New Year's Eve Tomorrow - The End of 2010!

How has your year been?  I absolutely cannot believe that yet another year has flown by already.  This year has been a blast.  I've forced myself to stop being shy, made loads of new friends, met some truly amazing people and learned so much along the way.

I've got lots of ideas up my sleeve, maybe too many, which is why I haven't achieved the one new years resolution I made last year. It was to finish my book.  I've had the storyline and basic ideas written down for two years now and I've written nearly 65,000 words, so, go me. Some books are that long, but I've barely got into my epic tale.  Being a writer is all about the discipline, something which I seem to be lacking.  There's too much work and play to be had, along with more excuses the length of my intestines and so, I will once again this year commit to the same resolution.  I need to write 100,000 more words and then the tale will be told.

Back to partying though.  Tomorrow night, in a rare display of nocturnalism, my husband will be venturing out to play with his band Tuned to D.E.A.D. at The Fat Fox for the Sumo party, so I will be there.  

But I also have tickets for the amazing sounding Miss Cufuffle night at The Kings, Albert Road, which will be fantabulous, so i'll be nipping over there too, take a read all about it here: http://misscufufflepresents.wordpress.com/ 

It's my first time out on New Years Eve for three years, so I'm really looking forward to it.  I hope you have a wonderful evening and all the best for 2011!

Love Headhuntress xxxx

Silent Sunday - 26th December 2010

Fashionably late as always.  I present to you, Silent Sunday - on a Tuesday.

And I know, it's all about the silence, but I'd just like to say - that this is not my house!

The Gallery - Love - is it possible to keep finding room in your heart for more love?

This week on Sticky Fingers Blog the theme is "love."  It's a toughy  because so many pictures encapsulate love because we really do experience it in so many situations.

Imperfect Pages and Sticky Fingers have photographed sibling love.  Mumra posted a great picture showing the love she shares with her girlfriends through thick and thin. And Mummy Mishaps and Alexander Residence with their extra sensory perception both went for the love of their baby's favourite toys!

Here are my closest loves.

Love is patient

This is my Mum with my beautiful big sister.  She is eleven months older than me and lives with my parents still.  She has cerebral palsy and requires round the clock care, which my parents have patiently given her for thirty six years.  I went into social work so that I can be the best that I can be for her when it is time for her to move out and me to take over from my parents.  She is unable to talk, so she has never told me that she loves me.  But I know that she does.

Love is kind 


My three beautiful children - so special each one of them - of curse I am thoroughly biased!

It does not envy

This my best friend and I, she will not appreciate me posting this picture.  But I love it. I  love her too and we have been best friends for eighteen years now, through thick and thin, through all our ups and downs and she is always there for me when I need her.

It does not boast

Here are just a few of my many beautiful cousins with my children and I taken in 2003.  They live on the island of Borneo on the edge of the rainforest.  When I am with them, I feel a real sense of love and belonging. There are a few language barriers, but we still manage to communicate perfectly!  I do not love this picture.  I was the 27 year old boy in the St George's cross top!

It is not proud

Here we have brotherly love.  I was so worried about having more children.  My little boy would become the "middle" child and coupled with his Asperger's and his lack of ability to get on with other children,  I was worried that all the change would be a bit much or worse, that there wouldn't be a bond between them.  But I couldn't have been more wrong, Aspie Boy adores his little brother and Dizzy adores him back.  Between them is a real love.

It is not rude, it is not self seeking

Here is a moment of love between my eldest two and our dog Caleb when he was just a puppy.  He is huge now and very muscly, so we all keep our distance.

It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs

Here is out beautiful ginger tom Mr Schneebly.  He is a greedy self centred little cat, but we all love him none the less, even Caleb the dog loves him.  It's all about the cuteness.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

This is my little girl.  My first baby, she really is special, so thoughtful, full of love and wisdom.  When she was born I couldn't imagine the possibility of loving anyone more than I loved her.  But when her little brother came along, my heart grew bigger like the womb that nurtured them and made way for endless love for them both in equal measures.  When baby number three began to grow, I knew that nature would work it's magic and create room in my heart and mind for all three of them. 

