It's the bomb!

Well, the 4th of May is usually star wars day, so we went to look at some unidentified water bombing objects (UWBOs), which seemed like a fitting event. This is actually the name of the university of Sheffield library's actual water bombing team. Yes, I managed to get my self a job where actual world champions work.

We arrive at Ponds Forge swimming pool for the World Championship Water Bombing Competition, and are struck by, no not the grandeur of the occasion, but the heat. It was like a sauna at the poolside. As we took out seats in the stands, I was hopeful we would loose at least a couple of pounds in sweat. Something needs to happen after all the tapas and San Miguel in Ibiza! Anyway...

On reading through the program, we discover it really is a world championship, a team had travelled from as far away as Coventry. But mainly all the teams are Sheffield and surrounding areas based. The Championships are in fact, an excellent fundraising event for Macmillan Cancer Research.

After a small sweltering wait, the games were underway. The teams paraded out to the side of the pool, and we had a taster of what was in store for the evening. There were fully grown adults in nappies (Water babies), the predictable men in nurses uniforms (The defending champions), a few school girl outfits (clearly trying to get the adult male vote), a school teacher and an odd looking Morris Dancing troupe (maybe they had turned up at the wrong community event). Our team, the UWBO had outfits designed by local school kids and got the biggest cheer. They were dressed as various odd looking space creatures in full body suits with space related accessories. 

One member from each team had a jump, made a splash, got a score from the judging panel, and tried to get out the pool in the most dignified way, whist carrying bits of their outfit they had become separated from during the bomb. It was very exciting, we loved the splashes, loved watching the various bits of lost outfit sink to to the bottom of the pool (mainly the Morris dancers' hats), and cheered very loudly for our team and help up giant 10 scores.

At the end, our team were silver medal winners, the nurses retained their title. But, the UWBOs proudly stepped up to first place for the team that raised the most money for Macmillan Cancer Research (£2700). Yay for the UWBOs. 

All in all a good evening, and I can safely say I never want to see a grown man squeezing out pool water from his nappy again, and I wasn't impressed with the practicality of water bombing in a mankini, it didn't seem to be covering much when the bloke got out the water. It gave Maisie something to talk about on the school bus though!

Flip flop flip flop - the sound of summer

An early start - 4 am in fact - destination Ibiza. All a little bleary eyed we drive down to East Midlands airport. All was going well, we had booked a 'stress free' parking service where a geezer meets you at the airport and parks your car for you. Very organised. We are walking to the entrance when Leanne shrieks 'where's my handbag!' Only the handbag with the passports and the money and EVERYTHING. I run off after the stress free guy, fortunately delayed by the ticket machine. Good job I've been running.

From then on the journey was uneventful, we found the apartment and got the keys.  Lovely aspect, lovely weather, let the holiday begin!  

After spending too much in the supermarket on chorizo and olives - it was time for a dip in the pool. Walking down to the pool, we pass a few locals, who looked at us as if we were completely mad. When we got to the pool we realised why. It may have been lovely and sunny, but the water was freezing. Being made of sturdy stuff, in we jump. Actually, once you had lost all feeling in your legs it was rather pleasant.

We splashed on the fake tan, ate tapas and drank San Miguel, took evening walks in the setting sun, and had a lovely holiday.

I even tried my hand at Spanish. After a few holas I felt very confidant. At the Cafe del Mar, famous for sunsets and music cd compilations, I order the sangria and Maisie's alcohol free cocktail in my best Spanish, and the waitress says - English is OK. Oh well. 

Back to Blighty for wedding madness.

Moving times

Not home, but work. We have moved offices at work, I am now working in the big scary library known as Western Bank Library. I keep getting lost as it's a rabbit warren. For a while I kept turning up in strange offices, smiling and saying hi I'm Rachel, my team has just moved to the old serial office and I'm finding my way around, seemed to work quite well, though I'm not sure I'll be able to get away with it next week.

We left our old office with a traditional morning tea for the librarians we were leaving behind. My team went to the local supermarket on mass (all 5 of us) It was exactly like Reservoir Dogs except with librarians as we walked along. An intimidating sight for anyone I'm sure! Also, I've decided that if ever I have a shop that sells pastries, I'll have a sign on the door saying 'one librarian at a time' similar to the school kid signs you see on sweet shops! Enough said.

After our morning tea, we strode up the road to new beginnings. Of course we had to stop at a cafe for more coffee. After coffee we went …no not the new office, the pub. after all it would be a couple of hours before our desks and pcs were set up. Who ever said librarians were stuffy tea drinking, tight wearing bespectacled twin set donning ladies, we know how to live!

On arrival at the new office, the existing occupants had made lovely rainbow welcome signs and there was cake. Perfect for afternoon tea. All in all a good day. And - the library is right next to a really lovely park, with a lake, ducks and trees in full blossom, perfect for lunch tomorrow.

I love daffodils, they are so ridiculous. 

Time for change, antiques, weddings and Mother's Day

A bit behind on my blogging - too busy getting used to the time change. The first morning was great, up with the larks, ignored the fact it was dark when getting up again, exercised, breakfasted, ready for work, all went smoothly. Then Tuesday hit. A completely different story. The novelty has worn off. A sluggish drag out of bed, a lack lustre breakfast, and everything at work was hard work. Now that's not right! But the good news is, it's Friday, how good is that?

We had the afternoon off - not Maisie she needed to go to school. Off to Buxton to explore the antique shops. After getting side tracked by the charity shops on the high street, we eventually got to where we remembered all the antique shops were. Yes were. There was one left, with all the other units full of shops full of stuff you don't need, and plenty of royal wedding memorabilia, which we do need apparently - if we are to believe the marketing! Humph.

Talking of weddings - the great news is  - my niece is getting married next year! She sent a message to female family members (the young ones) asking them to be bridesmaids. Curiously, me and Leanne were included in the email. I was reading the message on my phone, and I honestly thought I was being asked to be a bridesmaid. My heart started beating rather quickly, and I was finding it hard to breathe. When I scrolled down further, I saw it was Maisie who was being asked. Oh well, I guess middle aged lesbian bridesmaids are only required by a limited number of brides…one day I'll get to wear the shiny pink dress and have flowers in my hair again. Yes again, that's what the niece's parents made me wear at their wedding! Actually, the very last time I wore a dress.

Mothers day on Sunday. That means it's not safe to go to the supermarkets on Saturday evening. There will be too many fathers with the kids without the vaguest idea where the eggs and bacon are kept. The kids are too busy putting all the contraband stuff in the trolley usually banned by Mum to be of any help whatsoever. You can bet that the contraband will be eaten in the car so as not to be confiscated by the mother. Then the kids will either be sick, or have a big crash after a sugar high, or both, leaving the mother to clear up the mess. Maisie has it easy, we both know the way round a supermarket, and she knows how the coffee machine works.

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.