Polly's Holiday From Hell...?!

So, after a three week break I am back! Well and truly back to the world of blogging. While I haven't posted here on my Peri-wrinkl'e & Piercing's! I have been busy elsewhere (oh, yes I have!)

As well as being rested and relaxed, as in very, our holiday in the north west of Ireland has done us all the world of good. Not only is my skin, especially that on my knees(?) a lovely shade of light brown, my legs, arms, neck and face is now almost fully recovered from the onslaught of the midgies, horseflies and virtually every other kind of wild life imaginable.

Ah yes, we had a grand time. We survived the rain, floods, attacks, injuries, insults, etc and at the end of it we got home in one piece.

BB looking out at the North Atlantic Ocean from Mallin Head

1. The rain - yes, I had foolishly booked us into a new campsite this year. I did not want to spend all fourteen days beside the Atlantic Ocean, so I booked three nights in a village just west of Gweedore. Less than a week before this Gweedore had experienced heavy down pour, flash foods and all that this entails but lightening doesn't strike in the same place twice. Right?
2. Floods - escaping the beach with moments to spare the heavens opened. Unfortunately they decided not to call time and didn't close. We drove to Dungloe and discovered a nice little takeaway, whose name escapes me, that produced proper fresh, battered fish - shame about the frozen chips which accompanied it! After we enjoyed our finger food DG drove us all back to our luxury accomodation, whereby we sheltered from the rain in the car for roughly half an hour. Eventually there was a slight reduction in the volume descending upon us allowing only the most intrepid to venture hurriedly towards the tent...
3. Attacks - "Oh My God...!" Six inches of brown, brackish water below sea level stood the boys room. It's contents ranging between drenched, damp, barely damp and miraculously dry. Action Mommy sprang into action without another word! Simply taking the brand spanking new spare groundsheet from its bag and spreading it out inside Mommy & Daddy's room, much to the amazement of DG. Now we had a second layer of waterproof protection on which to bed down.Sometime around here words became harsh and unkind as other members of the party began to panic...
4. Injuries - not withstanding the fact that the previous day I had ventured onto the back of a

rather stout mechanised bull and promptly dismounted in an equally un-lady like fashion, or the fact that I'd fallen asleep on the afore mentioned beach in a curled up ball over my ruc sac I just got on with it! No problem was too big or small for Action Mommy. Sadly, this entailed inviting the two boys to
share our sleeping accomodation while theirs dried out.This of course meant that both they and their rubber mats/airbeds, sleeping bags, and themselves all had to squeeze into our room along with Gypsophillus the dog! No problem, after all it is an eight man tent which means that our
room is intended to hold four fully grown adults. Hmmm! This obviously does not take into account the fact that LB sleeps like the proverbial starfish - with his knee in the small of his Mum's back.

5. Insults - not only did this result in broken sleep; my being squashed against the side wall of the tent invited further disastrous downpour INSIDE the nice warm, dry tent! Actually, no this is not what happened. Two things: a) I woke with back pain and stiffness which still is proving problematic nearly three weeks later and b) later that morning LB announced that he'd discovered two nasty looking ticks on his stomach!

All I can say is that despite all this, and a very nearly broken foot courtesy of the mechanical bull this was NOT the holiday from hell! We had a great time and survived all kinds of adversity, proving that we are made of hardy stuff.

My only regret is that at the time of the great flood, which was quickly dealt with I was unable to locate my camera and get some pictures taken. After all, who would believe it? While all of the above is absolutely true and accurate much of this is written in such a way as to obtain maximum dramatic effect, why not drop in another day and find out what we really got up to...?

Polly's Traditional Medicinal Hot Chocolate

Hot off the back of a weekend out in the wilds of Charleville Castle, this week has been sheer relief in the food stakes. No more Dunne's Stores Beef Curry boiled in a bag for me, or so I thought...

Our evening meal on Saturday had consisted of what I can only refer to pre-digested excreta containing lumps of beef, served with a tiny portion of boiled white rice. Each was given a choice of boil in the bag Beef Curry, Chicken Curry or Spaghetti Bolognaise for those of a weaker disposition.

The emphasis of the weekend being placed firmly on Camp Craft and NOT on cooking resulted in three lines of hungry scouts queuing up for sustenance as the light quickly faded. Considering the offending bags were still frozen solid and each billy can is only able to accommodate one meal at a time this proved to be somewhat of a challenge, but we survived!

Later in the evening, following a star lit hike through Charleville Forest one and all were cold and thirsty, needing something warm and sweet to ward off the imagined companions that'd accompanied us on our hike. Toasted marshmallows and hot chocolate for twenty proved to be just the thing to settle our troup down before bed...

Some five days later, having gladly left the meagre rations behind in the forest I am happy to report that I'm also dying with Coryza! (That's posh for a head cold...) After hours of sneezing fits, streaming eyes and half a box of tissues later I remembered the camp-fire hot chocolate and realised that this was just the cure required.

Admittedly it was just for me which of course simplified its preparation, as did the use of my trusty microwave oven. In just three minutes I was able to make the perfect medicinal hot chocolate. How? I used two teaspoons of Nutella in warmed milk and stirred it frantically for a few moments!

