Being 50, Big when I was Little.

   There's quite a catchy little tune on the wireless at the moment sung by Eliza Doolittle, ' Big when I was Little.'
I thought it had something to do with how big 'Wagon-wheels' were, or did my hands just get bigger, that sort of thing...
Quickly I was set straight.
Ohhhhh, what was popular!
I grew up in the 60's & 70's, which leaves me at the mercy of memories that swell and threaten to take over my sensitive relationship I have with real time.
 
   Big when I was little,
from my earliest memories, was being desperate for a Mustang push bike with a banana seat.
It totally happened!
A shiny green number with tassel flowing from the handle bars. Learning to ride, crashing and burning, getting back on and crashing again in a more spectacular way than before. Wearing my skinny flares that I grew out of way too soon.
   My cousin always had the latest and greatest stuff that a kid could potentially cause crippling injuries if you didn't use it properly.
Properly in the eyes of a kid, is finally being able to push the boundaries of the intended amusements.
I'm delighted the 'Space Hopper' made a come back... Down hill races on those...
'Clackers', were terrifying, because you had to keep-up and avoid shattering your own wrists!
Water pistols at close range could cause temporary blindness while you made good your getaway.
Skipping ropes quickly wore out their intended use in favour of 'reins for a horse, if you could get someone to be your horse, or reins on your Mustang...horse!
Skateboard skiing behind the 'Mustang'. The sissy bar behind the banana seat was for your passenger to hang on to and also to tie skipping ropes.
'Jack-in-the-box'. How completely mind altering and terrifying did you find them?
I blame my life long nervous disposition on that particular...um, toy.
What psychopath was allowed to patented that idea?
I began that morbid exploration of pre-thrill seeking. What element of my life did I feel was missing that the Jack-in-the-box seemed to replace?
Hate is not a strong word for that particular toy and their makers.
 
   Food.
I use that term loosely, I should probably say; things we were available for human consumption.
I see the chemistry technicians at work mix chemicals in large flasks. That reminds me of the powdered drink that Mum would mix in a jug with a cup of sugar and tell us not to come back until it wore off!
Kidding aside. People dyed their hair purple with the grape flavour.
The orange juice powder that was famed for the same that the astronauts drank in space in I'm guessing Apollo 11or 13.
I suspected what was ok in space, would have to be reassessed for consumption on earth...by young children...with Clackers riding Space hoppers.
Cereal: Mum was always very keen to get us to eat Granny's homemade granola. I had a bad experience with raisin bran, that has lasted.
Winney -the-Pooh cereal, Banana Bunch, Capt'n Crunch, Honey Comb, Lucky Charms and lastly Fruit Loops.
I recently purchased a box of Fruit Loops for the end of term treat...
They are not made with the high octane rubbish of years gone by. They're not as sweet and the colourings are of natural origin.
 
   So here I sit in my 60's style smock, having popped my vitamins, will then wrestle the youngest for the last Pop Tart and settle down to watch Herbie Love Bug!
I think if you wanted to add your "Big When I Was Little" that would be 'Neat-o'! Love Val x

Being 50 !-@...%*!!~! Technology

Hey all you's guys out there in techno land!
 This is coming from my I-pad...um iPad.
Instead of doing research and a bit of donkey work for my favourite freelance instructural designer/mobile learning and eLearning organiser ...
I am being 50.
The last three weeks have been a bit all consuming with getting caught up with; what the rest of the world seems to have worked out as technology zooms along.
I've gone from zero to, oh I think I get it now.
Part of the research entails finding cutting edge, up and coming trends and then highlighting relevant and potentially helpful information in articles to make it easier for my boss to retain at a glance.
Which is hard, because I'm not even sure what I'm looking at most of the time!

  It was my little sister's birthday recently, she has gone from having her own business, to working for  the college/university in a "big girl" position. Her job responsibility in a team framework is responsible for the well being and guidance of student visitors. Better her than me!
My hermit tendencies are only kept at bay by our peeps.
She has way more peeps to chase than me, raised by people she's never met.
Not ideal...but then, if  we are going to be big girls in big girl jobs...then we'd better get on with it and make a damned difference!

