I know that there's a group in Cardiff that meets on the first Saturday of each month, but I don't know where or exactly when - please let me know the details if you know!
Also I'd love to know of other events in the South Wales, Bristol or Hereford areas that are linked to Chinese communities or culture.
Comments please!
Monday, January 28, 2008
10% OFF
I like that price!!
Seriously though - there are discounts to be had for very little effort.
Mumsnet offers discounts to their members and they're free to join! As a member you will qualify for discounts (mostly 10%) at several of my favourite retailers, including J0J0 M B, GLT*C, Bl00ming M@rvellous, The Wh1te Comp@ny, Letterb0x and B0den!
Any other tips bargain hunters? Comments please!
Seriously though - there are discounts to be had for very little effort.
Mumsnet offers discounts to their members and they're free to join! As a member you will qualify for discounts (mostly 10%) at several of my favourite retailers, including J0J0 M B, GLT*C, Bl00ming M@rvellous, The Wh1te Comp@ny, Letterb0x and B0den!
Any other tips bargain hunters? Comments please!
PROGRESS!
Recently Alice has started to kiss the objects that she's fond of!
Saturday - Alice picked up L's beaker with a straw and took a gulp - that had me running for the kitchen where I had the same cup (even with the same pattern!) in the cupboard, I filled up her cup and she drank the best part of 6 fl oz in the next 30 minutes! We've tried every sippy cup on the market and (until Saturday) Alice has refused to drink from anything other than a bottle or an open cup - but she drinks more from a bottle so that's where we've stuck, til now!
Sunday - new words, 'kisses', 'bear', still a way to go to match L's vocab but every new words makes my smile wider. Alice now claps when Mummy does the 'happy dance' and tells her that she's a 'clever girl!'
Today - we went to the soft play in A. Unsurprisingly Alice was much more confident at this session. She really enjoyed the soft play see-saw - it got several kisses! I think she would have stayed on it all morning if I'd let her. She also loved playing on the bouncy castle and in the ball pool. After that she astounded me by climbing the soft play stairs, unaided for no apparent reason and with great confidence. (At home I ALWAYS carry her up and down the stairs as they're very steep and have a flagstone floor at the bottom.)
Other people are noticing her progress too. At the weekend C said that Alice was even happier than before (hadn't seen her since mid November). I agree. Then today I read on a blog (can't remember which one) that adopted children seem to relax at about 6 months home and then again at about 12 months home - Alice's recent behaviour and progress would seem to support this.
Saturday - Alice picked up L's beaker with a straw and took a gulp - that had me running for the kitchen where I had the same cup (even with the same pattern!) in the cupboard, I filled up her cup and she drank the best part of 6 fl oz in the next 30 minutes! We've tried every sippy cup on the market and (until Saturday) Alice has refused to drink from anything other than a bottle or an open cup - but she drinks more from a bottle so that's where we've stuck, til now!
Sunday - new words, 'kisses', 'bear', still a way to go to match L's vocab but every new words makes my smile wider. Alice now claps when Mummy does the 'happy dance' and tells her that she's a 'clever girl!'
Today - we went to the soft play in A. Unsurprisingly Alice was much more confident at this session. She really enjoyed the soft play see-saw - it got several kisses! I think she would have stayed on it all morning if I'd let her. She also loved playing on the bouncy castle and in the ball pool. After that she astounded me by climbing the soft play stairs, unaided for no apparent reason and with great confidence. (At home I ALWAYS carry her up and down the stairs as they're very steep and have a flagstone floor at the bottom.)
Other people are noticing her progress too. At the weekend C said that Alice was even happier than before (hadn't seen her since mid November). I agree. Then today I read on a blog (can't remember which one) that adopted children seem to relax at about 6 months home and then again at about 12 months home - Alice's recent behaviour and progress would seem to support this.
PLEASE HELP
This is from a fantastic charity that helps children in Chinese orphanages:
As you might know, we are in the final five days of a national competition on Facebook. We were in first place for quite some time, but now we are 45 donors behind the Free Tibet people. We have five days to find as many individual donors as possible in order to try to win the $50,000.
It is SO EASY to donate $10 and count as a unique donor. All you have to do is go here: Click "donate", and then it will ask you to register with Facebook. Once you are registered, you can donate just $10 and it counts towards our total. The donation is 100% tax deductible and is processed by I Give, a leading online charity site. Your credit card number is completely secure.
Facebook does not sell any information to third parties, and you can in fact go back and even delete your Facebook account as soon as you donate if you desire. I have really enjoyed learning how to use Facebook, however, and have found a lot of old friends on there that I have reconnected with.
