Planet Shengsters

March 09, 2010

Antonia Cornwell

Business as Usual

1. Small dollop of Fimo horseshit, one of about a dozen that I made and baked in the oven for Esme, because the Playmobil horse Ian bought her came with brooms and dustpans for cleaning up horseshit but not the horseshit itself, and because I am a loving, creative parent.2. Rejected piece of toast.3. Playmobil scalp.4. Guinea pig.5. Playmobil stable-hands, scalped and made to stand on their

by Antonia (whoopee@smallwalrus.com) at March 09, 2010 09:17 PM

Adrian Lightly

DVDon't

We bought a DVD the other day.

Solveig was in Sainsbury's and saw Thomas And The Magic Railroad* was on offer for four quid, so she picked one up for the kids. Upon arrival, she (or more probably Theo) popped it into the DVD player and pressed PLAY. Nothing happened. She ejected it, blew off any dust and had another go. Nowt. Just the dreaded "Loading..." icon in the top right corner of the screen. Cue disappointed kids and the return of Peppa Pig to our screens.

We took it back and exchanged it, assuming the disc was faulty in some way. But the replacement was exactly the same, refusing even to load the disc, let alone actually play. Short of believing there was a batch of discs with a manufacturing defect, I was curious to see if the disc would work in a computer drive, rather than our standard domestic DVD player. So I popped it into a laptop and it worked fine. No other DVDs have ever failed to work in the normal player. Weird.

Figuring that making a copy of something that doesn't actually work wouldn't really be breaking any laws, I set to with ripping it. Obviously it has the latest copy protection; not a massive problem, there are ways and means. Less than an hour later, we have a working copy of the film which runs perfectly in the DVD player and the kids are happy.

But what kind of industry cripples its media so much that a standard domestic player cannot even read it? And isn't that now the opposite of the problem we used to have with CDs, whereby copy-protected discs wouldn't play in PC data drives but were fine in regular audio CD players?

Somebody somewhere needs to have a damned good think...

* dreadful Americanised 'Polar Express'-lite set on Sodor - don't bother :)

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at March 09, 2010 03:37 PM

What To Watch?

I need your help.

My wife is going away for a bit with the kids shortly (don't worry, they're coming back!) and I shall have around two weeks on my own in the house. Now one thing I am very bad at, apart from putting my socks in the laundry basket, is watching films. So this is a perfect opportunity to catch up - but of the hundreds of possibilities out there, where to start?

In my forthcoming 'man-time', and allowing for football matches, beer consumption as well as actually still having to go to work, I reckon a target of half a dozen good films is not unreasonable. They're probably going to be ones that Solveig won't be bothered about and I'll save any animated films to watch with the kids but other than that I have free rein. I think I'd like to see 'Inglourious Basterds' and I'm fairly sure I don't want to bother with 'The Road' but after that I'm open to suggestions.

What would you watch on your own in the house? Suggest away!

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at March 09, 2010 09:45 AM

March 08, 2010

Andy Theyers

Introducing Portify

I done gone made a thing – portify converts audio files from any format to one more suitable for your portable player.  For me, sadly, that means converting everything to mp3.

Testers are welcome, particularly on non-Linux platforms, but please be gentle :)

by Andy at March 08, 2010 10:10 PM

Solveig Lightly

I, Theo

In the last two weeks Theo has started using 'I' when he talks. Freyja didn't do this for ages - she was a 'Freyja wants', 'Freyja do it' kind of talker. Theo has gone straight to using 'I'.

Sometimes he even gets it right.

He says 'I did it' and 'I finish' and 'I want it'. Generally though he just uses it to refer to something he want, is doing, or believes belongs to him. It's cute and often funny.

He says 'I apple' or 'I nappy' or 'I dinner'. Or, our favourite so far, when he called us into his bedroom in the morning and, when we asked where he was, his little muffled voice emerged from behind the curtains: 'I window!'

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at March 08, 2010 05:45 PM

Adrian Lightly

EOTW #8

Like a rat up an aqueduct, here's Week 8 of the Grazia-endorsed* Euphemisms Of The Week, and it's been a bumper one (or perhaps I've been on Twitter more than usual, if that's possible within the confines of the existing laws of space and time...)

Recently observed on the web of shame:
  • Buying turmeric in Brussels
  • Unblocking the Hoover hose
  • Advertising Anne Widdicombe’s pasta
  • Coming across John Craven in the video shop
  • Naming the Bay City Rollers
More to follow...

* no, not really.

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at March 08, 2010 10:45 AM

March 06, 2010

Antonia Cornwell

Snippets of Family Life

February 20Oscar is one day old. He is shouting. He is a squat, solid, doorstop of a baby who exists on two Jekyll/Hyde extremes: either he is quietly awake and wide-eyed, just looking peacefully around at what little he can focus on, or he is angry about shitting, which would make a good album title. During Angry Hour, it's like trying to nurse Ian Paisley.He is approaching Angry Hour now. He is

by Antonia (whoopee@smallwalrus.com) at March 06, 2010 09:12 PM

Solveig Lightly

Friday Fashion Finds

Have had a busy day, so a quick one from the trunk-of-clothes-to-grow-into today:


Theo's eagle top from Monsoon. Love the yellow, love the animal print.

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at March 06, 2010 09:40 AM

March 05, 2010

Antonia Cornwell

SO HOW'S THE VAG?

