saturday may 27 2006

Another early morning.
The bus arrived too late, but one way or another we just walked fast without feeling we had to hurry.
When we arrived at the school the gate was still closed.

The girls had their lesson, but our teacher didn't show up.
He's finishing his thesis and I think he's focussed on it.
Well, usually he's just as dedicated to us. We took the time to teach each other and the second half one of the bagpipers who wants to become a teacher, taught us.
I think it's good to have different teachers.
Strangely I felt less criticised so I did far better than the other lessons.

After that J and I warmed the soup and handed it out to the band.
We all ate and then we suddenly had to hurry to town for a performance.
Ofcourse there wasn't any need to hurry, we were far too early.

One of the drumbands in town was celebrating it's 50tiest anniversary, and 5 bands came from all parts of the center towards the large square.
Ofcourse we attracted lots of attention, even when we were checking the drones.
Well, people have seen how much time it costs to get a perfect even sound.

We walked in a straight line through the center, than gave a little concert in the street to pass time and when it was time we marched to the square.

Ahem..."we"... That's the band and the girls and I beside it, as we don't have a uniform yet.

Other pupils showed up as well. And it was nice to have a talk with other parents too.

Someone there recognised me from the time I was chairman at the school... some years ago.
In fact she and her husband were the reason I stopped.
In fact I was thrown out, because I took a stand against rising costs and wanted them to start a fund so people with less money could afford the same school as others.

Seeing this woman made me clear I had made the right choice then......

Well, the bands started to play and the rain started to drip drop drip drop....
And it went worse.

So the pipe major changed his wonderful "hat" for a diced glengarry, and I stood there with the large featherhead.
The umbrella was letting all the rain stream on my back... tralalala!!!

Well, the end of the concert was wonderful: Highland Cathedral with all bands, in the puring rain.

Then we all marched off and the band decided on a dry place what to do, as the parade for that evening had been cancelled.

Yinti looked so little and tired, that I decided not to go to the reception, but to go home.
The pipe major was surprised, but there was someone else to keep his hat, so it was no problem.

We were lucky as the bus was standing there and we were at our own station in no time.
The zip of my favorite coat was broken.... uch!!
We had a quick look in the shopping centre, but there was no coat of that kind.
Jim always insists on throwing clothes away, but I didn't throw the old coat away, because I thought it might come in handy.
It does!!!
But it's just a cotton one, no real protection against the rain.

When we came home we were very tired.
Yinti is ill now... and I have a throat ache...

wednesday may 24 2006

I feel like I'm running without being able to stop.

Sorry I haven't been around.
There's so much to do each day, and I had to practice my music more.

Yesterday Stef's mentor called that Stef was skipping school.
Luckily Stef had been at school, and he was noted present in the lessons.
Even more: he had been talking to one of the teachers for some while, so he sure was seen.

This is the same mentor that we tried to make an appointment with for several times, and in 75% of those appointments it had to be cancelled because he had to teach at that time.

The man also complained that Stef didn't seem to listen in his lessons.
Well, in fact he's bored to death, because he finished the subjects for this year a long time ago.
"He can ask for extra work."
Stef has done in the past and all he was told that if he had sticked to the schedule he wouldn't be finished. LOL!

Another complaint was that he should have a papepr finished next week and that there was no sign it would be ready in time.
Turned out it's a groups' work. The same we talked about last monday... it'll be ready.

Ofcourse Stef was irritated, but we got him to laugh stating that his haircut must have been an improvement if that mentor doesn't recognise him anymore. LOL!

I have . now and thought to buy an engraved blackwood practice chanter at ..
It was beautiful!! But it went above a 100 euro and this lady didn't have the money.

I did however buy a Quaich.The girls became member last week and it is a custom the new members present the band whiskey and salmon.
The girls however were not allowed to present or drink whiskey.
As kids are new at the band, I'm searching for a new way of enabling to express the bond they feel and I suddenly thought that a quaich might be a good idea.
I was lucky to bid at a very unusual time, and got it for almost nothing.
I'm waiting for it to arrive before being sure I did the right thing.

It's nice to be able to pay for it just like that, but I have to be careful to use paypal only for what I need it for and not use it to buy graphics or something.
But I can look around for items for my uniform for the band at ., and that's a money saving matter.
I'll post what I like at my wishlist. LOL!

Do you have a job for me? Now you can pay me through paypal. LOL!

friday may 12 2006

I woke up even more tired then when I went to sleep.
And ofcourse I had to spend about half an hour to get Stef to school.
Does life ever change?

Had to do something at the attick.... oh..how hot it was there! That's why none of us has a room there. It needs so much insulation before it can be used as a room... and now, after all these years it's rather full now.
I was just going downstairs and the bell rang.
So I went to the door and hooorai!! My glengarry has arrived.
Perfect fit, but maybe I shouldn't have cut my hair. On the other hand, it's short and when i wear it, it flattens the hair. When the hair is short you can't see it that much.
I feel very lucky, because it's perfect. The only thing that makes clear it has been worn before is a letter on the tag. And now I have it at not even half the prize.

Before 14.00 hours already three of the 6 kids are at home again.

may 11 2006

Went to the psychiatrist with Nyo.
Was lucky with the busses. When I arrived at the station I had to wait about 2 minutes and at the main station I could get into the other one just before it left.
The same happened when I went back.

The psych was very nice to Nyo. Telling him how much he has grown, showing the picture when he came in. (We had send an old one then.LOL!).
Then she started telling him he could manage his own emotions.
He has had therapy, so he can do it.
Hmmm... not too long ago she said to me not to expect too much... and that he wouldn't be able to learn much.
So milady has changed her mind?
Well, he has problems generalising. Meaning that what he can use at one place he can't always use at other places.
And there were too many stressors in the vacation, so he couldn't calm down enough.

She asked him if I hadn't talked to him about it all, and he bluntly said: "No".
#$%^&*!!!
Well, I guess he had an attack of anamnesia then...

The psych wanted us to cut down meds to the level that is under the level he had at the vacation.
Oh my dear!!!
But when he had such a bad time as last week, we could Up them.
Hello!! Aren't those meds supposed to take 2 to 6 weeks to act??

When I started about the Melatonine, she only said not enough is known about the long term effects.
Well, the melatonine works like a miracle.
This vacation he started to sleep better and even slept three hours during the afternoon, and that gave him the rest to be in better control of himself.
I feel bad about not thinking about giving it earlier in the vacation. Maybe we would have had a much better time.

So whatever she says, it stays on my list.

Jim had a drink after work, and didn't turn up untill after midnight.
I made a huge salad for the kids. Took me two hours and it was all gone in 15 minutes!!!!!!
For the rest we had a rather quiet evening.......

may 10 2006

Lars went for workexperience to a printing firm nearby.
They make birthcards and such, but also bussines prints and books.
He wasn't nervous, he said, because he knew where it was and yesterday he had spoken with someone of the firm.
Turned out to be a real family bussiness.
With soup for lunch, enough to drink and much care.
And a huge applepie! LOL!

So he came home smiling all over.