Lights

 

Well i've been trawling the net tonight trying to find some of those bubble lights...the only places i have found any are in america :o(  No use for using over here...The first christmas after my ex emigrated he sent K a lava lamp...Every lighting/electrical shop told me that to change the voltage for using in the UK you just need to change the bulb...Sadly the bulbs that particular lava lamp used were not a UK standard size and no-one could get any for me...One shop tried for 6 months and failed so we gave up...I could have paid £45 back then to buy something that converted the voltage but no way...Also that isn't worth it just for a set of christmas lights no matter how pretty they are...They do have a very long history and were manufactured up to the late 1970's...Original name or manufacturer was Noma lights...Google it and you'll get all kinds of info...G is off to bed in a bit of a mood...Again he is worrying himself sick (almost literally) about homework he had...His mainstream teachers really need to tell the base what homework he has because as soon as he is out of the class he instantly forgets...He concentrates so much on packing away his things he doesn't get it written down in his homework planner...This english essay was due last fri...He's spent the whole time since footie training trying to do it and working himself up into a right state...Base told him NOT to worry but he has and made himself ill...Oh well another note in home/school book tomorrow.

Night and tc xx

Monday bits

                                

The graphic above is the same kind of christmas tree lights that my mums sister has...They are older than me and the tube bit is actually liquid...The liquid bubbles up with the heat from the bulb...They always fascinated me as a child and i have never seen any to buy anywhere...I'd love to get some as long as they didn't cost the earth...My mum and dad had lights with nursery rhymes on them...I don't think my parents ones were worth much money but i did see the same with disney characters on them on antiques show on tv and they were a few bob...At first when i was little we had a small tinsel tree, then they bought a real looking one...My dad was in the freemasons (non pc these days) and after they started doing a party for the kids we always got the real tree when they finished...So we'd have the decorations up a couple of weekends before christmas day...No tree until about 2-3 days before though...Those real trees were huge and filled the big bay window we had in the lounge...My brother used to have to stand on a stepladder to decorate the top bits LOL...I got that small tinsel tree when i was at art school for my flat...I used to put it up in the boys bedroom window until i bought a 3 foot real looking one for there...Mum doesn't bother putting up a tree anymore and hasn't for a few years...She has one of those light up ceramic ones she uses though...She doesn't put up many decorations now but has some tasteful christmas ornaments instead...Except in the porch where she has a fibre optic santa and some lights she puts in the windows there...She lives in same cul de sac as my older sis...I say cul de sac but it has long road leading up either end then about 4 houses across at the top LOL...My sis and quite a few of the neighbours all have lights outside in the hedges etc...Not overdone as some can be and they look very pretty.

    

The boys are at footie training and next monday is last day before next year...The coaches have something planned for them all nextweek but i don't know what...Only a week to go to M's christmas show...So only less than a week to learn to use the camcorder thingy...Will go through all the instructions tomorrow and practise LOL...It's still raining here, it just won't seem to let up...M was refusing to go to footie earlier as it was chucking it down so am in bad books once again LOL...Gone are the days when at this time of year i could say santa wouldn't come if they didn't behave...Going to go have my tea whilst the boys are out...Am having pork and neither of them like it so can have some peace to eat it instead of rushing before I'm a celeb comes on LOL

Toodle pip tc xx

Sunday stuff

It's still dark and pouring down with rain...Maybe i should change the music on here to 'the sun ain't gonna shine anymore' LOL...The boys still went to the football with their worker...Even though the dons lost they still enjoyed it...I was worried about M going as last time (2 years ago) he didn't handle it well at all...He was fine at hampden when we go to see Scotland but not the local ground...He wants to go to the next home game now LOL...When their worker came to pick them up he asked them where their scarves were...I've told K to maybe think on that as a pressie from her along with hats...They won't be too expensive for her to buy...I didn't go to the gym...Instead i cleaned my part of the stairwell and put up my christmas lights and decorations there :o) ...It looks all nice and Christmassy out there now...Am not putting up the decorations in the flat until next weekend though...Have to much cleaning, wallpapering etc to finish before i put all them up.

Have no idea what to get their carer this year...I always feel like am copping out by getting him vouchers for one of the music stores...Last year M had won a bottle of Glenfiddich in the oct and i wanted him to keep that for their carer for christmas...Did i get to naaaa M gave him it the next time he saw him <sheesh> I guess i better go out tomorrow morning and find something for them to send to their father in the states...Something cheap and erm tacky and rubbish LOL...To go with the yuk chocs i got...I know it's christmas and should be pleasant and all that but no way not after the other week...Sainsburys had no geltine left yesterday so need to look in asda for lots...I still haven't found somewhere i can get orange food colouring...Years and years ago we had a brill shop here that sold lots of different colourings and flavourings...I used to make all different flavours of turkish delight...Now it just tends to be mint, lemon, strawberry and rosé...And sorry to anyone who asked but i never give my recipe for it to people...If everyone i knew started making it themselves then i'd be out of a job <ggg> Oh and i can't actually stand the stuff....I think it's horrible and it stinks when you make it :o) Right time to get load out of the washing machine and get the towels and bedding into tumble drier then put a dark load on.

