Lowlight of the day

At the church playgroup this morning another Mom came up to me as I was chatting and enjoying a cup of tea. She said "I'm sorry but I think your child is being a bit of a brute to some other children. Could you intervene?" I found Rosie in the play kitchen standing guard in front of the plastic fridge shouting and smacking the hands of any child that came near it. There was a small circle of crying children around her.

I know all children behave in such a way at one time or another but Rosie is particularly good at it. She's made children twice her size cry. She can be quite ferocious. Good lord, what is she going to be like when she's a teenager?!

Overheard at the school's May Fair...

After spotting a copy of the Kama Sutra on the bookstall:

First older lady: "The Kama Sutra?! This is a church school!"

Second older lady: "Well, Christians have sex too. Where do you think all of these children came from?"

They walked off laughing but without purchasing the book.

Adventures in parenting

A few days ago Tobes and Rosie were having an argument and I heard Toby say "I hate you Rosie!". I try to stay out of their spats as much as possible and let them work it out. I only intervene when someone is getting hurt, physically or emotionally. When I heard Toby shouting I braced myself for Rosie to be upset. After a beat I heard her shout back, "No you don't! YOU LOVE ME!". Then Toby started laughing and the storm had passed.

This afternoon we had a little replay with Toby shouting "I hate you!". This time Rosie replied "Well, I hate you too!". Then they just stared at each other for a minute and Rosie walked out to the hallway and started crying. After a second Toby followed her and when I walked out to the hall they were hugging on the stairs and whispering "It's OK, I really do love you."

Rosie has been a real handful lately and she's obviously getting on Toby's nerves. I have to say I can't blame him. Some days she is really unpleasant. When she gets angry she screams so loud that her voice cracks. The other day I asked her to stop being naughty and she whipped round and screamed, "I'm not naughty, I'm LOVELY!!". I'm sure quite a few people in the grocery store at the time would disagree with that statement.

Today's highlight was overhearing Rosie say "And now it's all over my hands... yucky" as I walked into the dining room to see her wiping her hands on the table and leaving a long brown streak. Yes, she had put her hands down her nappy after doing a poo. And then she got mad at me like it was my fault.

Attention all Stallions!

Next year will be our 20th highschool reunion. Yep, the big 2-0. I've been talking to David Eddings who organised the 5 and 10 year reunions and he's given me the following link:

Party People

Please go here to update your info and to insure you get an invite to the big bash next year!

Jason's new toy

Have I mentioned that Jason is having a mid-life crisis? I'm always writing blog entries in my head. Some of them actually make it here but a lot of them don't and I can't remember what I've said and what I haven't.

Anyway, Jason is going through a mid-life crisis, man-opause, milestone, turning point... whatever you want to call it. Luckily it's all positive and he's worked hard and created a life that leaves him the freedom to explore lots of options... and buy some pretty cool stuff. This Mini is his new toy. It's all Jason's. I've ridden in it once so far and we've had it over a month. It's a reward for 20 years of hard work.

Now, I wonder what I want... Hmmm, I'll have to think about that.

Toby, Rosie and Joe this morning

Tobes and Rosie have both had haircuts recently. It seems like they look so much older with shorter hair.

Milk and babies

Rosie had her allergy check up last week with the specialist. For the first two years of her life she was on a no dairy/wheat/nuts/soy/eggs diet. It was a bit challenging at first but once we got the hang of it it was fine. She's been on a prescription baby formula which is hypoallergenic and has never seen an animal of any kind. I like to call it Franken-formula.

It's been a year since her last check-up and in that time I've slowly introduced all of her allergens and she's fine with everything now except milk. She obviously has a threshold for it though because she has a yoghurt every morning and eats ice cream fine. She doesn't really like cheese though and if I put cow's milk in her bottle she gets an upset stomach. Lots of people are sensitive to cow's milk (including Nikki) so I'm not worried about that. My concern is that Rosie is 2 1/2 and still having a bottle because she won't drink her formula from a cup. She still has her formula plus a calcium supplement to make sure she gets all of the vitamins and minerals she needs.

So, off to the hospital we went on Friday. I was prepared for a long day of prick tests, blood tests, measuring, weighing and talking. In the end we were in and out in less than 30 minutes. I spoke to the consultant and he said that I seemed to have it all under control. He suggested I try to wean Rosie off of the prescription formula over the next six months and substitute it with calcium enriched soya milk or rice milk or, if I preferred, just keep Rosie on the forumla until I was happy to phase it out. They then suggested she be discharged from specialist care and that was that!

So, Rosie is no longer considered allergic, just milk-sensitive. I gave her a bottle of soya milk yesterday and she loved it but woke up in the night with a mucousy cough and brought up a lot of phlegm. It could just be a cold or her body adjusting to the soya. Watch this space...

Today Toby is home with a sore leg. He came home yesterday limping and was up in the night complaining that his leg was hurting. He gets a lot of growing pains so I put it down to that but this morning it was still bothering him so he's home for a day of rest. We're watching Philippa's little boy, Joe, today so Toby's 'rest' is consisting of running around playing with Joe. The kids are having a great time so I'm taking the opportunity to catch up on some laundry and chores around the house.

Lots of talk in the air about a third baby so today is good practice. Not sure I want to take that leap anytime soon but interesting to see the dynamic between three children. Toby is happily taking on the big boy role, reading to Joe and bringing him toys. Rosie is taking on the bossy-boots role, saying "No, that's mine!" a lot.

Fair Day

We survived the fair. It was a scorching day. Well, 80 degrees is pretty hot for London in May. I think our stand did well but not as well as I had hoped. We were in the Hall and most people wanted to be outside in the sun, but I'm not disappointed. I have a better idea what the children like now so I'll be able to do it all again next year. Right now just that thought makes me feel very, very tired.

Here's a photo of our stall before the fair opened and one of Rosie with English and American flags on her cheeks. My little half and half girl.

Our cakes

I like the Superman ones the best. I could only manage five Ben 10 cakes in the end. They're on the left and supposed to be the top of the Omnitrix. Too fiddly to do lots of them though.

Come to the Fair...

Tomorrow is the May Fair at Toby's school, St Margaret's, and I've been busy this week getting things together. I'm running a Dressing Up stall. I bought a bunch of beads, bracelets, hats and tiaras in the States and have added costumes and other things that were donated. Every English child I know has a dressing up box and you often see the children out in the village or in the shops in full regalia.

In Chislehurst there was a little boy who always wore a Spiderman costume. I never saw him in anything else. You see little girls in tiaras or wings or even full princess dresses over their jumpers and jeans. Rosie has a pink tutu that she likes to wear and it does look very cute when it's raining out and she wears it with jeans and wellies. Toby has a friend who likes to wear a pin-striped suit and Converse over the weekend like his hero Dr Who. It is very cute to see and encourages imagination and individuality. I wish I could get away with a pink tutu and wellies.

So, today I'm getting everything packed to take to school tomorrow. We've got a prime position next to the face painting so I'm hoping to raise a lot of money for the school. I'm also making 3 dozen cupcakes today for the cake stall. At the last cake sale we went very girly and did Winnie the Pooh and Princess cakes so this time we're doing boy cakes to balance it out. I bought some cute Superman emblems and some sugar soccer balls in the States and Tobes has talked me into doing some Ben 10 cupcakes too. That should be interesting.

