2 Stars and a Swirl

So how did I deal with the Lego situation?

Posted by 2 Stars and a Swirl on 10 May , 2012 1 comments

Back in November I blogged about my (ridiculous) fear over what I would do with the Lego we were expecting for Christmas in the house. Most people said that you chuck it all in a box and that is part of the fun.

Well me being me has carefully kept each little sets separately in individual tupperware pots with lids so all the bits and instructions were together. (O.C.D. Much?)

But today I have given in, I have run out of tupperware and Ben has mixed some of it up *gasp*

So it has all gone into one big IKEA drawer, I was tutting as I did it and life may just never be the same again but it is apparently the norm and I am all for normal … no honest I am…

Potty Training Done

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Gro-Clock Review

I don't understand boys hair.

The great currant buns in a baker's shop debate of 2012

Can you change a tyre?

Posted by 2 Stars and a Swirl on 10 May , 2012 None comments

This is a sponsored post

When I was taught to drive at 16 on private land in my much loved Morris Minor, as well as being taught how to change gear and reverse park my Dad also made sure I could do some practical things like check the oil and change a tyre. It does shock me that so many people have no idea how to really do it.

I was shown how to do it and then I had to take a tyre off and replace it a few times.

I have changed around 7 tyres in my driving life, but I have to admit there was one occasion where I was so glad to have breakdown cover when I just couldn’t get the bolts off. No amount of jumping on the jack was shifting them. The joys of the tyre shop using the machines to tighten the bolts.

I am not one to do the pathetic female thing but on that occasion I was so glad to ring and be rescued and go on my way.

When I lived in Northern Ireland and spent my days on the roads in the most rural of places it was always a worry being alone and the what if I break down somewhere worry. So it was great having the back up of breakdown cover.

I have also called them when I have run out of petrol, not really my fault it was a new car and I was trusting the how many miles left of petrol whizzy computer thing instead of the flashing red petrol light

This is a sponsored post, but the words, flat tyres and empty petrol tanks are all my own.

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Giving over your lawn to a climbing frame?

Posted by 2 Stars and a Swirl on 5 May , 2012 2 comments

Since moving in here 2 years ago I have worked really hard on the garden, now going into my 3rd year and I have already carried out a 3rd redesign on it. My aim this year was for it to be nice to look at buy lower maintenance. To accept that the 2 huge conifers in both neighbours gardens where here to stay along with their water sucking roots and bits falling off them.

The lawn which was more patches than grass when I moved in is nearly complete grass now, and looking rather lovely (thanks to this rain!).

So why am I now searching for climbing frames on eBay? My garden is not big, and anything in it is not hidden from view so deciding if I will give over a large part of it for a climbing frame and slide is a big decision.

Once I had a search on eBay I was really surprised at the bargains to be had, especially of the TP explorer sets there were quite a few locally.

It would be great for Ben to have in the garden to play on, and do we really need lawn with nothing on just to look at? As long I can get a sun lounger And table and chairs out do I need more room?

And I do love a good bargain…

Gah…why did I start looking!

Max Strength Toddler

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Silent Sunday 12th February 2012

An update on the stray kitty

Posted by 2 Stars and a Swirl on 4 May , 2012 4 comments

I posted 2 months ago about the stray kitten that had been hanging around asking for suggestions on what to do.

The kitten carried on being here most days but gradually was looking less healthy and thinner, even though he/she was eating at most the houses in the street.

I had brought him/her in a couple of times when it was pouring but as soon as the rain had stopped/food bowl was empty they wanted out again.

I decided that the best thing was to get them checked out at the vets as my heart couldn’t take the thought of the kitty being ill & suffering and my head was worried in case it was carrying some of the bad diseases around the area.

Trying to co-ordinate a time when I was going to be in to ‘catch’ the kitty and when I wasn’t working and when I could get an appointment with the PDSA was a challenge but yesterday it all worked out. The appointment was for 3 p.m. and we got home at 12.45 p.m. and kitty was at the front door.

So I encouraged them into the conservatory and then at 2:30 p.m. into a cat box and off to the vets we went.

The vet was brilliant and we were on the same page with if it just needs a good worming/de-flea/antibiotics etc then yes we can do that and I am happy to carry on feeding. But if the kitty has one of the ad kitty illnesses then the fairest thing was to send it to the great big kitty food filled place in the sky.

My 2 cats were both feral cats found as teeny balls of fluff in an alley way so I am all for lost causes but also common sense has to play a part.

The vet examined the stray and found it is a neutered male, no chip and not keen on having its teeth looked at (the vet has very quick reactions!) She took it away to do a ‘snap’ blood test to check for the bad illness things but didn’t have any luck getting the blood. And quite rightly neither the vet nor nurse were in the mood to lose fingers!

So we agreed that I would worm and flea treat the kitty and give it antibiotics for a week and then we would see if he picked up and put on some weight in a couple of weeks before trying the blood test again.

I gave the kitty his worming tablets and antibiotics in some food and when finished he was keen to be on his way. He was back again this morning for more anti-biotic laced food.

So hopefully kitty will be feeling better in the next week and put some weight and will just be the littlest hobo of the cat world.

I have decided not to name him (yet) as it will make it harder if he isn’t well. But I am glad I have started the treatment for him and getting something done to help him.

My 'I Love these tunes so very much' Playlist

Silent Sunday - Feed the Birds

Dear Cats...

Ah ranting about benefits...again

And the winner is....

When you dress them the same as you

Posted by 2 Stars and a Swirl on 27 April , 2012 1 comments

I have been on the search for a pair of red skinny jeans for the last few months, I knew in my head exactly the ones I wanted. They had to be bright red, not too skinny, not a low waist and not a silly price.

On my travels I managed to find the most perfect ones…except they were for Ben.

So he had the fabulous red trousers (he also has a green pair too) from H & M that are to be the clothing hit of the spring /summer for many boys. Green and red ones modelled by Joe and Ben.

But I was still no closer to finding the perfect red skinny jeans.

The lovely Fimb tweeted me last week to ask had I seen the ones in New Look, I headed over there and ordered some hoping that they would be THE ones.

They arrived today and they are PERFECT! the smaller of the 2 sizes I ordered fit (always a bonus) and they are really bright red with a waist where I need it to be. The legs are not too tight but still skinny style.

But then as I was looking at my wardrobe of what to wear with them it hit me, not only do I have to co-ordinate my wardrobe with them, I also have to make sure that Ben doesn’t wear his at the same time. Oh the pressure!

And don’t start me on the fact I have only just realised that my one and only pair of converse are red too! Arghhhhhh

Still the jeans are rather gorgeous

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I don't understand boys hair.

The great currant buns in a baker’s shop debate of 2012

Posted by 2 Stars and a Swirl on 26 April , 2012 1 comments

On Tuesday night I was doing my usual last minute prep for Woodchips and had decided that we would do the song “5 currant buns in a bakers shop” with some laminated buns and 1p’s

I had the simple task of printing out the currant buns, but as many things in life it didn’t turn out to be quite that simple.

As with many nursery rhymes there are lots of different versions, some have different words in different parts of the country, some have been changed to become more pc, and others have been added to over the years. And everyone thinks that their version in the right one!

So I asked on Facebook, what is your version of currant buns in a baker’s shop? Do they have sugar or a cherry on the top and are they round and fat or big and round. this started a rather large and very funny debate of 138 comments of my friends hotly debating the subject.

This morning at Woodchips I introduced the song with a ‘we probably all have different versions of this so lets all just sing the words that you want to!”

So what are my currant buns like?

They have a cherry on the top and are unpc as they are round and fat!