Daisy Turnip writes.....
My Hubby’s cousin, her other half and their three young kids have just left! The parents must have been seriously evil in a previous life.
I am knackered!! Completely and utterly knackered!
Hubby, who is chief kid’s entertainer, was up at 7.30am playing with the kids and then took them down to the park with the dog – all before 9am on a Sunday morning! Impressive! He’s now totally passed out on the sofa!
The kids are gorgeous, so very very well behaved, but energy, where on earth do kids get their energy from? A weekend has totally wiped me out – actually, it’s not even a full weekend, they arrived at 5pm’ish on Saturday evening. How do parents manage 24/7?
I’m off to bed!
Sunday, 24 June 2007
Saturday, 23 June 2007
Can You Hear Me Mother?
Daisy Turnip writes.....
I recently changed my car and with my old car going, so did my built in hands free ‘phone kit. Not being able to use the phone whilst driving has become a bit of a problem and along with my current job, getting lost around new towns and cities was also driving me insane. I therefore treated myself to a satnav system with built in bluetooth for hands free phone calls.
The Bluetooth is not brilliant and no way compares to the quality of my old system. My mother called me whilst I was driving! The conversation went as follows:-
Mom: Hello, Michelle, are you there?
Me: Hi Mom, yes, I’m here.
Mom: You sound strange, what’s the matter?
Me: Nothing, it’s this new hands free system, it’s not very good.
Mom: Are you sure you’re ok?
Me: Yes mom, I’m fine, it’s the car kit, it’s no good.
Mom: Ok, you sound strange. Have you got your hayfever then?
Me: Mom, I’m 39 years old, I’ve never had hayfever!
Hmmmm!!
I recently changed my car and with my old car going, so did my built in hands free ‘phone kit. Not being able to use the phone whilst driving has become a bit of a problem and along with my current job, getting lost around new towns and cities was also driving me insane. I therefore treated myself to a satnav system with built in bluetooth for hands free phone calls.
The Bluetooth is not brilliant and no way compares to the quality of my old system. My mother called me whilst I was driving! The conversation went as follows:-
Mom: Hello, Michelle, are you there?
Me: Hi Mom, yes, I’m here.
Mom: You sound strange, what’s the matter?
Me: Nothing, it’s this new hands free system, it’s not very good.
Mom: Are you sure you’re ok?
Me: Yes mom, I’m fine, it’s the car kit, it’s no good.
Mom: Ok, you sound strange. Have you got your hayfever then?
Me: Mom, I’m 39 years old, I’ve never had hayfever!
Hmmmm!!
Friday, 15 June 2007
Ben Nevis – The Three Peak Challenge
Daisy Turnip writes.....
We came, we saw, we conquered and I hobbled for a week in absolute agony!
But it was simply awesome and worth every single ache and every single pain.
When we finally got to the top of Ben Nevis – we went up the tourist route – by God, they should have just tarmac’d it, the route is so easy to follow, there was several foot of snow at the top and visibility was incredibly poor. So we sat there and ate our sandwiches, had a cup of coffee and then suddenly the cloud lifted and the sun appeared and there before us was this AMAZING view of the surrounding mountains. Everyone just stood speechless and this was quickly followed with many gasps and ‘awwww, look at that’.
Going back down was the killer. We left the tourist route and took a more direct route. A more direct route means it’s more of a vertical challenge which means it hurts more. They should put a knee pain indicator on all the OS maps! It would seriously mean we picked our routes with greater concentration.
We were nearly at the foot of Ben Nevis, when we came across a team of walkers going up. We said hello and asked if they were ‘going all the way?’ they informed us they’d just started the 3 peak challenge. I told them, that once at the bottom, I will have just finished mine – they looked surprised until I added that instead of the usual 24 hour challenge, it had only taken me 6 years to complete!! I’m chuffed anyway. Being the trophy hunter that I am, I can now tick off my list, each of the highest peaks for England, Scotland and Wales.