The next event is International Day and I keep chaning my mind about what I want to make. Now I'm thinking buttermilk pie. I think I have Mamaw Black's recipe in a book somewhere. I'll defintely do key lime pie. I made it last year and they've requested it again. Hmmm. We'll see.

Does it ever get easier?

Demanding day with the kiddos. It's election day here and Toby's school is a polling station so he had the day off. I thought it would be nice to hang out in the village, get Tobes some new shoes for school and have a nice lunch. Rosie had other plans.

I guess she's going through the terrible twos. It is painful to deal with. She's really aggressive and shouts and whines all the time. There was a commercial here a few years ago that said that children make X number of demands a minute and illustrated this with a drill sergeant shouting at a mother, "I WANT MY BREAKFAST! RIGHT NOW! IT'S NOT HOT ENOUGH! GET ME A DRINK!" , etc, etc. I can really identify with that ad these days. I can't remember what it was advertising. I think it was some hotline to call before you try to kill your children. I wish I could remember that number.

It probably doesn't matter though because I'll be in jail soon. Due to rain and Rosie's bad temper I gave up on the relaxing day in the village and decided to have a movie afternoon. Tobes has been interested in seeing the Indiana Jones movies and I bought the box set last week. We went to the grocery store to get popcorn and ice cream to make it like going to the cinema. I think that's part of what really kills me. I'm trying to do something nice for the kids and it all blows up in my face so often.

Today we were choosing snacks and Rosie took off across the grocery store. Toby wanted to run after her but I said to just leave her and she'll go too far, get scared and turn around and come back. We stood and watched the back of her as she ran to the other side of the grocery store then turned the corner. As soon as she was out of sight Tobes and I started running after her. It's a big grocery store and I thought she might get lost and get really upset. When we found her she was dancing, singing to herself and looking at bottles of wine. As soon as she saw us she took off again.

When I finally caught up with her I kneeled down and told her she must never run off like that again. She looked me right in the eye and shouted "NO, YOU SHUT UP!". Then I turned her around and gave her the first spanking of her life. When I looked up I realised we were on CCTV. There was even a big TV screen showing us in full technicolour to the whole store.

So, if you're in England and you're watching the news tonight and they show one of those "Have you seen this woman?" bulletins along with a harried, wild-eyed woman beating the crap out of her kid in a grocery store... you know where I am.

Eewwww!

Sign seen in the ladies' changing room at the gym this morning:

"Please only use the hairdryers for drying the hair on your head. This is for reasons of hygiene."

Mostly better

Last night was the first night that the kids slept through. They were waking up every night from midnight to 3am which wasn't helping anyone's mood. Things are calming down now. I'm getting back into the swing of things and feeling better.

I've got a lot coming up at the school with a meeting Monday night and the school fair in a couple of weeks. Got to get everything sorted and priced up for my stall and help with the leaflets and publicity. I've also got another newsletter to write and a flyer about the school garden plus food to prepare for International Day. I'm thinking hot wings, key lime pie, Hershey's Kisses and mini pastrami on rye sandwiches. For some reason the British have a thing about pastrami on rye being a quintessential American dish. They say you always hear people order it in movies.

We've also been seeing lots of friends and Jenny, Kieran and their kids are coming down tomorrow for the day. We had hoped to go stay with them in Cambridge for the weekend but our heads are still spinning after the trip so they're coming to us and Jason and Kieran are going off to some big football game for the afternoon. Hopefully the weather will be nice so Jen and I can put the kettle on, turn the kids loose in the yard and catch up with each other.

Got the jetlag, run down, post-holiday blues...

I'm trying to dig myself out of a slump. I'm feeling blue. I now it's part post-holiday sadness, part jetlag exhaustion and part return-to-real-life slog so I'm just trying to ride it out. I'm not very good with change or the unknown and we're about to enter a big phase of both and I know that's on my mind too. (More about that once details are finalised and no, I'm not pregnant).

I'm just trying to suck it up and go through the motions until I feel better. Toby is back at school today and J is out with Rosie so I have a little quiet time. I'm also feeling the effects of almost a month spent 24 hours a day with the children and a lot of that spent taking care of them when they were ill. I'm drained and homesick. Not a great combination.

As for the change and uncertainty, well it's happening. I don't want to stop it happening but that doesn't mean I won't worry about it. I generally like to worry about things way ahead of time, then when the crucial moment arrives I can deal with it with some perspective. The problem with the unknown is that I don't know exactly what I need to worry about so I just worry about everything. Does that make sense? I blame my McClendon heritage for this particular character trait.

So to recap - I'm sad, homesick, tired and worried about everything. Yea, that about sums it up.

Riding the jet-lag roller coaster

Made it home about 1pm yesterday. Everyone was so tired. J and I sorted through a mountain of mail, unpacked most of the bags, ordered pizza then the kids and I went to bed at 5pm. I woke up at 11pm, used the bathroom, got a drink, called Mom, checked my email and went back to bed. The kids woke up about midnight and were up until just after 3am when we finally passed out again. Jason had stayed up to wait for the grocery order and he went to bed about midnight in the children's room and slept through. The kids and I woke up at noon.

I know we should be more strict about sleeping and waking to get over the jet lag but I'm just too tired to fight it. Apart from the time change, I'm also dealing with a sleep deficit from a week of chicken pox. I was up and down all night at Mom and Dad's and that on top of the jet lag is really kicking my butt. I'm sitting here yawning as I type.

Everything at the house is fine. Karen, our cleaner, had been coming in every week to check everything, clean and so some other odd jobs so we came back to a sparkling clean and tidy house. Even though I washed all our clothes at Mom and Dad's the hamper here is already full (how did that happen?) and we've got half unpacked bags and stuff all over the place. Toby is back at school on Tuesday so I need to get his uniforms sorted out. I've had three emails about next month's school fair and we've got a playdate tomorrow afternoon with Joe. Life picks up where it left off.

Home

Safe and sound. All in one piece. So tired I could vomit.

Spoke too soon

Still in Texas. Rosie is really ill. Nothing serious, just a bad case of the pox. We were due to fly home yesterday but after a lot of discussion, me in tears in Kellie's kitchen and Jason spending ages on the phone negotiating flight changes... we're now in Texas until Friday.

J has to go off to New York for a few days with work and I'm back at Mom and Dad's with the kids and a shedload of medicines, creams, sprays and oatmeal bath stuff to try and keep Rosie comfortable and unscarred.

What a vacation it's been.

Quick one

Well, we knew it had to happen. Rosie has chicken pox. We went out to lunch with Mom and Dad on Wednesday and Rosie was wearing a little halter top. I kept looking at her shoulder thinking I could see a few spots but they were flat and only a little bit pink. After lunch we left for Kellie's house in Houston and yesterday morning I had another look at the spots and they were raised and there were more on her back, stomach and hairline.

She's doing well, only about 20 spots in all, and no fever or illness. She's been more tired and cranky but that's about it. We're supposed to fly back to London tomorrow so I'm hoping the spots stay as mild as they are now. The majority of them are in her hairline and on her head, so not very visible. I've just put cream on them and a few are already crusted over so, touch wood, I think we're going to catch a break this time.

