tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42985704075950875182024-03-06T00:10:14.827+00:00Plummy MummyA Londoner in LivingstonPlummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.comBlogger383125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-64117179179801706102016-09-12T10:08:00.001+01:002016-09-12T10:18:51.719+01:00Zero hours contract<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have a zero hours contract with the local council. It's not
ideal, as, along with a team of other workers, we are offered very little work.
However, it has been so good for me. I got the contract on completion of a
course with the council on promoting healthy eating. It meant that I was able
to earn money for the first time in seven years - breaking my stay-at-home
status. It raised my confidence which was so low after being out of work for so
long. I could choose which courses I wanted to do, picking ones that were
within school hours. It enabled me to meet people in my community and to find
out a lot more about the challenges the country faces in tackling
obesity. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was lucky, I
didn't fully rely on the contract and most importantly it was non-exclusive - I
was able to work at other jobs too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I loathe the zero
hours, exclusive contracts that treat people as a commodity and hope that the
government will do something about them. But as with all things currently, I
have very little faith that the government will do anything about it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-57837310081164014872016-09-07T12:43:00.002+01:002016-09-07T12:43:28.851+01:005 words I hate just nowWhere are you working now?<br />
<br />
Hated because I am not working. Hated because I don't feel I'm a full member of society. Hated because I'm not earning money which makes me feel more independent.<br />
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Hated because I've been waiting for a qualification to be updated so I can continue on learning. Hoping this will lead to a new job but reading regularly how those over 50 have some of the highest rates of unemployment in the country.<br />
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It's making me antsy. It's boring being out of work especially when the kiddo is at school. But I'm thankful that I got to spend time with her this summer since the last two have been a manic juggling act of clubs, reliance on granny and Mr P.M. taking time off at a different time to me.<br />
I've been thankful that I was able to spend some time in London with my dad / take some pressure off my brothers albeit for a very short time.<br />
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Feeling depressed and telling Mr P.M. that "I've not had a good day" - but getting no help. He can't help - he's working, he's happy, he thinks life is just dandy.<br />
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Feeling depressed as the gin looks rather appealing now. But with alcoholism in the family, that's not a route I'm going down.<br />
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Feeling utterly disgusted with myself as I had a job but I blew it. Was not the right job but I should have just sucked it up.<br />
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I know I will work again. I had a few days work over summer teaching in a kids' camp which was absolutely brilliant. And I'm studying again (yippee for books).<br />
<br />
BUT....<br />
I am not working now.<br />
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Please don't ask me again as you can tell, it's affecting my mental well being but really you aren't allowed to talk about that in case a potential employer sees.<br />
<br />Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-87540950709856970652016-04-22T09:13:00.001+01:002016-04-22T09:13:18.582+01:00Nothing compares to you.Death has been very much on my mind of late. Partly due to the calls I get from Social Services in London about Dad (they are idiots who have been told time and time again that I live over 500 miles away and should, in the first instance, contact my brothers). Partly as I am getting close to the age my Mum was when she died. It's an odd sensation every time I look at her picture where she never ages, whereas my reflection in the mirror is lined and grayer.<br />
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Partly because a dear old colleague recently told us that he has pancreatic cancer and is unlikely to last the year. That was a shocker out of the blue.<br />
<br />
And then there are the celebrities who are dying. This year has been relentless and we are only into April. Now I didn't know them personally. Their deaths have not hit me in the same way as that of a family member or friend. But the grief is still real because it is grief for what was and can never be again. Some of the ones that have passed this year formed the backdrop to my life growing up - they were the soundtrack to my lifelong love of music and comedy. I defy anyone to claim that The Ballad of Barry and Freda is not some of the finest songwriting there is. Or that hearing the latest Bowie release was not thrilling. We won't get that again.<br />
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And as they pass, I find myself increasingly in a world that is just memories. The artists of today cannot measure up to these.<br />
<br />
In 1988 I was very lucky to go to Wembley stadium to see Michael Jackson perform. It was a great concert. But a month later I saw Prince at Wembley Arena and I was blown away. I've been wearing purple ever since.Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-69803097614804065892015-07-09T21:37:00.001+01:002015-07-09T21:37:12.404+01:00Quick trip to LondonFirst week of school hols so of course, we decided to go down to see the family in London.<br />
Booked weeks ago and looked forward to bunking down in my little brother's flat.<br />
Few weeks pass then shite....<br />
<br />
1. Kiddo refused to go to some holiday club outings and wants me to give up work so that I can look after her all the time. I was tempted as the new job is a bit of a let down. But sorry kiddo, it ain't happening. I already work at a low wage but mamma needs to work or she will go mental.<br />
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2. My brother's flat was no longer available as he's has some issues with the pipes (not his, just the ones that flow under the flat). Two options were open to us - change the trip which would cost dosh, or stay with my dad which could cost my sanity. Against my better judgement we opted for the latter.<br />
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3. Tunisia, Bombs. People just going about their business being killed. So close to the 10 year anniversary of 7/7. So depressing thinking that in 10 years things have not changed.<br />
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4. PMT on a monumental scale (this peri menopause PMT sucks).<br />
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All I wanted to do was go down, meet some cousins and friends and just have a laugh. But I didn't want hubby or kiddo in tow. I wanted to be free of being mum and wife. I wanted him to get in touch with his London friends and actually go out for a change (bit of a sore point but we have close to no social life in Scotland).<br />
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4. Day of the trip down. Heatwave.Train. However, East Coast service was frankly brilliant. Before boarding we were asked if we wanted to check our luggage in. Why yes, that's fantastic yes, we would, yes we did and virtually skipped onto the train past other travelers who were holding onto their huge bags. Then when the air con broke down in our carriage, the service cart went through the train giving out cool bottles of water and also advising which carriages had air con still working. Luckily, the train wasn't full and so we were able to move.<br />
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5. Tonsillitis. I could feel it coming on before the trip and hoped the heat would keep it at bay for the few days we were down south.<br />
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So we arrived. Dad is an alcoholic. The last few years have been tough as his alcoholism is much more apparent since he stopped working. His health has deteriorated tremendously and he is no longer able/willing to look after himself let alone the flat. I find it all very difficult to deal with. He used to nag, NAG me relentlessly, if I left a cup unwashed by the sink or a spec of dust on the dining room table. And now he nags, NAGS me pitifully to stop cleaning. I am sure I'm the only one that cleans his loo and bathroom so that they are only done once a year.<br />
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His alcoholism seems to have abated a little since our last meeting in October as he has stopped drinking spirits and is now on red wine. He also seemed to restrain his smoking for the first few days, though by the 3rd day of the visit, was back to smoking in front of my hubby and kid.<br />
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I know a lot of my anger is guilt as I'm not around to help him out anymore. In previous visits he's kinda hammed it up and acted very poorly (in the sense of being rude, and in the sense of being ill too). In the past my dad has been an utter arse to me - it's hard to forgive and help him. It's also hard when I live miles away. I see-saw frequently with contempt for my brothers for not helping him and utter empathy with their own frustration with him. <br />
