I'm exhausted. Today was International Day at school. It's a day when we celebrate all of the diverse cultures at St Margaret's through the sharing of food. Lots of food. There were three tables of Carribean specialities from fried plantain to jerk chicken and some rice and dessert dishes that I've never seen before. One of the Chinese families owns a restaurant and they always provide a good spread. We also had German, French, Norwegian, Canadian, Australian and various African countries represented. And of course America, though this year the US offerings were a little sparse because I've been so busy with other things. I made two key lime pies and another family who lived in the States for five years provided pancakes with maple syrup. I was fine with my two pies until I looked at the photo album that they compiled for the previous International Day. Last year I got a whole page of the album with my key lime and buttermilk pies, BBQ hot wings, pastrami on rye sandwiches and Hershey's Kisses. I'll have to make up for my laziness next year.
I did also contribute by doing the face painting. We paint little flags on the children's cheeks or the backs of their hands. Unfortunately, a poster entitled Flags of the World was provided and the children would choose the most elaborate flags! You trying painting the flag of Kenya with an inch wide brush. I did my best and the children were happy and full of delicious food so it was a huge success.
I do love St Margaret's. It's not a perfect school but there are so many lovely families there and I think it'll prepare Toby and Rosie well for secondary school. I've made lots of friends through the school too. In fact, a group of us got together last night for a drink at the Hare & Billet... which could be another reason why I'll be getting an early night tonight.
Next it's the school disco. We've always missed this because we went to the US the last two years. This year we'll be attending and the children are so excited. I'm putting together a musical quiz for the parents and helping out on the night. Hopefully I'll get a chance to boogie too. Such a perfect opportunity to embarrass the children.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Mid-life crisis (yes, another post about getting older)
I posted a while back about Jason entering the great cliche of a mid-life crisis. He already bought the sports car, thank god there's still no sign of a twenty-something secretarial affair. It's not all just silly stuff though. There's a lot of angst, a lot of introspection, a lot of exhausting reassessment and now I've caught it too.
Of course, me being me, I want to attack this thing head on. I want to define it, understand it, work it out. Wallowing is not allowed (except in small doses). I've been googling this morning and one thing that I've learned is that this middle life pause is nothing new and certainly not unique to us. There are shelves of self-help books on the subject, loads of websites (some unintentionally very funny) and lots of advice on ways to cope with your mid-life crisis and your spouse's mid-life crisis. Worryingly, a number of these articles are linked to other articles with titles like "Surviving your partner's infidelity" and "Putting your life back together after divorce". Scary stuff.
I've also looked into literature, art and music and it seems like many creative people did their best work in later life. In their youth the work flowed, then there was a time of struggle before a new phase of creativity which had more depth and meaning. This is good to know. Of course, I'm no great artist nor do I think I will ever be. In fact, my biggest struggle is the fact that I have everything I've ever wanted. Now what?
And this too is not unique. It's the modern 'affluenza'. People are achieving their goals earlier in life and then they don't know what to do with themselves. They have the material goals, the job success, the family, the home. And then what happens next? I have no idea but I'm trying to see it as an exciting prospect rather than a terrifying one.
Another common symptom of this stage of life is looking around and realising that what you thought you wanted isn't actually what you want at all. Or realising that what you've worked so hard to achieve doesn't live up to the initial goal or dream. One problem I'm facing is an old schoolmate who has a pretty amazing life. Her life functions on a completely different level as far as money, celebrity and glamour. On paper, she has much of what I had dreamed for myself in my wildest dreams. I can't help it, I compare myself to her and I feel a sense of disappointment. I'm glossing over a lot of details as far as how she achieved this lifestyle. But just looking at the surface I can see that her life takes a lot of work to maintain and living like that would take away from the things that I think are important like consistent time with the children. I think the thing is deciding what's important to me, what makes me happy and not comparing myself or my achievements to anyone else.
So what is important to me? What makes me happy? When I ask myself these questions it only underlines the fact that I have a lovely life and should be wallowing in happiness and satisfaction and not worrying about what someone I knew twenty years ago is doing. And I think that therein lies the heart of the matter. My life is fine, it's my perception of my life that needs work. It's all in my head. If anyone said that to me I would be tempted to punch them in the mouth, but I wonder if it's true. We have everything we need and lots of things we just want. We have friends, family and each other. Maybe all this navel-gazing is just a self indulgent time wasting psycho wank. Hmm, something else to think about.
Of course, me being me, I want to attack this thing head on. I want to define it, understand it, work it out. Wallowing is not allowed (except in small doses). I've been googling this morning and one thing that I've learned is that this middle life pause is nothing new and certainly not unique to us. There are shelves of self-help books on the subject, loads of websites (some unintentionally very funny) and lots of advice on ways to cope with your mid-life crisis and your spouse's mid-life crisis. Worryingly, a number of these articles are linked to other articles with titles like "Surviving your partner's infidelity" and "Putting your life back together after divorce". Scary stuff.