Holiday from heaven and hell

This will either be very short or long, rambling and nonsensical (is that a word?) because I am so freakin' tired. We're in San Diego and we've been having a great time. Nikki's graduation was very moving, Easter was fantastic and the days after that were spent on the beach, eating nice food and just chilling out. Then it started...

Toby had a fever on Thursday night which I put down to a little too much sun and heat. He is, after all, half English and my son. Not a great combination when it comes to heat exposure. The next day we decided to go to the Birch Aquarium and stay indoors. It was lovely and the kids had a great time. As we were leaving Toby started complaining of being tired and he ended up falling asleep in the stroller. A few hours later he had a fever again and I saw a little red spot on his neck. I looked under his shirt and counted 13 more spots. Chicken pox.

Poor old Tobes has it bad and, being half me, he's not taking it well. I got the chicken pox when I was 13 and was an absolute terror. I remember laying on the floor in nothing but my underpants with the AC vent pointed at my back and every time the air went off I would start shouting. I remember taking oatmeal baths and crying that I was a monster. Screaming at Mom and Dad and generally making life hell. 25 years later and I'm on the other side of the equation. Tobes has been screaming such things as "I want my pretty face back!!" and "Put the cream there... NO DON"T TOUCH ME!" and my favourite... "I need cream in my bottom... no, ONLY MOMMY CAN DO IT!" I talked to Mom last night to let her know the situation. Her motherly words of advice? "Yea, payback's a bitch, huh?"

So, we've extended our stay in California by two more days and will hopefully fly to Texas on Tuesday. Of course by then I fully expect Rosie to be in the throes of the pox but she's more like her father and a more mellow child when it comes to that kind of thing. Wish us luck.

On a happier note, Nikki and I managed to go paragliding yesterday. It wasn't windy enough for hangliding but paragliding was the next best thing. We spent twenty minutes going up and down the coastline and even saw a baby whale surface and blow water out of his blowhole. It was amazing but we both ended up with motion sickness. Nikki coped well but me, being the drama queen when it comes to illness, ended up throwing up. Thankfully I did not throw up in my helmet or over the sunbathers on the nudist beach or in the fancy backyards of the big houses we flew over. I managed to keep it in and throw up in the bathroom of the cafe where we had lunch afterwards. That felt like an accomplishment.

Today's the day!

The car will be here to pick us up in four hours. We fly in nine hours and then twelve hours later we get off the plane in LA. A two hour drive after that we arrive in La Jolla and see everyone! So, about 24 hours from now we'll get there. It's going to be a long day. I should probably go jump in the shower and start getting things moving here. See you on the other side!

Counting down...

The bags are almost all packed. Flights, hotel room, rental car all confirmed. I've been doing laundry and laying out the travelling clothes. Yes, we have another day before we fly on Friday but I have learned over the years that if I prepare in advance as much as possible it makes travelling a more pleasant experience for all of us.

This way we can have a nice breakfast Friday morning before the car comes to pick us up. I'm making chocolate croissants (the premade Pilsbury dough stuff, come on I'm not crazy!) and we will hopefully have a pleasant, relaxed morning. If I don't prepare then the morning would most likely consist of a lot of shouting, running around, sweating, harsh accusations and tears on the stairs. All from me. And then I would most likely forget something crucial like the passports (it has happened before and what a freakin' nightmare it was) or something less crucial but convenient like the Calpol and then both children would get raging fevers on the flight and I would be arrested at Arrivals for threatening the flight attendants if they didn't get some medicine for my children RIGHT NOW. Then the hassle of arranging bail for me, getting put on some airport shit-list and having difficulties travelling for the rest of my life. So you see, much better to prepare well in advance.

I think I'll just go double check the bags now.

It's never boring...

Excerpts from my bedtime chat with Toby tonight:


Me: When we get to San Diego one of Aunt Nikki's friends is going to be there too. Her name is Mary.

T: Is she Jesus's mommy?

Me: No, this is a different Mary.

T: Oh. [singing] Mary had a baby, yes Lord. Mary had a baby, yes my Lord...

***************

Me: OK, enough talking. It's time to sleep. Nigh night. I love you very much.

T: Do you love me more than Rosie?

Me: No, I don't love one of you more than the other but I love you for different reasons.

T: Why do you love Rosie?

Me: Because she's my baby girl and she has a lot of personality in her little body and she can be silly and funny and sweet and kind and she has nice squishy legs.

T: Why do you love me?

Me: Because you're my baby boy and you're nice to talk to and you have lots of imagination and you're good at drawing and math and you can be really funny and sweet and helpful with Rosie and you have the cutest little bottom.

T: Hmmm. And what's the name of that new planet they found?

Me: I think Chiara but I'll have to check that.

T: OK, night night.

Ten seconds later he was snoring.

[NOTE: The new planet is actually called Sedna. I'll let Tobes know in the morning.]

Wild weather

I keep hearing about the snow in Texas and the weather here is pretty wild too. We're having torrential rain and windstorms. It's unbelievable. The windows in this house are the original Victorian and they are very drafty. Most of the time I like it because it keeps the house from getting musty but for the last 24 hours or so it's meant that the blinds are all billowing and flapping because the wind is blowing so hard.

This morning we all got up to start the day. J left for a week in Tokyo. We were surprised that his flight was still taking off but it was all going to schedule. Toby's school is only about 300 yards from the house and we always walk it but today I seriously considered taking the car. In the end, we all just put on our raincoats with hoods (far too windy for umbrellas) and braved the walk. We went a few doors down and collected Toby's friend Max so that his Mum wouldn't have to come out with the baby and we all trooped in. We were pretty wet when we got there but it was actually nice to be out and the boys had a great time pretending they were caught in a tornado.

By the time Rosie and I walked back home I had to hang our jeans on the radiator to dry. My socks were also soaked so I took them off and put on some pajama bottoms and started tidying up the breakfast things while Rosie watched some cartoons and drank her milk.

I have never lived in a home in England where the front door didn't automatically lock when it was closed. Some doors can't even be opened from the inside without a key. I remember once, when we were in the flat, our neighbor locked himself into the communal hallway. His flat door had accidently closed behind him and the front door was bolted so he couldn't get into his flat or out the front door without a key! I have no idea how long he sat there but he was very glad to finally get out.

Well, as part of my tidying this morning I decided to put out the rubbish and recycling. I stepped out the front door, put the rubbish and recycling in the bins, turned to go back inside and realised that the door had blown shut behind me. Oh bugger. I was standing outside in a freezing rain and windstorm barefoot wearing a T-shirt and a pair of flannel snowman pajama bottoms.

I tiptoed to the living room window and managed to get Rosie's attention and asked her to go and open the door for Mommy. She's such a good girl. We have glass panes in the front door and I saw her run into the hallway and up to the door. She can't reach the handle. Oh bugger bugger bugger. My keys were in my handbag in the hallway so I pushed open the letterbox and asked Rosie to get my keys out and hand them to me through the letterbox. This was a long and testing process. Imagine trying to explain to a two year old that the keys are in the middle zipper compartment... no, not that one sweetheart, the other one... yes, that's the one... now unzip it... no darling, the other one... the one in the middle... you know what 'middle' means don't you, yes that's it... OK, perfect!... now, get my keys... no, not the mints... yes, you can have one when you give me my keys... OK, you're going to have one now are you?...

