neurosis - mocha beanie mummy

Silent Sunday. It’s BACK. And it’s bigger, bolder AND SMELLING LESS LIKE AFTERSHAVE.

February 20, 2012 By mocha beanie mummy 10 Comments

When I ditched the Silent Sunday linky back sometime in 2011 (I can’t remember when), the sigh of relief was so big, caused a hurricane in the middle of the pacific ocean. No one was affected though, because I don’t like world disasters and being responsible for mass death and destruction; it just makes me uncomfortable. The very same day that it was announced, approximately a zillion people got in touch asking if they could “take it” so I wouldn’t have to deal with it.

Ahhhh there’s the problem.

Much as I didn’t like the linky and the epic shit that came with it, I was genuinely sad to cut people off. I don’t think I fit in very well with the “mummy blogging” “community”, and rarely seem to fit in anywhere else on line. So to sever the last chunk of communication with the blogging world, being my love of photography, was a wee bit sad. However, Silent Sunday was always my blogging baby. And you know when you give birth, and have the newborn, and someone comes along with some hideously strong perfume or aftershave and leaves your bubba wreaking of that, rather than the natural essence of the thing you created in the first place? And all you can smell is the wreak, and not your lovely bubba? Well it’s the most bizarre analogy ever, but it’s the most accurate analogy ever.

Silent Sunday was not for others to take off me and leave their smell all over it. The end.

AND THEN, along came Love All Blogs a couple of weeks ago, asking if they would be allowed to host The Linky for me, so that my meme (meem? MeMe? Mehm?) could be resurrected properly, without being taken away from me. Am I possessive? Hell yeah. But if you know me, if you’ve spent the time reading my blog, if you have the vaguest idea of the sort of person I am, you’ll know why a SILENT Sunday is so important to me. Why I was (and still am) so particular about it.

There are shit loads of people out there whom I know for a fact snipe at Silent Sunday for whatever reason. “What’s the point? It’s just a photo.” Or, “Geeze this blog is dull, it’s nothing but photos and no words. What am I supposed to read?” Or maybe “Why should you have to follow rules to post a photo? Over on my blog I can do what the hell I like.” If those are your views, then that’s absolutely fine! I’m not going to slate you; the world would be dull if we all thought the same, no?

But I would like to say this. First – I’m a photographer. I can express myself very well with photos alone. I don’t expect you to do the same. Second – I’m crap with words. I’m not a writer. I’ve never declared myself a writer. If you want something to read, go find another blog. I promise I won’t be offended. Third – Of course you can blog what you like! But may I remind you that the rules do not stipulate that if you post a photo then YOU MUST link it up to something. Just saying. You don’t have to link it up if you don’t want to follow the rules. So please. Please show some (A LOT) of respect over on Lovel All Blogs.

Annie at Love All Blogs pitched to me absolutely perfectly, was bloody lovely about it, and was brilliant in “asking me first” if it was ok to go ahead. I have a lot of respect for her for that. And so, the Silent Sunday linky is back, and can be found on Love All Blogs Silent Sunday Linky, and the badge as ever can be found there or here. Ok, much like my tagline, I’m emitting all manner of crap now. So go. Do your Silent Sunday.

The Rules still apply. Why wouldn’t they? It wouldn’t be Silent Sunday without them.

Filed Under: actual happy times, asshats, AWESOMENESS, Blogging, mocha beanie mummy, neurosis, photography, Silent Sunday, Ultimate Stresssss

Pox Watch, Day 6,894/Half Term Day WhyIsItNotOverYet – We’re still alive. Barely.

February 17, 2012 By mocha beanie mummy 2 Comments

He’s eaten his weight in fruit. © Mocha Beanie Mummy

Isaac has succumbed to Facial Orifice Fluid (as have I)

We’ve watched a LOT of crap TV (did you know that 4 hours of back-to-back Fireman Sam can render an adult temporarily brain dead?)

I used a LOT of this. It’s not in the photo, but in addition to what you see on the table, there’s a massive tub full of Lego too.

It’s not easy building Lego stuff with a sick child coughing and sneezing down your neck asking “Have you finished it yet? Is it done yet? What is it Mommy? What are you building? Why are you building it? Why haben’t you finished it yet? Can I play with it when you’ve finished it? I want to play with it please, can I Mommy?”

For reasons which should be obvious, Wine o’ Clock is now at 4pm until Monday.

Filed Under: Facial Orifice Fluid (FOF), illness, Isaac, Lego, MAKE IT STOP, neurosis, Noah

This Week.

February 3, 2012 By mocha beanie mummy 2 Comments

He lives!

We are now both suffering from cabin fever, and I’m pretty convinced he’s sick of me now. That’s ok, because Pox Boy is going back to school on Monday, dammit.

It’s been a bloody long week.

~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~

I WON.

And it turns out I didn’t have to pay anyone. You can read more on Jay Mountford Photography and on Ice the Cake. OMFG! And thank you.

~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~

I’ve been asked to go back and perform with an orchestra. I quit professionally a few years ago. My last ever concert was very nearly a year ago, I haven’t picked up my cello since then.

I want to play. I actually want to play. Unfortunately, the thought TERRIFIES me. Maybe I’ll do some of the rehearsals. Play it safe, and all that.

Dammit.

~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~

In the car

Noah: Mommy can I have a drink please?

