MIA

Hello,
back after missing in action. I've just been far too busy to blog and a bit too atached to twitter.
There's been a lot I've wanted to write about just haven't found the time. Amy & Caitlin's 5th birthday, Alice's gymnastics competition, Alison's 40th celebrations, Alan & Jaclyn's upcoming nuptials, my work hell (every day I'm closer to running away forever), my awesome training schedule, my over commitment to committees, explaining the concept of heaven and hell to a 7 year old, having a 5 year old screaming I hate you on a regular basis, mising my husband more each day.
What I have learned from my last blog is that I'm not perfect and it doesn't matter that much that I'm not. My best is getting me through and that's ok. I also realise that I have no ambition. That is pretty disappointing. My ambitions are for my children I want the best for them and for them to have every opportunity in life. My ambitions are tiny wee ones like lose some weight, run a few more miles, keep on top of things. That has to be the strangest ever change in my life. I always was ambitious and had goals, maybe that's what has been driving me a bit mad for awhile.
Anyway, today was a great day. As there was no skating and A&C spent their 5th birthday watching Alice & her friends compete at Largs, we had planned to go to a museum in the morning and cinema in the afternoon. We were all ready by 9.30am however the blizzard outside had other ideas for us. I wasn't prepared to drive on untreated roads with no idea of whether it would get worse or better. I quickly logged on to Odeon and found that the local cinema was showing Bolt in 3D in an hours time. So off we nipped. Can I just say that Disney Digital 3D is awesome. No more red and green blurry images it was brill and the animation was amazing.
Everyone enjoyed themselves even though Amy had a wee sob when Bolt left Mittens and Rhino behind to find Penny.
The weather had massively improved when we got out of the cinema so we went to Kelvingrove. By the time we got there it was snowing heavily again so it was a chilly damp run into the museum The girls enjoyed the museum massively - which was a huge surprise. they were disappointed that we didn't go to the art galleries as we only had time for a quick bite to eat before the parking ticket ran out. We did have time for pooh sticks in the River Kelvin though.
The girls have been lovely today. We've had an excellent Team Boucher day. Trying to think what I can sell to be able to afford Las Vegas. Also trying to think what I can do for a living as I don't really want to do my job anymore. I don't like people, deadlines or working for anyone except me. I like reading, researching and writing. Any ideas?
Alice and Amy have their Burns competition tomorrow. Ah the tension, think I'll have to give up the trophy from my mantlepiece.

RETURN OF THE KING

Pete came home on Thursday night sans bag. The children were very pleased to see him and we had a pleasant little trip to Kilmarnock to get Pete some clobber to wear out on Friday night. We even had time to stop for coffee and a chat about whether he is ever coming home again. It would seem not for another year. Any longer than that and we will have to consider moving out to Malta. I've never even visited Malta so I don't know what this would entail.
Saturday meant ballet and the manic nature of organising that. The kids decided to have a mini party for daddy coming home so I made some cakes, burgers, popcorn blah di blah, laid it all out on a Barbie tablecloth on the floor and had a big picnic and watched happily N'ever After. How pleasant. Pete and I didn't last long after the children and were knocked out by 9.30pm. Back to the cakes - I noticed Alice gumming one of them to death and commented that it must be difficult to eat with her lack of teeth. Yes, she said but also they are quite hard. Hard??? But I am the Queen of Cupcakes. So, I start having a flashback to making said cakes and realise that I had not in fact added any margarine. ???????????? How do these things happen?
Sunday - the snow came late so we didn't get a chance to play. Skating went really badly. Amy blubbed the whole time and has now concluded that she should just give up. Probably wise as she has never been as into it as the other 2 and complains the whole time about being cold. I can't remedy that. So Sunday has turned into a bit nothingy really. It came and went. School holidays this week - what fun!! Got Susan and Tom coming for dinner on Tues night, lunch with Claire on Thursday and then Gordon and Carrie's wedding on Saturday. Trying to fit in going to Amazonia, swimming and soft play. Grand National all finally booked. Holidays not even decided on yet. No mobile phone yet - apparently it is stuck in snow (AH snow won't start again honest)Alice has lots of gymnastics competitions coming up. And have double booked myself on a couple of the days. The first one - 1st March - kind of clashes with A&C's birthday and the day after Alison's 40th. Great timing. Poor Amy & Caitlin - their birthday gets hijacked again. I will think of something to make up for it. The 3rd competition is on the 3rd April - Ladies Day at Aintree (aarrgghh).
So I guess the secret of single parenting is scheduling and forget having your own life - that's the bit I'm struggling with. I think because I was used to Pete being about and letting me go out occasionally by myself I got a bit used to it. Now I have to schedule me time during school hours only.
Anyway, the King awaits my presence in the upper chamber, cheerio!!!