As all of this was going on I was losing feeling in my feet and my clothes were getting soaked. Finally Rosie got the keys and managed to put them through the letterbox so I could let myself back into the house. I came in freezing and dripping wet with my hair looking like I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards. I must get another set of keys made for the neighbors.

Yeee - haw!!

Toby and I were having our usual bedtime chat tonight and he was telling me about his teacher Mr Wilson and his accent (he's from Scotland) and the way he says some words differently. This led to a general discussion about accents and I mentioned the Texan accent...

Toby: Do Texans have an accent?

Me: Yes, you know how Papa and Nana sound different and say some things differently?

Toby: Do they?!

Toby then got me to say various sentences with a Texan accent (yes, I can still do it). He was copying me each time and told me that he could do the accent really well because he's half Texan. Then he asked me to count to ten with a Texan accent and said "That's cowboy talk, Mom!"

I thought it was so sweet that he didn't notice that Mom and Dad sound different to what he's surrounded by everyday. He sounded so funny with a Texan accent but I bet after three weeks in the States with me getting my accent back, which always happens when I'm there, and playing with Kellie's boys that Tobes will have a little Texan accent of his own when we come back to London. It's lovely that he's getting old enough to appreciate the differences.

When will I learn?

Spend two hours making fresh stock from a chicken carcass, carrots and other lovely things, then another half an hour standing at the stove stirring the stock into a risotto. Pop some store-bought chicken satays in the oven for ten minutes. Serve it all to the children.

Your looking at two plates with untouched risotto and not a scrap of chicken left. I shoud've just microwaved a rice sachet for these guys and they probably would've eaten it all up.

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day in England. I was woken up late with breakfast in bed plus cards and a present. Jason bought me a Nintendo DS Lite (I think that's what it's called). It's the one with Brain Games. So at the tender age of 37 I have my first video game. And it's one designed to keep my brain working so I don't develop Alzheimer's. Who says I'm getting old?!

We had a very calm day and went out for Sunday lunch - roast and all the trimmings. Afterwards I treated myself by cleaning out the car. Doesn't sound like much fun, I know, but Rosie has a new car seat and I really wanted to get it set up. Her old carseat was supposed to last until she was 4 years old or 35lbs. Well, Miss Rosie is now 36lbs so it was high time to change. The funny thing is that Toby is just 45lbs! Tobes is a long, tall drink of water and Rosie is a tall, curvy girl. She's going to beat the crap out of him as soon as she realises she can. God help us.

The thrills never end

Yesterday South East London was in gridlock because the Blackwall Tunnel was closed due to a petrol spill. It was so bad that they had to resurface the tunnel before they could reopen it. Our friends Elizabeth & Andrew live north of the river but their daughter Mary Catherine goes to school here in Blackheath, south of the river. Yesterday it took them FIVE hours to make the journey. You can check out Elizabeth's blog for more details.

Well, the tunnel was due to be closed all night and the alternative routes are all nightmarish, especially so when half of London is on the roads and in a bad mood. So Elizabeth and Mary Catherine stayed with us last night. Slumber party! Elizabeth had her gym bag so was somewhat prepared for an overnight stay but they stopped off at Sainsbury's for a few other items. Of course, we stayed up way too late talking, looking at magazines and criticising all the clothes.

By the time I went to bed it was almost 1am. I had been in bed a few minutes when it felt like the bed started moving. My first thought was "What the hell are the neighbors up to?!?". Then I heard the stairgate banging in the hall and the wardrobe doors rattling... a familiar sound from our time in Tokyo... but that only happend when there was AN EARTHQUAKE!

I waited until it passed and then waited to see if there was going to be an aftershock. Sometimes they're worse than the actual quake. Finally I came downstairs where Jason was still up working at the computer. He was tapping away when I walked in, "Did you just feel that?" "What?" "I think we just had an eartquake." Jason looked at me with his 'oh, isn't she cute' face and I started to feel a little silly but I couldn't deny the stairgate banging. "I'm sure it was an earthquake." Jason hadn't felt a thing but then he slept through lots of earthquakes in Tokyo and an IRA bomb going off about 200 yards from our flat once.

Thankfully this morning the big story was the biggest earthquake to hit the UK in 25 years. I'm not crazy. Well, you know.

[Chris & Annelouise, did you feel it? I thought of you guys. I did NOT lose control of my movements, thank God!]

More half-term

A few more pics from Toby's half-term. He's back at school tomorrow and we're both really sad about it. We've had such a lovely week topped off by a fantastic weekend. We went to the funfair on Tuesday, had Philippa and Joseph over on Wednesday and went into town on Thursday. I had hoped to see the From Russia exhibition at the Royal Academy but it was heaving. I had no idea it was such a popular show but people were lined up out into the courtyard and it would've been no fun fighting the crowds with a stroller. I'll have to go back on my own.

We did have a nice lunch with my friend Natasha in the RA's restaurant then Natasha took us 'behind the scenes' in the art college (she works there). She showed Toby the life drawing room where students have been studying for hundreds of years. Way back in the day the school would be given the bodies of executed convicts which would then be flayed (have all the skin removed) and posed so that the students could study and draw the exposed musculature. They even had a statue of a flayed horse and lots of different skeletons which Tobes thought was very cool.

After our bit of culture we went to kiddy consumer heaven - Hamley's, the huge toystore. We spent ages going from floor to floor trying out toys. The kids drew a crowd when they started testing the whoopee cushions. Tobes got a Ben 10 toy and a magic trick. He's very into his magic tricks at the moment. Rosie chose her first Barbie! She wanted one that we bought Kate for Christmas. It's a fairy Barbie and she sings when you push her necklace. I thought Barbies were a few years off for Rosie but she loves it.

On Friday morning we met friends in the park and then within a couple of hours of each other Jenny arrived with her kids, J came home from California and Kieran came out after working in London all week. Jack and Kate are like cousins to Toby and Rosie and I love seeing them all together. It reminds me of all the fun I had playing with my cousins when I was growing up. Jen and I managed to sneak out to the pub for a drink and then Jason and Kieran did the same when Jen and I were putting the kids to bed.

We had a great Saturday morning and a quiet afternoon. Jenny, Kieran and their kids went off to the Museum of London for a project of Jack's at school while we hung around the village. They came back for dinner and they guys went off to watch the rugby before they had to head back up to Cambridge.

Today we had Pete, Philippa and Joseph over for Sunday lunch. I was trying out a new recipe for chicken, leek and tarragon pie and was a bit worried that it wouldn't turn out nice but it was delicious. In the afternoon J and Toby went off to do some swimming and Rosie and I watched The Night Garden and had a snacky dinner.

It's been such a nice week but now the next big thing on my calendar is our trip to the States!

Excerpt from my bedtime chat with Toby

"I really miss Daddy because he's funny and even when he knows a magic trick isn't really magic he still says 'Wow!' and he always gives us a clap and does stuff with us but you don't. You're always cooking or tidying up or on the computer. You know I used to like you more than Daddy but now I like Daddy most. Maybe I'll love you again next year."

