Herne Bay Away Day

Thanks to the Away Day posting from Planet Plumstead, we had a rather pleasant Saturday afternoon in Herne Bay. It made us appreciate the benefits of living in South East London and having access to the lovely Kent coastline.

I found the promenade area to be good with clean facilities - including a baby room which was very handy. We bought sandwiches from town then sauntered to the beach to eat them. I wouldn't recommend the ice cream parlour as it was a bit overpriced and the ice cream tasteless.
However, the best part for us was the beach huts and pebble beach. Lovely views out to the sea and the wind farms which, sadly for our tot, were not going round as there was no wind. However, this left us with a fantastic view of calm still water which was only now and again disturbed, though not unpleasantly, by people doing various watersports.

Only an hour's drive from Plumstead, and most definitely worth the trip.

Happy Birthday old friend

Today is the 42nd birthday of one of my old school friends, Neetu Jain.

If things were normal, I'd have sent her a card...her birthday is a few days after mine so I always remember but not always on time! We never ever did presents which I now find strange. Then later on today or tomorrow I'd give her a call to find out how she celebrated.

I have a lot of memories of my old friend from school days and from the years after. Like a lot of school friends who had gone to different universities, we had our own lives. But whenever we met or talked on the phone, the months in between just melted away. A cheerful person who was very lucky to have travelled to loads of countries with her work (yes I was jealous!). In the last few years she bought a flat did it up very nicely and fell in love with the boy next door (or rather downstairs).

3 days before I and another old friend were going to meet Neetu's love, she had the most unluckiest day. She left chaos at Kings Cross and got onto the No. 30 bus. In Tavistock square, she was murdered by the most ignorant person. Someone M15 knew about but were too stretched to watch properly.

I was so lucky to have her as a friend and will always think of her on this and every other single day. My love goes out to her family.

Elvis will be entering the building

Elvis is coming to Plummystead and landing at the Spice Island on Plumstead Common Road. Woohooooooo I'm a bit of a fan so this is exciting news. It was always my greatest regret that I didn't get the black Elvis to sing at our wedding. A lovely bloke who was going to do a gig at Birmingham NEC so couldn't fit us in. Hilariously, he looks like Cat out of Red Dwarf in his website pictures but friends who have booked him say he is marvelous. http://www.blackelvis.co.uk/

The Spice Island staff have finally put a poster with dates up.
If anyone goes along to the 14th May session, please let me know what you think. I am planning to go along to the one in June.

In the meantime, I'll be tuning into the myspace page for the guy coming http://www.myspace.com/leejacksonaselvis

Back and boy are we busy!

I can't believe its been a week since we have been back. (I'm sorry to readers of my blog but I've been doing Richard Wilson impressions to the tot whilst going round Sainsbury's this afternoon).

Wow the week has flown by. And we have done a lot:

• Colds
• Plumstead Great Get together
• Playground hunting
• Tot playgroups

Colds:
The first few days were taken up with taking care of sick hubby who had managed to catch a cold. Then passed that to the tot. So lots of hugs needed there.

Plumstead Great Get together:
On Saturday. Jane of the onedaycafe had sent me an email about this. It was also advertised in the What's on delivered with the local paper. It had the usual council stalls but also music, food stalls and fun stuff for the kids to do. The highlight for us being Andy from cbeebies who strangely looked younger in real life that he does on our HD TV! It was a nice way to spend a few hours and tot loved her balloon and seeing the little train going round. We also liked watching the kids doing the martial arts demo.
The atmosphere was very pleasant and I think anything that brings people out in the community should be encouraged.

Playground hunting:
My memory plays tricks on me especially concerning the distances I have walked. Last year when out walking I passed a lovely playground. On Sunday, I convinced convinced hubby that it was somewhere close to the house. So we started walking, past Shrewsbury Park and upwards towards Shooters hill. I dimly remember the street name Foxsomething or other. We took a few wrong turns and ended up on pavements lined with very tall bushes which forced us to walk single file with the pushchair (would absolutely hate to be alone at night doing this...muggers paradise). And onwards we trotted. Tired, we eventually asked for directions and eventually made it to the Eaglesfield Park playground. What a treat! The view is absolutely stunning (next time we will take the camera). The playground kept tot busy for ages as she is currently in love with slides. Lots of gleeful screams of Wheeeeeee as mummy or daddy went down slides with her. This is a much nicer playground then the one attached to Greenslade school where we normally go.

Wearily we made our way home - too tired to cook we got dinner from Capital Noodle bar (42-44 Plumstead common road). Our first and probably last time there. It's a nice clean restaurant and the staff are friendly. However, the satay chicken was bland for my husband and the beancurd with green peppers for me were overcooked and not at all spicy. Chinese food is just not for me and I really wish there was a good Thai nearby.

Tot's playgroups:
On monday we went to the baby and toddler rhyme time at the Slade library. Unlike the normal one on tuesdays, this group only meets once a month and you have to go on a waiting list (which we did 2 months ago). I was dubious that tot would enjoy it but it seems she did. Tot didn't really join in the craft session but I did enough colouring and cutting for her. She stood open mouth with rapt attention the whole way through the story and enjoyed the rhymes so we will go again. The interesting thing was that mothers at this group are different from those I've come across in other ones.
Then tuesday a Surestart stay and play session and wednesday was back to music in Greenwich (Boppin' bunnies). Driving to Greenwich was so easy as the roadworks are now finished. There seemed to be very few cars on the road so I assume it's Reading Week for the students.
The next two days this week will be filled with playgroups and other activities. I'm determined to keep her busy and make sure she gets her 60 minutes of exercise and also gets so knackered she falls asleep easily at night. The latter has not worked so far. But keep fingers crossed for us...soon tot snores will be heard from our household.

A change is as good as a rest

Blimey I can't believe that its been over a month since I posted.

I've been away up in Dundee (which my brother calls Bandit Country). Had mucho fun with my family up there and even managed a day on the nearby Broughty Ferry beach with a bucket and spade. This was the first time the tot got to play with the sand, and she loved it. But a tip for you all out there...don't try to push a pushchair on dry sand - it's a gym workout. Wet sand is much easier but of course it's alarmingly close to the water.

As it was Easter, we ate a lot of chocolate and I've piled on the pounds. I did try to blame it on clothes shrinking in the wash but have had to come clean and admit that I scoffed quite a few choccies.

While away, we had our 2nd anniversary. Spent in a restaurant which at the time seemed fine but in retrospect, we don't remember any of the food as being special so not that great. Luckily, the wine was delicious so maybe that's why we don't remember the food.

And for my cotton anniversary, hubby bought me a sweatshirt that's been personalised with the words 'Plummy Mummy' which leaves me with a dilemma. Do I wear that in public and thereby come out of the bloggers closet. For now, I've decided not to as I want to be honest about what I see in Plumstead and don't want to be beaten up by any neighbours who disagree with my personal musings.

Hubby and I also spent 11 days apart as he returned down sarf for work. Whilst I missed him, I was very pleased for the time apart as it allowed me to do some thinking. The primary thought that stuck in my mind night after night is that "Daddy's do bedtime". Gawd am I glad to be back with him and for him to be reading Goldilocks and the 3 bears night after night after night.