Mary
@marty82.bsky.social
I used to do lots of things, now I mostly attempt to keep small boys in one piece and get bossed around by a tiny cat.
And once more the child who has to be dragged outside kicking and screaming is the child who has to be dragged in also kicking and screaming. Different child this week, at least.
December 7, 2025 at 11:01 AM
And once more the child who has to be dragged outside kicking and screaming is the child who has to be dragged in also kicking and screaming. Different child this week, at least.
The GCSE Northern Ireland and Her Neighbours 1928-1958 somehow, despite WWII, remains the most weirdly uninvolving history module I have ever studied but by Christ the English could do with it being compulsory.
December 5, 2025 at 12:55 PM
The GCSE Northern Ireland and Her Neighbours 1928-1958 somehow, despite WWII, remains the most weirdly uninvolving history module I have ever studied but by Christ the English could do with it being compulsory.
Somebody tell me exactly how far we think the British Governments of the day at any point in the last 100 years would have allowed any attempts at serious armament by the Irish state get?
Less of the finger wagging about a situation you very carefully created and maintained, lads.
Less of the finger wagging about a situation you very carefully created and maintained, lads.
December 5, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Somebody tell me exactly how far we think the British Governments of the day at any point in the last 100 years would have allowed any attempts at serious armament by the Irish state get?
Less of the finger wagging about a situation you very carefully created and maintained, lads.
Less of the finger wagging about a situation you very carefully created and maintained, lads.
All but the Santa presents are being delivered by Evri.
Christmas in January it is, then.
Christmas in January it is, then.
December 5, 2025 at 6:40 AM
All but the Santa presents are being delivered by Evri.
Christmas in January it is, then.
Christmas in January it is, then.
Probably should have expected the "No you can't buy Niece a pony just to wind up your mother" conversation when I married Ireland's biggest troll but, no. You can't get Niece a pony. And you can't borrow a pony for Christmas just to wind her up even if my dad's mate totally would do it.
December 3, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Probably should have expected the "No you can't buy Niece a pony just to wind up your mother" conversation when I married Ireland's biggest troll but, no. You can't get Niece a pony. And you can't borrow a pony for Christmas just to wind her up even if my dad's mate totally would do it.
Oh good the cat piddled somewhere again.
I need to put a cat flap in the living room door.
I need to put a cat flap in the living room door.
December 2, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Oh good the cat piddled somewhere again.
I need to put a cat flap in the living room door.
I need to put a cat flap in the living room door.
OH, I've just been panickedly trying to draft all three of the TMAs at once instead of just the first one.
Loving this OU course but whoever writes the assessment section needed an editor.
Loving this OU course but whoever writes the assessment section needed an editor.
December 1, 2025 at 2:58 PM
OH, I've just been panickedly trying to draft all three of the TMAs at once instead of just the first one.
Loving this OU course but whoever writes the assessment section needed an editor.
Loving this OU course but whoever writes the assessment section needed an editor.
Am I avoiding my assignment?
Did the coat hooks I bought for the children two years ago suddenly affix themselves to the wall?
Did the coat hooks I bought for the children two years ago suddenly affix themselves to the wall?
November 30, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Am I avoiding my assignment?
Did the coat hooks I bought for the children two years ago suddenly affix themselves to the wall?
Did the coat hooks I bought for the children two years ago suddenly affix themselves to the wall?
Every time the electrician or plumber or the oil man come to this house, they invariably say "Who DID this?" and lads, I don't know what to tell you.
At least one of the previous owners worked in the shipyard. I would bet almost all of it would be up to spec in an 80s oil rig.
At least one of the previous owners worked in the shipyard. I would bet almost all of it would be up to spec in an 80s oil rig.
November 30, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Every time the electrician or plumber or the oil man come to this house, they invariably say "Who DID this?" and lads, I don't know what to tell you.
At least one of the previous owners worked in the shipyard. I would bet almost all of it would be up to spec in an 80s oil rig.
At least one of the previous owners worked in the shipyard. I would bet almost all of it would be up to spec in an 80s oil rig.
He has woken up still mad at being called "the wise old man" of the team.
November 27, 2025 at 7:56 AM
He has woken up still mad at being called "the wise old man" of the team.
The evening soundtrack so far has gone Paint it Black -> Black Hole Sun -> Revolution 9 -> Perfect Day -> Johnny Come And Get Me, the new neighbours are going to have an education.
November 26, 2025 at 6:51 PM
The evening soundtrack so far has gone Paint it Black -> Black Hole Sun -> Revolution 9 -> Perfect Day -> Johnny Come And Get Me, the new neighbours are going to have an education.
The tap has been installed, with incidental rebuild of under-sink infrastructure, and the cat got herself stuck in the attic.
November 25, 2025 at 4:34 PM
The tap has been installed, with incidental rebuild of under-sink infrastructure, and the cat got herself stuck in the attic.
The plumber is here! We might actually have a usable tap tonight.
Or a new and horrible problem, that's always a possibility in this house.
Or a new and horrible problem, that's always a possibility in this house.
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 PM
The plumber is here! We might actually have a usable tap tonight.
Or a new and horrible problem, that's always a possibility in this house.
