Sleepness nights mean even the tea towels are now getting ironed
Insomnia hinders the routine of mum-of-10 Dawn Millward but fun is to be had when her family gets its skates on.
A SEVENTH birthday party, a 30th birthday party and a funeral within five days.
And the usual pre Christmas dental problems, homework, pre-christmas declutter campaign, viral illnesses...
Linda Millward, wife of Tony, and Pete’s late brother was remembered last week. Steve and Cara, son and daughter in law, were grateful to everyone who went to the service at St Oswald’s church.
I have been late taking Dolly and Minnie to school for several mornings. Dolly still has a persistent virus and has restless nights. Hormonal insomnia means I am up from 1.20am until 5am. I will get up as I become angry because I can’t sleep. I am currently working my way through the Youtube section on meditation exercises claiming to help induce sleep.
I start to listen to a meditation, phone on the pillow besides my ear. The volume is too high, I lower the volume, then I can’t hear clearly, I increase the volume, the phone is too close, too distant from my ear, I can sense the screen’s brightness, so I adjust the level. I decide I don’t like the calming music, so skip to an alternative meditation, I then decide I don’t like the American, Australian, English accent, skip to the next meditation. I then decide I don’t like the male or female voice of the person talking on the meditation; skip a few more meditations; I then think the meditation commentator doesn’t sound sincere. I gave up on the Youtube meditation option. This leaves being awake for several hours per night, oversleeping each morning and as a result being late for school.
On a positive basis, the nocturnal night-times are being spent ironing every last tea towel, pillow slip and sock in the ironing pile. For the first time in many awhile the waiting-to-be-ironed basket is free from laundry.
Dolly’s friend Lily Rose Cunningham had a birthday party at Lunar Lift Off. Dolly and Lily have been friends since they met at Nursery. I made a decision to move Dolly from Hilltop School to Ashbourne Primary a year ago. Lily was soon to follow. This year has been positive for each little girl. Both are happy to be at school. Both have shown huge progress over multiple areas of the school curriculum. And both Dolly and Lily are happy. A happy seventh birthday to a special little person, Lily. And thank you for the party.
Friday night and a surprise 30th birthday for Ben Woodroffe, my daughter Ruby’s boyfriend. Dolly and Minnie were not in on the party details. Minnie will disclose top secret information im- mediately to the recipi- ent. Dolly is able to maintain si- lence, Minnie likes the may- hem. And spilling the beans. The party guests had a good time. Dolly and Minnie were still dancing as I gave Ruby a hand to clear up after the party. An easy-going family party ideal location in the function room at the Exservicemans Club on the Market Place.
Jess had her
18th birthday in the same venue. A lifetime ago.
As December made its appearance Minnie made a start on her Malteser advent calendar. Minnie found her calendar and had eaten half the dates early morning of the first of the month. A few Malteserless days ahead.
Ice skating with Santa Claus has been a family first this weekend. Ruby took Dolly and Minnie ice-skating a while ago. Expensive at £11.50 per person, (less for Minnie as she is five), a family ticket will cut a pound from the entrance fee. Skate hire is included in the admission price. Sunday morning, ideal time for nonskaters. At the beginning of the session we had the Uttoxeter iskate to ourselves and Santa. Santa lent a hand with Minnie’s skates, and gave a few ice skating basics.
Penguin and polar bear stability equipment are available to hire at an additional £5 per item. For non-skaters, all of us, they were initially useful. The penguin and polar bears have handles at waist height. The user is able to gain support and stability from the device.
Dolly and Minnie were able to work out how to use their feet to push forward with the aid of the penguin or polar bear. Reuben has a natural balance, and can relax. He was immediately able to skate. Teddy had the most falls, Pete the funniest fall. A misjudgement of a corner caught Pete by surprise. The bits of ice from the rink hanging off his jumper, where he had laid in a heap on the ice. Reuben gave Pete a drag to the barrier and a hand up.
Ice skating will be on our ‘return to’ list. Having the rink to ourselves was a bonus.
To find an activity suitable for a cross-section of age and ability can be difficult. The offpeak timing did help. As the rink began to get busier, getting around became hazardous.
The ticket booth should offer, or advise parents new to the facility the benefits of having a polar bear or penguin to hold onto. These add-ons can only be purchased via the pay booth and not at the skate hire. The toilet facilities are basic considering the entrance price and the duration of the activity.
All things considered we will return to i-skate in Uttoxeter.
I will check online for offers and future classes.
The night-times are being spent ironing every last tea towel, pillow slip and sock. Dawn Millward