School days

Tuesday today, that means that Alice has been with me overnight since I picked her up from the nursery yesterday.   We then have to get her back for 12.45 (the afternoon session) at her school nursery today.  

Sounds easy enough doesn't it.  Small problem, Alice lives an hours drive from where I live, and timing can be difficult with  a 3 year old who does not see why she should get dressed or have her hair brushed and certainly does not want to clean her teeth.

"I just want to play Nannie Rosie - sing it again!"   She has suddenly started to enjoy marching, and my job is to sing ' The grand old Duke of York' over and over again whilst she marches around the table. She is followed by Jasper, tail wagging and tongue hanging out,  whilst Mica sits on my knee wondering what on earth is going on. 

We then had several games of 'hide and seek' after reading 'Spot's Birthday Party.'  She hasn't quite got the hang of the hiding bit because she goes to the same place each time, and I have to look everywhere giving a commentary (no, Alice is not behind the curtain etc.)  before finding her.   She loves it anyway and we all had a lot of fun and giggles.

She finally allowed me to help her get dressed, and she did her teeth and I was allowed to brush her hair. We then collected all her bits and pieces, including her overnight bag and 'marched' to the car, with me singing 'the grand of Duke of York.'

I am not sure what the builders who are working on the house next door must have thought but at this point I just had to get her into the car so kept on singing.  The dogs got into the car in record time - no doubt embarrassed by my singing.  Once all in and strapped safely we were off.

We managed to get to school just 10 minutes late, Alice slipping into the class and sitting on the carpet with the other children in time to watch a story of the Nativity.   She looks such a little lady, my baby has disappeared and this delightful little girl has taken her place. I am one lucky Nannie Rosie.

Nana time

On Monday's we pick up my granddaughter from nursery and bring her home to stay for the night.  We put the dogs in the car and set out to get there at 11.15 when her session ends.

I stood outside with the mums and another nana and chatted, because I was a bit early, and had a conversation about whether it would rain or not.  The weather girl had promised us a good day.  Well, it rained and when the doors opened I was nicely soaked.

I saw my grandaughter, and when she saw me she ran up to me to say the usual greeting 'Hello Nanna Rosie!' but all that came out of her little mouth was - croak!

She looked really peaky and by the time we got home she was asking to go to bed (at 4.30!).

I had forgotten how it felt to have a little one be ill;  my daughter is now a mother herself, but all those feelings came flooding back.   By 6 p.m.  Alice was asleep on my lap and burning up.   Calpol to the rescue to help with her tempterature, and put to bed.

At 2.30 am and she was awake and crying with an awful croaky cry, and her breathing was wheezy.  I felt so helpless and wished it was me instead of her, but all I could do was hold her, and tell her she would feel better soon.   Another dose of medicine and the Chipmonks DVD was the only thing that helped her to settle, and she finally fell asleep again.   I did too, but not for long before getting up to see my husband off to work and make his packed lunch.  

The puppies as ever were full of fun and jumped on me as I went into the kitchen, greeting me as though I had been away for a fortnight.  They couldn't understand why Alice didn't want to play and looked longingly at her with tongues hanging out and tails wagging.

At the moment, we are cuddled up under the throw, and she still doesn't have a voice.  Poor love.  I don't think we will venture far today.

A duvet day I think and watch Mickey Mouse Club all day if she doesn't improve. Such a shame because it is school photos today, but she will not be fit to go if some improvement is not forthcoming and soon.

Oh well, lots to do indoors - perhaps even some housework - but I doubt it.  Perhaps I should tackled the dogs, they need a wash and brush up and a trim.

Dogs just want to have fun -  what's going on Mum - oh no - don't get the brush out!

Aaaaggggghhhhh  ---  Nooooooo!

Flu Jab

I am going to have my flu jab today.   I did go a fortnight ago but because I had a temperature they sent me away with instructions to come back when I was well.

Well my temperature is back to normal so here we go again.  There is no margin for error because the appointments are two minutes apart, with instructions on the door to 'have your arm ready.' 

When I started my nurse training back in 1973, most intramuscular injections were given into the gluteus maximus muscle.   Imagine that sign on the door -  'have your bum ready!'

Charity Shop - here I come!

Doesn't it make you feel good to finally get something done that you have intended doing for a long time, but have not managed to get around to it yet.

My wardrobe was bursting at the seams and could not shut properly, plus there were hangers hanging on the outside with various things that would not fit inside. 

Well, I sorted out my wardrobe and anything that I had not worn for a year went into the charity shop bag.  I also got rid of lots of my work clothes (because now I have retired I really don't need them) which left a roomy space that I could actually manage, and see what I have to wear.

The next thing I did was to colour code my clothes going from black to white with all the colours in between stacked together to make it easier to find what I need when I need it.  I now have a rainbow of clothes, and I just keep opening the doors, looking at the clothes, and then closing the doors again.  

Now - two large bags for the charity shop are in the boot of the car ready to be delivered.

I feel so pleased with myself.  What next  -  the craft room I think, but this may take a little longer to sort out.

Christmas is coming

We went to the garden centre for lunch today after church.  This is a usual occurrence on a Sunday.  Church, lunch out and the visit my mother in law (who is in a nursing home a few miles away).

Today when we walked around the garden centre towards the restaurant the Christmas music was playing pleasantly in the background making me want to sing along.  Christmas is my favourite time of year but this year will be the first time for many years that I haven't been part of a school Christmas.  Working with the younger pupils I usually organised that nativity part of the school play.  It never failed to make me feel misty and bring a lump to my throat.  The children dressed as angels, animals, shepherds and kings, with Mary, Joseph and the little doll wrapped up and put into the toy manger.

What is so unusual with this?  Almost every nursery in the country does a nativity, don't they?

The big difference is that the children that I worked with all had special needs, and to see them in their wheelchairs, or 'signing' the songs because they couldn't speak or sing, or joining their little friends on stage in front of an audience despite being autistic and finding this situation really scary made our play different.  In fact, the play was wonderful on lots of levels, especially as every child in the school took part whatever their ability or disability.  We took pains to make sure that Jesus was truly a part of our Christmas in a world that often forgets this fact.   Christmas is not about buying expensive toys or gifts, but remembering that tiny child that came to set us free.