Budapest

Thought I would share a few more details of our trip to Budapest before I forget them! We stayed at the Kempinski, which was lovely. It was the weekend of St Stephen's Day so there were lots of outdoor markets, live music and performers throughout the city. We spent a lot of time walking along the Danube and eating at outdoor cafes. We visited Buda Castle, took a night cruise on the river, had ice cream at Gerbeaud and walked around the city looking at the beautiful architecture.

Rosie was a little trouper and did fine with the late nights but I decided to stay in the hotel room and let her nap on our last morning while Nikki went to the baths in the city park (that's the pic). Two of the pools are thermal and are said to cure a number of ailments. It looks like an amazing place and I'll definitely go next time I'm in Budapest.

It was such a fantastic place. I think the only issues were the heat and the food. Anyone who knows me well knows that I can't stand to be hot. In Budapest it was hot. I'm sure I was driving Nikki crazy on Saturday as I followed the shade around Buda Castle. As for the food, it was delicious but very heavy for such hot weather and Nikki had difficulty finding vegetarian options. I did have goulash, of course, and on our last night we went to a traditional restaurant where I had stuffed cabbage with saurkraut, pork fillet and potato dumplings. It was garnished with a big fried piece of pork fat cut into the shape of a crown. I am not joking.

It was a great trip and I'd love to take the whole family next time. Maybe when it's a bit cooler.

We're back!

Back from Budapest and had a wonderful time. I wasn't sure what to expect but it's a beautiful, friendly city and we'd both like to go back sometime. Details and photos to come soon!

Just before we left Rosie started crawling, waving and sayine 'mama'. All in one day! I do remember Toby having similiar sudden developmental leaps but it was still thrilling. While we were away Rosie also started putting objects into holders. That probably sounds strange to those without children but it's a big deal in babyworld. It started with putting her rice cakes back into her cup (over and over again!) and now she's using her stacking cups. She also started going from laying down to sitting and back again on her own. All very exciting.

We're now into Nikki's last two weeks in London. This weekend will be our last weekend before she leaves on Friday 1 September. I don't know what we're going to do without her. I'm going to miss having a friend to run around with and I know J will miss having someone to stay up late with. Nikki is the only other person besides me and J that I've seen Rosie reach out for, even when I'm holding Rosie which is really unusual! And I know Tobes will really miss having Nikki around. He loves playing with her and likes to show her his schoolwork. Nikki is the named guardian in our wills and I know that if anything were to happen to me and J the children would be happy and well-loved.

After Nikki leaves life will be very quiet until we go to Texas for Thanksgiving.

Off to Budapest

We're off to Budapest tomorrow. I've carefully packed all of my fluids in the suitcase including Rosie's nappy cream, my lipgloss and hand cream. Our small carry-on has the bare essentials and Rosie's baby formula which I will, of course, be tasting for security tomorrow. Ah well, I'm sure I'll think about the whole terrorist situation at some point but it must be safer than ever to fly right now.

Have barely thought about the trip as we've been so busy. My Aunt Kathy and her husband Don were in England and came down to say hello on Tuesday. It was so great to see them. I was amazed that it had been thirteen years since I last visited them in California. We've made plans to all get together in March '08 for Nikki's graduation and Nikki is going to visit them when she gets back to CA. It was the first time any family outside of the immediate family have visited me in England and it was really nice to introduce them to the children and show them our little home.

Yesterday we went and had a portrait done of Rosie. It's the next in the series for her first year. We also did one with Nikki and the children and one of 'the girls' (me, Nikki and Rosie). They look really nice. I'll post the link when they're on the web.

Tobes is being a handful so must go do the Mommy thing. Back on Sunday and then a relatively calm couple of weeks before Nikki has to leave. Not sure how we're going to handle that. We're all so used to having her around now!

Feeling broody today

We're still not sure if we want to have another baby so I thought I'd remind myself how lovely the ones are we already have. Go ahead, turn the volume up on your computer and get weepy with me...


Our babies

The best apology I've ever heard

This from Mumsnet today:

The parenting website, Mumsnet, last night responded to allegations by parenting guru Gina Ford that a posting on the site claiming she: "straps babies to rockets and fires them into south Lebanon" was "a serious and very offensive libel".