I've also looked into literature, art and music and it seems like many creative people did their best work in later life. In their youth the work flowed, then there was a time of struggle before a new phase of creativity which had more depth and meaning. This is good to know. Of course, I'm no great artist nor do I think I will ever be. In fact, my biggest struggle is the fact that I have everything I've ever wanted. Now what?
And this too is not unique. It's the modern 'affluenza'. People are achieving their goals earlier in life and then they don't know what to do with themselves. They have the material goals, the job success, the family, the home. And then what happens next? I have no idea but I'm trying to see it as an exciting prospect rather than a terrifying one.
Another common symptom of this stage of life is looking around and realising that what you thought you wanted isn't actually what you want at all. Or realising that what you've worked so hard to achieve doesn't live up to the initial goal or dream. One problem I'm facing is an old schoolmate who has a pretty amazing life. Her life functions on a completely different level as far as money, celebrity and glamour. On paper, she has much of what I had dreamed for myself in my wildest dreams. I can't help it, I compare myself to her and I feel a sense of disappointment. I'm glossing over a lot of details as far as how she achieved this lifestyle. But just looking at the surface I can see that her life takes a lot of work to maintain and living like that would take away from the things that I think are important like consistent time with the children. I think the thing is deciding what's important to me, what makes me happy and not comparing myself or my achievements to anyone else.
So what is important to me? What makes me happy? When I ask myself these questions it only underlines the fact that I have a lovely life and should be wallowing in happiness and satisfaction and not worrying about what someone I knew twenty years ago is doing. And I think that therein lies the heart of the matter. My life is fine, it's my perception of my life that needs work. It's all in my head. If anyone said that to me I would be tempted to punch them in the mouth, but I wonder if it's true. We have everything we need and lots of things we just want. We have friends, family and each other. Maybe all this navel-gazing is just a self indulgent time wasting psycho wank. Hmm, something else to think about.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Getting old, for real now
I've noticed a new topic of discussion among friends lately. It's not something that's ever really crossed my mind before. Well, it probably crossed my mind but it didn't stop for tea and a long ponder until lately. The topic is the dreaded menopause. The Change and all it's little sidekicks like HRT (that's hormone replacement therapy for you young 'uns), body hair, hot flashes and the drying up of mucous membranes. Yea, I didn't say it was a pretty topic but it is becoming more and more topical as time goes on.
I've had a terrible sinus infection for the last two weeks. When I visited the doctor he asked if I'd had them before and when I said that I had started having them recently he nodded in a knowing way. He was writing out a prescription for antibiotics, which is like gold dust at our surgery, so I just let the matter slip rather than interrupt his writing with a question. I might say something wrong, he would reassess the diagnosis and I would end up going home with the recommendation of steaming my sinuses with fresh mint leaves but no real drugs to make me well. It has happened before. I'm American. I believe in heavy drugs so I noticed the nod but didn't query it.
Later I was chatting to a friend, another mum about the same age, and she said that she had started getting sinus infections too. She looked into it and discovered that sinus infections are common in women in the their late 30s and early 40s and can become chronic until the menopause. Fantastic.
I mentioned this to another friend while standing in the school playground waiting for the children to come out. She gave the same knowing nod that I saw at the doctor's surgery and used the cringe-worthy term - 'gummy mucous membranes'. Apparently it's a sign that hormones are changing, the need for nice wet slippery mucous is decreasing so things are getting a bit thicker... in those areas of the body where... well, you know. It's all leading up to the menopause. There's that word again.
Then on Facebook, a girl I went to school with wrote a note about her recent hysterectomy. When I read the words I gasped. Oh my God! She can't have any more children! How awful! What a terrible thing to go through at such a young age! But no. I then started reading comments from other women, all of them in the US, and lots of them had had hysterectomies BY CHOICE. The idea seems to be to just skip all the irregular periods and cut to the chase by whipping it all out. Well, not always all. There were comments about keeping the ovaries and just removing the womb, the benefits of keyhole surgery rather than an incision and whether to have HRT or not. I read these comments with my mouth hanging open. Is it really normal now to just decide to have major surgery to avoid a few months of inconvenience?? That seems so bizarre.
And then yet another friend brought up the subject of The Change over coffee. She's against HRT but is open to more natural remedies like some kind of yam cream you rub on your forearms. Oh great, so not only will I grow a mustache but I'm going to smell of yams. It's amazing how knowledgeable women are on the subject. I feel like I need to start educating myself. I've just been skipping along - tra la la - thinking it will happen 'one day' but not really anytime soon. From the state of my sinuses I wonder if I should be more concerned. And there is the lingering question of whether or not to have that third baby... The clock is ticking.
I've had a terrible sinus infection for the last two weeks. When I visited the doctor he asked if I'd had them before and when I said that I had started having them recently he nodded in a knowing way. He was writing out a prescription for antibiotics, which is like gold dust at our surgery, so I just let the matter slip rather than interrupt his writing with a question. I might say something wrong, he would reassess the diagnosis and I would end up going home with the recommendation of steaming my sinuses with fresh mint leaves but no real drugs to make me well. It has happened before. I'm American. I believe in heavy drugs so I noticed the nod but didn't query it.
