Everything's Changing.....

So, it's been a while. Teens have started back to school and college and everything is changing.

Teen2 had her 14th birthday. We went to a gaming event and she met her favourite youtuber which has made her entire life let alone just her birthday.

But, no one told the that along with turning 14 comes some struggling times.  Not for them necessarily but for me as a parent.  Different sets at school bring different friendship groups. This is fine and normal life, but a sudden change in always wanting to be out with mates (and boys!?!) rather than being a home bod like I have been used to brings new challenges.

1. Everyone else is out
2. Everyone else is allowed out when it's dark
3. Such and such is allowed to walk home in the dark

The dark part worries me tremendously.  Justified or not I am really struggling with this and of course she cannot understand why.  I have tried talking it through in my mind and I always come out with irrational replies (yeah sounds crazy!) There are so many bad scenarios that go through my mind it's ridiculous. I really am not sure how to cope with this, so if anyone else is going through the same or has been and can help please let me know. I have also tried talking to her and get the standard don't worry it's fine mum response. I'm sure I was the same at that age but boy, it's hard.

Teen1 has started driving lessons which he is absolutely loving. At last, something he is interested in as well as the PlayStation ! His mates have started passing their driving tests and he is going out more. This is also strange as he has always been more of a home bod than Teen2! The other afternoon/eve I ended up babysitting an empty house. Yup believe it or not that's what happened.  Both teens were out, last minute arrangements so I was left home alone.  Now this may sound like absolute bliss which normally would be lovely apart from my irrational worrying.  I hope his mate drives safe, what if they have an accident, is his mate ok driving when it's dark, etc etc. This brings me onto teen1 wanting to go to Thorpe Park with his mates in the half term, again I'm like, it's a long way, can his mate drive on a motorway, it will be really dark driving on the motorway on the way home.......I know I need to manage this and writing this is making me think I am a crazy lady, but I wanted to share his with you. When I started this blog it was always to be about struggles (& joys) of teenage parenting. This is my struggle.

Maybe it's to do with losing control and having different routines. I've had to slightly change my hours due to college drop offs and pick ups which means teen2 has to let herself in and be on her own for an hour for a couple of days.  I hate it, I hate the fact I'm not there when she gets home, she on the other hand probably loves it! I have always been there when the kids get home from school and am on a mini guilt trip about this.

I try to be a cool mum, probably to the horror of the teens, but I am in danger of losing that coolness ! Get a grip I hear you shout !!!!!

Even the Great British Bake Off is changing, but don't get me started on that haha

Having more time to myself makes me realise how lonely I am as well, but I think I'll leave that for another time. Let me know if you want me to talk about that.

Toodlepip for now doodlebugs

xx

2 week holiday with rubbish internet !!!

So, a couple of weeks after our Center Parcs antics came our annual two week holiday in Weymouth.

Why Weymouth? Well we are lucky enough that my parents have a static caravan on a site there so in effect we get a free holiday - bar spending money of course, and no, not that we spend the holiday in a bar haha

Teen 1 really didn't want to come is year, but as he wont take an interest in cooking there was no way I could even contemplate leaving him home alone for two weeks. His answer was "I'll live on pot noodles for two weeks, Syndicate (youtuber if you aren't aware) lived on them for a month once " !!! I told him to be grateful as there are some people who don't get a holiday.  So, the reason he didn't want to come, rubbish Internet. Yup, the site is lovely, in a lovely location, well kept but the wifi is absolutely terrible. Yes, the park is at the bottom of a hill in a "dip" as they say but there must be something they can do to improve it, surely. Anyway this isn't about rubbish internet connection although I have to admit even I struggled as had to keep my eye on how. I have data I was using. Kids without YouTube are a bored mess 😂

We were so lucky with the weather and I came home with a lovely tan, people couldn't believe I'd been away in England. It just shows that you don't have to holiday abroad if you get the weather here. Yes of course I'd love to be able to take them abroad, although how they would cope without YouTube God only knows, but as anyone who is a single parent knows, it's not always plain sailing and money doesn't stretch that far. Saving to go to Center Parcs was hard enough !

