The Madness That is My LIfe

That is the symbol of my current existence! Laugh if you must, but it's the truth. We may be on the move again because of the bathroom - it's ancient and falling apart. We've had a plumber in five times within 4 weeks. They're going to have to completely redo it. Which means: we can't stay here. We'll have to move AGAIN!

I'm hoping this is not the case. But not having a loo for hours and hours on end with two small children is simply not workable. I'm sick of it.

To make matters worse, my job is hell on Earth right now. I'm having to deal with a person so unhinged and completely oblivious to the industry it's shocking! I won't get into details, but I rarely dislike people, yet this person is simply unlikeable and I'm stuck with her for another month. Ghastly!

And to further make things difficult, I'm suffering from a frozen shoulder! Google it if you're curious, but it's excruciatingly painful and really hinders my ability to carry on as normal. And it last for a year to three years! Yay!

This is why I've been an absentee blogger of late. I simply have no time at all. And when I do have time, I run errands, clean, doing some filing or writing. Sometimes I'm too tired to even watch television!

So, I'm whining today. But....BUT... there is the silver lining (always the silver lining). We'll move or have a new bathroom in a few weeks. In a month I will never have to deal with this awful wretch of a human again, and my shoulder will recover...eventually. (oh, and I got a dreadful, uneven haircut yesterday - that will grow out).

It's never as bad as you think it is. And all of this drama will make for great blog posts and party talk for years to come!

Onward!

Happy Easter!

From my little butterfly and tiger!

The Big Break.

“Don't wish it were easier. Wish you were better.” ― Jim Rohn
 

    I've been working my tail off. Day and night. My poor blog has suffered greatly. For that I'm sorry.     When I first started my blog it was a lifeline: I was pregnant, had a 2 1/2 year old and gearing up to move to England. During my son's birth and the move to the UK I clung to the blog. During our transition here I recorded every lonely day, my breakthrough moments, the heartaches, the death of my sister, moves, schools, life in general.   And now I am steady. It's been three years since we moved here and I have a great social circle, I've sorted out my work schedule, the kids are both in school, life is pretty good. There are bumps along the ride, but it's good.   So who needs to hear about that?   I'm going to keep my blog going. it's format will change a little - I want to write about our lives here in the UK but I want to do more with it.   Stay tuned. I hope you do. Hopefully, I won't disappoint.   Erin

Silent Sunday

Barbie-Q: Murder Most Foul

X tried to kill me. Okay, maybe he didn't try to kill me but he certainly pulled a stunt that could have killed us both (maybe). While I was on business call he decided to pop Barbie into the microwave and cook her. Her hollow head burst into flames and melted into the sad, disturbing mess you see above.

When I smelled smoke I hung up on the colleagues, ran down the hall and started gagging on the billows and billows of smoke coming out of the microwave oven. The entire kitchen was a smoke-filled wreck.

I grabbed X, popped him in the lounge opened two windows, turned on the TV and then shut the door. I shut the kitchen door behind me, opened the giant window, grabbed the flaming Barbie and threw her right out the window where she flew in an ungraceful, smoky arc, crashing onto the patio below.

It stunk! The microwave was destroyed. I just slapped the door shut and turned on the cooker fan, and waved the smoke out the window. After 20 minutes of waving smoke, cleaning up the mess and unplugging everything, I rescued Barbie (who was finally smoldering but not on fire), wrapped her up (after taking the photo) and chucked her in the rubbish.

We aired the house out for two freezing hours. But after 45 minutes I felt really dizzy, lightheaded and nauseous. In fact, I had to lay down at one point. Apparently, melting plastic is toxic. I googled it - and naturally freaked out because the internet is a bad, bad place to self diagnose!

I called poison control at the NHS instead. The guy on the phone said, "Take your son and go to the nearest A&E immediately." YIKES.

We wrapped ourselves up on our burnt plastic smelling jackets and headed to the Royal Free hospital where were were for four hours. We have survived. But I probably have microscopic plastic fragments in my lungs which takes years to clear.

X was FINE. He jumped around like a wild animal let out of it's cage for the first time in 40 years. I was propped up by a chair feeling ill. Such fun!

We no longer have a microwave. I can't say that's a terrible thing. But Cate was NOT happy at the death of her Barbie. So if you see us at Toys R Us this weekend pursuing the Barbie aisle - you'll know why!

Bye Bye PTA

I've been gone a long time for good reason. I've been taking my life back.

After the dreaded Christmas Fair for the PTA I had a bit of a rough time. First, the core committee, for which I was co-chair, decided I had set the bar too high for them. They were not interested in having by-laws or structure. They did not think I needed to be a co-chair. I was told that I shouldn't speak about PTA business with other parents and that I should think of the PTA as a hobby. Silly businesswoman that I am - I thought a little structure, order and more people involved would make life easier. Alas, they were not interested. However, they'd love for me to stay and run all the events but needn't worry about the running of the PTA.

Yeah. I quit. Now I am a pariah at the school and basically ignored by one and all. I don't regret my decision as I was really unhappy with the whole thing. So now I have much more free time on my hands. That's great.

I did suffer through the norovirus and my birthday but I'm finally back on track and eyeing the gym again.

It feels great.

New Wheels

As I mentioned a while ago, we bought a car. Scratch that, I bought a car but cannot drive it. That's right - the insurance for me to drive is more than the car is worth. Madness. I don't have a UK license at the moment so I'm a huge risk, apparently.

Two weeks ago a friend was moving away and I asked about her car. We agreed on a price and I went home to tell Fen I found a car to buy. He's been skeptical all along and says we don't need one, etc. etc. But I wanted one. We don't need one, really. But want and need are two very different animals. Since we moved to England we've been robbed, wronged, and shuffled around. It cost a fortune which we paid up but had to tighten our belts for over a year and a half to get out of the red and into the black.

We're back in the black and I want to get out and do stuff. I was just about to type we haven't traveled but, mercy, we really have: The Bahamas, New Zealand, Scotland, Wales, Brighton, Blackpool and half of England in less that 10 months is well traveled. But other than that I have been very frugal. I wanted the car to just have it - the freedom it represents makes me very happy. I do not ask Fen for much, I don't spend anything on myself so we decided if I wanted it so bloody much I could buy it. And I did.

We've had the car for three months. We've only driven it a handful of times but have our eyes set on Spring and Summer to get moving. Already have our first parking ticket - £130 which I am fighting. Ridiculous! Waiting to hear back on that one.

The kicker - I bought it for me to have but the insurance is so expensive I'm only insuring Fen - out of principle alone. So lucky me, I bought a car, it's not in my name, I can't drive it and Fen keeps saying, "I told you so." But I'm on the hunt for car insurance that works for both of us. And I'm signing up for driving lessons so I can be approved in no time!

Parking is a problem as well. It's really packed around here and finding a good spot, that is not under trees (where leaves and bird poop fall) or near corners, or in a spot that you must move by 8am is quite the task. Right now we're parked right in front the of the path to our building - no trees, no warnings, no parking restrictions. We may never move it again!

I'm actually quite please to  have the car after all. It's there when we want it, which isn't often, but the opportunity is there.

The best bit - we're out every weekend exploring. Worth every penny in my eyes.