STARLIGHT EXPRESS.....

Had a great weekend. Went to watch Starlight Express at Westcliff Pavillion and it's one of the BEST ever musicals I've ever watched ( Not that I've watched as many as Ian ), but I absolutely loved it ! Wouldn't mind watching it again and again....All those people in skates, skating round and round, and the 3D effects are amazing ! Lotsa good music and songs ( Would love to learn how to play it on the piano ).

BAD ACCIDENT TODAY, PLAN RUINED !! Aaargh ! Ouchiesss !

My big plan to go to the gym today was ruined by a clumsy accident ! Just as I was about to shut the freezer door ( located behind the kitchen door ), baby JJ started to scream and I panicked, so in a BIG hurry, I managed to trap my right toes in between the gap of the kitchen floor and door ( Stupid, stupid girl !! ). So, I couldn't wear any socks or trainers today coz' it hurts like crazy. Proof : I've got a bruise near my toenail ! Ouchies !! Was cursing like crazy in the kitchen while putting ice cubes on my toes.

Great news ; Talked to stinky today ! Always soooo busy with FISH,FISHES and MORE FISHIES ! But glad you're happy and doing very well....But I am still waiting for the ''special'' invite someday ! You know what I mean !!!

CHEDDAR GORGE, CHEDDAR CHEESE, I can still smell something cheesy from here !

We just returned home from our weekend escape into the countryside, and it's still ''cheddary'' here ! Ian, Jamie and I went to Cheddar, Somerset on Friday and stayed in a Farmhouse B&B ( my first time in a B&B ) and the scenery was just great. The '' fresh '' air in the countryside was good for our lungs coz' we had cows just right in front of the farmhouse :)

On Saturday, it was our day out to the Cheddar Gorge and Caves, and the caves are simply unbelievable. It is cathedral-like and we took some good pictures in there. Here are some of the pics that we've taken.

A little bit about Cheddar :

Cheddar is unique. Its distinguishing feature is the natural phenomenon of Britain's largest Gorge. Gough's Cave is an internationally famous archeological site because of its Late Upper Paleolithic finds (12-13,000 years old) and contained Britain's oldest complete skeleton (9,000 years old). Historically, Cheddar's source of wealth was farming and cheese making for which it was famous as early as 1170 AD.

A bit about the Chedddar Gorge Cheese Company :
This is how they make their authentic Cheddar Cheese, and we paid an entrance fee to watch them make it !

The requirements of a truly authentic Cheddar cheese are:
- It should be made from unpasteurised milk taken from cows grazing in the lush pastures surrounding Cheddar. The pastures influence the milk and the milk determines many of the key characteristics of the cheese
- Made and cheddared by hand using the cheesemaker's skill and experience rather than a mechanised process
- Matured in cloth for 12 months + to produce a rind and, more importantly, to allow the gradual change in texture of the cheese to take its effect on flavour development. This happens differently in vacuum matured cheese.

We had a taste of a vintage cheddar, and ian liked it. A bit too strong for me, but I like mature cheddar best !

MY PARENTING STYLES :

Just read a parenting mag and came across an interesting article about Parenting Styles....And it seems like I am the RUBBISH ONE AND PROUD OF IT ! :) Here are the reasons why I qualify :

1. I am naturally NOT a good cook ( and still not one ).

2. I am just an ordinary person who ended up being a parent.

3. I will take advice, but nothing seems to work !

4. Finally, i try and develop a plan that aims to keep everyone happy ( and it involves keeping baby quiet and happy, and at the same time, it makes daddy happy too coz daddy needs a rest after a ''hard'' day at work ! Hehehheee ! )

5. I cannot be a MANUAL MUM, or it will lead to madness ! ( the thing manuals never prepare you for is the endless maternal guilt )

6. My ''Bible '' : Confessions of a Bad Mother, by Stephanie Calman :P

7. My essential gear : A good book, baby's dummy, and a dose of SENSE OF HUMOUR and A DASH OF PATIENCE ( these are vital )

8. There is nothing more fulfilling than being a stay-at-home Wifey & Mummy looking after 2 ''princes'' at home ( and very proud of them both !! )


I also qualify for the SLINGER type ( a.k.a. ATTACHMENT PARENT ), and the reasons are :

- I love to keep my baby with me all the time ( literally ' attached ' via a sling while he is still not too heavy )

The idea of this type is that....The child will have none of the abandonment issues and insecurity complexes that produces most of our neuroses. ( So JJ will be Mummy's Boy with the good qualities of a GOOD BOY from his daddy )


Anyways, this picture is taken at Jacob's Ladder in Cheddar, after we climbed and climbed many steps to get up there. Worth it tho' coz I had the opportunity to go blackberry pickin'. The apples were too high up in the tree, so didn't manage to get any from up there. The watch tower behind me allows the person up theere to get an amazing view of the countryside in Cheddar, but since height is one of my many phobias, i had difficulty going up / down !

26th August 2006....Leicester and Foxton Locks

Had a great time in Leicester. Unfortunately, had no time to write about it in the blog until now. ( Yea right....No time ! More like LAZY !! ). Anyways, Mark and Tash and Nanny and Mum and Dad and Ian and JJ and Myself......All of us went out to the Foxton Locks to get some fresh air in the countryside. Amazing view and scenery, so here are the pics.

Ian managed to be the ''hero'' of the day, feeding the swans breadcrumbs, and they took the bread from his hand ! Lucky that his hands are still intact ! I was scared that they might come pecking my legs, so I was on the watchout for those big thingys !

Ian bought a bouncy swing for JJ and he has been on that thing a few times a day and I think he really likes it. JJ doesn't like to be on his back for hours.

Definition : FATHER

The Definition of Father

A father is traditionally the male parent of a child. Like mothers, fathers may be categorised according to their biological, social or legal relationship with the child.
Historically, the biological relationship paternity has been determinative of fatherhood. However, proof of paternity has been intrinsically problematic and so social rules often determined who would be regarded as a father e.g. the husband of the mother.
This method of the determination of fatherhood has persisted since Roman times in the famous sentence: Mater semper certa; pater est quem nuptiae demonstrant (Mother is always certain; the father is whom the marriage shows).

This picture was taken at Cheddar Gorge, where we spent our weekend at a B&B Farmhouse, called Batts' Farm....Great weekend away from the city and the seaside ! Appreciate that trip and your driving, hubby dearest ! The best Birthday Prezzie !! Would love to be back there again someday !