Mad Mars' Mental Musings

OMG I live in a disaster zone

2009-05-20T20:45:00.002+10:00

With South East Queensland being declared a disaster zone, I suddenly find myslef (so far) in the dubious position of living in a disaster zone whilst being perfectly okay. Don't get me wrong, the roof is leaking a little, in the same spot it always does, and there is a LOT of water on the roads around us, but we are fine. We can get to shops and probably even school if I cared to try. But with all of us recovering from the first winter flu of this season, I don't care to at all.

It is a little strange as we live in an area that flooded severely in the last bad flood in BrisVegas, and to be honest, if it keeps up as the weather bureau expects, it will probably flood in our local area. Despite this, I am not in the least concerned, perhaps it has to do with doing my high school years in Gympie (aka The Gymp). Floods were a yearly occurence and I remeber once watching a children's playground disappear underwater in hours and measuring the rising of the water by the rungs on the ladder to the slippery-dip (slippery-slide). Not only that, but we are up fairly high, with lot's of drainage pints from ours yard, all running down natural slopes towards what used to be natural waterways. I do feel sorry for the boys work for the Trackstar Alliance which is building the new railway line out the back of our place, but if "the powers that be" will build things like railway lines along creeks in clay-pan areas, you're kind of restricted. I should probably point out that they're adding a new line to existing lines at this point or it may be confusing.

Anywho, the biggest impact we will feel is that we won't be able to get Q to work tomorrow,as when I came back yesterday morning (yes, yesterday morning) there were already roads under water. Serves the silly sods right for being such gimboids. That is a story to be told later, once the gimboids are no longer providing cash for our survival. But I must stop that train of thought, or I will digress nastily, and I do mean nastily.

Take care, and if you are in South East Queensland, stay warm and dry, if you can.

Slightly Soggy Mars

R.I.P. Bud Tingwell

2009-05-16T16:59:00.002+10:00

It was with great sadness and almost disbelief that Q and I read of the passing of Bud Tingwell. He was an institution for our generation. A brilliant actor and genuine person. A true "Aussie Legend", as they say, even before his passing. Everyone should see the short film he was in "Tulip", written and directed by Rachel Griffiths. It is a film which will stay with me forever, and which I can only thank all involved for. If you think you know true love, you need to watch this film and Bud, Bud was perfect, as always. Bud Tingwell will be sorely missed, and fondly remembered. We will make sure he lives on, not only in our hearts, but in the hearts of our children. It's rare that I am lost for words, spoken or written, but this appears to be one of those times...

Our condolences to his surviving family, please know he will be remembered by many, for a long time to come.

Lest We Forget,
With Fond Remembrance
Charles "Bud" Tingwell (1923 – 2009)

M

Goodbye Little Man

2009-04-24T12:10:00.002+10:00

About a year ago, we were adopted by a lovely little ginger tomcat. He had obviously run away from a very bad situation as he was severely emaciated and got confused about the difference between aggression and affection. After a few months, he trusted us and had been basically rehabilitated. He loved pats so much, he would come and 'self serve' if he wanted one.

He was a pushy little boy, and he and I often butted heads in the first little while he was here, but he came around to listen to Mum and became a beautiful little boy. He would stick to the kids like glue, only leaving when the Lilyins got too rough even for him. He scratched Pod once, but never did it again, as he was roundly told off. So was she for hurting him, but they loved each other to bits. Scallywag, our little tom, could almost always be found in one of the kids rooms' or wherever they were.

Sadly, over the weekend, Scallywag came to some sort of grief. Bean and Taz and two of their friends found him on Monday, somehow still alive, despite the fact that his was injuries were so severe...well let's just say he had no rear end left, it's kinder to all of us. He was in such a bad way, and my two beautiful children had to see their beloved cat torn to shreds and near death. They are very upset, as are we.

There was nothing the vets could do, as his body had gone into end stage shut down and he had no nerve response in what was left of either of his rear legs. There was no other option but for us to let him go to sleep. It was so sad, he was such a bubbly boy, so full of life and so much fun to have around. When I said goodbye, they had treated his pain and he said "Mum!" and tried to crawl over to me. Right up until the end his spirit was totally indomitable.

We will all miss him so terribly much, the big kids, are slowly coming out of the shock and I'm recovering as well. The only saving grace may be that Q was at work, so he was spared the sight, he and Scall were very close.

Goodbye Scallywag, we weren't together for very long, but you were very, very much loved. If only we could have found you sooner, we might have been able to save you. We are all very sorry we couldn't and will remember you as the bright orange flash that came into our lives, albeit briefly, right when we needed you most.

From Photos 2008 Vol 2

Lovely Surprises

2009-04-03T06:11:00.002+10:00

My littlest sister turned 18 on Monday. Quite momentous. She's just gotten a promotion and works in a shop that opened the day after her birthday. We were arriving for the family shindig at mums place, and beacuse Pea is pretty crook we were a little early. As we drove up I could see there were some people leaving. One car drove off, but the other people lingered and as we parked, I thought "Gee that looks like Jim Dear and Darling" (obviously not their real names). And it was. I haven't seen them in a little over fifteen years. I would have still been in high school, I certainly hadn't met Q and definitely didn't have children. It was a little sad, as we didn't get to catch up, but I got to introduce them to my brood and my man and just seeing them again was lovely. All my life they have looked the same, and this time was no different.

There were more family friends at the shindig, who I hadn't seen in a little while which was also nice. Chldren go up so fast, one of them I remember when she was a little younger than my Bean, she's fourteen now! The next day, we got to catch up with my Irish Swan. It was soo good to see her, we are such good friends and yet only ever see each other about once or twice a year. She's been teaching in Bumhole on the Qld coast for ten years, but is coming home this year! Try picturing me doing an inept jig, possibly lannding on my arse as a finale ;)

Anyway, it was a lovely weekend because I got to catch up with people who are very important to me for one reason or another. And there's more to come, I have used the immense power of emotional bribery to convince an old friend to come down and celebrate my next birthday. I don't think she knows it yet, but the Swan is coming as well.

Stay Dry
M

Conroy on Q & A

2009-03-25T15:42:00.002+10:00

To any of you following the net censorship shitstorm in Australia, Senator Conroy is appearing on Q & A this Thursday at 9:30PM on the ABC. GetUp has a nifty form here where you can submit a question.

The Park

2009-03-25T13:48:00.002+10:00

We went to the park today. The Lilyins really enjoyed themselves, they were covered in dirt from the bark in the playground, but boy did they have fun! Mostly they just crawled and walked around playing with the bark chips and grass. At the end, they got up on the little kid equipment made just for toddlers and had a grand time banging bars and sliding balls.
I was a little worried, they're sometimes too much when we're at home, let alone at a park. They were pretty easy though, as they're not confidently walking, they don't go that fast yet. It won't be long...
We met another family there as well, oddly enough the middle son goes to the same school where my mamma works. They had a two year old, biig boy. Happy though, the other wacky thing was the mum is a twin, even has a twin brother who she is three minutes older than.
It was a nice time and Pea was happy to get back in the stroller, but not happy to get back in the car. I think he was enjoying being out.
I'll have to make an effort to fight the agorophobia and get out more than just when it is necessary. I may even pony up parking money for the gallery and museum if they keep being good. I could even take the 3-wheel stroller as they have nice big spaces and doors.
Til next time

OMFG We all survived a whole year!

