Title-less...

Well hi edu-tainment-at-your-fingertips blog. It's been a while again my old friend. So much has happened since my last post. Let me start first with Lillie. She's still as cool as ever and currently very excited about the imminent approach of Christmas. Our house is decked out with trees, lights and allsorts, a few days later this year, but very festive looking now. She has asked Santa for a laptop this year, a Nintendo 3DS, Moshi Monster things and of course lots and lots of chocolate!!

We're looking forward to next Sunday. Louis will be over early in the morning and shall be here all day. We're treating it like a Christmas Day event, as Louis will be out and about with friends over the Christmas week. So, exchanging gifts, having a festive dinner, a few beers, goodies, electronic and board games, music, movies and plenty of laughs is very much the play of the day. As for Christmas Eve, Lillie will be at her Dad's from mid morning and returning home Christmas Day afternoon. It's just how the alternative weekends he has her has panned out. Next year, I will have Lillie all to myself from Christmas Eve afternoon. Boxing Day this year will be a relaxed one until the afternoon. Then we're off to a little party. And the same again for New Year's Eve followed by a lovely roast dinner new Year's Day to welcome in 2013. Christmas sorted...

A little change of theme now, Lillie is still with Girls' Brigade, but has decided Judo is not for her anymore and would rather find a trampoline club. I also have to find another dance club for her in the New Year. That was my decision to stop the dance classes - there is no need to go into the reason why and Lillie has showed no signs of missing the class. Reading and writing is still going strong - no probs there in my opinion. Lillie basically reads and writes as and when and the subject matter is usually her choice, unless I ask her for something specific, which is not often to be honest. A visit to the Horniman Museum was also enjoyable for Lillie - the Aquarium and Music Gallery being the highlight for her. She has become a member on the Moshi Monster site, which apparently is a big hit with the under 13's. Lillie loves the virtual world that sets challenges, quizzes and games to help keep her little monster happy and healthy. It also provides a way of earning 'rox' - a currency to buy food, drinks, clothes, household products and gifts for other members.

We've still yet to finish Oliver Twist, but we do discuss the story when not reading just to add that little bit more buzz to it and for me to see how Lillie comprehends this form of text. The way I see things is if she can appreciate various styles, themes and forms from books then it all adds to the imagination and encourages exploration of other things and interests.

Halloween was great fun - Lillie dressed up this year as a vampire and looked amazingly scarey! I took her around our neighbourhood, where she was met with gasps, smiles, compliments, questions and treats. Being a popular little person in our community, she found it totally amusing that she was "scaring" our neighbours, yet her goodies bag was quickly filling up, by the handfuls. She can't wait for next year where she will be a devilette and has also talked me into being a witch! Shouldn't take much work to be done on my part then lol...

I also have some very good news regarding a job opportunity that came my way, back in October. Well end of September really. I applied for a Care Worker position with the UK's 3rd largest care provider service. After 6 months of being on Jobseeker's Allowance and not much care work being 'out there' or vacancies where training was on offer, I was beginning to feel deflated and had convinced myself I would end up having to pay for my own training after graduating in a year or two's time. I had even resigned myself to the possibility of taking on 'any' kind of work in the meantime. I just wanted to increase my independence and get out of the 'benefits trap' that many speak of.

Within a few days of submitting my CV etc, a telephone interview was conducted. I was successful and offered a face-to-face interview on 4th October. I had to sit a short written and maths test and was scored on various answers I gave to care questions and also on my character. Before the interview concluded I was informed that I had got the job and that the next stages were to pass the induction training, provide good references and apply for an Enhanced CRB Disclosure. Ref's sent successfully - my week's training was absolutely enjoyable, informative and the trainers and other trainees/refreshers were brilliant. I passed my training too, with more written tests everday, gaining 100% in some :o) And a 'moving and handling' practical assessment was done - My CRB certificate was mailed through my door last Saturday and now all that's left is for my shadow training date to be confirmed. I can't wait to start making a difference to the service users lives and my biggest reward will be seeing a smile from one if not all of my clients. At the end of the day, for some - I may will be the only contact they could have had with another human being in days. I don't think you can get much better of a reward than a smile in such cases.

Lillie will still be HE. I have a child minder lined up for the mornings and two early evenings I will work. Though, any one-to-one 'formal' study time Lillie does will still be done by myself. However, anything Lillie does creative/interest wise, days out etc will not be affected while I am at work, as my child minder knows exactly what's what and will cater for and support Lillie's individuality, needs and different lifestyle. So, all's good and well. I am free from any concerns of being a single-mum, who studies and works, both on a part-time basis and who's child does not receive an education within the school system. Happy Days!