We visited a few places while we were away. Our first outing was to Studland Bay. There are lots of little beaches here, and is really lovely, it's run by the national trust so the car parks are quite expensive but I don't mind paying if it helps towards the upkeep, they tried to get us to pay for an annual membership to the national trust. Hmmm £9 car park for the day or £110 for an annual membership?! If we lived local maybe I'd consider it but where we live there is unfortunately nowhere close enough to get our money's worth which is a real shame.  Anyway, we had a lovely day on the beach, the sun shone and the wind blew, catching us all out and Teen2 burnt his back quite badly, not blister badly, but it was sore for quite a few days afterwards. After lunch along came an ice cream boat, yup that's right, what a great idea I thought until I had to wade out to almost waist height to buy very expensive ice creams !!! All good fun, but not when the waves are lapping around your thighs and it's bloody freezing!!  😊

Gorgeous beach at Studland.

There is a beach there that does water sports but gets very busy as we found out last year so we gave it a miss this year.

One day we walked along the beach all the way to Weymouth. (Our caravan is on the outskirts of Weymouth) we went for lunch, had a walk around and caught the bus back. My god, how much does a bus cost nowadays?!! I couldn't believe it ! 

Famous Weymouth clock

Another day we went crabbing round the harbour which is always a favourite. We do tend to get a bit competitive about how many we catch, this year we even caught a fish ! But don't worry, we always put them back. 

Other activities included the cinema to watch Finding Dory although only myself and Teen2 went to see it. We did pirate adventure golf (me n my dad got hole in ones!) spent the day on Weymouth beach, played tennis and went swimming to name a few.  We also tried to go celebrity spotting as there was filming for the new Dunkirk movie so there were rumours that Harry Styles and Tom Hardy were in town.  We hung around for a bit as Teen2 is a One D fan (we went to see them in concert in October and have to admit, it was a fantastic show!!) we didn't see anyone famous though as they were filming at sea. They also filmed very late at night to try and stop the fans seeing ! I did get a phot of the WB  lorry though 😀

We also went to West Bay which I loved. They filmed Broadchurch there and we walked along the beach and took photos of the cliffs and waves. Saddo that I am, my fave thing to do is to try and get a pic of the perfect wave !!

 

They also had a vintage emporium close to the beach which was awesome, if it weren't for the kids I could've spent hours in there, and spent a lot of money !! I have to mention it only costs £2 to park for the whole day at west bay, I couldn't believe it.  We had lunch in a little cafe and had a wander round the small harbour.  There isn't loads to do there so we headed home around 3pm but we had been there since 10.30am. I'd definitely like to go back. 

We also discovered another beach when we tried to go to sandbanks in Poole. Unfortunately the car park at sandbanks was full so we followed a few "alternative beach" signs and found Branscombe Chines. We had to walk down a massive slope and steps to get to it but it was a hidden gem ! The walk back up was really hard though ! 

I love a beach hut, they remind me of being a youngster and holidaying with my grandparents, we always hired a beach hut !! 

So all in all a good holiday with daily moaning about the Internet and panic about running out of data.  Goodness knows what will happen next year. I do dread the moment where I have to leave Teen1 at home, it does indeed fill me with dread and panic. I know it's all part of the growing up, but Christ I am not looking forward to it. How does everyone else get on when it comes to that scary moment? 😔

Anyway, that's enough babbling for now, 

Toodlepip doodlebugs, thanks for reading

catch you soon 

xx

All photo's are my own and cannot be used without my permission.

Family Time..... Woburn Center Parcs July 2016

So, I did something I had never done before and booked us a weekend in Center Parcs. I scrimped and saved very hard to be able to do it and it cost a lot of money but I tell you now it was worth every penny. 

Now the kids are older they need more to keep them occupied on holiday than just holidaying in a caravan, god knows I wish I could afford to take them abroad, but sadly as a single parent this is not within my scope. I'm sure they understand although it doesn't stop them hoping, so Center Parcs it was.

I had a romantic idea of a few days away just me and the kids barely any technology and lots of outdoorsy stuff. For the most part and surprisingly, it worked. 

We took the cat to the cattery the night before so that we could pretty much get up and go. I wanted to get there as early as possible to "get my money's worth"!! First mistake was telling Teen1 that we couldn't get into the accommodation until 3pm, this, in his head, meant that he could move as slow as a snail when he got up pottering about getting stuff ready.  Of course I'd told him to get everything ready the night before and I'd packed the clothes, surely it doesn't take that long, does it?!!

