Ruggerbeez - Shooters Hill Rugby Club

I do like kids to run around having fun and getting exercise. And now...if you are into Rugby and have a 2-7 year old, you can register your interest in a new Ruggerbeez class starting up soon at the Shooters Hill Rugby club here.

Some common things

1. There seem to be hairdressers everywhere. I remember people used to comment on the number of hairdressers/barbers in Plumstead. But you know what, it's the same here. Larbert has a teeny, tiny main street and yet it has 3 barbers and at least 6 hair salons (a new one opened over the weekend). I'm getting concerned that I'll be expected to be coiffured to the hilt. Oh and of course, there are at least 3 estate agents! (But no kebab shops here, just your local fish and chips shop x 2).
2. No matter where we end up living, we always seem just outside the catchment area of the local gorgeous nursery. In our case, we are literally on the wrong side of the (BR) tracks which run perpendicular to our road. Luckily though, the nursery speaks highly of all the Larbert nurseries including the one that tot should go to.
3. No matter how carefully you watch your child, as soon as you take your eye off them, they will fall and bang their head. I have icepacks permanently ready in the fridge for such occasions!
4. Rain falls. Sometimes floods result. And sometimes not. Take waterproofs or an umbrella even if it's bright and sunny.
5. Greggs fudge doughnuts are yummy especially when 4. and 3. above occurs.

A love of libraries

Have you seen that excellent film Matilda? It's based on a Roald Dahl book which I've never read but the film struck a deep chord with me. The scenes where the child escapes to the library with her little wagon - that was me in the early 80s albeit without the wagon, toodling off to Hendon Library. It was my haven - a way to escape my boisterous brothers. I didn't do sport and TV was rather limited so to amuse myself I read, and read, and read. I'm rather blessed with an awful memory so could read the same book many times but in a library there was no need as there was just so much choice. As a kid I vaguely remembering childrens series about two boys who went into the wild looking for animals as their dad collected them for a zoo. I also found out about my religion and loads of craft things to do. As a teenager the reading escalated and among the authors Herbert, Asimov and Pohl taught me about SF, Chaim Potok helped me see into the world of Hassidic Jews, Mills&Boons a distorted view of romance. I devoured Harold Robbins and Jackie Collins much to my parent's disgust. One of my school friends even worked in the music section for a summer. Later on as a jobless graduate, it became a vital source of information for career hunting - job papers and company information was readily available.
When we moved to Dundee, I joined the library to take tot along to baby rhyme times. Not always successful at making friends but it got us out of the house. In Plumstead, I did the same joining Slade Library's craft club (if it's still going, please join as it's great). So to Larbert and their funky new library. We have been to a few toddler rhyme times and that's been my daugther's first contact with local kids. And she absolutely loves having a library ticket and being able to choose her own book from their extensive collection. The librarians are friendly and very good with kids. The adult books aren't as extensive though I can borrow from any library in Falkirk so that's not a bad thing. I've already happily carried away a crochet book and a Tom Holt novel - not high literary but hey that's not why I love libraries.

A netless life

Well here we are. The move is done - phew maybe now for a while we can concentrate on being a family.
We are getting a feel of the place and area. Larbert is very small but it's central which is brilliant for travelling to Falkirk, Glasgow, Stirling and Edinburgh. Yesterday we went into Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival - it was really busy and apparently a bigger festival than ever. I hope to go in again but will try to book a show for the little one who got bored walking around. I also need to learn to walk on stilts so I can see above crowds around street shows. Edinburgh Book Show also started this weekend and I want to go back for that. Did you know that Iain Banks is a Scot? There is also a chance to meet Ian Rankin - wooohooo.
In terms of the house - it's suck being tenants again after living as owners. The place we have rented was someone's home rather than an investment property so we are somewhat walking in their shoes. The decor while not offensive is dated and a bit well, magnolia.
There are no nets (voiles) in the bedrooms or front and living rooms. I like to walk around in either my dressing gown or T-shirt and don't want the impose this sight on the outside world - it's just not ready for that. When I asked the landlady if we could put up nets, explaining that we like our privacy (have a sodding right to it actually especially as we have a little girl), she looked both confused and unwilling and said she would think about it. This frankly has got my blood boiling. especially as she has nets in the bathroom and loo both of which have obscure windows!!!!!
Funny thing though - as I walk around the neighbourhood, I see about 50% of houses don't have nets. Are people dressed at the crack of dawn or don't they use the front rooms unless curtains are drawn, or do they like to show off their homes? It's a mystery.
I have been net-less in another way too, this time on the technology front. For a week and half I had to use my phone as a modem as we waited for our broadband to be activated. The phone modem was not at all bad but it ate up the MBs superfast. I'm so glad that I'm back on the net and can now watch youtube videos to my hearts content.
The lack of a net connection also meant relying on the TV or radio to learn about the recent surreal events in England - watching it made me somewhat glad that we had moved. I heard that apparently Scots do not riot/mass loot like the English - need to look into that when I can.
The TV and media have a lot to answer for as IMHO they hyped up the madness.
I'm also concerned that all social networks are being lumped into the same pool. Surely there is a difference between encrypted messaging vs vs. the public openness of Facebook and Twitter.
Anyhooo, if you were directly affected by any of the madness, my utmost sympathies to you. I sincerely hope normality returns soon.

P.S. Apologies for the blog layout and design which is pants. Blogger doesn't have the same templates function as Wordpress so it takes longer (or a knowledge of HTML) to improve matters. Another thing on my list of ToDos.