yikes....

So today is the 29th October. I last posted on the 1st October, feeling somewhat triumphant having just cycled 80 or so miles in 2 days, and with a fresh resolve to train hard for the task in hand.

Since then? I have done precisely two school runs (total distance 2 miles) and one trip to the park (total distance 2 miles with a half hour long break for see-sawing in the middle).

On one of the school run trips myself and both boys nearly ended up under a passing truck when Jack (who knew full well he should NOT be carrying toys on the bike - we have a "toys in pockets" rule - dropped Thomas the Tank Engine who chuffed his way into a very tight corner lodged on top of the back wheel between the frame / brake cables and tyre, the result of this being that the bike stopped. I mean STOPPED. dead. Very suddenly. A fair way from the curb as we were pulling to go round a parked car. Two children one bike and me jammed. I had to unload the children, send them to the pavement, lift B.O.D to the pavement (a hard job - HEAVY!) then turn B.O.D. upside down while wrestling with Thomas for 10 minutes trying to convince him that the thing the fat controller (that'd be me) wanted him to do was to chuff right back out of that spot. NOT a really useful engine.

Thomas, sadly, had a broken wheel, and we spent the remainder of the trip home with Jack screaming (top of Jacks lungs is a loud and very high pitched place) because of Thomas' broken wheel, and he seemed to think this much more upsetting than the fact we all very nearly died. One of us certainly has our priorities screwed a little.

There is a group of us chatting on Facebook now, swapping tips for what to pack, how to numb areas that may need numbing etc etc. This is a kind of breakaway group from the slightly scary Justgiving group - they were all cycling 100 miles a day and had raised double their fundraising target by March (and are apparently discussing whether or not one should take GHD hair straighteners to Cuba.....hmmmmmmmmm.) - scary for those of us who could barely recognise a bike and had raised about £10.50 by that time. However, now the FB group seem to also be leaving me miles behind. They all seem to be cycling a decent number of miles a decent number of times a week, or at least making it the gym, or doing some form of exercise more than the 'lifting-the-next-slice-of-cake-to-their-mouth' exercise that I am doing. They seem to know what they are packing, what they should be taking when they should be at the airport. All that stuff.

I know nothing! In precisely 23 days I will be sitting on an aeroplane with all these prepared and ready people. A bundle of exhausted fuzzy nerves, trying to desperately remind myself how to pedal. They do say you can never forget though right?

I am making something of an effort this coming weekend. Well that is to say I have some effort planned. Alison and I are going to drive to Caz's place on the South coast on Saturday morning, then all cycle back to Alison's in surrey (this involves South downs and North downs). The plan was that I collect my shiny new expensive bike from lovely Ed on the way to Alison's Friday evening - but still no word on the tyre that is split. Or rather the replacement for the tyre that is split. He has my brand new shiny bike all assembled and ready to go; except this blinking tyre which seems to be taking FOREVER to arrive. And if I have to do a 100 mile weekend on B.O.D I think I may just cry. Or die.

So watch this space.....I'll keep you posted!

I'm rubbish

Well, I really am. Two posts and then a month off.

So, it's a Tuesday. Both the girls had appointments with Mary. I copped out and took the laptop so they could watch DVDs while I knitted.

Knitting a pair of arm warmers at the moment, using Rowan tapestry. Did a hat at the weekend. Really getting back into it but only because I have given up on Phoebe's jacket for now - and I really need to finish that.

Couple of funny things:

A telling a story to M in the back of the car, 'It was Bob's birthday. It was a lovely day and every body said Happy birthday Bob and then the next day, he died.'

M to me, after I had said we need to zoom as fast as Tommy Zoom, 'I can only zoom as fast as a frog'.

A told me earlier that she was hungry and then she said, 'One more jaffa cake should do the trick.'

The other day we were telling a story taking it in turns to tell a segment. It somehow became the story of Adam and Eve. After A had described the snake luring Adam and Eve into eating the apple it was Madeleine's turn. She said that God called the police and they took the snake to prison. A said, that story is from the bible, except for the bit about the police (in rather squashing tones).

A told me, 'We are learning about space at school.... but I think it's just a lie'

Bad night

M had achy legs in the night last night. She was very distressed by it and she's all over the place anyway having just come back from Chris. Ended up havng her in bed with me, undoing all the good work we achieved before they went away.

It's half past ten in the morning and she's still asleep.

New Year's Day

Got the girls back today. M was very sad and cried on and off all the way back home. A seemed fine, as usual. Had a veiled lecture from C about my parenting skills, or lack of them. Ashley and Robin were staying too and I felt that the strain on the adults was beginning to show.

We've had a pretty good afternoon, so far. Did a few creative thank you letters, played Ali Baba and the grumpy camel (which was hilarious, not least because it genuinely scared the pants off me) and now they are playing with the marble run that Steve gave them.

The flat is a tip but I am trying to be laid back about it. Mary Poppins is showing on the tely at the moment but neither of them seem remotely interested. Granny will approve of their tastes!

Had a few texts from S but haven't replied yet. Can't decide what to do about him. Maybe I will be clearer in my mind when I see him again. It's been ages.