Spent the morning in Blackheath today visiting the Montessori school and looking at flats. Loved the school! It feels like a proper school rather than just a temporary group in a church hall. They have four classrooms, a communal room, loos with tiny child-size toilets and sinks and an enclosed outdoor play area. Outdoor space is a premium in England and many of the preschools have very little, if any, outdoor space. Toby's current school has to block off the parking lot if they want to plan any outdoor time for the children.
Of course, all of this luxury does cost but J says we can afford it. Toby loved the school. He was a little shy but the teacher directed a lot of questions to him and he warmed up after a few minutes. I noticed that the children all seemed quite happy and confident and more than a few of them came up and said hi to Tobes and asked him his name. I thought that was a really good sign. So he's all signed up - three afternoons a week starting in September. I chose Tuesday - Thursday so Tobes will get French and dance lessons too. Can't wait for him to start!
We saw some lovely flats but none of them were perfect. The one that I really love doesn't have a dishwasher which would be a real pain. It was a beautiful though and I want for J to see it this weekend so I can get his feedback. The other one I liked had a lot of space and the rooms were all newly decorated but the kitchen and bathroom were very basic. We would have to do some work to get it sorted out but, again, I'd like for J to see it. I don't want to discount anything yet. The third place was a coachhouse and it's lovely and even has a private garden. It is quite small though and it's attached to the main house, which I'm not sure I would like.
Oh well, we still have some time to decide.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Monday, June 27, 2005
Fantastic weekend
Had a really lovely weekend. J and Tobes went out for their weekly breakfast together on Saturday morning and then, in a break with tradition, decided to go to Borough Market and wander around the food stalls, salivating and buying little treats. I slept late, had a leisurely breakfast and shower and was ready to see their treasures when they got home. They bought kumquats, figs, and a special treat for me - a black truffle.
We spent the day looking at different areas of Blackheath and trying to decide how much we would compromise on the area in which we'll live. We really want to be as close to the village as possible but there's just nothing available at the moment. I'm not going to start pulling my hair out just yet but give me a week or two and I could be doing a good Kojak impression. After Blackheath we were feeling a bit deflated so we decided to go out to Canary Wharf.
I'm planning an American Mom & Baby/Toddler get-together this week through the US alumni clubs in London and I wanted to check out the Starbucks where we're meeting. We bummed around Canary Wharf for a while, had a coffee, bought some bagels and came home.
Tobes was exhausted and went to sleep early so J and I had a nice evening together. J made fresh egg pasta with butter and black truffle for dinner. Then he cut the figs, stuffed them with camembert, covered them in honey and roasted them in the oven. It was delicious and a real treat.
On Sunday we met up with J's boss from Tokyo and his wife at Tate Modern. They're in London for a week or so and it's been ages since we've seen them. The last time I saw Gayle I was about 20 weeks pregnant with Tobes so I looked exactly the same on Sunday. I explained to her that I wasn't STILL pregnant but just pregnant again. I don't think even elephants gestate for three years. We had lunch in the top floor restaurant overlooking the Thames which is lovely and very child-friendly. They change the menu often depending what's in season so it's always really fresh and delicious. English asparagus is in season now so I had asparagus with toasted brioche and a poached duck egg. So yummy.
After lunch we picked up a treasure hunt game from the Education programme they run called Start and then we all helped Toby look for the various images in the works of art. He had a brilliant time and I really enjoyed being in a museum again.
On our way home we stopped for dinner in Blackheath. By the time we got home Tobes and I were exhausted. By 9.00 I was in bed and fast asleep.
It was such a nice weekend. I'm feeling so happy right now and to think it was just last week that I was so depressed and homicidal. Oh the passive-agressive manic-depressive joys of pregnancy!
We spent the day looking at different areas of Blackheath and trying to decide how much we would compromise on the area in which we'll live. We really want to be as close to the village as possible but there's just nothing available at the moment. I'm not going to start pulling my hair out just yet but give me a week or two and I could be doing a good Kojak impression. After Blackheath we were feeling a bit deflated so we decided to go out to Canary Wharf.