2009-03-19T07:24:00.002+10:00

Happy Birthday to Youse,
Happy Birthday to Youse,
Happy Birthday Pea and Po-od
Happy Birthday tooooo, yoooooouuuuusse

Pod - Photos 2009 Vol 1

Pea - Photos 2009 Vol 1

That's right the Lilyins are one whole year old. Somehow, we are all alive, and have had no major trips to hospital for anyone - thanks Bigyins, you are awesome kids :) The Lilyins are doing really well for one year, Pod is walking independently and Pea is nearly there. He does have three teeth weighing his big head down, where she only has one, maybe that's the reason? They eat, eat, eat and we are dropping off the number of milky beverage bottles, they just don't need them. They like them, but they don't need them.

I'm being lazy and letting the Bigyins stay home from school, we are going to do the first proper park trip with the Lilyins. We have gone to the park, but they are always stuck in the pram. I think it is time to unleash them on the world.

Just in the last couple of weeks I have been starting to feel like something other than the mother of twins. Although yesterday I did make the mistake of dressing them in similar clothing. Never again. Every little old lady and her cat poked and asked "Are they twins?" Um, no, I just thought a random baby I saw on the street looked good with mine and took it! On my way into the supermarket I found myself making silly noises and talking to the babies just like I used to with the Bigyins. I am rather silly at heart, but that's been lost in sleep deprivation or something for a little while now. It's good to be back.

The Pea and Pod beasts are full of attitude and volume. Pod just has to climb, she absolutely cannot help herself. If there is another level to clamber onto, no matter how tentative, she will get up there. Thankfully she is a bit of a mountain goat, it's the daft head first dismounts that are unnerving. Both of them are adding more and more words to their arsenal everyday. Pea says "yes", "hello" and quite a few names. Pod has "that there" and "yumyum" and a host of names as well.

I'm quietly impressed that we've all made it. The Bigyins aren't (too) resentful, and Q and I are just about out the other side. They are all wonderful kids, or I think I would be feeling a lot more beaten for a lot longer. Even Pod with her incessant need for climbing and to get into 'stuff' rocks socks, they're pretty awesome little kids one and all.

Off to be a birthday Mum and brave the shops and park with all.
Wish me luck!
M

Wet'N'Wild, Gold Coast

2009-03-12T10:49:00.004+10:00

We finally got around to using our tickets for Wet'N'Wild on the weekend. My Magpie Aunt is so awesome. She bought the two bigyins and Q and I tickets for Xmas with the promise of minding the Lilyins for us. Beyond anything else it was so lovely to do something normal for a change. I was absolutely stuffed but felt like a human for the first time in two years.

Wet'N'Wild was a lot of fun. As theme parks go it is quite compact, meaning it is easy to get around and hiring a locker ($8AUD for 12 hours) is actually a reasonable prospect. The rides are all grouped in areas and the food court is near the lockers and change rooms, making it a quite well thought out layout.
There is a fairly good range of rides for all the family, but if you all want to go on water slides, I would recommend waiting until your youngest member is over 120cm. The Bean was able to go on quite a few, but it was still only about half the number that Taz could.
Bean and I still had a lovely time mooching around in the spa pools and watching the rides, we even saw some wildlife. And I don't mean the teenagers.
The staff were mostly lovely, though a little inconsistent. Some would check heights, some wouldn't that sort of thing. One thing that really stood out is that they are not all beautiful and young, as the staff often are at theme parks. All of the other patrons were quite nice in one on one interactions, although as a mass they were in general quite rude. The habit for people to use the food court tables as lockers and get snooty if anyone tried to move their gear was more than a little annyoing. Especially when there ended up being multiple families with young children eating off the ground (all of us on our towels, but nonetheless).
The food was of course an immense rip off, although you are welcome to pack a picnic lunch. you have to prepare it yourself, though, no KFC buckets or anything like that.
All in all we had a great day, but I wouldn't really recommend it to tourists. At times it felt like you were intruding on the world largest family re-union. At others, there was a lovely feeling of camraderie as everyone hung out at the water park. I would however recommend it for locals, the wait times weren't too long and everyone was fairly cordial and friendly. The rides were fun and mostly accessible, Buccaneer Bay was a huge hit with both Bigyins, and we have promised to go back once they are both bigger, so they can go on more rides.
The funny thing was that the Bean's BF Pocket Rocket and her family were there on Sunday, we were there on Saturday. Pocket Rocket's Maman and I managed to miss each other at school for most of last week, or we might have been able to do a joint trip. Oh well.

TV Week Trashier than ever

2009-03-12T10:08:00.009+10:00

If you happen to watch Media Watch on the ABC, you will have noticed that TV Week, the tabloid rag in charge of running our Logie Awards (TV awards) has proven that they are the trashiest of the trash. They are small minded, biased and exceptionally boring. Why you ask am I so pissed at a crappy magazine I have never bought? Well now that's easy.

There's a fantastic movie show on Community TV in Australia (31 in your capital city) called the Bazura Project. One viewing and you will understand why it has become a cult hit. But I am not here to review Bazura, but to whine about TV Week. This year, as the big names have been noticably absent (The Chaser, Chris Lilley et al) the Bazura boys thought they might be in with a chance for a nomination. Not so, after much to-ing and fro-ing between Bazura and TV Week, the upshot of it seems to be "Our magazine doesn't cover community television, so piss off!"
The Bazura boys aren't stupid and checked the rules and continued to fight on until they were essentially told in no uncertain terms "Fuck Off!"

For fuck's sake TV Week, give them a go. Do you consider yourself too good to touch community TV? Or are you afraid they might actually win? What's the real deal guys. I suspect you are simply small minded gimboids who cannot entertain the thought of anything outside your little commercial empire. It's a wonder the ABC even gets a look in at the Logies given your attitude.

So, if any of you are Bazura fans, or are just pissed at this ridiculousness go here and scroll to the bottom. Here you can complain, just be sure to enter Rant into the Subject Line. If you want to be informed about this debacle before you complain check out this page at Media Watch.

I have complained, it will be interesting to see if I get even an acknowledgement, let alone a reply.

Pfft

Enough! No More Powdered Gold.

2009-03-05T08:22:00.003+10:00

For those of you not in the know, powdered gold is how we refer to baby/toddler formula in our house. For many reasons we are quite picky with the formula we give our babies, especially the Lilyins, as they wound up on it sooner than the Bigyins. The starter formulas are around $25-35 per tin. It slowly gets cheaper as they get bigger, but the average cost of the toddler formula we now use is around $20 a tin. Tins may last up to four days, and the may only last two. It all depends. So that's it formula for bedtime bottles, water or plain old milk for the day. The eat fruits, veg, meats, breads, cereals, a nice well balanced diet. There's no reason they should be needing the formula any more so its time to bring it right down. Once they are 18 months we will transition to no formula at all.