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Funny innit, headlines pop up every now and again about the how the old are so lonely but they never go into the backstories so much. That they may be reasons why some of these old dears are actually on their own.<br />
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And what is it with flying ants and their flight once a year? They hit my dad's kitchen. They did that once when I lived there. The little buggers. I'm glad we were there to sort it this time round.<br />
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Hey though, it's not all doom and gloom. There were occasions away from the flat when I managed to get have some fun time with family and friends.<br />
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<br />
I waited along the Thames by London City Pier. It was fun watching tourists trying to take selfies with the view above and happy to help those that asked for to take their photos. I was waiting for one of my best friends. We had a saunter through Borough Market (closed alas) before settling for a most delicious Turkish meal finishing off with a pint in a pub. He told me that Thursday is the day all the city boys go out to drink! I felt a little of the old me return - the London me. Also guilt again as I was moaning to him rather than savouring our time together.<br />
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Friday we went for the most delicious home cooked meal courtesy of my young cousin. She has two of the cutest little boys. I haltingly spoke Gujarati for the first time in ages and had a good old gossip. Then on the bus to see another friend for what was meant to be a quick coffee but ended up quite a bit longer sitting in her gorgeous garden in Muswell Hill chatting whilst kiddo had another go at her piano. The kid has some natural talent that I would love her to work on. <br />
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On Saturday we went to my little brother's house for lunch and to see my nephew and nieces. Kiddo loves it too as she rarely has cousins to play with. We decided to go down to Hendon Park in North London - our local park when my bro and I were kids. What a trip down memory lane seeing the old playground which is bigger than it was, but missing the putting green that's been removed. There was a lovely lily covered pond with huge gold fish that was so well maintained when we were kids but is now sorely neglected. But the tennis courts were the same as I remember and I stood alone silently for a while remembering my friend who died on 7/7 as she used to play tennis there. Happier times and ones to hold onto.<br />
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And on the last day we all spent time with friends from Plumstead in Greenwich which was superb. Sun eventually started to shine, the Cutty Sark and Greenwich park looked beautiful and the friends were wonderful.<br />
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Sigh.<br />
<br />
We are back in Livingston. I'm kicking myself for being in such a mood (yes, the PMT has abated bastard PMT) but fuck it there are times when I miss London and the old me. But as my friends/family advised me - I just gotta let it go (earworm time!) and get on with my life up here. It's up to me to make changes which I plan to do. But I'm not the only one, hubby needs to change too and kiddo is going to have to learn to deal with those changes. It's called growing up and it's about time I did some.Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-61117289745910480042015-03-18T14:45:00.000+00:002015-03-18T14:52:38.034+00:0034 ways to say WTFHey if you are a man who's about marry a 40+ year old woman then read this post.<br />
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After the age of 40 things start to go downhill for us women. And now that I'm in the final years of my forties, things are really going downhill rapidly. In fact I feel like the Jamaican bobsled team. WTF is on the tip of my tongue most of the time now (and shouted out loud when I'm alone). Since getting married my old bod has been acting strange. For a few years, I've had unexplained illnesses that have been alarming but then disappeared as quickly as they arrived. I initially blamed it all on being married to a Scot,having regularly <i>conjugals </i>and not eating a proper guju diet every day, then later blamed it on having a sprog as that does nasty things to your body that are best not to dwell on especially if you want to conceive. </div>
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I've had nights drenched in sweat, I've had tummy problems, and some weird aches and pains <i>down and around there</i>. I've had nights where I couldn't sleep or days and days where I couldn't stay awake. I started looking suspiciously at my sister in law who has ME and wondered if it was contagious. I started looking suspiciously at anyone who coughed, sniffled or anything near me. And then I lost interest in everything. It made it very hard to be motivated to work, to cook, to clean to do anything except fret.</div>
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Then one sleepless night I came across this list : <a href="http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/">34 Menopause Symptoms</a> and hallelujah the pin dropped and and I felt like realisation whacked my in the face with the force of <span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Mjölnir</span>. I've had a fair few of those and when I stopped seeing the usual amount of blood (i.e. missed a month, then another, wished&prayed that I was pregnant but lived in fear that I was,then stupid AF was back again) it all sort of made sense. </div>
<div>
So the poor hubby has spent the last few years dealing with all this and then I relayed to him the fact that our 7 year old has underarm hair and may be entering puberty early (apparently this is getting more and more common). WTF. I said WTF!!! I wanted to scream WTF. Just as my system is shutting down, hers is getting reading for the change. She's too bloody young and so am I. We are neither of us ready for these changes. And neither is the hubby who just wants her to be his little girl for quite a few years more and his wife to stop being a raving lunatic. </div>
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Alarmingly, a third of kids alive today will live to well past 100 so it seems perverse that they are hitting puberty earlier. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they could enjoy being children for a lot longer and further down the line, have menopause later. Bloody mother nature. Just WTF.</div>
Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-55665401451203669942015-03-18T14:21:00.000+00:002015-03-18T14:21:31.980+00:00The 7 year old chugger in our midstRighto, this post is going to be a bit odd (read <i>hypocritical</i>) bearing in mind the last one I just uploaded but I need to get it off my chest.<br />
Since my kid started primary school there have been quite a few times where we as parents are asked to donate money - cake sales, spring/christmas/summer fairs, magicians coming in, kids going off to plays, kids going off to museums, kids reading aloud, kids dressing up, kids growing flowers. There are even sponsorship forms for her to get more people roped in which is hard as we do not have any close friends or relatives in the town. The requests are endless. This year seems to have been particularly bad as there has been one request after another for donations. The final straw was yesterday when we found a letter in her bag asking for £6 for a Roman day - a guy is going to come in dressed like a Roman and show the kids a lot about Romans.<br />
I am so glad we only have one child as if we had more, there is no way we could afford all these constant requests for money. And when at the teacher evening last night, we asked kiddo's teacher what happens to the kids whose parents don't pay, the teacher had no response. Which implies that they expect all the parents to pay. I know for a fact that some of the parents are struggling financially and this is pressure that they will not need. I also know it's these parents who will try their hardest to find the money.<br />
Whilst I don't want my daughter to miss out on any activities I'm not really sure that turning her into a chugger is teaching her anything about charitable giving. For e.g. kiddo now hates all Cancer charities except McMillan as that's the one the school supports. We have tried to make her understand that is a poor view but she's adamant that that charity is the best one.<br />
Up until now the dosh has come out of our pockets. So we are now going to start telling her the donations should come partly from her pocket money - so the next time she brings home a letter asking for a donation she will also have to cough up (and yes, I know that's ultimately us paying as we are the ones supplying the dosh but there is a lesson to be learnt here dammit). Hopefully that will open up a discussion on when it's best to give, and when it's best to just say no.Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-29130944992237763252015-03-18T14:04:00.003+00:002015-03-18T14:04:48.581+00:00People's strictlyAs usual I'm way behind with my posts.<br />
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<img src="http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640x360/p02ks73l.jpg" /><br />
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Did you catch the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b055pvjr/the-peoples-strictly-for-comic-relief-episode-4">People's Strictly</a> on the BEEB. I missed the shows where the contestants were chosen but managed to download them all on iplayer.<br />
