Photos inside and out at Wollaton Hall

Max recovering from another "rolling session" while Nick and Ben are deep in conversation. Yes Nick is sporting the latest accessory of the 49 year old male - a walking stick - a little scary me thinks dear! Ben, from obvious body language, is freezing cold with duffle coat and zip top completely open to a very thin white vest! Plonker!
Rolling down the hill.

Max and elephant skull.

Max and puma "Can I take him home to show Sparky" (our long suffering pet cat).

The Armstrongs go out for an afternoon together (yes all 4 of us!)

Today we all went to Wollaton Hall sited in Wollaton Park. We have been going to the Park ever since Ben was little (as they have wild stags and deers roaming around) but we have never been inside the Hall where we have discovered a museum which was FREE, even better. (We've only lived in Nottingham about 26 years!) The above photo was taken of Max rolling down the hill after we had been around the Museum which was full of Natural History mostly being stuffed wild animals, skeletons, skulls, insects and fossils. Max loved it and we were all inside in the warm as it was freezing cold today and as much as I like the fresh air it was nice to warm up.

Dad's (Grandad's) Birthday

The above picture is Dad outside in our back garden (this is a loose description as it rather looks like 'Steptoes back yard at the moment) with Max on the 'space rocket' ready to fly to Saturn. Grandad, as you can see, is about to board the vessel with the vital equipment of cigarettes and flying hat whilst being given orders from Max that he (Grandad) was the 'specialist' on the rocket on the journey to Saturn and Grandad replied that he would be using his 'specialist' skills to maintain and run the bar aboard the space rocket! Off they flew, only returning for red wine and orange squash - don't need to tell you whose was whose!!

Have been very busy and also not particularly inspired to write about stuff for the last week or so. Dad celebrated his 78th birthday at our house on 23rd January and have enclosed photos for you all to see. We had the usual beef stew and dumplings with loads of vegetables etc and of course a birthday cake that I found the recipe for in a magazine. Well when I say birthday cake I mean just cake really! The special ingredients were rhubarb and custard, the rhubarb being fresh and the custard being powder. Anyway the vote went 50/50 with myself, Dad and Max not liking it and Nick, Ben and Valerie wanting more. Dad said Valerie was just being polite but if anyone knows my dad they'll know this was just a little jibe and hopefully the large piece I gave them to take home was eaten by one of them. Without going on any more about this cos I'm beginning to feel people already glazing over, I won't be baking that recipe again.

It was nice to see.......

It was nice to see the paths and roads for a change as well as being able to walk around outside without thinking I may fall over. Nothing much to report from the Armstrong camp at the moment as we have been getting on with school and work as usual and the weekend is nearly over. Have enclosed a photograph of the wood burning stove, unlit but, looking lovely.


The next photo is from Saturday of Max devouring pancakes with freshly squeezed oranges and sprinkling of sugar. Delicious, we both had 2 each, and highly nutritional! The last photograph is of Max, today, in the back garden setting up traps on his climbing frame! Rather a serious face though; deep in thought. Night, Night from Magic Janey and the Clan.

Black ice, booties, no school, altercations, escaping and Caz and Gaz Wedding date!

Please note the lovely photograph of our delightful youngest boy! Do not be fooled; he is a little g*t! (many stars may appear in my blogs over the next blogging; firstly because my mother will be reading this and secondly because there is a need for it).

Max's school was closed today, black ice etc. The school, being very up-to-date, sent a text message (at 07.04am) informing me of the fact but me being not so very up-to-date and probably a bit busy didn't bother to read it until 5 minutes before we were due to leave. This was no great shakes as we almost live opposite the school. Max, of course, was delighted with lots of whoops of pleasure and "yes, yes, yes" whilst punching skinny arms in the air. This initial joy rapidly diminished when I informed him a trip to the supermarket was needed. Max, like most boys, does not like shopping in fact I would go so far to say he hates it. Anyway, after a few words, the T.V. was put on while mummy started her 'maid' duties (pockets frisked for memory sticks etc!) and told him we would go in a bit. Max was in a difficult mood and very quickly the morning quickly declined in to one of several 'altercations' (Mum/Grandma knows about these). He quickly decides he's going outside, coat, hat and wellies on, then backpack from his room + a blanket, he's decided he's leaving home and tells me "I'll need a blanket for when I'm sleeping on the streets and I'll need a bowl to get money from people too." Great, he's already learnt about the welfare system in the U.K. that's my boy! Calling his bluff I wish him farewell, this is not the first time he's done this so I play along - you know what I mean. Off he trots out the back door and into the back garden where we are surrounded by several other back gardens and the only real escape route is blocked by a pointed topped wooden gate (always locked) that's over 6ft high in someone else's driveway. After a few minutes he's already been and come back, but not before dropping his furry hat (which he'll probably use for begging) and his blanket into next doors garden, over he goes head first over their fence, retrieving the fallen goods and he's back again. Through the house, out the front door, and off he goes, by this stage I'm outside, still calm (and for those who know me this is no mean feat) he's already coming back and I casually suggest he probably needs a few provisions that we can buy in Morrisions if we go now. The journey to the car from our front door is the real test. We get to the car, 2 seconds gone, and he's gone, this time really gone. I go down the path, and next doors and the other next doors, I walk up the road. I start to call him, our neighbours over the road come out, are you looking for Max? (everyone around us knows him - infamous Armstrong hooligan) He went that way pointing the opposite to where I was going, off I go again, 5, 10 minutes, still no Max. The neighbours husband comes out, asks if I want any help, forever the independent woman I say "Oh no, he always comes back" very convincing, not. Another 5, 10 minutes, my Max calling is now getting a little strained I'm asking several people if they've seen a six year old, orange coat, front teeth missing, am now thinking "Sh*t, this is silly". Back I go to the house, running now I can see Rob the neighbour with the little monkey and he's having to man handle the little g*t so he won't run away. Once profuse thanks were given to our neighbours, I shoved him in the car and read out the riot act. I'm surprised family in Lincoln didn't hear me!! For family far away, the escapologist or Houdini has done this before, our holiday in Wales was a nightmare as he was still a pretty, blond curly haired bundle of naughtiness then being only 2 when he disappeared for nearly half an hour and was found half way up the mountainside talking to some chickens - all the residents in the local b&b's were out looking for him and we were minutes away from a police call. Anyway I digress, this was the start to my day off work and it was not a great one. Once we had got back from the shopping trip and had lunch I started to bake a cake which will not do anything for the muffin top thing but made me feel a lot better!

