Hold the front page - Librarian takes off cardigan in sweltering heat

Yes spring is here. The sweltering weather continues, 16 degrees promised tomorrow. After our winter, this feels like a tropical heatwave. The students were getting about in shorts, tee shirts and flip flops. The girl fashion appears to be micro skirts or micro shorts and tights, worn with strappy tops. I, however, just took off my cardigan.

Daffodils are in full yellow swing, the clocks change next week, and I swallowed at least half a dozen midges on my run on Tuesday evening. Oh yes, the dog is losing his coat  - not the one with pockets, but his hairy one.

Talking of the dog - that big fierce hound we live with. On another run - yes it's becoming habitual - we encountered some sheep. When I say some, imagine a sea of sheep, sheep for as far as the eye could see, more sheep than in the whole of New Zealand - well let's just say loads. The sheep were gathered around the farmer and his tractor. With no way to navigate around them due to a fence and a brook, through them we had to go. The dog was pretty good, just had one small freak-out when a particularly menacing sheep (with horns) approached too close. Through the sheep and out the other side, time to start our run again. The blinking sheep only decide to follow us! I had to have a stern word and tell them not to follow - much to the farmers amusement. One word from him though, and the sheep remembered their loyalties - Oh yes: farmer + tractor = food! Off they trotted - much to the dog's (and my) relief.

Parent's evening, bugs, bad dad, shopping and work madness.

Parent's evening was very interesting - 10 appointments, 3 minutes each, with 3 minutes to allow for travel. Sounds easy, until you get parents jumping in because they see a space, and factor in the back logs caused by maths and english. Anyhow - off we set. the drama teacher greeted us with jazz hands, the IT woman had a very compacted colour coded spreadsheet and the R.E. teacher instantly recognised me as Maisie's parent. 

The bugs were all Maisie's - off sick from school for a couple of days - maybe the trauma of her parents meeting all her teachers brought it on. It did mean we had to stay away from my father for a few days for fear of infecting the whole home with Maisie's bugs. He compensated by buying a bottle of wine and sneaking it into the home in his sleeve! He's not supposed to drink too much with the medication he's taking. One of the carers grassed him up, and confiscated the wine. Poor thing.

We compensated by taking him shopping to buy a new watch. His had an unfortunate altercation with a washing machine. Into Chesterfield, and into a jewellers, they were lovely  - sat him down and brought out a selection. A gold elasticated strapped one was chosen, it has day date on so he can see what day it is - working this out has been a bit tricky lately. 

Monday - back to work. The lovely weather at lunch time (a bit brisk) provided an opportunity to walk around the block. Walking past a school, how lovely, all the little children at play. I spot a group of kids the other side of the play ground, clinging to the wire in what looks like a desperate plea for freedom. On further inspection I ascertain they are willing the escaped ball to leap back into the playground. on spotting me they chorus 'please can you throw our ball back?' - cute. I walk up to the ball with the sweet innocent children still pleading please can you get our ball, then one suggests I kick it back over the fence. Another little dear says, she cant do that, she' s an old lady! Bloody cheek! Resisting the urge to wedge the ball in a tree, I did actually throw the ball back (using my best netball skills - not my absent football ones). The gang ran off after the ball, very excited. One kid stayed at the fence to say thank you - faith in humanity restored.

Photos from a quick trip to Chatsworth gardens as they have reopened for the season. Chess needed to pee on every single bush, bless him, he really does deserve ice cream.

Aint no mountain high enough, aint no track short enough

Maisie's 12th birthday, climbing, the Edge - not Froggatt Edge, too dangerous and too outside for this time of year. The Edge climbing centre in Sheffield. Kid plus 6 friends + instructor and 20 meter high walls with multicoloured fake rocks to cling onto = a good party venue. Especially as there was not much room for spectators, so it was necessary for adults to sit next door in the cafe and drink coffee. Back to Top o' th' Hay for pizza, cake, fruit kebabs, DVD and hanging out, without ropes this time.

In need of endorphins to survive seven 12 year olds, I went for a run on Saturday morning - I kept going for 26 minutes  - it might have been longer, but I could see the car and my pace quickened at the thought of stopping. After the success of Saturday, I went for another on Sunday. All was well with the world, I ran a greater distance and kept going for four minutes longer. Unfortunately - after sitting down for a while, I lost all ability to move with any comfort. Who said exercise was good for one? There was an advert for a Marathon on the TV - mum politely asked if I was going in for it. Not blinking likely. At least my wii fit instructor will be pleased with me, we've been on rocky ground since the fish and chip incident in Blackpool.

Seaside sauce

At Maisie's request. for her birthday weekend, we bundled ourselves into the car, dog and all, and took ourselves for a fun-filled time in Blackpool. We got there, we drove round aimlessly (thanks to the highly complicated one way system), we parked, we looked for food. We had a vast array of choice - as long as it was fish and chips or pizza! We chose chips at Harry Ramsden's. I'd never been to one so it seemed as good a time as any to give it a go. 