This will have the added bonus of getting rid of the stink of formula on their clothes. Enough powdered gold, I hate the stuff and they really don't need it. It'll be nice to have that 40-80 odd dollars a week back in the kitty again. I'm sure it'll be spent pretty instantly, but things will be a little less tight.

Next expense to conquer - nappies! Pod is walking so it'll be feasible soon, we even have the potties out already for familiarisation. Here's hoping ;)
M
M

Paid Parental Leave

2009-03-04T17:05:00.004+10:00

GetUp! are running a campaign to petition for paid parental leave for australians. As they say all the other kids are doing it.

Please go and sign the petition. Our kids deserve this.

Momentous Month of March

2009-03-04T15:41:00.006+10:00

March is shaping up to be a momentous month.

We will have survived an entire year with twins (at least I think I survived). Pod has started walking, both Pea and Pod have at least one tooth.

And I have done my first job since the Lilyins were born. I must have done alright, because I have been asked back. I am very happy, slightly brain fried, but happy. Feels good to do something other than housework and child rearing.

Q got a live install happening as well.

All in all March is shaping up to be a good month, here's hoping it's the turn around. We've been working very hard treading water, but I think we're starting to move now.

I hope March is as kind to you,
M

Kerbside for Brisbane's South-West

2009-03-02T10:39:00.003+10:00

Yay! Calloo, Callay! Kerbside pickup. Freecycle is great don't get me wrong. But kerbside pick up is fantastic. For Oxley, it is the 6/4 this year. But go to the Council Website Kerbside Pickup Page and you can search (that is scroll through) a drop down list (yes a drop down list) of all the suburbs in Brisbane. It'll then spit out a little date in bold next to the drop down telling you when your next collection is and whether or not is general items or green.

Good luck and happy discarding and salvaging!
M

Anna Bligh fails to Surprise

2009-02-25T13:46:00.004+10:00

Ms Bligh has called a State election. Yay for us! So far it's shaping up to be the election of failed surprises. To anyone with half a brain, it has been obvious Bligh would have to call an early election, rather than waiting for the proper time to roll around as she desparately needs to fight her first election on her terms.

In a similarly unsurprising move Pauline Bloody Hanson has decided she'd beeter have another crack at it as well. Seeing as her other attempts were such wildly successful and well received endeavours. I wish that one would just go back to her fish and chips.

Sadly, Lawrence Springborg (I refuse to call him 'The Borg' - puh-lease, I would recommend he sit down and watch some Trek before actually campaigning with that. At the very least, fucking google it.) seems to be on the same campaign he has been for I don't know how many years now. Not a single surprise there either.

Once again, unsurprisingly, queenslanders are faced with not only a complete lack of choice, but also lacklustre politicians without even a script change from the previous campaigns. Beattie and Goss may have been media tarts but at least they pretended to try and distract you with a song and dance.

Oh well, at lest there'll be sausage sizzles. We have a habit of making voting a bit of a family outing, in the possibly vain hope that our children will pay attention to politics when they are older instead of simply taking the "How To Vote" card and copying it out.

{Insert a stream of your favourite expletives here}
M

The Land of Contrast

2009-02-13T09:18:00.003+10:00

I'm sure most of you have noticed that Australia is burning (in the south) and flooding (in the north). Some states have had their hottest summer on record, others have experienced some of the mildest temperatures in years (Yay for Brisbane!). This burning and flooding is not an uncommon scenario, what makes it different this year is the severity of both events. FNQ (Far North Queensland) is expecting more rain and Victoria is expecting more fire weather, and both areas have already experienced extensive devastation.

I couldn't be prouder of Australians at the moment as support and relief continue to pour in from people all over australia from the banks, to the media, to everday you and I. My thoughts (I don't pray) are with everyone affected by either disaster.

It got me thinking though, that one of the things I really appreciate about Aus is it's ability to be a land of constant contrast. Allow me to explain:
We are a land which prizes the individual and yet, we are also strongly socialist leaning, with everyone pitching out in crises.
We cannot stand the tall poppy but we love high achievers (yes there is a difference).
It is a land of small women in big cars and big men in small cars.

This one often strikes me, as I see that many AUstralian women are willing to get in and do whatever needs doing, be it manning a CFA truck racing off to fight a fire, or helping to feed those who are out there. Aussie men are the same, those who aren't fighting the fight directly can always be found making sandwiches, co-ordinating or assisting in some way. None of us will balk at being asked to do a man's job or a woman's job as every job just needs to be done.

I have a sneaky suspicion that in yet another contrast, this is not true of all of Australia, but is certainly true of the Australia where I live.

While Victoria burns, FNQ floods and those of us lucky enough to be in between watch on in horror providing what assistance we can, I still love this place. It is a beautiful big land full of contrast and genuine people. Even when it is on fire.

To donate to the Bush Fire Victims please go to the Red Cross Australia

I Love Where I live

2009-02-06T13:14:00.003+10:00

and here's one of the reasons why:

On the Gold Coast, vandals hacked into the road sign system and had a little fun with the electronic signs:

On Oxley Drive the sign read: 'Nobody has ever loved you,' and 'All your signs are belong to us' (sic).

Along Tamborine-Oxenford Road it was a little more menacing: 'Warning zombies ahead'.

Full article at goldcoast.com.au

Main Roads and the sub-contractors are being typically humourless, although I understand their point that some signs can be important to road safety. Yet another electronic sign flashing Stop.Revive.Survive. or Speed Kills does not, however, carry vitally important information about the road ahead, and is up for a bit of random change, I think. They may even have saved someone who was desperately depressed by giving them a laugh, you never know! ;)

Still, very funny, I'll bet some commuters had a good chuckle on their way to work this morning.

Trekking and Treadling on Thursday

2009-02-05T12:10:00.003+10:00

So today we finally did it again. We trekked and treadled on Thursday. The Qld Ed department has an initiative where each school encourages all parents to Trek and Treadle (or Walk and Wheel on Wednesdays, or whatever it may be) in a bid to reduce traffic around the schools. It's a great idea and we were in the habit of walking all the time, until I got too big with the twin belly. Since then I have been loathe to start again because, well, I'm slack and it's hot.

Today however, we parked up near the local retirement home so that we were the required distance away from the school (I believe it is 1km) and trekked and treadled our way down. The funny thing is that the foot paths are almost dangerous now with all the strollers, toddlers, parents and kids on bikes, scooters, skateboards, skates and feet.