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Back in the day, Ballroom dancing on the beeb used to be non-celebrities, normal bods. So it was nice to see that happen for comic relief. Only those 6 chosen bods were in no way normal - they were amazing people who give so much of themselves to community. I wish I had that in me but I seem to never quite find my place or feel I have anything that much to offer. Hey ho.<br />
Oh, and in the manner of 6-degrees of separation, I happen to be linked to two of the contestants; one is my cousin's wife and the other started the school that my autistic nephew attends. both of their stories had me in tears. O.K. I lie, all the stories of these 6 amazing people had me weeping. Wonder if there is a way to help the community by being a profession weeping woman?<br />
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<br />Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-90365419792335368362015-03-12T16:33:00.000+00:002015-03-12T16:36:02.618+00:00I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, he said, BUT I COULD MURDER A CURRY.Rest in peace Sir P. Thanks for all the laughs.<br />
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<img alt="Image result for terry pratchett and mort images" height="320" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSDXq5VvMVVjfCR5ZdhCrgMYmdY7GC6cP97eFGU-2McL9swH3SniQ" width="640" />Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-79433346708116758582015-03-08T20:56:00.004+00:002015-03-08T20:56:34.935+00:00Are we there yet? For the last few weeks, my kiddo has been asking" Is it Spring yet" much in the same tone as the ever reliable "Are we there yet?" which she utters as we are ten minutes out of the house on the way to Dundee.<br />
For me, the start of Spring is marked by the Hindu festival of Holi which I have always know as a super fun Festival of Colours. It's gorgeous - in Indian people throw colours over eachother and have lots of fun.<br />
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This year the festival was on Friday 6th March.<br />
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Recently, I read a blog post that said that had another origin story for Holi - the story of Prince Prahlad and his Aunt Holika. Phahlad was a devotee of the god Vishnu. But his father the King wanted everyone to worship him and was angered by his son's devotion. So after many unsuccessful attempts at trying to do away with his son, he asked his sister Holika to help. Holika had a special boon that prevented her from being burnt. So she let the young Prince sit in her lap in the middle of a bonfire. Vishnu seeing this was angered, removed the special power so the Aunt burnt and Prahlad was saved. I don't know what happened to the King.<br />
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What a grim story however, like many Hindu festivals, it celebrates good overcoming evil.<br />
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How can someone hurt a child like that and when will we see good overcome evil in real life? Today is International Women's Day. Usually around this time of year, the media has reports of the crimes committed against women all over world. For e.g. the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05534p0">India's Daughter </a>documentary about the horrific rape on a bus in India and the chilling statement by one of the rapists that this case has made things even more dangerous for women now - as criminals will now make sure they will kill their victims. I think the way that rape happened, those animals must have believed that the poor girl was dead when she was thrown off the bus. The documentary showed how her parents had given up everything for her to become a doctor. The animals didn't know that but they resented that she was out late at night with an unrelated man. Just evil. But the most shocking part of the film was the defence lawyers who were adamant that what happened to the girl was right and that she deserved it for being out late at night (it was around 7.30pm in the evening) - educated men my arse....scum in reality. And disgusting that the Indian govt stopped the broadcast of the film. Luckily I managed to watch it on Wednesday when the Beeb did show it. Or you can find it on iplayer.<br />
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Another story that I have been following was the final days of the trial of <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/mar/06/mother-tortured-killed-daughter-ayesha-ali-jailed-for-13-years">Ayesha Ali's</a> murderers. Her evil mother and mother's girlfriend were sentenced to prison on Friday - the mother got 13 years, the girlfriend got 18. Not enough. Good did not overcome Evil. That poor child suffered so much.<br />
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My daughter is too young to be told these stories and for now, Holi will just be the Festival of Colours. She is currently obsessed with superheroes. I dread the day when I need to tell her that there are no real superheroes and that Good does not always overcome Evil. However, I hope that when I do, I do not instill a fear in her but instead a desire to make things change so that one day she can be her own Superhero and the only reason to celebrate Holi will be that yes, we are there and yes, it is Spring and the Festival of Colours.Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-60381928422527479612014-10-20T21:40:00.000+01:002014-10-20T21:40:13.306+01:00John Byrne and Contemporary ArtistsI was very lucky on Sunday to be child/hubby free so that I could meet a friend in town who wanted to see some art exhibitions. He was a very old colleague who contacted me out of the blue which was a nice surprise and having the art was a nice way to avoid any awkward pauses while we caught up. He cracked me up as he kept stopping on stairs mid conversation - it was bizarre and contraire to my always-moving self.<br />
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We met at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Queen Street, Edinburgh. This is about 5 minutes from where I work but I've never managed to get there - my loss as the building is a neo-gothic wonder. The exterior lobby area is breath taking- with stunning stained glass windows and a painted ceiling. Like a dolt, I didn't take any photos.<br />
I had been meaning to go for ages to see the <a href="https://www.nationalgalleries.org/whatson/exhibitions/john-byrne/exhibition-highlights-23554">John Byrne Sitting Ducks </a>exhibition - and luckily managed to catch it on the last day. My favourite artworks were one of Billy Connolly and another Tilda Swinton. There were also many self portraits and family portraits - fascinating to see how he portrayed himself, his mrs and children. I wish I had had time to look at each in detail.<br />
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Other fascinating areas of the gallery were the library with it's phrenology exhibition and the <a href="https://www.nationalgalleries.org/whatson/exhibitions/remembering-the-great-war">Remembering the Great War exhibition</a>. I need to look into Field Marshall Douglas Haig who's strategies led to so many deaths and the poppy appeal which began life at the Haig Fund to help ex-servicemen. </div>
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After a wander around the gift shop, we went in search of lunch. Ending up in Rose Lane North for a non-spectacular lunch. But it filled our bellies and we were energised enough to make our way to the </div>
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<a href="https://www.nationalgalleries.org/visit/introduction-114">Scottish National Gallery</a> where I wanted to see the <a href="https://www.nationalgalleries.org/whatson/on-now-coming-soon/generation-25-years-of-contemporary-art-in-scotland-modern/">Generation </a>- an exhibition of contemporary artists. This is a great museum to visit as the two buildings house a wide variety of art so there is bound to be something for everyone in there. And it's accessible being just 5 mins walk from Edinburgh Waverly Station, in the pretty Princes Street Gardens. They had a bit of a shift around so some paintings that were housed in the lower gallery are now in the main one. I like seeing them in new settings. However, I did struggle with the paintings that are hung up high as the lights hit them so you need to move around to actually view them - not easy when it's busy. There is also a very loud hum in the main gallery which was off-putting. The gallery is pretty bonkers as it's actually two buildings connecting by an underground passage. So without realising it, you are in the other building. Luckily there are some red and blue dots to follow. I have to admit that I didn't really warm to the Generation exhibition - nothing interested me but there are so many paintings in the museum that I love and always am astonished they own Rembrandts that it was fine. I recommend checking out the <a href="https://www.nationalgalleries.org/visit/north-of-the-border">North of the Border</a> paintings especially the one by Peter Graham and the Gainsborough - the Honorable Mrs Graham who was a beauty and had the most fabulous dress on. I'm really looking forward to the fashion exhibition due to start mid November. </div>
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So there we go - my soul is somewhat replenished after what has been an awful few weeks. And if you read my foodie blog, you'll know that I finished the day with a lovely haul of sweets. All in all lovely ...though I was a tad guilty when I got home as Mr Plummy has caught yet another cold :(. </div>
Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-9668671155678413412014-10-16T20:59:00.001+01:002014-10-16T20:59:27.284+01:0010 years...10 years ago I was<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Single</li>
<li>6 months into a job as a designer (though my title was Research Engineer!)</li>