Later I was chatting to a friend, another mum about the same age, and she said that she had started getting sinus infections too. She looked into it and discovered that sinus infections are common in women in the their late 30s and early 40s and can become chronic until the menopause. Fantastic.
I mentioned this to another friend while standing in the school playground waiting for the children to come out. She gave the same knowing nod that I saw at the doctor's surgery and used the cringe-worthy term - 'gummy mucous membranes'. Apparently it's a sign that hormones are changing, the need for nice wet slippery mucous is decreasing so things are getting a bit thicker... in those areas of the body where... well, you know. It's all leading up to the menopause. There's that word again.
Then on Facebook, a girl I went to school with wrote a note about her recent hysterectomy. When I read the words I gasped. Oh my God! She can't have any more children! How awful! What a terrible thing to go through at such a young age! But no. I then started reading comments from other women, all of them in the US, and lots of them had had hysterectomies BY CHOICE. The idea seems to be to just skip all the irregular periods and cut to the chase by whipping it all out. Well, not always all. There were comments about keeping the ovaries and just removing the womb, the benefits of keyhole surgery rather than an incision and whether to have HRT or not. I read these comments with my mouth hanging open. Is it really normal now to just decide to have major surgery to avoid a few months of inconvenience?? That seems so bizarre.
And then yet another friend brought up the subject of The Change over coffee. She's against HRT but is open to more natural remedies like some kind of yam cream you rub on your forearms. Oh great, so not only will I grow a mustache but I'm going to smell of yams. It's amazing how knowledgeable women are on the subject. I feel like I need to start educating myself. I've just been skipping along - tra la la - thinking it will happen 'one day' but not really anytime soon. From the state of my sinuses I wonder if I should be more concerned. And there is the lingering question of whether or not to have that third baby... The clock is ticking.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Second-hand house
I heard a new term on Facebook today. One of my 'friends' (aka someone I have never met in real life but is a friend of someone I went to school with but don't really rmemeber very well) just moved house and was complaining about the toilets. She said that if she ever bought a 'used house' again she would make them replace the toilets because using someone else's toilet is disgusting.
First off, this made me laugh. I mean, a 'used house'? As if a house isn't a permanent structure to be lived in by different people and families through the years. What's the alternative? Everyone building new houses? What happens when someone wants or needs to move? Or dies? Does the used house just remain empty or does it get torn down so someone else can build yet another house on the spot? It's like disposable housing. Scary but a weird possibility with the disposable society that we're becoming.
First off, this made me laugh. I mean, a 'used house'? As if a house isn't a permanent structure to be lived in by different people and families through the years. What's the alternative? Everyone building new houses? What happens when someone wants or needs to move? Or dies? Does the used house just remain empty or does it get torn down so someone else can build yet another house on the spot? It's like disposable housing. Scary but a weird possibility with the disposable society that we're becoming.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
I can't believe it's been so long
It's been ages since I wrote a blog entry, but I've been spending more and more time on Facebook. It's so immediate and I can send updates from my phone. Actually, I could probably do that on blogger. I should look into it.
Over six weeks since I updated.... let's see, the biggest thing that happened is that we all went to Egypt. The children get two weeks off from school for Easter and we spent a week in Cairo. It was wonderful and exhausting. I've wanted to go since I was a child so it was a dream trip. The cultural difference were a bit tiring by the end - the begging, the tipping, the attention that the children received everywhere we went. At first it was lovely to have people commenting on how beautiful Toby and Rosie. Rosie especially got lots of attention, people stopping to kiss her or photograph her or have their photo taken with her. It was like being with a movie star. In fact in Khan el Khalilli market the traders were calling her 'movie star' or 'Shakira' (the blonde, belly-dancing singer). By the end of the week Jason and I were both on edge. It was getting overwhelming.
We went to see the pyramids twice, once in the evening and once in the morning. They are amazing. We went into the heart of the Great Pyramid right to the tomb at the centre. It was incredible. Such a steep climb and obviously very stuffy. Half of the climb we had to stoop over, even Tobes couldn't stand upright and there was a bit where you had to crawl through a small space on your hands and knees. I'm not usually claustrophobic but it did start to get to me and I had to sit down in a dark corner and pull myself together. I did manage to catch my breath and calm down and thank god I did. I don't know how they would've gotten me out of there if I'd had a panic attack or passed out.
Back in London we spent the rest of the break seeing friends and going up to Cambridge for the day. Now the children are back at school, spring has sprung and we've been enjoying the sunshine.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Still grieving
In the last few weeks two of my friends have had miscarriages, the most recent one today at 12 weeks into the pregnancy. My heart aches for them. It's made me think of my own miscarriages and I've been surprised that I still have tears left to shed for them.