This was all said in a very matter-of-fact tone of voice and it broke my heart a little bit but I do understand. A five year old boy needs his Daddy. I said that was fine and I understood and I still loved Toby more than any other boy in the world and then he wanted to talk about why sleepy dust is like bogeys.

Half-term

It's half-term this week which means Toby is off school. Unfortunately, Jason is also in California with work. My survival strategy is to keep busy. Yesterday we had a day of Tutankhamun. The big exhibition is here in London so we've been reading about ancient Egypt, mummies and King Tut.

Yesterday we made our own mummies using teddy bears. Toby likes the bit where you take the brains out through their nose using a metal hook. Hmmm. Then we made and decorated sarcophagus lids for our mummies. After the day of mummy making we headed out to the King Tut exhibition at the O2. Toby loved it. He was running from gallery to gallery shouting "Look! There's an ankh! There's a scarab! There's a canopic jar! Who's guts were in that one, Mummy?!" The only disapointment was that they didn't have Tut's death mask but I guess I'm not surprised. It's far too important to travel around. Tobes has really taken to it all and it's making an Egyptian vacation next year look more likely. I'd love to go. We just have to plan around the heat.

The rest of the week is full of playdates and days out. Today it's the funfair on the heath, tomorrow we have friends coming over, Thursday we're in town for the From Russia exhibition at the Royal Academy and Friday we're meeting friends in the morning, Jason comes back and we're having Jenny, Kieran and they're kids over for the weekend. Busy but fun week.

My Mom is apparently 25 again today...

Happy Birthday Nana

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American passport - done

Rosie is once again a passport-carrying American citizen. Or at least she will be in two weeks when her new passport arrives in the post. It took about two hours at the embassy to get it all sorted out which wasn't so bad.

We did have to stand in the slowest moving line on earth to hand in our paperwork. They had some TV screens set up with BBC News 24 playing (I would've thought they'd go for CNN but whatever). The story about the shooting in Illinois came on and I heard the guy behind us say to his wife "I bet it was a Texan. They're crazy."

Afterwards we had a terrible lunch at a pub in Mayfair. It was really, really bad. The kind of food that tourists have because they think it's authentic and then go home saying how bad the food is in England. I promise, English food is much better than that. Then we walked around Selfridge's for a while and I organised a new watch strap for me.

I love, love, love my watch but the strap is black and I think it'll look too heavy in the spring and summer. I wanted to get a light tan one but the sales assistant said it wouldn't suit the silver colour so I chose a blue one instead. It's soooo lovely but they only have one of the straps in the whole of the UK and it's in the Bond Street shop. That works out well though. Toby has halfterm next week so we can arrange to meet my friend Natasha for lunch at the Royal Academy, go see the new Russian exhibition and get my new strap fitted. I can't wait!

Snapshots from our Valentine's Day

White tablecloth, red floral centrepiece, red chocolate hearts sprinkled across it... and me, Jason, Toby and Rosie all having breakfast together. Including heart-shaped toast. Not a romantic dinner but nice.

**********************

Reading the candy love hearts...

Toby: This one says 'Kiss Me'.

Katherine: This one says 'Be Mine'.

Rosie: Dis one says 'Wosie Wae is pwecious'.

**********************

Rosie received her own special Valentine in the post that was from:

'Your 16 month old secret admirer (and his mum)'

**********************

Me hiding on the stairs so I can eat some of the chocs from my heart-shaped box of chocolates without sharing with the children.

I'm working on renewing the children's passports. Rosie needs her American one renewed and Toby needs to have his British one renewed. The American process is very strict. Jason and I have to go to the embassy together with Rosie, all of our passports, Rosie's birth certificate and a two page form. No mailing it in and I can't do it on my own unless I have a notarised letter from Jason stating that Rosie can have an American passport.

The British process is a little more laid back in some respects. I can do it by post and it's a pretty simple form. Since it's a renewal all they need is Toby's old passport. One thing the British passport does require is a counter-signatory for anyone under 12 years old. This person has to hold a British or Irish passport and to have known us for at least two years. They also must be someone who 'works in a recognisd profession or has good standing in the community'. I find that quite sweet. I mean, how do you determine if someone has good standing in the community? Very helpfully, they provide a list:

Accountant
Airline Pilots
Articled clerk of a limited company
Assurance agent of recognised company
Bank/building society official
Barrister
British Computer Society (BCS) - Professional grades which are Associate (AMBCS), Member (MBCS), Fellow (FBCS) (PN 25/2003)
Broker
Chairman/director of limited company
Chemist
Chiropodist
Christian Science practitioner
Commissioner of oaths
Councillor: local or county
Civil servant (permanent)
Dentist
Designated Premises Supervisors
Director/Manager of a VAT registered Charity
Director/Manager/Personnel Officer of a VAT registered Company
Engineer (with professional qualifications)
Fire service official
Funeral director
Insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
Journalist
Justice of the Peace
Legal secretary (members and fellows of the Institute of legal secretaries)
Local government officer
Manager/Personnel officer (of limited company)
Member of Parliament
Merchant Navy officer
Minister of a recognised religion
Nurse (SRN and SEN)
Officer of the armed services (active or retired)
Optician
Person with honours (e.g. OBE MBE etc.)
Personal Licensee Holders
Photographer (professional)
Police officer
Post Office official
President/Secretary of a recognised organisation
Salvation Army officer
Social worker
Solicitor
Surveyor
Teacher, lecturer
Trade union officer
Travel agency (qualified)
Valuers and auctioneers (fellow and associate members of the incorporated society)
Warrant officers and Chief Petty Officers

These must be considered the most respectable and trustworthy professions in Britain. Some like police officer and Justice of the Peace I can understand. Others such as chiropodist, Christian Sciences practitioner and valuers and auctioneers seem odd choices. I'm surprised they don't just make it the child's doctor or teacher but then I guess they would end up spending too much time signing passport application forms rather than teaching and diagnosing.

Our Saturday

We've been keeping busy this weekend since Jason is away in India. He rang this morning from a nature reserve in Mumbai so the children could hear all of the monkeys and birds in the background.

We've been doing less exciting stuff here at home but having a nice time. Yesterday we got Toby's hair cut and did some work in the garden. It was an unusually beautiful sunny day and the tree in the garden is in bloom. We opened up the french doors, aired out the house and enjoyed the sunshine.

If you look closely at the photos you can see Tobes is wearing his new Ben 10 T-shirt that says 'Toby 10'. The Ben 10 movie comes out tomorrow and we've been making tops for Toby and his friends. This is the last week of school before the half term break and they can wear mufti on Friday (their own clothes rather than the uniform). They just have to bring a pound donation to charity. We're trying to get the T-shirts done so the boys can all wear them on Friday. It'll be like a Ben 10 invasion!

St Margaret's does Ziggy Stardust

St Margaret's does Ziggy Stardust

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This is from Toby's class assembly on Tuesday. Toby is down on the front row, on the left in a black sweatshirt. Every term (like a semester) each year (grade) does a show about their studies for their parents and the school. There's only one class per year so it's a small school and very close-knit. This term Toby's class has been studying the solar system and space travel. They put on a great show with paper rockets, aliens and a bit about the first man to walk on the moon. I think my favourite line was "That was 1969, a very long time ago, but there are still some old people alive today who can remember it." Mr Wilson is obviously a very cool teacher because he chose this Ziggy Stardust/David Bowie song to end the show. Tobes was singing it for weeks beforehand!