I best crack on with cleaning out the fridge before all the festive goodies are got in. I don't know when my next update will be - I rarely go on Facebook too these days. I only seem to use my comp' for study purposes at the moment or for when Lillie needs too. Otherwise it's switched off. But we're still here and moving on ahead in the right and positive direction for us. So, I guess in our case, no news is good news. So, Until the next post and if not before Christmas... Then... A Very Merry and Peaceful Christmas, to any reader who finds their way onto this blog and chooses to have a little read.

On the mend

Tasted yum and helped Lillie feel lots better!
With Lillie on the mend, we headed for our local nature reserve on Friday. The weather was lovely and we had a lovely morning...

Two white swans went swimming one day...

... and found their way over to Lillie! They got a little too close for Lillie's comfort though, whilst she fed them. I found it funny! Bad Mummy...

At the outdoor gym! We have lots of these in our local parks and open spaces. And it's great to see all generations using them too! Though, I can't for too long...

Off to the adventure playground before the walk home - the long way!

Our weekend was mostly made up of taking little slow strolls out and about, a bike ride - well Lillie. I have to trot along beside her, until I have my own bike, more reading and board games. Yesterday was enjoyed with a lovely roast lamb dinner, followed by watching Mrs Doubtfire on tv. It was the first time Lillie watched this classic movie. She thoroughly enjoyed it. But who doesn't? Robin Williams is just too funny - who rememebers Mork and Mindy? Nanoo nanoo!!

Now the bugs have jogged on and we're both feeling all restored again, we're set for the week ahead.
Just thought I would share this lovely pic of Rocco, taking a nap on the stairs! Gorgeous isn't he?

A yukky visit from the virus squad!

Since Monday morning, Lillie has been suffering from a cold. Thankfully, no temperature this time! Yet, the lethargic, unsettled nights, sore throat, runny nose, sneezes and plentiful supply of tissues symptoms have been present. So far, Judo and dance class have been abandoned in exchange for an extra dose of hugs and cuddles, curled up on the sofa under a blanket or tucked up in Mummy here's bed.

We did manage to get out into the fresh air this morning, which was nice and has helped keep cabin fever abay. We enjoyed a short stroll around the local Pleasaunce, greeting the wildlife good morning on such a drizzly day as this. We did have to make a quick dash for it though after approaching the ducks. They thought we had brought breakfast for their hungry bellies! Felt bad we hadn't this time, so they will recieve extra on our next visit.

Before returning home, a stop was made at the chemist for some cough mixture. It usually comes hand in hand with a cold in our house, despite the vapour rub in the air! Thankfully, Lillie's appetite has remained the same, so lots of nutritious comfort food in ample supply.

We also have a poorly cat on our hands. It appears Rocco is currently experiencing some impaired hearing of late. Not good for a cat who enjoys the great outdoors and comes across the odd car or two. Although, he has spent a fair amount of time indoors of late. Think a visit to the vet is vital. Plus, an overall health check would be wise seeing as I have finally agreed (or should I say surrendered) to Lillie becoming a carer to a kitten in the not so far away future. Rocco was a rescued cat from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home back in 2005, so Lillie and I have both agreed a rescued kitten is the way to go too.

As for any activities indoors, I can't say there has been much going on for the past few days with how Lillie has been feeling. Though we have managed to get through 15 chapters of Oliver Twist now, a few games of Easy Piano on the DS, some intense games of draughts, as well as watched endless programs on the TV. So, today I suggested to Lillie that we make some choc chip chocolate muffins to take her mind of the dreaded bugs that are trying to take over her life at present. This suggestion was returned with a great big smile and a quiet, "thanks, Mum."

Think it will help me too, cos guess what? The bugs are shifting onto me now! So, looks like the house will still have it's unwanted guests for a little while longer yet. Oh well, at least we have choc chip chocolate muffins to look forward to this afternoon :o)

Super scrummy!

Lillie and I attempted our first go at making jam yesterday and even if I do say so myself it was successful. It looks, smells and definitely tastes yummy. We had just enough blackberries for one jar, which is all we wanted to start with. But, now we are planning on making more soon and think they will make lovely christmas presents. So from this...

... to Lillie stirring continuously until all the sugar had dissolved...

... to this! We loved the volcanic kinda flow as the hot jam was being poured into the hot jar. Got really messy but was fun to see.

A close up of our home made jam - can't wait to get to making more to share out!