This is the last one, I promise. Well, until I accidentally go and buy some more apps.

I have no idea why each of my three categories has 9 applications – it wasn’t intentional. I was obviously very balanced in my app hunt.

Anyway, I categorise these as “frivolous” apps – they don’t really have a useful application, and they’re not immersive like a game. They’re clever… or pretty… or just show off the interface well.

Bubbles – Free

A fun little app where you can create bubbles by touching the screen, watch them fall or pop them. It was designed to keep the creator’s toddler amused and serves its purpose well!

iBonsai – £0.59

Not a terribly interactive application – it “grows” a unique digital bonsai tree. You’re supposed to be able to influence the growth by touching the screen, but I can’t see that it makes that much difference. At the end, a shake of the iPhone/iPod Touch will shake the leaves off the tree.

It is a beautifully designed application though and is very therapeutic and relaxing to watch.

iLuvBubbles – £0.59

Another bubble application, this one released for Valentine’s day. Placing your fingers on the screen changes the nature of the bubbles, sometimes changing them into little hearts, other times changing them into mini globes. It’s quite cute, but not something I’m going to keep coming back to.

iPint – Free

A brilliant app which still makes me smile! Designed as an advert for Carling, you have to manoeuvre a pint along various obstacles along the bar before you’re rewarded with a “pint” of your own which you can pretend to drink and watch it disappear out of the glass as you tip the device. Very clever and a great “show off” application to demo to friends.

Koi Pond – £0.59

Finally, I get to share with you the best app I bought. It’s very simple, but very elegant and is fascinating to interact with.

It’s a pond, with koi carp in it. You can specify what colour to have the pond, how many fish and plants you want in it and what ambient sounds you would like. You can have a thunderstorm with raindrops making ripples on the pond.

Touching the screen has the effect of “dabbling” your fingers, and it sounds and looks exactly like you just put your fingers in water. Initially this scares the fish, but leave your finger there and they’ll come to investigate, “nudging” your finger. You can also feed them by shaking the iPhone/iPod Touch to add food into the water.

I can play with this for ages, it’s very relaxing. Best 59p I’ve ever spent!

Lightsaber Unleashed – Free

Very silly, but who doesn’t want their own lightsaber? Realistic sounds of lightsaber clashes, and you can even have Star Wars music to accompany your epic battles.

MiniPiano – Free

Just as you’d expect by the name – it turns the screen into a mini piano – a single octave, to be precise! Fun little application, if a little limited. Is nice to be able to pick out a tune though!

Zen of Snow – Free

This is technically a Christmas application, but I like snow. In particular, I like those big old fashioned snow globes, and this app gives you a Christmassy scene which you can shake to create a flurry of sparkly snow. It’s lovely!

Virtual Zippo Lighter – Free

Ever been in a concert and wanted to join in with swaying lighters but then realised you don’t own a lighter? No, me neither. But in case you’re ever in that situation, this is essential. Fun little lighter – you have a choice of designs that you can customise with text.

Today is my birthday (I’m 35… eep… ). For some reason, I’d ended up with loads of appointments today so it was going to be busy and not particularly exciting.

Except it snowed overnight. The local school was closed. The people I had appointments with phoned to cancel. I had a whole unexpected day before me with no plans and no commitments. Bliss.

First we went out in the snow. I managed to take a few photos and got to chat to some of the neighbours’ older children who I hadn’t seen in a while. I came in once I got cold, and my kids came back inside about a half hour later so we all had hot Ribena to warm ourselves up.

For most of the rest of the day, the boys thoroughly play tested my new Mario Kart game for the Wii (and generously let me have a go from time to time!) while I set up the iPod Touch Akra bought me for my birthday. Went a bit wild in the iTunes App Store (that’s a whole other blog post, though).

Once Akra got home from work we went out for a family meal at our local Beefeater – a fab place which is genuinely friendly towards children and has a good range of food we all enjoy for not too much money. I have eaten until I’m completely stuffed.

