A Modern Mother

My name is Susanna (not Suzanne, not Susie and certainly not Sue!)

Dear PR person,

You sent me an email today addressed to Suzanne. That is not my name. My name is Susanna. That is why I put it at the bottom of my email (maybe you didn't read it?) It's on my biog too. There is an "a" at the end. No "h". Though if you added an "h" somehow I wouldn't mind as much.

You see Suzanne is French. There is not an ounce of French in me. If you heard me pronounce "monsieur" this would immediately become apparent. Susanna is Italian and Spanish in origin and I have to say I feel pretty comfortable showing off with the occasional "vaminos ala playa" when needed (thanks Dora). 

This week in Corduroy Mansions 2...

So did y'all sign up for Alexander McCall's Smith's latest digital serial novel, Corduroy Mansions 2: The Dog That Came In From The Cold?

I will do anything to avoid housework and this FREE novel that gets delivered to my laptop is a perfect way to whittle my time away now that the girls are all in school...

Last week we were introduced to William the wine merchant, his 28-year-old son (who only just moved out of his father's flat); William's Pimlico Terrier, Freddie de-lay-Hey; Marcia, a caterer who has (had?) her eye on William; and Angelica, a bespectacled beauty, who recently re-entered William's life. We also met Caroline and James, friends (more than?) that are recent graduates of Sotheby's Art Institute. After a surprise visit to William and a cup of tea, Angelica revealed that she worked for the Mi6 and they needed William's help...

New maths + tired mum = torture

With Emily in Year 3, we are just entering the deep, dark world of hardcore homework. Until now we only had reading every evening, and spelling and maths on the weekends. But the serious stuff is starting to come ... and can I say one thing? I would rather be sleep deprived and change a thousand dirty nappies than try to figure out the new maths.

Hubby was away somewhere sunny, so we went to Pizza Express (no I'm not bitter about this). We got home about 7 and my plan was to give the girls a bath and then let them chill out and watch TV for an hour.

Then I remembered about homework.

Do you have any homework?

Football: Where are all the girls?

 

My oldest (7) was very excited when we moved her schedule around this term so she could play football. She is keen on the sport and has played on and off since she was three. Her early years were spent in California, where "soccer" is as popular with girls as tap or ballet.

Imagine her disappointment when she turned up in her football boots and shin guards last Monday afternoon to discover she was the only girl among a small swarm of boys.

She didn't let that stop her. The coaches (from the local football club) were great and supported her involvement, awarding her player of the day. I was very proud watching her muck in there with all the boys. After, she ate two helping of shepherd's pie and fell asleep on the sofa...

But I have to wonder... where are all the girls?

 

School dinners ... PLEASE

After a rocky start, HM (4) is settling in school. Thirty four-year-olds is a lot and our school is handling the larger credit crunched intake very, ahem, creatively. The first week HM went mornings (9 - 12). The following week afternoons (1 - 3). This week she goes mornings, and gets to stay for lunch.

Therein lies the next hurdle. She doesn't want school dinners, she wants a packed lunch.

School dinners are healthy, good and affordable (thank you Jamie Oliver). I really don't want to be buttering ham sarnies and washing grapes in between the brushhairgetdressedeatbreakfast out-the-door palava. More importantly, I most likely don't have anything in the fridge suitable for a packed lunch (parmesean cheese and limp carrots?) I pleaded with her to try school dinners.

Hmmm, what shall I do now the girls are in school? I know, read an online serial novel!

Ooohhh, how fun! What better way to fill in my time, now that all the girls are all at school, than to be involved with an online serial novel. How cool!

Corduroy Mansions 2 -- The Dog Who Came In From The Cold, by Alexander McCall Smith (best known for the Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency) starts Monday. Sign up, and every weekday over the next 13 weeks a new chapter will be sent to your laptop or iPhone. Did I mention this was free? (thank you The Telegraph).

McCall Smith, who got the idea for digital serial genre while talking to Armistead Maupin (Tales of the City), only writes the first 40 or so chapters and likes to get feedback from his readers before he gets on with the plot. So you really do become part of the story. How Web 2.0!

Want to know how a middle class family got on at (the new) Butlins?

 

So exactly how did a middle class family get on at the new Ocean Hotel and Spa at Butlins Bognor Regis? Read on to find out...  and if you don't want to follow the blow by blow events ... skip to the end for the net ...

Could there be anything more British?

Patriotic music. Fireworks. A case of champagne (thanks Mike). Oh, and 40,000 other people in Hyde Park all waving their Union Jacks.

There are few events that bring out national pride more than the Last Night of the Proms; the songs a reminder of Britain's rich history. We weren't at the main event at the Albert Hall, but at the People's Proms, with the masses at Hyde Park. It's both classy and classless at the same time (where does one get a mini dress made of the UK's flag?)

Watch the video clips below, and I defy you not to feel just a teensy bit British (even if you're not)...

And here's the National Anthem and fireworks...

What makes you feel British?

PTA politics

Our PTA is falling apart. The core group of mums are burned out from icing one too many proverbial cakes. After years of service, the chair and much of the committee are stepping down and no one has come forward to claim the post. The scuttlebutt on the playground is that it is too clique-y.

Which got me thinking (amazing, I know): What is a clique and how do they form? Why do some mums feel left out, while others are "in". Is it intentional? Are slights perceived when not meant? Is it easier to justify non-involvement by writing the PTA off as being for "another type of mum".

Everyone loves to attend the PTA events, but the fact is that if you want them to happen, someone has to do the grunt work (and much of it is). I have skin of steel and don't pay attention to politics -- just blindly plod forward with my own agenda. To me, the PTA is about adding to my child's school experience -- by organising fun events and raising funds for the extras. Last year our PTA added several new play structures throughout the school grounds (which, by the way, are in constant use).

Is it clique-y? Not intentionally. Is it a lot of hard work? Yes (but it would be less if more were involved). It is a commitment, and in my mind, a worthy one.

Photo credit: angegreen

School update

Just a quick post to let you know how school is going for HM, our four-year-old. How shall I put this? SHE DOESN'T WANT TO GO. I don't really want her to go either. Not really an ideal situation.

Yesterday we got to the school gate just as they blew the whistle, and those eager beaver teachers were already walking the children in. Emily (7) took off and joined her queue without looking back. I got Alexandra (5) to her class and gave her a kiss, and then it was time to get HM to reception ...

I don't want to go mummy.

Why sweetie?

I don't want to go mummy (tears forming).

Why sweetie?