Who wants to read a story involving vaginas? Of course you don't. In that case, you should go to Ian's Flickr photos and look at the pictures of the bicycle he built FROM SCRATCH this winter.Ian promised he wasn't going to build a bicycle."I'm not going to build a bicycle," he promised, when I found him looking at websites that tell you how to build bicycles.Soon afterwards, the postman began

by Antonia (whoopee@smallwalrus.com) at March 05, 2010 12:23 PM

Shopping With Mother

Or: Reasons I Shouldn't Be Around Other People These Days, #867

by Antonia (whoopee@smallwalrus.com) at March 05, 2010 10:41 AM

Oscar the Grouch

1. HELLO INTERNET2. BABY3. FRIDAY 19TH, 12 NOON4. 9lb 10oz5. That's 9LB 10OZ6. NO REALLY7. NO DRUGS8. unless you count Paracetamol9. which is British English for acetaminophen, or 'as useful as bringing a fart to a shit fight'10. His name is Oscar11. and he is the squattest, hairiest, angriest and ugliest keeper of the gates of Hell that ever came out of anyone's fanny12. but exactly like having

by Antonia (whoopee@smallwalrus.com) at March 05, 2010 10:40 AM

March 04, 2010

Andy Theyers

Compare and contrast

I don’t really want to get all banker bashing, but these 3 stories really sum up my utter confusion about the end result of the “financial crisis”.  I’m an intelligent enough chap. I ought to get it, oughtn’t I?

I seem to have this awful Emperor’s new clothes kind of feeling that just won’t go away.

by Andy at March 04, 2010 07:50 PM

Solveig Lightly

Beauty

I wasn't sure what picture to put for my first entry into the recently launched Sticky Fingers Gallery. The subject is Beauty and I do have lots of beautiful pictures of my children and my family and my home. None of me, mind. Gah.

And then I remembered this one:


I love the vivid red of this one brave and beautiful tulip emerging from the bed of green weeds in our yet to be tended garden. And how Freyja is completely absorbed by it. I look at her face and wonder what she is thinking as she sits there gazing at this flower. I like to think she is simply entranced by its beauty but I imagine that really she is fighting the urge to pick this treasure, which I have no doubt just told her not to!

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at March 04, 2010 12:32 PM

Wallpaper for Boys

Something more fun now!

I am forever changing my mind about how I should decorate my children's bedrooms. I'm quite happy with them, but I'm always browsing for other ideas.

Recently I found this excellent wallpaper from the wonderful Rockett St George (I could buy nearly everything they stock...) This, however, I am not actually going to get because it's rather expensive and Theo's too young for it anyway.

But I love it. So it's going on my blog.



More appropriate for Theo now (though again, probably not something that I will actually ever get....) are these, by Ferm LIVING (stocked at Cloudberry Living):


I'm particularly keen on the 'Rush Hour' one. Theo has a gorgeous Dwell Studio blanket which I bought him from Lula Sapphire when he was born and I've been slightly in love with this sort of design ever since.
And here's one that Adrian would actually agree to as well. Cricket wallpaper (another one from Rockett St George):


Lovely!

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at March 04, 2010 11:40 AM

March 03, 2010

Adrian Lightly

EOTW #7

What's the best euphemism for nasty stomach bug? Ach. Erp. Ick. Oof. Ugh.

Anyway, here we go for Week 7 of the Vogue-championed* Euphemisms Of The Week, and they're still rolling in like the mist from the sea on the Mull Of Kintyre, or something equally tenuous.

Recently observed on the web of shame:
  • Tolerating the Bismarck
  • Sniffing the bud of the caper bush
  • Drinking from the Spanish cup
  • Re-hanging the girlfriend's washing
  • Playing a tune on the mango banjo
More to follow...

* no, not really.

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at March 03, 2010 11:48 AM

March 02, 2010

Adrian Lightly

Department Stored

Following a random conversation on Twitter, Chris Addison mentioned that his excellent Radio 4 comedy show from 2004-06 'The Department' wasn't available to buy on CD/MP3 anywhere. Which seemed ridiculous, but following intensive research shockingly turns out to be true.

Now, given that we are heading inexorably towards a General Election, I reckon this would be the perfect time to broadcast it again, given the splendidly targeted political ridicule, cutting-edge satire and healthy dose of the absurd (Peter Beardsley and Slobodan Miloševic drawing the next round of inter-continental wars out of a bag, anyone?) contained therein.

With co-writers/performers the brilliant (and Bugle-producing) John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman, you should definitely give it a(nother) listen.

Although as they're not available any more, I guess you'd have to do that 'illegally' by downloading a torrent of the shows from somewhere. Ahem.

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at March 02, 2010 03:03 PM

Andy Theyers

DAB: Dead And Buried?

Has the BBC signalled the death of DAB? Today’s announcements detail the closure of the only two BBC stations that both broadcast original content and are only available on DAB. Now all original BBC radio content, barring the very few 5Live Sports Extra events that aren’t also on LW and the little CBeebies/CBBC stuff on Radio 7, is again available on a traditional FM/AM/LW radio.

While we get up in arms about the loss of the stations, perhaps we should be getting up in arms about the failure of DAB, and start asking ourselves what that means for the wider picture of the “Digital Switchover”.

by Andy at March 02, 2010 01:20 PM

March 01, 2010

Solveig Lightly

A letter to my sister-in-law

Although we aren't close in the way some sisters-in-law are, you are still such an important part of my life. For one thing, you actually married my brother! And had two beautiful boys with him, my gorgeous nephews. We live in different countries so we don't see each other that often, but I always enjoy the times we are together, as one big family. Do you remember that first Christmas you spent with us when we made you dress up as a swan for a family performance of Swan Lake. And to think you still married him!

How could anyone know what lay around the corner? Sometimes I look at old photos and try to see in those pictures some sign that things weren't right, but I can't. Your hair is shiny, you are smiling. How were we to know that you were being eaten away inside? I'll never forget my mother calling and saying 'we have a problem'. I'll never forget you walking into my flat after the diagnosis of 3rd stage ovarian cancer and hearing you sobbing for 'my boys, my boys'.