ILL........

This is why I love working from home. I don't have to take the day off when I'm ill. I can snuggle up on the sofa with a blankey, eating jelly babies, drinking tea, watching Greys Anatomy and writing an awesome piece of editorial. It's one of my best. I like to think.

TO BLOG OR NOT TO BLOG

That is the question? I haven't written for a while for a couple of reasons. 1) Am very busy either working or working out 2) Am feeling a teensy bit down in the dumps 3) Writing down the mundanity of my life might send me spiralling further down.
So when to blog? Should I really only blog when feeling happy? When something major occurs? Or should I man it up and get back into the habit? One to ponder in the bath I feel.
So what's been happening. Well today Alice finally managed to get her walk-over in gymnastics. Am so proud of her. She also has her routine for an upcoming competition. I know not when but I do know its in Largs - so it'll be a the National Sports Centre in Inverclyde again -cool!
Amy & Cailtin's teacher wrote in their homework books how good their reading is and apparently Caitlin is outstanding at her Scottish poetry. Fingers crossed for the Burns Competition.
Had a really hilarious moment tonight Jane's Addiction was on in the bathroom and Amy started dancing like a crazy. It really does not bode well for her future life of crime. She gets a kick out of dancing naked to Been Caught Stealing. Caitlin in the other hand would giggle at a wheel turning. I cannot work this child out. Her emotions are so extreme; she either cries her heart out or giggles uncontrollably.
I am about to embark on teh last of the Shopaholic series of books. I feel quite sad. Once I finish it'll be like moving away or leaving school/job. All the people you've become familiar with will be gone. Am having a bit of a chick lit phase at the mo. Read The Kite Runner last week and that's as deep as its been getting. Just not in the mood. Need some frippery.
I think I am adjusting badly to life as a single parent. The shoutiness hasn't abated and I'm getting panicky about emotionally scarring my children for life. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll repress the memories of grumpy mummy in favour of mummy who takes them nice places and cooks nice food and reads lots of stories. I can but dream.
Anyway, wish the southern softies would stop going on about the snow. We in the Arctic Circle regularly get bouts of deep snow but the country does not come to a standstill. We get out a shovel, some warm clothes and get on with our lives - London take note. It is really pissing me off how cold weather in February in the UK (big fecking surprise) gets more news coverage than the Cholera epidemic killing thousands of people in Southern Africa. AND!!!!! in Breakfast News they commented quite cheerfully not to worry its heading up to the North and Scotland now - well phew what a sigh of relief. AT LEAST WE CAN HANDLE IT YOU SASSENACHS!!!!!
Rant over. Me, MC Beaton and Blondie are off for a bath.

FIT - I'D BETTER BE!!

Went a bit mental today. I entered the race for life, the Glasgow women's 10k and the great scottish run. All of this was always going to happen but I also entered the Marie Curie Cancer Care Swimathon - 2.5K!!!! What was I thinking??? I wanted to up my running this year and do the Polaroid Road Race series but think I will be pushing it with the babysitting favours I'll be calling in for these. So running training starts in earnest, think the cross training will help. The swimming thing, ouch! Well I need a challenge and I need motivation to keep up the challenge. This week regardless of the enormous efforts I have been going to I have not lost a pound. It is tempting just to sit down and eat chocolate so I entered all my races and the swimathon in an effort to keep from being despondent. It's not just about the numbers on the scales. blah de blah...
In other news, lost the plot with Amy today as she told me a bare faced lie to my face and tried to get Caitlin to take the blame. My severe punishment? 2 crimes = 2 nights with no supper and no story. And that feels really mean. As I told Pete earlier, it's probably the only punishment I could actually carry out. I'm not going to stop them going to activities as I've paid for them already, and I can't stop TV as its just not practical sometimes and why punish all for 1 mistake. Caitlin received high praise at school for her scottish poem Mince & Tatties. Amy is too polite in places using both instead of baith for example. Alice is struggling to learn Oor Dentist. So Caitlin carries the Boucher hope of retaining the North Ayrshire Burns Trophy. I keep handy wee things in their I'm not ready to give it back. Wonder if I should polish it before giving it back?
On a high note, Alice's "visions" seem to have ceased although she did manage to conjure up a blast from the past in the form of her old drama teacher Stuart. She'd just been saying she hadn't seen him for a while and tonight he was at drama. Has my child got strange psychic powers??? This was the same child who used to see "The Man", who turned out to be my Grandpa Taylor. Shouldn't talk myself into these things before bed.
Speaking of dredging up the past, Facebook is snowballing out of control. I kind of joined facebook last year when one of Pete's friends said he had pics of his kids up on his page. Couldn't find him or anyone really and couldn't really work it. Fast forward several months and at Christmas some old friends asked if I was on facebook. So off I went in search of them and now I am strangely addicted and all sorts of people are popping up all over the place. Hmm this is getting v srange. I am v much a leave the past in the past and I keep in touch with some people over others for a reason. But maybe I have a hidden nosy streak and just have to see what's going on in people's lives.
So just for a change, I'm off to make the cheese and tomato wraps for tomorrow's lunch. We are having haggis for tea tomorrow, as we forgot the bard's birthday on Sunday - oops!! Maybe it'll give everyone a chance to practise their poetry.

