Technology - Blessing or Curse?

My blasted computer has a virus that hubby just can't get rid of (yes we have virus checkers etc) but this virus appears to be indestructable. He's been trying to kill it on and off for the whole of the bank holiday weekend. So I can't go onto my bank account details or paypal etc whilst it's coursing it's way through my pc. Grrrr!
Over the weekend I added a youtube thingy to my home page and now I can't get rid of it despite hours of trying and I've also tried to change it to a different clip that involves kids or animals doing funny things rather than CARS but I can't do that either.
I consider myself to be moderately computer literate but sometimes I wonder why I bother trying to do these things.
I'm on a bit of a downer lately which I'm sure shows in my posts but just be thankful you don't live with me at the moment. In the midst of my self indulgent and completely unjustified misery I heard of a lady who's just found out her 14yr old daughter has cancer. It certainly bought my own grumps into perspective.

And all this on our doorstep.

I live on the coast between the New Forest and the Jurassic Coast. I am surrounded by beautiful countryside, historic buildings, award winning blue flag beaches and quaint villages. So why do I spend money taking the kids to indoor play areas, extortionately priced 'tourist' attractions and the like?

My younger kids are at the age where they love a walk in the countryside as much as a play area.

When I was a child (if I can remember back that far) my dad and stepmum used to take my sister and I out for the day with a picnic. They always took us for great walks in the forest or to little coves with rock pools. We'd collect fircones or shells and that sort of thing. I remember how I loved those sunday walks and they never cost my dad a penny, except maybe an ice cream or two.

I really wish I could recreate those days with my own kids if that makes sense.

So if this were New Year my resolution would be to make the most of the natural beauty around me and teach my children to appreciate and value the natural beauty on their doorstep.

Ethical Spring Clean

Yesterday I had a mega spring clean and was mega ruthless. We simply have too much 'stuff' and it's impossible to keep the place tidy and presentable. I have a friend who even though she has three kids manages to have a minimalist home and it always looks tidy (you know who you are ; ) friend!)

So I bagged two binbags up for the charity shop and two huge bags were put on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/poole-freecycle/

I love the freecycle sites. I used to sell the kids clothes on ebay when they'd grown out of them especially my little girls outfits which were always so pretty but now it all goes on freecycle. There is also another group just for kids stuff at http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/Playitagainsam/?yguid=217013630

It really makes me feel good to be a part of these groups and to give stuff away on it. It's also worth mentioning that we have received some pretty cool stuff in the past including a sofa bed, large Ikea rug, huge rotary washing line, windbreaker and kids clothes.

Changing Times

Just lately I've been feeling a bit sad that our fab group of mums and babies that have been meeting at least once a week (at one stage three times a week) for the last four nearly five years is gradually disbanding. It started when our little ones who we met through started school in September. Even though most of us still have little ones home with us in the day you just find yourself less inclined to submerge yourself in the mum and toddler group circuit and the day gets filled up so quickly between the time you drop off at school until you pick up.
I know it's a natural progression and part of me enjoys having a life away from total babydom and of course I'm pleased that the business is steadly growing and yet another part of me hankers for the days filled with baby groups, swing parks, coffee mornings, endless rounds of nursery rhymes, lounging around in my dressing gown till lunchtime and watching trashy daytime tv. I miss nursing a little baby and having to sit down and rest to do it while enjoying a cup of tea and biscuit or ten! It feels so sad that I'll never have those days back. At the time you think it will go on forever and curse the sleepless nights, endless feeds, baby sick down your back and not being able to hold a onversation that doesn't involve the contents of your babys nappy or suitable first weaning foods.
I remember crying when my eldest who's almost 16yrs started school because it was the end of an era and I had no other kids at home with me to take my mind off the void I felt. How on earth will I cope when my smallest and last baby starts school.
I wonder if other mums feel the same way or if they can't wait to get out of the 'baby days'.
Maybe I should buy a puppy.