But you have struggled on. No one will ever match you and my brother for sheer strength in facing your nightmare with dignity and telling everyone else it will be okay.

But it isn't okay. Because your cancer is terminal. Three years of fighting and hoping only to be told that it will get you in the end. I get angry when I read about 'brave cancer survivors' as if bravery can be enough to get you through this and those who succumb must in some way have been a little bit too weak. No one has ever been stronger than you in facing this and yet you will die from it.

All those broken dreams. All those nightmares faced. My mother seeing her son dealing with one of the worst things that life can throw and knowing that her grandsons face a terrible loss. My father, endlessly optimistic, having to accept that life is unfair and sometimes things don't work out. We've always been a lucky family - how did this happen? My brother, quiet and contained, shouldering it all and hoping beyond hope that you could hold on until a cure was found, now faced with a life alone raising two young boys. Two sisters, grieving for their family's nightmare, their brother's pain. My two nephews, living in the present as children can, but with a life ahead without their mother there to hold them and guide them.

And You. Your life and dreams cut short right before your eyes, faced with the awful knowledge that you won't grow old with your husband or see your boys grow into men or become a grandmother to their children. I'm a mother now too and I can hardly bear to think of the agony you must go through. To know that you won't be there to take them to school, to help with their homework, to soothe their nightmares, to hold their hands, to remind them to brush their teeth and clear their plates, to cuddle and kiss them and to tuck them in at night. Where do you find the strength to keep going when faced with that?

We may not be close like some sisters-in-law but that won't make it any easier to lose you.

March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. Please be aware.

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at March 01, 2010 11:51 AM

February 28, 2010

Andy Theyers

Sheet music

Having spent most of the Nineties in a darkened room listening to music that went “bang, bang, bang, bang” at somewhere around 140bpm I felt pretty musically adrift when, sometime around 2001, I started sleeping at the weekends again and techno stopped meaning quite what it had.

To find myself some new musical roots I started reading about all sorts of music, going right back to the Fifties. My theory was that I should start at the beginning and see where I ended up.

Along the way I’ve read some fantastic books*, recommended by some very knowledgeable people. I’m amazed to only just discover the existence of the Continuum 33⅓ series. Nigh on 100 titles, each book the missing sleevenotes of some of the greatest albums recorded. What an amazing list; from the cult, like Zaireeka, Maggot Brain, Radio City, Unknown Pleasures through the classics like Forever Changes and on to pop like Abba Gold and Sign O’ The Times. If anyone’s wondering what to buy me for a gift just start at the beginning of the list – I’ll have one of each, ta :)

* My favourite music book, by the way, is Fierce Dancing by C J Stone which documents, among other things, the transition from the free festivals of the Eighties to the open air raves of the Nineties. Is there a music book I should have read?

by Andy at February 28, 2010 11:06 PM

February 27, 2010

Andy Theyers

Reason to love the Internet #5,629

This led me to this.  Which in turn led me to this, which led me to this, which ultimately led me to buy this, which is this week’s favourite album.

Like yer man Boon says, touches of Arcade Fire and Phillip Glass.  I’d add some Flaming Lips and even some Erlend  Øye. Lovely.

by Andy at February 27, 2010 03:57 PM

February 26, 2010

Solveig Lightly

Tech Kids


Is this okay, I ask myself?

My children are fast becoming computer addicts. Theo can already find his way around an iPhone and he's not yet 2. And as for Freyja. Well, she shows me what to do...

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at February 26, 2010 08:01 PM

Balloon Animals

Made by my friend Paul. Delighted the kids.


(In case you are wondering, there is a rabbit, elephant, frog and cat/tiger)

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at February 26, 2010 07:41 PM

Friday Fashion Finds

I have a love/hate view of NEXT. Loads of their children's clothes are of the type with cartoon fairies or cars and little slogans saying 'I'm a Princess' or 'Mummy's Monster', which personally I'm not so keen on.

But among all that they often have some real gems.

For girls, their tights are great and I headed there the other week as Freyja has grown out of her age 3-4s. I did a bit of a double take as I walked in. I wasn't so keen on the boys stuff, but the girls collection was great. Lots of animal print items and florals, which I love.

I got this denim ra-ra skirt which she has already worn to death:


Going to have to get another in a bigger size. Also got two brilliant tunics, one with a tiger face and one with zebra stripes. There were lots of things along these lines so I had to resist buying too much of the same.

Then I went on the website when I came home, and spotted these gorgeous bow tops:


by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at February 26, 2010 08:45 AM

February 24, 2010

Andy Theyers

February 23, 2010

Andy Theyers

A little every day

You may have noticed I’ve started this up again.  I’m trying to do one post a day again – I reckon it’s either that or kill it altogether and accept that all I’m actually good for is tweets about snow.

Anyhoo, today’s post is actually on the Isotoma blog.  It’s about old versions of python. Well, I’m not going to write two in a day, am I?

by Andy at February 23, 2010 01:29 PM

Adrian Lightly

Bunch Of Twapps

Having recently bitten the Apple and got an iPhone, I thought I'd bung any old Twitter app (twapp?) on it and be up and running, happily advising the world of the exciting cheese & pickle dilemma which might befall me in Pret of a Tuesday lunchtime.

Not so.

You can plump for Twitterrific, TweetDeck, TwitBird, Tweetie, Twittelator, Echofon (which rather surprisingly doesn't begin with T but was previously called TwitterFon, so that's OK) and a whole host of others which don't appear on the first couple of pages of search results.

But which one?