An actress in training

Rosie's faces

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Typical night at our place...

White Boy Dancing

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He's a real fox

Big excitement yesterday, we had a fox in the garden. The urban foxes are so interesting. They're all over London. It's amazing how they've adapted to the city environment but I guess they're safer here than with the hunting parties in the countryside.

This fox was totally fearless and came right up to the backdoor. I think the previous owners left food out for the neighborhood cats and I'm sure the foxes are accustomed to helping themselves too. It's amazing how much wildlife we get in our little garden - pigeons, squirrels and now foxes. The children love it.

One for the wedding speeches...

I went to pick Tobes up from school today and his class came out but he wasn't there. I noticed that none of his group of friends came out either and I started to fear the worst. Sure enough the Headteacher (like the Principal) called me over and asked to speak to me. She explained that Tobes had been involved in a game at playtime. It started as a game of Kiss Chase with the girls trying to catch the boys but then one of the girls, I'll call her Emma, told the boys that whoever had the longest willy could marry her. So the boys all got out their willies to compare!! At this point the Headteacher, who is a very nice lady, was trying not to smile and I was shocked but trying to look concerned without laughing. I asked what had happened then and she said that the children were taken to her office and she explained that willies were private and to be kept in trousers and to please not play that game anymore.

Some of the boys were in tears when their parents went into the classroom to get them. Toby was fine. He seemed bemused by all the fuss. I think he was more concerned that he lost the contest, one of his friends won. Emma was downright defiant. She's a firecracker. I fear Rosie will be similiar when she's older. So funny! I did have a little chat with Tobes on the way home about it being inappropriate to get his willy out on the playground and he said he wouldn't do it again. When we got home I had to drag J to the kitchen to tell him about it so we could laugh without Tobes hearing us. Jason's first question - Did Toby win?

Two countries divided by a common language

I used to do this all the time when we lived in Japan, read big news stories and compare the way that they're reported in British and American media. These are some comparable bits from stories about the crash at Heathrow today as reported by CNN and the BBC.

*****
BBC quoting passenger Paul Ventnor: "I could hear the undercarriage come out, and the next moment the plane just dropped."

CNN apparently using the same quote from the UK Press Assoc: "The wheels came out and went for touchdown, and the next moment we just dropped. I couldn't tell you how far."

*****

BBC: Police say the incident was not terror related.

CNN: A spokesman for London's Metropolitan Police said there was nothing to suggest the incident was terror-related.

It's interesting the way CNN keep it that little bit vague like maybe it really was terror-related but we just don't have all the information yet.

*****

BBC: All 136 passengers and 16 crew escaped from the British Airways flight BA038 from Beijing. Eighteen people have been taken to hospital with minor injuries.

CNN: London ambulance services said 17 people suffered minor injuries, and the number could increase as several others are still being assessed.

CNN keeping their options open because you never know, someone might still die from this and that would be better story.

*****

BBC: Part of the undercarriage, including two wheels were torn off, and there was some damage to the wings.

CNN: The undercarriage, left wing and left engine of the aircraft were severely damaged, as if it had skidded across the ground. At least one of the plane's wheels had been torn off. The most visible damage was to the left wing, which was covered in mangled metal where it meets the fuselage.

CNN working in a bit more drama.

*****

BBC: Aviation expert Kieran Daly, from Flight International magazine, said not a single Boeing 777 had been lost in a crash since the aircraft was launched in 1995.

CNN: The Boeing 777 is the mainstay of many airlines' long-haul fleets and has never been involved in a fatal accident. However, the aircraft involved in Thursday's incident appeared to have had a fortunate escape, having approached Heathrow over heavily-populated west London suburbs before its crash landing.

CNN again trying to add drama by suggesting what might have happened.

*****

BBC: The incident happened on the south runway at 1242 GMT, as Prime Minister Gordon Brown was due to leave Heathrow for China and India. His flight was delayed because of the incident.

CNN: The incident occurred at 12:42 p.m. (7:42 a.m. ET) as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was due to leave Heathrow for a visit to China and India. His flight was delayed but his jet was not directly involved, PA said.

His jet wasn't just not directly involved, it wasn't involved AT ALL. Why do they feel the need to use such suggestive and misleading language??

*****

The BBC generally just report the facts with no embroidery or editorial exaggeration. CNN seems to be writing a screenplay. Why is that?

I've been tagged...

I now tag Nikki and Mary...


1. Coolest birthday you remember: The one that comes to mind is my 13th. It was a kidnap party and we went around to my friends' houses at 6am and kidnapped them in their PJs for a fancy breakfast at my house. Mom used all her best china and we drank juice from wine glasses. I felt very grown up.

2. Do you prefer hosting parties or attending as a guest? I love hosting. I'm never happier than when planning menus and party favours though these days the parties are usually based around Power Rangers and Dora the Explorer.

3. What color is your bedroom? The walls are ivory and the furnishings are cream, duck egg blue and a light coffee colour.

4. Do you and your man have a song? Actually we do. It's Can't Help Falling in Love.

5. What were/will be your wedding colors? Would you change them? If I remember correctly my wedding colours were determined by the colour of dress Nikki wanted to wear as bridesmaid, which was a dusky rose colour. I thought it was lovely and wouldn't change it.

6. Ever sneak out of the house or host a wild bash while the 'rents were away? What's your wild child tale? I never snuck out or hosted wild parties. I think the naughtiest thing I did was go to the UT/OU rally downtown when Mom and Dad had specifically told me not to. It's a crazy street party and people were climbing all over the car and shoe polishing the windows so Angie and I had to wash the car and make sure there was no sign of the graffiti or the fact that we washed it before I went home. My Dad was a police officer and never missed a detail.

7. You just won the lottery! Do you stash your cash or pass the bucks? What are the first 3 things you'd do? Assuming I've won a huge jackpot I'd buy a house, buy J the Astin Martin he wants (so he would shut up about a sports car for God's sake) and put loads away for the children's educations. Then I'd set up investments for our families so they'd always have regular income and organise an amazing year long trip around the world for us while the new house was made absolutely perfect.

8. You oughta' be in pictures...which actress stars as you in a movie of your life's story? If I'm choosing then Diane Keaton. I love her.

9. What's your go-to meal for quick comfort? If I'm down or getting over an illness it's always peanut butter and jelly on white bread. Usually in bed.

10. Everyone has ups and downs. What's your hardest learned lesson? That there's no right to happiness, only a right to pursue it.

11. What advice would you give to 18 year-old you? Put down the hairspray! And you're lovely and you'll be fine.

12. Favorite board game: Trivial Pursuit though my version is so old now that a lot of the questions are out of date.

13. Dish it! What's your "me time" guilty pleasure? Coffee and a good book all by myself.

14. What's one thing you'd like to learn to do in 2008? Hmmm, I can't think of anything new I'd like to learn. I'd just like to get better at doing the things I already do.

