My Bruver Got a Bike an I Dint

I have much better things to do than this, but Seany started "the bike thing" again so I have to have my say!

For further clarification on what the bike thing is all about, you might want to read point ten of 30 Things about Seany.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, unless it's a bike and then it will come in a box with a big shiny bow on it.

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial. Real trees are too wide and would get knocked over by the bike as it goes past.

3. When do you put up the tree? As early as I can get away with it. I like hearing people complain to me that it's too early.

4. When do you take the tree down? One of my kids usually knocks it down with their new bike as they ride around (if one gets one, they both get one!!). Failing that, I take it down before I go back to work in January.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but I don't really agree with stealing eggs out of nog's nests.

6. Favourite gift received as a child? I don't remember. Did I get a bike? No, I don't think so. My brother did though.

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? Yes, and every year a bit more of it gets broken. The shepherd now has a shorter crook (ooh!).

8. Hardest person to buy for? Secret Santa presents when you don't know who you are buying for.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Seany. I can just buy him a bike every year as he keeps losing or breaking them. (Never taught the value of money!)

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Decorative teapot. What is the point of that?
"I have bought you a teapot",
"Oh Thank you!",
"But don't use it, will you?",
"Why not?",
"It's for decoration only",
"Right, so you have bought me a teapot, but I can't use it as a teapot.",
"That's right."
"What the F*&K am I supposed to do with it then?!"

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. We get 50 free stamps because Larry is a postie.

12. Favourite Christmas movie? Love Actually

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? July. Yeah, so what! Shut up!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, every year. The kids have so many things that they don't realise I keep taking their toys and wrapping them up for them again the next year. At least they get something they really want!

15. Favorite thing to eat/drink at Christmas? Clotted cream, Brandy Butter, Port, guinness (wow, now I see why I am having to diet!)

16. Clear lights or coloured on the tree? coloured and flashing

17. Favourite Christmas song? I want to ride my bicycle

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Christmas day in Bethlehem was great, but I love being home with the family for Christmas.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yes. Frank, Pat, Ricky, Bianca...erm... I can't remember the others.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A Fairy.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Open them Christmas day. Shake, prod, sniff & squish them as soon as they arrive!

Anyone else want to have a go? Let me know so I can have a read.

Oh, and don't worry, I bought myself a bike!

All change

So, after maxing out a credit card (or two) on nursery fees, it was finally time to call it a day and admit that a private nursery was not for people like us, but for the professors and doctors etc. who can afford the extortionate fees. Added to which, we were only really keeping him there because he loved it so much and it only took a week of him saying "I don't want to go to nursery" and a few incidents like not being told they had changed his keyworker, looking at his record of progress to find it had not been updated since he had moved into the pre-school section a month ago in addition to my repeated but unsuccessful attempts to get them to put a coat on him when in the garden (NOTE: all the staff were always wearing fleece jackets!)to wake us up to the fact that we were no longer getting value for (lots and lots of) money.

I was scared. Little Z had had six childminders before starting school and I really didn't want the same for Big J. I made some enquiries and found a childminder on recommendation from a few mums at Little Z's school. We are now 2 weeks in and all is well. She is very qualified, really friendly, and Big J likes her. Apart from that, I don't think I will be messed about by her.

Big J has also started a new Pre-school. It is the same one Little Z went to so it was a bit strange going back there after 4 years. It has changed somewhat, but Big J is happy there and I am hoping he will stay there until he goes to school in September.

So, new childminder & new Pre-school as well as all the new places he will go to with the childminder are all the ingredients I needed for an overwhelmed and slightly bewildered little boy. So, what better time to introduce these things than just coming up to Christmas when everything else is out of routine too!

I am glad to say that the changes have gone as well as could be expected and with as few tears (from all concerned) as possible. He does not seem too concerned to have left his nursery, quite the opposite in fact which tells me maybe we should have done this sooner. I just hope that he doesn't think his new pre-school is always like this with party food and Santa coming to visit.