Reviews abound on the interweb declaring their undying love for each, and slagging off the competition. Perhaps most people just get used to the first one they try and can't be bothered to change. But that's boring, so I'm going to try them all.

Simultaneously.

For a period of two weeks, every time I go to check Twitter on the iPhone, I'm going to use a different one of the above six apps, in strict rotation so they get a similar amount of face time. To be fair, I have installed the free versions of each, so no paid-for functionality can muddy the waters. The settings will be identical and they all support the same photo-sharing and link-shortening services. At the end of the fortnight, I should know which ones I've looked forward to using and been most 'tweetful' (ahem) and to which I've given a little sigh and been as quick as I could.

Maybe there are magic features you can't live without, or perhaps it's all about speed of use and a clean interface, but at the very least I'll have my Twitter app (which I'm sure everyone will then tell me is "the wrong one"...)

Geek out.

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at February 23, 2010 10:36 AM

February 22, 2010

Andy Theyers

We got the love

Florence and the Machine’s cover of You Got The Love is really starting to get on my tits.  If I hear one more gushing “ooh, what a great version” or, worse, one more person telling me what a great track it is, completely unaware of the original, I shall be moved to violence.

Here, ladies and gentlemen, is John Truelove’s original version – melding Candi Staton’s acapella vocal with Frankie Knuckles Your Love in the one true version. Re-released, remixed, re-recorded many many times this is, for me at least, the one we should all remember.

And please, if we’re going to get gooey about modern cover versions, sod Florence and The Machine and Joss Stone.  Try The XX version instead.

by Andy at February 22, 2010 01:32 PM

Solveig Lightly

Cupcakes

I discovered Lola's Kitchen in Metro yesterday on my way to work. I then spent a lot of the day just looking at all the beautiful cakes and trying to decide what excuse I had for ordering some.

The next birthday we have coming up in our household is Theo's in April. Fortunately, Lola's Kitchen is not just for girls:


And if you have a very special occasion coming up, check out their giant cupcakes:













Wow.

(Update: Hang on a minute here. I have just seen that it will cost £40 to get these delivered to me! £40!!! Maybe people in Catford aren't supposed to eat posh cupcakes..!!)

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at February 22, 2010 12:06 PM

Adrian Lightly

EOTW #6

On to Week 6 of the TLS-lauded* Euphemisms Of The Week and we're bang up to date now. So it turns out that Twitter is a rich seam of snigger-inducing phraseology. Who knew? Oh, you all did. Right.

Recently observed on the web of shame:
  • Christening the muffin pan
  • Buying specialist table sauces
  • Falling over in George Michael's back garden
  • Springing a leak in the cafetiere
  • Getting coronation chicken all over the desk
More to follow...

* no, not really.

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at February 22, 2010 10:49 AM

February 21, 2010

Andy Theyers

February 20, 2010

Ian Cornwell

Unto Us A Child Is Born

Oscar Wellington Finbarr "Dangerous" Cornwell:= Sadly Antonia won't allow "Dangerous" to go on birth certificate. Just in case he isn't.

by Ianklych (noreply@blogger.com) at February 20, 2010 01:25 PM

Andy Theyers

Ten rules…

…for writing fiction.  Parts 1 and 2. Some great names giving their advice to would be writers – Elmore Leonard, Diana Athill, Margaret Atwood, Roddy Doyle, Helen Dunmore, Geoff Dyer, Anne Enright, Richard Ford, Jonathan Franzen, Esther Freud, Neil Gaiman, David Hare, PD James, AL Kennedy, Hilary Mantel, Michael Moorcock, Michael Morpurgo, Andrew Motion, Joyce Carol Oates, Annie Proulx, Philip Pullman, Ian Rankin, Will Self, Helen Simpson, Zadie Smith, Colm Tóibín, Rose Tremain, Sarah Waters, Jeanette Winterson.

“It’s doubtful that anyone with an internet connection at his workplace is writing good fiction.”

by Andy at February 20, 2010 01:19 PM

February 19, 2010

Solveig Lightly

Bottoms!

Freyja likes to choose which knickers she will wear each day. Today as she rummaged through, she was having trouble deciding:
"They are all so pretty I don't know which one to choose. But I only have one bottom so I have to choose just one. What I need is more bottoms!"
A girl who wishes she had more than one bottom. Let's hope she always feels this way about it!

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at February 19, 2010 06:17 PM

Adrian Lightly

Recycling

Genuinely laughed-out-loud on the 0633 to London Bridge today, at this from one of the 'Adam & Joe' Twelve Podacsts Of Christmas:
Joe: "So, 'Nil By Mouth' - a real tour de force."
Adam (as Ray Winstone*): "Yeah, well I've always liked cycling, the bikes and all that, love it..."
I may have woken some people up with my guffawing. Sorry about that.

* because he had a cold, obviously

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at February 19, 2010 01:38 PM

Solveig Lightly

Friday Fashion Finds

I am shamelessly stealing taking inspiration from Mummy Bear at She Was Not At All Domestic's Friday Fashion Fix and introducing my 'Friday Fashion Finds'.

I have an on-going love affair with children's clothes. I like nothing more than rummaging through the rails in TK Maxx or having a quick whizz round the aisles in Sainsburys (surprisingly good). My husband despairs, but I've long ago come to terms with spending money on something that ends up covered in tomato sauce.

I tend to buy in bigger sizes and store them in a chest I have upstairs which I periodically go through to get out the things they have now grown into - usually to find that I've bought far too many hoodie's for Theo or that Freyja now owns 4 near idential tops.

Anyway, recently I was having one of my sort outs and while I was going through everything I remembered Mummy Bear's Friday Fashion Fix, where she posts about gorgeous items of kid's clothing she has bought or seen. And I thought to myself, now there's an idea...

