The sound of silence

Something's missing - the sound of children. The house has been full of it since Friday evening and now, quiet. The Cubs are on their way home and Miniwombles went back Monday lunchtime. Even the cat is outside (and I can't hear her miaowing to come back in). So here I am on my own computer, not been able to do that much over the last few days as it's located in the room where the Cubs have been sleeping. In the daytime it's been mysteriously busy on a variety of games varying in complexity, noise level and doom'n'gloom content depending on the user(s) at the time.

The time with the children seemed to go fairly well, especially as we didn't really take them out anywhere or 'do' anything. Weather was a bit murky and while there were lots of them they did at least play together. New Year's Eve found the annual making of The Pie. This is a secret vegetarian recipe which definitely doesn't include mushrooms (at least two Cubs 'don't like mushrooms') but does include chopped-up bits of 'special herbs' (looking remarkably like .... you've guessed it - mushrooms!). Strangely, the next day's dinner had bits in it that weren't green peppers but more 'herbs'. The Cubs even ate smoked salmon although I think we discovered a new tactic to get them to eat stuff - don't give it to them but do give it to other people. Then they want whatever the others have got! Oh, and some children ate brussel sprouts! Miniwombles stayed up for midnight and champagne but the Cubs were tired and in bed by about 9.30pm. It was a very special New Year's Eve. Lots to look forward to in 2006.

So, what now?

Well, there's a 10k that I still seem to be organising largely unaided.

There's a job to be found. Somewhere. Hopefully.

Skiing to look forward to - very soon - and I've bought my 'bad hat'!

And all the important things, like settling into the house now there are two of us. Sorting diaries to combine work, Cubs, Miniwombles, time for us etc etc. There was something on the radio about stepfamilies and the realisation that both parents are still parents to their joint children. I think I've been really lucky that my ex and I have stayed on reasonably good terms and have been able to discuss and agree on the important things for the children over the years. Gets more complicated in these times when there are so many people involved though.

Oh, we're both doing a race in April too. Better do some training for that.

Not so good stuff - my Mum's younger brother who has cancer is very much on the decline and still at home at present. Worse still, the other brother was diagnosed with stomach cancer just before Xmas and had a 'big op' on the 27th which didn't quite get it all out and he is to have chemo. When she first told me about the second brother, Mum sounded quite in control which was much better than she was earlier in the year. But then, this weekend, she sounded like it was starting to get to her again. The younger brother's girlfriend had apparently been on the phone for half an hour and Mum really didn't need all the detail that was sent her way. On the other hand, perhaps the g/f needed someone to talk to. Even worse, younger brother doesn't know the older one is ill at all and the older one doesn't know yet how deteriorated the other is. Mum is in Dorset, younger brother in Cornwall, older brother in Eastbourne. Families.