FOG - AND NOT IN MY BRAIN

I lied to my children yesterday - yikes! They really wanted to celebrate Chinese New Year so I made beef and veg stir fry with rice. I put in some standard veg - carrots et al - and when the children asked what the turnip was I said special chinese veg - they loved it and ate it all up, I feel bad.
It is v foggy tonight. I'd like to go out and run in it but not really possible. Have been doing some mini tri training. I ran 2 miles then cycled 6 miles. The transitions are not tri smooth, more like change trainers, find bike, reset zen, wait half an hour for it to reset, flick through the tunes til something good comes on. Yesterday did 30 mins resistance and cardio, then my usual 45 mins cycle and 100 sit ups at night. I will lose this weight, nearly 5 years after giving birth, oh yes I will.
Speaking of birth - Octuplets!!!!! Ouch. Can you imagine giving birth to 8 babies and not being an animal I mean. And breast feeding all 8- yeah right! I breastfed 2 and I felt like I spent all day half wearing a t shirt.
In other news, 3 people died in an avalanche near Glencoe at the weekend. That's quite shocking and today a train derailed near Stewarton, caught fire and spilt oil and diesel all over the road. EEk!! News near home, how scary.
Andy Murray crashed out of the tennis. Thank God that Premier League Darts starts soon as there is very little decent sport on tv at the mo.
Caitlin did really well at school today. She did lots of counting and wrote all the correct answers to her sums. She is very proud. I am very proud. Alice claims to be having visions. She says she predicted lots of things that happened today, hmmm.
Going to make the lunches now, have spent too much time working and need some sleep.

SUNDAY

Sitting here watching Being Human and thoroughly enjoying it. Demons was promising but would be so much better with sex and violence post watershed. But this is very witty and quite clever. Had text from Alison saying wish you were here - yeah me too, hurumph!!

Had Amy in bed with me again last night. So not getting much sleep. Was listening to some tunes today and its really quite depressing. You hit the shower with Fall Out Boy singing full blast and then realise that you're not 19 and getting ready for the world but you're actually a 36 year old woman with 3 kids and you'll never have that whole feeling of anticipation of what the world has to offer you today ever again. Surely it can only get worse. Every day I see that I'm not going to have the halcyon days back again. Don't get me wrong I like my life and I love seeing the world through the eyes of children but it terrifies me that I'm not good enough to guide them the right way or that I'm too hard on them - will they rebel? Sometimes I'm so shouty and then I feel really bad. EEk, parenting - too hard.

Alice got her Grade 7 today at skating - am v proud. She wanted it so much and tried so hard. After skating Alice went to Marcus' birthday party and I took Amy & Cailtin along as it was at soft play. They had a great time, its ages since we've been to soft play. Beth & Emma have had their ears pierced, which started Alice on a pleading rant. Absolutley forget it, I am not putting holes in my children's ears. I know I sound like Victorian mum but noooooooooo.

Surpisingly in the Disney Channel viewers vote Camp Rock beat High School Musical. Speaking of Disney Channel, and this will only be of interest to Pete, but I have found out why the Dad in Wizards of Waverly Place doesn't use magic. Apparently when all the wizards in the family come of age, only one (the one with the greatest powers) can have the magic powers nin the family. Mr Russo did have the powers but he gave them to his brother as wizards can't marry non wizards- aahh!

After Camp Rock, I made meatballs and tom sauce while the kids played Gladiators. Amy really missing her Daddy tonight. Finally, here are pics of The Fox in action.

Being Human finished, if you missed it catch it on iPlayer or Anytime or whatever your choice of repeat.