It was hard to decide where to start, so I've just gone for my most recent TK Maxx purchase - two gorgeous Freoli T-shirt's for Theo.

Just love that green!

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at February 19, 2010 09:30 AM

February 18, 2010

Andy Theyers

Semi private twittering

Sometimes I want my tweets to be directed at a subset of my followers; a useful/interesting Python link for colleagues, an Echo Bazaar comment for other players, that kind of thing.

The way @replies are handled has created the possibility of filtered communication. I can direct messages at a particular user knowing that only those who follow it will see the message – by creating specific ‘group’ accounts and directing messages at that user I can semi-privately communicate with that user’s followers. I can’t say anything that I don’t want the curious to see (my tweets are still there on the public timeline), but if I want to shield my broader range of followers from something I know they won’t be interested in this is a useful approach.

An example is the @isotoma user. This user is pretty much exclusively followed by Isotoma staff – if I direct a message to that user only Isotoma staff will see it, allowing me to tweet Python links to my heart’s content, knowing the intended recipients will get them without putting off those who wonder what the hell I’m talking about.

by Andy at February 18, 2010 10:40 PM

Solveig Lightly

Second Pregnancy Jitters, Re-visited



One of Sleep is for the Weak's writing prompts is 'What were you doing this time last year' and it was suggested that you could put up a post from a year ago. I liked that idea but it turns out that last February, I wasn't up to much at all.

So I went back further, to 2008, and it turns out that February two years ago was when I was having a major wobble about being pregnant again. And given that I was 7 months pregnant at the time, it was rather alarming.

Here is the post I wrote then.

I read it now and it seems so amazing to me that I felt like that. I can't believe I ever thought that having my second child would be a betrayal to my first. Watching both my children together, being with them, whether it is both of them together or just one at a time, is what I love. When Theo runs in to show Freyja something, calling her name or when Freyja asks to climb into Theo's cot and 'read' books to him in the morning and tells me that she loves her brother, my heart melts.

At the time when I had my wobble, my best friend's mum emailed me after reading my post. Among other things she told me to 'remember to look forward to all the good times you have to come when you watch your two children playing (and more than likely falling out) together'. It seems like nothing, doesn't it? Watching your children play together. But it is proving to be one of the best feelings in the world. And all the more for knowing that when they do fall out, they come together again, as only siblings can.

But two years ago I didn't know any of that. All I knew was that things were going to change irretrievably and I didn't like the idea of it one bit.

What did I think was going to happen to my relationship with Freyja? I don't know, but whatever it was seemed horrible at the time. I was scared something fundamental would change between us and I wouldn't be able to get back to where we were.

Well things did change. And actually I can no longer really remember what life was like with just one child. And I do think my relationship with Freyja is different - something that would have completely horrified me before Theo's arrival.

But it has changed for the better. My relationship with my children feels more complex, more multi-dimensional, often more exasperating and maddening but also more honest and real. It's true that Freyja is off her pedestal. But now both my children stand together.

How could I have thought it might not be that way?

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at February 18, 2010 07:44 PM

Adrian Lightly

Font Of All Knowledge

That nice Mr Andronov pointed me at typekit just now.

Bit of javascript in the of the template, pick a font (or two) and which tags you want to use it and blam! New look for blog (in compatible browsers, obviously, but if you're not using one you should be :) and you can tweak it - live - to your heart's content.

Love it.

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at February 18, 2010 10:10 AM

February 17, 2010

Andy Theyers

One out of three ain’t bad. Actually. It is pretty bad

Three albums I’ve been really looking forward to all got released in the last two weeks….

The Courage Of Others by MidlakeMidlake’s The Courage of Others. If it had been on vinyl I would have worn out my copy of their last album (The Trials of Van Occupanther). While the last one was influenced by the likes of Crosby, Stills and Nash, Neil Young, and early Fleetwood Mac (music I have to admit to loving) this latest one is influenced by Pentangle, Incredible String Band, Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span (music I have a real aversion to). Because of my love of the last album I’ve given this new one more listens than I normally would, but have come to the sad conclusion that it’s just a dreary derivative folk album. Fairport Convention lite at best. One down, two to go

One Life Stand by Hot ChipHot Chip’s One Life Stand. Some of the tracks from Made in the Dark and The Warning are stone cold classics. Live even more so. Again I really wanted to like the latest album. Initially I liked the more direct approach – the dance tracks are more straight down the line, ballads (for want of a better description) are more ballady. By the fifth listen, though, I’ve come to realise that what I thought was deliberately more direct is actually knowingly poppy. This is their attempt to break through. I really wouldn’t be surprised if every track ended up on an advert. And those lyrics about the XBox really can fuck off. Two down, one to go.

Odd Blood by YeasayerYeasayer’s Odd Blood. Hah! This one really is awesome. A genuine move forward from the equally fantastic All Hour Cymbals. Right now I can’t imagine liking another album more this year. At least one purchase was worthwhile.

by Andy at February 17, 2010 08:26 PM

Adrian Lightly

Overheard #104

I even know who this was about. Scary.
"Did you see her office? Could you smell her?"

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at February 17, 2010 10:11 AM

February 15, 2010

Adrian Lightly

EOTW #5

Week 5 of Euphemisms Of The Week is upon us with some beauties this time round (must have been the influence of Valentine's Day :)

Recently observed on the web of shame:
  • Receiving a haggis in the post
  • Folding a Kemp
  • Taking helicopter shots of The Gherkin
  • Playing cricket in Surbiton
  • Getting cheese on the Korg
More to follow...