Me: Yes, would you like some juice when we get back? I don’t have anything on me now.

N: Ok, yes please.

Isaac: Can I have a drink please Mommy?

MBM: Yes, when we get back Isaac. What would you like?

I: Ummm…wine please.

MBM: …would you like red or white?

I: Ummm…white wine, please.

MBM: …okaaaayyyy…

~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~

I was so desperate to get into a bottle of wine last night, I managed to shatter the cork, flip the corkscrew off my hand and give myself a massive blood blister on my thumb.

I’m embarrassed. I may have to revert to screw top bottles. And ask Isaac for help.

~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~

I know we’re over these now, but this one still made me laugh.

Filed Under: actual happy times, Awards, AWESOMENESS, Conversations, illness, Isaac, Musician, neurosis, photography, photos, wtf

Pox Watch Day 3 – Current Observations and Birthday Thoughts

January 30, 2012 By mocha beanie mummy 2 Comments

1. The spots. Will appear. Everywhere. And anywhere. If you can think of a place, they’re there. Oh, they are THERE.

2. I do not do well waking up every 1-2 hours.

3. Piriton does NOT make Isaac fall asleep.

4. Isaac let me eat my birthday breakfast of a plate of bacon. Whilst he may be ill, he is still considerate.

5. We have taught him well.

6. The Gruffalo, on repeat, somehow doesn’t get old.

7. Peppa Pig, on repeat, becomes tedious.

8. It’s amazing how you discover exactly how your body is able to mould itself into the shape of a sofa as your kid makes themselves comfy on your lap.

9. Snuggling with Isaac on a real sofa with a Graze.com box is lovely. Until he eats all your vanilla infused cherries.

10. It’s really hard to remain patient, when shit loads of lovely people suggest things to make your kiddo feel better and you’ve pretty much tried them all already. And nothing is working.

11. People are incredibly helpful.

12. It’s really ok to have some of the birthday Prosecco for your lunch, under the circumstances.

13. Somethings just do not distract from the pain. Including Lego. This makes me really sad.

14. What I think is “humour” can be really misunderstood by people who don’t really know me.

15. I have a darker sense of humour than I thought. Especially on minimal sleep and with poorly sick child.

16. It occurs to me I’m still waiting for the panic of turning 30 to settle in. 3 years ago.

17. Trying not to lose your rag when your kid is wailing for help, and you keep telling them you are doing everything you can and they just need to calm down and listen, but they keep wailing anyway, is REALLY hard. Frustration is a bitch.

18. It’s amazing how some “pyjama days” aren’t as good as you might like, and especially when all you want to do is throw yourself in the shower. *scratches*

19. I hate feeling guilty for wanting to be selfish for just 5 minutes. Just because the very poorly child with a rash the size of Africa covering his groin area, and yelled and cried all the time I was opening my presents. And yet is now sat quite happily on the sofa watching Octonauts.

20. Birthdays, Chicken Pox and children. You just can’t predict them.

Filed Under: actual happy times, assvice, birthday, illness, Isaac, Just...everything., MAKE IT STOP, Mutha-Hood, neurosis, parenting, photos, twitter, Ultimate Stresssss, wtf

Pox Watch Day 1

January 29, 2012 By mocha beanie mummy 3 Comments

Gaahhhhhhh it was only a matter of time. When D came home with The Boys on Friday having been given a warning about The Pox, I was pretty sure we weren’t going to escape it this time.

Having returned from a lovely Friday night stay with D at Mal Maison hotel (general note: if you ever want to have hotel sex with me, don’t get me blinding drunk first. I like my sleep, innit), we walked in to find both Kiddos with surprisingly runny noses. Within about 30 minutes, we spotted numerous blisters on Isaac’s face and in his hair. GOOD TIMES.

Strangely, Noah seems impervious to Chicken Pox. I’m convinced he’s been subjected to it numerous times, and as yet seems to have avoided it. Yes, he has The Runny Nose right now, but no spots. At all. And he’s been hanging around Isaac like his life depended on it lately.

I can only thank the very Gods of Sympathy that Isaac is pretty much oblivious to the spots. He’s not scratching at all, and several have already crusted over. The ones in his pants are grim (potty training my have eased off a bit, but in all honesty, that’s a whole other story) and even the ones on his face are being completely ignored. The worst ones are the ones we can’t get to buried deep in his ear. Nothing like your kid scream “OUCH!”, bursting into tears and then watching them slapping the side of their face every few minutes.

D whizzed off to Lush to get some Dream Cream, which I absolutely swear by. Has everything he need to help him if the body itching sets in, and it doesn’t smell like something the cat pissed out three weeks ago into her litter tray. Because seriously, some of the creams out there smell bad.

So now we watch and wait, to see if Noah follows suit. I will be doing my best to absolutely NOT lose my marbles having at least one of them at home, and also desperately NOT stressing over not getting any work done. And not being gutted about not taking them to Wagamama on Sunday for my birthday on Monday. And not becoming mind numbingly bored to tears with Cbeebies and Disney Jnr on my tellybox.

Wouldn’t mind so much if they actually liked doing painting, sticking and gluing for more than 30 seconds. Maybe we’ll just make more Cock Cakes.

Filed Under: illness, Isaac, MAKE IT STOP, neurosis, Noah, parenting