Part of me is sensible and pragmatic. I know the facts. Miscarriage is usually a fluke and for the best. The embryos most likely had serious chromosome faults and simply couldn't survive. It's no one's fault.
Then there's the other part of me, the mother part, that just feels the loss. It's a strange kind of grief because I haven't lost someone that I knew. I have no memories, no keepsakes. I grieve for a dream. For something that might have been. I mourn for the child and I also grieve for the chance to know him or her. To hold them. To smell them. To know if they liked music, if they looked like me or Jason.
There's also a terrible sense of failure that can go with a miscarriage. As a parent your first concern is protecting your children from harm. To know that the tiny beginnings of a baby couldn't survive inside of me, in the most protective environment that I have to offer, that feels like failing them at the first hurdle and in the worst possible way.
I've cried a lot tonight. For my friends, for myself and for the little souls that didn't quite make it. Tomorrow I'll feel better. It's been almost five years since my miscarriages and today I've been surprised how much sadness I still have for those losses. Most days I don't even think about it anymore and in January, on the date when the first child would've been born, this year for the first time I didn't stop and calculate how old they would've been and imagine what they might've been like. I'm too busy with the children that I do have and I'm so grateful that I have them.
Tonight I'm thinking about my friends who are at the beginning of this awful grief. I know that eventually they'll make peace with it as I have but my heart goes out to them tonight.
Part of me is sensible and pragmatic. I know the facts. Miscarriage is usually a fluke and for the best. The embryos most likely had serious chromosome faults and simply couldn't survive. It's no one's fault.
Then there's the other part of me, the mother part, that just feels the loss. It's a strange kind of grief because I haven't lost someone that I knew. I have no memories, no keepsakes. I grieve for a dream. For something that might have been. I mourn for the child and I also grieve for the chance to know him or her. To hold them. To smell them. To know if they liked music, if they looked like me or Jason.
There's also a terrible sense of failure that can go with a miscarriage. As a parent your first concern is protecting your children from harm. To know that the tiny beginnings of a baby couldn't survive inside of me, in the most protective environment that I have to offer, that feels like failing them at the first hurdle and in the worst possible way.
I've cried a lot tonight. For my friends, for myself and for the little souls that didn't quite make it. Tomorrow I'll feel better. It's been almost five years since my miscarriages and today I've been surprised how much sadness I still have for those losses. Most days I don't even think about it anymore and in January, on the date when the first child would've been born, this year for the first time I didn't stop and calculate how old they would've been and imagine what they might've been like. I'm too busy with the children that I do have and I'm so grateful that I have them.
Tonight I'm thinking about my friends who are at the beginning of this awful grief. I know that eventually they'll make peace with it as I have but my heart goes out to them tonight.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Jason, come home!
We're into Week 2 of Jason's marathon business trip and the cracks are starting to show. The first week was OK. The weekend was fine. Sunday night it all started to go downhill. Rosie woke up around midnight with a high fever. It got up to 104F (40C) at one point. If I had been less tired I think I would've been frantic. Calpol didn't get it down after an hour so I gave her some Nurofen then waited. Around 2.30am she cooled down and we both went back to sleep, then repeated the whole performance at 4.00am.
Rosie had just fallen back to sleep at 7.30am when it was time to get up and get Toby ready for school. I didn't want to wake Rosie so I asked a a friend across the street if Toby could walk to school with her and her three daughters. Toby was not best pleased with the arrangement. Apparently he didn't say one word all the way to school. He's such a shy boy.
We had an up and down day with Rosie's fever yesterday but managed to drive out to pick Tobes up from school. I made arrangements for someone else to take the minutes of the PTA meeting last night, which I was supposed to attend and called off the babysitter. Rosie wouldn't eat anything at dinnertime and we had another feverish sleepless night. I had already made up my mind to take her to the doctor today but just to seal the deal, she started throwing up at 6am.
I managed to get Tobes ready for school and loaded Rosie into the car with a towel over her knees and a bowl in her lap, just in case. We dropped Tobes off with Jo on the playground then drove into the village. I decided that I really REALLY needed a coffee so I parked illegally in front of Costa and left Rosie in the car while I stumbled in for my usual soya iced latte. I was wearing Jason's sweatshirt with no make-up and wet hair and must've looked like death because the guys asked what was wrong. I told them about Rosie and Jason being away then stumbled back out to the car and chased off a parking attendant who was trying to give me a ticket.
Now we're back home waiting for the glazier to come and put in Indy's cat door. They were supposed to come last Tuesday and didn't show up. Then failed to show on Thursday, so this is their last chance. But that's a whole other story of frustration.
Rosie has her doctor's appointment this afternoon and I have a stack of vomitous laundry to do today. I also can't remember the last time I gave Toby a bath... poor boy is suffering from lack of attention. We did have a nice cuddle last night while he read his school book though. Must bathe him tonight. I like it when he smells like a puppy but maybe not the best thing for school.