After a bit of shouting, we finally got in the car at about 9.15M so not too much later than I wanted and made our way to Maccy D's for a breakfast to set us up. We don't really live too far away from the new Woburn CP and we were soon there by about 10.40. This might seem weird going on holiday not too far away from where you live but for me it was bliss. Generally it takes us about 3 1/2 hrs to get to our holiday destination.  Check in was painless I'd done it online so it was just a case of queueing to get our key and parking up. As we'd got there early there wasn't much of a wait.

After we parked up, we set off to explore the park and find our accommodation.  The sun came out and it was really warm.  We decided once we found out where we were staying to go back to the car change into shorts and go collect our bikes from the hire shop.  I'd booked this online so it was a case of turning, the man getting us the right size bike adjusting it and off we went.  There were soooo many bikes we couldn't believe it !

I'd also pre booked table tennis for 1.30pm for something to do whilst waiting to get into our accommodation.  So off we went to the plaza and played for an hour.  I then had the idea that if we pulled the cases and carried the bags to the lodge I wouldn't have to sit in a queue of traffic in the hot sun to drive to the lodge.  This was a great tides, in principle !! Pulling the cases up the hill on the other hand made it feel like a stupid idea haha.  By the by in the end, we made it in, unpacked and decided to go swimming.  

The kids loved the pool. Not as big as some of the larger CP's but park wasn't as busy as some of the larger ones by all accounts.  I did think it would keep them entertained most of the day but a couple of hours were enough really.  The rapids were hilarious and they made me go down one of the slides.  Can't remember what it was called, typhoon twister or something, but we could all sit in a rubber ring together which was great. Well, all I can say is oh my god!!! We screamed and laughed all the way down, mainly at Teen1's face as unfortunately he drew the short straw and ended up going backwards down it.  I wish I could've taken a photo of his face. 

We decided to order from the takeaway at evening. Kids had pizza and I had noodles.  Noodles were a bit bland but the kids scoffed the huge pizza and chips. We then started the jigsaw puzzle I decided in my wisdom it would be a good "family" thing to do.  Another of my romantic ideas !

 

The next day was time for the "Arial Adventure". Well, I thought I might actually die. But dramatic maybe and I don't know what I was expecting but good god!!!!! We climbed through trees on wires and planks held on by a safety rope.  We did zip wires and Teen1kept laughing at me saying are you ok mum?!?! I'd get from one obstacle to the next tree and stood hugging the tree at the other end. The zip wire across the lake at the end was great fun once I'd plucked up the courage to jump off ! 

We treated ourselves to the pancake house for lunch afterwards...

After lunch we decided to take a chance and go the the plaza to see if we could book an activity. I didn't want to book too much in before we went as I found it difficult to work out what we would be wanting to do when and was a bit unsure what the weather would be doing. I managed to get us an indoor tennis court for an hour. We did have a real laugh, it was really good fun and really nice to do something just the 3 of us.  Trying to get Teen1 out of the house to do family this at home is a total no no so it was a refreshing change. Tea tonight was the Italian restaurant Strada.  The food was absolutely lovely. I'd pre booked but it wasn't overly busy. I had to pay a deposit when I booked and they took this off the bill which was a bonus as I'd completely forgotten about it haha.

Sunday we went swimming again, swam with frogs, yes frogs. Couldn't believe it. We went to go in the Rapids and because they go outside, the tiny little frogs hop from the pond and a couple fall in. We thought it was funny, Teen2 not so much. She got scared, God knows why as they were tiny little things, but kept grabbing my arm. We all know how much it hurts when you are wet, they are wet and they cling to you.  "Get off me" became our funny saying for the rest of the hol which has continued as a private family joke since. We had some lunch and played indoor tennis again, along with a bike ride around. Gotten tell you by day three my arse was very sore 😂  hadn't been on a bike for years but finally made it up the hill to our lodge and was very pleased with myself !!

I agree it doesn't look steep but looks are deceiving !! Hiring bikes was one of the best things we did.  It meant you got around a lot quicker. A couple of people had said to me get bikes and a couple said you don't really need them but I was glad I did.  If we had bikes at home I'd have taken them with us, but it as reasonable enough to hire them. 

