Ar-war-wot!

I think we may have solved the mystery of Isabelle's favourite utterance. It goes "Mummy?" (questioning tone) "Mummy!" (very demanding) "Ar-war-wot!" She says it many times a day, in all sorts of circumstances. And the only thing I can think of is that she's imitating Tamsin and I ..... Tamsin when she repeatedly says "Mummy? Mummy!" a hundred or more times a day and then I irritably shout "Oh, what?!!!"

It's been Tamsin's turn to be ill the last few days, with a quite high temperature and just wanting to sit around quietly watching TV or having stories read to her. It's a bad cold and sore throat, so it won't last long, but she's been feeing quite rough at times, poor thing. It has led to very disturbed nights for all of us, so Bill and I have been quite shattered and I've fallen asleep early in the evenings, hence no blogging.

Yesterday I was supposed to be helping at the local NCT Nearly New sale, but had to take Isabelle with me so wasn't quite as productive as usual. We did help out, though, and then got the chance for the preview shopping that is the perk of helping and why I do it! I was somewhat surprised when I ended up spending £46, and on thinking more clearly about it when I got home and checking the clothes and stuff I had bought, decided I had been overcharged by about £20. This morning I was checking the labels on the last couple of things I hadn't brought in from the car prior to phoning to complain, and discovered that the two boxes of Playmobil I'd supposedly bought for £1 each (thought it was a bargain!) were actually £10 each!! They're nice but I wouldn't have bought them if I'd realised. Still, I did buy a nice telescope for £3.50 which I am saving for Tamsin's birthday.

Today Tamsin has done pattern blocks, we've made and played with pink, mint-smelling playdough, Playmobil, and lots of CBeebies. She's pottered around in the garden while I have cleared out the old car for Bill as I am going to be driving the Prius now. No church as the girls are not well enough to go. I tried to retire to the sofa with the latest copy of the EO magazine and a bad headache, but demanding children do not allow such things.

I have a long list of urgent and important administrative tasks such as doing the petty cash for work, deferring my student loan for another year, several important Playschool forms to fill in, and telling HM Revenue and Customs that I earn so little from Usborne that I should not be liable for self-employed NI contributions. Quite when I'll get them done I do not know.