And now, the kids are in bed and I’m sat at my computer with a glass of cold white wine contemplating what to do with my evening, and I honestly couldn’t think of a nicer way to have spent the day.

I love Snow Days. Best birthday present ever.

Can you hear it?

You’re not listening hard enough.

Now can you hear it?

That’s silence that is.

No arguing, no bleeping sounds from the kids’ new DSes, no “MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMY”ing, or “I’m bored”s.

The kids are back at school, and while I have really enjoyed this holiday (once the manicness of pre-Christmas was past) it’s bliss to have this space to myself again.

I haven’t done much today, just made the most of the peace and quiet.

I’ve worked through a couple of exercises in a career guidance book, changed the beds, put some washing on and spent some time working on the family tree (have some new software that I’ve been playing with). I even managed to take some photos.

Routine is for tomorrow. Or maybe next week.

Right now, I’m enjoying the silence.

It snowed, it snowed!

Of course, the boys wrapped up warm and went outside as early as they could (without annoying the neighbours too much).

Stayed outside for about half an hour, then came in cold and wet and miserable.

Oh well. It looked very pretty from the windows though!

Spent most of the rest of the day sorting out the lego into some new plastic drawers that arrived today in an attempt to get the collection under control. It’s taken forever and we still have some left to sort tomorrow. I just hope it all fits in!

2008 was a strange sort of year. I spent most of it looking forward to the extra time and freedom I would have once Li’l Bhaji went to school in September. Then spent September onwards in shock that the reality was so different from how I planned.

Allergies and seasonal depression have also hit harder than usual and I find myself facing 2009 with a real need to draw a line, refocus and re-discover myself now I have two school age children.

With that in mind, my resolutions for the year aren’t particularly earth shattering, just small things to get me focussed on more positive projects:

Massive clear-out / “spring” clean

Over the last year, I’ve tried to just get by on the bare minimum of housework, as I didn’t want that to be the be all and end all of my existence. However, in practice, the state of the house has really started to get me down.

I know part of it is that post-Christmas bleugh when all the decorations are still up and there are no homes for new stuff, making everything feeling cramped and chaotic. Even so, it’s something I really need to tackle, especially as it’s very unlikely we’ll be able to move into a larger house (our previous long-term plan) for a good few years yet.

It’s only logical to make the most of the space we have and also make it more allergy-friendly. I don’t want minimalist show-house quality, just easy-living/easy-cleaning space which means much less “stuff”.

Akra has promised to do some decorating as well at some point this year, and has already made great inroads on the front garden in the last month or so. In just the last week, I have sorted out every drawer and cupboard in the kitchen and had a ruthless cull. If I keep up the same pace, I should have it all done by the end of March, so committing to the end of the year should be easy.

Get a savings buffer

We’ve done pretty well at reducing debt in the last few years, but don’t really have any buffer for the unexpected. We’re fortunate in that Akra’s job seems relatively secure even in the current climate, but we definitely need an easy-access emergency savings pot.

Even if it’s just a month’s joint salary in there by the end of the year, it would be an improvement. With me earning even little bits here and there, it makes building such a pot much more feasible.

Keep up with the exercise

I’ve done really well this year with cycling and strength training, but while I really look forward to going out on the bike, I haven’t really enjoyed the stationary cycle when the weather hasn’t been too good or the strength training much.

As a family, we got Wii Fit this Christmas and that is a lot of fun (and surprisingly hard work – I take back all my previous cynicism) so I’m going to do that instead of strength training or if the weather’s vile.

Take more photos

I have got in a rut where I’m not taking pictures because there’s no particular event to take pictures of, then when there is a suitable event taking crap pictures because I’m out of practise with my camera.

The last two months, I’ve been having fun with the Flickr Group: Monthly Scavenger Hunt. I’m going to commit to doing these every month for the next year. It’ll keep working on my skills without getting too horribly serious to the point where I feel I must be “progressing” or “improving” to make it worthwhile.

Do more things just for the hell of it

And talking of feeling like things have to be worthwhile, I’m going to get off my case this year. I’m going to have fun with things again without mission or agenda.

