Richard Who?

I have been asked about Richard Coyle.
Well, firstly, this is him:

So what has he been in?

Well he is best known as Jeff in the brilliantly funny "Coupling" as written by Steven ("Are you my Mummy?") Moffat, author of some of the best recent Doctor Who episodes (Empty Child, Girl in the Fireplace, Blink) and is tipped as Russell T Davies' eventual successor.

Plus, he took the title role in "Strange" an overlooked spooky show (British X-files) which a number of Doctor Who production staff worked on. This is as well as numerous other roles on stage and screen both comedy and drama.

Why do I think Richard Coyle for Doctor Eleven? He is known, but not too well known. He has a proven record performing work by authors such as Steven Moffat. He is not Rhys Ifans. He looks nothing like Christopher Eccleston or David Tennant.

But if I really had a choice, could David Tennant stay forever - please!

Don't mind me, I'm squee-ing!

Squee! Squee! Squee!
The RSC have finally confirmed what has been suspected. David Tennant will be in rep in Stratford from July to November next year. He'll be in Hamlet, playing against Patrick Stewart's Claudius and Love Labour's Lost as Berowne.

The screaming Doctor Who fan girl is torn. As suspected David Tennant will complete his three years in the role (following the "Rule of Troughton") which means she was right. Hurrah! But, she is utterly bereft at the loss of the only Doctor she has found attractive (alright, I admit, its a huge crush). Sob!
The campaign for Richard Coyle as Doctor Eleven starts here....

However, the slightly more cultured fan girl, who has been missing her regular Stratford trips, is ecstatic, and already planning several visits next summer, as well as RSC membership. Squee!

Yet with both the Captain of the Enterprise and the Last of the Time Lords in attendance next summer, what Stratford really needs is a sci-fi convention. I can just see all the daleks and klingons in Bancroft Gardens.

Knickerbocker Glory

Well, Darling Girl has had a lovely morning with her nan.

Meanwhile, I met my dear friend and jobshare back at work to see what the builders had done to our room.
We were only allowed a few hours from 8.30 am, since the only available keyholder needed to leave at 11am.

Did you know that it is possible to put a door in the wrong place? Admittedly, it opens into the correct space, and not a brick wall, but it isn't where we asked it to be placed, nor where A was told it would be fitted. Plus all the electrics that had been fixed in May were redone and our computers' sockets have been moved as well. I did only say sockets, not the actual hardware. So I started my morning moving and wiring and booting up machines, whilst A looked for missing blinds and cleaned the windows. Then we both moved on to furniture moving.
Tomorrow we might actually do what we are paid to do!


Today I also paid my first visit to the foot/ankle rehab clinic. A sort of post-physio physio. Rather than one-to-one physio, this is a Wednesday afternoon drop-in session to strengthen muscles and damaged tissue. I wasn't sure what to think when yet again I was told how unusual a broken navicular is! I will need to negotiate attendance at the rehab with the Boss since it is only on a Wednesday.
Altogether now: They tried to let me go to rehab, but she said "No! No! No!"


But best of all today, this afternoon I took Darling Girl to the icecream parlour. One of the things that went wrong on our Welsh holiday was she never got to have her promised Knickerbocker Glory. So we had it today.

The bloke who served us was really lovely to her as she chose her ice cream flavours (strawberry, apricot and smartie) and let her watch him adding fruit and cream. Her eyes were like saucers when she saw the flakes and extra strawberries.

We met up with A and her girls, and they enjoyed ice cream treats as well, but I don't think anyone has ever enjoyed an ice cream as much as Darling Girl (even with mum having her own spoon for an occasional mouthful) savoured her very first Knickerbocker Glory.

Just a bowl of...

...tomatoes!

And homegrown, organic cherry tomatoes too!

We have waited so long for them to turn red, but tasty enough to be worth the wait!

Key Chaos

Oh, did we have fun yesterday? I don't think so.


Darling Girl spent Friday into Saturday with her grandparents whilst Hub and I just chilled (it had been a long traffic jam from Trentham Gardens) with beer, an indian take out and a good film ("Good Night, and Good Luck" if you are interested). A really relaxed evening and Saturday morning and then before the Cup Final I went to collect Darling Girl. Hub lifted the booster seat from his car and that was the last either of us saw his car and house keys.