It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.

Parents, grandparents, an aunty, sisters, brother,  and grandchildren.  The many roles in which love is fulfilled.

This hangs on my loo wall!

Love never fails.

The Gallery White

The theme for this week's Gallery courtesy of the wonderful Sticky Fingers Blog is white.  Here is my youngest looking a bit of all white when he was a few hours old. I was desperate for a home birth and went to all the home birth classes.  But my instinct told me to have him at hospital after Aspie Boy was born lifeless and in need of revival ten years earlier after only an hour's labour.  Dizzy finally came out thirty six hours after my waters broke and with three midwives yanking my feet up behind my ears to avoid shoulder dysctocia.  At 9lb 3, he was a big boy, too big for five foot nothing me.  He had an infection due to labour taking so long and we spent a further seven days at hospital so he could receive antibiotics through an IV in his little hand.  None of the clothes I had brought with me fitted him, so he spent the night in a vest and wrapped in towels and blankets like little baby Cheeses.

It couldn't have all been further from the homebirth I wanted, but the whiteness of those towels highlights the purity and freshness of a newborn life making a much anticipated arrival into the world.    

Groups For Mums A Guide for babies and toddlers in Southsea

Last Friday I went on a night out with the other Mums from our baby group.  We had a lovely meal at The Belle Isle - (but that's another post.)  A year ago, I could not have imagined doing that, ever!  I had a three month old baby, but I was terrified of the groups.   I went to La Leche when I was pregnant, to try and force myself to make friends with other Mums, but I just found the whole experience terrifying and a little bit soul destroying. I had done it all before, I love my baby, but I didn't want to just talk about sore boobs and pooy nappies like I was the first person it had ever happened to. It wasn't till I went to a clothing  party at On The Rocks that I met with one of the other Mums. "Why don't you come to the bumps and babies group?" She asked.

Bounce and rhyme when it used to be quiet!

I'd done it once, but left without even saying goodbye to anyone, so destroyed were my social skills.  Two years of talking to nobody but my very close friends, children and husband had turned me totally socially inept!

"Oh, I err, I didn't like it much."  I mumbled into my bucks fizz.

"Just come along,"  she said.  She took my number and text me all week to make sure I got involved when the next Bumps and Babies group took place.  What a woman.  She introduced me to everyone and next thing I knew, we were all having lunch at  The Slug. I had a great time and felt a total eejet for cutting off my face to spite my nose.  They are a lovely eclectic bunch.  From all walks of live and all corners of the globe!  I love my Mummy chums now and wouldn't be without them.

Bumps and babies are sadly no more.  Our babies got too big and I think they have been cut from the Portsmouth budget.  

We have been to some fab birthday parties

But Sure Start has been an absolute God send.  The group leaders for Southsea Aileen and Missy are really lovely and have time for all the babies and toddlers.

We have been going to the Sure Start  Monday group: 1-2.30pm at St Jude's Kent Road, Southsea

and 

Bounce and Rhyme: Thursday 1-2.30pm at St Swithuns, Waverley Road, Southsea

We even go out for drinks sans babies

These groups are fantastic but there are a lot of young babies there lying on the floor and suddenly, my little toddling rascal chunk who has a penchant for lobbing  bricks at random, has become one of the biggest there at only 16 months old, which makes the hall a minefield for soft fontanelles.  Eek!

So, I have compiled a list of toddler groups available in Southsea.  See you there!

