Surviving half-term

We're over halfway through half-term and we're all still alive. Yesterday was a close call whether we would all make it to today or not. I took the kids to the mall to get some things for the house and for Rosie's party on Saturday. Bad idea. They were bored and cranky, the mall was packed and after five hours we came away with nothing but a small pot of yellow glass paint. The children played up so much that I didn't have a chance to have my morning coffee so I had a stinking headache by the afternoon. We had pizza delivered and then all went to bed at 6.00 and have woken in much better spirits today.

Jason has taken the next two days off and we're all going to the Body Worlds exhibition at the O2 today. I've wanted to go since it first started years ago and I'm hoping it will be an educational rather than terrifying experience for the children. I think the thing I find the most frightening about it is the creator of the works. Look at his photo. Something about that hat is so sinister. Maybe it's a Freddy Kruger connection.

Anyway, tomorrow the children both have Halloween parties to go to and I'll be getting things ready for Rosie's party. One of the things we were looking for at the mall yesterday was party favours. Rosie decided that she wanted to give all twenty children new scooters. When I explained that it would cost more than the rest of the party put together Rosie threw a little fit. Luckily there were tired children having meltdowns throughout the store so we just blended in to the general roar.

Still haven't located my camera cables though we did find the one for my old camera. Not really helpful but at least we're getting warm.

Stephanie at home

I'm going to be finding strands of pink plastic hair all over the house for weeks...

Credit crunch

Of course the news here is full of stories of doom about the current economic situation. So far, with Jason's careful planning and a bit of luck, we've been OK. I have to say that, apart from one friend who had invested 1/3 of their savings in IceSave, we don't even know anyone who's suffering. And the friend who invested in IceSave is pissed off but not seriously affected.

The interesting thing is that amongst the mums there's lots of talk about saving money, recycling and cutting back. We had a whole conversation earlier this week about the pros and cons of the various 99p shops in the area (the one in New Cross got top marks in the end). I think a lot of people actually feel relieved to be allowed to be thrifty. In my experience the English are very laid back people. The culture of materialism and strident ambition just don't sit comfortably here. Now there's an excuse to relax a little, to not buy the latest whatever, to stay home and cook instead of going out, to vacation in England instead of going abroad, to keep wearing that much loved but slightly holey cardigan instead of buying a new one and generally get rid of a lot of pressure. People are embracing it and I don't blame them.

One of the things I loved about England when I first came here was this relaxed approach to life. It was all about each individual creating their own happiness rather than trying to keep up with everyone else. Somehow over the years the country got caught up in the rat race but now it seems things are changing and reverting back to the easy, comfortable approach I love. Nothing fancy, just simple contentment and a nice cup of tea.

this and that

Not much going on this week besides the usual. I did lose another stroller. I know, how does that happen?! This time I can't even remember where I left it and had to go buy another one today. They've gotten progressively cheaper each time I lose one. The current stroller is a Chicco bright yellow monstrosity. I'm definitely going to miss the zippy little Quinny Zapp.

I know that Rosie is almost three and won't need a stroller much longer, but the distance to school is too long for her to walk. I do really need one. I just need to stop losing them.

The house is coming together though very, very slowly. I still haven't found my camera cables so no photos to post yet.

Toby had his first Year 2 assembly last week. It's when the class does a little show and presentation about the topics they've been studying. They've been learning about electricity and made electrical circuits to light tiny ligtbulbs in dioramas of London. The main topics this term have been 'Who am I?' and the great fire of London. Mr Wilson put together a slide show of the children with photos taken when they first came to London, all to the song Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner. Of course, Toby was born here so his was a baby picture. Tobes wouldn't let me send in any of the naked photos but we found a cute one for the show. They finished up with an interpretive dance/gymnastic routine of the great fire of London set to Prodigy's Firestarter. Mr Wilson is a very cool teacher.

I was having a bad day last week and decided to treat myself to the most gorgey gorgeous boots ever. I've had my eye on them for months and finally, after a day of trials and tribulations, I happily gave in to temptation. One reason that I love them so much is that they remind me of some boots I had as a child. They were red patent too and, when I outgrew them, my cousin Tammy wore them and thankfully saved them. I was thrilled when Tammy sent them back to me when Rosie was born. Unfortunately, even at just one year old Rosie's chubby feet wouldn't fit into them but the little boots sit on our bookshelf now. I'm so excited that I've finally found a pair I can wear again!