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at February 15, 2010 09:30 PM

February 14, 2010

Solveig Lightly

(Un)happy Valentine

Following the lead of many who have written about not-so-romantic Valentine's days, here's why we're having a quiet one:

Some time ago my husband managed to achieve that goal which I'm sure many men strive for - he convinced me, truely and absolutely, that we shouldn't celebrate Valentine's day.

It wasn't just on a whim. We'd had two pretty poor experiences - one involving our table booking being cancelled because we were going to be 15 minutes late, even though we called to let them know. And the other involving being seated at a table so uncomfortably close to the couple next to us that we may as well have been double dating.

So Adrian, who actually can't stand any of this sort of thing - it's pushing it each year just to get him to celebrate Christmas - convinced me that he didn't need one day to show me he loved me. To be fair, he's pretty good all year round at surprising me with little things he knows I like. Chocolate buttons from Hotel Chocolat, a bunch of lilies or tulips, tiny knickers....that sort of thing! I know that he would celebrate it if he thought I wanted to, and he always checks each year that I'm okay with us not doing anything to mark the occasion.

But I really am okay with it. Valentine's day was ruined for me anyway due to one awfully humilating experience when I was 8 years old that has stayed with me ever since. It was so cringe-worthy I can hardly bring myself to write this, 25 years later. It involved a boy I really, really liked, a painstakingly crafted Valentine's day card (I'd used my mum's eye shadow to colour it in) hidden in his school drawer, him finding out that it was from me and then giving it back to me in front of the entire class!

I still want to curl up and die when I think about it. When the time comes, I will never underestimate my kids childhood crushes and the agony they may bring!

Happy Valentine's Day!

(I missed this one, but for more Valentine's stories, head over to the The Valentines Carnival at The Good, The Bad, The Ugly.)

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at February 14, 2010 07:40 PM

February 13, 2010

Solveig Lightly

Just in case

I recently read this post about storing baby clothes. This is a subject close to my heart. I could dress a small country with the amount of clothing I have in the loft 'just in case'.

I have a bit of a weakness for kids fashion, as does my mother. Freyja is also my mum's only granddaughter, out of four grandchildren. So she has a lot of clothes. Before having Theo I used the excuse that I was keeping everything incase we had another girl. Bags and bags and bags of stuff. We had a boy. I've still got it all though.

The loft is now packed with bags and bags and bags of girls and boys clothes. I can't quite bring myself to get rid of it yet.

I don't keep everything. I only keep the useful stuff (vests/sleepsuits) and the things I really like. Problem is that I really like most of my children's clothes. I tell myself I will ebay it eventually and if I ever do it will probably keep Adrian and I going for a year with the amount of stuff up there.

A few months ago I bought these nice bags from JoJo Maman Bebe and sorted everything out. I made a (very small) pile of things to give to charity and packed all the rest away again so that they are now at least neatly stacked in pretty bags.

I made a little pile of things I'd like to keep forever. Just enough to put in a box for each child - a tiny newborn vest each, their first sleepsuit (okay, I cheated and chose each a pretty one rather than the first actual one they ever wore - which in Freyja's case was a gigantic white one and in Theo's case was too small and the poppers wouldn't do up), their first proper shoes, first birthday outfit and one or two other things that I think are really 'them'.

When I was little I had a teddy bear called Amanda who I used as my 'baby', in much the same way a doll would be. She was big enough to fit real newborn baby clothes and my mum gave me a few things that had been mine and my sisters for her to wear. Recently I found those clothes in a cupboard at my mum's house. They took on a whole new significance, now that I have children, seeing those tiny, tiny dresses and knowing that my sister, and in some cases myself, used to wear them. So I don't want to get rid of everything. And I'd be happy for Freyja to use some of her old clothes for own dolls.

But keepsake boxes and dressing up aside, I know I can't keep it all forever and I am going to have to tackle the loft. But it seems very final and I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to this part of my life just yet.

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at February 13, 2010 02:08 PM

Have you tidied your room?

What happens whenever I let my 4 year old play in her room with her friends:


by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at February 13, 2010 01:56 PM

February 12, 2010

Adrian Lightly

Dry It (You Might Like It)

They do not call me 'Mr Fashion'; this much I know.

However, I would like to share an excellent brand of clothing and stuff - which I'm sure all the cool kids gave up in 2007 - which I have suddenly found to be 'most excellent':


So I've been looking for a lightweight coat, sort-of waterproof and with a hood, but not too 'mountaineer' because altitude-wise I don't venture much higher than Blythe Hill Park. Oh, look?

Also, I really could do with a new winter coat, definitely wool but perhaps some kind of pea-coat style but not too long or grey. What's that you say?

And actually I'm probably in need of a new sweatshirt with a bit of colour but no crazy-ass logos all over the shop. Really?

It's simply great. And, presumably, dry. Although quite what this chap has got to look so grumpy about, I have no idea.

Er, right, sorry about that. Advertorial over, your regular programming will continue shortly :)

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at February 12, 2010 08:02 AM

February 11, 2010

Solveig Lightly

My First Award!

The lovely Young Mummy at Young & Younger has given my first ever award - I am ridculously excited about it!

But before I get too carried away, it seems there are some things I should do to accept this award:

•Put the Logo on your sidebar, or within a post.
•Pass the award onto 12 Bloggers.
•Link the nominees within your post.
•Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
•Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

I feel slightly overwhelmed at having to nominate 12 bloggers and I'm sure many of these will have already received this award before. But here are the blogs I'd like to send a little ray of sunshine to:

Whoopee
SylkeWeb
Baby Baby
Babyrambles
BabyGenie
The Heartful Blogger
She Was Not At All Domestic
Make do Mum
Battling On
Muddling Along Mummy
Sleep is for the Weak
Mummy Mania

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at February 11, 2010 09:10 PM

Is this really happening?!