I'm planning an American Mom & Baby/Toddler get-together this week through the US alumni clubs in London and I wanted to check out the Starbucks where we're meeting. We bummed around Canary Wharf for a while, had a coffee, bought some bagels and came home.
Tobes was exhausted and went to sleep early so J and I had a nice evening together. J made fresh egg pasta with butter and black truffle for dinner. Then he cut the figs, stuffed them with camembert, covered them in honey and roasted them in the oven. It was delicious and a real treat.
On Sunday we met up with J's boss from Tokyo and his wife at Tate Modern. They're in London for a week or so and it's been ages since we've seen them. The last time I saw Gayle I was about 20 weeks pregnant with Tobes so I looked exactly the same on Sunday. I explained to her that I wasn't STILL pregnant but just pregnant again. I don't think even elephants gestate for three years. We had lunch in the top floor restaurant overlooking the Thames which is lovely and very child-friendly. They change the menu often depending what's in season so it's always really fresh and delicious. English asparagus is in season now so I had asparagus with toasted brioche and a poached duck egg. So yummy.
After lunch we picked up a treasure hunt game from the Education programme they run called Start and then we all helped Toby look for the various images in the works of art. He had a brilliant time and I really enjoyed being in a museum again.
On our way home we stopped for dinner in Blackheath. By the time we got home Tobes and I were exhausted. By 9.00 I was in bed and fast asleep.
It was such a nice weekend. I'm feeling so happy right now and to think it was just last week that I was so depressed and homicidal. Oh the passive-agressive manic-depressive joys of pregnancy!
Friday, June 24, 2005
Ahhhhh
The rain has finally arrived and everything feels cool, fresh and clean again. Tobes is passed out in his nice, cool room and J is on his way home. I love this weather. I think I'll go bake some cookies.
Where's my rain?
The Weather Channel said today's high would be 79 degrees. It's 10am and it's already 82. I'm starting to have my doubts about The Weather Channel.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
It's hot
It's been around 85 degrees for the past few days and I am melting. I know what all you Texans are thinking - "What a wuss!! That's Christmas weather. We'd be wearing coats and singing carols in 85 degrees."
Well, imagine 85 degrees and no AC. Not in the house. Not in the car. Not in a lot of shops and restaurants. And then imagine very little ice and 'cold' drinks being just a few degrees below body temperature. No relief. When we went to Legoland they had no AC and NO ICE!! How can you run a theme park in the summer and not have ice for the drinks. The mind boggles.
So Tobes and I headed for the mall today which mercifully does have air conditioning. Problem was we had to get there in the car which does not. We ended up in a traffic jam on the M25 (of course) and I thought I was either going to pass out or spontaneously combust. We had all the windows down to try to get some air moving through the car but ended up just sucking up exhaust fumes from all the lorries. One thing I can say about the lorries is at least they provided a little shade. Tobes and I were baking and neither of us cope well in the heat. It was a jolly old ride out to Bluewater, let me tell you.
Once we got there we worked our way around the mall loading up on anything cold - ice cream, Frappucinos, and lots of ice in our drinks. I even asked the waitress for an extra glass just full of ice, otherwise you get about two cubes per glass. We waited until things cooled down a bit outside and then had a more pleasant ride home.
They're forecasting thunderstorms for tomorrow and I'll be so happy to see some rain. What has happened to the dreary old London I've grown to love?!
Well, imagine 85 degrees and no AC. Not in the house. Not in the car. Not in a lot of shops and restaurants. And then imagine very little ice and 'cold' drinks being just a few degrees below body temperature. No relief. When we went to Legoland they had no AC and NO ICE!! How can you run a theme park in the summer and not have ice for the drinks. The mind boggles.
So Tobes and I headed for the mall today which mercifully does have air conditioning. Problem was we had to get there in the car which does not. We ended up in a traffic jam on the M25 (of course) and I thought I was either going to pass out or spontaneously combust. We had all the windows down to try to get some air moving through the car but ended up just sucking up exhaust fumes from all the lorries. One thing I can say about the lorries is at least they provided a little shade. Tobes and I were baking and neither of us cope well in the heat. It was a jolly old ride out to Bluewater, let me tell you.