All was well until Sunday morning. Hub was ready to do the weekly shop whilst Darling Girl and I went to tidy and re-organise her room - a major operation! But no sign of his car keys. All the ususal places were searched. No sign.

All the unusal places were searched. No sign.
So the questions start. When did you last see them? What did you do?
Check the car. It is unlocked.

Panic.

Hub remembers he went in the garage. So he goes to hunt through the garage. Darling Girl and I hunt around the living room and kitchen; opening cupboards and lifting out furniture. No sign of any keys, but everywhere is getting thoroughly cleaned and sorted.

More panic.

Darling Girl has a party to go to and Hub has promised to help his parents but we daren't all leave the house whilst there is a key missing.
I have visions of burglars raiding our house and loading Hub's car with the loot!

Darling Girl and I go to the party. Hub has to re-arrange. Hub and I are feeling quite stressed and words are exchanged that make our wallpaper rows tame. We leave for a party as Hub starts to search the wheelie bin.

The party hosts are kind, and let me leave Darling Girl so I can do the grocery shopping.


After a couple of hours (and then some) Darling Girl and I arrive home.
The key is still missing, but our bedroom and dining room are immaculate. The entire house and both cars have been emptied, quite methodically, but all for no avail. There is no sign of the keys.


There is nothing else for it. We will have to change the door lock. My dad did it for us last time and the locksmith's will not be open until Tuesday. And as for the cost of replacing the car locks...

I am sad, angry and worried. So I storm out into the garden. I admit to slamming a door. Whilst I am out there I start to bring in the washing. The basket is outside and the pegbag hanging on the line. I lift the bag to move it and there is a metallic noise. What is it? The keys!

How did they get in there? Either when Hub brought out the peg bag I'd forgotten to take out with me as he was ready to go shopping. Or when he brought in some washing the day before and put the pegs in his pocket, and dumping then in the bag as he got inside. The keys have been hanging on the washing line all day. So much for our methodical searching.

All's well that ends well! And no divorce! And no new locks!
And the house looks really tidy.

Monkey Forest

Years ago Trentham Gardens was a derelict park with a grotty conference centre. Hub and I went for some event and wandered about the neglected garden and thought it was sad. Then, a few months ago a couple of the Chorley Crop girls mentioned "Monkey Forest" at Trentham Gardens. So, today, the last Friday of the school holidays (for me!) and since Hub had a day off we went to find out about Monkey Forest for ourselves.

The woodland is now a sanctuary for bearded macaque apes, breeding the species to re-introduce them into the wilds of Morocco. The actual home of the apes is fenced off, but there are no other fences or wires. The apes can come close, and wander on the path with you.


Darling Girl had a great time. She was wide-eyed at the nearness of the apes and entrancd by the babies, one was only three days old. Unfortunately, she is only 5, her highlight was one very young monkey urinating on another to try and get a piece of carrot! "If you don't give me that carrot - I'll wee on you!" And then helpless giggling, which spread to the crowd around her.

With a picnic included in our day, we didn't have enough time to make the cost of visiting the gardens worthwhile, but we did managed to have coffee (Hub) and ice creams (choc and melon - guess who had what?) for Darling Girl and I on a little terrace overlooking the lake with enough of a view of the improved gardens. We wandered around some of the shops and will definitely be visiting again.

Photographer's note Click on this image to enlarge it, and you will see that both female apes are cuddling a three day old baby.

Love/Hate

Apparently, a few weeks ago, Elton John wanted to get rid of the internet. And a part of me has felt this way as well for a week or so. And its just down to one person. How can one person I have never met (sorry, I met her once a few years ago and she was just down right rude to myself and a friend) get under my skin just by typing? I wonder does she deliberately go out to press all my "wind up buttons"? Or is she just a complete egotist in need of her self -esteem massaging at all times?
So having been driven out of a forum where I felt supported, and, hopefully did some supporting in return.
I hate the internet.
And I hate it because, somehow it has increased the amount of work I do. How did that happen? Emailing planning. Spending hours trying to hunt down the perfect resource and then finally making it myself. Instant access to the latest government initiative.

Grrrrrrrrrr.