Poorly Boy Miraculous Recovery

You'd never believe that this time last week he was laying in a hospital bed hooked up to a drip and feeling decidedly sorry for himself. So where do you think he is now? Possibly you might think he's resting in his room or you might consider that he's catching up with all the school work he missed in the last couple of weeks or maybe even revising for the french oral GCSE that he missed and is taking next friday. Well not a bit of it! He's down the town with all his mates as if he's never had a days illness in his life. Children/adolescents have always amazed me with their amazing ability to bounce back from serious illness. If only I had the same sort of recovery rate. I am still suffering from the shock of him being carted off in an ambulance and the sheer exhaustion of trekking backwards and forwards to visit him in the hospital and then once he was home running around playing nursemaid and general skivvy. I need a holiday!
Hubby is away at Brands Hatch for the weekend and sleeping on a mattress in his van which he informed me was very cosy and comfortable to which I suggested that maybe he'd like to sleep in it permanantly! I dont like being on my own with the kids at the weekend. I live for the weekend and a change of routine with a bit of help with the kids.
I've just been reading some blogs by likeminded people who are trying to live a 'greener' and documenting their experiences and I was horrified at some of the tones of the comments from readers about the fact that the poster was trying alternatives in her dishwasher along the lines of 'call yourself green, why have you got a dishwasher?' only ruder. It really made me cross especially as research points out that it is more 'green' to use a dishwasher fully loaded than washing by hand. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/08/dishwasher_vs_h.php
I really hate the way that if you are making an effort to go green everything you do is scrutinised by some people and you are expected to do everything absolutely perfectly and to know everything that you can't possibly know without years of research and too much time on your hands. The green zealots are simply turning people off by condemning peoples efforts. I'll get off my soap box now.

FAIR TRADE ECO FRIENDLY PARTY BAGS
On a lighter note one of the ladies (Ellie) at a mum and toddler group I go to has launched a range of fair trade eco friendly party bags for kids. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Earth-Mother-Party-Bags It's a super idea and I wish her all the best with her new venture. She has given me some samples and business cards to take to my eco parties to promote the bags.

Cloth Nappy Enquiries

In the last few weeks cloth nappy interest has really taken off which is super. I love meeting new and nearly new mums and showing them my range of nappies. They are always so amazed to see poppers, velcro, funky patterns and cute designs. It's amazing how many people think that all you can get are white variations of terry towelling type things and that they need soaking (no!) napisan (no!) boiling (no!) and washing in a seperate load (no!). It's all easy peasy lemony squeezy these days. If I can do it anyone can. You'll have to contact me if you want to know how it's done in these enlightened times.

And finally at last I have had one response from an advert that I placed in a parenting magazine that cost me £200!!!! The mag has been out since march and is distributed to all the local parenting haunts ie indoor play areas and restaurants etc and this is my first respose. It's not a sale as yet just an enquiry but I live in hope.

My clothes rail arrived yesterday for my fair trade clothes which I'm so excited about. I can't wait to see what the general opinion will be. I just need to get the party bookings as they're a bit lean at the moment as I haven't really pushed them recently.

I ordered some more soap pods for my laundry from different company which arrived yesterday and I hadn't realised that with this particular lot you have to bash them with a rolling pin to break them up. At first I thought it would be a big hassle and that I wouldn't order this particular brand again but woohoooo I cannot recommend highly enough a couple of minutes of bashing something with a rolling pin! What a stress relief, hold me back. Now I just want more so I can have a bit of therapuatic rolling pin bashing!

24/4/07 Run Ragged.

So the poorly boy is home from school and not only can he not do his usual chores so I'm having to do them but he also has me run ragged fetching his numerous medication, hot drinks, cold drinks, healthy and not so healthy snacks. He's also thoroughly depressed which is dragging me down too! I am not good at looking after ill people. I am impatient and bad tempered but unable to show it as I know he feels pants and it isn't his fault.
I notified his school secretary that he was in hospital on monday and so far his form tutor hasn't bothered to phone for a progress report or to tell me what's going to happen about the GCSE's he was meant to be taking. GRRR!
To top it all the middle small person (4yrs) is off school with an upset tummy. This is not a happy home at present.
I am so behind with the business at the moment. I have decided to branch out and stock fair trade, eco friendly clothes from a great site called www.nomadsclothing.co.uk I've been needing to sit down and place an order for days and finally got round to it today. I also had to order a portable clothes rail to hang it all on at my eco parties. I had to spend a minimum of £250 to qualify for trade discount which has made me a bit nervous and panicy about selling it. What if everyone hates it and I'm out of pocket? I'm only a small company and can't afford to make buying mistakes. But equally I'm really excited and can't wait to start showing the stock to my customers. So watch this space.