Rosie's first joke - taught to her by Tobes

Rosie's first joke

Blessed

I can't stop thinking about a mum that I spoke to at playgroup this morning. She has a daughter the same age as Rosie. In fact, we first met at Sing & Sign classes when the girls were about a year old and have bumped into each other off and on. She lives in our new neighborhood and I've thought it would be nice to get the girls together to play sometime. English girls take a long time to befriend but we've been on the road to becoming friends.

We bumped into each other when her daughter started at Rosie's playgroup last month and have chatted every week. She was heavily pregnant with her second baby and today she brought him to playgroup for the first time. I was so excited to see a newborn. There's nothing like that warm, tiny bundle of baby. Her little boy is three weeks old and as she breastfed him we talked and she told me that they've recently discovered that the baby is blind. This in itself is a horrible blow but they are afraid that he might have a serious degenerative disease that would affect his brain. He would slowly slip into a vegetative state and wouldn't live for very long.

I looked at this tiny, perfect boy and couldn't believe that anything could be wrong with him. His poor mother is obviously torn up but also numb with shock and grief and pain. I know that their first child had a serious problem with her heart but has now, after treatment and operations, made a full recovery. I cannot imagine what they have been through and what they're going through now. I feel so incredibly lucky to have two healthy children. These kinds of things are a coin toss. There's no fault, no reason, just bloody awful bad luck. It could have just as easily been us going through it.

The baby is having an MRI tomorrow and they should have some answers then. As if this wasn't hard enough already they're up against the clock. If the baby doesn't have the degenerative disease it means that he'll need to have an operation on his retinas that can only be performed before the age of six weeks. NHS is usually wonderful in such a drastic situation. I hope they live up that reputation now.

Birthday girl

This is the invite for Rosie's birthday bash in a couple of weeks. It's obviously a Lazytown theme. This is our second Lazytown party. Toby had one for his fourth birthday two years ago.. That was back when Lazytown first came out so we had to make all of the stuff for his party. Luckily, Nikki was staying with us at the time and we put her to work. Toby still has the big number four that Nik made for the party on his bedroom wall.

It's easier this time around. The big commercial money-making machine is churning out Lazytown party stuff so I was able to buy napkins and cups and everything else we needed. I even bought invitations and got them all written out and sealed up... then realised I had put the wrong times on them! Being the thrifty girl I am (most of the time) I refused to pay for more invites and decided to make them instead. For Toby's party I put his face on Sportacus so it seemed only fitting that I do the same for Rosie, but with Stephanie this time.

The only drawback of this birthday is that it's at the end of half-term so quite a few friends will be away. We've hired a great entertainer though and I'm planning the usual party spread so I'm sure it'll be fun. As long as Rosie has a memorable good time I'll be happy.

Quiet week

It's been a very subdued week. We all have colds so we've been trying to take it easy. The house is still full of boxes and, though I've taken photos, I can't post them because I can't find the cables. All of the disorder has been getting me down. I absorb my surroundings and the current situation has made me very tired.

However, now that Jason has run the marathon it feels like we can focus on the house again and this weekend we're off to Ikea to buy a few things. One thing holding us up is that we don't have great storage space in this house so we need to go buy a sideboard and a wardrobe for the loft room and a few other things that will make it easier to unpack. It's coming together but it's happening very slowly.

I'm sure it's affecting the children too because they've been quite cranky lately. Our lives are very full without moving house. Rosie is doing ballet, music and two different playgroups. Toby has school and drama. Jason works all the hours God sends and I have plenty to do with the children, the house, the cat and the PTA. Last night I was up at midnight making Halloween cupcakes for the school bake sale today and typing the minutes from the last PTA meeting. I do not want to turn into a 'martyr mom'. Just need to get this house sorted and I can go back to sipping gin & tonics and eating bon bons... ha ha!

I recently read a book that I do NOT recommend. I overheard some moms talking about it and thought I would give it a go. I'd never heard of the author and didn't know what to expect, but that can be nice. The book is Nights in Rodanthe and it's basically a romance novel, which is not my thing. First, because I find it all so cheesy and unbelievable and second, because I'm such a sucker for a little emotional manipulation. I finished it on Wednesday night and then sat in bed and cried for the next two hours. It was a very sad story but I think it started me off and then all the stress of the move came pouring out. Poor Jason didn't know what to do.