Groups suitable for toddlers in Southsea that we will be trying soon, my good friends are using these already:

Monday 9.45 - 11.30: St Simons Church, Waverley Road - 50p for drink/biscuit

Tuesday: 9.30 - 11.30: Surestart Messy play at St Simons Church, Waverley Road: free

Friday: 12 - 14.30: Salvation Army on Albert Road: £1 for drink/biscuit




Other groups that we haven't tried yet:


Drop In

Eastney Methodist Church, Highland Road, Eastney, Portsmouth, Hants

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Every Friday
1.30-3.00
Under 5's
Free of charge

An informal group for mums, dads and grandparents.
Drop In for a cup of tea and play with your children.
Art activities and guest speakers.
Information about other activities happening
within our centre.

Boogie Mites are great for older toddlers with a slightly longer attention span.  There is playtime, followed by singing songs with movement and drink and a biscuit afterwards.

Children Centres these are free but I think they need to be pre-booked.

Day	Children Centres
Monday	Penhale, Willows, Stamshaw
Tuesday	Anchorage Park
Wednesday	Paulsgrove, Highbury, Cockleshell, St Margaret Church, Baffins
Thursday	Saxon Shore, Medina
Friday	St Cuthberts

Contact your local Children Centres to get more details or log on to ask Sherlock (www.asksherlock.info) Portsmouth City Councils Family Information Service directory

Private Classes  £4 Autumn term starts week commencing September 13th.  

Day	Time	Venue	Suitable for Ages
Tuesday	10.00am	St Judes Church, Kent Road, Southsea	1 - 4yrs
Wednesday	09.15 am	Baffins Community Centre, Westover Road, Baffins	1 - 4yrs
	11.00am	St Margarets Church	0 - 1yr
Friday	9.45	Eastney Methodist Church	1-4 yrs

Eastney Methodist Church, Highland Road

Drop In And Cook

St Jude's Church, Kent Road, Southsea

Fri am, 9.30-11.30. Drop in group aimed at 2 1/2 yrs plus (younger siblings welcome)
Come and play, and join in a shared cooking activity each week (all veggie, lots of different recipes, very simple, tasting encouraged!)
No charge, term time only.

We always have toys to play with, both for younger children and for those who just 'don't want to cook today'. No pressure! Everyone joins in and helps a little. Either eat what we make or take home as you wish. Drop in and find out if you like us!!

Music Mad

Milton Village Hall , Milton Road, Southsea , Hants , PO

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Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10am - 11am
Babies and toddlers
£2.50 per family

This is a really special singing group that the kids just love to go to. It's open for all babies up to school age children and costs just £2.50 per family. Upon arrival the children get to play with a number of musical instruments and toys before packing away ready for lots of singing and dancing to some great "action" songs. Then afterwards the kids get a drink and a biscuit and Mums and carers get a well-deserved coffee! I take the kids here every week and I thoroughly recommend it!

www.singandsign.com

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Fareham, Portsmouth and Surrounding areas
New term and looking for something fun to do with your baby?

This is not only fun but educational!

Sing and Sign the award winning baby signing classes for babies between 6-24 months.


Saturday 9.45am Eastney Methodist Church, Southsea

Drop In And Cook

St Jude's Church, Kent Road, Southsea

Fri am, 9.30-11.30. Drop in group aimed at 2 1/2 yrs plus (younger siblings welcome)
Come and play, and join in a shared cooking activity each week (all veggie, lots of different recipes, very simple, tasting encouraged!)
No charge, term time only.

We always have toys to play with, both for younger children and for those who just 'don't want to cook today'. No pressure! Everyone joins in and helps a little. Either eat what we make or take home as you wish. Drop in and find out if you like us!!

Music Mad

Milton Village Hall , Milton Road, Southsea , Hants , PO

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Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10am - 11am
Babies and toddlers
£2.50 per family

This is a really special singing group that the kids just love to go to. It's open for all babies up to school age children and costs just £2.50 per family. Upon arrival the children get to play with a number of musical instruments and toys before packing away ready for lots of singing and dancing to some great "action" songs. Then afterwards the kids get a drink and a biscuit and Mums and carers get a well-deserved coffee! I take the kids here every week and I thoroughly recommend it!