This weekend IJ has been ill with tonsillitis. She gets it often and the routine of high temperatures and general misery on her part is not new, although it's always distressing to witness.
Saturday night was one of those rare occasions when her temperature was so high she became delirious, When I went it her room to comfort her, she didn't recognise me. She continued to call out for Mummy despite the fact that I was holding her. She looked at me as if I was a complete stranger and for the first time I saw fear in her eyes as she looked at me.
She is much better today, but I'm still disturbed by the state she was in. Maybe it's because I'm tired, maybe it's because its Remembrance Sunday, but the dreadful fear that I could lose her has not gone away.
My mother has always said, I should behave more like a lady. So here from Constance Mortimer (er... real name Gavin), is What Every Woman Ought to Know, a self-help book with love and lifestyle tips from 1909 - 1910 aimed at introducing some decorum into the life of every modern girl and pitched as the ideal gift book for every discerning lady.
But actually, I'm not quite sure how I would feel about being given a gift like this, truth be told.
The book is described as "a fascinating compilation of considered counsel on relationships, etiquette, beauty, health, home-making, exercise and more, drawn from the problem pages of yesteryear's magazines".
While many of the extracts were interesting, at times highly entertaining and at other times clearly out-dated, I would not be sure what sort of message the giver of such a book would be giving out.
I enjoyed reading some of the recipes for combating grey hair, advice for increasing height and tackling thin eyebrows, but in today's modern age I would not thank anyone who gave me a book with a section on 'Home Hints' aimed exclusively at women. So I won't be reading tips on polishing boots, cleaning felt hats and zinc baths.
Are these things I ought to know? Well, not really.
The well-researched book provided an interesting insight into the norms and values of society at the beginning of the 20th century and makes a valuable contribution to the study of social history. But I would query its relevance today as a self-help book providing 'hints and tips for ladies' as it says on the cover.
Consider one extract:
Question:
Will you tell me what is the woman's part in homemaking and what the girl should expect from the man he is to marry?
Answer:
The woman is the homemaker. The man builds the house but the woman makes the home in the arrangement of th interior furnishings, in the ordering of household and by cheering influence of her presence. The woman should know how to sew, cook, to keep house and dispense hospitality. If both are willing to sacrifice for the other, the home will be a beautiful place. The wife will no doubt have worries in her first housekeeping days but she should not lose sight of the fact that her husband is having his troubles too in the business world. She should don a pretty frock for dinner each evening and see an easy chair and the papers are within easy reach of her husband. It's a little thing but it will mean a lot to him.
So while there is absolutely nothing wrong with some old-fashioned manners and respect for others, I can't said I'd be thrilled if any man handed me this book as a gift. I'd be unsure exactly of what he was telling me I ought to know.
IJ detests pantomimes.She went to see Snow White at our local theatre when she was four and was so scared by the wicked witch that she has flatly refused to go back since.
So when it comes to panto season, she has absolutely no interest in the subject.
But possibly, this year, she may change her mindafter we heard, via the British Mummy Bloggers Network, about www.putonapanto.com. It's a new web game developed by Robinson's (the drinks company) that helps children plan, rehearse and perform their own pantomime from the comfort of their own living room.
It is designed to be a fun, creative activity for youngsters with the added bonus of giving parents a break while they get ready for the holidays. IJ actually needed quite a lot of help downloading the various scrips and costume information sheets but I was happy to help because she really enjoyed the experience.
From the selection of pantos available she selected Aladdin and her favourite part was using the soundboard to create a range of really good sound effects, uploading both our photos onto a poster to advertise the show.
The site was entertaining and user-friendly and I would highly recommend it. Even IJ got into the panto spirit, which is saying something.
(Dear Reader, you could read this rather light post, or you may prefer to skip to the end for your chance to win a copy of the new Gatecrasher's Club Anthems CD)
After school today, IJ asked me if I was free. She meant, was I available to play with her?
I said I was while at the same time skim-reading an email, composing a Tweet and adding another item to my to-do list.
Clearly not available then, was the message I was giving out.
So, quite rightly, I turned the computer off and we spent some long overdue quality time together.
We got slightly carried away, and after baking cookies (packet mix, I'm not that domesticated) and making spoon people (a craft pack from Stressco's, we got our inspiration HERE), we turned the sitting room into a cinema (er.. by turning off the lights) and watched the whole of Monsters Vs Aliens without me jumping up to type away on my laptop.
This time there were no withdrawal symptoms.
IJ commented, "It's like a party, Mummy."
Every day should be like that.
In keeping with the party theme, I have a free promotional copy of Gatecrasher's Club Anthems 1993-2009 (officially released on November 16th) to give away. All details of the 3 disc album are listed here along with a full list of tracks.
I've listened to it and I really like it. I can't lie, I actually have two copies but I'm not prepared to give the other one up so I'm keeping it.
If you'd like to win a copy just put the word 'Gatecrasher' in your comment. The winner will be picked out of a hat, or possibly a small mug, on Saturday 14th November.
For so many people, myself included, 3th May 2007, the day when three-year-old Madeleine McCann disappeared from the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz, will be imprinted in our minds forever. It was the day I held my own blond haired, blue-eyed three-year-old daughter a little tighter, and I suppose I have continued to do ever since.
It was the day the world started searching for Madeleine McCann. It is heartbreaking that that search is still ongoing and that Madeleine has still not been found.
There have been similarities between Madeleine and IJ from the very beginning. Madeleine is two months older and has the same colouring and innocent-looking face. Once, when a photo of Madeleine was shown on the television, IJ thought it was her.It was not until 2008 when we were holidaying in London that anyone other than close friends commented on the resemblance.
We were dining in a very basic hotel just off Baker Street when I noticed the waitress paying close attention to IJ. I thought little of it until she eventually wandered over to our table and asked IJ her name.It still seemed quite normal, many adult have done exactly that over the years and IJ has always been reluctant to answer, exactly like she was on that occasion.
Then the waitress started questioning me, asking me where we have travelled from, where we were going and what we were doing in London, and she asked me IJ's name.
"Are you sure it isn't Madeleine?" she asked me.
It was an awkward moment, I was under suspicion, and it was awkward for IJ who felt alarmed at the lady's presence, but I was relieved that people were still looking for Madeleine and had not given up hope, and IJ quickly forgot the encounter.
I was half-expecting a police officer to knock on my hotel door that evening to speck to me, but the knock never came, just as the knock never came on the door of the McCann's home with the news that Madeleine had been found safe and well.
Someone knows where she is and what has happened to her. There is now a new appeal for social networkers worldwide to help in the search for her by posting this video of what Madeleine is likely to look like, aged six.
I am blessed, I have my six year old. Please help the McCanns find theirs.
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