I think I feel better now.
Wait! I can't hate the internet. It has just made me feel better!

So why do I love the internet?

1) The immediacy...the speed in which I can communicate to friends around the world.
2) Radio 2 on "Listen Again" ...otherwise I would not hear Radcliffe and Maconie.
3) Blogging...love to write, love to read, love to be nosey about others!
4) Finding that "perfect" resource!
5) Photo printing...
6) All the friends I have met online. And better than that, the best ones are friends IRL and I am so grateful for their support, laughter and friendship.

So Sir Elton is wrong, I think I can cope with the internet!

Home from the park

...after a hard afternoon's playing in the park.

If they had had a starbucks in the park when I was little, I'm sure my mum would have taken me more often!

A lovely afternoon with Pol and her two. Darling Girl and I had a great time. She made the most of running and playing and climbing and more running and the ice creams. Whilst I enjoyed hot choc and a proper chat with my dear friend the first in a fortnight!

And yes, it really was a starbucks! In a park! In Widnes!

The cost of uniform

Yes, its that time of the summer holidays, getting new uniform.
I had an idea that last year's autumn/winter uniform no longer fitted, but when Darling Girl tried it on this morning I was horrified by how much she had grown. At least 3 inches... But we had tears. Her favourite grey pinafore dress is way too small. She was heartbroken. We had to have a cuddle and a talk and find out about any Y1 worries. None fortunately, but she is keen to be back at school.

So we attacked Tesco this morning: 2 grey pinafore dresses in different styles; 5 pairs of knee-length socks; 5 white vests; 2 packs of 3 white polo shirts (now aged 4-5); and a two-pack of skirts. Total cost £28. Then due to a mix up with a voucher I had another £5 deducted. Her school cardigans still fit, so apart from shoes, she is kitted out for school until next May for the grand total of £23.

And then I felt guilty. I won't deny that only spending £23 on uniform is really good for Hub and I. It helps our finances. We aren't the wealthiest people we know (nor the poorest) but the cost was a relief.
But at what cost did it come? We are so lucky living here in this country, wealthier and with better opportunities than so many other people in the world. What did my daughter's uniform cost them? Do they have a living wage? Do their children go hungry? I bet they don't blog. Are their children educated? Are they children? What would £23 mean to the person who made my daughter's school pinafore dress?

Hub and I have talked about this. We can't do anything this month, but we are determined to give something back. We already sponsor a child, a boy in Ghana, through ActionAid and we would encourage anyone who can afford to do so to sponsor a child as well. But we are determined to do more and to give more and maybe some of it will get back to the child whose parents made my daughter's cheap uniform.

Makeover!

My blog has had a makeover, just in time for its second year!!

Big, huge, enormous "Thank you" to Scrappyfairy aka Sarah Jane who has well and truly done me up a treat!
She has even made me blue!

http://www.scrappyfairy.blogspot.com/
Here is her blog if you would like to have a peep at what she is up to!

A final holiday pic...

..or three! These have to be some of my favourite photos ever, taken on the beach at Porthcawl, about an hour after arriving to start our holiday.

Happy Birthday to Blog

Chaos Theory is one year old today.
So after 274 posts, this one is 275, I am thinking why do I blog?

I know I link to craft sites but Chaos Theory was never intended to be a crafty blog or an inspiration one. I can go elsewhere for those. I know I link to sci-fi sites too, but my life is more than just craft and sci-fi.

Chaos Theory is the longest I have ever kept any form of continuous diary and I am quite pleased with that achievement. I think perhaps that it isn't pages in a book means that missing a day doesn't stand out and make me guilty.

Chaos Theory is here because I like writing and to be a good writer I need to practice everyday, to improve my style and to become a better typist.
I do try not to moan, I try to keep it light and I apologise for whenever any darkness creeps in.

But the main reason I blog to keep in touch with far flung friends and family, so they know what Darling Girl, Hub and I are up to and how we are living and how our girl is growing. It is a chatty place. Some of my visitors leave messages, some email, some phone and some tell me when when they see me - and the feedback is flattering. Thanks for being a part of this.

Thank you all for reading, and I'll get round to giving Chaos Theory a banner for the second year.

Thanks again.

