This is my considered opinion after 5 minutes of research.

Case in point. This excellent blog that you are reading now that has whole minutes of effort put into it every day while I beautifully craft posts for your reading pleasure has a Page Rank of 5. Not bad really.

Then I take a look at hubby’s blog. Two sentences a day if you’re lucky on whatever randomly hits his brain at lunchtime and the git gets a Page Rank of 6! Where’s the justice in that?!

*sulk*

Interestingly though, he has just pointed out if you do a Google search using the term search engine, bizarrely Alta Vista comes first. Google is listed sixth. They give themselves a Page Rank of 10 though… funny that.

So I was listening to one of those inspirational tapes things this morning (yes, I know I know … it’s borrowed) and they were saying how most people would find it really easy to make a list of 10 things that they were unhappy with in their life at the moment. However, get them to write a list of 10 things that they were happy with and it would be quite a struggle to think of the full ten.

I’d agree with that. It’s human nature to constantly focus on the negative. We say “why does this always happen to us?” rather than look at all the things that are going well. So I was wondering, could you list 10 things that are great about your life at the moment? A completely positive list with no negative qualifiers like “of course, it would be better if…” Here’s mine (in no particular order):

1. Finally back as a family again. It’s great having Akra home in the evening – the excitement that builds as Akra Jr listens out for the car, hears the door close, sees Daddy walk past the window and then runs to the door to greet him. To be able to chat in the evening about our days and make plans together again.

2. The house is really nice. The finish on the house is good, no decorating to do unless we want to do it. It feels more like home and all the rooms are looking pretty good.

3. Finally debt free. We used the equity on our old house and by moving away from London and getting a slightly smaller property we managed to clear all our loans and credit cards. We only have a small interest-free loan from family now to clear. It feels such a relief and we’re definitely going to keep it this way.

4. Akra Jr is at a really great age. He’s so fun to be around now he can hold a conversation and is more interactive. A really happy and energetic boy, I’m so proud of him.

5. These computers are ace. Have I mentioned that already?! Currently ripping up all the CDs I own and STILL have oodles of space on the Hard Drive!

6. Money of my own. I’m really excited at the thought of being able to earn a little money of my own to pay for a few little luxuries. Even better that I can fit it in around my life and not worry about having to put Akra Jr in some sort of daycare.

7. It’s sunny and warm. I’ve got that lovely lazy, cheerful feeling that comes with nice weather. All the windows and the patio doors are open and there’s a really pleasant breeze wafting past.

8. There’s cornettos in the freezer box. Sort of natural extension from the above point really!

9. The area is really nice. We’ve had plenty of opportunity to have a bit of a wander around now, and there’s some really good playgrounds nearby for Akra Jr, the town centre has all the things we need and I’ve learnt where the crucial things are like library, WHSmiths, Boots, Marks & Spencers Food Hall etc…

10. New interests. The best thing about moving to a completely new area is that it really gives you the opportunity to evaluate what you do with your time and make a fresh start. I’m enjoying the druidry course I’ve started, have plans to do more reading, writing and photography, and Akra Jr has lots of lovely things starting in September.

So there you are. Lots of reasons to be happy. What’s yours?

You know, we always used to laugh at my dad when he’d lop off mum’s plants when he was strimming the edges of the lawn. He used to do it with alarming regularity and baby plants that mum had recently bought at great expense seemed to be the usual target. Obviously, it was just a sign of his lack of care and attention, after all, strimming edges is hardly rocket science, is it?!

Oh, if only it was. Then I might be able to do it.

My in-laws very generously bought us a strimmer for our moving home present. A very smart Black & Decker where the plastic cord bit (yes, that’s the technical term, okay?!) pulls out automatically as needed. I read the instructions – seemed simple enough. Let’s get to work.

Oh. My. God. I’m lethal. Maybe it’s genetic?

I am very glad I had my docs on my feet even though they didn’t get into the front line it was nice to have that reassurance. Akra kept hearing cries of “Oops!” and wisely didn’t come out to have a look until it was all done and then only muttered something safe along the lines of “very nice, much neater now”.

The problem is that it’s just so bulky and heavy and powerful. Then you’re supposed to swing the thing in a graceful arc at a 20 degree angle to the grass. That is challenging enough. Then you have to remember that the whole point of a strimmer is getting to those awkward grass growing places like bang up against the fence or the shed (the noise the plastic thing makes as it hits wood is a bit scary too). As an added excitement factor, the builder of this house seemed to delight in edging beds with small stones that fly up in random trajectories (usually ending at your head) if you accidentally swing the strimmer too close. We laughed when we saw the illustrations prescribed safety goggles – now I’m not so sure!

Oh well. It’s very nice. Much neater now.

This time 7 years ago, a handsome man was pulling stupid faces at me while I repeated “for richer for poorer” back to him.

I am probably the luckiest woman alive – I got to marry my best friend. Not quite sure why Akra wanted to live with a selfish cow like me, but I’m very glad he did! It seems appropriate that we’re finally back together again just in time for our wedding anniversary.

