Regular readers will remember I embraced a mid life crisis late last year and decided to whip myself into a frenzy of self improvement for my 44th year on this planet. In one frantic 12 month period I was finally going to tick off some of my long standing to do/wish list items in my Project 44 challenge. Well I'm two-and-a-half months into this … [Read more...]
Eating Out With Kids or My Failure as a Food Blogger
Eating out with small children is not an enjoyable experience. There was a long period when fine dining became a distant memory for us. MacDonalds became our restaurant of choice because THEY HAD A PLAYGROUND. Anyone who has tried to keep toddlers or preschoolers confined to a seat for any longer than three minutes knows the importance of that … [Read more...]
The Laundry
Right, it's decided, this family are becoming nudists. No I've made up my mind I can't be talked out of it. This post is brought to you from under a pile of washing so high it makes Everest look like a hill. We've currently experiencing yet another season of wet weather, most of the area on the Mid North Coast is on flood alert, and I'm too … [Read more...]
Before I Had Children
Before I had children ... I knew good behaviour was just a matter of proper discipline. I knew sexism and inequality were the result of gender stereotypes inflicted on children by parents - no child of mine was going to play with a Barbie Doll. I knew consistency was the only sure way to deliver a well rounded individual to the world. I knew my … [Read more...]
Ten Golden Rules of Parenting
This is not the advice in the parenting books - this is advice you take when you have ditched aspirations of perfection and are simply in survival mode. Never wake a sleeping child. If they are not bothering you don't bother them (admittedly this is how my kitchen came to be painted pink - but it was old and needed a facelift). Children don't … [Read more...]
The trials and tribulations of a techno connected life
We aren't exactly the most technical of families The desktop computer is four years old. My laptop belongs to a time period pre-everything, any attempt at internet connection allows you to go off and cook a three course meal while you wait for it to load and it won't let you type the letter "g". This proves somewhat difficult given my email … [Read more...]
Memory Loss
I'm starting to wonder if the fortieth decade has anything going for it. While I'm clinging to the notion that 40 is the new 30, 50 the new 40 as espoused by a bevy of filthy rich, heavily photoshopped famous beings gracing our magazines each day, scientists are raining on my parade. The Whitehall II study as reported in The Guardian says memory … [Read more...]
Why we qualify for the title “Shambolic Living”
Whenever I think I might have misnamed the blog this sort of thing happens. I demand a family outing for the last day of Mr Shambles holidays. We take a drive past Crescent Head scouting out potential camping spots. Hippie Child's surfboard is slung between the two girls because Mr Shambles is worried about it falling off the roof on the dirt … [Read more...]
Christmas countdown on – are we ready? No we’re not.
Three days remaining until the Christmas festivities. Or 62 hours, 26 minutes and 9 seconds at the time of writing, if you count Christmas day as starting at 6.00am on the 25th. As the time ticks away the frenzy gets that little bit more intense because, as per usual, we are not ready. You would think with 364 days notice we could get our act … [Read more...]
The Day I Killed Santa
It is now 12 months since I committed the crime. It began as such an ordinary day. I was trying to clean up. When the Princess Child approached me mid sweep. "Mum, Sam* said his mum told him Santa wasn't real. Santa is real isn't he?" Now look I've never been comfortable with the Santa thing, it always felt, well a little deceptive. However, … [Read more...]
