Shopaholic? Me?

I need to get round to sorting out my son’s music lessons. He currently goes for piano lessons and he is on a waiting list to start violin lessons at school but ultimately he wants to learn to play the harp. You can imagine my pleasure that he would like to learn how to play the harp but you can imagine how scary the thought of purchasing a harp only to be abandoned a year down the line. On the otherhand if he took up guitar, I would struggle because a guitar often hurts my ears yet a bass despite its nice sound cannot really stand on its own. I suppose he could always consider a prs baritone which I believe is somewhere in between. But then again, I do like the harp and I do have another 2 kids… so who knows perhaps the harp will get some use if I bought one. And if not, I guess I could always resell it or donate it to my son’s school.

It would be great to have live music in our home.

Yesterday I was accused of being a geek. And I must admit that it is true. For example, I love my playbook tablet which I insisted we buy rather than my IT hubby. I use it for the kids to learn on, to keep them occupied, to play on, to watch films on, for cooking, as a book in bed, to go house hunting, as a diary, as a camera (though not often), checking my email, surfing the web and loads more. This is aside from the fact that my phone has all these capabilitie but has a small screen, my camera is a DSLR and I could not live without my laptop.

So yes, I am a official Geek!

My son has asked for violin or guitar lessons. Here comes the good part. He wants them because he thinks it will help him learn to play the Harp! So, not only are we funding his piano lessons and we are aware that he wants to learn how to play the Harp, so Harp lessons will have to follow… but guitar and / or violin too. I guess we have a musician in the making. Wonder what they earn? Otherwise how can he keep his future wife shopping?

I found a really cool gadget. I am sure it would make a great present for my hubby or for my sons very shortly. eotech have come up with a gadget that not only does night vision but holographic night vision. It means you can see everything in 3D whilst in complete darkness. I think that is so cool. I think my hubby’s geekiness is rubbing off on me! Argh!

Still, I think it is so cool.

My son has started horse riding recently and it is amazing how much an equestrian hobby can cost. And we are not talking just the cost of the lessons but all the riding gear:- the helmet, the jodhpurs, the Boots, the back brace, etc etc.

Thankfully his teacher is great. Because she knows how quickly they grow and how quickly hobbies changed, she told us we could use wellies and a bike helmet (if we had one) till we decided to continue. She also said jeans are ok too. Phew.

Mind you he has been going about a year now…. so maybe not so recently… and maybe time to get the proper gear!

I really must get round to buying myself some specs. Mine are literally falling apart. I keep having to tighten the screws and it has chips in the lenses and scratches. I am definately going for cheap eyeglasses because these were around £400 and well as I said they are falling apart and unimpressive. At least if a cheap pair start to fall apart, you can just buy another pair.

Now where is my prescription again!

I need a new pair of Specs and am thinking about checking out these people.

Has anyone used them before?

I just had a great idea, or maybe it is a midnight spur of the moment idea but I was thinking that this year instead of Christmas cards, I would make postcards with a pre-printed message. I mean after all postcard printing is probably cheaper than Christmas cards, you can do without envelopes, you don’t have to write a message on everyone’s card as it could be pre printed on the card and I could even get it with a picture of the kids. And yes, I would probably have to start getting organized now. I know Christmas seems far away but we are already on the countdown and this year I have 3 kids… and one has already asked me for a WII!!!!

I am exhausted already!

If like me, you are forever buying stuff, then probably like me, your house is full to bursting. So what can you do? Well you can throw out what you don’t use, sell it using places like eBay or recycle it.

Personally I hate the first option, because if I bought it (unless I really used it to death), then someone else might like it or have a use for it. The second option requires time and perhaps maintence and a whole load of writing descriptions to every knitty gritty detail and I don’t have the time for it (though you do earn some extra cash to buy new stuff) and last is my favourite, you recycle it. Which is what brings me to freecycle.

Freecycle works like this… you have things you no longer like, want or even work and you list them. It appeals to someone and viola they come collect and wow your extra space.

Other benefits include :-

• Being able to try things before you decide to buy so you know what options you want,
• If you need something as a stop gap (I once borrowed* a bed for a couple of weeks while I had many many guests)
• Getting rid of all your extra never used stuff
• Getting spare parts – which is why even broken stuff is listed as 2 broken items could lead to 1 good as new!
• Most of all – Being GREEN and environment friendly.

Anyway, if you like the idea, just sign up and really start recycling. Just chose the area you live in or are prepared to drive to!

*Technically you are not allowed to borrow or lend, but you can work around the rules as I did with the bed. Obviously don’t lend something you don’t want damaged or will be very upset if it does not come back, but otherwise why not?

Today, I had to explain to my son that our local aquatics shop closed down to move somewhere else. As a four year old, he could not understand that concept. “But when are they going to open again?”. I did promise to take him to the new shop, though I suspect he will be dissappointed as it is located in a huge Garden Center. He wants to buy his Daddy another Blue Fighter Fish as his last one died. Isn’t that sweet?