Thursday 28 August 2008

Home Alone :)

Home Alone Diary.

Dropped Lopes at my sister's place on Tuesday evening after a mad dash day which started with my last driving lesson before my test on Thursday. Had to take Lopes with me as my childcare plans were thrown awry by good GSCE results for my niece. She decided to go for a party weekend. (Congrats to ZR and DD for excellent results)

So came back home and sat in the very untidy sitting room as we left in a rush. Caught up on phone calls and had dinner with an alcoholic drink and watched all the CSIs and Law and order. Fell asleep with my cordless headphones on. You must understand that I do not drink most times and never at home unless it's kind of social and never, ever when home with Lopes as I am the world's cheapest drunk and get inebriated by the vapours alone!

Woke up on Wednesday morning when the newspaper boy delivered the papers and actually read it from cover to cover for the first time in ages. Had a slice toast in bed complete with crumbs and then went back to bed. And then did absolutely nothing all day.

I think every Mum needs to declare one week a year, Mum Home Alone Week. Great to recharge batteries and just regroup before you start running on empty.

Thursday dawned and off to the test. Jitters, jitters and even more jitters. 40 minutes later and I could kiss the very patient examiner. I passed. Off to upgrade car insurance and revel in the fact that I can drive my daughter to school for her first day. Thank you, God.


Friday 22 August 2008

A whole month has passed. Where has the time gone??

So Mama Kemi arrived and brought sooooooo much food. Not too good for my weight update but I got to 88kgs and then ate fresh fish soup, ila asepo and more orisirisi. I feel the weight creeping back up and so have decided to hop back on the wagon. But then had moin moin and ogi for breakfast. A little of what you like is not bad for you, abi? Will not weigh myself again for a while, lest I eat more in fits of depression.

Statements/Questions I hear from MamaKemi almost everyday. What is Lopes going to eat? Has she had her protein, milk, snack ...

Do you have food in the freezer for your husband. What will he eat when he gets back

When I was raising children, we had a set routine. etc etc etc

And the list goes on. Might have to drink more brandy :)


Went shopping with my mum which cemented my hatred of shopping! Boy can my mum haggle. Went to her favourite fabric shop and got 3 5yd pieces of lace from £700 to £360 without blinking. I was cringing at the back of the shop trying to keep a straight face. We had fun though.

Lopes had 3 weeks of summer school and came away learning loads more words and her writing is great. Good feedback from the teachers but I hear she has a stubborn streak. The apple does not fall far from the tree. I was not a stubborn child but I am more than making up for it now :) We got our routine sorted so it'll be easy when she starts big school in 2 weeks. Note to self. Get out sewing kit and sew on name tags.

BabaLopes is still enjoying his sojourn in the land of Belge! I hate to admit that I do enjoy the solitude a bit too much. Lopes and I just get on with it and when I am asked if I miss him, the first answer is no. I do miss him but that does not define me or occupy my thoughts for long. Should the alarm bells start ringing?

Countdown to driving test underway. I am just a tad impatient at roundabouts and have been known to set off in a huff when cars are whizzing towards me. A lot of emergency braking by my instructor. I have told her to slap me next time but she has great restraint. Less than a week to go. Yikes. Just have to imagine the examiner in the buff and try not to crash into the cars for laughing.

So the very disjointed update from La Famiglia Lopes is done. Will be here next week to let you know how the test went. Better keep me in your good thoughts and prayers, else I will find you and put spiders in all your cereal boxes!