in photo 3.
    A very interesting conversation over tea, I hope your youngest boy was not upset. How is his apple tree growing, the one he chose many months back?
    I love lists also.
    xoxoxo ♡

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  13. Lots to identify with/ponder in this post. Done some similar faffing inside and out, then bought a battery which doesn't fit the laptop and which the post office now refuse to accept for return unless it's in something. Love the teatime tale. As Neil Gaiman said, fear is a wonderful thing. Don't think I could manage without my caps lock, though, and now wondering if I need a list or a plan. Maybe both. Have a good weekend.

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  14. I love the white daisies that are out on verges at the moment. I planted some on the plot and they make great cut flowers.

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  15. Boys... You've got to love 'em! I've been planning to make a plan for weeks now. Perhaps I need to do some lists first!

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  16. Glad you are getting back (space!) into the swing of things and can get on with some writing and listing now you have your backspace back!! Thank you for taking part in Five On Friday. I hope you have a great weekend! xx

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  17. Isn't it great how our brothers or sisters know how to give us nightmares.

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  18. It was a monumental day at our house when my boys got to be taller than me, I am 5 9 1/2, they were overjoyed. But I always reminded them that with Mother Adrenaline I could always tackle them if needed. Thankfully that never occurred.
    Hugs,
    MEredith

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  19. i love the tea time discussions at your house. So charming and visual! Hopefully everyone's tummies and heads will remain healthy ;)

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  20. oh, lists. i don't make them anymore because they simply illuminate my utter ineptitude. all i really want to do is potter about...somewhat aimlessly, but enjoyably, nonetheless. one day, i'll get my sh*t together. true story.

    i'm still laughing about the bear's head. xoxo

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  21. I'm glad you got the key working to your satisfaction. It's a big day when your kids get taller than you. I have some lists.. but not as much when you're retired. Mine is like.. 2 things. :-) Have a super weekend! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  22. At 5' (if I stand very tall and wear thick socks) I can only be called short! All three sons passed me at about 12! The two girls however are only taller in shoes....
    Love your pictures! It's a dream of mine to see England in person one day - some of my ancestors immigrated from there - and I still have the Book of Common Prayer they brought with them. It's in poor shape, but the entry page says 'we pray for our Queen, Victoria... so it is very old! One of the few things I could never part with.

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  23. I'm just about holding out over my youngest in the height stakes, although I'm sure it's only a matter of time. Genius over the swapping of the computer keys - knowing my luck, I'd have broken the Caps Lock key too as I levered it off! Good luck with your writing - marketing, pitching and a website - it all sounds terribly exciting, and I'm loving your boys' conversation! Happy pottering. xx

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  24. Oh I can so relate to lists and floating. Your boys found hysterical. What a hoot

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  25. I don't often get a chance to reply to all blogs, but I have been enjoying yours especially since we visited Bath a few years ago, and it was one of our favourite places. But mostly, my husband Paul and I have been almost crying with laughter over the conversations between your boys. We both come from big families and it brings back such a flood of memories. Thanks for the post!

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  26. Hey CJ,
    Your five of the five made me laugh out loud. Very similar conversations are had here, but I'm often the instigator I'm afraid. Oh how I love to gently tease my children; it's one of life's great pleasures ;)
    Leanne xx

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  27. My kids regularly bait each other in a similar way which often results in physical retaliation and much squealing...they know exactly the right thing to say to wind each other up, don't they? The eldest is now taller than both me and hubby and Miss M at 11 now has the same size feet as me. Look on the bright side - at least your boys aren't likely to steal your shoes! Happy days eh, we'll miss all this when they're all grown up and moved out... xx

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  28. So good to have discussions at home... they can nudge each other on, can't they?!!! At my age, I have to make lists to be sure I get the necessities done! Loved the images you shared. So pretty!

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  29. eeek the dog story is terrifying......... I do wonder if we will ever understand boys........

    as for the eldest being taller than you, yes it happens over night, and then they just KEEP growing. mine is now 6'3 and a half...... please stop I say.....

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