You know it is the school summer holidays when...

• Your children suddenly wake earlier than they have done in the last 6 months rendering any hope of a lie-in null and void.
• Gin consumption increases. Substantially.
• As does chocolate consumption.
• The fridge is permanently empty...
• ... as is the fuel tank of the car from all the ferrying to and from friends...
• ... and so is your bank account.
• It rains when you plan a day out to the beach.
• It's 30 degrees when you plan a trip to the soft play center.
• Your previously happy-to-play-together children, refuse to play happily together.
• You let the children fight and don't intervene believing that this is an essential life skill, and you can't be arsed.
• You buy craft supplies in bulk...
• ... and borrow craft books from the library.
• Your recycling bin is full of your kids craft creations.
• You know exactly how many days it is till they are back at school.
• You have watched all the DVDs in the house 3 times over and it isn't even lunch time yet.
• You make enquiries for meals on wheels.
• You are actively looking for an Au Pair.
• You are actively looking for full time employment.
• The kids complain that they don't want to go to the park AGAIN.
• The ducks erect a sign politely requesting no more bread.
• Your facebook timeline is full of families lying about having fun...
• ... and pictures of their kids craft creations and baking acheivements.
• You have looked at your watch 15 times and it still only 9.30am.
• All your children get ill, staggered throughout the summer break.
• There is less traffic on the roads but you have nowhere to get to.
• Price of ice cream goes up.
• The old school shoes fit right up till the day before returning to school.
• Back to school stuff is on sale but when you remember, it will be sold out of any size you need.

I have faith that as the summer progresses there may be more examples to be added to this list. For this reason, this blog post will have the subtitle Part 1.

What have I missed? And can I plagiarise your ideas for Part 2?

National Stationery Day

Today, 24th April 2012, is National Stationery Day.

I love stationery.

The feel of paper in my hand. The joy of lists, notes, plans.
So notebooks are my friend.

Meet my friends.

Ahem, technically 2 of these notebooks are the Mr's but he prefers scraps of paper for his jottings and rather than see a notebook gather dust, neglected on a shelf, I have taken it upon myself to stroke them, occasionally flick through their pages and one day, even, possibly, *pauses for dramatic effect* write in them.

At the front you have 'Inspirations and Ideas' notebook belonging to the Mr, leather bound, tissue thin paper and currently devoid of inspirations or ideas.
Nestled behind that is my bargain Filofax complete with German diary, and notes section bursting with blog post ideas.
Then there is my Pucci print inspired notebook, overflowing with scraps of paper, all holding the possible key to my success, and some shopping lists. There may also be a receipt of two.
Next I have a vintage model. The notebook I started in the early 90's to record my book reviews. Geek-ish I know, but in the days before Goodreads I would write a little review of the books I read.
After that there is the Beano notebook. I bought this for the Mr in which he could keep notes of importance rather than on scraps of paper. It remains unused. I am adopting it.
I have an Orla Kiely notebook which I will be used once Pucci is full. It is bigger and I have a small concern it won't fit in my handbag easily, so as gorgeous as it is, it may be knocked down in the pecking order by a yet to be discovered alternative model.
A special notebook is next. Cappuccino coloured, suede bound, gold edged, cream papered and waiting for THE book. THE novel. Handwritten in ink. One day.
Finally in the stash is a leather envelope. Not a notebook but luscious and deserving of its place on the shelf, containing handmade paper and envelopes. Perfect for special letters to special people.

I really have no idea why there is a National Stationery Day, except to drive sales in Paperchase possibly, but I have enjoyed collecting my notebooks together, reminding myself of their significance and prompting an uncontrollable desire to go shopping at Paperchase.

Do you have any significant notebooks, and what's in them? I promise I wont tell!