Toodle pip tc xx

Sunny saturday NOT

The boys decided this morning it would be fun not to waken mum up...I forgot to set alarm duh!!! and it was a lovely idea on their part except they didn't waken me until near midday...As i had loads of housework i wanted to do needless to say most didn't get done...We have new neighbours who must have had a flat warming last night...Loud, noisy, loads of *kids* running up and down the stairs...No wonder i didn't waken up till late...Looks like some students in top floor flat now...I don't mind parties etc just hope it ain't every weekend...Three of them who were attempting to get one of their friends downstairs pished as anything did apologise...He wasn't abusive either and i just laffed...At least now there is someone in that flat again i can go and ask if they wouldn't mind clearing out the gutter...Lots of grass/weeds/greenery just below their front window...When it's been raining trying to get in main door is like standing under a shower with all the drips coming from blocked gutter...Be easy to clear by just leaning out their window slightly with a broom handle and shoving it out...Making sure of course there is no-one walking on pavement below ROFL.

The boys went to club this afternoon although M was not impressed...All day today it has just rained, rained, rained and oh did i mention rain <ggg> ...He wanted to stay home and watch telly...Well tough he went to club so i could then come home and have a couple of hours free :o) ...I was talking to K earlier in afternoon and she had been shopping for christmas pressies yesterday...They have loads of christmas markets in edinburgh and she was really impressed...Cheap too which is always good...Not tacky cheapo stuff though...She showed me some on the webcam and was asking what i thought...I did try and get out of her what she got me but needless to say i didn't get told LOL...See i'd be sneaky if i was her and show me stuff on webcam to see what my reaction was but pretend was for someone else <ggg> ...And K is a lot like me in some respects LOL...These are all girlie pressies she doesn't have a clue what to get for the men in her life...Including her boyfriend...So men reading this ideas please LOLOL.

Managed to watch some strictly comedancing as X factor was on later tonight...I so love James Martin...I want him to come and be my personal live in chef <ggg> He could be my dish of the day ANYDAY :o) ...Finally Chico was voted out of X factor HURRAH...Ok the guy was fun but he couldn't sing at all...Oh and I'm A Celeb well Carol Thatcher just cracks me up so much...She is so gung ho and jolly hockey sticks about it all :o) ...Hope she wins it...Am NOT going to the footie tomorrow am gonna go to the gym if i can get parked near it LOL...Car park there is free and probs be full of buses from glasgow with green scarves everywhere...Hmmm might be good idea to take my rangers one out of back of the car...Before i go i have tried miserably to put a background on here that is christmassy...Got code from here to help journal and i still can't manage...Then again as everyone knows am thick with techy stuff :o)

Toodle pip tc xx

Friday bits

It's a right dreich day as we say up here...It's been dark most of the day with either drizzle or pouring rain...Seems that now it is actually dec it's become less seasonal weather LOL...Went to DSS and the place was empty which was a pleasant surprise :o) ...Also had another pleasant surprise in that i won't be paying them back money they have overpaid me as it was their mistake not mine...I didn't even know they had been overpaying me as i hadn't realised they hadn't stopped paying for K...I had informed them she was leaving and that is on record...Bets someone somewhere blames a computer as is the norm...Wonder who always got blamed before computers were commonplace...As i was going to leave i saw one of my friends come in so waited for her then we went for a coffee...Helped K's friend move some of her stuff to her new place...She does need some furniture moved though so we came back to mine and went to see bloke out the back...He's a furniture restorer/french polisher but does a man & van service too...So am footing the bill as her birthday pressie.

Am glad i haven't bought any of the boys christmas pressies yet as most of the game shops now have offers on...I have seen a mobile for K that is a camera phone and just under £60...I also found out today why the reason the shop just down the road that sells lots of dragons is closed just now...Apparently the owner is in jail <eeeks> ...There is another shop sells some but he's very expensive and can be a right pain when you ask prices...Be better if he put the prices on display grrr...M didn't want to go to school again this morning as it's friday...So he stormed off to his taxi when it arrived...Surprisingly he came home in a good mood...So again i tried to ask what was wrong with fridays...He actually told me and it is music at the high school local to his sen school...He doesn't like the music teacher there...At least i know now so i can inform his teacher and see if anything can be done to make the visit less stressful for him...G had the exam situation properly explained to him and he's happy with what will be put in place, so he signed the permission letter :o) ...Am presuming this is the permission that needs to be given not just for his prelims but for the actual standard grades in may...The arrangements have to be approved by the SQA before the exams take place...G is off to a friends after tea and i think i will check the cards i still have from last year to write out ready to post...Better look for something for the <cossable> in the states to send off on monday...Just watched countdown and although am happy it's back i really don't like Des Lynam at all...He's so bland <yawn> ...Trying to do the free web entry for Deal No Deal viewer competition but it must be busy as it's taking ages to send...So offski to concentrate on that...Don't think i will have jeanette's luck though...Oh and yes the millionaires are up in arms as some of the houses will be compulsory purchased to knock down...They didn't object when it was going to go through the special needs community pah!!!

