We went to Manchester Art Gallery today.
I'd like to say I visit art galleries all the time. Being an arty sort and all that.
But the truth is I hardly ever step foot in anywhere remotely arty. We sometimes do the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. But as soon as the kids noticed it wasn't "a real park....where are the swings?" it became a bit of a chore to drag them there. The other half is as much into art as he is into doing the ironing. So our artistic weekend adventures tend to be contained in a visit to Salts Mill where I look at the art supplies and the David Hockneys, the eldest looks at the books, the other half goes to the bike shop and the youngest moans his head off for an hour.
But there's a Joy Division thing on at Manchester Art Gallery at the mo and the other half is into that stuff so today we went to see some art.
We mosied round the other bits after checking out the Joy Division. Portrait galleries and everything. Awesome.
I've sacked the gardener.
As the other half pointed out the other week...the garden has never looked as bad as it does now. She's really lovely but she appears to have come from the PotterAndPrune school of gardening and we need someone who's more of a ChopItDownAndClearOutTheShit sort of gardener. The tree outside my office window has become so overgrown that I can't actually see out of one window anymore. And some other trees have formed a massive canopy over the decking so that even if the sun was shining we wouldn't be able to tell. She said she'd do it when it wasn't winter/wet/slippy any more. But then ditched the idea in favour of titivating the new bushes she planted. The front garden looks like no-one has lived here for 6 years. The grass was permanently in need of mowing. And it cost me £130 to hire a skip to put all the crap in that she'd cleared out of the other half's "wild area". Plus she was a bit random in the timing of her visits.
So I told her we don't need her any more. And I bought us a shiny new state-of-the-art Gtech cordless mower. It's awesome. The youngest had it out of the box and whizzed round the garden in the time it would have taken her to have a coffee and a chat.
Sorted.
It would appear that the rest of the country is basking in glorious sunshine. Apart from West Yorkshire, that is, where it is dull and grey and a little bit drizzly. For a bloody change.
I think it's time we moved. I'm not cut out for this climate. It was so lovely to be actually warm last week and wear clothes that are usually only wearable the 2 weeks of the year I'm on holiday. I'm sick of the grey. I'm sick of the cold. And I'm sick of the drizzle. ☹️
It's been non stop action in my little life this week. After a full-on week of adventure in Hong Kong and China, followed by an 8 hour delay in Zurich, I arrived home just in the nick of time to sort out my little prom princess. Well....almost in time...my sister had to step in the day before for the tan and nail appointments while I sipped on a nice-cold-ice-cold beer on the rather lovely streets of Zurich. But I arrived in time to ferry her about to hair and makeup appointments and to get her home in time to wiggle into the frock and pose for 20 million photos before whisking her off to PreProm. (For anyone not yet at this stage in parenthood and not up to speed with this imported phenomenon I'd like to inform you that it's not just a Prom you have to think about. There's also a PreProm and then an AfterProm. A second outfit is required for AfterProm cos who wants to wear a 300 quid dress all night when you can get changed into a little Topshop number.) I was allowed to attend PreProm (lots of parents were banned by their offspring) (I'm assuming I was allowed because I was a super cool PromMom. Obvs) Everyone took 20 million more photos then they all left on a vintage bus that wasn't dissimilar to the 666 school bus we had in 1983 (yes, our school bus bore the number of the beast)
I didn't see her again until she phoned from AfterAfterProm at 6.40am to advise me that she was ready to be collected. She then slept all day before getting ready for the PostPromParty.
It's all left me a little exhausted I must say. And skint.
A bit late in the day....been busy....but Happy Father's Day to the best Dad ever ...and to the other half too cos he's pretty good as well x
According to the weatherman this weekend is gonna be HOT. Even in Yorkshire. My sister has bought a paddling pool and supersoakers for all the boys to use tomorrow, in anticipation of such an event. So it better be totally flipping tropical now.
I'm going to the Far East at the end of next week. I suddenly remembered that when I used to go in my previous life everyone went a bit mad with the old business cards over there. Well I haven't really needed any for the last sixteen years so I was feeling a little empty handed. I figured it was time I had some made. So I got Moo.com on the job and I am now the proud owner of 50 shiney new cards with 25 different pics on the back. Hoping that business card swapping is still a thing.....
I was shopping for birthday cards in M&S last week and came across these. I shoved them in my basket to buy them. Then I realised that I actually designed them. Ha ha, I'd forgotten! I did loads for Tigerprint last year. These come in a pack of 9 cards....for a fiver! What sort of bargain is that! Snap them up quick while stocks last!
At last, it's election day. Thank god for that. I am so over people telling me who to vote for on social media. People I previously liked have been getting right on my bloody nerves with their boring political posts and instructions that I should vote one way or another. I've had to hide loads of 'friends' for the duration because they have been responsible for increasing my stress levels. I will vote thank you. And I WILL vote for who I sodding well like....so bore off!
I am beyond bored of these exams. Last night's revision was geography. I feel I should perhaps sit the bloody thing myself now. With my extensive knowledge of ageing populations and urbanisation I'm well on target to get an A*.
But at least I'm not on taxi duty today. The school is a 15 minute drive away and yesterday I went three times. THREE TIMES! And back three times! That's 90 minutes actual driving time. Not to mention the time sat waiting outside school like an idiot while she catches up on the goss with her mates. Like I don't actually have a list of work as long as my arm to plough through.
It's German tomorrow. I can tell you now I am not gonna be any help whatsoever in THAT revision sesh. Think I'll go out tonight...
The youngest has been away with Scouts all week, camping 299 miles away in Torquay. It's been very quiet without him. And a bit tidier. But the little angel is home now. Hurricane Alfie has returned and the house is a tip again :)
Yay....my little friends are now available as prints from the fabulous Menudos Cuadros. Go buy one quick, your walls will thank you!
Available here
Well that was a bloody fab long weekend. It involved copious amounts of alcohol with lots of friends and a few nana naps thrown in inbetween ..with a trip to our fave place (Salts Mill) as a bobby-bonus at the end.
I went to see The Specials in Leeds on Saturday with my friend. And two of her friends. Who are now my friends too. Cos friends are catching. It was outside and despite the doom and gloom coming from the Met Office it didn't rain and we had a brill afternoon/evening/early morning. Oh yes people. We even went clubbing afterwards! I needed a couple of visits to my bed on Sunday before I felt human enough to get back on it with the other half for our customary bank holiday trip to the pub though. I'm not as young as I used to be...
We only have such a short time on this planet. Not very long even if we're lucky enough to make it to old age. And a damned sight shorter for many people. So why waste the precious time you have by plotting to injure and kill other people? People who were just minding their own business and having a nice night out?
I. Just. Don't. Get. It.
Concentrate on your own life and leave others to enjoy theirs!
