Living A Very Full Life ( Plus Close Encounters With A Scary Creature)

Yesterday morning I woke early, knowing that the day was going to be busy. I had work to go to, then home to prepare for my youngest Daughter's birthday celebration. I woke up early, after a broken night's sleep. (I still those very clever mice in my truck and they are most active around 3/4 a.m) I stumbled out of bed, making my way outside, collecting some washing from the clothes line on my way back from the toliet. I threw them all on my bed, grapping some light cotton trousers to wear ( it's been lovely and warm these last few days).

I was about to put the trousers on, when I saw a huge Scolopendra, (the biggest, I have ever seen) on them. I ran with the trousers, towards the door, not wanting this creature to be let loose in my home. ( Three years ago, myself and my daughter got bitten by one and it was extremely painful and very traumatic as it was in the middle of the night, when we were both aslepp in our beds). Before I got to the door, it fell from my trousers, I grapped the sweeping brush and used it to pin it down. They move really fast, so I had to move fast. I surprised myself actually, considering I had not long woken up.

As the Scolopendra fell to the floor, I screamed, which had woken two of my daughters, my eldest came running, I had to yell at her not to come inside as she would have stepped on the Scolopendra, she ealso had to keep all of the animals out. I needed a few minutes to try and figure out how I was going to get it out. It was trying it's hardest to get away. I had to act fast and in the end I had to kill it. I really do not like having to kill anything, but if I lifted the sweeping brush handle up to try and capture it, it would definitely escape. None of my girls wanted to come near it and I don't blame them, knowing how painful their bite can be.

With all of that, I found myself running late. I quickly got dressed, choosing a different pair of trousers, grapping a banana to eat for my breakfast, filling up my water bottle and I was out the door, making my way to work. Work was fine, I just got on with it, working as fast as I could, as I only had two hours once I got hoe to get everything ready for the party. Two hours later I was out that door and when I got home I was happy to see my two eldest were making cookies for the party. I had still had to make a cake, a raspberry sponge cake with mango cream on top. Unfortunately I didn't think to take any photos of the process as I just didn't have time. I needed to use my blender for part of the recipe, but when I went to use it, it didn't work, which just added on more time. But within half an hour the cake was in the oven.

I also wanted to make some hummus, which I did, but as the blender was not working, I ended up using a potato masher. Which meant my hummus was a bit lumpy. but it still tasted good. My daughter wanted a picnic with her friends by the river and then wanted to go on a bike adventure. As I don't have a car, I loaded up my shopping trolley, with a mat, lots of juice, cups, Twister (the game) and lots of snacks, which included nuts, dried fruit, gaucamole and my lumpy hummus. I didn't have time to decorate the cake, so I had to carry the mango cream, which I made with coconut cream and mashed up mango ( this is where I needed the blender) and some strawberries for decoration. So I could assemble it all when I got to our picnic site.

It was a 20 minute walk up hill, so I was happy to have my girls with me to help and although it was hot, their were some cloud in the sky, which kept it nice and shady for us. We arrived late, but soon found the perfect spot, where I put down our rug and got some food and drinks out. All of my daughters friends soon arrived and they got stuck into the food. After that they played twister and then Uno, which was a gift from one of her friends. It was great to see all the kids, entertain themselves, whilst I got a chance to sit for a bit and chat with a few of the parents that decided to stay with us.

Then the kids wanted to get on their bikes, so after packing up all the food into the trolley and giving it to my two eldest to take home, I set off with them. I had a route all figured out, mostly uphill, but they all handled it really well. The we made our way to one of the plaza's in town, as some of the kids had roller blades and my daughtered was actually gifted a pair from one of her friends. We spend a few hours there, which everyone enjoyed. All in all it was a great success, my daughter declared that it was "the best day ever".

I was exhausted by the end of it though, especially considering the way my day had started. When I eventually got home, I made sure to shake out all of our bedding. Scolopendra's are quite solitary, but I had to make sure. I really did not want a repeat of two years ago and I am happy to report that we didn't. I slept like a baby, the only thing that woke me was some thunder, but by then it was already morning. Gosh but my life is very full these days.

All photos used in this post are mine.