We came, we saw, we conquered and I hobbled for a week in absolute agony!
But it was simply awesome and worth every single ache and every single pain.
When we finally got to the top of Ben Nevis – we went up the tourist route – by God, they should have just tarmac’d it, the route is so easy to follow, there was several foot of snow at the top and visibility was incredibly poor. So we sat there and ate our sandwiches, had a cup of coffee and then suddenly the cloud lifted and the sun appeared and there before us was this AMAZING view of the surrounding mountains. Everyone just stood speechless and this was quickly followed with many gasps and ‘awwww, look at that’.
Going back down was the killer. We left the tourist route and took a more direct route. A more direct route means it’s more of a vertical challenge which means it hurts more. They should put a knee pain indicator on all the OS maps! It would seriously mean we picked our routes with greater concentration.
We were nearly at the foot of Ben Nevis, when we came across a team of walkers going up. We said hello and asked if they were ‘going all the way?’ they informed us they’d just started the 3 peak challenge. I told them, that once at the bottom, I will have just finished mine – they looked surprised until I added that instead of the usual 24 hour challenge, it had only taken me 6 years to complete!! I’m chuffed anyway. Being the trophy hunter that I am, I can now tick off my list, each of the highest peaks for England, Scotland and Wales.
Scotland in a tent with rain, Grease and a laptop – Just Perfect
Daisy Turnip writes.....
Once in the Highlands, our plan was to walk Ben Nevis, we pitched our tent at the Glen Nevis campsite. If you ever plan to walk Ben Nevis and camp, stay here. The site was super, the staff are great and it sits more or less at the very foot of Ben Nevis in the most spectacular setting. We sat outside the tent, just looking up and around us at this most magnificent view – BBC Spring Watch eat your heart out. It was totally breathtaking.
The only downside was the midgies – millions of the pesky things. When we arrived, we saw loads of people wearing ‘things’ over their heads – it looked like there had been a nuclear or severe chemical accident on the campsite and a team of specialist chemical ‘cleaneruppers’ were there – this is what they were wearing. We chuckled! An hour later, we too were part of the clean up operation!
Fortunately, not long after we arrived the rain started and the number of midgies reduced considerably. Great. Or may be not – it just didn’t stop raining. Rain, rain, rain, rain and more rain fell. Even with all the proper walking gear, when the weather is so abysmal and the visibility is virtually zilch, it does take away the enjoyment slightly!!! We therefore decided that we’d be cowards, sit it out and wait for a good, dry and clear day to attempt our walk. We continued to sit, waiting for the rain to stop! For just over 2 days we were still waiting! It ‘ain’t no fun’ in a tent when it constantly rains for that long. We honestly couldn’t believe that so much rain could fall – and continue to fall.
One the second day, we debated whether or not, we should just give up, go down to the pub and get totally wasted. We decided that if we did that, we could guarantee that the rain would cease, we’d end up with a hangover and wouldn’t be able to face that big beast Ben Nevis. So we agreed we’d stay one more night and if it was still raining the following morning, we’d throw the tent in the back of the car and come home. Failing in our attempt to walk Ben Nevis!
On Wednesday evening, we set off to Morrisons in Fort William, to buy our 3rd pack of ready made sandwiches, praying, this pack, we’d be able to eat whilst walking up Ben Nevis the following day. And not whilst driving home because it was still raining and we’d given up on our venture. We picked up other provisions, and as is usual practice, we ended up in the DVD aisle. We came across, at the bargain price of £3.99, the DVD of Grease. Great, we’d found tonight’s entertainment. The added bonus was that it came with a song book.
We spent the evening watching Grease on the laptop, singing along with the aid of the song book, listening to the rain bouncing off the tent! What more could you ask for on your holiday??
We went to bed – still raining.
We woke up in the morning – no rain!!!! Yes, Thursday was our day for tackling Big Ben!