UPDATE: The glazier came and we have a cat flap! Downside is that I was told we need to have the door planed down because it sticks. With the hole in the glass for the catflap there's a chance the glass will crack if the door twists. Good lord. if it's not one thing it's another.
Rosie had just fallen back to sleep at 7.30am when it was time to get up and get Toby ready for school. I didn't want to wake Rosie so I asked a a friend across the street if Toby could walk to school with her and her three daughters. Toby was not best pleased with the arrangement. Apparently he didn't say one word all the way to school. He's such a shy boy.
We had an up and down day with Rosie's fever yesterday but managed to drive out to pick Tobes up from school. I made arrangements for someone else to take the minutes of the PTA meeting last night, which I was supposed to attend and called off the babysitter. Rosie wouldn't eat anything at dinnertime and we had another feverish sleepless night. I had already made up my mind to take her to the doctor today but just to seal the deal, she started throwing up at 6am.
I managed to get Tobes ready for school and loaded Rosie into the car with a towel over her knees and a bowl in her lap, just in case. We dropped Tobes off with Jo on the playground then drove into the village. I decided that I really REALLY needed a coffee so I parked illegally in front of Costa and left Rosie in the car while I stumbled in for my usual soya iced latte. I was wearing Jason's sweatshirt with no make-up and wet hair and must've looked like death because the guys asked what was wrong. I told them about Rosie and Jason being away then stumbled back out to the car and chased off a parking attendant who was trying to give me a ticket.
Now we're back home waiting for the glazier to come and put in Indy's cat door. They were supposed to come last Tuesday and didn't show up. Then failed to show on Thursday, so this is their last chance. But that's a whole other story of frustration.
Rosie has her doctor's appointment this afternoon and I have a stack of vomitous laundry to do today. I also can't remember the last time I gave Toby a bath... poor boy is suffering from lack of attention. We did have a nice cuddle last night while he read his school book though. Must bathe him tonight. I like it when he smells like a puppy but maybe not the best thing for school.
UPDATE: The glazier came and we have a cat flap! Downside is that I was told we need to have the door planed down because it sticks. With the hole in the glass for the catflap there's a chance the glass will crack if the door twists. Good lord. if it's not one thing it's another.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
It's been ages
I know I haven't updated the blog for a while. Even Jason mentioned it this morning. He seems to read it so he knows what's going on in our lives! That's very Jason.
I joined Facebook and then Mom & Dad joined, and Nikki, and Kellie... and I'm spending a lot of time there. It is a lazy way to keep in touch with people in some ways but it's great. It's also free, so do sign up if you want more frequent updates about us!
Let's see, we have been very busy. There's so much going on at school this term. The children had 50s-60s day (as you can see from the photos). Next is 70s - 80s. I'm thinking Sid Vicious and one of the girls from Bananarama for the kids. I wanted to Tobes to dress like Adam Ant but he wasn't keen on the idea.
We've also booked our spring vacation and this year we're going to Egypt! Tobes has wanted to go since the Tutankhamun exhibition last year. I got all excited and looked into a whole tour package with a cruise down the Nile on a feluca, riding through the desert on donkeys and camping under the stars. Jason pointed out that this plan might not be so great with a grumpy three year old so we scaled it right back to ten days in Cairo at a nice hotel. We'll save the donkeys and felucas for when the kids are older.
I'm not sure what Jason is expecting from this vacation. He did ask if they have Starbucks in Egypt. Jason's criteria for a good holiday is coffee, bookstores and 24 hour room service. Not really a 'roughing it' kind of guy.
We've just finished the winter half-term here. It was spent going to the cinema, the Horniman Museum, hanging out at home and going to the park. We turned up at the park on Tuesday morning and there must've been at least a dozen of Toby and Rosie's friends there. I got a cappucino from the cafe and gossipped with the mums while the children played. I love our neighborhood.
I have discovered one drawback of living here. Jason bought me an iPod for Christmas. I'm not very techie and for weeks the only thing I had on it were some Bugs Bunny cartoons that I used to entertain the children when we went out on the train. I finally downloaded some music and started wearing it to walk to school when I pick up the children. It's a strange sensation walking down the street while listening to music. I like to put it on shuffle and see what pops up. The juxtaposition of song and location can be interesting. Yesterday I was walking home from the village and Hank Williams started singing Hey Good Lookin'. Talk about two worlds colliding.
Sometimes I find it so hard not to sing out loud, start playing air guitar or pogo in the street. It's like being in my own music video and I've started playing with creating a soundtrack for different locations. At the moment it's pretty unsophisticated - Parklife in the park, Our House while walking down our street, LDN in town - but I can see it developing. The one drawback of living in this neighborhood is that quite often I get myself sorted, earplugs in , song chosen and then bump into someone I know. Then the song has to wait. Oh well, if bumping into friends is the worst thing I have to deal with at the moment then I think I can handle it.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Snow Day!