Heritage

I took Darling Girl to the glass museum yesterday. It is somewhere she has asked to go and aremed with my free child ticket I decided to brave taking her. The museum is somewhere I have got to know well on numerous school trips, but taking my own daughter really made me aware of my own history and heritage.
It just made me realise that I am a proud northerner. Seeing some of the filmshows and knowing that my home town is a coal town/glass town made me even prouder. One Grandad worked at the glass bottle factory, repairing machinery; an example of which is on prominent display in a gallery. I told Darling Girl that it was one her own Great Grandad had mended. My other Grandad was a miner. Neither of them would be able to find work in this town if alive today, and that makes me desperately sad. They were dirty, horrible, thankless jobs but both men were respectable and not afraid of hard work and proud to support their families and community. And maybe it is the lack of a work ethic that turns people lazy and stops them caring about those around them, including their own families.
Admittedly I have been off work with a broken foot and my own northern, protestant work ethic, drummed into me by both parents and their parents has been hurting - frustrated at being stifled. I know next term will be tough but a large part of me is ready for the challenge (a tiny bit wants to run away and hide!).
But I know both my Grandads would have been proud of me. I am the first from either side to go to university and graduate, which is something they could have only dreamed of, to leave behind the factory and the pit and the dead-end job to have a career. I am so lucky but my heritage has given me the ability to do this and to be grateful for it.

This time last week...

...back to Cardiff and goodbyes to Porthcawl.

We had a proper wander around proper Cardiff, as opposed to Cardiff Bay. A really great shopping centre with a mix of chains and small independents. Clean and plenty of places to sit (needed with an ex-broken foot). Plus a castle on the main street! Yet again we think Liverpool could learn a lot from Cardiff ready for Capital of Culture next year. Of course, we don't think they could conjure up a castle but all that redevelopment must be for something.

No photos of farewells to Cardiff but as we usually take Monker on holiday, here he is with Darling Girl saying goodbye to Porthcawl Beach.

We really liked this part of South Wales and we are sure we will be back! There is so much we didn't see, and next time we will have to try to get further west. But one thing is for sure, we won't be going back to those awful caravans.

This time last week: Southerndown Beach.

I confess, I did have an ulterior motive for visiting this beach. It is known to millions as Bad Wolf Bay, where the Doctor said goodbye to Rose.

Luckily it was across the bay from the beach at Porthcawl, so Hub didn't mind going - and aren't we so glad that we went. Although Porthcawl Beach was lovely and clean with interesting rock pools, Southerndown was even better. We found a lovely spot, easy to get to the sea, between some rocks, with enough sand for castles and our own rock pool. Even though there were planty of people on the beach it wasn't overcrowded. Idyllic. We had a few perfect hours there.

Quite right too!

This time last week: St Fagan's

C and C, and our neighbour, recommended that we visit St Fagan's Museum of Welsh Life - and we are so pleased we went. Not only was it used for a couple of Doctor Who locations, but it really was a great day out. We arrived not long after opening, stayed until almost closing and still didn't see everything.
The highlight for Hub was the Bakery and the barra brith.
My highlight was the water mill with the flour (and the location spotting)
Darling Girl's highlights were the 1920s sweetshop - complete with sugar mice, and the dressing up clothes. Isn't she a sweet Victorian?

This time last week: Cardiff Bay

A rainy day forecast so we went to Cardiff. Of course we had to visit the Doctor Who exhibition, which meant we were in the Cardiff Bay area. A real location spotting day. We got Darling Girl to shout for Captain Jack by the (switched off) fountain or Torchwood Tower. As well as the rain Hub and Darling Girl had to contend with my bad foot playing up, meaning I couldn't walk far or fast, so we just stayed in the Bay area. We really liked the Millenium Centre (the giant art-doll exhibition was interesting) and we went into the Assembly building too.

What we learned from our holidays.

I haven't told the whole story of the holiday yet. Basically location and area and beaches were fantastic. The accomodation was vile.

I had agonised over where to book, unable to find anything independent in the area, so we decided to go for a mobile home park, seeing that there would be facilities for Darling Girl if it rained. When we saw Trecco Beach on a episode of Coast - we should have cancelled then.

