Perioral Dermatitis

I have been developing an unsightly rash around my mouth so I went to see the doctor on Friday. I thought he would tell me to go away and to stop wasting his time. He's so sweet, he took it seriously and diagnosed Perioral Dermatitis. Of course the cause is unknown and there is really no cure. I have to stop using make-up, face creams of any sort, and I can't wash my face with soap, only plain water. I think I will get used to it but my face feels like sandpaper today. I'm so used to a bevy of creams and lotions to moisturise myself.

Away from home

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I’m in Brighton with the girls and the Fox. I love being here. It is restful and fun. The baby continues to be a real charmer and his Mums continue to be devoted to him in a sensible way. We went into town this morning. We had lunch then we came home. I realize it doesn’t sound very exciting but it is exactly what I need. I go home tomorrow and I have various events to get ready for. Nothing too strenuous but, nevertheless, plans to be made and jobs to be done. I’m having the Saturday morning Coffee Soiree at my house next week so I have to do something about the state of my patio. It is covered in weeds and moss and crud. I left the table out for weeks (in the rain) and it is disintegrating which isn’t attractive. It started life as an indoor wooden table so it’s not surprising.ere hhhhhhh

Writing

I gave my serious piece of writing to Nigel last evening and he returned comments today. Lovely, lovely man thought it was just fine and that I would do okay in my new career as student. Zoe, Nancy, Nigel and I went to dinner last night at Gee's restaurant. It was my way of saying thank you to Nancy and Nigel for writing references that helped me into Ruskin. I was thanking Zoe for putting me up for a week when the children were here. I like having a bolt hole in a listed house.

Something to do with my new life

Nigel rang me up last week to suggest that there is no time like the present to start learning to write in a serious, academic way. My inner hedonist said, "Uh, oh" but the new me agreed with him so he set me a little task. I'm finding that it is quite different trying to write seriously with book based evidence than just churning out a blog or a story. I've been reading about Anglo-Saxons so he suggested writing a short piece about them and relating it in some way to the present day. It has taken days but I'm finally finished and I shall give it to him today. I'm still waiting to hear from Ruskin as to whether I will have to pay fees for my course in the autumn.

We are suffering the final days of August. It has been wet and cold. The cold I don't mind but the rain is only good for keeping me out of the garden by necessity rather than choice. The new border that Judith planted is coming along very well. Because it is a herbaceous border, it won't come into its own until next year. I did manage to mow half the lawn but it grew back again before I could get to the second half. I have finally got a date for the fence - 8th Sept. I'm going down to Brighton on Thursday to see Harry. Oh, Alison and Sian as well.

Family Reunion

Here we are, the happy fifteen. Starting at the top from L to R we have - Charlie Gee, Jane Hacking, Alison Pike, Harry, Sian Williams, Rachel Gee, Catherine Foglesong, Queen Mother holding Rosie, Chloe Gee, Michelle Hacking, Charlie Gee (the younger) Sam Foglesong, Adam Gee and Daniel Hacking holding Olivia.

It was a wonderful week. Sometimes these things have lots of hiccups and bumps but we rubbed along pretty well. This picture was taken by a photographer whom I hired to take good family pictures and it was worth it. We celebrated Sam's birthday that day. He was 12. On the Friday we hired a minibus and driver to take us out for the day. It could have been a complete disaster because it happened to be the day that 150,000 people were converging on Blenheim Palace for a game show. Our driver picked up the Headington contingent at 9:30 at the Black Boy and an hour and a half later we arrived at the farm for the others (usually a 20 minute journey). Then we tried to head off for Stratford. Fortunately, Phillip, the driver, new the back roads but it hardly helped because so did everyone else. It was 11:45 and we were no where near Stratford so we stopped in Bourton-on-the-Water for our picnic lunch. We let the kids go wild for half an hour then reboarded. It was clear that our time was running short so we dumped Stratford and headed straight for Warwick Castle. This was smart because it is an excellent place for children. It's kind of like Walt Disney meets Simon de Montfort (sorry, I couldn't resist that). They fired off the final trebuchet (look it up) at 5:30 and we collected ourselves and climbed back on the bus. We left Warwick just before 6 and got home 2 hours later. Daniel figured out that the amount of time we were on the bus, we could have flown to New York. You might think that everyone would have been feeling miserable and rotten but not a bit of it. There were no fights and no crying babies. We all decided after the event that it was a great day that we would always remember because of its quirkiness. We came home and gobbled up a takeaway and fell into bed. Alison and Sian left the next day and Daniel and Michelle a few days later. I had Jane's company for the rest of the week - a big plus. She was able to come to Nigel's and to the Book Club.

Outcome

Whatever I did on Monday it seems to have worked. I had a letter from Ruskin on Thursday accepting me for their one year access course for a history degree. I don't know whether it was the outfit, my babbling about Anglo Saxons or my overall air of intelligence and determination but they are having me. Needless to say, I am tickled pink. It was nice that all the children were here because we settled down with family and a few friends and we celebrated. I owe a lot to Nancy and Nigel both of whom wrote references for me which I'm sure played a big part in the acceptance. The only possible hitch now is finances. If I can tell them I have been resident for three years, I pay very little. If I can't say or prove that, it will cost a great deal for this first year. I don't know how much but when I asked the people who were interviewing me for a ballpark figure, all they would say was, "It's prohibitive."

Interview

I have been invited for a second interview. This one is on Monday afternoon so very little time to be nervous and anxious. I'm still counting on the Anglo Saxons which I'm reading and very happily. Now I just have to worry about what to wear. Zoe suggests a JoJo outfit but I'm afraid it might be too colourful and flamboyant. On the other hand, I don't want to look like some blue stocking frump or some older woman trying too hard. Any suggestions gratefully received.

P.S. I am serious about the course but one has only one chance to make a first impression!

Branching Out

I've been going along now for two years living as a single person. It has been quite rough at times but I'm doing pretty well. However, my activities fall into the niche of older retired woman; taking things quite easy and doing many things outside the house that I've always done. Lovely though it is, I had begun to realize that it wasn't enough. I need to try something that will take up all of my time and energy and clog up my mind. So guess what I'm trying to do? A proper first degree at University. It turns out that in order to be considered, I have to do an Access/Foundation Course. I haven't been a student for about a hundred years and I need to get back in the groove and prove to the College that I'm serious and that I can do it. I have applied for a few different preliminary courses and I'm waiting to hear if any of them will have me. I have actually got one interview for a history access course on 4th September. Apparently I have to be ready to discuss the period of history in which I'm most interested and books that I have read. Oh Oh! I knew there was going to be a catch. Never mind. I started last night reading a book on AngloSaxons and I have historian friends who will help me with vocabulary. I had coffee this morning with some of them and already they suggest that I start learning Old English. This is a precursor to Middle English and then Modern English. It is like a totally foreign language so I had better get busy. When I start writing this blog in Old English you will know that I have succeeded.

Enter, The Fox

I spent three days in Brighton last weekend looking after The Fox while his parents went away overnight for a much needed break. It was Sian's birthday. I was slightly nervous but I needn't have been. He slept all through the night and woke up happy in the morning. They had put him to bed the night before so having me appear beside the crib was a surprise. I was treated to a big smile. We breakfasted together and then he went back to bed. His Mummies came home at lunchtime. Everyone was glad to see everyone else.

Here he is smiling, pursing and looking like a stud.

Mummy Ali and me

My Mummy reads me a story every time I put my head down for a nap or a good night's sleep. I'm getting the hang of it and pretty soon I'll be able to read to her. Oh! I forgot. I can't talk yet.