Toodle pip xx

 

Wahay :o)

There has been many discussions about a bypass up here for quite a while now...One of the routes being considered was to go right through camphill...Camphill is a rudolph steiner special needs school/community...There are a lot of children with quite complex difficulties who are both boarders and day pupils...They also have a lot of adults with special needs who live on one of the estates...There has been a save camphill campaign going on for at least a year now...It's been all over the scottish news and was backed by some tv personalities...Today the scottish exec transport minister announced which route the aberdeen bypass will take...HURRAH!!!! they have chosen a route that does not go right through the middle of camphill :o) ...I have friends whose children go to this school even though technically it is private...Local authority pay for them to go there :o) ...I think this is a good decision on the scottish execs part...However residents for the extremely upmarket area it will go through are not impressed...Sorry these things do have to go somewhere and surely it is far better that it isn't going to split a special needs community in two is it not??? Call me a cynic but most in this posh bit of the city just won't want their house prices being lowered to below a million quid...Am i unfeeling and uncaring about them yes i am because i care more about the special needs community...I don't know but in the future it may be somewhere that M needs when he is an adult...Anyways am happy even though it is going to public enquiry or something now <sigh>  Added link below for people to look at it...There are various communities on there but it's the aberdeen ones to look at :o) 

Camphill Scotland

 

Wet thursday

 

I love snowglobes there's so much fun...This year i bought gift tags that are snowglobe type :o) ...As if i don't have enough already like...I have at least 3 rolls of stick on christmas labels and goodness knows how many packets...Had them for years and every year i can never find them so buy more <ggg> ...These snowglobe type ones are for special pressies though...We don't have any snow though we have pouring down rain instead...Am way behind this year as i have done NO christmas shopping at all...I do have a pressie for each of the kids but they are going to be from my mum...I usually end up buying something now and she pays me back...It's easier for her as console games or dvd's are alien to her...She's giving K a compact dvd player so she can plug it into tv in the lounge, they are allowed to she checked :o) ...So a nice small one she can carry with her instead of the huge one she got years ago when they were big.

My meeting this morning was non existant...Only one other person turned up so we didn't bother...It's disheartening when no-one seems interested :o(  ...I've booked the room for a date in january and hopefully some will actually come along...So i went and paid some bills (being the 1st) and checked out prices in some of the games shops...Went to the DSS as i have stuff i need sorted out so got an appointment first thing tomorrow...Hate that place it's always full of junkies :o( ...Hope it's not too bad tomorrow...Had a letter from G's school when i got home...It's from the learning support department about the arrangements for his exams...His prelims are right after the christmas holidays...He has to sign agreement and so do i...So i phoned the base and spoke to the deputy there...I'll sign my bit tonight and he can take it in tomorrow and they will talk over it with him :o) ...Hopefully once he realises he is going to get extra time, room on his own, someone to prompt him, use of his lappy for the english essay and his work transcribed he will feel more at ease...M was a right moody so n so this morning same as yesterday...All the upheaval of preparing for christmas at school gets to him...He is excited about the show and he does like practising for it but it throws his regular routine right out of the window...Both himand G aren't very good at coping with change and they need as much routine as possible in order to cope with life in general...Also this year M is doing so much in the show am not sure if he can cope with the pressure...He must do or the school wouldn't be getting him to do it all...It's called X factorate...He's a joker in Dr Who bit his class are doing...He's singing a solo (robbie of course LOL) for the X factor bit, the song i wrote about with some others AND accompanying the music teacher on the drums.

Oh did i remember to say last week that M passed his wheelchair test??? If i did i do apologise...It's part of his prefects dutys...He's not so bossy at home this year as he was last year when he was a prefect...Last year as he hadn't been one before he had to fill in a proper job application form...There was bits he had to tick if he felt he fitted the criteria eg: responsible...K was watching him at the time and said are you ticking all those boxes...M turned round and said 'yes of course' <bless> ...Then they had a job interview...I thought this was a really good way of teaching them a little bit about job application process...This year as he'd been one before he just carried on...Last january i saw his old headmaster and he asked how M was doing...I took great pleasure in politely informing him that M was doing sqa access courses and also he was prefect...Ok i was being a smug git about it but after the way they treated him as some thicko who wouldn't get anywhere, i let myself off <ggg> Am off to have a coffee and as you can hear i got my music to work...I am not going to apologise to stuart who doesn't like music on journals :o) ...The code i was sent, big thank yous sara, i eventually realised was aol.com and not aol.co.uk...Changed it and hey presto we have festive music :o) I only have one other festive song that is under 1mb so i can't play you fairytale of new york by the pogues & kirsty mccoll which i love...My favourite christmas hymn is 'oh little town of bethlehem' ...Am off for a coffee before the boys get home and all hell breaks loose LOL...Toodle pip tc xx