The Tale of Princess Top Ender and Baron Teenager Boy (and friends)

Once upon a time in a kingdom far away there lived a brave princess called Top Ender, who enjoyed playing on Arcade Games, such as The Fast and the Furious Super Bikes Racing Arcade Game. As a treat The King and Queen had taken the brave princess to the Kingdom of Brighton pier, where such a game existed.



Also in the kingdom, was Baron Teenager Boy. Baron Teenager Boy and his court also enjoyed playing The Fast and the Furious Super Bikes Racing Arcade Game and would often be found of an evening practising their skills, in order to impress the local Teenager Maidens.


And so it came to pass that both Princess Top Ender and Baron Teenager Boy were both going to race in the same race, as they has placed their coins into the machine at the same time. King Daddy stood next to Princess Top Ender, (Queen Mummy and Prince Baby Boy were posing for the court artist) as she navigated the course and Baron Teenager Boy's court stood with him.


As the race finished the court of Baron Teenager Boy congratulated the Baron on his triumphant 4th place victory. King Daddy looked at Princess Top Ender before clearing his throat loud enough for the Baron and his court to hear.


The Baron and the Court looked over to where Princess Top Ender was still sat on her motorbike and in front of the screen that showed a large "3rd".


The Baron Teenager Boy was then horrified that he had been beaten by a Princess, and not just any Princess but a five year old Princess. As the Baron left the Kingdom his Court could be heard calling out about how he had been beaten by such a young Princess and the Baron vowing that he would never play a Princess at the game again.

Princess Top Ender however took it all in her stride. After all, she was the best motorbike riding Princess around!

The End

I love you, but I am not buying you a Christmas Gift

Over at Parent Dish there is an article by the lovely Joanne Mallon about not buying gifts at Christmas for the adults in the family. Joanne sent me a quick link to it on Twitter as she knows that Christmas is big business in our house and was wondering my thoughts on the matter.

Like most holidays Christmas is becoming more and more commercialised. We all know the joke about the overheard comment about a nativity scene in a Christmas Display shop window and how "They are bringing religion into everything these days!", but that is really what Christmas is all about and is the main feature of the season in our house.

It was because of this that last year Daddy and I decided that we wouldn't buy gifts for each other, but would spend £15 on making a gift for each other. Okay so I decided, and it was also to do with reducing our Christmas budget and something I had seen in an episode of "7th Heaven" once, but it sounds better if I say it was both of us right?

We did both want something more personal and something that meant more than just another pack of chocolate or a new shirt. Daddy got quite into it and made his in secret at work, he teased me about it constantly. Meanwhile I was bricking it (sorry) because I couldn't think of anything to do for him... and I'm the crafty one!

I got a game of "Piptionary", yup a home made version name after me. It was great, he thought of everything, and we played a couple of games after we went to bed. Totally the best Christmas gift ever! I made him some melted record bowls and a jar of slips of paper saying "I love you" in 100 different languages. I did also make him some fudge, but it kind of went wrong.... luckily he loved what he got!

This has also spread to our birthdays. The above are the clocks that Daddy made for me for my 30th!

It was also at this time that my Sister, Mum and I decided that we would do a Secret Santa for the adults on our side of the family. We decided that we needed to spend £20 on one gift instead of what we normally spent. It worked out great, because we all spent less overall, we all got a gift that was thought out and not a last minute panic buy.

My Mum didn't want to do it this year (although she didn't stick to the rules last year either!) and so my Sister and I decided to take the next step this year and not to buy for each other or each others partners, but the children are fair game! We again set a price limit (£20 per child) and we both suggested gifts for our own children and left it at that.

Our Mum, always tells us not to buy for her but we never pay any attention, she gave us life after all! I always try to get her something important or special, but this year I am getting her a home made hamper and a photo album with photos of her Grandchildren. She specifically asked for the photos, the Hamper is my idea (I have made hampers for people for ten years now!) and it is going to be filled with things that she will use and a few extra treats that she wouldn't normally buy other than on very special occasions.

Before we go any further however, we need to tell Daddy to stop reading. That's right Daddy we are about to talk about your Christmas gifts and I would like them to remain a surprise so can you go away now?

This year the stocking for Daddy will contain all the usual things that an adult stocking in our family seems to include; deodorant, tissues, mints, a bit of chocolate, a couple of pens and a few little stocking filler toys which we normally pass on to the children. His gift is so far in two parts.

The first gift is again split into two. One part is a square photo frame for his desk. It has four areas for photos and I am going to have it engraved with our names under each square and each of us will have a head shot Brady Bunch style (where we are looking at someone in another frame). The second part of this will be frames of each of us individually, again with us looking at the other photos or pulling faces.



