The start of Lent...

Quite a variable week. Still have the cough and painful ear from the cold last week. Pancake Party at church, focus group at a cookery magazine, fall out with a member of family, Ash Wednesday in school, a gift of a friendship cake starter.

Good: great goodie bag from the focus group. And the Dr Who themed meeting room.

Bad: big upset within family. Nuff said.

Notable: I happened to be in the kitchen in the church hall when a request was made for egg free pancakes. The ladies making pancakes looked very alarmed at the idea, so I gamely rolled up my sleeves and whipped up a very acceptable batter, using extra oil instead of the egg. Everyone, including myself, was super-impressed!

Half term week

Good: PapaWolf did some yummy cooking! He planned to do Valentine's supper, and gained the confidence to cook a couple of other meals in the week too.

Bad: didn't do as much with the days the bigger cubs were with their dad as I'd hoped as I started a bad cold & felt quite run down. Also, the BigCub's hearing is really affected by recent colds and it is v frustrating for all.

Notable: I've been referred to have my wisdom tooth removed. I'm not excited.

A day "up north"

Good : fab carvery lunch with Nanna & Grampy. BigCub cleared her plate, LittleCub did really well, they both loved their DIY icecreams,  it was a delicious meal, nice relaxed atmosphere.
Bad: we forgot to put the BabyCub's amber beads back on in the morning, and didn't bring the chamomilla, so he was really v cranky a lot of the day. Tho he did sleep on rugs on the floor while we watched Beauty & the Beast.
Notable: I knitted a framed 2x2 ribbing square for the blanket I want to make for BabyCub. Pleased with myself. Started in car til it made me carsick. Finished during film while he slept.

a rollercoaster week

Good:my good friend bringing round my belated birthday pressie - a moleskine (tm) recipe journal

Bad : SIL finding out she will need more chemo.

Notable: school open day and dressing up as a decade day. My Biggest Cub looked amazing in her 60s style dress and original 60s white gogo boots!

My birfday!

Good: yummy lunch out, pressies, cake, good friends, my loving family, phone calls from afar.
Bad: COLD!
Notable: the temperature was the same as the day before, but the sun was out and that made the day feel so much happier.
So, anyone else have a birthday? Tell me... if not, tell me about your UNbirthday instead...

something different : shoddy UPS service - please help!

I have had a dreadfully tiring few days and haven't had the energy to keep up my Good/Bad/Notables, but I've been trying to help my very close friend, and her daughter, who just happens to be my own daughter's best best friend too, and as the communication with the people in question is seemingly being fruitless, I've decided I'm going to publicise this, with my friend's agreement.

My friend C & I have been close for nearly 7 years, and our kids are good friends too. D just celebrated her 10th birthday, a milestone, a very special occasion, and much joy for all her family. Her grandparents made a special visit from abroad, and she had a very grown-up dinner party. C ordered a very special cake as the centrepiece of the special party. Nothing unusual here, you're probably thinking. However, D has multiple severe & life-threatening allergies. The main allergies she has are dairy, wheat, eggs and nuts. As you can imagine, this makes birthday cake more tricky than average. 

Over the years, C & I have discovered a select few brilliant bakers who cater to these needs, and although it is possible to make simple baked goods at home for D, it's a much bigger deal to get a nice celebration cake which can be shared with others that doesn't taste "free-from", and if a professional can do it, then that is much better than trying to achieve this at home as well as organise the rest of the party.
So C ordered a wonderful cake from a fabulous lady based in Reading, and it was sent via UPS on Thursday to be delivered with Next Day delivery to arrive on Friday for the party on Saturday.
However, it became apparent on Friday evening that UPS had LOST the enormous box with bright stickers indicating the important contents. 
I tweeted UPS on Saturday because D was understandably devastated, and I wanted UPS to know.  It is sad when something goes wrong with a much longed-for and eagerly anticipated birthday cake, but most people can make a dash to a local bakery or supermarket and at least replace it with SOMETHING in time. Not so with this cake.
C spent the morning making some free-from cupcakes, the lovely cake making lady was on the phone with help and advice, and the cupcakes were lovely, but that's not the point.

Someone from UPS did get in touch with me, all eager to help, but imagine my disappointment, and C's anger when the cake turned up today, 5 days late, with a half-hearted apology, and UPS decided that all is well now the cake has arrived.
I doubt anyone would want to eat it 6 days after baking, the party has long gone, and nothing will undo the damage done to D.
She is a fantastic child, and she happens to have some rather serious allergies.  She has NEVER felt or been treated as limited in any way before. But I could clearly see that she now feels limited by her allergies, and that makes me angry.
At the very least, I think UPS should repay the cost of the cake and delivery to both C and the cake maker. I also think they should consider forking out for a fresh new cake free-from which could maybe be shared with the class as a belated celebration.
I certainly don't think they should just allow themselves to feel all is fine now.
Please share this story as much as possible, I'd really like them to take some responsibility.

1,2, miss a few

No excuses, no regrets, missed Tuesday & Wednesday, so here's Thursday.
Good: little cub sent to Golden Book for her model of a CyberMan. Yes, my 4 year old girl made a CyberMan out of boxes! I'm brimming with geeky pride!
Bad: stayed up way too late watching Misfits on BTVision On Demand, before it expires next week. Great stuff though.
Notable: some really meaningful discussions with PapaWolf following Eternal Law. Great not to argue or snipe but just talk about something different and interesting.
Right, now YOU join the party! Post your 3 a day...