I must say at this point that this post isn't sponsored and all views are my own, I just wanted to share the lovely family time we had away.  CP, however, if you are reading and want to send us to another park for free that would be totally acceptable hahaha.

Monday was our last day, we packed up and decided to go swimming one last time, looking out for frogs as we went around. One or two last times down the typhoon slide before getting a hot sausage roll for lunch and headin home.  Think Teen2 was missing his mates and PS4 by then by I feel pleased that we didn't rely totally on technology while we were away, although I have to say the wifi around the park was bloody brilliant ! Had it everywhere you went, or at least week did. (Got a be able to keep up with a bit of social media while you are away don't you 😉) 

All in all the most brilliant time. Whether it was because it was somewhere different, (we always holiday in my parents caravan) because it was just the 3 of us ( we always holiday with my parents) or just because the weather was kind, who knows. Maybe it was because I'd decided not to cook or make lunch while we were there. This was my holiday too. We loved it. Now, to save or not to save for next year that is the question, the other is can I afford it? Probably not !!! 

Toodle Pip for now Doodlebugs

xx

All nighter.......

So, Teen2 had a sleepover the weekend before last. Well I say "sleep"over in the loosest possible way seeing as though they didn't actually sleep - at all !! Luckily it wasn't at my house I hasten to add and boy did we pay for it !

When she got home on the Sunday she insisted she wasn't tired but being a mum I can obviously tell she was. She was having none of it. She didn't want to go to her dads and I had to do a food shop so I left the house telling her to go to bed for a couple of hours - yes I got the look - and off I pootled. 

I came home about an hour and half later and crept in. I was unloading the shopping and I heard the tv go on.  Did she sleep? I have no idea but I think she at least had a lie down.

Enter grumpy child for the next few days.  I'm sure this won't be the last time she is up all night but hopefully she will be older by then and learn to go to bed, like I did 😀 

She did however have a wonderful time and brilliant laugh so if she is happy who am I to moan. I just had to bite my tongue when the attitude started. I have started saying "lips" when the attitude starts, what is it with the year 8 attitude ?!! Is anyone else finding this? Even Teen1 replies with its cus she is in year 8, all year 8's get attitude !!!! It's either attitude, drama or they live life like they are on YouTube. Please tell me it's not just mine.....

Tootle Pip for now Doodlebugs

xx

Getting a better view....

So, I walked into the lounge to see the cat like this

She is obviously trying to get a better view of the birds in the garden!! Things they get up to when they think you aren't watching eh?! Teen 2 said she'd like to strap a camera to her to see what she gets up to when we're not about and also to see where she wanders off to when she has "gone for a walk". 

Anyway here are a few picks of the flowers now they are starting to bloom

Taken on a clearly more sunny day than today haha

Hopefully the buds on the fuchsias will start to open if we ever get more than one day of sunshine. What is going on with our weather this year?! Monday heavy rain, Tuesday nice and sunny, today showery. I would just like it to be consistent, not necessarily 80 degrees, just nice enough to wear shorts and a t-shirt for more than one day in a row. The grass desperately needs cutting but it's just too soggy. I don't know about you but to rubbish weather just makes me want to curl up, eat and read a book. (See my previous post about what's on my kindle)

Toddle pip for now doodlebugs xx

What's on my Kindle........?

So, where have I been and what have I been up to? Yup, you guessed it from the title, I've been reading. 

My friends and I went to see "Me before You" at the cinema the other weekend which meant I just had to read the book again. Yes I had previously read it quite a while ago and couldn't wait to see the film when I heard that it was being made into a film. However, before I could read it again I had to finish the book I was already reading.

The last book I read (before re-reading Me before You) was called The Secret of Happy Ever After by Lucy Dillon. This was the third book I read by Lucy and they were all part of the Longhampton Series. This was the only one I'd read for the first time. It was good but not quite as good as the other two but I can't take anything away from it, it was a nice easy read.

