Monday, 24 June 2013

Music Mondays - Tom Odell



This week I am listening to Sussex boy (he's from Chichester) and BRITs Critics Choice Award Winner Tom Odell.  I love his voice.

His album Long Way Down is out now and I am certainly tempted, despite the poor review it recently received from NME.  It made me chuckle when I read Tom's dad phoned the magazine as he was not amused when he saw that they had only given his son's a 0 out o 10 review for the recent release.  how embarrassing!!! 



If you want you can see Tom perform at the HMV in Chichester this Thursday at 5pm.  Check out his blog.


Saturday, 22 June 2013

You Complete Me - You Complete Us

Where oh where have the last 11 weeks gone!  My oh my!

Well to say I have been a little bit busy is an understatement.  But what an 11 weeks they have been.


On the 5th April Little Master P was born, a very healthy 8lb 14oz.  Apart from an extra level of pain and a bit more time I can't complain.  I have been really quite lucky in labour, both times.


I have been thinking quite a bit recently about the differences between no.1 and no.2, and having 2 now compared to 1.

So many things were immediately easier.  As soon as I held my baby boy I knew he was safe, he wasn't as fragile as Little Miss P, I wasn't so fragile.  I think the first time you give birth you are in a state of shock - how did this happen, is she ok, is she breathing, does she have 10 fingers and 10 toes, why is she crying, why is she blue, her eyes are puffy, help, what am I suppose to do now!  With the second, I felt like I knew Little Master P straight away, he was our son, he was his big sisters, little brother.  The new member of our family, the 3 little pigs had become 4.  I felt very complete, we all felt complete.

We were home the same night, returning to some sort of normality quite quickly.  Little Miss P, took to the big sister role with ease if not a little eager!  All the small tasks didn't seem so big this time and certainly took less time.  Who knew changing nappies and baby grows was so easy, I don't remember this being the case the first time round.  On day 3 Little Master P and his family were on a long walk along the seafront, eating ice creams, followed by a quick pitstop in a local pub.  Day 4 a visit to the Sea Life Centre, day 11 all on the 8am nursery run, on day 12 I was in the gym.  I know madness.!!!  The first time I don't remember going anywhere on my own for at least two weeks.

Without sounding like super mum and making all other new mums out there want to throw all their dirty nappies at me, you will be pleased to know that there have been as many challenges, many of which are because I now have the pleasure of 2 not 1.  Boy oh boy, how do you wake up in the morning for nursery when you have had very little sleep.  How do you get yourself, your 4 year old and your baby, dressed, fed and out the door in time.  How do you breastfeed and wipe a Little Misses bottom at the same time, what happens when either one of them nearly falls down the toilet, and you find yourself asking 'which one shall I save'.  How quick can you get out the shower when your 4 year old decides to poke her little brother (whom she adores) in the eye.  How much should you swear when your 4 year old daughter and one of her best friends cover themselves, the carpet, clothes and toys in lipgloss, while enjoying a playdate.  I can't even talk about the worst time of the day, tea and bath time.  No wonder so many mums are reaching for the wine bottle as soon as the kids are in bed.  Thank god for breast feeding, it has kept me from early alcoholism!

Now I am very well aware that I am not the first mum to have 2 children, I have many friends close to me who have more.  I also know a friend of my brother, who has baby twins alongside a 5 year old (she deserves a medal in my opinion), another friend of mine, whose sister did this all on her own, right from the beginning!  I must add that I have not done this alone, I have a fantastic husband who is a very hands on dad, I would not be sane without him.

However, to conclude this first blog back after a long time away, I am pleased to say I have survived and I am still surviving!  I only have 6 months off on maternity and I plan on making the most of it.  And this smile certainly makes it all worth while.

Life is most certainly complete now.
I have to admit I feel great, life is pretty good at the moment and I am ready to take on the world.  I am mothering, exercising, crafting, socialising, gardening, home-making, baking, enjoying life and now blogging!

I will not burn out!  Oh I already did that!!!

So glad to be back.

Nice to see you again.
XXX