<li>Travelling up to 3 hours a day to get to my job</li>
<li>Living back in London, with Dad, saving up to buy a house</li>
<li>A person with a very healthy bank balance</li>
<li>A person with the freedom to do whatever the fuck I wanted</li>
<li>Lonely</li>
</ul>
<div>
Today I am</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The person who cried in an office where I work part time doing a job that I wasn't hired to do, in too few hours</li>
<li>A mother who resents her child who didn't ask to be born, because I gave up work for her. </li>
</ul>
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I don't know what happened. No I lie, I do know but I am still confused. I met a man, we decided we wanted a baby, he proposed, I accepted, baby got cut out by skilled doctors and life changed forever. In the last 7 years I have moved house 5 times. I hate moving house. I hated the second move out of London to be near people who didn't visit us. I hated the fourth move as I love London and had even come to love Plumstead and didn't want leave. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thing is we were parents who decided that one of us should stay at home with the kid while the other worked. Having grown up with two working parents, and being married to a man who had had a stay at home mum - I was convinced that it was a good choice. So we decided he would stay home, while I worked. </div>
<div>
Thing is I started to breastfeed and I wanted to carry on breastfeeding. But I couldn't figure out how I could do this, where I would store my milk, how I would get back to my baby should she need me if I had to commute an hour and half each way, each working day. I couldn't bear to leave her. So we changed plans, he went to work and I stayed home</div>
<div>
Thing is Mr Plummy was made redundant and we again moved up here, over 200 miles away. The first time we lived in Scotland sucked (see 2nd move above). But this time, we moved to the shitiest place I had ever lived and I became very ill (doctors couldn't figure it out, but I think it was due to crippling loneliness).</div>
<div>
Thing is I come from a family of women who have been let down by their husbands. My mum, my paternal grandmother and my maternal grandmother - all had husbands who let them down. The lesson was that I must never ever rely on a man, I must always work. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thing is I like to work. No scratch that, I need to work. I loved being one of the first girls in my family to get a degree (and the only child in my family of 3 boys and 1 girl) and after quite a few years of shite jobs, finally becoming a designer. I was so proud of myself. </div>
<div>
Thing is. I love my daughter. She's amazing. It wasn't always easy and there were times I locked myself in a room to stop myself yelling at her. But being with her and helping her transition through 5 house moves was important. We know we did good - teachers tell us they can tell that she has a home parent by her behaviour and command of language. Its not often a parent gets compliments, I gobble them up when they come our way. </div>
<div>
Thing is my husband is not like my dad or my grand-dads. </div>
<div>
Thing is while kiddo is at school I got bored. And that old niggle - the pride of being someone in paid employment started to really bug me</div>
<div>
So I did a course on nutrition and started teaching small groups. But the hours weren't enough and were too few. And then there is all this conflicting evidence on what is good nutrition anyway?</div>
<div>
So I looked for and found a part time office job. In Edinburgh. Joy was me. I'd go in and be all Mary Tyler Moore walking along Princes Street. Yes, there were days I was bored but I would just skip off to Jenners toy and yarn departments after work and be happy. I still had the other job for the rewarding challenging stuff so it was all OK. </div>
<div>
Thing is my job changed because there were changes in our head office, people were shifted about and I was asked to take on a new set of duties. Ones I would never have applied to do. I hate it. I am not proud of what I do. I hate going to work and today I ended up in tears in front of one of the managers. </div>
<div>
I want to leave but I know at my age, I will never be given another job again. So I'm stuck. I am so ashamed that I cried. I am so frustrated that there is little opportunity to find part time work around my kid's school hours. And I'm so ashamed that I didn't stand my ground 7 years ago, and demand better conditions so that I could continue a role I was proud of. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thing is I love my daughter. I am so proud of who she is and have marvelled at everything she has learnt and I don't know how much I would have missed if I had been at work. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
10 years from now I plan on being in a better place than I am now. I just don't know what the fuck that will be and how the heck I will get there. But I'll be damned proud when I make it. </div>
Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-85180530907995084342014-09-28T21:42:00.000+01:002014-09-28T21:44:13.120+01:00Judy's affordable vintage fair EdinburghI went along to the Assembly Rooms again today but this time it wasn't for a show, it was for the fun <a href="http://www.judysvintagefair.co.uk/">Judy's Affordable Vintage</a> fair. I arrived around 1pm and though there was a very short queue, inside the hall it was packed. So much so that it was a little difficult to get to any rails.<br />
I was more interested in kitchenalia but sadly though there were a few fab stalls, they didn't have any cooking equipment. I did spot some nice white and red plates being sold by <a href="http://www.mabelonthetable.co.uk/">Mabel on the Table </a>though I was too lazy to buy them. I'll have to look her up and see if she still has them.<br />
There were some ladies set up doing hair and make-up which was a great idea for anyone who was off out for the evening.<br />
I was really hoping to find some lovely 50s style dresses. In my youf, I used to wonder around markets in Camden Town and Portobello Road looking at the gorgeous old stuff from that era. Unforutnately, most of the stuff at the fair today was a bit too small for me. I asked one stall holder who told me that most vintage stuff comes in small sizes which amazed me when you think of the beautiful full bodied women from the 50s and 60s (Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, and a tonne of Bollywood actresses). It was too crowded for me to look through all the racks but I enjoyed seeing the stuff and hope to go back if the fair comes back to town.Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-1501657819825211762014-08-02T23:23:00.001+01:002014-08-02T23:23:49.267+01:00Platform 2, LocalMotiveMarketsAh here's me thinking I was done for the night but there's one more: <a href="http://www.localmotivemarkets.co.uk/">Platform 2 </a>from LocalMotiveMarkets.<br />
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This is the new market that will be at Edinburgh Waverley station every Friday from 1pm to 7pm. I had a quick look before catching my train home. As it's new it is still quite small. There is a mix of stalls from those selling handmade bags and felted goods, jewellry stalls, a great looking art stall (<a href="http://www.stonesofscotland.com/">Stones of Scotland</a>) and some food stalls. I was going to try cheesecake from one stall but she couldn't guarantee it was vegetarian and was very surprised to tell hear about animal vs vegetarian rennet and the easy availability of veggie cheese in all supermarkets! Philadelphia is veggie and makes lovely cheesecake cake-stall-lady.<br />
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It's a lovely idea and I hope that it continues to grow and grow (especially as I always forget that Scottish Farmers' markets are on saturdays...in London they were usually on a Sunday!!!!)Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-20840248502701989282014-08-02T22:40:00.002+01:002014-08-02T22:44:35.516+01:00Beggars and bagpipes and stuffThere are things you cannot get away from in Edinburgh. Some I think about too much.<br />
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Beggars<br />
There are beggars on the street. Whenever I've visited the city (including years before we moved to Scotland), I've seen the beggars on the streets. In London it was a common sight when I was growing up but I never got used to them. And the ones in Edinburgh are ever present. There is one on Princes Street who sits with a cupboard piece claiming he wasn't a druggie/alcoholic - the same sign as he has been showing for years. It's remarkably pristine.<br />
There is the East European woman who sometimes sits outside the station cup in hand. And there is the one who claims he is a ex-soldier, with a noble expression, his service record readily available for anyone to see.<br />
One very rare morning, I found his stuff in it's usual place but no soldier beggar in site.<br />
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He was back the next day, glasses perched on his nose while he read a book and waited for people to put money in his hat.<br />
Ironically this part of the street is also where the Jesus lovers stand all day with their leaflets about the love of god blah blah blah.<br />
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As Fringe begins the number of beggars ramps up. Somedays I pretend they are spies for the local police keeping an eye on the people around the streets. I will give money to the street artists like the man that carves a dog sculpture out of sand, or the Big Issue sellers s and to the local homeless charities.<br />