The service was….lacking? Lacklustre? A foreign concept? We were greeted at the door with a barked "Two adults, one child?" Yes we said, as we did the next two times we were asked. We got to the table, and the waitress was bustling about with the menus, placing them on the table, complaining we hadn't sat down as she would normally put them in our hands…we hadn't had a chance to sit down. Then I upset her by asking for adult menu for Maisie - she's far too old for the kid menu which comes with crayons. This caused a little controversy  - but you said two adults one child…ahh - now I get it, she was obviously referring to what menu we needed…how silly of us not to realise. She stalked off to complain about us to her colleagues, and we were left to contemplate the various ways your fish and chips could be served. With bread and butter? White or brown? Sauce? Red, brown or yellow. With peas - mushy or minted, without fish, without chips, with pie? All  good healthy options.

The waitress who took our order was a little more civil - it couldn't have been hard. The food arrived in good time, and was actually very enjoyable - even the fluorescent mushy peas. Leanne and Maisie turned up their noses up at the peas but they have undeveloped palettes for such fine dining.

We retrieved the dog from the car and set off  down the front on a quest to avoid donuts and sticks of rock. We ended up at the big wheel on the pier. Obviously they didn't allow dogs, so it was left to me and Maisie to brave the dizzy heights. There was no one else on the wheel and the bloke implied we were not in full possession of our marbles as we wanted to go on! When we were at the top, I could understand why - it was bloody freezing!

We celebrated Maisie's birthday with a trip to Sealife aquarium, lunch out, a walk in a park, and a great japanese meal in Lytham St Annes. The scottish, japanese teppanyaki chef called Jimmy was good value, juggling the pepper grinder, clanging his spatulas, a bit of chat, more juggling - eggs this time, and cooking up a wicked teppanyaki.

Sunday morning and a brisk walk on the sands was needed. The dog loved it - a chance to run and run. There were no donkeys, but the wind turned us all into hairy creatures with a tendency to bray. Hair by Blackpool, not suitable for all, but we enjoyed it.

Highly Strung

Maisie's school Valentines concert

We arrived, we sat near the front, we were excited. Maisie had been keeping the names of the songs a secret.

Not only were the junior choir performing, but also various other instrumental ensembles. During the Junior string - grandma leant over and said - "I'm so glad Maisie is learning the flute." I suspect one to the budding violinists turned over two pages at the same time. 

The percussion band however were excellent, beforehand their teacher did a little talk saying this is the one class where we say, you can have as much fun and make as much noise as you can, unfortunately, the percussionists looked like pale frightened rabbits caught in the headlights in front of such a large audience. They gave us a rousing Sambaesque rendition. The only down side was they were right at the front of the hall, as was the old lady in the wheelchair, and the headmaster. Old lady clutched her ears and cowered in fright during the whole performance, headmaster developed an uncontrollable blink twitch kind of movement every time the snare drum was struck (frequently)

Then it was the turn of the junior choir, about 40 girls, and 10 boys. In they trouped, on the stage they stood, and out came - tunes from the shows - starting with Oliver - a firm family favourite, Maisie gave us a little grin - result. Well worth sitting thorough the string cacophony.

Knickers and glory

Last week we went for a family meal with both my parents. Not that unusual, except that they have been divorced for decades. All went well, and the menu had a selection of dishes that were probably on the menu when they were still married. I couldn't resist the prawn cocktail, Maisie and I shared a knickerbocker glory.

 We have had lots and lots of rain, lots of water under the bridge - less today, see the difference for yourselves. 

Valentines tomorrow - love is all you need

Nailed it

After much hunting for a nail kit, I found a french manicure kit, not for myself you understand, but for Maisie and her friend. £3 from Debenhams, a bargain! Way better than the £25 over the top kit form Argos, and Claire's Accessories - well they could do with a visit from Mary Portas (my new crush - not virtual this time) and one of her retail overhaul sessions where the customer comes first.

Here's the scene - Sheffield high street, lunchtime, very busy, a slightly butch, slightly overweight lesbian enters stage left. Steps into Claire's Accessories, on the look out for a nail art kit. Two assistants, one customer (me). Waiting for a gap in their conversation (banal) "Excuse me, I'm looking for a nail art kit." I thought I'd make light of the situation; "not for me of course." I might have just as well have thrown up on the counter for the look I got. One of them managed a point towards a display on ground level. I creak down with my middle-aged knees to look, fairly hopeful (after having visited Boots and Superdrug  to no avail). I was, however, slightly disappointed as the kit wasn't quite what Maisie had in mind. I expressed my disappointment to the lovely assistant, hoping for some actual care (I was their only customer, after all). Sarcastic voice - "Well, you can go to Boots or Superdrug then". Dismissed. The end. Conversation (still banal) resumed.

The woman in Debenhams was lovely.

Maisie's friend arrived, a great evening watching them play with the Wii, then off to Meadowhall shopping mall the next day - more retail therapy. We enjoyed sushi for lunch, and the girls went off by themselves for an hour (with only a little parental anxiety). They headed straight for Claire's - although I suspect may have fitted the store demographic more than me.

Oh yes - it's been really windy, a tree blew down in the garden, time to get the chainsaw out again.