I just wanted to say that this is REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, so I am asking you as a dear friend or family member to please do this for me. I have so many babies on my heart right now who will not be on this earth in the next month if we cannot raise the funds they need for medical care. It takes a piece of my soul each and every time a
little baby dies in an orphanage when it would have been so easy to save their life with surgery. I have watched far too many babies struggle and then die over the years…and it is a very heavy burden to me.
If we win the $50,000 prize…that will save the lives of ten children dying of heart disease. That is so awesome. TEN CHILDREN. I hope you will be a part of us winning and saving their lives. I once had a conversation with a mom who had adopted a little boy whose life we had helped save. She said, "do you realize that the very fabric of the world has changed since our son lived when he didn't really have a chance?" She went on to say that her family realized that he would grow up one day and have kids of his own…perhaps be a doctor or a teacher or a researcher. I started crying when she took my hand and told me that because we had stepped in to save his life, the world would be impacted in ways we would never even know. Just because one boy's life was saved. I have so many children waiting for that same chance.
Don't forget that if there are two people in the home, then both can create a Facebook account and donate $10 and it counts as two donors. Everyone 13 and up in the Eldridge home has done so here. The contest is just on how many unique donors we can get behind our cause.
THANK YOU!! I would be SO GRATEFUL for your help.
Amy Eldridge
Love Without Boundaries
As you might know, we are in the final five days of a national competition on Facebook. We were in first place for quite some time, but now we are 45 donors behind the Free Tibet people. We have five days to find as many individual donors as possible in order to try to win the $50,000.
It is SO EASY to donate $10 and count as a unique donor. All you have to do is go here: Click "donate", and then it will ask you to register with Facebook. Once you are registered, you can donate just $10 and it counts towards our total. The donation is 100% tax deductible and is processed by I Give, a leading online charity site. Your credit card number is completely secure.
Facebook does not sell any information to third parties, and you can in fact go back and even delete your Facebook account as soon as you donate if you desire. I have really enjoyed learning how to use Facebook, however, and have found a lot of old friends on there that I have reconnected with.
I just wanted to say that this is REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, so I am asking you as a dear friend or family member to please do this for me. I have so many babies on my heart right now who will not be on this earth in the next month if we cannot raise the funds they need for medical care. It takes a piece of my soul each and every time a
little baby dies in an orphanage when it would have been so easy to save their life with surgery. I have watched far too many babies struggle and then die over the years…and it is a very heavy burden to me.
If we win the $50,000 prize…that will save the lives of ten children dying of heart disease. That is so awesome. TEN CHILDREN. I hope you will be a part of us winning and saving their lives. I once had a conversation with a mom who had adopted a little boy whose life we had helped save. She said, "do you realize that the very fabric of the world has changed since our son lived when he didn't really have a chance?" She went on to say that her family realized that he would grow up one day and have kids of his own…perhaps be a doctor or a teacher or a researcher. I started crying when she took my hand and told me that because we had stepped in to save his life, the world would be impacted in ways we would never even know. Just because one boy's life was saved. I have so many children waiting for that same chance.
Don't forget that if there are two people in the home, then both can create a Facebook account and donate $10 and it counts as two donors. Everyone 13 and up in the Eldridge home has done so here. The contest is just on how many unique donors we can get behind our cause.
THANK YOU!! I would be SO GRATEFUL for your help.
Amy Eldridge
Love Without Boundaries
Sunday, January 27, 2008
YET MORE CATCHING UP!
Been busy - all the usual things.
M, C and L stayed this weekend and N came for lunch yesterday. Wonderful to get Alice and L together and we all had a fab time, really fab, relaxed and happy, wonderful. More on that tomorrow (probably!)
M, C and L stayed this weekend and N came for lunch yesterday. Wonderful to get Alice and L together and we all had a fab time, really fab, relaxed and happy, wonderful. More on that tomorrow (probably!)
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
MORE CATCHING UP!
The grumpiness continues sporadically - I continue to blame the rumbling teeth. Of the 8 that were moving, 6 are now through at least in part. Alice said 'Aaah,' tonight when she saw me with the teething gel!
Life's been really hectic recently - lots of paperwork to do and now more organising to get the beach house sale and move organised.
Yesterday was really busy - hence no posting! We went into A'g, collected my sewing machine and ran a few errands (got ABSOLUTELY soaked!) before going on to a new activity in the morning - soft play. The soft play was great - playmats, ball pool, activity climbing bit (for when she's toddling and climbing) including slide and a bouncy castle. It was very social - I knew about half the mums there - and several grannies came along when they heard we were there, it was lovely to introduce Alice to them and good to catch up. Alice was very clingy to begin with, but by the end of 90 minutes she was much more confident but didn't go more than a metre or two from me. She had a wonderful time and was so exhausted that it was a battle to keep her awake in the car!
