Toast, ODD and German

To have got to the third week in January and still having a wonderful year!  I've been making big in roads with Thing One, had a few glitches, made a few discoveries but no major set backs.  I've been taking her out every week for dinner and last week we went to see The Kings Speech.  It was fabulous.  I'm not sure that it was really Thing One's thing but as she has squandered all her History lessons at school by staring into space and fiddling with her hair I'm just hoping that some of it went in.  Colin Firth is wonderful in it and I hope he wins some awards.  Helena B H also fab.  She was also in Toast which we watched over the Christmas Holidays and it has had a lasting effect.  I've always been a fan of Nigel Slater, my plum jam that I make annually is made with one of his recipes but I didnt know much about Nigel the person and it was so sad it made Thing Two and I cry.  Cried all the way through it.  His mother dying of lung disease raised the old smoking issue with thing two and I relented and said I'd give up...have kept my word, think I've had 2 since..when drinking wine. Back to the subject of Thing One, we've been referred to CAMS and I'm hoping that they can help me steer her back onto a more productive path as I'm concerned about her leaving school with no qualifications and stuggling later on.  I'm in process of choosing a private maths tutor and have pretty much avoided any outside family interferance as they criticize me and tell me I'm too soft whereas I know it is not me who is behaving badly but her and there's a limit to how much I can do and yelling and screaming at her to do things is counterproductive.  Removing things from her is also counterproductive and I suspect she may be suffering from ODD.  BUT she is now eating again and she goes to school.  Her German teacher sent me some homework for her to try and catch up and it has become clear that she can't speak a word of German after having been having lessons for 3 years she told me that one of the boys in her class watched an entire episode of The Inbetweeners on his phone during one of her lessons recently.  Very observant teacher...not that I'd want her job...I'd rather share a bed with skunks than try and teach 14 year olds.  

Thought I'd chuck a picture of Helena as the Red Queen in here as well...Thing Two is nuts about The Red Queen and when/if she ever gets a revamped room she wants it done in the Theme of Red Queen.  Might be able to rise to that little challenge.  We shall see. xx

2011!!! Finally a lovely New Year

Now that I've got a nice new shiny year to fill I feel it's about time I did a posting. It's been a strange few months...but I'm still intact as are the things.  Had some rather hellish times with my difficult teenager and I expect there will be more but I feel better equipped to deal with it now that I've been "cured" by very nice therapist.  Our sessions are now over and I wouldn't say I was an expert in her chosen field, cognitive behaviour therapy or CBT but I've nabbed a few bits from it regarding flexible thinking, zig zag effects and self acceptance.  Apparently I really must write it all down as according to Claire (therapist) research has been done and after 6 months those that didn't record their efforts and findings forgot the entire lot.  Must write it down.
Not going to write that little lot down here but will report some hots and not so hots since my trip to Denmark.
Hot
The arrival of Whiskers, she's now 6 months old and belongs to Thing Two, she was a gift on her birthday.

My solar panels - I've got 8 and they generate electricity that goes straight to my electric box under the stairs. They are solar voltaic which means they are activated by light not sunshine which is just as well here in the uk.

The two new girls at work - they're awesome - love them

The arrival of Denis...met Denis in the autumn and we had a little romance and I really enjoyed his company.

Moving Thing Two's school, well I'm happier, the journey is longer and we both felt a sense of relief when we left the old place.

I got a new replacement table.  It's almost the same but wee bit smaller. I got it on the insurance and made Thing one pay the excess.  I also got a new fridge

Having a retreat in the gorgeous blogs that I read regularly read, when I step into the worlds of Mimosa, Wee Wonderfuls, Posy gets Cosy, Angry Chicken, Little Cotton Rabbits and Jane Brocket it's like I'm enveloping myself in a pink fluffy blanket. 

Not Hot
Having to deal with cat litter!!! ooooky

The snow that arrived just before Christmas, as usual it looked lovely but what a pain in the neck.

We didn't get a Christmas work do/ball - we did get a meal paid for but I'm going to write and complain.  I like getting done up and going out to a nice hotel to have a jolly good dance with nice food.

Dumping Denis...feel very guilty but unfortunately, it didn't work out.

The new table.  It's taking a long time to be able to look at it and not feel a twinge of anger.  I also had to replace the fridge/freezer after Thing One's exploits.

Thing One's appalling behaviour over the last 3 months.  No point pretending its been a breeze it has not. Its been a nightmare.  Am learning to accept that she is not the little girl she was and have formed a mindset that she is like a caterpillar who has formed a pointy and unpleasant cocoon and will eventually breakout of it and become a beautiful butterfly.  All I can do is guide when necessary, clean her room and make sure she actually eats, give her lifts and keep her safe.

Getting flu right before Christmas and having it through my entire 2 week holiday!  Could barely eat Christas dinner so invited friends over on New Years Day for a roast been dinner with mince pies and champagne.

I have big plans for this year and am hoping to be creative and adventurous.
Happy New Year to one and all
xxx