This is my entry for the latest Mummy Bloggers Carnival, which is on your top 10 most surreal mummy moments:

1. While pregnant with Freyja I felt sick for the first 3/4 months - during this time I went on a long weekend to Bruges and I organised my best friend's hen night. To this day, I cannot think of either of those two events without a wave a nausea.

2. Boobs like cannon balls as my milk came in. Wasn't expecting that.

3. Taking Freyja out on New Year's Eve to visit some friends, when she was only 3 days old, and finding that I was too scared to cross the road with her. I had to ask my husband to take over the pram.

4. Discovering that one of the mums through my post-natal group, who is now one of my closest friends, knew many of the same people I do and has been out clubbing to the night run by some of my friends, where I practically lived for the first few years I was in London.

5. Baby Bounce and Rhyme at Lewisham Libary. The best Bounce & Rhyme I've been to. Run by 2 men who would get so into it they would be sweating by the end. We used to sing songs about being eaten by Boa Constrictors and I'm sure there was one about a rabbit and a shotgun. It was just brilliant. I haven't been since Freyja was a baby but hope they are still bouncing and rhyming away.

6. My waters breaking before going into labour with Theo. I was asleep in bed, woke up suddenly and just knew it was going to happen. I jumped out of bed just in time. What I wasn't prepared for was the fact that once your waters break, it just keeps on coming! No one ever tells you this stuff! With Freyja I was already in hospital and well on my way when my waters broke, so this was a new experience.

7. Calling my mum to tell her I had a boy and her replying 'Great! Freyja has chicken pox'. Gah.

8. Theo's mimicking. He will repeat most things that you ask him to. Not so strange now he is 22 months but slightly odd as an 8 month old when this little talent started emerging. He would shout 'errow!' (hello) at everyone and people would literally do a double take and say 'that baby just said hello to me'.

9. Meeting up with my friends - who I used to spend entire lost weekends with, dancing, clubbing, shots of cider in the bathroom (yes, really - anything's game when you haven't slept for 32 hours), singing 'Eternal Flame' as if we really believed we were The Bangles.... Now we watch our children play together. How did that happen?

10. The fact that somehow, this is where I am in my life. It seems only yesterday that I was doing homework and trying to convince my parents to let me go out on a school night. And now I'm married with two children and all the wonderfulness (and reponsibility...) that it brings.

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at February 11, 2010 05:07 PM

Doug Winter

February 10, 2010

Adrian Lightly

Happy Hour

I think I may have invented a new cocktail.
Double Moskovskaya vodka + shot of Calpol + cube of ice + twist of flamed orange.
I'm calling it a 'cBeebies'.

Remember: please drink responshiblzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at February 10, 2010 03:54 PM

February 08, 2010

Adrian Lightly

Danny Boy

If you don't already, I urge you to listen to the Danny Baker show on Five Live. Obviously 9-11 on a Saturday morning might not be amenable to most people, but the podcast doesn't half light up a grey drizzly February commute. Currently loving the Roman numeral footballers feature (VIDIC!) and of course the ever present 'Sausage Sandwich Game'. A couple of hours of irreverent fun of a vaguely sporting nature, all held together with Danny's infectious enthusiasm for the absurd. Worth checking out.

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at February 08, 2010 11:08 PM

EOTW #4

And onwards we march with Week 4 of Euphemisms Of The Week

Recently observed on the web of shame:
  • Spotting a pea in the wine
  • Tucking into a melon basket
  • Warming up the butter in a pocket
  • Finding a chocolate under the expenses pile
  • Rationing the spiced apple Febreeze
More to follow...

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at February 08, 2010 11:07 PM

February 07, 2010

Solveig Lightly

Natural History Museum

We took the kids to the Natural History Museum today which was a lovely day out and one which we will definitely repeat. Though I do think my children are still a little too young for it. They did enjoy it but they probably got more out of our visit to the Science Museum a few months ago, which has two interactive sections, one aimed at under 5s and one called Launch Pad, which Freyja in particular went mad for.

However, the Natural History Museum, which personally I prefer, was still really good for them. The dinosaur section has completely changed since I last went and both kids really enjoyed that bit - particularly the couple of models of moving dinosaurs and the fantastic 'live' T-Rex who looks you right in the eye as you walk past his enclosure - it really is quite unnerving!

We did the museum in two parts - dinosaurs, mammals and the body in the morning, followed by lunch at Giraffe (which look a little longer to walk to than we expected, but we were rewarded with the bizarre sight of High Street Kensington packed out with New Zealanders celebrating their National Day, all decked out in fancy dress). We then returned to the museum to do the insects, birds, earth and volcanos before heading home.

Afterwards I asked Freyja what had been her favourite thing out of the whole day. We'd seen dinosaurs, a polar bear, a peacock displaying its tail and beautiful butterflies. We'd travelled through the centre of the earth and witnessed erupting volcanos. We'd even walked past a gang of grown men dressed as smurfs.

And the best thing according to Freyja? The shop.

My child, the consumer. Gah.


by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at February 07, 2010 09:00 AM

February 05, 2010

Adrian Lightly

At Home With Fourstar

My good friend Alex recently posted the following question over at his blog:


and it led me to think about the nonsense I spout on a semi-daily basis. Now I have distinctly different "at home" and "at work" phrases (as should everyone...) but for the purposes of this exercise, there is one Pharaoh of phrases, an Excalibur of exclamations, the Prince of proclamations, which is:
"Everyone's a winner, petit dejeuner"
Back in the heady days when I used to play sax in a touring soul covers band, we shared the stage with two of the most hilarious guys I have ever met. Tony (trombone) and Shaun (guitar) had known each other for years and had such a natural rapport they could easily have been working the clubs as a double act. They would have the tour bus in stitches at their tales of derring do and natural affinity for the absurd, which lifted the spirits of those humour-sapping drives across, say, for example, to pick somewhere totally at random, Lincolnshire.