Then I was a grown up for the afternoon!!! I know that there's no greater responsibility than caring for children, but I had an afternoon off. The Magnificent T looked after Alice and I went for an afternoon of pampering. Alice had great fun with T and her son C - they got her on her feet and when I came home she showed me that she can walk 5-6 steps unaided between people. Lots of pride - from me and her!!
Today? Swimming, still clingy, it's taking a lot to get over the Christmas break. Quick trip to the vet's - Daisy's arthritis has flared up but I'd taken the correct measures already. Then, after Alice's lunchtime nap, a trip into local town to collect the Chinese artwork that's now been framed and an impromptu visit with J and D.
2 more good days, we're very lucky.
Life's been really hectic recently - lots of paperwork to do and now more organising to get the beach house sale and move organised.
Yesterday was really busy - hence no posting! We went into A'g, collected my sewing machine and ran a few errands (got ABSOLUTELY soaked!) before going on to a new activity in the morning - soft play. The soft play was great - playmats, ball pool, activity climbing bit (for when she's toddling and climbing) including slide and a bouncy castle. It was very social - I knew about half the mums there - and several grannies came along when they heard we were there, it was lovely to introduce Alice to them and good to catch up. Alice was very clingy to begin with, but by the end of 90 minutes she was much more confident but didn't go more than a metre or two from me. She had a wonderful time and was so exhausted that it was a battle to keep her awake in the car!
Then I was a grown up for the afternoon!!! I know that there's no greater responsibility than caring for children, but I had an afternoon off. The Magnificent T looked after Alice and I went for an afternoon of pampering. Alice had great fun with T and her son C - they got her on her feet and when I came home she showed me that she can walk 5-6 steps unaided between people. Lots of pride - from me and her!!
Today? Swimming, still clingy, it's taking a lot to get over the Christmas break. Quick trip to the vet's - Daisy's arthritis has flared up but I'd taken the correct measures already. Then, after Alice's lunchtime nap, a trip into local town to collect the Chinese artwork that's now been framed and an impromptu visit with J and D.
2 more good days, we're very lucky.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
LIKE MY NEW DOOR KNOCKER?!
Alice has had 8 teeth for months. The next lot started rumbling just before Christmas - 8 have been moving all at the same time, poor baby. She's got very good at saying 'Aaahh,' to let me look at what's going on or to apply teething gel, but it's not always very wide open, so sometimes it's difficult to see.
On last inspection, a couple of days ago, 5 of the 8 had broken through, 1 completely. Since then the symptoms have risen again and another is definitely through.
Yesterday she was a little grumpy. Last night she went to bed without issue, but coughed through the evening. She continued to cough this morning and had a green and runny nose - so I cancelled our swimming date. On and off through today she's been grumpy again, picky with food (most unusual) and a very slightly elevated temperature - but no more cough! The teeth are definitely bothering her and she doesn't often complain.
Spirits were raised with the help of a few white chocolate drops - used in a bonding exercise - taken from Mummy's lips. My girl'll do almost anything for chocolate - not that she gets the chance that often.
BLOG HITS
. . . sometime this evening . . . the hit counter got to . . . 30,000 . . . in about 13 months . . . WOW.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
VIDEO CLIPS
So I've treated you to a few clips.
What do you think?
They're very short as they take so long to upload. Also Blogger seems to cut the end of each clip, might try You or U T*be?
Comments, opinions, anyone?!
What do you think?
They're very short as they take so long to upload. Also Blogger seems to cut the end of each clip, might try You or U T*be?
Comments, opinions, anyone?!
FINALLY . . . GOING, GOING . . . NEARLY GONE!
I accepted an offer last August, today we FINALLY exchanged contracts!Now I'm just left to ponder why my life is never simple?!
PAPERWORK, UGH!
Busy week, all the usuals and lots of paperwork - I'm trying to get organised!!
One of the side-effects of the long wait was total ostrich behaviour with paperwork - bills went unopened, sometimes unpaid for a while (ooophs!) and paperwork PILED up. It needed tackling, papers needed sorting and then shredding or filing. Expenses needed compiling. The accountant needed figures.
So far:
One of the side-effects of the long wait was total ostrich behaviour with paperwork - bills went unopened, sometimes unpaid for a while (ooophs!) and paperwork PILED up. It needed tackling, papers needed sorting and then shredding or filing. Expenses needed compiling. The accountant needed figures.
So far:
- most of the papers have been sorted - filed or shredded,
- spreadsheets have been compiled, linked and tallied,
- the files have begun to be sorted - more figures included in the spreadsheet, lots more shredding,
- 2007's P60 has been FOUND, major relief (it was in the paperwork I took to China, it had stayed in that file ever since!)
- the accountant has been visited, but he's yet to say what info he's missing,
- bills have been paid,
- direct debits have been organised!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
TRYING AGAIN!
I lost the internet connection part-way through the first attempt, I'm hoping this one is more successful!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