We’re being very brave and going out for a romantic meal for two. Akra Jr is going to be looked after by (hopefully) an extremely professional lady from Sitters – a babysitting agency. I am a bit nervous about leaving him with someone I haven’t met before, but I am hoping that we can budget a night out a month at least.

Is it unromantic to take my camera so I can get a 26 Things picture for “Food”?

I’m not doing so well today.

Everything seems to be taking Herculean effort… getting out of bed, entertaining Akra Jr, cooking, watching telly, writing this blog… I think I did a pretty good job of forcing myself through the day (at least, I think Akra Jr enjoyed himself – I made very sure that my bleak mood wasn’t on display and rubbing off on him), but now he’s in bed I’m just exhausted. I don’t want to watch telly, my mind has gone blank as to what to write (I had big plans for either a discussion on the 5 pushchairs I’ve owned, terrible parenting as portrayed on a television documentary last night, or the long-awaited mooncup review but I just can’t summon the right level of cheerful banter that would do the thought meanders justice), and even net surfing isn’t looking that appealing.

Akra went out to a pub quiz with a mate last night which I think really rubbed in how miserable and lonely I’m feeling at the moment. I wasn’t even invited – I know I couldn’t have gone because someone had to stay and look after Akra Jr, but it would have been nice to have been invited anyway. It’s not even as if I could go out another night while Akra babysits as I don’t know anyone here to go out with – that kind of makes a social life of any kind slightly more complicated.

If the weather would just pick up a bit so we could go out wandering a bit more it would help. Maybe. But not too hot so it would be too uncomfortable to go out either please.

Fussy, aren’t I?

Another day, another 26 things entry:

time
seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years, calendars, clocks

This clock was bought in Pisa during Akra’s and my honeymoon.

We’d wanted to get a memento but hadn’t seen anything really nice. This clock we saw right at the beginning on a tour, but at the time we assumed there’d be loads of items screaming “buy me buy me” over the coming fortnight, so ignored it.

In the last few days, we realised we weren’t actually going to find anything nicer, so braved the local buses (when neither of us knew much italian or how the buses worked around there) to search out the shop.

No, we didn’t buy any plaster models of the leaning tower…

We have had the most frustrating day today, move-wise (although to be honest, it’s in stiff competition with most of the days last week). We’ve been trying to push for an exchange of contracts asap and a completion date before the end of June (after that there is a very high chance of the chain collapsing above us and we’ll lose the house we want to buy).

Our buyer phoned up our estate agent today and told us that “she will not be pushed” and as a result her solicitor was going to be as difficult as possible (you mean, he was easy before?!). She was going to demand a survey after all (she hasn’t wanted one up to now), wasn’t committing to exchange in the near future (therefore scuppering any hopes of us getting a bridging loan out of desperation not to lose the chain above us) and didn’t intend moving until the end of July at the earliest. Now, bear in mind she initially put in her offer in March – I don’t think 3 months to exchange is putting the pressure on, especially when she was told at the time that we were hoping for a quick move, please correct me if I’m wrong.

This really has been the last straw after a long line of what we suspected was delaying tactics from her Arrogant Bastard solicitor (henceforth to be referred to as AB). I was all for telling her “right, fuck off then” but the ever-diplomatic Akra managed to negotiate a survey on Monday at the latest, an exchange date on the Wednesday at the latest, and completion date on 9th July. At any point these conditions are failed to be met, our house will be re-marketed.

The thing is, after today’s little stunt, even though we called her bluff, I just don’t trust her anymore. Actually, it’s her solicitor I don’t trust. I think anything in the survey is going to be used just to delay more, or to put in a lower offer now we’re a “captive audience”, and I’m just not prepared to take the crap. AB was unspeakably rude to our solicitor last week and when it was pointed out the paperwork he was demanding was unnecessary, AB basically said “my client will believe what I tell her to believe” and slammed the phone down on him. It was later proved categorically he was wasting everyone’s time, and I’m convinced he’s now being deliberately vindictive as a point-scoring exercise. Even at best case scenario, he is being highly unprofessional.

Thing is, at what point do you admit to yourself that you’re getting nowhere, and just say, “enough is enough”?

I’m writing a second entry, because the first sounded like I’d been feeling a bit depressed and morbid today, yet nothing could be further from the truth. I don’t have any negative connotations with Father’s Day at all (I just can’t choose Father’s Day presents to save my life – I’m so looking forward to when Akra Jr can choose his own). Akra got given a card that Akra Jr made at nursery and a chocolate “card” from Thorntons.

As part of our Father’s Day celebrations, we went to have lunch at Coombe Lodge (an Out & Out restaurant – a sort of upmarket Beefeater type place). I have to say this is probably one of the nicest restaurants in the Croydon area – food is lovely and well presented, and Akra Jr is genuinely really welcome in there. They provide proper childrens cutlery, even smaller child portions for the under-5s (and most of the options don’t automatically come with chips – yay!), and (as we found out today) provide antiseptic wipes and plasters for toddlers who trip up and scrape their knee to bits on the way there!