Once we got there we worked our way around the mall loading up on anything cold - ice cream, Frappucinos, and lots of ice in our drinks. I even asked the waitress for an extra glass just full of ice, otherwise you get about two cubes per glass. We waited until things cooled down a bit outside and then had a more pleasant ride home.
They're forecasting thunderstorms for tomorrow and I'll be so happy to see some rain. What has happened to the dreary old London I've grown to love?!
Drawback of education
8.30 this morning and Tobes was running around with an empty egg carton saying he wanted to make a crocodile with it. I hadn't even had my tea yet.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Freaking out
Went to Blackheath today to visit the preschool. It's one of the highest ranking preschools in Blackheath so I was very excited that Tobes had a place there. I was so disappointed when I saw it. The facilities were dark and drab. The toys were all jumbled up and looked dirty. The children seemed to be having a good time and the staff were nice enough but my overall impression was not a good one. I'm gutted.
We ended up trudging all over Blackheath seeing if there were any places available at various schools. No, no and no. I could just weep. I think this was the last straw for me and I just came home and cried.
I feel like I have so many things to think/worry about at the moment that I can't deal with any of them properly. Things that are on my mind right now:
1. Toby's heart - what, if anything, is wrong with his heart and what's going to happen to my baby boy
2. Moving house - organising the movers, finding a place to live, finding Tobes a school, worried about renting again, dreading the unpacking
3. The little matter of my pregnancy - trying to take care of myself, trying to book the C-section so my parents can book their holiday time and be here for the birth, trying to rest when I can, trying to book antenatal classes to meet other Moms, trying to book antenatal yoga to help deal with stress and hopefully recover faster from the birth so that I can deal with everything else
4. Trying to maintain our current life - laundry, groceries, meals, the care/feeding/entertaining of Tobes, and trying to squeeze out some couple time with J
5. The fact that my friends and day-to-day support network are all moving away and I need to meet some other Moms soon or I'm going to be one lonely cow come October
I think 'overwhelmed' is the word I'm looking for here. To top it all off, I was sitting in Blackheath today and started wondering if it really is the place for us. Good God.
We ended up trudging all over Blackheath seeing if there were any places available at various schools. No, no and no. I could just weep. I think this was the last straw for me and I just came home and cried.
I feel like I have so many things to think/worry about at the moment that I can't deal with any of them properly. Things that are on my mind right now:
1. Toby's heart - what, if anything, is wrong with his heart and what's going to happen to my baby boy
2. Moving house - organising the movers, finding a place to live, finding Tobes a school, worried about renting again, dreading the unpacking
3. The little matter of my pregnancy - trying to take care of myself, trying to book the C-section so my parents can book their holiday time and be here for the birth, trying to rest when I can, trying to book antenatal classes to meet other Moms, trying to book antenatal yoga to help deal with stress and hopefully recover faster from the birth so that I can deal with everything else
4. Trying to maintain our current life - laundry, groceries, meals, the care/feeding/entertaining of Tobes, and trying to squeeze out some couple time with J
5. The fact that my friends and day-to-day support network are all moving away and I need to meet some other Moms soon or I'm going to be one lonely cow come October
I think 'overwhelmed' is the word I'm looking for here. To top it all off, I was sitting in Blackheath today and started wondering if it really is the place for us. Good God.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Father's Day
Had a really fun Father's Day. First thing this morning Toby gave J his presents which were CDs from Tobes and Cupcake (the new Coldplay album and a compilation of mod and ska music). Then he gave J his cards - one from Toby which he made himself, one from Cupcake and one from me. We had a quick breakfast of croissants with cheese. J had camembert but I had to make do with a pasturized brie I found at Sainsbury's. Tobes had brioche then we headed off to Legoland.