The second part is a secret hollow book. I am going to give it to him, with some sweets inside and a little love note or two. I just hope he realises what it is, and doesn't think it is just some book that he can't open the pages on!!!
You don't have to spend a fortune to have a good Christmas, some thought and a little effort go a long way. And kids always want to play with the box rather than the toys right?
I guess what I am trying to say is that even if you aren't religious Christmas isn't about money, or gifts its about family and love and goodwill to all men. So even though I love you, I am not buying you a Christmas gift... I might make you one though!

Wordless Wednesday - Percy our Gnome

This is Percy.

Percy lives in our front garden. He arrived one day whilst Daddy was at work, I was out with Baby Boy and Top Ender was at school.

Top Ender doesn't know it, but he is going to go on holiday soon...

Top Ender Giggles - Fractions

Last night Daddy was taking Baby Boy out on a secret Christmas errand (he went to Maplins, so I am guessing I have another Instructables Christmas gift) whilst Top Ender went to bed.

Top Ender has had three late nights in a row and as such was not impressed that Baby Boy was going out with her Daddy, as she felt she needed him in the house in order to go to sleep.

"It will now take me ages to fall asleep, an hour and a half! And you wont be back for an hour and two quarters!" she yelled stomping up the stairs

Daddy looked at me as we both did the math in our heads

"But they are the same!" Daddy called back
"Hmph" grunted Top Ender

The Parents Evening Worry!

When I was Top Enders age, I remember parents evening as being something that my parents went to, then came home and pretended that the teachers had told them some horrid things about me, before actually confirming that I was on target for what was expected of me.

As I got older, parents evening became terrifying for me, not because I wasn't a good student, but because I hated feeling that I had let my parents down by not trying hard enough. I was not a "Straight A" student, although I always tried hard.

Parents evening now is just as terrifying, because I worry that I am letting Top Ender down by not helping her enough, or by helping her too much!

At our appointment on Wednesday we spent ten minutes looking at Top Enders books and the work she has done with Mrs Wise Owl (that's Top Enders teacher) so far this year. Both Daddy and I were impressed by Top Enders work and spotted confirmation of a couple of areas in her work that we knew that she needs help with.

Then it was time to speak with the teacher.

Mrs Wise Owl let us know that Top Ender is doing well and other than the couple of areas that we had already spotted, she was above average in her work. The only "concern" was that Top Ender constantly hums or sings under her breath! The bit that amuses Mrs Wise Owl is that Top Ender doesn't even seem to realise she is doing it... it is unfortunately a habit that needs to be curbed.

We came up with a plan to help Top Ender and were sent on our way. It was all over and done for another term and a little disappointing, because as it turns out I'm doing all I should and the little extras are showing that Top Ender is thriving on it!

Top Ender Giggles - Real Food

Last night to stop Top Ender and I moping around the house, Daddy took a surprise night off and took us on a long stopped tradition of walking round the local shopping Centre on a Thursday night. Top Ender was starting to feel hungry and so we ventured to the food hall of Marks and Spencers

"As a treat, I'll buy you a Marks and Spencers meal for dinner" I told Top Ender

"But I don't want a Marks and Spencers meal!" whinged Top Ender

"I'll let you choose any meal you want, I won't only give you a few options!" I tried brightly

"But I want real food... like McDonalds!" slandered Top Ender

Just a quick edit, for all those who have no idea what M&S is about, this was a Christmas ad from them in 2006...

Altogether now; This isn't just food this is M&S food.

He was a terrific mouser

I had a horrid decision to make yesterday and subsequently last Night I had a strange dream that reminded me of the Film "The Three Lives of Thomasina" and in particular this scene;

Because today I am taking Dibbles, one of our cats, to the Vets to be put to sleep.

Dibbles is a very old cat, he must be 21 years old, and when my Mum had to move from the house I grew up in he came to live with us and our three cats. Although he was one of the family cats, he was my cat and he use to snuggle into me and my bed when I was only a few years older than Top Ender.

I have explained to Top Ender that Dibbles is going to go to sleep, and that it is whilst he is asleep that he will die. I couldn't come out with the whole truth, we have already too much loss this year.

We are Christians and as such, have taught Top Ender about life after Death. She knows that in Heaven we will see those who have gone before us and this includes pets. She came up with an idea this morning that pets that go to Heaven before their owners are looked after by relatives or special foster Angels until the owner can take over.

She has come up with a little first day in Heaven plan for Dibbles, where he will do all the things that he likes and will find a nice warm blanket to snuggle on before he goes and visits with his and our relatives. This little story actually makes me feel better about the choice I have had to make.

This evening we will bury Dibbles and say a few words, there won't be bagpipes, but Top Ender and I will have a good cry.