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Bagpipes - early morning starts mean that I don't hear bagpipes when I am in the City. But by the time I go home the drone of the pipes is in the air delighting the tourist. Most often polluting it with the same old tunes. But every now again, usually a young piper, plays something different and then I will stop and listen. They rarely have the US or Japanese tourists around them at this time which is a bonus.<br />
More street music that I enjoy are the south american band that often joyfully play outside Jenners or M&S, or the flautist who plays modern pop song tunes outside the station.<br />
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Anyhooo, I haven't forgotten my aim to make sure I always look at the Castle and never forget it's there. Sometimes though ...that's hard! And in foggy weather, I hope that I don't trip over a person whilst looking up at the amazing buildings around.<br />
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<br />Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-68228801279158446402014-08-02T22:15:00.000+01:002014-08-02T22:15:17.930+01:00Our kiddo free week parts 5 and 6<b><u>Friday</u></b><br />
Ok so this is the release date for Guardians of the Galaxy. I had half a day but worked late (unpaid, my own fault but grrrrr). At home, I realised the house was a mess so I tried to clean but sod it. You know what, we were knackered and a little skint from our week that was, so we stayed home, cooked food out of the freezer and watched more Breaking Bad - awesome.<br />
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<b><u>Saturday</u></b><br />
Panic stations. Kiddo was coming home later. So a little less late lie in, a deep kiss or two (we never kiss enough the hubby and I) followed by a touch of Saturday kitchen best bits, then a mad rush around the house with the Flash and vacuum, shoving things into the washing machine that smelt musty and a quick dusting whilst he went off to collect her and the Mother in Law.<br />
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And now, sigh it's the evening. We have had our pizza and the kiddo is in bed. Sunshine on Leith is on the box whilst I [annoyingly] type away at the keys doing my mass update. I'm not done quite yet - one more post to do tonight.Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-44632888152038144372014-08-02T22:06:00.001+01:002014-08-02T22:54:16.333+01:00Our kiddo free week part 4: Thai food and Danny Bhoy<b><u>Thursday</u></b><br />
Another lovely lie in. Another small lunch - this time because I was expecting a gorgeous dinner. Another late start to work. A shock at the Edinburgh Waverley which was packed full of tourists coming and going to the Friendly Games.<br />
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Work was fine. Not much on so I got to chat to a colleague from another office.<br />
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Then the fun began.<br />
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Dinner was at the rooftop restaurant <a href="http://chaophraya.co.uk/venues/chaophraya-edinburgh/">Chaophraya</a>, This was my second thai meal within a week. On the previous Friday I met a mate for lunch at Time4Thai - crap name but my god, the food was so delicious. I had a dish with fresh peppercorns and holy basil. My mate ordered off menu in Thai (very impressive to me and the Thai waiter). The staff let us eat - they didn't speak English well but who cared as the food was delicious. Now back to the rooftop. I was early but went in anyway to enjoy the view. Nervously I tried to make jokes to a red headed totally HUMOURLESS waiter. Gah!<br />
Hubby eventually turned up and sat down. Two minutes later his team leader walked up to us - of all the restaurants, what a coincidence. They were also headed to the Assembly Rooms after but for a different show! Small world hey?<br />
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The couple were so funny when I was taking photos.<br />
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This is lovely looking restaurant with a cocktail bar attached with access to a terrace which was beside this glass enclosed dining area. The view has to be the most phenomenal in the City. It did feel odd as people came onto the terrace and were looking into the glass area; obviously they were looking at the view but it made us feel like animals in a zoo.<br />
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Yummy sweetcorn cakes and Singha beer. Best bit of the meal. I chose Tofu with pineapple with sticky rice as a main. It was sweet (d'oh!) and I couldn't eat it. Hubby chose chicken satay to start and then prawn dish for main which luckily he enjoyed. This bill was just under £55. As a comparison Time4Thai food was miles better but this place had a view to die for IMHO.<br />
And a final note - I mentioned the sweetness to another waiter (Manuel who was a lot better than the other guy) who assured me he would feedback to the kitchen.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.oxfordbar.co.uk/">Oxford Bar</a></b> - with time to kill we headed to the Oxford Bar which is a old man's boozer frequented by Ian Rankin and featuring in his Rebus books. I loved it and enjoyed my half of IPA and chatting to an old Art Lecturer who was in town visiting art museums. And just look at the window of the ladie's loo door - so pretty! (side note, the old man was trying to catch the eye of an older hottie at the same bench who wasn't interested - wonder if he managed after we left)<br />
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p.s. if booze and gourmet burgers is more your thing, head down the same road to the <a href="http://www.thecambridgebar.co.uk/">Cambridge Bar</a> :)</div>
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<a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/danny-bhoy-12-nights-12-charities">Danny Bhoy 12 nights, 12 charities</a></div>
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Well now what a tardis the Assembly Rooms on George Street are. It's huge inside. After the previous night's experience we didn't expect a huge crowd. Boy was I wrong - we were directed to a long queue that snaked twice along the side of the building. A mixed crowd of old and young. Mostly white - I am still getting used to being the only brown face at Comedy shows. </div>
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Eventually we were allowed in to the Music hall and we chose to go up to the Balcony. Wowsers is this room awesome with a chandelier that I would keep well away from Del, Rodny and Grandad. </div>
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Well now, the show was ace. He is a very funny man. This was his 12th Fringe show, and all proceeds are going to local charities. </div>
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His experience showed as he handled the crowd well - telling an enthusiastic fan shouting about BottleOs (an Aussie offie that Danny has done jokes about before) that with only an hour, there wasn't much time for banter. And much later very deftly told a lady in the audience to turn off her phone as it was rude and distracting. The jokes were so funny - things about not using publicity, about a yob defacing a Danny Bhoy poster to Danny Gay - diligently taking time to cross out the H whilst Danny stood behind him and watched. He joked about the problems comedians have renting flats as they are too high a risk. </div>
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There was singing as part of a joke about blues and stories and BB King singing about going down to the bus stop to get a bus. He likes to sing and has done in previous shows. And another joke about going to a Michelin star restaurant in Canada where the maitre'd insisted he wore a jacket even though the place was empty. And finally a funny rant about how companies are always collecting our details even when it make no sense - I don't think I will ever be able to go to Tony and Guys for a haircut or even go to buy a pair of pants without laughing.</div>
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At one point I shushed hubby as I thought he had started his high pitched laugh (usually happen when he is really out of control laughing) - turns out it was the fan next to him. </div>
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Unlike the previous night, I didn't want this one to end - he is such a master of his art and I'm glad that charity or no, we went to see him. </div>
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Thoroughly wholeheartedly recommended. </div>
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<br />Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-88776671478373886542014-08-02T21:10:00.000+01:002014-08-02T21:22:11.766+01:00Our kiddo free week part 3 - Imran Yusuf / Josie Long pre-Fringe show. <b><u>Wednesday </u></b><br />
A luxurious lie in until 10am as I was working the afternoon. But urgh - dehli belly caused by those hot chillies so no left overs for lunch just a yummy Red Delicious apple and a cuppa.<br />
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That evening we had tickets to see Imran Yusuf at the Underbelly and then later Josie Long at the Stand. I was really excited about Imran Yusuf as whenever we have seen him on the telly he has been hilarious.<br />
Before the show we treated ourselves to a very rushed dinner at <a href="http://www.monstermashcafe.co.uk/menus.html">Mums Great Comfort Food</a> which was a brilliant find. I enjoyed my choice of veggie sauces and had champ for the first time. But the best bit was the Tempest Brewing Company Holyrood Pale ale. It was DELICIOUS.<br />