I've found that I'm falling into place, finally feel like I can start giving those kids the opportunities in life without having to sweat the bank stuff.
It's life,
It's unpredictable,
And The Lord hath delt graciously with me.
Love Val

What's 50 got to do with it?

Still 50, means something different every day.
Sometimes I have no recollection of my facial features changing, varicose veins bulging,  eye sight getting fuzzier or that our peeps are breathtakingly amazing in all that they do.
   Not for one minute are they holier than thou, but the way they conduct themselves away from home leaves me feeling overwhelming relief. When they start going off with friends and meeting other people you've never heard of, a sense of unease creeps around and crosses over to what we are constantly hearing in the news.
All I can see are our peeps in these horrific situations.
I'm never completely happy until they're home.
When they keep good company, then, I'm less afraid and no one minds if I fuss.
   Our Peeps, are making choices according to the events they've been faced with.
Yesterday, young'un came home after having a busy day being a super hero.
She ran like the wind in athletics, fastest in her group...despite the spots before her eyes and the urge to barf on her knees when she was through.  
Then something switched on as her alter-ego went from non-confrontational to Captain Avenger.
She took human rights to a new level.
1- No one bad mouths her mate's Mum.
2- No one terrorises a defenceless person up against a fence without getting proper told. And other adjectives.
The adjectives were the warning; the retribution was a look inherited from my Granddad that would put you up against the wall at 30 paces. Not leaving any room for doubt that said bully: Done Bad!
And they's gonna get allot worse if this sort of thing goes 'round again.
Captain Not suffering fools gladly...has spoken.
  ' With power, comes responsibility.'
'Noted.'
   Then she split with her fella.. only.because they have nothing in common!
Seriously, how many adults can you think of that can mutually grasp that sort of reality?!

   Speaking of fellas...Bigg'un peeps, has been seeing her fella...the illusive boy friend for about two months.
I FINALLY MET HIM!!
   They really are like two peas in a pod. We thought he would be nearly catatonic with fear...but no!
He barely drew breath the whole time, but I fell he's a keeper. A rare and absolute delight in the known world of teenage boys.
They make my heart swell.
  
X Val

Being 50.

Hey all you in blogging land.
I thought all was lost when things got transferred to a new lap-top.
I finally found time to create a new blog-spot, then tripped over the old one just lying around in the ethos.
This year I turned 50.
Apparently, folk do it all the time. Some do it in grand style...mine involved a narrowly diverted melt-down, some long distance phone calls and some home made cards from my much beloveds.
Dinner was cold.
But that's ok because the table was decorated lovely with candles. Don't worry, there was a completed risk assessment with the candles.

I have found that growing old gracefully has become thwarted by a teen and a tween.
Being a bit of an older mum, I have that combination of the Mum/Gran nature of nurturing. Well, that's how I see it in my delusional little world. Some times, for excitement, I surprise myself with periods of manic singing, dancing and laughing like a burro because I can't get the simplest of jokes the right way around.
I also have this feeling that I need to please all, all the time, tendency to spoil children randomly.
But when the hamster (in exercise ball) insists on crowding my ankles...just the mere touching of my ankle will send me into turrets type behaviour. It's not like it's just being lovable...no. It's a hateful, wind-up of a creature.
Yah, welcome to menopause.

My taste in clothing is roughly the same as the teen.
Read into that what you like, I'm just grateful she's stopped walking three paces ahead of me when we're in town. 

I've just let the maintenance fellow in to inspect our boiler.
We seem to be on the same wavelength on music, the type of music that is a bit durable, lasting longer than five minutes.
I think it was the pure  and simple joy of chatting with someone my own age.
(My much beloved is eight years younger)

Mostly, though, I'm happy with my lot in life.
Hopefully I've got alot more to look forward to.
For instance...meeting the teen's new boyfriend...