We woke up this morning to ten inches of snow! It's the most snow I've ever seen in my life. St Margaret's was the only school in the area to still be open. Snow days are decided by the individual headteachers here rather than the school district. At 7.30 this morning I got a text saying that school would definitely be OPEN. Our headmistress prides herself on things like this. Last year we had the school BBQ during a rainstorm. One of the other local school's had planned their's for the same night but cancelled. St Maggie's is obviously made of sterner stuff.
Tobes had been running a temperature all weekend so he was staying home anyway but Rosie had nursery in the afternoon. At 12.30 I rang the school to make sure that the afternoon nursery was still on and they assured me that it was so Rosie and I bundled up and trooped off to school. We arrived at 1.00pm and at 1.05pm I got a text saying that the school had decided to start letting the students leave from 1.30pm! I ended up staying in the nursery and playing with Rosie for half an hour then we bundled up and headed out again.
Most of the parents were already picking up their kids and going over to Manor House Gardens. I texted Jason and he and Toby met us there. We had the most fantastic time! All the parents had a huge snowball fight. We were worse than the children. Snowmen were made and hot chocolates were drunk. We live in such a great community of families. So many of Rosie and Toby's friends and their families were out enjoying the snow. When I was growing up it seems like I was always part of a big fun gang of children, either my cousins or all the kids on Loyce. I've always wanted the same for my children and it seems like we've accomplished that here. By the time we headed home we were all happy and exhausted.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
What a momentous day!
Two amazing things happened today - Obama became President and Rosie started nursery.
Today was Rosie's first day at St Margaret's nursery and she did really well. I think she'll fit in just fine. Her friends Amelia, Ruben, Libby and Theo are in her class and they really made her welcome and showed her around. I stayed with her today but tomorrow she starts going on her own. She already goes to a playgroup on her own on Friday mornings and has stayed in the creche at the gym so it won't be a shock for her to be there without me. I think the main adjustment will be being in a class with all kinds of children.
In her classes the mums or nannies stay with the children so everyone is generally well behaved. At her playgroup the children all seem very calm. Nursery is a different story. There are some rough and rowdy kids in there and I think it will be a big change for Rosie. At first I felt concerned but this is how she'll learn her social skills and we all have to learn how to deal with rough and rowdy people. When she's older, if she's as bright as we think she is, she'll be able to go to a more academic secondary school with like-minded children. Now is the time to learn that there are all kinds of people in the world and we all have to learn how to get along.
And that's a great lead-in to the other amazing thing that happened today! I decided that I let too many American events pass us by so we invited friends over to watch the inauguration and really celebrate the day. We ended up with 8 children and 6 adults all watching it together. I thought I should do 'American' food so we had hot dogs, pizza, Doritos, chips & salsa and ice cream floats for dessert. The Martha Stewart in me couldn't resist making a flag out of blackberries, strawberries and bananas (with a white chocolate dip... mmmm). The more decadent part of me couldn't resist a good bottle of champagne to mark the occasion. At one point in the proceedings I realised that I had a hot dog smothered in French's mustard in one hand, an ice cold glass of Veuve Cliquot in the other and I was standing in my house in London watching my President being sworn in 4000 miles away in Washington DC. What a strange life I lead.
Friday, January 16, 2009
We are alive
I think I've been putting off updating the blog due to the amount of things that have been going on since I last really wrote - Christmas, New Year, back to school, my birthday, etc, etc. I'm just going to have to say that the holidays were fab and full of friends and family. My birthday was calm (which is what I needed) though the celebrations continued to the pub last night with a group of girlfriends (oh, my head this morning). I'll try to post pics but I make no promises as I'm already being pushed along in the current of everything we're doing now.
I'm still secretary of the Friends committee at school (PTA) and this year is the school's 175th anniversary. There are lots of events to plan and organise and the children are doing special modules studying events over the last 175 years and the history of the school. Today the whole school dressed as Victorians and they're running the school as it was run then, with boys and girls on seperate sides of the classroom and strict rules (though lots of giggling). Next is The Wars, 50s & 60s, 70s & 80s and 90s to today. Rosie starts at the school nursery on Tuesday so she'll be dressing up too. Must get the sewing machine out!
The headmistress is also retiring at the end of this term so there's a party to organise for her and presents to be made and bought. On top of that is the usual stuff like the May Fair, which is our biggest event of the year. So much to do!
So, this is my long way of saying that we're all doing very well but have been super busy. In fact, I need to sign off now so that I can take Rosie to her playgroup and then go meet a friend for coffee in the village. Chaos, but fun and pleasant chaos at least!
I'm still secretary of the Friends committee at school (PTA) and this year is the school's 175th anniversary. There are lots of events to plan and organise and the children are doing special modules studying events over the last 175 years and the history of the school. Today the whole school dressed as Victorians and they're running the school as it was run then, with boys and girls on seperate sides of the classroom and strict rules (though lots of giggling). Next is The Wars, 50s & 60s, 70s & 80s and 90s to today. Rosie starts at the school nursery on Tuesday so she'll be dressing up too. Must get the sewing machine out!