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Now to the show which was in the Wee Coo - a very long shed painted black. Imran Yusuf was doing a new show <a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=show_performer%3A%22Imran%20Yusuf%3A%20Roar%20of%20the%20Underdog%22">Roar of the Underdog</a>. As it was a pre-Festival show there were not many of us in the wee coo shed. Apparently 34 of us. How do I know? He said it about 6 times at least. And I think he was counting himself and the crew. I don't know what happened as before the show I was raving about him to the people outside and jumping up and down with excitement. It was AWFUL. It was raining. We walked into the shed and were urged to sit at the front. After some rap music, he announced himself and came out in casual clothes, not the shiny suits that he wore when on the telly. He is a lot taller than he looks on the box. Notes in hand he explained that he hadn't been to Fringe for 2 years. Too close to home in parts (he's an Asian born in East Africa who great up in London, though much younger than me). He worked for Sega where one of my brothers was for a while (they never met). The first story was about him being a Godfather to a Catholic friend's kid - something Mr P.M. knew all about as he is Godfather to my catholic niece. Every story was long and what started off as a grin in my face changed to a grimace. The stories were long. At times it felt like a lecture. And a lot of it felt a bit too racist for me. He did something about trying to change people's perception of Muslims but by this time, I was so bored and regretting my front row seat that I didn't care. He didn't make eye contact with me but did with Mr P.M. who did laugh. At the end of the show he just said he wanted to be liked and was happy to meet people outside and sign autographs. </div>
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My review: the boy grew up and got all serious - my humour bone cracked but not with laughter. </div>
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Josie Long at the Stand - umm well we went along and found out that actually the show had been cancelled a few weeks back. After the Imran show I was LIVID. The staff at Stand were really lovely trying to find out if we had been refunded. They emailed the Fringe staff to find out if we had been refunded. </div>
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Date night was over. I had a thundercloud over me and was angry beyond belief that our evening had been so awful. To top it off my feet were killing me (stupid Karrimor shoes) and Mr P.M. who had aleady made the mistake of laughing at the earlier show hadn't really seemed that bothered about the cancellation. So No, I didn't want a drink. I just wanted to go home.</div>
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At home, still fuming I check and both The Fringe site and Josie Long's site still had the show listed. Tehre was link to here Twitter feed and the rage went into overflow as I saw a tweet from her saying how happy she was to be in Edinburgh.WTF. A twitter exchange followed where it turns out she is actually quite a lovely person, was very sympathetic about my rage and offered to get us VIP tickets. I turned those down as it wouldn't have been fun but at least now when she's on the Stewart Lee Alternative Comedy Experience, I won't turn off.</div>
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Fringe lessons learnt:</div>
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1. Don't believe the Fringe site</div>
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2. Don't believe Artist's site </div>
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3. Always ring the venue to check a show is on</div>
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4. We had been refunded but as I had decided to save the extortionate £4 per show booking online, the Fringe didn't have my details to tell me the show is cancelled. Hmmm not really a lesson here - I still hate that fee more than this risk of going to shows that aren't on. </div>
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5. Don't go to bed in tears and angry as no-one gets a cuddle and a cold wall between couples is a big waste in kid-free weeks. </div>
Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-91794768565275439092014-08-02T20:55:00.001+01:002014-08-02T20:55:33.506+01:00Our kiddo free week parts 1 and 2Routine again rules our house. At 7.30 I had the battle to take kiddo for her shower - she always enjoys herself in there so the battle is doubly frustrating. Now it's around 8pm and Mr P.M. is upstairs putting kiddo to bed.<br />
We have had a kid free week - and boy did we need it. I love being a mum but sometimes I just want to walk away - be somewhere where I can read what I like, watch what I like on TV and eat what I like without feeling guilty that I haven't made a yummy yet nutritious non spicy meal for kiddo. Freedom wasn't quite what I got though as I still had Mr P.M. around but luckily we took advantage.<br />
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The next few posts are going to be about the week that was. Lets start with Monday and Tuesday<br />
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<b><u>Monday </u></b><br />
A full day of work which means extra money at the end of the month to spend on the house. To be brutally honest, I am not enjoying this job as I have to wake up very early to get the train in and there is a lot of work to squeeze in the hours. But I'm grateful to have a job and on the whole they are flexible which is useful for a parent.<br />
We cracked open the first season of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903747/">Breaking Bad</a>. Episodes 1 and 2 were fine. But my goodness Epi 3 was slow and I nearly gave up. I spent a lot of time complaining about the wife who was just an awful person!<br />
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Tonight's dinner was a falafels. Usually a meal I love but having spent a bit of time on the phone with kiddo it ended up burnt. And our Zinfadel Rose didn't work out - very rarely I get a strong pain in the Eustachian tubes when drinking alcohol. Sod's law it was this time. Bit of a flat evening ensued.<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday</u><br />
Another working a full day (wooohoooo more hours = more money to spend on the house). I couldn't be bothered to cook dinner so we had take out from <a href="http://www.bayleaflivingston.co.uk/">Bay Leaf</a> - I had my usual extra spicy saag paneer and hubby had a prawn curry. He seemed to enjoy his. I loved mine - even though every now and again I was crunching on rougly chopped up chillies. We had our meals with pilau rice and a paratha. It is really lovely being able to order a ruby murray without worrying about kiddo.<br />
More Breaking Bad - we are HOOKED<br />
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In some ways it was a normal few days - I got home and moaned about my job. we ate dinner while watching the box. We watched the box until late and we went to bed.Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-28104246195433704462014-08-02T20:29:00.001+01:002014-08-02T20:29:47.600+01:00Huffed and puffed and blew the house downThere is a building on St Andrew's Square which for ages has intrigued me. The architecture is not in line with the buildings around but I really liked it. I am sure a lot of visitors get confused as the building is covered with adverts for the National Museum.<br />
I was amazed on the way to work the other day to see that it was being knocked down. And laughed the next day to see a crane raising a bulldozer to the sky! Sadly the building is being replaced by a <a href="http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/75m-st-andrew-square-scheme-to-go-ahead-1-3320381">new shopping centre</a> which will no doubt be full of shops that I cannot afford to go to and will be a further stab in the heart of the few remaining independent shops in this area.<br />
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<br />Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-22332858159611246672014-08-02T20:21:00.001+01:002014-08-03T00:17:10.116+01:00Gullane BentsOne of the lovely things about starting work at 8am is that as a part-timer I finish by 12. When the sun is hot as it has been this amazing summer, it's time to go to the beach. It was Mr P.M.'s week with the kid so luckily we could all spend a lovely day together having a picnic and just doing beach like stuff.<br />
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<a href="http://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/gullane-bents-p315621">Gullane Bents</a> is a lovely beach North of Edinburgh. The facilities are basic - carpark, toilets and an ice cream van. Kiddo and I met friends there last year and it was glorious. And there has been no change this week. The only sad point was that I again failed to visit the <a href="http://www.falko.co.uk/visit-us">Falko Konditormeister</a> shop - luckily he has a shop in Edinburgh too so I hope to visit.<br />
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Mr P.M. and kiddo love going to beach - sandcastles, paddling in water and skimming stones are just some of the fun they have. In the meantime, I like to go for a walk at the water edge looking for shells and jelly fish.<br />
We only decided to leave as there was a group next to us cooking a BBQ - a signal that it was time for young families to go home and the young thangs to take over the beach :)<br />
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The carpark at the Gullane Bents is being improved. This might be due the Scottish Open which will be held at the nearby Gullane Golf club next year. Hopefully it won't lead to this beach becoming too spoilt. </div>