It is lovely though, as everyone has a little chat as they pass or near and it fosters a real sense of community about the school. Sadly not enough community to have volunteers for tuckshop, but nonetheless, it's a start. I'm kind of hoping that after the second week of no tuckshop we'll get some volunteers. I'd do it except I can't take the Lilyins, school rules and have no-one to mind them for me during tuckshop hours. If it goes on too long, I'll ask the school to advertise for a sitter for my twins so that I can do tuckshop, I'll either get to do tuckshop or someone will figure volunteering is easier than sitting twins ;)

The only question remaining now is...
do we trek and treadle this afternoon as well? Hmmmm

School's back

2009-02-02T05:09:00.006+10:00

School is back and we have all survived the first week! BB had her first week of Prep*. Luckily for us she has TM's old pre-school and Prep (they said he could do Prep as well or go to Gr 1, we took the extra year) teacher, we shall call her Super Shawl. Originally she had one of her little friends from the playground pick-up playgroup in her class, not her BF, but one of them. Then thanks to that wonderful, and irritating thing, administration, her BF, let's call her the Pocket Rocket, was placed in her class on the second day. Now three of the four are in the same class. I feel bad for poor Babs, being left on her own in the other class, but you never know, she may be moved in with the others yet.

BB's biggest disappointment was that she wasn't able to bring home every artwork she made that week (thank every god known to man). But SS assured us she would be able to bring them home once they'd been hung up in the classroom for a little while :) She was so very, very tired, so it was an early bed last night before the beginning of the next week. All the little girls (and boys of course, but most of the ones I know so far are girls) look so very cute in their shirts which are too big and their shorts, skirts or culottes. They have huge school bags which are largely empty, but are still oh, so big. There's little to see except little arms and legs poking out past all the things which are too big. They carry their huge bags and wear their uniforms with such pride and joy, I wonder how many adults feel like that anymore when they get dressed and ready for work. Precious few, I suspect, but I do hope there are some out there that still feel that way.

The TM is full of 'growded uppedness', he is thrilled to have an upstairs classroom, I'm not as there's no way I'm carrying a 25kg stroller plus the Lilyins up a flight of stairs, so that means it's muscle woman time! One on each hip and up I go. Because BB needs signing in and out, I still haven't met his teacher. This week. He is in a composite class again, partly I think because last year, when he was in the 1/2 comp, he finished Gr1 by about 1/3 of the way through the year and had pretty much finished Gr2 by the end. I think we will have to put pressure on the school to let him jump because he is going to be finished the Gr2 work soon , and it's only a 2/3 comp. He feels very grown up getting to walk to class on his own and meet us in the playground near Prep after school.

We have new neighbours, with 6 children. They are in the same school, and TM has one in his class. We all meet at the same place after school so there is an informal play in the playground which happens every afternoon, before PP and I attempt to round up 8 kids (two of mine still aren't walking so they're easy) and herd them towards the cars. It is lovely though as everyone plays in the dead end at the end of our street and is completely bushed by the end of the day. Sleepy kids all round.

The biggest disappointment for me is that not enough parents have volunteered for tuckshop** so it is closed until further notice. I can't take kids with me, or I'd volunteer. I will have to try and find someone to mind them for me if it stays close. Hell, if one of the other mothers would rather mind my Lilyins than do tuckshop I'll happily do it. Bunch of fucking slackarses. How difficult is it to offer a couple of hours a day once a week to your child's school for the tuckshop for pity's sake? There's a handful of parents that volunteer and no-one else ever moves their lazy butts. I know a lot work, but I also know a lot don't or have free time they could use or you fill in the blank. Maybe I'll head up to the office and ask them to place a further notice in the newsletter asking for someone to mind my bubs so I can volunteer. You never know, it's possible we'd get some who would take the bubs, or some might start to volunteer. Guilt is a powerful thing.

I've been considering offering to update their website with newsletters, tuckshop rosters and menus (assuming it ever re-opens), and other relevant information. It'd take me five minutes if they gave me a login and cc'ed me in on the email of the final proof. But that's another thing altogether.

The Lilyins were another story, as they missed their bigger siblings and took it out of my hide in their own individual way. Things will keep getting better as they get into the swing of the routine. Once they are walking properly and able to play outside a bit more, not just on the verandah, they'll be a lot happier. I was hoping we'd be able to get into the backyard, but the paper wasp nest on the washing line (I'd forgotten how much those little fuckers hurt) means we'll be working in the front yard until this weekend when I buy some wasp freeze.

Here's to the new school year, good luck to the rest of you in the back to school stakes, if everyone else could be patient, the rabidness should have passed by the end of this week.

M

*Prep is the first year of school in Queensland. You have to be 5 years old and it is done within the Primary School. Until 2005, Queensland had part time pre-school for children aged 5, then Grade1 at age 6. Our then wise and venerable leader, Beattie decided to bring Queensland's education into line with other states by fixing the 1 year discrepancy in total school years. Most other places it is 13,here it was 12. In his wisdom, the Beattie got rid of pre-school, and added prep to the primary school grades. His maths went something like this: 12 + 1 - 1 = 13. So Queensland is still down a year, but Beattie felt better.
**tuckshop - canteen, school diner. They tend to operate on a paper bag system - you get a menu to keep at home and on the days you want the kids to have tuckshop, you write on the bag want they want,along with name and class and put their money in it. They are allowed to purchase a small range of goods over the counter at the small break. The bags are then delivered back to the tuckshop with the food in them, or kids get a marker to tell them to go to the tuckshop to collect it. High school tuckshops work more like a corner shop, with kids getting their money and going to the counter to buy their food and drink.

Stepping back in time

2009-01-31T06:22:00.003+10:00

Yesterday my neighbour came up to see me because the brand new logitech mouse she had bought wasn't working. She wanted to know if it worked on our boxes, which it did, so I toddled down there to see what was happening.
I hope I managed to mask my complete, gobsmacked surprise when she fired the little old thing up. I haven't worked on a CRT that small in about 10 years, but I digress, imagine my total shock (and horror) when the Windows splash screen finally came up and informed me it was Windows 98. Not 98SE, just 98. I seriously cannot remember the last time I saw a functioning install of 98. It must have been somewhere around 2000, as I desperately installed service pack after service pack to keep the tight-arse lawyers computers going.
I wasn't entirely sure what to say, as she had purchased a brand new ($39.95AUD) Logitech USB mouse, which is plugged into a PS/2 converter. That little box has about 15 programmes which run on startup, none of which she uses. So later today, for reasons that escape me, I have offered to go down there with service packs on disk - she is on dialup - to start trying to bludgeon her box into the 21st Century. There is some urgency as she works from home and needs to place an order by, ooh, today.
I have had great success moving my Aunt from Windows to Ubuntu (no phone calls about the computer since we did it) and I think I will try the same for neighbour. While there I will check out what her system specs are and see if I can't find Ubuntu or a similar distro that will run for her. I suspect part of the reason she is still on 98, not even SE is cost factor. It's interesting to see how many of the older generation believe that they paid for it once (and heftily too) so they should now be entitled to have the software maintained, upgraded and so forth for free. She bought 98, why should she need to do anything else, ever? And to be fair, on some levels I agree with them. Software hawkers are very proficient at making sure you pay at every turn. I am hoping, that I can convince her to let me change it as her son is supposedly maintaining it for her, but he cannot have done anything except set it up. I am happy to offer help and support, but if we don't change the whole 98 issue, I don't know that I can. Updates and drivers are difficult to access, not impossible, just difficult, especially if you won't pay.
Think lovely OS friendly and accepting thoughts for me today as I am going to need them. Here's hoping we can get her upgraded to SE today so she doesn't have to use our boxes.
On a slightly similar topic, mebbe, Q and I should be offering support (hah! don't really want to run a business right now), I tend to deal with broken mice and irritating first and second level issues, anything bigger I ask him. I usually do it, but he is the font of all high-fallutin PC knowledge for me. I only mention it because our other neighbours, brand new, are needing a net connection and have 6, that's right 6, kids. So I am going to help get them on either cable or DSL and then see if we can't convince them to let me dual boot the box. Linux for web, word processing etc and windows for games only! That way it's harder for 8 not so tech savvy people to break it, but the boys can still play their games.
Wish me luck!