It was a really nice drive through London. We passed Big Ben and went through Chelsea. By the time we got to Windsor it was pretty hot out. We met Elizabeth, Andrew and Mary Catherine at the Cinnabon outside Legoland (yum!) and then went into the park. The heat was unbelievable. Totally unexpected for this time of year. We just covered ourselves in sunblock and had a lovely day. The kids had a brilliant time splashing around in the water area, riding the boats and train and watching a 3D movie. By the end of the day we were all starting to melt though.
The drive home wasn't quite as nice as the drive there. It started in the parking lot when J spilled a melted Frappucino in the car. It very gracefully tipped over and emptied creamy goo into my handbag which was on the floor. I was so hot and tired that I said just to leave it and I'd clean it out later (still haven't done it). When we got home I ran upstairs and Tobes and I jumped into a cool shower. I felt like a new person afterwards.
Now J is upstairs trying to get Tobes to sleep. I tried for an hour. We're now almost two hours past his bedtime but he had such an exciting day and he just wants to keep talking about it. Oh well, I guess Daddy duty never ends. Not even on Father's Day.
It was a really nice drive through London. We passed Big Ben and went through Chelsea. By the time we got to Windsor it was pretty hot out. We met Elizabeth, Andrew and Mary Catherine at the Cinnabon outside Legoland (yum!) and then went into the park. The heat was unbelievable. Totally unexpected for this time of year. We just covered ourselves in sunblock and had a lovely day. The kids had a brilliant time splashing around in the water area, riding the boats and train and watching a 3D movie. By the end of the day we were all starting to melt though.
The drive home wasn't quite as nice as the drive there. It started in the parking lot when J spilled a melted Frappucino in the car. It very gracefully tipped over and emptied creamy goo into my handbag which was on the floor. I was so hot and tired that I said just to leave it and I'd clean it out later (still haven't done it). When we got home I ran upstairs and Tobes and I jumped into a cool shower. I felt like a new person afterwards.
Now J is upstairs trying to get Tobes to sleep. I tried for an hour. We're now almost two hours past his bedtime but he had such an exciting day and he just wants to keep talking about it. Oh well, I guess Daddy duty never ends. Not even on Father's Day.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Today
Toby and I got up, had breakfast and headed off for an appointment at the hospital. This time it was for Toby. My brother has a congenital heart defect, a mitral valve prolapse, and Toby had an appointment for an echocardiogram just to make sure that he hasn't inherited the problem. It tends to run in families.
Tobes was a trouper. He was weighed, had his height checked and his blood pressure taken. You should've seen the tiny cuff they used for that! Luckily, he had seen me going through all of these tests last week so he wasn't scared. An echocardiogram is like an ultrasound and Tobes has been to two ultrasounds to see his sister so he was very brave and the doctor had no problem having a good look at his heart.
It was surreal seeing his heart beating. I remember the awe I felt seeing his heartbeat for the first time at my six week ultrasound. It was amazing to think that the little shrimp we were looking at had a beating heart and that it would continue to beat, without a break, for the rest of his life. Seeing it again today was just as amazing but also slightly disturbing. Seeing Toby's heart made me realise how fragile life can be and I know I held his hand a little tighter at the thought of it.
After the doctor had a good look around she confirmed what I had thought, Toby doesn't have mitral valve prolapse. Then the doctor said, 'But I've seen something else.' My whole body went cold.
Apparently, Toby has a condition called ASD which means he has a small hole between the upper chambers of his heart. All children are born with a hole in their heart but it usually closes up soon after birth. They think that Toby's hole hasn't closed properly. This could mean a number of things. The hole could close up on its own in a few years as Tobes matures or he might have to have an operation to close the hole. If he does need an op, it would be a kind of keyhole surgery and it might even be able to be done as day surgery. My sudden, erratic thoughts of dangerous open-heart surgery and Tobes with a big scar down his chest were, thankfully, unfounded.
The next thing that happens is that a specialist is consulted and a decision is made about what action to take. It's going to feel like a very long wait but the doctor said that Tobes showed no signs of any complications from the condition and he was in no danger.
I'm trying to be sensible about this but there's a part of me that's in absolute agony. Everytime I look at Tobes I think about his little heart pumping away and I just want to hold him and kiss him and protect him from everything bad in the world. I'm so glad we've got a fun, busy weekend ahead of us. I think it'll do us all some good.