It was ridiculous. I would finally stop crying then think about some other part of the book and start up again. I was irritated too because it wasn't even a very good book! I must avoid that sentimental stuff from now on. The last time I was taken in was The Bridges of Madison County in 1993. I spent HOURS crying when I finished the book. Before that it was the movie Beaches in 1990. I was crying so hard in the cinema that everyone around me was laughing and I still couldn't see through my tears on the way out and tore the handle off my purse on the exit door then stayed up until 4am weeping. I am such a sucker.

He did it!

Jason finished the marathon in about five and a half hours. In the end, Kellie passed him and she finished in five hours and ten minutes. I talked to J about half an hour after he finished and he sounded good. He said his thighs were killing him and he was afraid to take off his shoes. I asked if he was on a high and he said it was good to do it but he can't imagine ever doing it again.

It was a hot day in Chicago and I wanted to know if J did that marathon thing of dumping a cup of water over his head while he was running. He said he did but he didn't want to get his shirt wet so he poured it very carefully over his head. That's my Englishman!

What we're doing right now...

It's an amzingly summery day. The children are in the garden playing. We've let Indy out for the first time and the one of the first things he did was try to jump on a waterlily and got soaking wet in the frog pond. Now he's sitting on the garden path trying to lick himself clean.

I'm making dinner - mushroom stroganoff, sausages (because I know the children won't eat much stroganoff), broccoli and rice. I'm also trying not to worry about Jason who is now over halfway through the marathon in Chicago. I watched the live coverage online until it ended when the male and female winners finished the race. They kept talking about the heat and the toll it takes on the body, the risk of heat exhaustion, etc, etc. Not really what I wanted to hear.

Jason and Kellie are wearing microchips so I'm getting email updates as the pass certain milestones in the race. They're both doing really well so far. I see that Jason has a slower pace than on his 10ks but the heat doesn't help and I'm sure he's pacing himself. Kellie is only three minutes behind him so she's doing really well. Hopefully training in the Texas heat is helping her today.

So, that's what we're doing. Playing, cooking and worrying a little bit.

New table!

The new dining table was delivered this morning and it looks great. I did a lot of looking before we settled on this one. We wanted something that could extend to seat 10-12 people and the thing I like about the one we got is that it doesn't have the issue of someone having to straddle a table leg. It's called "The Cross" because of the way the legs are constructed. The only drawback, they don't do it any other colour and I really wanted a dark brown table. Oh well, it's still lovely. Can't wait to have a big Sunday lunch and see lots of friends sitting around it.

We're in!

We've been here exactly one week today. It's actually starting to look like a house now and not a storage facility. So many freakin' boxes! Where did all of this stuff come from and who does it belong to?

One set-back - the sofabed doesn't fit into the attic bedroom which is going to be the guestroom so it's sitting in the living room hogging space right now. I did find someone to buy it through craigslist.com but they're not coming until Tuesday next week. The new dining table is being delivered tomorrow so it's going to be a bit of a squeeze for a few days.

Also, the kitchen is tiny and badly planned so I'm really struggling to fit everything in. In fact, it's impossible and we're looking for a nice big sideboard to fill. Other than that it's a lovely house and I'm trying to visualise what it will look like when everything has a place.

The floors are really nice. They're all the original wooden floorboards and we had them varnished a dark cocoa brown. They look great but last night I was coming down the stairs in the dark, couldn't see the steps very well because they just blended into the darkness and ended up on my back at the foot of the stairs. I took the skin off both my knees, banged up my right hip and severely bruised my pride. One redeeming factor is that when J ran down in the dark to see what had happened he stumbled too, though his reflexes are obviously better than mine because he didn't actually fall (well, I was carrying the cat which must make a difference, right?). The stair runner has just moved up the priority list.

So it's all good, just tiring. Jason is off to Chicago on Friday for the marathon on Sunday. I'm starting to get nervous about it and asked Jim and Kellie to look out for him. My current fear is that he finishes the race, goes to his hotel room to shower and take a nap and never wakes up. He has been training hard but we've all got colds at the moment. Hopefully he'll have some time to rest and recuperate in Chicago before the race. I'm sure just getting away from a house full of boxes, energetic children, a stressed out wife and a hyperactive cat will make a difference.