Marvellous Movies

2009-01-30T11:46:00.004+10:00

Nightwatch and Daywatch. If you enjoy fantasy, horror or alternative fiction you will love these movies. They are devoid of all the cheap tricks Hollywood is fond of using in the same genres and full of plot, depth and amazing work on behalf of all involved.
The concept fascinated and intrigued me, the cinematography enchanted me, the acting - although dubbed - was truly a wonder to behold. If you never watch another movie in these genres, I would entreat you to watch these. They must be seen together for the best continuity and effect (especially for non-Russian speakers).
I know this is a truly brief review, I will fill in more detail when the Lilyins allow it, but I cannot gush enough about how much I enjoyed these movies in every way. The values of the Russian film industry are delightfully different to Hollywood and such a breath of fresh air when executed nigh on perfectly as they were in these films.
5 Vampire bites!
Small note: They are available with subtitles and dubbing - go the dub it's brilliant!

On embarassing oneself

2009-01-24T17:24:00.003+10:00

It is easy enough to do is it not? It's 5 in the morning, in my case, you're up with cranky twins after not getting enough sleep yourself and you decide to write an email. You put quite a bit of effort into it while in the back of your head, there's a muffled voice...

You can't quite make out exactly what it is saying, but surely it can wait. Well, it definitely can wait. Whether it should or not is another matter entirely. You see, I am usually very cautious. I try to re-read every e I send at least once, just because it's electronic is no cause for sloppiness. In this case, the worst thing is that I did read it, and re-read it. And edit it, and add links and well, you get the drift I'm sure.

Though come to think of it, perhaps the worst thing is inviting someone (or ones) to do something I knew was most likely entirely outside of their 'wheelhouse' (ahem, can't help myself guys, great phrase, gotta use it). Anywho, I believe I was talking about embarassment, and that wonderful ability our brains have to sometimes take a leave of absence so severe that you wonder what on earth actually happened.

I know, I have twins, the last of four and all of that jazz, but truly. I knew my muffled inner voice was probably saying, come on...be reasonable. What on earth are you doing? Stop you know better than that! But did I listen? Hell, No! For that brief little period my frontal lobes went on hiatus and the rest of my brain said "You go girl!" That being about the intelligence of it when supplied with very little sleep and inevitably not quite enough food.

'Tis indeed one of those moments when I feel like Alice:

I give myself very good advice,

But I very seldom follow it,

Will I ever learn to do the things I should?

I admit it's highly unlikely I shall ever learn to do all the things I should, but sometimes, just occasionally, I wish my brain had stayed switched on, for just those vital few moments. Enough to stop me from blushing a little while later when people are very lovely and patient with my lapses in sensibility. Even those who don't know me from any other effectively anonymous communique that may come through ether.

One day, I may tell the ether what I wrote. It was incredibly innocent for such embarassment, but I know better, and therein lies the rub.

Oh, and if you are in or near South LA be sure and check out one of the Red Dog Squadron's plays.
Here's hoping this post doesn't turn out to be the same as it's subject matter,
Mars

Introducing solids before Six Months (Gasp!)

2008-10-28T16:07:00.008+10:00

Now before you all start screaming: neglect! abuse! won't suh-humbody think of the children! ... I entreat you to read on first. I am not denying there are sound reasons for delaying solids (see this page at kellymom for a great comprehensive overview). However I do not believe it is appropriate for all, and I did not adhere to it for my children.

DISCLAIMERS:
I am not a medical practitioner, I am a mother of four;
I do have a Bachelor's Degree, however it is Arts, Eng & Ger Lang & Lit - not exactly science;
I am not reccommending any course of action presented in this article be adopted by anyone, this is merely my account and some information for those who have already decided on this course of action;
Alway, always, always consult your regular, family, medical practitioner when doing anything with your children if you are not following the currently reccommended guidelines - it would be horrible to have something go wrong, just because you didn't consult with a medico.
This is my opinion, and what I know to have been the best method of introducing solids to my children, once again, this not endorsed by anyone, it is not currently reccommended procedure, it is not based on research, scientific or otherwise.
This is an anecdotal account of how I introduced solids and what the guidelines were before the current thinking prevailed.

First I will explain how it has happened for my four kids and why I chose to introduce solids for them at a very early age. I would then like to explain briefly how to safely introduce solids before four months, as the current thinking is so all pervasive making it difficult to track down information on how to introduce solids, early. Just because it has been deemed to be potentially harmful for some chldren does not mean we should ban the practice overall. I guess, to put it in context ( and a relevant one at that) how many of you eat eggs, milk, yeast products and/or nuts? They are potentially harmful to some children, yet we do not remove them from general sale or make it illegal to feed them to all children, nor should we.

Now, to my little clan. I have four, all of them LBW ie 2.5kg or under babies (or 5lbs in the old money). Now I am around 5'6" and 7-8 stone, I was only 6lbs myself and my partner (now over 6') was only 5lbs. I was never going to have anything but small babies by todays standards. Number 1 was a very colic affected baby. As he was so small (4lbs13) he fed often, and the feeds never sat well. Before you start, yes he was feeding fine, the problems started once the food hit his gut. We tried every trick known to mums and still we fed, we paced, we fed, we paced ad nauseam. At two weeks we started him on a little course of acidophilus (specially made for newborns, prescribed by naturopath/GP). This helped but a little and we were still feeding every hour or more and needing a good half hour of pacing and burping before we could put him down after feeds. At six weeks, again in consultation with medical practitioners (always, always consult with your medical care providers when doing anything that is not considered the norm with your children, I cannot stress this enough) we introduced rice cereal. We made it exclusively with breastmilk and wouldn't have offered even a teaspoon at first.

At the first feed my eldest demonstrated that he was capable of eating from a spoon. This is a critical factor in whether or not you introduce solids. If the babe does not have the jaw and tongue strength and co-ordination to eat from a spoon, you should not introduce solids. This can lead to complications such as aspiration of cereal particles. However, if your child has taken a lovely spoonful of cereal, rolled it around and swallowed it down, you are good to continue on. Cereal made with breastmilk or the childs regular formula should be the only solid introduced for at least two weeks.