I’m going to write more on this blog, but not beat myself up for not having lofty novel writing goals.

I’m going to try and learn the guitar with Akra Jr (he’s currently having lessons) but not be too concerned if I don’t manage it for a few weeks or don’t progress as fast as him.

I’m going to play around with my new pen tablet and not expect myself to be creating amazing digital oil paintings by the end of the month.

I want to start a regular meditation practice without feeling like I need to be a Zen Master after a week.

I keep wanting to try new hobbies, but then get annoyed with myself when I don’t reach ridiculous self-inflicted goals so give them up. Well from here on in I am giving myself permission to just have fun with stuff, to do things for the enjoyment of participation rather than the end product.

Remind me of this now and again, would you?

Argh! Where did the last few days go?!

We’ve been off seeing friends, surviving the end of term and generally getting last minute stuff done and all of a sudden it’s Christmas Eve. Things might not calm down much for the next week or so, so I hope you all have a great time this next week whichever holiday traditions you observe.

See you in 2009!

Following on from yesterday’s post, I’ve been thinking about what feeling Christmassy is all about. Well, not in a profound deep and meaningful way, more about the little things that give me that little giddy childish excitement in the run up. For me, it’s the not the big ticket extravaganza, but more about the little family rituals… the small stuff.

Some years I end up panicking a bit, afraid that this is the year that I’ve finally grown up and lost the spark. That I’m doomed to just being a passive observer of my own children’s excitement and have joined the ranks of the cynical and depressed (not that I’m untalented at being cynical and depressed the rest of the winter season).

So far, touch wood, the Christmas spirit has switched on eventually, even if it cuts it a little fine.

Usually, we don’t put up our decorations until the last minute. Partly because it just doesn’t seem as special if they’re hanging around for ages and partly because our living room is small and they tend to take over.

Once the decorations are up, though, we are then “allowed” to play Christmas music and crack open the Baileys (now that’s a popular Christmas spirit… hic). The point where I really start to feel that Christmas is on the way, though, is when we dig the Christmas films out: Love Actually, Polar Express, While You Were Sleeping, Miracle on 34th Street (the newer one), and Muppet Christmas Carol (this last one is reserved for our Christmas Eve “everything is now ready, let Christmas come” ritual).

I’ve recently found Sleepless in Seattle and Die Hard Quadrilogy in the pre-Christmas sales and have accidentally added them to our collection. I used to have the classic It’s A Wonderful Life at some point, but it’s mysteriously gone missing (perhaps its hiding out with my old Swedish angel chimes).

I don’t know when (or even why) watching Christmas films became such a crucial part to my Christmas. I suppose it’s nice to have the romanticised version of Christmas and the happy endings to keep me going through all the build-up stress and distractions.

So how about you? What little things give you that “Christmas is coming” buzz? What’s your favourite Christmassy film? What are your favourite little rituals that you pretend you do for the rest of the family, but really you’d be lost without?

Dear Santa,

My apologies, I know you are a busy chap, especially at this time of year. I also know that generally you are only supposed to get letters from children and that grown-ups like me don’t get presents from you.

However, I am still a child at heart, it wouldn’t be totally out of order perhaps (as long as there’s still a little room left in your budget) to ask for a few minor things this Christmas?

• Motivation. I seem to be fresh out at the moment. I’m not sure if I just used up my quota right at the beginning of the year, or it all leaked out somehow. Either way, if you have any spare, I’d make good use of it, I promise.
• Ambition and Drive. I’ve mislaid my focus over the last year and I’m no longer sure what I want to be when I grow up (if I grow up). The motivation would be great if you can only spare one present, but having some guidance what to do with that motivation would come in very handy.
• A Life. Only if there’s a dusty one lying around behind someone’s sofa that no-one wants any more. I’m not picky.

Anyway, I hope this letter isn’t too impertinent. I hope both you and Mrs Claus are well and haven’t picked up this nasty norovirus doing the rounds. My love to Rudolph.

Pewari.

