Why are they paying me?

Hello from Sunny Southend-on-Sea (pity)

Lets start with the dull stuff...

This morning I had to program myself to wake up when I heard the boys (which meant I woke up to EVERY noise in the house till morning). This was all because my cellphone battery is DEAD! And, as you know, without my cell I have no concept of the time, nor do I have an alarm... Granted, it is not too difficult to miss the sound of three boys stomping around on wooden floors (yelling, crying and complaining), with their mother in tow screaming at them to stop... But, as you know, my luck these days seems to have grinded to a halt.

Due to all of this stuff, I woke up several times during the night to all the little creeks and cars passing by. When it was eventually time to get up (or so I thought) I went downstairs (to make coffee and toast ) and because I had no idea what the time was (and that there are no clocks that work in this house) I merrily carried on... I turned on the television, to discover that it was only 06h30... I WAS NOT IMPRESSED!!!!!!!!

Bethany got up a while later (once the boys had been fed) and then the mad rush began.

We walked to school today, Bethany took the two older boys to school and I took Corley to pre-school. Before I left Bethany's company, she gave me £10 and told me to go find a nice little restaurant and treat myself (because I had done so much hard work in the last couple days... I smiled). I walked to St Micheals and must admit that I found it rather amusing that the mothers spoke to me (because they assumed I had a child) but on the previous occasions (when Corley was with Bethany) had snubbed me... Although, I have to say that Bethany's sister-in-law always makes an effort to talk to me.

Following my deposit at the pre-school I walked around Southend shopping street.

Here are some of the things I found particularly interesting:

• There was a police presence on the streets


• There was a lollipop man at the main intersections (before and after school)


• There are a lot of pharmacy's here


• Woolworths here is a rubbish shop (much like Ackermans at home)


• Prices of electrical goods are awesome (A new cellphone costs around £29, the latest iPod is about £90)


• Food is expensive if it costs £2 a product


• There are always schemes (Buy one get one free... they are not lying!)


• Comparative shopping is the way to spend the least amount of money with the most amount of goods bought (for example, body lotion is around £3 for 500ml in some shops, but if bought at the factory shop, costs £1.99)


• Face cleaning products are expensive (around £6 a product)


• Hair dye is rather cheap (around £4)

All-in-all money goes a long way here, with the average grocery spend a week being £100-£150 (that includes LOADS of fruit and veg)

Now that you have some idea on prices and stuff, let me continue telling you about my day!!!

Once I got back home, I made an omelette and sat to watch a movie. I then got up and did more ironing. Bethany got home, and informed me that Corley had another play-date today... In came woman number two and her son. It appeared to me that the lady came for a free haircut and her son was the excuse... but what do I know???!!! Halfway through their visit Corley and this little boy were shouted at for throwing toys over the fence and into the neighbours property (which led to a crying match (not too sure who won, they were equally as good as each other!))

By the time they left, it was time to collect the boys from school. Bethany drove me and Corley to the school, I collected the boys and we walked back. Bethany had already gone to work. As we got in, the boys' tutor came, which left me some time to salvage that which the sock monster had not yet taken (you get the point I'm sure???)

Next, it was time to cook dinner. I had all the boys in the tiny kitchen 'helping' me (Corley peeling carrots, Cailum chopping them, Jai rubbing butter on the tinfoil... then an argument... then Corley putting butter on the chicken, Cailum telling them how to do it properly and that "I am the oldest, and I'm allowed....." and Jai complaining because he wanted to rub butter on the chicken... another argument... YOU GET THE PICTURE I'M SURE??????)

Once dinner was in the oven they helped me hang out the washing (Corley handed the item to Jai, who shakes it and hands it to me (Cailum was inside building the worlds best paper airplane...)) and do the vacuuming. It was rather eventful.

Lastly, we ate dinner, ate pudding, got them into the bath and then into bed (tomorrow is going to be a LONG day, as we are going into London (Cailum and Jai have a commercial to audition for) and Corley is coming with.

Until then!