<br />Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-21361853507320311912014-07-20T22:04:00.000+01:002014-07-20T22:04:22.625+01:00Museums and other stuffWe are a third of the way through the kid's summer holiday. In the run up to the start of the hols I spent a bundle on buying lots of crafty kits and games for us to play ready for a dreary rainy holiday. But what a glorious summer it's been so far and we have been out and about. Some of the fun stuff so far:<br />
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<b>Wonderful Wild Wednesdays - </b>we are incredibly lucky to live close Almondell Park which is run by the West Lothian Rangers. The first week of the hols, we went for a day organised by the rangers to teach kids about local wildlife. We learnt lots about ladybirds and bees. There was also a chance to get up close and personal to some not=so=local creatures thanks to Cool Creatures. They were at my kiddo's birthday party last year and it was lovely to see some of the animals again especially the baby meerkats. Not so great to see the albino python but my brave kid willingly held the snake again. The Rangers regularly hold <a href="http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=2344&p=0">events </a>in the three parks surrounding Livingston - I urge you to check them out.<br />
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<b><a href="http://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/">Mythical Maze Summer Reading</a></b> - a programme running throughout the UK to encourage kids into local libraries. A bit annoying that the Scottish kids started their holidays earlier but we had to wait for the English schools to be off before the website features were all working. We love to read in this house so kiddo didn't need much encouragement - each week she gets a small gift from the library and another challenge to do. If you miss a week, they keep the gift for the following Wednesday. She's missed a few weeks but hey ho, doesn't stop us reading and her trying to take out the whole library's stock of childrens books in one visit.<br />
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<b>Edinburgh Museums</b> - week two, the mother in law took over as I went back to work. They both came into to town to meet me. It was the day that the National Museum staff were on strike so we chose to go to the <a href="http://www.museumonthemound.com/">Museum on the Mound</a> again where they both got to Strike a Coin and make another one in the machine in the Museum's lobby. A lovely souvenir. The subject matter may not be terribly exciting but the staff at the Museum are very welcoming and lovely.<br />
Next we walked headed to the Royal Mile and the <a href="http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/Museum-of-Childhood">Museum of Childhood</a>. the mother in law had a rest while kiddo and I went around the museum. It's a shame as I think she would have enjoyed it more than kiddo who's already been before and only wanted to sit on the old hobbyhorse on the top floor - its a beautiful horse so I don't blame her. And she did take more interest in the dolls exhibition this time around.<br />
A tea break in the <a href="http://www.tracscotland.org/scottish-storytelling-centre">Scottish Storyteller Centre</a> for yummy cake and tea. Kiddo loved the display here of scenes from old Scottish stories - and the MIL was able to tell us what a lot of them meant. There is a detailed mural of the Battle of Bannockburn which was worth the price of the tea alone. I plan to go back to visit John Knox house which is adjoined to the Storyteller centre.<br />
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After that we headed to the <a href="http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/Museum-of-Edinburgh">Museum of Edinburgh</a> - it was a longer walk that we expected. Across the road from a Fudge shop which was a temptation we managed to resist. On entering the museum, they had usefully put feet markings on the floor showing which way to walk - shame they didn't have any showing the way out as lots of foreign tourists tried to exit out of the alarmed Fire Exits. But this was the only issue I had with a fascinating packed museum. It's housed in an very old building with higgledy piggledy floors. First we saw a display for the Commonwealth Games and then up to the the actual museum crammed with the history of the city. I learnt that Edinburgh had had a great fire, about the Coveners and tons more. There was enough to keep the kid amused and the best parts for her were the dressing up room and the children's craft room. Absolutely brilliant - packed full of activity sheets, papers, crayons, pencils, silver rubbings. The room was a blessing on such a hot day for us to let kiddo have some fun whilst we got a rest.<br />
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All these museums are free to enter and as long as you can afford the train fair, it's a great way to spend a day just pottering about these places. There is a charge for John Knox house.<br />
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<b>Lazy days</b>: a lot of the days we have been enjoying our garden and just pottering around the shops in Livingston. When the MIL was on kiddo duty, she took her to the local baptist church for Messy church or just along to the local parks to play on the swings.<br />
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<b>Simply play</b>: Luckily this year we have been able to take enough holidays between us to cover the long summer break. But for one week, the kid went along to mornings at a Simply Play holiday club. The Mr and I had to do a bit of juggling and dashing about to pick her up as she finished before I did. So there was a mad week of handovers but I wished we could afford to send her more often as it's a chance for her to meet kids her own age. I do worry that she gets lonely as she's an only child and out of school a lot of her school friends are away. She was reluctant to go but by the end the week, was happy and wanted to go more often.<br />
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<b>Thunder and lightning:</b> we heard rumbles of rain and the odd bit of thunder but no lightning. I'm so happy to be in Scotland when I read of the 30+ temperatures in the South East. London in a heatwave is hideous whereas Scotland with a bit of sunshine is just beautiful. And the rain, wow so much rain fell on our house that we thought we would have to get the sandbags out. Then it got very very misty. And today, back to the warm sun. Just love these changes in weather.<br />
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<b>Carnival / mum goes off</b>: We were back in Edinburgh today for the Edinburgh Carnival. It was a little chaotic as we thought our kid could turn up in costume and join the parade. But no, you had to be signed in. Also not well advertised so there weren't many kids there. I didn't see any of it as I slinked off to the National Museum of Scotland to see <a href="http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/national_museum_of_scotland/whats_on/everyone/nordic_knitathon.aspx">Nordic Knitathon</a>. I had great fun at the crochet workshop with Arne and Carlos but was sad to find that I was too late to join the knitathon (my view that crocheters are more friendly than knitters was sadly reinforced).<br />
<br />Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-79426757828739198302014-07-20T20:43:00.001+01:002014-07-20T22:16:45.005+01:00Ketchup? No catch upTime for a bit of a catch up and I'll try to make sure it's not like a Christmas letter! (Yes I mentioned Xmas and it's only July)<br />
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<b>Work</b>: I did a course with the local council trying to teach kids who had left school without any qualifications. The council find them work placements for 16 weeks and one day a week, they have to attend a day of skill learning - including a session of basic cooking skills. There was a lot of resentment on their part regarding both the cooking and cleaning. I had a difficult time seeing them waste the food they had cooked but refused to eat. It was probably the hardest job I've ever done. Funnily, once the course ended, I really missed the kids and the challenge!<br />
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<b>Regular work: </b>Sadly the hours from the council are not regular enough so in February I got a part time admin job in Edinburgh in fashionable George Street - a very swanky street full of top end clothes shops and restaurants. The people in the firm are super clever and miles away from the kids I was teaching. I work 4 hours a day and naively thought that would give me loads of time to go around Edinburgh. On most days, I'm running for one of the two trains that run an hour to get back in time to pick up the kid from school - really makes me miss London Underground with it's regular trains. And there are early starts meaning getting up before 6am. It's been nearly 5 months and I'm still getting used to it :S<br />
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<b>Castle</b>: As I exit Waverly Station everyday, I'm try to make sure I look up at the Castle. I don't want to forget it's there. It is odd being on the lower New Town part of the city looking up at the Edinburgh Old Town - can just imagine how the peasants felt back in the days when the Castle was occupied.<br />
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<b>Mountains</b>: We went up to Aviemore for a short break for my birthday. Amazing views from the top of the CairnGorm mountain, riding up on the <a href="http://www.cairngormmountain.org/funicular/">Funicular Railway</a>. And yes, that was snow in May. A smallish strip but I was chuffed to bits to see people snowboarding and skiing. Luckily the rest of the area was not covered in the freezing stuff and we spent some great days exploring the area.<br />