So today was the day of my hospital appointment to chat to the allergy consultant about how to treat the magically-extending seasonal hayfever I’ve been suffering over the last few years. (I was very fortunate to get a late cancellation at short notice).

I have been treated to peak flow/lung strength tests, skin tests and a blood test. Bit concerned about the blood test as they were testing my liver and … erm… somehow or other I’ve managed to have a glass of wine or a G&T every night so far this week! If it comes back on the tests that my liver isn’t so great, they’re NEVER going to believe me that that’s not my usual alcohol consumption!

Anyway, the skin tests were the most interesting scientifically. For those who have never been to allergy testing, they put little blobs of allergen in solution on your arm (with biro labelling for which is which) then a blob of histamine and a blob of saline as controls. Then they pierce your skin with a different needle for each blob, leave you to cook for 10 minutes then see which parts of your arm reacted.

I had one of these skin tests as a kid and knew that I was allergic to fur, feathers and dust mites, but obviously the hayfever has been a new thing as an adult. I still haven’t been totally sure what I’m reacting to – whether it’s tree pollen, grass, something that’s in the fields or common household moulds – so it was useful to see how my allergies had changed in the intervening years.

It wasn’t much of a surprise to see the expected bumps of reaction to cat, dog (sorry kids, guess the puppy is still out of the question) and horse. The dust mites (two different types apparently) however were two great big blisters. Even the nurse was impressed. As for tree pollen etc…. nada. Not even the slightest reaction.

Yes, that’s right. I do not react to either of the two common tree pollens, moulds, or rape seed. I do not have hayfever.

Erm.

Okay, so what’s making me ill through February to mid-November then? Surely dust mites would affect me more in the winter months and I’m fine for a whole three and a half months of that!

Apparently not – dust mites are prolific during the wetter, warmer months of spring and autumn according to the consultant (and let’s face it … it’s been fairly wet these last few summers too). Seems consistent. He still wants to test me for grass and erm…. something else they missed out as they’d run out of supplies, but given that I love the smell of freshly cut grass and don’t seem to react to it, it seems likely at this point that I am not a hayfever sufferer of any kind – who’da thunk it?

Have a prescription for some anti-allergy tablets, and heavy duty antihistamines and nasal spray which I’ll cash in closer to February. Apparently they like to throw everything at it for comfort, then slowly reduce levels until they find the balance where symptoms are controlled. Have another appointment just before my hayfever … erm… weird freaky allergy season is due to start.

Not sure how I feel about it all. I’m glad something is being done. But also strangely feel a bit of a fraud for not actually being allergic to what I was referred for…

At the risk of every blog post being a complaint these days, today seems to be the day of chain sneezing.

It’s hard to decide whether it’s the beginnings of a cold, or the continuing long death-whimper of hayfever (or other allergy) as even though it’s November, I’m still finding I can’t be off anti-histamines for more than about 3 days in a row before my eyes, nose and (oddly) ear canals start itching like mad.

I started getting hayfever quite late in life – my early twenties. At first, it was only a couple of weeks late-February/early-March when the tree pollen came out, but since Li’l Bhaji was born, my hayfever season has drastically lengthened to the point where I only get a couple of months off in which I can have lots of colds instead.

A few weeks back, I gave up and went to visit the GP, convinced I was either going to get a “tough luck, nothing we can do” response or a lecture on using anti-histamines and Flixonase irresponsibly. Instead, I had a very sympathetic consultation where he checked at first that I was able to control it adequately with over-the-counter medication and then that I was getting it cheaply enough. (The joy of generic anti-histamines are that it’s actually cheaper to get them off-prescription than on, at least for the standard doses). He then said he would refer me to an allergy specialist at the hospital in the hope that they may at least be able to help next season.

So, imagine my surprise when this morning I received a letter from the hospital. Wow, that’s quick – I thought – I was expecting it to be months before I got an appointment.

Sadly, though, it’s just a letter to tell me that I’m on the waiting list to get an appointment on the waiting list. Sigh. What a waste of a stamp.