The headmistress is also retiring at the end of this term so there's a party to organise for her and presents to be made and bought. On top of that is the usual stuff like the May Fair, which is our biggest event of the year. So much to do!
So, this is my long way of saying that we're all doing very well but have been super busy. In fact, I need to sign off now so that I can take Rosie to her playgroup and then go meet a friend for coffee in the village. Chaos, but fun and pleasant chaos at least!
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Finally
The phones are working again. My only task for the day was to get the phones working and, after checking everything I could think of, I called out a Virgin repairman. There was actually something wrong with the line and he was able to repair it within a few minutes. Yahoo! We've got a phone again.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Do not try this at home
Yesterday morning I was getting ready in the bathroom. It was Boxing Day and manic as usual in our house. Jason was trying to brush his teeth, the children were running around arguing and I was trying to put my make up on. I put on hand cream a few minutes beforehand (big mistake) went to curl my eyelashes, wasn't concentrating, my hand slipped and I ripped the eyelashes out of my right eye.
The initial pain and shock were bad but there was no blood, just an eyelash curler with what looked like a set of false eyelashes caught in it. Now I'm rocking a Clockwork Orange kind of look. God, I hope these lashes grow back quickly.
We had a fantastic Christmas, apart from the eye balding incident, and I'll post details and pics soon. Still coming down from it all.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Bring it on
OK, the bed is fixed. The turkey is brining in a bucket in the garden covered with foil and a tray weighed down with bricks so the foxes can't get to it. The house is tidy. The loft is reasonably sorted, the laundry is drying and the fridge is full. I think we're ready for Christmas.
Last Saturday we had a lunch here with some of Toby's friends from school and their families. I really like both families and we had a great time. Another family around the corner was having drinks at 6pm so we opened a couple more bottles of wine and our lunch stretched into the evening then we all staggered over to Candy's for drinks and canapes. I love our new neighborhood. The children had a brilliant time playing all day at our place then running around Solar's garden in the dark while we talked and laughed. It reminded me of times I spent with my cousins.
New Year's eve will be similiar. Jenny & Kieran are coming down from Cambridge with Jack & Kate and Pete & Philippa are coming all the way from three doors down with Joey. Jason has aleady stocked up on champagne and I'm thinking of doing lobster. We've decided to dress up, because we never get to do that, and I'm going to get all kinds of finger food for the children. I don't think we'll even try to get them to bed. Not sure Rosie will make it to midnight but I bet Toby does.
Last Saturday we had a lunch here with some of Toby's friends from school and their families. I really like both families and we had a great time. Another family around the corner was having drinks at 6pm so we opened a couple more bottles of wine and our lunch stretched into the evening then we all staggered over to Candy's for drinks and canapes. I love our new neighborhood. The children had a brilliant time playing all day at our place then running around Solar's garden in the dark while we talked and laughed. It reminded me of times I spent with my cousins.
New Year's eve will be similiar. Jenny & Kieran are coming down from Cambridge with Jack & Kate and Pete & Philippa are coming all the way from three doors down with Joey. Jason has aleady stocked up on champagne and I'm thinking of doing lobster. We've decided to dress up, because we never get to do that, and I'm going to get all kinds of finger food for the children. I don't think we'll even try to get them to bed. Not sure Rosie will make it to midnight but I bet Toby does.
Almost Christmas
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and even though we've been thinking about it for ages, somehow it's creeped up on us. I waited too long to do my online Christmas grocery order and had to brave the crowds today. I bought a positively obscene amount of food but hopefully it'll see us through the next four days or so.
Jason's parents are coming down from Skegness tomorrow and J spent the morning sorting out the loft so that they don't have to sleep surrounded by boxes. He discovered that the hinges on the sofabed have been bent. The bed would not lay flat. At all. Oh. Bugger. J rang to tell me the situation as I was fighting a woman for the last few pomegranates in Sainsburys. Not good. In the end he rang Ikea in Thurrock and when I got home he went out to buy new hinges and discovered that someone had nicked the registration plates off his Mini. He had to take my car to brave the traffic on the M25. Not a nice trip out the day before Christmas Eve but absolutely necessary.
I've spent the afternoon unpacking groceries and try to encourage the children into TV comas so that I can get on with things. I thought children these days watched too much TV, played video games and vegged out on the sofa. Why do mine keep following me around asking me to actually interact with them?! There's a mountain of laundry to do, rooms to be cleaned, food to be cooked, beds to be made and presents still to buy. Now I understand why my mother seemed to have a nervous breakdown around Christmas every year. It's times like this I wish I was a smoker or an alcoholic. It would be so nice to do something as simple as have a smoke or a drink and let the stress just melt away.