Once two weeks have passed with no negative side effects (aside from the babe trying to run away from their bottom) you can decide on which fruit or vegetable you would like to add to the cereal. A small amount at first of course, which is gradually increased as you can see that they have had no negatiev side effects. After another week of cereal and a single fruit or vegetable, which all of mine absolutely loved, you can try the very messy fun that is a single fruit or vegetable on its own.

Once you have introduced that single fruit such as pear, you can add a new food item each week, being sure to keep an eye out for rashes, especially around the mouth. And now you just plough on ahead, I would, from my experience keep to fruit and veg for the first two months, only introducing mushy meats once they have had a chance for the tummies to adjust to solids.

There are a few no-no's which are important to be mindful of:

Coddled or poached eggs are acceptable only after 9 months and whole egg of any type is not advisable earlier than 12 months.

Milk should be avoided until 12 months unless you are prepared to either triple boil it or hunt up some 1950s books which have the correct ratios for watering it down.

Fruit juices should be used sparingly and always be watered down. Apple juice can rot baby teeth right out of their head, aside from the dangers of introducing too much astringency into their diet too early

Fats should be used as sparingly as possible., Once they are able to hold things and chew on them themselves (even without teeth) you can introduce toast, although butter, margarine or any other spread should be used exceedingly sparingly.

No nuts before 12 months! At all! Whatsoever! All older children need to be told and taught that it could be potentially be dangerous for younger siblings to have nuts including the beloved peanut butter.

Strawberries and tomatoes are not recommended in whole form before 12 months. Strawberries can be offered prior to then as long as they are prepared in such a manner as to remove all hulls and hairs.

Meats must be broken down, minced or similar for them to be able to process them.

Now here's some funny things that work really well as first foods:

Arrowroot biscuits -yummy!

Malt biscuits

Did you know chop bones make excellent teethers - adhere to all highest food safety standards regarding meat.

Apple cores discarded by older children are fantastic teethers as well.

Banana - it's the perfect baby food, if you have a very ripe banana and a spoon, you can fed your baby anywhere anytime. Do not under any circumstances feed baby underripe or just ripe banana, if there are no black spots on the skin, it is not ready. If you have a lot of almost blackened bananas these are perfect, as they are already beginning to break down their flesh.

Melons and pawpaw are fantastic as well, they require little to no mushing for a baby who has been on solids for more than a couple of months.

Porridge made with semolina instead of oats is a great breakfast and the whole family loves it to - no mushing required

So just to recap:
Solids before six months does not automatically lead to potentially fatal food allergies; I am up to seven years with the eldest and no asthma/allergies/digestive issues with any of them; it helps them sleep through the night; do not attempt anything without proper consultation and at the first sign of a rash or allergies, remove the food which was most recently introduced and keep working back until the rash disappears. Do what feels best for your baby, if you feel they need solids, start introducing them, if you feel they will be reactive, or don't have the necka dn tongue control, just wait a little longer.

No matter what you do, your actions should alsways be guided by what works for your child, if you have any concerns, contact a health care provider and discuss it with them.

Good luck, and enjoy watching your baby trying to run away from its bum as the solids make their way through. IT doesn't hurt, but it is certainly a shock!

MM

metapixel

2008-10-28T02:51:00.012+10:00

As I am rapidly accumulating photographs of my children, and my twins have been out, basically as long as they were in. I wanted to try photo mosaic/montage/collage. In particular the type of mosaic whic is made up of hundreds or thousands of other images. My idea was to take all of the photos that we have taken and use them to make a mosaic of the last photo we got of the belly.

So I managed to track down some free trials for windows which I was able to run under wine as well as pixelize, which doesn't like me sadly, as it had a gui (i think, just won't run for me), and metapixel, a command line programme. I could find very little documentation which my twinfried brain could grok on metapixel so set to with the few examples I could find. Having no joy, I began fiddling around to see what I could do to make te examples work. Here are the commands I used and the resulting images, I will continue to add to this as I learn more.

Some important things to note:

First and foremost, I am far from an expert in graphics, computing, or anything to do with this programme. This is for want of a better phrase a noobs helper, not an expert or official tutorial. I am capable of using a command prompt but am unfamiliar with the YIQ colourspace used in the programme. In other words, if you're already well versed in these sorts of things, you probably don't need to read this; on the other hand if you are uncertain in a terminal (command prompt) or not sure about colourspaces and other similar options read on!

/yourdir/ = the directory in which your source image, ie the one you wish to mosaic, is located. This should be different to the following directories;
/yoursrcdir/ = the directory in which the images which will become the files are placed. Metapixel can deal with folder structures, but you will need to have all of your folders or pictures in one folder for it to use;
/yourdestdir/= the directory in which the prepared tile images will be located;

Before I did anything, I needed to prepare the images which I would be using as pixels. Naturally you want to replace folder names given here (generally contained between / and / ) appropriate name of the folder you wish metapixel to use (see above)

The width and height of the tile images is given in pixels.

metapixel-prepare -r /yoursrcdir/ /yourdestdir/ --width=48 --height=48

This has given us a folder full of pre-prepared images for use as pixels. Now the fun begins...

This was the first variant I tried that produced a result I was vaguely happy with:

metapixel --distance=20 --search=global --metapixel /yourdir/image.jpg mpix4.jpg --library=/yourdestdir/

The resulting image is:

From Mad Mars' Mental Musings

As you can see, it is a little, well clunky, ugly and not that great, but heading in the right direction.
Next, I tried adding cheat at a factor of 30%:

metapixel --distance=20 --search=global --cheat=30 --metapixel /yourdir/image.jpg mpix5.jpg --library=/yourdestdir/

Slightly better,we thought as we ogled the screen:

From Mad Mars' Mental Musings

Next I added the option metric, there are two options: subpixel and wavelet. I chose wavelet:

metapixel --distance=20 --metric=wavelet --search=global --cheat=30 --metapixel /yourdir/image.jpg mpix6.jpg --library=/yourdestdir/

The results are slowly creeping towards something, but I'm not sure what...

From Mad Mars' Mental Musings

Which led me to try and resize the tile images to be smaller, thus hopefully lending more of a mosaic feel:

metapixel-prepare -r /yoursrcdir/ /yourdestdir/ --width=20 --height=20

Nothing to see here...

Once I had a newly prepared folder of images, I tried again with the same set of parameters as last time:

metapixel --distance=20 --metric=wavelet --search=global --cheat=30 --metapixel /yourdir/image.jpg mpix8.jpg --library=/yourdestdir/

Which gave me this:

From Mad Mars' Mental Musings

So then, I gets gutsy and start playing around with 'I' weighting, once again, I was unsure whether I had done or a good or a bad thing, but soldiered on regardless, wondering if it would barf at 0.5 and want whole integers:

metapixel --distance=20 --search=global --cheat=30 --i-weight=0.5 --metapixel /yourdir/image.jpg mpix10.jpg --library=/yourdestdir/

No barf here...yet...

From Mad Mars' Mental Musings

Then I tried a different weighting:

metapixel --distance=20 --search=global --cheat=30 --i-weight=1 --metapixel /yourdir/image.jpg mpix11.jpg --library=/yourdestdir/

Possible barf, I'm not sure, possibly better too...

