Baking mad

We had the most fantastic pizza last night, having used the recipe in the little bread book of mums. The breadmaker made the dough, which when I took it out seemed quite wet, undeterred I rolled out two (very) rough circles of dough and placed them on pizza trays. Left them to prove for about 10 mins and then loaded them with toppings. Fifteen minutes later they were pizzas capable of inflicting pizza envy on a worldwide scale. Great cold too.

Today I've been running around in Clonmel looking for nice but cheap curtains to cover up the draughty doors and stop the gale force winds that are blowing through the house. Managed to find a pair of goldy/umber ones in Clonmel Fabrics for €60, fingers crossed that firstly they'll get put up sooner rather than later and secondly, that they'll work. Also managed to pick up 3 pairs of lighter curtains for the shop, just to help it stay a little more snug during the evening classes.

Du is now the proud owner of a Peugeot 203 (think that's it), 1.9 diesel van. It's black and a little banged in places, but he's chuffed to bits. He's been working on it for days now. Cleaning it up inside and working out how he's going to put his speakers - it's great. Unfortunately, the bad news is the insurance, double Dinas', which seems so unfair and they'd both be a prime example of why it's unfair. Dina is the little speed junkie, not Du, she's a maniac and there's no telling her. Restricting the speed on the car hasn't helped, I personally think she should write of to rally car companies and ask for trials. With the right training and direction she could really do well, she has no fear and which company isn't going to see her as 'saleable'. OK, so I've finished pimping my daughter now.

This is the van, I think he's called it Dave after a character in Space Odyssey???

I have tons of work to do and am not really sure where to start, but I'd better go. Before I forget though Bear has been re-homed by a lovely family down the road and whose children go to Kye's school, so at least we'll know how he's getting on.
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Boy Genius

It feels like this week has just flown by, I really need to find a way to make my days last longer and then find a pill to allow me to keep up.

On Monday morning I took Kye to see Anya Smyth the Educational Psychologist that Kye was assessed by before the summer. We gave Du the option to see her because he wanted to know if he also had ADHD on account that he can't sit still, stop fidgeting, etc. The 9.30am appointment in Kilsheelen ended at around 1pm and much to Du's disappointment he does not have ADHD. Disappointment because he's a bit odd, obviously. His constant need to do something is associated with his Dyslexia, apparently his mind is just wired up like that and there isn't really anything that can be done. His Dyslexia is also what makes him forget everything (same as Kye) and also why he has to know every precise little detail. Du put that bowl in the cupboard for example, will only work if he knows what cupboard, which space and if it has to go in other bowls, which ones go below and above it.

Actually, that description might be a little unfair but if you replace the bowl with a u-bend and me with Coni, his need to get it right, please his dad, be a good apprentice and subsequently a plumber results in it all getting a bit complicated sometimes.

The really good news is that although his Dyslexia holds him back his overall intelligence is average with only 5% of the worlds population being more intelligent than him when it comes to perceptual observational intellect (at least I think that's what it is). From a career point of view this would mean he should do well in things like architecture and engineering and that plumbing may not be testing enough in the long run.

Of course Du isn't really up for going back to take his Leaving Cert so his plan is to continue with the Plumbing, take as many complimentary courses as he can find like Auto Cad and see what happens. He may go back as a mature student when he has his apprentiship and some more experience under his belt. Either way the assessment means he now knows for sure that he's bright and he has a valid excuse of sorts for being a little nuts.

We have an appointment today to discuss Kye with one of his resource hour teachers today. Mrs Fives works with him and his Dyslexia and has brought him on no end. The biggest problem I'm having is trying to keep him motivated at home in order to complete the extra work he needs to cover. Ideally, I'd also like to begin filling in the gaps in his knowledge when it comes to being on par with his peers back home, not sure where that's gonna fit in at the moment. He has been really tired this week, walking around with big black circles under his eyes. He's eating even less than usual, this morning I basically had to force one and a half digestives and half a glass of orange juice into him. He has swimming today and will be sitting around for a couple of hours after with wet hair after, then hurling this evening but he'll still only eat plain pasta for dinner I bet.

I'm gonna go and get on with some work before our meeting, I'll post up how we get on and try and get some photos of the kids.

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Bear

OK so this could be quite possibly a little unfair I'll admit, by uploading the photos of this delicious puppy I could quite possibly be seen to be emotionally blackmailing people (no names mentioned, mum...). I'm not honest, just hoping we can find him a good home and blackmail someone else with these photos.

He's a lab cross nicknamed bear because he looks like a bear cub. Is actually very quiet and loves cuddles (a bit too much if you ask me). The children do not want him re-homed but with three bitches and Coni and not in that order, it's just not feasible. He's a chunky little chap, who seems at his happiest sleeping.

Anybody out there have some love??????

The meeting we had with Kye's teacher today went relatively well, his very poor memory is beginning to have an impact on his work and he spell as he speaks (as we all do), except he seems to be getting a little confused eg. he says w instead of r and rag became wag. I know it's not funny but Johnathan Ross isn't doing too badly, not sure the school could see my point of view.

D has put her CV all over the place, there seems to be only part-time work though, but she might be lucky and get a couple. She's at work this evening until 8, although we haven't seen much of her this week as Michaels parents are away on holiday.

Not too sure what the weekend has in store for us, work tomorrow and then the rest will depend on the weather a little. I've been a bad parent and not reminded Coni to take Kye to Hurling this evening, but I don't think he has remembered.

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