Taking of black ice I nearly fell on my booty yesterday, the path was extremely slippery, which reminds me that I properly hurt my booty (coccyx) at school 6 weeks ago. I went to sit down on a chair to play the piano at school (obviously in a Les Dawson manner) and missed the chair, wow that bl**dy hurt, several friends came to my aid - not that they could lift me (slight lie I don't quite weight 15 stone yet but if I keep eating the cake I've made .... enough, enough) . Couple of visits to the doctors, no sympathy at home, My walking stance was one of someone who had pooed themself, not an attractive sight in anyone over 2 years old! Spoke to my Dad and after a little bit of empathy (he'd done the same a couple of years ago, infact nearly every one, I tried to bore with my sore bottom tale - no pun intended, had a story to tell about their coccyx) said to me "did the kids cheer when you fell down?" thanks Dad!!

Brilliant News in: Carole and Gary have set a date for the wedding - 30 October 2010.

I've been set a task already by my minnie but mighty lil' sis - "You're doing the wedding favours", I haven't a clue what these are. I did ask her but she told me to "google it". Little sisters have no respect for their elder sisters. I do seem to recall her task during my wedding day which was to do with scowling for the whole day (yes, I know you were only 16 Carole but the whole flipping day) a marvellous and endearing Corthorn trait to which any of my dad's side the family will be fully aware of. Our eldest son Ben is a particularly good scowler this trait having leapt over his mother and landed on him. I've also been informed I'll be a bridesmaid - wow - long dress and waistline needed - help - somebody hide the cake. Is there an age limit for bridesmaids, it seems such a dated term, am I not too old? Perhaps 'old maid' or just 'maid' as I am referred to in the Armstrong residence. Mums, grannies, aunties, sisters, basically all the girls, will already be hat and dress shopping and have begun to think about the colour co-ordinations, flowers, hair styles, shoes, bags ....... all men visiting my blog will now, if not already, have fallen into a deep coma only to wake up if the words FOOTBALL, BOSOMS, FARTS or COMPUTERS are mentioned. Good night! P.S. fellas get your wallets at the ready!

The Family and Various Important Events Since September 2009

Ben on his 18th Birthday with me and Nick and lil' bro' Max and next
photo Dad, Valerie and Mum.

Last year there were several significant birthdays. Both Ben and Max have birthdays in October (just a week apart) Ben having his 18th birthday and Max turning 6 years old this year. Valerie also had a special birthday in October - her 70th and in November Mum celebrated her 70th too.

This photo above was taken in September when Uncle Bill (working in Nepal) and Cousin Nev (now stationed in Germany) came over to visit for a few weeks to the UK. Nev and Sylvia are recent proud parents to a baby boy called Joost and my Uncle Bill in now a Grandad. Congratulations! I must say having not really studied this photograph before, now I have, I honestly think that all of the Armstrong boys in this photograph look a little unhinged - maybe it is my photography - Scary boys!

In September we all started back at either school, 6th form and college. Nick, poor man, not having the luxury of the whole 6 weeks summer holidays with his boys, was at work for 5 out of the 6 taking just a week off with me and Max in Staithes (North Yorks Coast). It is the third year that I have had the "Macmillan Coffee Morning" at home and yet again it proved to be a lovely morning. The day was warm and sunny and we had a really good turn-out, lots of tea, coffee and cake with Mum and Valerie helping me with the drinks and baking cakes etc. Thanks to all my family, friends and neighbours we raised 60 pounds (sorry Ben's computer does not have a pound sign!)

Memory sticks, becoming a radio 4 listener,(I once was a punk rocker), toasting nuts and much more

Ben and Max left alone with the digital camera ....


and again.