From Mad Mars' Mental Musings

Getting very cocky with my moderate success (don't laugh too hard, it's rude :P), I thought I might attack the Q weighting:

metapixel --distance=20 --search=global --cheat=30 --i-weight=1 --q-weight=0 --metapixel /yourdir/image.jpg mpix12.jpg --library=/yourdestdir/

Which gave me:

From Mad Mars' Mental Musings

Which I didn't like, so I removed all YIQ options and dropped the distance (which is the distance between identical images - I think):

metapixel --distance=2 --metric=wavelet --search=global --cheat=30 --metapixel/yourdir/image.jpg mpix13.jpg --library=/yourdestdir/

This was looking better, I thought:

From Mad Mars' Mental Musings

So I added in some colourspace options again:

metapixel --distance=2 --metric=wavelet --search=global --cheat=30 --i-weight=-0.5 --metapixel /yourdir/image.jpg mpix14.jpg --library=/yourdestdir/

Re-sult:

From Mad Mars' Mental Musings

And some more:

metapixel --distance=2 --metric=wavelet --search=global --cheat=30 --i-weight=-0.5 --q-weight=0.5 --metapixel /yourdir/image.jpg mpix15.jpg --library=/yourdestdir/

which gave me this:

From Mad Mars' Mental Musings

The I got really brave and went for options on YI and Q :0

metapixel --distance=2 --metric=wavelet --search=global --cheat=30 --i-weight=-0.5 --q-weight=0 --metapixel /yourdir/image.jpg mpix16.jpg --library=/yourdestdir/

to yield:

From Mad Mars' Mental Musings

But got scared and pulled out the Y and I weightings:

metapixel --distance=2 --metric=wavelet --search=global --cheat=30 --q-weight=0 --metapixel /yourdir/image.jpg mpix17.jpg --library=/yourdestdir/

Producing yet another slight variant:

From Mad Mars' Mental Musings

Then removed all YIQ references and scaled the image up x5:

metapixel --scale=5 --distance=1 --metric=wavelet --search=local --cheat=30 --metapixel /yourdir/image.jpg mpix18.jpg --library=/yourdestdir/

Giving one awesome, but very, very large image.

Here it is, rescaled for easier handling:

From Mad Mars' Mental Musings

Frelling Photos

2008-10-15T07:46:00.005+10:00

Faced with the rapidly approaching 1GB limit on my picasa account, generous though it is. I have been forced to find some other image host. Obviously I could pay to upgrade the storage, it isn't that expensive. Naturally, being a tightarse, I'm not going to do that. So I will bite the bullet and store my photos elsewhere until I get around to setting up a proper family website. How horrible. Scrapbooking here I come. Well, over my dead body, but we have just enough relatives anad friends who are far flung or that we are not oft in contact with to have a use for such a tacky exploit.
The gradual dull to beige feels inevitable some days.

XXXX (the beer) fun

2008-09-27T08:10:00.003+10:00

The Brisbane Times is reporting that Lion Nathan, the owner of XXXX, Toohey's and many other iconic brands in Australia is removing all unnatural ingredients in compliance with their "natural beer promise" . I'm sure I'll upset many a queenslander when I say: I hope it helps. Sadly I suspect XXXX will now just taste like natural horses piss instead of artificial horses piss.

It is interesting though, that even breweries are coming around to reducing the number of artificial additives we use in our foods. Especially the older ones we have been making and preserving for hundreds of years. You know, those ones we managed to come up with before we had invented chemical compounds to stop things from spoiling and make them taste better. Hopefully this is indicative of a shift towards using chemicals sparingly and only were unavoidable, especially when it involves substances we intend to ingest.

I won't be rushing out to buy the stuff - but it's a good sign and Lion Nathan produce many beers. Hopefully their actions will encourage others.

It's still horses piss though.
M

Crochet

2008-09-26T14:10:00.002+10:00

Crochet Symbol Font born of frustration, zip with ref to come

Twin Rants 2

2008-09-04T12:37:00.003+10:00

TWINDATE: 4 months
SANEDATE: Sometime in July 2008
So, we have made it past 3 months. In fact, we made it to four months before I realised we had gone past 3 months. We have been doing solids since 6 weeks and they are so much happier for it. We even get most of the night through without wake ups. Yay! And still I am going half mad, alright I was already half mad, I am simply completing the descent into total madness.

The sad thing is, I'm only half joking. It occurred to me yesterday, that a lot of what is stressing me out now is that my babes are getting physically too strong for me to deal with one in each arm effectively. Even sitting on the couch it's a struggle to stop them from committing hari kari right out of my arms. Of course we are hitting the first patch of separation anxiety as well and it's winter. All of this combines into a beautiful mess of physical oppression for me. yes, physical oppression. And, no I don't think that's too strong a word, let me tell you why. I am always, feeding, burping, comforting or settling to sleep a baby. If I am not, then ten chances to one, I am being screamed at by either a stuck pig or a banshee, or both. This screaming causes my ears (which are very sensitive) considerable pain. When you add this with the co sleeping I get very little time when I am not holding someone and being caused physical pain by the scratching, flinging head butting fun or having my ears feel like they're bleeding as my sensitive hearing is not so slowly eroded. My poor big kids are pretty jack of the babies being paramount, and if they're not the last thing I can cope with is cuddles, longwinded exaggerated stories and 'play with/look at/help/see me!' . Daddy Q is of course working three jobs just so we can live hand to mouth and still not quite make ends meet, pushing overall stress levels through an astronomically high roof.

Although things are getting better slowly, it still feels like it never ends. Each time we conquer a milestone like wanting to play, something seems to happen to set us right back where we were when they were newborns. Of course if I can get time to sit calmly and think, I know this is not true, and yet when they are here and demanding in whichever way it is now, I simply cannot see the end. my own iss-yous make things harder than they need be, but they are also what gives me the ability to force myself to sit back and take stock. This has meant we haven't had to have anyone come and stay with us full time and are maintaining a modicum of sanity courtesy of the kindness of friends and family.
The biggest thing that I find difficult is so many things end up just dropping off the radar, I have a ton of clothes and stuffed toys and jewellery to mend. I never seem to have the werewithal to sit down and write. I haven't read a book since before the babes were born. I like to do things for people, not because of any lame pay-it-back cult or anything like that. Just because I do. I am good at helping people, I listen, ponder, organise and solve. I do not like being reliant upon other people, as you cannot rely on other people. Nor is it right, just or fair that anyone should. each and every person has their own crap and life to deal with and it is not for us to foist ours upon others. And yet, that is where I find myself.