A recent column in The Times has been ruffling feathers with British women. I hesitate to give it further publicity but I'd like to hear your comments.

It's here.

Discuss...

37 and still smiling... well kinda

Thank you so much for all of the birthday wishes! I've had a lovely day. I was woken up with cards and presents, including a heart-shaped box of chocolates which I love. After breakfast we started the day with birthday cake before Toby had to go to school. Jason took the day off work and he took care of Rosie while I went to have my hair done. I was going to go into town to shop but it was pouring with rain so I ended up at Bluewater, a huge shopping mall in Essex, and I shopped, had a nice quiet lunch, had coffee and actually read my book without interruption and had a very nice day to myself.

When I came home with more bags than I could carry we ordered Chinese and spent the evening together playing games and eating more cake. (The diet is obviously on hold.)

I love having time to myself, which is rare these days. I came home refreshed and full of ideas for a big family holiday next year. I read an article about the Trans-Siberian Railway when I was having my hair done. Jason and I talked about doing it before we had children but it wasn't a very child-friendly vacation the last time we looked into it. Last year they added a luxury train to the route and it's back on our list as a possible family vacation. We're also talking about Jordan, Egypt and Greenland. I'm definitely in the mood for planning a new adventure.

OK, I'm just going to say this

I have always worried that Rosie would die very young. When I was pregnant with Toby and when he was first born I could imagine him as a child and a young man and even an old man. I've never been able to do that with Rosie. I've felt for a long time that at the age of three she would leave us or something very bad would happen to her.

Last night I had a very vivid dream that Grandma McClendon, who died early last year, came to get Rosie. Grandma was still old but she was happy and healthy and though I was sad to lose Rosie I was glad that at least she would be with Grandma. I hate dreams like that. It feels too much like a premonition.

I'm typing this now because when you have this kind of feeling and you tell someone then the thing you're worried about never happens. It's when you keep it to yourself that you think "I knew it and I did nothing about it!". So there. It's out on the wind, hopefully to be blown very very far away.

What it's all about

Crazy, hectic day today with lots of stops and starts. Went to Rosie's music class to discover that it was full and I had forgotton to rebook. Luckily, they had spaces on the Wenesday morning group but it was a disappointment to Rosie. Then I tried to go to on appointment with an osteopath because my back has been bothering me again. I went to the wrong clinic and had to haul ass across town to get to the right one. Then I couldn't find it and parked, got Rosie out of the car and into the stroller three different times before I was almost in tears but finally found the place. They were very understanding and managed to squeeze me in for a shorter appointment. It's made a difference already.

Toby started his new drama class today. It's at 4.30, which is too late to go straight there from school but only gives us about half an hour at home before we have to leave again. Lots of other children from the school are taking the class and we invited Toby's friend Finn and his mom and sister to come back to ours for a quick snack and a cup of tea before class. Once we were in the playground I started inviting everyone back. We ended up with eight children running around the playroom, eating cheese strings and having a great time and four mums drinking tea and gossiping in the living room. Then it was time to get everyone's shoes and coats on and out the door for class. Talk about chaos! I was in heaven.

Feeling my mortality

A few things happened over the holidays that have put me in a pensive mood. First off, the old witch who lived across the street from us when we were in the flat walked past the house while I was taking out the rubbish and stopped to chat. She knows everything that happens on the street and I could see that she wanted to know about our move. She was obviously in a happy mood because her parting shot was "It must be nice to have more space with the children. You look much happier in the house. I'd see you coming out of the flat looking miserable all the time. Ta ta, dear."

Then J's parents gave me some lovely silky PJs and a robe saying "I know you like to be comfortable but..." This got me thinking. I do dress for comfort over just about everything else - style, suitability and sometimes even cleanliness. Good lord, what has happened to me?

Then I was looking in the bathroom mirror and found loads of white hairs. Not the usual one or two that I've been plucking out since my twenties but a real sprinkling of white hair at each temple. After a mad ten minutes with the tweezers I felt better but I know they'll be back... and next time they'll bring friends.

And of course my birthday is coming up. 37. No longer "mid-30s". I'm over the hump and skidding into 40 now. How on earth did that happen?

My pattern seems to be that when a baby is born I utterly dedicate myself to them for the first two years. When Toby was two I had to have a small operation and when they woke me from the general anaesthetic my first words were "That's the best sleep I've had in two years." Well, Rosie is now two and it's time I started looking after myself a bit better. That's my New Year's resolution and I'm kicking it off with a shopping spree on my birthday. Time to pull myself together again.

Happy 2008!

Happy holidays from us!

Phase 1 - Complete

OK, I finished Phase 1 of the Christmas grocery shopping today. All of the meat, root vegetables and dry goods are safely tucked away in the kitchen. Well, apart from the turkey and gammon joint. Our fridge is too small to accomodate everything so the meats are in a big plastic bin in the garden with a lead weight on top of the lid to keep out the foxes. It'll stay nice and cold until I start cooking them, starting with the gammon on Christmas Eve (Barry, I know you don't like ham so I have some chicken breasts for you.) I'll complete Phase 2 on Christmas Eve with the breads, salads, fruits and creams. All those things that are best eaten very fresh.

The grocery store was a madhouse, but at least a good natured one. Everyone was filled with the Christmas spirit and there were lots of smiles and jokey jostling over the brussels sprouts.

Jason has gone out to do the last of the Christmas present shopping. We're very behind this year because of the move and our near constant state of illness over the last few weeks. I've got to do the American presents online tonight (you'll never guess what you're getting... no, it's something different this year... well, slightly).

And to end on a jolly note - Rosie's latest habit is saying that she loves everything. We saw some reindeer at a Christmas fair and Rosie started shouting "I love reindeer!". It can be anything... looking at smoke detectors at B&Q "I love those!". Right now she's behind me shouting "I love grapes!" Well, today Jason was taking care of Rosie while Toby and I did the shopping. They had a drink in Starbucks and then J needed to go to the loo. Rosie was standing by the loo door saying "Are you doing a wee Daddy? I can see your willy Daddy."... and then very loudly "I LOVE YOUR WILLY DADDY!" Ah, that's one for the memory book.

Whew! We're in.

I can't believe it's been almost a week since we moved into the house. I think because we still had the flat until Friday it felt like we hadn't totally left yet. Having the flat that bit longer was both good, because we weren't totally rushed on the moving day, and bad because we couldn't totally let go. God bless J for going back to the flat Thursday night to clean and collect the rest of our bits and bobs that were there. I'm so glad to have my paper towel holder! Yes, Nik, it's the one that you brought over for me. The one that was mistaken for a vibrator. I love that paper towel holder.

Unfortunately we've all been quite ill with a bad strain of cold or virus which means it's taking much longer to get rid of all the boxes. I'm typing this now surrounded by boxes holding books and office stuff. I'll be very glad once they're all empty and gone.

The kitchen is mostly sorted out but we still have some work to do in the bathroom. Need to get some blinds up (how can someone have a bathroom with big windows and no blinds or curtains?!), need to get the medicine cabinet sorted out and a few other things like that. No pictures on the walls yet either, but there's time. Toby and Jason finish school and work on Wednesday and then they're both off until after New Year so we'll be able to get some stuff done over the holidays.