In a statement, Justine Roberts, co-founder of Mumsnet said: "It is undoubtedly a tasteless joke, particularly under current circumstances, but when the post appeared on our site no-one imagined even the most humourless reader could possibly take it seriously. But evidently we were wrong."

Earlier in the day, "MorningPaper", the mother who sparked the internet libel row with her posting about Ms Ford, wrote an apology on the community website, which is used by 250,000 mothers every month.

She said: "I apologise profusely to any childcare guru that I may have offended by suggesting that they are involved in military action in Lebanon and her followers for suggesting that she/they strap their babies to weapons of mass destruction.

I have read her book many times and I can confirm that this IS NOT suggested as part of any childcare guru's recommended routine.

I apologise to any new mums who may have been confused by my post and would advise that if you are considering utilising your baby in any sort of warfare or military conflict, please speak to your health visitor first."

Don't mess with the Mommies!

In the news today

Daily Mail The baby guru who threw her bottle out of the pram

Guardian Unlimited Childcare expert threatens to have website shut down

Times Online Childcare guru goes to war over website

Independent Mothers' website falls foul of Queen of Routine

BBC News What the papers say

Telegraph Baby expert stamps her foot at website chat

Gulf Times Childcare expert tries to shut website over ‘slurs’

And for you commuters in London there's also a mention in Metro

If the story makes it to the States could someone please let me know. So pleased that all our emailing yesterday has gotten the story out there.

Annelouise, thanks for your advice. Will be sending out more emails as you suggested today.

To catch all the latest news google "Gina Ford", then select to search News rather than the Web ...

I love Mumsnet

Still fuming over this Gina Ford malarkey but feel better than I did this morning. The women on Mumsnet have started a letter writing campaign. We've been writing to every media outlet we can think of plus politicians, internet rights groups and anyone who might get the story out there and make a difference. I've personally contacted the New York Times, USA Today and the Today show in the States as well as media people here in England. So far the story has been picked up by BBC 5 Live, Handbag.com and the late edition of today's Evening Standard (page 8 for those of you in London). A number of Mumsnetters have given interviews and we're hoping for a lot more coverage tomorrow. Power to the Mommies!!

This has all made me think about how much Mumsnet has meant to me and how lost I would feel if it was shut down. When I had the miscarriages two years ago I don't know how I would've survived without Mumsnet. I could put on a brave face in real life but Mumsnet let me fall apart. Even at 3am there was always someone there to talk to. It was through a discussion on Mumsnet that I first started thinking Rosie might have a milk allergy and it was the other mums who gave me the courage to push for a referral. Mumsnet helped me through the big stuff and the little stuff. They helped me find a Spanx supplier in London, reassured me that Toby dancing in his underpants at school was totally normal, helped me with Toby's nightmares and Rosie's nappy rash, made me cry sometimes hearing other mothers talk about their own stories and problems and made me laugh a lot too. I learned new words such as 'chav', 'norks' and 'parp' on Mumsnet. It is invaluable.

Freedom of speech? Apparently not.

[The opinions expresssed in this entry are mine and mine alone.]

I have been really shocked to read that my beloved Mumsnet has been forced to post the following message on all of its talk threads:

It is with great regret that we have to ask members to refrain from any further discussion of Gina Ford, her methods or her books on the site. To find out why click here. We'd be very grateful if members could report any mentions of Gina Ford using the "contact Mumsnet" facility (the little red exclamation mark to the right of each posting). Many thanks. MNHQ.

For those of you who don't know, Gina Ford is a babycare expert who has published a number of books. I would say that most mothers in England own or have at least read one or more of her publications. I bought The Contented Little Baby Book when Toby was tiny and borrowed George's copy of Potty Training in One Week. Her methods are controversial because they are quite strict and include such things as enforcing a schedule when babies are very young. It didn't suit me, but I did learn a thing or two from her books. She's one of those people that you either love or hate and discussions about her approach often generate quite heated debate.

Mumsnet's talk facility is specifically for mothers (or fathers) to support each other and to discuss issues relevant to parenting. It is unbelievable that the site has been forced into banning all mention of Gina Ford and her methods just because there are those on the site who disagree with her advice. It's not just about slander or libel, they are being forced to stop anyone from expressing his or her own opinion regarding GF, whatever it may be.