In fact, 'and yet...' pretty much sums up my experience of being a twin mum of four. I really dislike cars and driving and have managed four the last 30 years and two children to manage without needing to. And yet....public transport in Brisvegas does not cater to more than one child, and realistically even a single stroller is a stretch on pretty much all modes of transport, so I must drive. i think it's important to be involved at school, and yet...well you can guess how much time I have to put into the classroom. I think it's important all my children grow up with their parents playing music around them, and yet....i haven't opened my fiddle in yonks and the beautiful guitar I was given by a friend recently desperately needs nylons, another thing I never quite get around to doing. In fact this one is reprehensible. The more time I leave it, the more warped and twisted the neck will become as nylon guitars are not made for steel strings. I could go on and on and on,but that is pretty pointless and really only serves to rile me up. And soo, I bid my rant space adieu again, and will pretend I will get around to writing more frequently.

Twin Rants: 1

2008-07-30T11:23:00.001+10:00

PLEASE NOTE: If you are looking for coherence or logic you are definitely in the wrong place. Herein are the ill-conceived, desperate ramblings of a sleep deprived mother of four. I make no apologies for sentences that are three lines long or jumping from one thing to another with little continuity or logic. Check back in a few years time if that's what you are after.
TWINDATE: 4 wks 4 days
SANEDATE: 20 April 2008
INSANITY, Australia
A friend sent me a link to a blog called herveryown, the first post I came across is called "Twins: The Neglect Is Built In" Bless my beautiful friend, for she couldn't have known what brilliant timing that was. Allow me to elucidate...
But first - a brief word from our sponsors who would like to introduce themselves as: The Other Parenting Module - Baron Quinkin; The Bigyins - Tazzy Devil and Bouncing Bean; and the Lilyins - Booben Pea and Hurling Pod.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled rant.

We have survived (hardyharharhar) the first four weeks of twin parentdom. To quote a brilliant Aussie sketch show "I won't say it isn't hard, because it is. Bloody hard". Now don't get me wrong, I love them and truth be told - the good moments already out weigh the poo and sleep deprivation and screaming and so on. And yet, I find myself sitting here having gotten up in a fit of crank attempting to get five minutes to myself (mind you - HP is in her rocker at my feet, so it ain't exactly what I had in mind) wondering what on earth I have to do to get enough time to have a shower, go to the toilet and maybe sit for a minute or two without waiting for the cry, without being on alert for tiny two-leggeds. I have had 20 minutes away from them since we arrived back from hospital - in a dentists chair having a tooth pulled, and I am going bonkers.
We (okay - I) have made things kind of more difficult for myself in some respects by not adhering to the 'force them into the same routine' doctrine that seems to be all pervasive in twin parenting. This means the amount of time I spend feeding, burping, changing, playing and all the rest is basically double that of a singleton. We do do about one twin feed a day, but I try and make sure we don;t end up doing that in the middle of the night as we are co-sleeping and it would entirely defeat the purpose - ie me sleeping and getting to lie down. Poor little HP is refluxy, and loud with it. We spend many many hours being screamed at and headbutted whilst we try and encourage the pain making wind and acid to exit her little self somehow. Increasingly, I find myself falling back on the bottle - haven't had the time to express in the last couple of days and now of course everything needs sterilising again, but I digress. More and more I am happy to just shove a bottle of formula in the mouth of whoever is yelling - often both of them, just so I can have an hour pretty guaranteed - I prop bottles up for them, and then they often have a little sleep after and because they weren't on the breast I can leave them to sleep where they are, instead of playing Bouncing Babies. Most parents have encountered this game - they go to sleep after a feed or a burp, in your arms or on you, the very second you either a) put them down; or b) sit back down after having put them down - they wake up - grumpily. This grump requires another period of rocking/holding/feeding/walking or whatever is the magic combination for that particular babe, to get them back asleep and then, as they say: Lather, rinse repeat! This falling back on the bottle feels like a cop out to me as I have plenty of milk, they feed damn well and are no more settled on the bottle than the boob, but they simply aren't attached to me. My beautiful Bigyins are such wonderful, good, clever, helpful kids that I feel horrible each time I get tetchy or cranky with them, and sadly it feels like it's quite a bit. At 4 (BB) and 6 (TD) they are more helpful and self-sufficient than I would like, especially as I did a lot of parenting myself at young ages and am fiercely protective of my children's right to be children. They get their own breakfast and often lunch, help me feed the Lilyins, run interference on the Lilyins so I can go to the toilet and perform other basic human functions like washing clothes for the family, and eating myself in order to provide the hee--uuuge amount of calories I need to manufacture Boob Food. When I do get them to both go down at the same time for more than 10 minutes, all I can do is sit there like a stunned mullet waiting for them to awake again. Admittedly, this is after racing around and cramming in as many two second (AKA 5 minute) jobs as I can. Shove a load of washing in the machine, yank some out of the dryer and replace with another damp load, cram in some food - maybe even fetch the Bigyins that juice or food they can't fix themselves that they have been asking for for who knows how long this time.
And so it is that my friends link couldn't have come through at a more apt time. Not only is it another twin mum bucking the do it all at once trend, but she too (with only two) is feeling the mantle of general neglect settle on her shoulders. I mean, I gave up on keeping, or even occasionally obtaining, a tidy house long ago. BQ and I are both hoarders and the Bigyins are accordingly following suit, so we have what is becoming a hugely cluttered house. I have never had any illusions in that regard, but with four children and a need to feel like more than milky furniture, something is going to give somewhere. The feeling of neglect is creeping in on me. Adding to this is that often if BP is eating HP is choking on her own vomit or similar. They aren't really allowed rests on the Boob because their sibling needs whatever it is this time. Twins, as was noted on the aforementioned blog, come with the neglect built in. I know I am a competent parent. I have two bright and healthy other children, who so far have no lasting physical damage or emotional scarring (yet), but bloody hell - the Lilyins make me feel like an 8 year old parent, not 28; with no education - not a bachelors degree; and a complete lack of ability in any basic human regard, rather than a generally well turned out, functioning person.

I should add that minutes ago, BP awoke needing feeding and now he's on my shoulder for burpification, I notice there's a rather fruity smell and my arm is getting slightly damp. What does this mean? It means yay for me, no more single handed typing, it's time to battle breast/bottle combo nappies. Mmm mmm - yellow yoghurt - I'm so very lucky! And with that, I shall bid you all a temporary adieu. Stay tuned for the next instalment of twin rants - where coherence and reasonable sentence length go out the window as a skeletal food machine attempts catharsis through writing.

Welcome

2008-07-30T11:13:00.000+10:00

Hello and welcome to the home of Twin Rants and other Mental Musings by Mars, this being the first post I will be brief and simply bring you up to speed with little detail. that will come later. I am a degree educated mum of four (with the latter half of the four being twins - m/f), who is under 30 and made the decision to remain a SAHM at least whle the chldren a little. Unless something radical happens and my earning power exceeds my partners or he is injured, it will remain that way. I have various neuroses, overly strong morals and ethics and all manner of fun things to help complicate my life (don't we all!). I reside in Brisvegas in the big brown land on the arse of the world and wouldn't live anywhere else right now. I am a violin player, avid reader and general pain in the arse and look forward to ranting and raving my opinions and whinges to the ether. If you've stumbled upon it Hi! have fun, I hope you come again, regularity ain't my thing though so expect sporadic posts and rambling writings.