It may not be rocket science, but I can assure you that this rather odd way of making one of life's little childhood luxuries is A1! The hazelnut & chocolate spread can take a while to dissolve, although probably no more than conventional hot chocolate/drinking chocolate or cocoa. It also adds a touch of creamy luxury missing from most other attempts at making your own after ski chocolate drink at home.

There was only one thing missing from this afternoons mug and that was the shot of spiced Drambuie! As I still have to venture out to the school run, I am quite content to forego that particular pleasure, but it does add to what is already divine!

All credit goes to BB, my eldest son for the new method of spoiling oneself. Due to his absolute laziness/imagination there is a new family tradition to pass on to my grandchildren, assuming this horrid cold doesn't finish me off first...

Bon Viveur!

Polly
Vinca Cards

Polly's Arctic Bunny Suit

OOooh! There's so much to do and so little time to do it in. Last week in the run up to the half-term break I had visions of spending long hours in the house with the two boys finally rescuing it from the quagmire of accoutrement's built up over the years. Like all good magpie's we live in the middle of a pile of clutter which we simply cannot bear to part with; perhaps this is the reason for the various members of the crow family building their nests within spitting distance of the house...

What I wouldn't give for a visit from Aggie and Kim to de-clutter and deep clean all those hidden corner's for me! Meanwhile the fantasy continues in the form of a written contract binding my eldest dear son to my side for the whole of this week; in performing his various neglected chores - without protestation - our nest will soon be ready for decorating. Once this is done we'll be out of the CHAOS phase of our lives and he'll be able to invite his friends over. Hardy, ha, ha - LOL!

CHAOS is an acronym coined by Marla Cilley - otherwise known as Fly Lady. It represents that horror of horror that all teenager's are so prone to; which is the double standard of can't be bothered + won't be bothered but want my friends over too = Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome!

The news so far is poor. BB has finally completed the extra-delightful task of providing his pet ferret with a clean and warm environment for the winter; lucky thing! He was also persuaded to bring in fuel for the in the stove; LB was coerced into taking the ashes out and the result was that the fire was lit hours later than intended - at nearly 7.30pm!

Meanwhile, Mum; the intrepid Scouter was lounging on the sofa in the sitting room complaining of stomach cramps and abdominal tenderness. The kids have diagnosed appendicitis; personally I think it probably has more to do with the copious amounts of draught Guinness consumed at Ms T's hen party & Mr T's stag party on Saturday night.

That wouldn't have presented too much of a problem; except for the fact that by 1pm Sunday; I was on my way to Charleville Estate for a winter camp with the Scouts! Yes folks, it was -2C on Sunday night and we'd no running water or toilet facilities; let alone central heating or electric blankets to keep us warm...

It was about 1am when eventually my tired body decided to call it a night. My feet were warmish; so I was alright for the night! Mr B; in the adjacent tent was much the same as myself - only he took his socks off! I replaced mine with wool, angora and Lycra thermals purchased in Lidl on Thursday. In fact my whole body was swathed in fluffy bunny; I was lovely and warm - that is until I started to fall asleep...

By 4am I could tell that Ms M was awake; the rubbing noises coming from her double layered sleeping bags were a dead give-away. That was my opportunity to rustle my way quietly into the huge over sized bin liner called a survival bag; while she tip-toed out into the cold, cold field in her bare feet.

Happily my rustling had relieved one bladder and brought warmth to another pair of feet in the next tent; yes I'd also woken Mr B! As the two of them rustled their way into their respective space blankets I snacked as quietly as possible on a chocolate digestive biscuit to quell my rumbling tummy. Soon I luxuriated in a rosy glowing sensation; then sleep finally took over...

Would I do it again? The answer has to be a definite "Yes!" The kids had a great time; and yes they too were cold; although they got to snuggle into one another like kittens in a basket! It was an experience and it was fun. We'll all be better prepared for the conditions next time; ie I've already put a new four seasons sleeping bag on my list for Christmas - my existing one is as old as the hills and needs to be retired!

Next time we'll all remember to bring the magic ingredients for our supper and an extra layer of clothing for warmth; but hey we survived this camp and we'll be recovered from it by the time the kids go back to school!

Like I said, so much to do and so little time to do it! One thing I have noticed though; is that I am much tidier at home in the immediate aftermath of a camp; so much so that I was able to work at the kitchen table yesterday afternoon. Things are looking up; and even though yesterday was definitely a day for pj's and sweats, I got so much more done - just because I'd tidied the kitchen upon my return from our Arctic exploration...

I somehow doubt that my fantasy of being able to redecorate the house at the end of the half-term break will be realised. The week is already half gone; the rest of it filled with social engagements galore including breakfast BNI meetings; overnight ghost hunting at Charleville Castle on Halloween followed by a 50th birthday party...

At least the kitchen is tidier and my 'Appendicitis' symptoms should by well on the way to recovery by then; just in time for the next round!Meanwhile; we continue to live in a state of organised CHAOS. I continue to build my empire from the kitchen table and fantasize about paying someone to come in and do the rest for me!

Anyway, that's a quick overview of the past week from your favourite card making Scouter! I've got to go and ring Martin and confirm my participation in Friday's adventure now; wish us luck...

Polly Pierce
Hand-Made Greeting Cards & Wedding Stationary