Or a new and horrible problem, that's always a possibility in this house.
Can we just try chaos with Ed Milliband, please? I feel it might be a more coherent brand of chaos, somehow.
November 25, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Can we just try chaos with Ed Milliband, please? I feel it might be a more coherent brand of chaos, somehow.
In the continuing war of me vs 6 YO crimes aginst footwear, I have just seen the Velcro strip on his school shoes shut.
I give it a week.
I give it a week.
November 24, 2025 at 9:35 PM
In the continuing war of me vs 6 YO crimes aginst footwear, I have just seen the Velcro strip on his school shoes shut.
I give it a week.
I give it a week.
Attempts to catch up on OU module being sabotaged by absolute belief of the cat that if I am sitting down she should also be sitting on the exact same spot.
November 23, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Attempts to catch up on OU module being sabotaged by absolute belief of the cat that if I am sitting down she should also be sitting on the exact same spot.
The current game of Not Getting Dressed Chicken has escalated to husband threatening to dress 4 like a baby and 4 looking him dead in the eye and going and getting a pull up from the depth of the cupboards.
November 22, 2025 at 8:38 AM
The current game of Not Getting Dressed Chicken has escalated to husband threatening to dress 4 like a baby and 4 looking him dead in the eye and going and getting a pull up from the depth of the cupboards.
6 YO mangling his carol service songs has reminded me of The Cowboy Carol, beloved of Mrs R in school, which my father refused point blank to believe was real until Radio Three played it on Christmas morning and we nearly missed Mass because he laughed so hard he couldn't breathe.
November 21, 2025 at 8:43 PM
6 YO mangling his carol service songs has reminded me of The Cowboy Carol, beloved of Mrs R in school, which my father refused point blank to believe was real until Radio Three played it on Christmas morning and we nearly missed Mass because he laughed so hard he couldn't breathe.
Ah. The cat has been wandering about yowling since 3am because the rain is solid. Fair enough.
November 19, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Ah. The cat has been wandering about yowling since 3am because the rain is solid. Fair enough.
Things my children have got away with in my mother's house today:
Blowing raspberries at aunties.
Giving the dog ice cream (he did ask first).
Scattering Lego across the living room.
Not eating lunch but asking for and getting ice cream anyway.
Blowing raspberries at aunties.
Giving the dog ice cream (he did ask first).
Scattering Lego across the living room.
Not eating lunch but asking for and getting ice cream anyway.
November 15, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Things my children have got away with in my mother's house today:
Blowing raspberries at aunties.
Giving the dog ice cream (he did ask first).
Scattering Lego across the living room.
Not eating lunch but asking for and getting ice cream anyway.
Blowing raspberries at aunties.
Giving the dog ice cream (he did ask first).
Scattering Lego across the living room.
Not eating lunch but asking for and getting ice cream anyway.
We are working through Terry Pratchett's kids short story collection and 6 YO has just discovered how far the man would go to set up a terrible joke (8 pages).
He is unimpressed.
He is unimpressed.
November 10, 2025 at 7:50 PM
We are working through Terry Pratchett's kids short story collection and 6 YO has just discovered how far the man would go to set up a terrible joke (8 pages).
He is unimpressed.
He is unimpressed.
I had a very nice night off and now I have to figure out where my mother in law put all the utensils.
November 9, 2025 at 4:57 PM
I had a very nice night off and now I have to figure out where my mother in law put all the utensils.
Wasn't imagining it, kids absolutely did make out like bandits last night.
So many more kids on our road these days it's great. Older neighbours are absolutely getting in on it too, which is hilarious. Although one had been banished to the kitchen for making a small child cry.
So many more kids on our road these days it's great. Older neighbours are absolutely getting in on it too, which is hilarious. Although one had been banished to the kitchen for making a small child cry.
November 1, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Wasn't imagining it, kids absolutely did make out like bandits last night.
So many more kids on our road these days it's great. Older neighbours are absolutely getting in on it too, which is hilarious. Although one had been banished to the kitchen for making a small child cry.
So many more kids on our road these days it's great. Older neighbours are absolutely getting in on it too, which is hilarious. Although one had been banished to the kitchen for making a small child cry.
My mother responded to creche's call for stuff by cutting up and bordering all her leftover fleece quilt backing in big squares.
Apparently flinging yourself into the middle of a giant pile of fleecy squares is the new best game in baby room.
Apparently flinging yourself into the middle of a giant pile of fleecy squares is the new best game in baby room.
October 30, 2025 at 2:55 PM
My mother responded to creche's call for stuff by cutting up and bordering all her leftover fleece quilt backing in big squares.
Apparently flinging yourself into the middle of a giant pile of fleecy squares is the new best game in baby room.
Apparently flinging yourself into the middle of a giant pile of fleecy squares is the new best game in baby room.
Absolutely astonishing how cooperative my kids are when it's Auntie coming to take them on a day out, rather than Mama trying to get them to leave the house. For any reason.*
*Not actually astonished
*Not actually astonished
October 27, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Absolutely astonishing how cooperative my kids are when it's Auntie coming to take them on a day out, rather than Mama trying to get them to leave the house. For any reason.*
*Not actually astonished
*Not actually astonished