As soon as we opened the door the smell of stale cigarettes hit us. This was despite phoning to book so we could state we needed a non-smoking unit (because of Darling Girl). But apparently it was a non-smoking unit, only all the previous users had ignored this. Everytthing reeked of stale cigarette from the carpets to the matresses to the curtains to the upholstery. I made my first complaint within a hour! I wanted to go home - it was that awful. We were prepared for the small size, but not the nearness of the other caravans - no privacy, and well, maybe I have become a snob... so I won't go into any further descriptions.

I complained again about the smell on the first morning, after a sleepless night (after requesting clean smoke free bed linen). No chance of a move from the caravan, but to help get rid of the smell, it would be cleaned again. So then we were faced with the odour of wet carpet on top of the smell of stale cigarette. It was rank. So I complained again. They could change our caravan the following day but there was no guarantee that it wouldn't smell of cigarette and we would have to stay in waiting for the call to move. Not a chance. I was not going to waste a day of this long-awaited holiday on the offchance they could find us a caravan that did not smell.

So we used the caravan as a place to sleep (after another bedlinen change) and a place to store our things whislt we went out and about enjoying the rest of our holiday. And we did! The Vale of Glamorgan and the rest of the area is beautiful with lovely, clean beaches. We will be going back.

So I have been firing off emails and letters to both Hoseseasons and Parkdean and I'll have to see how far it gets me. But if they offer us a holiday at one of their parks, I'll be turning it down!

This time last week: The Gower

A warm but windy day at The Worm's Head. And then off to the Gower Heritage Centre to meet sheep, card wool, eat ice cream and try pottery!

United Colours of Crocs

No, it isn't some mad shoe convention, its the Chorley Crop girls at Wez's house showing off our crocs. Unfortunately two grown ups missing from the main picture; one had to leave before the sun began to shine; and, the other didn't wear her crocs! But even the children could join in our croc circle!

Thanks to Helen for the group photo and to Ste for taking it!

Home

So we are now home from our South Wales adventure.

The photos need to be uploaded, the washing needs to be done and the sand has to be washed off our crocs.
But in a brief:
1) Darling Girl had a fabulous time.
2) We will never be staying in a caravan park -again!
3) South Wales has beautiful beaches.
4) Caravans smell.
5) Hub and I love Cardiff.

but

6) We didn't find David Tennant.

Better stories and photos later this week - promise!

These make me smile

Sorry for being so down.

Here are a few things that make me smile!

And the fact that I am now allowed to drive again!

Two Appointments

First of all at 9am my GP decided I was fit to drive. Hurrah!

Secondly. I had to wait three hours to see the gynae consultant. The first hour and a half in the waiting room, the second in the consulting room, surrounded by contented baby photos and happy sibling photos and a feeling of impending doom. I was on my own since Hub was with Darling Girl, now too old to come to these consultations (too many awkward questions) and I read my magazine several times.

Well, as Hub and I had started to work out for ourselves, the news was not positive. I am only allowed four cycles of the higher strength tamoxifen, and have had one already. And then that's it, the end of the line. There is nothing else I can do or try. We sort of knew that this news was coming, but to hear it said out loud by the lovely miracle worker who has helped us so much already makes it so final.

So I go back to see him in April with one of two outcomes: either pregnant with our long awaited second child; or, prepared to end our infertility journey.

All the World's a...

...circle journal!

I'm hosting a circle journal on UKS with a Shakepeare theme. This is my first time as a host and I am a little nervous - hoping I have passed on correct addresses and such. I'm so lucky since all the participants are experienced and talented crafters - with a love of literature - so I shouldn't need to worry at all.
I completed my cover last night as well as making a good start on sign-in tags and my own entry. My theme is Shakepeare's Women and I have taken inspiration from the weird and wonderful art dolls which seem to be popping up everywhere.
I have so enjoyed creating this cover. Since breaking my foot this is the first sustained and detailed project I have been able to complete...and it feels good! I have used UTEE in my melting pot, push moulds, stampbord, ribbons, jems and perfect pearls.

So here is my cover...off to crop-a -dile the holes in it now!

Play Days

Weren't the summer holidays wondrous things when you were that age? Three friends having fun: chalking, skipping, tug of war, sand, swings, houses and hula hoops.

What else do you need?