However, whenever something went particularly well (which could be anything ranging from a well-paid gig in Dublin to a delicious sausage roll from a Sunderland truckstop), without fail Shaun would exclaim "Everyone's a winner!" always followed closely by Tony's rejoinder of "Petit dejeuner!".

Now quite why a French breakfast should be the epitome of delight for two jobbing musicians from York, I have no idea - and I'm not sure they did either. However, it stuck with me and to this day, when something goes well at work or at home, this is the line I come out with.


by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at February 05, 2010 10:46 PM

Thank You For The Days

Just back from a wonderful weekend away; a birthday treat from my excellent wife Solveig (in conjunction with the as-per-usual top-notch babysitting services provided by mum & dad, for which much thanks are due).

Having nipped off early on Friday afternoon and taken the appropriate exit off the M4 (indeed, we had to Turn After Reading*), we headed for the picturesque Goring-on-Thames in which nestles The Miller Of Mansfield, as recommended on Mr & Mrs Smith. Really nice little 'boutique' pub hotel with a fantastic restaurant (do try the shin of beef, it was as melty as it gets) as well as a snug bar with a log fire and a decent selection of gins. We realised when we arrived that we had somehow forgotten how to relax; indeed, it took a while for us to stop wondering where on earth the kids were. But unwind we did and with some walks along the (thin end of the) Thames and a trip up to Bicester on the Saturday, it was a properly brilliant break from the Smoke.


Due to good planning, we also squeezed in an extra treat on the way back, in the form of a visit to Heston Blumenthal's pub in Bray, the Hind's Head (in fact, as we were a bit early, we went looking for the Fat Duck, but somehow never found it!) and what a treat it was. We were tempted by the Sunday roast, but both decided on pies, having been advised by a few people that they were worth the journey. We did start with a Scotch (quail's) egg each, though, and these were splendid - by turns crispy, meaty and perfectly soft:

Hinds Head Scotch EggHinds Head Scotch Egg

For our mains we had Shepherds Pie (with lamb leg, breast and sweetbreads topped with mustard mash) and Spinach & Mushroom Pie (served with a Jerusalem artichoke sauce). They were both outstanding and tasted as good as they look:

Hinds Head Shepherds PieHinds Head Shepherds Pie

Hinds Head Spinach & Mushroom PieHinds Head Spinach & Mushroom Pie

After a full weekend of indulgence, we simply couldn't face dessert, so we'll just have to go back and try the rest of the menu at some point. Right, dear?

Anyway, what a brilliant weekend - almost enough to make me forget that next year is THAT ONE :)


* I'm truly sorry, I really am

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at February 05, 2010 10:46 PM

EOTW #3

Blimey, Week 3 of Euphemisms Of The Week rolled round so fast, I missed it yesterday...

Recently observed on the web of shame:
  • Tucking a Bentley behind the Range Rover
  • Getting out the Euro Disney brochure
  • Eating a jazz apple
  • Riding the drama llama
  • Overestimating the size of the wheelhouse
More to follow...

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at February 05, 2010 10:45 PM

Solveig Lightly

Dressed for breakfast

Leotard, tutu, dressing gown, sunglasses. Well, what do you wear for breakfast....?


by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at February 05, 2010 02:12 PM

Dear Dog Owner...

Part of owning a dog is the responsibility that comes with it, and that responsibility includes cleaning up after it. As unpleasant as you may find it to scoop that poop, believe me it is far more unpleasant to be the unfortunate person who stands in your dog's shit. And even more unpleasant when that person is a 4 year old, wearing her brand new Kickers, whose immediate reaction is to burst into tears and lift up those new Kickers with her hands to have a look at the mess.

The streets of South East London are littered with it. I really do wonder how so many people around here seem to be totally unaware of their responsibility to other both people and to the place they live in. In what way do you think it is okay to let your dog shit all over the pavement that everyone else has to use and just leave it there?

Perhaps the issue is that you are just too stupid to understand how it works. In that case, let me talk you through it. Your dog poos. You pick it up using a bag - one which you have taken out with you because, you know, you own a dog. You put the bag in a bin. There are usually quite a few around. Some parks even provide bins solely for this purpose, imagine that!

Sadly, I suspect the real issue is that you just don't care about either your neighbourhood or other people. You probably even think it must someone else's responsibility. But actually it is yours.

If you can't be bothered to clean up your dog's mess, you shouldn't have a dog.

by solveig (noreply@blogger.com) at February 05, 2010 08:37 AM

February 04, 2010

Doug Winter

Adrian Lightly

Pressing Question

Looks like Blogger has got a bit bored with supporting externally-hosted blogs (like mine) over FTP. According to the press release:
"FTP remains a significant drain on our ability to improve Blogger: only 0.5% of active blogs are published via FTP — yet the percentage of our engineering resources devoted to supporting FTP vastly exceeds that."
Understandable I suppose, but which way forward? Probably a good opportunity to have a look at Wordpress publishing (I've also got a Tumblr thing running with a feed from here but that's a whole different kettle of ballgames).

However, Solveig's used to the Blogger way so I guess we will port hers to be a Google-hosted 'Custom Domain' - she'll also then get access to the fancy sidebar widgets which might be a boon.

Anyway, between now and mid-March, expect to see some changes around here, not least with the RSS feed, the commenting system and probably the design.

Ah well, any excuse for a tinker :)

by fourstar (noreply@blogger.com) at February 04, 2010 11:18 AM