Once in the Highlands, our plan was to walk Ben Nevis, we pitched our tent at the Glen Nevis campsite. If you ever plan to walk Ben Nevis and camp, stay here. The site was super, the staff are great and it sits more or less at the very foot of Ben Nevis in the most spectacular setting. We sat outside the tent, just looking up and around us at this most magnificent view – BBC Spring Watch eat your heart out. It was totally breathtaking.
The only downside was the midgies – millions of the pesky things. When we arrived, we saw loads of people wearing ‘things’ over their heads – it looked like there had been a nuclear or severe chemical accident on the campsite and a team of specialist chemical ‘cleaneruppers’ were there – this is what they were wearing. We chuckled! An hour later, we too were part of the clean up operation!
Fortunately, not long after we arrived the rain started and the number of midgies reduced considerably. Great. Or may be not – it just didn’t stop raining. Rain, rain, rain, rain and more rain fell. Even with all the proper walking gear, when the weather is so abysmal and the visibility is virtually zilch, it does take away the enjoyment slightly!!! We therefore decided that we’d be cowards, sit it out and wait for a good, dry and clear day to attempt our walk. We continued to sit, waiting for the rain to stop! For just over 2 days we were still waiting! It ‘ain’t no fun’ in a tent when it constantly rains for that long. We honestly couldn’t believe that so much rain could fall – and continue to fall.
One the second day, we debated whether or not, we should just give up, go down to the pub and get totally wasted. We decided that if we did that, we could guarantee that the rain would cease, we’d end up with a hangover and wouldn’t be able to face that big beast Ben Nevis. So we agreed we’d stay one more night and if it was still raining the following morning, we’d throw the tent in the back of the car and come home. Failing in our attempt to walk Ben Nevis!
On Wednesday evening, we set off to Morrisons in Fort William, to buy our 3rd pack of ready made sandwiches, praying, this pack, we’d be able to eat whilst walking up Ben Nevis the following day. And not whilst driving home because it was still raining and we’d given up on our venture. We picked up other provisions, and as is usual practice, we ended up in the DVD aisle. We came across, at the bargain price of £3.99, the DVD of Grease. Great, we’d found tonight’s entertainment. The added bonus was that it came with a song book.
We spent the evening watching Grease on the laptop, singing along with the aid of the song book, listening to the rain bouncing off the tent! What more could you ask for on your holiday??
We went to bed – still raining.
We woke up in the morning – no rain!!!! Yes, Thursday was our day for tackling Big Ben!
Saturday, 9 June 2007
Home alone for the first time
Daisy Turnip writes.....
Last week, Hubby and I went on holiday to Scotland. Daughter refused to come with us because part of the holiday included walking up Ben Nevis and a spot of camping in the Highlands. We therefore left 17 year old Daughter, home alone for the first time ever for a full week by herself. Scary, very scary. Our neighbour had a key and was under strict instruction to come in every day and check that both house and Daughter was ok.
The morning we set off, Daughter had gone into town on yet another marathon shopping expedition, so we left her the following note:-
“Dear Daughter
Hope you have a great week without us. We’re sure you’re going to miss up loads!
Remember the following:-
In an emergency………………………….. and so on”
We later received a text from her, saying ‘thanks for the note!’ I wasn’t sure whether this was the written form or the cash that we had left for her!
Whilst we were away we rang her every day and most days she rang us too. Another scary point, Daughter doesn’t ring us unless she’s looking for a lift, cash or some other favour. Each phone call went through this daily routine:-
Daughter: Hi Mom, how are you?
Me: Hi Babes, good thanks, you? How you getting on?
Daughter: Fine, when are you coming home?
I’ve still yet to work out why every day she asked when we were coming home. Was she missing us or was a party in the planning? Hmmm!
Anyway, we came home to a spotless house and found out that she’d only actually spent one night here as she’d stayed every night at her friend’s house. The night that she did sleep here, she slept downstairs in the lounge with the dog! Awww, bless.
I’m not convinced she enjoyed her ‘holiday’ as much as she thought she was going to!
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