On Saturday I managed to wash and tumble dry Ben's memory stick (which at the time I assumed was full of his 'A' level course work). I discovered this when I retrieved the dried clothes from the tumble dryer which had, when I come to think about it, been making quite a loud clunking/scratching noise. As per usual I ignored this noisy machine as the usual culprits are buttons, small change and/or pound coins (always pocketed by the maid!) and the ever-robust Lego. Oh dear! Nick assured me that memory sticks are extremely durable gadgets and in experiments done to test their durability after having been blown-up by a small bomb, with the casing possibly being ruined, the information stored has been left intact! I think he told me this to reassure me but not until Ben had tried it in his computer ,and found it was O.K., did I breathe a sigh of relief. Do 18 year old males need reminding to remove any items that may be in their jeans pockets yes they bloody do!

I am going to admit to it, yes, I have become a radio 4 listener. I love the voices, enjoy the interesting articles and debates, love the plays even sometimes listen to the Archers HELP! Anyone who knew me as a youth will know that this would have made my toes curl to have known that this is what I would be listening to in my 40's! Oh how time flies! As a black plastic bag wearing punk rocker teenager listening to anything other than Siouxsie and the Banshees, Kate Bush, the Clash, the Jam (I still love Paul Weller even though his hair styles are a bit fancy for a fella), Sex Pistols, the Damned and the Buzzcocks stuff, would have been out of the question. Well lets face it when we were in our teens you thought 24 was old. In fact this is just how our 18 year old thinks now and of course mum and dad never had a life and have always been 40+!! I can still appreciate Arctic Monkeys even though I'm old enough to be their mummy. Even old people like me can appreciate a bit of fast and furious!! Mmmm! Have not quite slumped into the comfy waist band slacks, slippers and pipe yet!

Our wood burning stove is proving to be fabulous, not only does it look good and feel warm and cosy but it can also toast nuts! Steady Jane, Oh yes, the aged Armstrongs of Nottingham can often be found of a winter's evening toasting nuts on the wood burning stove - delicious! With the foul and freezing weather we are having at the moment it has been very lurvely to warm our toes whilst sipping a glass of sherry or port particularly over Christmas. The bad weather gave me another day off school last week and, as I only work half a week, only went in one day!! Sadly Max's school was still open (yippee) and Nick of course, having fought at Dunkirk in the second world war battled through the ice and snow to get to work to keep us all in the luxurious manner we are all accustomed to!! You would think he was to only person keeping the U.K. going last week. Never mind dear. Ben went to school 1 day and then had ear ache which kept him home until the end of the week when he made a miraculous recovery enabling him to attend an 18th Birthday party until 3am thanks to the amazing medicinal properties of Lager!

Self Service Library. Tank tops and Muffin tops!

Week before Xmas:
Nick, me, Nana(June), Ben, Jack, Dad,
Mum, Max and Valerie.

Max on Xmas morning!

Over the xmas break I took our youngest son to the library to return about 10 overdue books and possibly take out a couple more. We were met by the latest waste of our council tax - 2 'self service' machines. These were 5 ft high metal boxes with scanners and buttons on the front of them. For those of you familiar with this latest technological advance please accept my apologies for my lack of technological know-how (something my long suffering family have to put with on a daily basis). The two librarians, who used to be behind a desk with a computer and date stamp to hand, were on this day helping everyone with this latest 'invention'. When asked, by myself, whose idea this was, I was given the answer that someone in the county council at head office had the idea. This will supposedly cut down on man hours, probably costing several thousand pounds each, and alot more expensive than two helpful librarians. The thing is I want a person to stamp mine and Max's books, I want to see ink being pressed from the inkpad onto the inside cover full of dates, I want to talk to library people about the books I've read, about to read or order etc. " When am I going to know when to bring the books back", I asked, after we had chosen a few books, scanned them (you can do this in piles now!) I realised I didn't have a date stamp. Another button was pressed and out came a receipt, about the same size as a store till receipt. Great, now another piece of paper scrunched up in my overflowing purse, not overflowing with twenty and ten pounds notes I might add but mixed up with other receipts that I shove in their on an almost daily basis.

The Xmas break has been a stretch, not just for the old bank balances but for my ever expanding waist, if this is really an apt description, for my mid-drift that appears to be drifting every where but IN. I blamed my swelling stomach on a change of 'pill' but after talking to my little sister Carole, blunt but truthful talking prevailed- it must be all the little extras I had been nibbling over the festive season. Surely not I exclaimed, bread sauce, cranberry sauce, turkey, brussel sprouts, roast potatoes and stuffing in a sandwich several times after xmas day cannot be the reason for this bloating! Never! In the sales I bought several pairs of skinny jeans in all manner of denim and the like fabrics, oh dear, skinny was not the reflection that greeted me in the full length mirror in our bedroom - I have discovered 'Muffin Top' and it is not a pretty sight! Another thing I have discovered is the tank top. These not only keep you warm (old lady talking) but can help to cover up the middle area. Enough said.