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<b>Beaches</b>: we visited Cramond Beach which is in North Edinburgh on a sunny day in June. It's quite a short drive from Livingston. There are some beautiful views though sadly the beach itself was very dirty. Mr Plummy Mummy's family come from Dundee and the beach there at Broughty Ferry is so clean that it's always a shock to me when I see one that isn't as well kept. However, it's definitely worth going here for the views and to see the old WW2 fortifications. </div>
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<a href="http://www.thehelix.co.uk/discover-helix/the-kelpies/"><b>Helix Park in Falkirk</b> </a>- this is an amazing place developed on old industrial ground right next to Falkirk football stadium. We (foolishly) chose to go on the first weekend of the holidays so all the car parks were rammed. Like a lot of other people, we ended up parking on the grassy area. Sadly the developers massively underestimated the amount of parking needed. The Kelpie Horses designed by <a href="http://www.thekelpies.co.uk/">Andy Scott </a>are AMAZING - really beautiful sculptures and together with Falkirk Wheel, are helping to turn this area into a great destination to visit. I was gutted to have missed the launch at night when the horses were lit up and there were fireworks. A rare moment when I missed living in Falkirk :)<br />
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There is a wonderful waterpark which is part of the Helix park - and after I got my fill of culture taking a million photos of these sculptures, we took kiddo to the waterpark to have fun in the water. It was all so lovely apart from the idiotic mother that let her young daughter run around naked in the water. Just seemed so wrong especially when the little s*d decided to wee in the water. Quick exit for us!</div>
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<b>Gardening Scotland 2014</b> - Chelsea this is NOT! It was tiny. We were in the midst of buying the house we rent and I wanted some ideas for designing the garden. There were only a few show gardens which whilst gorgeous, were beyond my gardening skills. There was an area for schools gardens and some of these really clever in their designs. Inside the main hall, there were lots of plant displays and I've picked up a couple to try out on the garden. <br />
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So that's it, caught up to June. In the next post, I'll cover July after I've watched Monty Python live on GoldPlummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-19674104436412457352013-11-01T21:18:00.000+00:002014-07-22T20:40:28.697+01:00The Original Plummy Mummy back again...Well only briefly. Last week I was down in London with the kiddo and we stayed overnight at a lovely friend's house in Plumstead.<br />
During the day, we met with another friend in Greenwich. God I miss the old place. We walked around the Cutty Sark, the Painted Hall and Chapel and had a quick visit to the Maritime museum (great new map on the upper floor) and a wee bit of Greenwich park. That night, there was going to be filming for the new Man from U.N.C.L.E. film so there were some great old cars around. Inside the Chapel, the volunteers told about the blue backdrop being made of curtains from the Queen's Coronation, about the medallions made of Coade stone which was manufactured in Lambeth by Eleanor Coade in the 1780s (yes, a WOMAN inventor) and about the ornate ceiling. The original Chapel was not at all ornate but after it burnt down and was rebuilt, it was made very fancy indeed. There is so much to see both in the Painted Hall and Chapel though I recommend not going with an impatient 6 year old who has a huge love for the Maritime museum and doesn't want to dally anywhere else.<br />
It was great being back there, the sun was shining and I was relieved that (as far as I could see) Greenwich park had been restored post Olympics.Kiddo was very taken with the water feature in the grounds.<br />
We had lunch at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theplumtreecafe?fref=ts">Plumtree Cafe </a>(241 Greenwich High Road, SE10 8NB). What an utter shame that the owners never got this into Plumstead as they had originally planned as it would have been wonderful to have the cafe on the Common. The day we visited, everything was a bit hectic but I found out that some regular staff weren't there and so it wasn't normal service. The food was good and lunch didn't cost much so that was great. Kiddo loved it as there is a dedicated area at the back with a kids playhouse! Definitely worth going for a bit of nosh there.<br />
After lunch, kiddo and I made our way to Woolwich Arsenal to catch the bus. Ah good old Woolwich never fails ....as soon as we got off the train, we had a run in with not one, but two locals. Nothing changes huh! I do NOT miss these hideous encounters and find it shocking now that I live away from London. Luckily, a quick bus ride and we were in leafy, beautiful Autumnal Plumstead. First call was a mum who had just had a new cute as pie baby. Then we went to a friend's house to meet up with other mums and their kiddos we knew - it was so wonderful to catch up with old friends. It was topped off with a lovely dinner and beds in the attic. My friend's place is so different from mine - very arty Boho and just full of wonderful things to look at. I miss having coffees with her very much.<br />
The next morning, we sneaked round to our old place to have a look and I was delighted at how well the garden has grown. Sadly, as the place has tenants I couldn't look around the inside. Probably best, as the visit had left me rather weepy for the old place.<br />
All in all, it was fun being back albeit briefly. Some pictures below, in no particular order.<br />
As for the "Original Plummy Mummy" above....well there is now a very big group of mums on Facebook with the name which is nice but please don't forget that I AM the original Plummy Mummy and though I may be away, I haven't forgotten about the old place.<br />
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Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-11280329551224250572013-05-24T19:19:00.003+01:002013-05-24T19:19:56.202+01:00My best friend is MuslimMy best friend is Muslim. She's a normal person. We first met at a north west London school 35 years ago when she sat at the desk in front of me cos her surname began with an "A" and mine with a "B".<br />
<br />
When mindless idiot men do something so utterly horrific as hack another human being to death in the name of her religion, it makes me angry and also very, very afraid for her. Afraid that some idiot will do something to her as she's got a headscarf on.<br />
I've already lost an old school friend to that type of utter scum idiot - I truly do not want to lose another. I condemn such savagery, as all decent human beings do.<br />
<br />
And my heart goes out that a son has lost his father, a wife her husband, sisters their brother, a mother and father his son.<br />
<br />
<br />Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298570407595087518.post-19651549268593288902013-03-12T09:43:00.002+00:002013-03-12T09:43:39.059+00:00BudgettingI'm grappling with a course assignment at the moment - I have to work out a week's menu for a family of four with a budget of just over £36. The course I'm on is all about healthy eating, so the menu has to show that even on that low a budget you can eat healthily. I've been working on it for about two weeks now and it's been interesting trying to work out the right balance of meals. It's messing with my head as a vegetarian as I'm recommending meat and fish meals.<br />
This year I have felt the pinch made worse by my guilt for not having earned any money for nearly six years. A few large bills (repairs on the car, repairs to the house due to the rain last year) and it's tipped us over the edge of being comfortable, to having to watch our pennies. But even so, we are not struggling so much that we have to give up all treats - it's relative isn't it what a struggle is for one family compared to another. We treat ourselves with food but we won't be going on a holiday abroad this year (or probably the next). I know that most of our bills are over £40 for food a week and there are only 3 of us. Shockingly, this is with a mostly vegetarian diet and home-cooked meals. I would dread to think what our bill would be if we ate more meat, bought more processed meals and ordered a take out out more than once a month.<br />
As part of the course I've been volunteering on some cooking courses - I come across people who are much less fortunate than me and who are going to struggle even more when the benefit changes come in. It is so shocking that in 21st century Britain, families are starving. The thing is, these are not lazy benefit scroungers. Some are in this position due to the lack of employment, living in areas where there is less choice in terms of food outlets, others due to learning difficulties or mental health issues.<br />
Then there are those that never learnt to cook well - didn't have parents to teach or inspire them. I am grateful that both my parents taught me about food in their own way. I'm obsessive about food - watching lots of shows, poring over recipe books, wandering around supermarkets and markets looking for new foods and for bargains so that I can try something out. I'm lucky.<br />
I hope we don't have any other large bills as I fear it would catapulted us over the edge of being comfortable into the realm of scrimping and I wouldn't be able to feed my obsession which would really mess with my head.Plummy Mummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06581505117908609291noreply@blogger.com0