Aliens

Helen - hello to a friend in France!  I think small boys with homework and school books have much the same problem all over the world!  I am practising deep breathing. 

Justjill - I'm still sending good vibes.  I can see a lot of disciplinary tickles and threats to make them walk coming up!

wherethejourneytakesme - bear has been utterly horrified by the whole 'missing book' episode (was in his locker) and I am hoping that he will learn from this, but, to be honest, it's hope against experience!

My driving lesson today was mixed.  There were no casualties, though I had a close call at a roundabout.  First of all I did some practice local to me.  I really rocked those junctions and utterly nailed the three point turn.  Then we went an unfamiliar way into Heckmondwike, and I was hitting nearly 60mph at one point, and I was totally comfortable with it all (I may have gone 'wheeeeee' and my driving instructor has a lot to put up with).  I went on dual carriageways, inner city ring roads and some very small side roads and never flinched.  Then we stopped for a comfort stop at a supermarket and my awesome driving instructor said he would be marking my drive home as if I was on a test.  I pulled out of the supermarket car park and went to pieces in a truly epic style.  I stalled, tried to go around corners in the wrong gear, totally misjudged speed limits and nearly pulled in front of a car at a roundabout.  I may have to work on that side of things. 

Today I was trying out a new bathroom cleaner.  I am totally going back to the vinegar and water mix after I've finished this.  It was an expensive, Method cleaner and I didn't take to it, although the kitchen one is awesome.  I suppose I could use the kitchen cleaner in the bathroom without the world ending, but the vinegar and water mix does a wonderful job.  Anyway I wiped a muddy hand print off the wall near the shower (bear likes to leave evidence that he has had a shower) and I realised that, just like Ripley in Aliens, when she cleaned a small spill of hot chocolate off the young girl Newt's face, I had made a clean spot.  And once you make a clean spot, you really need to do something about the rest of the dirt.  I somehow managed to get dirty bathroom walls.  It isn't dust or mould, just sort of grime.  We don't have candles in the bathroom, or do deep fat frying, so I have no idea.  I also have a bathroom smaller than many American cars and nowhere to put a step ladder.  My current plans include a bucket, a mop and a large quantity of stardrops. 

It's been quite a busy day.  DH came home, bringing goodies which included brandy for me, and bear fell down the stairs.  On the surface, bear didn't hurt himself too badly.  I would initially class it as minor bruises and major drama, but I'm keeping an eye on it as some of those bruises are on his back, and backs can be iffy.

Writing stuff - there is likely to be a lot more over the next few days but it should calm down after Halloween.  Today there is a snippet from 'The Lupine's Call' over on 31 Days of Halloween here and a quote from one of the stories from the Glass and Ashes anthology