Jason's parents are coming down from Skegness tomorrow and J spent the morning sorting out the loft so that they don't have to sleep surrounded by boxes. He discovered that the hinges on the sofabed have been bent. The bed would not lay flat. At all. Oh. Bugger. J rang to tell me the situation as I was fighting a woman for the last few pomegranates in Sainsburys. Not good. In the end he rang Ikea in Thurrock and when I got home he went out to buy new hinges and discovered that someone had nicked the registration plates off his Mini. He had to take my car to brave the traffic on the M25. Not a nice trip out the day before Christmas Eve but absolutely necessary.
I've spent the afternoon unpacking groceries and try to encourage the children into TV comas so that I can get on with things. I thought children these days watched too much TV, played video games and vegged out on the sofa. Why do mine keep following me around asking me to actually interact with them?! There's a mountain of laundry to do, rooms to be cleaned, food to be cooked, beds to be made and presents still to buy. Now I understand why my mother seemed to have a nervous breakdown around Christmas every year. It's times like this I wish I was a smoker or an alcoholic. It would be so nice to do something as simple as have a smoke or a drink and let the stress just melt away.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
No phone
Our phones have been out for over a week. I think the supplier, Virgin, is doing some kind of upgrade. Anyway, if anyone has been trying to call us try us on the mobiles. We haven't been screening calls, promise!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
NYC
Had a fantastic time in New York with Nikki. The best thing was just hanging out, wandering around the city then eating what and when we wanted. The first night we went to a great place called The Coffee Shop in Union Square and stopped in a few stores. Everything is open so late.
On Saturday we walked down Broadway, around the edge of Central Park to the Frick Collection. It was amazing. Beautiful building and extraordinary collection. I've wanted to see their Vermeers for at least ten years. Afterwards we went to a luncheonette for lunch. I love the soup, salad, sandwich thing. We don't really have that in England. Saturday night we went to the New York State Theatre to see The Nutcracker. It was really lovely. When I got back I wanted to take the children to see The Nutcracker here in London but it's already sold out. Definitely exciting enough to hold the children's attention though so I'll try to book early next year.
On Sunday we had a late breakfast, walked around the shops, went into Cartier and Tiffany's and a fabulous homestore called Gracious Home. They have the most amazing selection of hardware. They blow Restoration Hardware right out of the water. If you're into knobs and knockers like I am then it's sheer heaven. They even have a guy making coffees so you can browse with a cappucino.
Sunday night we went out to Astoria to have dinner with Nikki's roommates. Nikki's neighborhood is a nice Greek community full of families and there were lots of Christmas lights. It made me very nostalgic for American Christmases gone by. We had some New York pizza and cupcakes from the bakery on the corner. Delicious. Nik's room mates are really nice, funny and talented people so we ate and laughed a lot.
Monday was my last day in NY. Nikki and I had a room service breakfast and then she had to go to work. We had a tearful goodbye at the taxi then I spent the day wandering around the city, spending a fortune in the M&M store (three floors dedicated to M&Ms!), sitting in various coffee shops and reading my book. I walked around the MOMA shop and bought a few stocking stuffers but didn't have the energy to walk around the galleries. My mind was turning back to London and the things I would need to do over the next few days.
I've arrived back and jumped right into Christmas celebrations and preparations for the various parties and events we have coming up. It was really nice to get away for a while and spend some time with Nikki. Now that she's in NY I hope it'll happen more often.
Overheard...
Toby: Today at school it was like Primary School Musical because the whole class started singing when Mr Wilson left the room.
Me: Oh, that's lovely. What did you all sing?
Toby: "Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin ran away. Uncle Billy tossed his willy on the motorway!"
Me: Ah.
Me: Oh, that's lovely. What did you all sing?
Toby: "Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin ran away. Uncle Billy tossed his willy on the motorway!"
Me: Ah.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Ready to fly
The car will be here to take me to the airport soon and I'm really looking forward to the trip. However, me being me, I'm convinced that the plane will crash, I'll be shot or fall down a manhole and will never see the children grow up.
I made a special meal last night and gave them extra hugs and kisses so hopefully their final memories of me will be good ones. I know they won't grow up motherless because some gold digging cow will distract and exhaust Jason with the sexual techniques she picked up on her gap year in Thailand and he'll be married before he knows it. So, though Jason might be happier, the children will grow up feeling neglected and bitter and will be unfulfilled, disatisfied adults. They'll forget all about me and all about being half American and end their days wondering about the mother who selfishly ran off to New York and left them behind.
Whew! I feel so much better getting that out of my head. Now I can go off and have a nice little break. Nikki, here I come!
I made a special meal last night and gave them extra hugs and kisses so hopefully their final memories of me will be good ones. I know they won't grow up motherless because some gold digging cow will distract and exhaust Jason with the sexual techniques she picked up on her gap year in Thailand and he'll be married before he knows it. So, though Jason might be happier, the children will grow up feeling neglected and bitter and will be unfulfilled, disatisfied adults. They'll forget all about me and all about being half American and end their days wondering about the mother who selfishly ran off to New York and left them behind.
Whew! I feel so much better getting that out of my head. Now I can go off and have a nice little break. Nikki, here I come!
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