It was a lovely relaxed meal. Akra Jr told me that I was “gorgeous” in my dress (yes, I know it’s rare, and I’m sure my readers who have met me in real life won’t believe that I actually wore a dress, but it’s true). We played “I-Spy” with colours and peekaboo while we waited for our food, but really Akra Jr was an angel and didn’t need excess distractions in order to behave. I was really proud of him today.

Oh, and Akra enjoyed his day too, *grin*.

I really fancied the idea of doing the May Day Project but the problem was I only heard about it after the 10th of May. Then I just thought, sod it. It’s a great idea, I’m going to do it anyway.

Today seemed a good day as a) I’m feeling too full of cold bug to write anything “proper” and b) hopefully it’ll help the day go more quickly.

So, welcome to a day in the life of Pewari. Described with the help of really really bad photography.

7AM – Akra Jr wakes me up a little before 7 and moves all his plastic animals to my room to set up a little duvet cover zoo. This is a pretty standard start to the morning.

8AM – Breakfast is over. Time to clear up the kitchen and unload the dishwasher from the night before while Akra Jr watches his zoo video in the living room (at his request). Note snazzy new washing machine is in this shot.

9AM – Yes, I know it’s a bit pathetic. One whole hour later and our sum achievement has been to get upstairs and wash Akra Jr’s face. It’s teeth cleaning time now (she says, stating the obvious as usual).

10AM – Finally managed to get us out of the house and down to the library. No, Akra Jr isn’t terribly advanced for his age – that’s just a random book he’s grabbed off the shelf because it had a dinosaur on the cover…

11AM – We walked into town via the park so walked back home via the roads for variety (see how exciting my life is?!) This picture is dedicated to Jag as it’s of the new trams in Croydon.

12 noon – Lunch is served. Specialite de la Maison: beans on toast. Hmm, what’s french for beans on toast?!

1PM – Akra Jr is now in bed, if not 100% actually asleep yet. Finally chance for me to sit down and check on email, blogs, message boards, etc. Don’t laugh – been looking forward to this “me” time!

2PM – Akra Jr still asleep. He’s normally awake about now, but fortunately he isn’t as I’m watching an episode from Angel season 3 DVD. Lots of explosions and carnage in this episode. Good good.

3PM – An example of the glamourous lifestyle of motherhood – emptying the nappy bin. Top Tip: a few drops of tea tree oil in the bottom prevents nasty niffs.

4PM – No, I haven’t been ignoring my son for the last hour doing chores. I’ve been playing with him lots (with his favourite game of the hour being climbing all the stairs then bumping all the way down again on his bottom). I just grabbed the opportunity to do something that was on the to do list – give the high chair a thorough clean (trust me, you really don’t want to see the before photo).

5PM – Should be dinner time, except I’m running 15 minutes late. Not to worry, I have an excellent brainwashing device to keep Akra Jr quiet until it’s ready – the television (currently featuring Dora The Explorer).

6PM – Bath time. Akra Jr on seeing the camera, demands a picture of duck. So I obliged.

7PM – Time for bed. Book of the night: The Blue Tractor. Song of the night: Hey Akra Jr (only with Akra Jr’s real name inserted – a sort of bastardised “Hey Jude” with my own words to make it into a lullaby) – he joined in on the second verse, very cute.

8PM – About A Boy is on Sky Box Office so I decide to see if I like it enough second time around to warrant buying the DVD at some point. Yes, that is my leg in the bottom left of the picture – see comment at the top regarding really really bad photography.

9PM – Yay! Akra’s just walked in the door!

10PM – Film over. More computer time – the joys of Windows Update. Also uploading the day’s pictures so far so I can actually get this photo diary up on the blog the same day I made it.

11PM – Going to bed now. Checked that the mouse migraine attack device is operational. Little blighter better not come anywhere near me tonight. Or I’m going to have to use harsh words.

So there you have it. A fairly typical Friday for me. I hope I haven’t bored you too much – I actually found it quite fun taking the photos and putting this together. I’m almost tempted to try the photo scavenger hunt at some point in the near future.

Night night.

I have had a really lazy day today. Akra was a saint and got up with Akra Jr again this morning and let me have a long lie in. I felt so much better catching up on all the sleep I’ve missed this week.

Sheepishly apologised when I finally got up and started to feel really guilty that I hadn’t done xyz that was on my to-do list for the weekend when Akra reminded me that it’s a bank holiday weekend – i.e. he’s home tomorrow as well! I’d completely forgotten so it was the best possible gift I could have been given. Devoted the rest of the day to being lazy for good measure.

So, I “wasted” the lunchtime doing random blog hopping on the hunt for new daily reads and wishing I was a better web designer for my own blog. Cooked a gorgeous roast dinner with all the trimmings. Akra Jr has been utterly utterly cute and huggable all afternoon and the weather has been half decent.

I’m now sitting in front of my computer with a glass of cold white wine wondering what to do with the rest of my evening, when I suddenly realise …

…the stress has gone.