For some general info on ASD, click on the link below:
http://www.heartcenteronline.com/myheartdr/common/articles.cfm?Artid=136&startpage=1
Tobes was a trouper. He was weighed, had his height checked and his blood pressure taken. You should've seen the tiny cuff they used for that! Luckily, he had seen me going through all of these tests last week so he wasn't scared. An echocardiogram is like an ultrasound and Tobes has been to two ultrasounds to see his sister so he was very brave and the doctor had no problem having a good look at his heart.
It was surreal seeing his heart beating. I remember the awe I felt seeing his heartbeat for the first time at my six week ultrasound. It was amazing to think that the little shrimp we were looking at had a beating heart and that it would continue to beat, without a break, for the rest of his life. Seeing it again today was just as amazing but also slightly disturbing. Seeing Toby's heart made me realise how fragile life can be and I know I held his hand a little tighter at the thought of it.
After the doctor had a good look around she confirmed what I had thought, Toby doesn't have mitral valve prolapse. Then the doctor said, 'But I've seen something else.' My whole body went cold.
Apparently, Toby has a condition called ASD which means he has a small hole between the upper chambers of his heart. All children are born with a hole in their heart but it usually closes up soon after birth. They think that Toby's hole hasn't closed properly. This could mean a number of things. The hole could close up on its own in a few years as Tobes matures or he might have to have an operation to close the hole. If he does need an op, it would be a kind of keyhole surgery and it might even be able to be done as day surgery. My sudden, erratic thoughts of dangerous open-heart surgery and Tobes with a big scar down his chest were, thankfully, unfounded.
The next thing that happens is that a specialist is consulted and a decision is made about what action to take. It's going to feel like a very long wait but the doctor said that Tobes showed no signs of any complications from the condition and he was in no danger.
I'm trying to be sensible about this but there's a part of me that's in absolute agony. Everytime I look at Tobes I think about his little heart pumping away and I just want to hold him and kiss him and protect him from everything bad in the world. I'm so glad we've got a fun, busy weekend ahead of us. I think it'll do us all some good.
For some general info on ASD, click on the link below:
http://www.heartcenteronline.com/myheartdr/common/articles.cfm?Artid=136&startpage=1
We think we've sold the house
We're not jumping for joy because we didn't get the asking price but we're satisfied, if not thrilled, with the outcome. The best news is that the couple buying the house have already sold their property and it's to an investor so there's no chain and we should be able to move very quickly.
The ideal for us would be to have Toby's birthday party here at the house at the end of July and then move the following weekend. I think we'll be able to make that happen.
The other good news is that I've managed to get Tobes into a great preschool in Blackheath. We were on a waiting list and we got a place because another family is moving away from the area. I'm so pleased. We're going visit them on Monday morning and do all the paperwork. He'll start 5 September so I'd really like for us to be moved and settled by then.
Going to look at some flats on Saturday. Soo excited!!
And then on Sunday we're off to Legoland with the lovely Mary Catherine and her parents. I can't wait to see Toby and MC together at Legoland. We're going to have so much fun. Looking forward to a really smashing weekend!
The ideal for us would be to have Toby's birthday party here at the house at the end of July and then move the following weekend. I think we'll be able to make that happen.
The other good news is that I've managed to get Tobes into a great preschool in Blackheath. We were on a waiting list and we got a place because another family is moving away from the area. I'm so pleased. We're going visit them on Monday morning and do all the paperwork. He'll start 5 September so I'd really like for us to be moved and settled by then.
Going to look at some flats on Saturday. Soo excited!!
And then on Sunday we're off to Legoland with the lovely Mary Catherine and her parents. I can't wait to see Toby and MC together at Legoland. We're going to have so much fun. Looking forward to a really smashing weekend!
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Housey stuff
Had a really nice couple look at the house yesterday and they're going to make an offer this morning! They really liked the place and said that they both had a really good feeling about it, which is so important. I liked them a lot and would be very pleased to sell to them. In fact, I was already thinking I must give the oven a good clean before we go, so I must've bloody loved them!
