16 April 2005

Going Ape

Today I went here: http://www.goape.cc/Pages.asp?M=1&Page=27

It was a really good laugh. Took four kids for the birthday treat. The best bit was on a 'black' challenge - the hardest. Unlike the other very high and very long zip lines, this one began with a few seconds of freefall from a great height before you felt your safety harness doing what it was meant to. Exhilirating. Highly recommended but learn from me and take gloves!

15 April 2005

"so unfair"

Today I became the mother of a teenager. The change is startling.

I have duly bought myself a twin set and pearls so that he has good reason to be thoroughly ashamed of me in public. I have invested in some sensible scholl shoes so that when his friends come round I can leave them in the hallway for him to trip over unceremoniously. I will of course be banning everything fun for the next 7 years. I will cease to make any effort to understand him. I will develop an intolerance to anything louder than the sound of the kettle boiling and try my utmost to ask him to speak properly even when he's making perfect sense. I have decided to set up a series of meetings under the guise of being reasonable but with a hidden agenda of me trying to make him squirm with guilt over things he hasn't done or over which he has no control. I will make a point of telling his friends how early he goes to bed and insist on a kiss goodbye whenever he's in public. I will deliberately choose tasks for him when his favourite programmes are on television. I'm working on a look of disdain that I can use whenever he buys clothes for himself. I have started hiding his favourite clothes so that he is obliged to wear awful clothes when he goes where there might be girls. I have put a one hour time limit on the bathroom so that he has no way of making himself presentable before going out. This is only the first day, think what miseries I can dream up in another 6 years and 364 days.

It's inexplicable. I woke up today and I was completely different. Trying times indeed.

14 April 2005

Hedda Gabler

Last night I went to see a production of Hedda Gabler at the Almeida theatre in Islington.

http://www.almeida.co.uk/index.cfm?id=hedda

Richard Eyre directed and it was really very good. The set was great, some of the actors were particularly impressive and the text itself has some very insightful lines. Not at all the heavy, static type of performance you may associate with Ibsen. (I saw a ghastly 'Doll's House' and thought I'd never get on with him for a long time.) We had restricted viewing because the seats sold so quickly but it was still a very enjoyable evening. And who was sat a few rows in front of us but Alexei Sayle!

Later, over copious wine, we toasted Ibsen with the wish that Scandanavian drama may ever outstrip its furniture trade.

13 April 2005

cat buckaroo

http://www.ashearer.f2s.com/blog/?p=2

This is not to be missed. Having a rather flighty cat I think I will have to start with small items. Crisps maybe.

12 April 2005

achievement

today i ran.

due in no part to public transport, officers of the law or life-defending escapades involving the elderly on zebra crossings.

no, i just ran.

don't watch this space. i think the fascination with exercise will fizzle out when i clock the fact that i'm not losing several pounds simply by virtue of wearing trainers.

zoo

Took the lad to his favourite place on earth yesterday. Turning the car engine off is like firing a starting gun at the beginning of the race for him. The uber cool long haired drumming skate dude with an attitude to match anyone's, turns puppy at the sight of furry critters.
Ring-tailed lemurs, bears,birds, zebras, baby giraffes, lions and tigers and camels (brown ale and sandwiches too?)
But the piece de resistance was, of course, the penguin pool. We got there for feeding time and I had to take photo after photo for him to print off and stick on his wall when we get home.

A pricey day out but it was the last day of Easter hols and I still maintain that a lemur would make a great pet!