J's parents are coming down for Christmas and I'm very relieved that we managed to get the sofabed delivered out of storage in time. We weren't sure if it was going to happen. Hopefully things will be reasonably calm by the time they arrive on Christmas Eve. It's just going to be a bit of a chaotic, disorganised Christmas this year. (Note to self: Must buy some presents!)

I have been calming my moving/illness nerves by watching the Nigella Christmas Special on a loop. I've also watched Gary Rhodes Christmas and the new James Martin Christmas Feast a couple hundred times too. Something about watching people cook food is so calming. I'm thinking about doing the Christmas pancakes for Christmas morning. They sound easy and I can make them in advance and just warm them up on the day. Anything to make life easier right now!

No turning back now

The movers came today and packed most of the flat. Tomorrow is the big day. It's all going smoothly so far (touch wood) but poor Rosie is in a tiz. She's walking from room to room saying "Where Toby's toys?! Where MY toys?". We've tried to explain to her about moving to the new house and having a big playroom but it's a lot for a two year old to understand.

J and I both have colds and are heavily medicated but I think the decongestants are taking the edge off the stress and we're both pretty mellow. God bless drugs.

Now we just have to get there and get everything out of the boxes and put in an appropriate place. Daunting but I do love organising and I'm sure the old obsessive compulsive urge will kick in and sort everything out.

Oh yea, we still haven't exchanged contracts on the flat so the earliest the Canadians will move in is Friday. That does take some of the stress out of tomorrow as normally we would need to be gone by noon. It does add some concern that we might not sell the flat in the end but J has Plan A, B and C to cover all eventualities and I'm happy to leave it in his hands. I've run out of worry.

Finally some pics

Rosie and her new kitchen




Toby performing with the school drama club




Rosie with her party hat and bag at Mary Catherine's birthday party (Annie Hall eat your heart out)

The bad karma continues...

Just picked Toby up from school and was told that he was involved in an 'incident' today. He and two other boys dunked another boy's coat in a puddle. The school takes these things very seriously and I'm worried that Toby is going to get labelled a bully. It's not the first 'incident' in which he's been involved. I think Tobes is usually a bystander rather than an instigator but it's still not good.

And now our phones don't seem to be working. They were working this morning. I have a sneaking suspicion that our phone provider might've disconnected us early. They are so crap. That would just be the icing on the cake of my day.

OK, I know I promised pics...

... but I need to vent. Have you ever gone through one of those times when nothing seems to work? We've had all the house stuff this week and now everything seems off kilter. Bad karma in the air. It's the little things that are killing me.

For example, yesterday a little brother of one of Toby's friends kicked the milk bottles off of our porch. I guess he didn't realise that they were glass. There was broken glass everywhere. Thankfully and amazingly no one was hurt but it was not a great end to what had already been a stressful afternoon.

Earlier in the day I tried to cheer myself up with a little Christmas shopping. I bought a few rolls of wrapping paper and some snowflake window stickers for the children. As I was walking across the parking lot back to the car the bag split and rolls of wrapping paper went everywhere across the wet pavement. I had to get on my hands and knees to dig some out from under a car and the whole time Rosie was shouting at me because she was hungry.

After lunch we went to get a few groceries. I was using a handheld basket since we just needed a few things. Halfway through shopping the handle broke on the basket and my shopping went everywhere. At the same time Rosie jumped out of the stroller which promptly fell over without her to balance out the weight of the nappy bag on the back. Groceries, nappies, toys all over the place. I must've looked like a madwoman because one guy stopped to help me then asked "Are you OK?... Are you sure?"

Today we had a stressful morning getting Tobes ready for school. I had to do some work for the school panto but thought I would go for a quick coffee to treat myself and hopefully calm down a bit. As I was getting Rosie out of the car her stroller (empty) started rolling into the road. A nice man grabbed it before it was hit by a car and brought it back to me. Again I was asked "Are you OK? Are you sure?"

Then I went to buy a parking ticket and pushed the Coin Return button rather than Print Ticket button TWICE before finally getting my ticket. I was ready to kill someone at that point.

I did have a nice coffee with Marija at Costa then went off to work on the seat allocation for the panto at another mum's house. While there I managed to fall down the stairs. Yes, my ass is still suffering from the bumpy ride down. I didn't fall all the way to the bottom but it was close. I also spilled tea down my jumper and choked on a biscuit.

We finally came home, dropping nappies in the street on the way. I'm tempted to not leave the house for a few days. It's just too dangerous.

No wonder it was so crap

I've been counting up our house moves...

1. May 1992 - We move me from San Marcos into our first apartment in Austin. I have to drive the big U-haul because J doesn't have a US drivers licence.

2. Dec 1993 - We move from Texas to England and live with Jason's parents in Raunds.

3. April 1994 - We move in with Jason't friend Craig in St Neots. Very "Three's Company".

4. June 1994 - We move into our first flat in Cambridge on Newmarket Road AKA "The Condemned Building".

5. June 1996 - We decide to try living in the country and move to Stow-cum-Quy into a 250 year old cottage with no central heating and ninja mice.

6. June 1997 - We move back into Cambridge and live across the hall from Jenny & Kieran in Chichester House. Happy times.

7. January 2000 - We kick off the millennium by moving to London and have a tiny flat on Glentham Road in Barnes. Still manage to play cricket in the hallway during one rainy Boatrace day.

8. March 2001 - Move to Japan and have a 7th floor apartment in Kio-cho, Chiyoda-ku in Tokyo, just down the road from the Imperial Palace.

9. March 2002 - Back in the UK and we head back to Barnes. This time we're on Castelnau Gardens which becomes Toby's first home.

10. March 2003 - Follow friends and move out of London to a flat in Mulbarton Court, Chislehurst, Kent.

11. October 2003 - Buy a little two bed Victorian terraced house in Chislehurst.

12. October 2005 - Miss London too much and while the rest of our friends are moving deeper into Kent we buy a flat in Blackheath, SE London. Rosie is born two weeks after we move in.

13. 2007 - Our thirteenth move. The one that didn't happen...

Yep, it's happened

Our house purchase completely fell apart today. Thank goodness we saw it coming or I would be freaking out even more than I already am. I do feel more calm than I did this weekend. I think it was the not knowing that was the worst for me. Now that the decision has been made I just want to get on with what we need to do. Activity is always better than sitting around waiting.

So, we've found a lovely house to rent already. It's right here on Quentin Road so it'll be less of an upheaval for the children. Toby does not react well to a move and I have no idea what Rosie will be like but we thought it best to at least stay in the same neighborhood. We'll be seven doors down from Toby's best friend, Max, which does smooth things over with Tobes a bit. The house has a HUGE cellar so we can easily store things at the house if we need to. All in all, we'll be fine.

Now I just want to get there so we can put up a Christmas tree and enjoy the rest of the year. We're hoping to move next week but our usual movers can only do Monday or Tuesday and it looks like we won't be able to move until later in the week (of course, nothing is ever easy is it) so I've got to find a new moving company. Our buyers need to move in by the 15th so it'll happen sometime next week. Just got to coordinate it all now.

If you want to check out the rental house it's here and it's a 4-bed house on Quentin Road in Lewisham.