I remember the night that this controversy started. Gina Ford herself entered into a discussion online and said some pretty nasty, shocking things. She came across as a deeply troubled and insecure person and it seemed she may have had a drink or six. At least, I hope she wasn't rambling and saying such things while completely sober. She made a fool of herself and now she and her lawyers are punishing Mumsnet.

Gina Ford is a public figure trying to tell people how to raise their children. She is going to be criticised, her methods are going to be dissected and there are going to be people who disagree with them. There are also a huge number of people on Mumsnet who follow her methods and hold her up as a goddess. It goes both ways. There have been inapproriate personal comments made about Ms Ford on the site but they were deleted as soon as possible. People sometimes say things that aren't very nice but that is the nature of discussion forums (and life, really). I wholly support Mumsnet in this situation and find it surprising and sad that Gina Ford obviously isn't comfortable in her role, both good and bad, as a childcare expert. It is doubly sad that she has chosen to pick on Mumsnet which has been a huge support to me and thousands of other parents. Isn't Ms Ford's profession supposed to be helping parents? And now she and her lawyers are trying to destroy a huge parenting support network because some of the participants don't like Gina Ford's methods. Absolutely shocking.

If you support Mumsnet then please send them an email expressing your support. I'm telling everyone I know about this situation and pointing them to the link that explains it in full. I certainly will not be buying any more Gina Ford publications or products. Now that I have seen her true colours I would never support or take advice from such a person.

Party boy

A few pics from Toby's birthday party and the birthday boy himself in his Sportacus gear including mustache.

Here, There and Everywhere

I can't believe it's been so long since I updated the blog. We've obviously been busy. Nikki had a great week in Kent. She made some good friends, learned a few Irish jigs, did some scene work and had a good time. In fact, she's going to be in the play now and will be going back down on Monday to take part.

Tobes had a great birthday. We had his party on Sunday and it went really well. The kids were so cute making their pizzas and afterwards we flew kites on the heath. Photos to follow soon. I can't believe my baby is four!

The caterpillars made their cocoons and we already have two butterflies. The process has been much faster because of the heat and we lost two of them when they tried to come out of their cocoons before they were put into the butterfly cage. The remaining three seem to be doing well. We're already talking about ordering five more caterpillars before their season ends in September.

It's been great having Nikki here and we've been going and doing a lot with the children. We took them to a music class on Tuesday and to the movies on Thursday. It was Rosie's first visit to the cinema and she did really well. We saw Stormbreaker, which was pretty good. Definitely left the theatre feeling very cool about living in London.

Today Toby's school had a special police and fire awareness day so Tobes did a whole day: 9.30 - 4.30! They had a police officer come and talk to them in the morning and they got a chance to sit in a police car. In the afternoon a group of fire fighters brought a fire engine to the school and the children got to check out all the equipment and learn about fire safety. It was fantastic and Tobes came home happy and exhausted.

Nikki and I took advantage of having a day to ourselves (plus Rosie, but she's easy) and went off to Piccadilly Circus to shop. We headed straight for Rigby & Peller so Nikki could experience one of their magic fittings (and yes, she's a completely different bra size to what she thought). We stopped for lunch at Ristorante Biagio where the staff cooed over Rosie calling her 'princess' and 'bella'. They were so nice and the food was very good. Most impressive was the coffee menu and we finished the meal with a 'cappucino argentine' and a 'sorbetto cappucino". Both delicious.

We stopped off at the Japan Centre so I could stock up on Pocky and gyoza, two things that I miss from our time in Japan. Nikki picked out some ice cream mochi balls too. Unfortunately, they started melting on the train home but, thank goodness for Japanese packaging, they are each in individually sealed bags so they're still edible. Can't wait to try them once they re-freeze.

J's birthday is on Monday but he's leaving for California that morning so we're going to celebrate this weekend. They're having a teddy bears picnic in Greenwich Park and we'll probably go to that on Sunday. Oh! I almost forgot, we've joined a gym!! Well, it's more of a leisure centre with a gym and activities for children. I'm doing a pilates class on Saturday morning and we're going to hang out and check out the facilities. Next time you see me I will be svelte. :-)