The first one I read of the series was called A Hundred Pieces of Me. This was the second time I'd read it and I have to say it was as good as the first time.  It is a very inspiring book although it is also sad. If you have never read it, I would truly recommend it. I do not want to give too much of the storyline away but if you want me to do a proper review let me know 😊

The second one of the series I read, well I say series, they aren't really a follow on, just set in the same place and a couple of the characters appear briefly in this one that did in the first.  This was called One Small Act of Kindness. Again a heartwarming book which kept me reading for the second time.  Again don't want to give too much away but let me know if you want more details.

So, then onto Me before You.  Well, what can I say? The second time of reading was as good as the first.  Was the film true to the book? Yes it was, although there was a lot missed out of the film and after reading the book again, I realised how much more I enjoyed the book. I would still recommend seeing the film though.  Some people are film watchers, I am a book reader who enjoys watching films. Maybe it's because reading gives me a chance to step away from real life, use my imagination to picture all the characters and the settings. Take me away to a world so far beyond my own life.  That might sound poncy, but sometimes I need to be taken away from the struggles of being a single parent. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of highs that also go along with it, but a lot of the time it is a struggle and a worry. No one to share things with, good or bad, but the best for all of us.

Anyway, if you want me to write more of a review about the books or anything I've read recently please let me know.  I have read a lot of books ! Mostly easy to read chic-ish books, I don't want anything too heavy keeping me awake at night 😀 I also re read books, not straight away but after a few months or even a year. I do this if I have really enjoyed something, or I need to read but funds are too tight at that moment to buy a book.  Does anyone else do this? A friend of mine says she never re reads a book.

I have to admit, I am a kindle person. I used to read real books, but having the option of on demand reading, being able to have a load of books in one little device and  that you don't have to go to the shop to get the book, is really appealing and I'd say my kindle is one of the best things I have ever treated myself too. In fact I have two ! One is an old paper white type one before they did them with a back light. This is great for reading in the garden as you can read it in the sun as the pages are like paper, it's very clever.  I then treated myself to a kindle fire when they came out, well, probably about a year after they came out when they went down in price.

So, I feel I have kept you long enough and I'm sorry if I have bored you !

See you later Doodlebugs xx

Dishwashergate..... !!!

I was having a chat with a few ladies on Twitter after one of them tweeted about how her kids never clear the table or load this dishwasher.  It appears that it wasn't only her house, but mine and a couple of others also. I'm also sure there are lots more of you out there who also have the same problem when it comes to kids loading the dishwasher or clearing the table. Mine slope off as soon as we have all finished, although I have finally achieved getting them to take their plates to the side next to the dishwasher. You'd think this was an easy task, but no !

The chat got me thinking about my two teens and how easy they have it really. I guess you could call me a softy as I think kids should be kids and enjoy their childhood without having to do too many chores - I'll probably get blasted for that but hey ho ! However, as they are now getting older I don't think loading the dishwasher and clearing the table is too much to ask. I have to add that Teen 1's job on a Monday when he isn't at college is to unload the dishwasher and on a couple occasions has actually unloaded it on a day when he hasn't been asked, you could've blew me down I was so shocked but also very happy. It is taking a long time to drum into him that it is nice to do things for others without being asked and to be thoughtful of others and how they might feel  (unfortunately he doesn't take after my side of the family for being thoughtful of others, luckily teen 2 does!) but I am persevering and it is paying off. It's funny how hard it is to change someone's trait or try and influence them into thinking of others. On Monday Teen 1 also hung out the washing, yes you read that correctly, he hung out the washing !!!!! I did ask him, ( in a text when I was at work!) but all the same he hung the washing out !!!

Anyway I digress. So, yesterday after tea, I decided to leave them too it. I got up from the table and said I'm going to sit in the garden, you two can clear the table and load the dishwasher. Well, their faces were a picture. Rather too quick I thought, Teen 1 appeared in the garden. I asked had he put the pans in the dishwasher too -  pans?!!! was his answer.  When I went into the kitchen a bit later, yes the plates and knives and forks were in there but the pans were still on the stove and odd utensils I'd used were still on the side too. 

So, was it on purpose so I don't ask them again? Who knows, it just confirmed the conversation I'd had with the lovely ladies. I know I will have to persevere but as one of them said, sometimes it's easier to do it yourself ! 

Toddlepip doodlebugs xxx

Ps please don't blast me for being a soft touch 😊 xx