Listography - take 5 children's books....

Goodness me, what a week of blogging about literature.  Firstly, I blogged about world book day Here and then earlier today (yes another post on the same day, impressed?!) I blogged my story telling abilities (or not) Here.

Now the lovely Kate at katetakes5 has decided that this weeks topic for Listography is 5 favourite children's books. 

In no particular order, here are mine (not the kids, mine I tell you!)

1) Where the Wild Things Are - I LOVED this as a child and it's not surprise what my eldest darling son is called!  Yes, inspired by my love of this book.



2) Any of the Enid Blyton St Clare's books - I wanted to be a twin, I wanted to go to boarding school.  Instead I had a younger brother and went to a little prep school with not a hope in hell of boarding!

3) Piggly's Play Truant - utterly transfixed me as a child, the fact that they skipped school.  I was such a goody goody I enjoyed their naughtiness!  I am re-reading this with the boys and they love it as well.

4) The folk of the faraway tree - Another Enid Blyton CLASSIC.  If you haven't read this, then please, please do.  Beau Bo is enraptured by the goings on of moonface at the age of 4.

5) Peepo - Pixie LOVES this and I had forgotten how good it is - it's also beautifully illustrated with lots to look for.  We both adore this.

Love and Peace

SAM x

Pet Hates

This weeks topic is pet hates, if you want to join in then please click on the badge above.

1) Bad Manners

I cannot abide bad manners.  Whether this is in children or adults, a simple "please" "thank you" or even a smile makes all the difference.   DO IT.  Please ;-)  Whilst I am on the topic of manners, can you also please remember that we have two ears and one mouth, so listen 2x as much as you speak and don't interupt when others are talking.  When eating, close your mouth, chew your food and use proper cutlery.  Do not even attempt to give me supper on a lap, I like to sit at a table with proper cutlery.  Thank you.

2) Lateness

How on earth HAW and I ended up together and happily married is beyond me, I am a control freak whilst he is Mr chill.  His time is always "manana" whilst mine is bordering on the obsession of getting there 10 minutes early "just in case".   He drives me nuts daily, always in bed until the last possible moment, then running around disorganised, you get my drift.   I think it is incredibly rude to be late - FACT

3) Dirty Floors

I have lovely wooden floors throughout my house and I can't bear to see marks on them.  Not easy when you have 3 kids who despite taking their shoes off in the hall, still bring in all sorts of manner of dirt.  I like to see clean floors and hoover downstairs 2x a day.  I have just discovered a solution - a gtech sweeper.  You know those things your Granny used to have? Well it's an electric version and it's FANTASTIC!

4) Plastic Toys

Drive me NUTS, they are taking over my house and I can't wait to move and have a playroom so I can chuck all the toys in there, shut the door and ignore them.  Despite me putting an amnesty onto plastic toys for the past 2 years, the collection grows and grows.

5) Plug in Air fresheners.  They are awful.  They don't smell nice, they don't mask smells, they are overpowering.  If you can't afford decent candles (cheap candles as well are too overpowering) then pick some lavender, dry it and make your own pot pourri.  Or burn essential oils.  Natural and pleasant.

That is all, I could go on.........

Love Grumpy Old Woman

Listography - 5 things for valentines.....

One of my favourite meme's is Listography - Kate takes 5 whereby the lovely Kate comes up with a  topic and we have to take 5.  This week, with Valentines around the corner, the topic is 5 things I would like this valentines, so without further ado (waffle!) here are mine:

1) A lie-in with HAW

How lovely would this be?!  Gone are the days when we used to have a leisurely lie-in with coffee and the papers, now we are lucky to wake up in the bed without a little wriggling person in between us!  Having three kids this happens frequently.  What I find ironic is that even if the kids are at my parents, neither of us can sleep in and are awake by 7am anyway.  Crazy!

2) A new wedding ring.  I must blog about what happened to HAW and I in the Maldives.  It really is funny looking back now but we *must* replace those rings!!!

3) Flowers - I adore flowers and HAW is very good at buying them "just because".  However, he has never, ever, sent them to me via Interflora.  It must be his Scottish Blood!  I would so LOVE to open the door to a massive bouquet.

4) If we are talking about price being irrelevant, I would dearly LOVE a chanel 2.25.  *swoon*

5) A live in housekeeper - This would make my life so much easier, meaning I could spend more time with HAW.

Happy Valentines day Lovely People!

Listography - Take 5 places.....

This is the first time I have taken part in Kate Takes 5 listography, but I have a spare 20 minutes and I really enjoy this as a concept.

I have always loved travelling, new experiences, new people and places and I harbour the dream that one day in the not to distant future, we will take the kids out of school for a year and show them volcanoes, hot springs, shanty towns and the amazon in real time rather than out of a textbook.

Here are my 5 favourite places:

1) Angel Falls, Venezuela

Not only is this the largest waterfall in the World, it is also where HAW proposed to me.  We flew over in a twin engine plane from a beautiful lodge of the Isle of Margarita.   It holds lovely memories for me and of a very happy time in my life.

2) London

I am a Londoner born and bred and had become quite blase about the fact the City was so accessible and so close.  However, having a Kiwi business partner has re-ignited my passion for our Great City.  I am so grateful that it is on our door step as I am loving showing the kids our wonderful Capital.

3. New York

I have been to New York at least 10 times (spoilt brat I know) my parents first took us about 20 years ago and we all got totally hooked on the fast paced city Life.  I was fortunate enough to visit on lots of work related "jollies" and had plenty of SATC moments in the City that never sleeps.  

4. Camber Sands

We have only recently discovered Camber Sands since having the kids but it is only 90mins away from where we are.   We rent a beach house that has direct access to the beach and the kids can go wild as you can see!!!  I would love to move down to this part of the World.

5. Maldives

After having a cancer scare in early 2008, I booked a once in a lifetime, no expenses spared holiday for the four of us to the Maldives.  I decided that life was worth living and off we went.  This is really worthy of it's own blog but we had the most amazing holiday ever, it really was paradise and the icing on the cake is that I returned pregnant with our little Pixie (having been told that I wouldn't have more kids!).  I dream of going back one day.....

If you have enjoyed reading this, then please do the same and link up here

http://katetakes5.blogspot.com/