I'm just hoping they'll offer the full asking price, or at least very close to it. We've got the other offer on the table but it's five thousand less than what we're asking. J and I have dreams of a bidding war and retiring early to Italy, but if we can just get the asking price we'll be happy.
Fingers crossed.
I'm just hoping they'll offer the full asking price, or at least very close to it. We've got the other offer on the table but it's five thousand less than what we're asking. J and I have dreams of a bidding war and retiring early to Italy, but if we can just get the asking price we'll be happy.
Fingers crossed.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Lovely morning
Tobes had preschool so I went down to Cafe Rouge and treated myself to a magazine, a cappucino and a croissant. I was very proudly wearing my new belly band. It's a fabric tube I bought at a Belgian maternity shop. They do them in different fabrics and you wear them under your bump for support and as a fashion accessory. Mine is swirly shades of red and cream and I imagined I looked quite stylish as I walked down the street. Sort of like Heidi Klum when she's pregnant. That is until I caught my reflection in a shop window.
I'm just going to have to face facts. When I'm pregnant I look as if I'm carrying triplets - a baby in my belly and a twin in each buttock. When I lay on my back J says I look like a VW Beetle - round belly and a boob for each headlight. I like to think of my shape as an ancient fertility goddess but I'll never look like those celebs who are all svelte and just look like they're smuggling a basketball under their top. But then, I'm not exactly svelte when I'm not pregnant so I guess it just makes sense.
Cupcake is doing really well. She was kicking loads last night. It's the most active that I've felt her. She was kicking as high as my navel for the first time and she was pushing out for the first time, making funny bumps poke out of my stomach. I think she's growing a lot right now and she can now control her movements so I guess she's starting to explore her little world.
We're still thinking about names and I'm working my way through The Baby Name Wizard and the Oxford Book of Names with a pink highlighter. Our favourite is still The Dreaded Name that was such a bomb in Texas. I did feel better when I learned that my sister and her friend actually liked it. Still compiling a list though and every once in a while I'll throw one out and see how people react. I think it'll definitely be something very traditional, even old-fashioned, but we've got about five months to decide.
I'm just going to have to face facts. When I'm pregnant I look as if I'm carrying triplets - a baby in my belly and a twin in each buttock. When I lay on my back J says I look like a VW Beetle - round belly and a boob for each headlight. I like to think of my shape as an ancient fertility goddess but I'll never look like those celebs who are all svelte and just look like they're smuggling a basketball under their top. But then, I'm not exactly svelte when I'm not pregnant so I guess it just makes sense.
Cupcake is doing really well. She was kicking loads last night. It's the most active that I've felt her. She was kicking as high as my navel for the first time and she was pushing out for the first time, making funny bumps poke out of my stomach. I think she's growing a lot right now and she can now control her movements so I guess she's starting to explore her little world.
We're still thinking about names and I'm working my way through The Baby Name Wizard and the Oxford Book of Names with a pink highlighter. Our favourite is still The Dreaded Name that was such a bomb in Texas. I did feel better when I learned that my sister and her friend actually liked it. Still compiling a list though and every once in a while I'll throw one out and see how people react. I think it'll definitely be something very traditional, even old-fashioned, but we've got about five months to decide.
This morning...
Tobes and I rolled out of bed and headed for the loo. We usually start the day by going to the bathroom together. It's the one time each day I can guarantee that Tobes will use his potty.
So, there we were sitting facing each other and trying to wake up when Toby said, 'Mommy, why don't you just stand up to wee wee like Daddy does?'
So began one of the first, of what wil be many, conversations about the differences between boys and girls. At the end of it Toby summed up with, 'Poor Mommy doesn't have a willy. Are you OK?'
So, there we were sitting facing each other and trying to wake up when Toby said, 'Mommy, why don't you just stand up to wee wee like Daddy does?'
So began one of the first, of what wil be many, conversations about the differences between boys and girls. At the end of it Toby summed up with, 'Poor Mommy doesn't have a willy. Are you OK?'
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Freaky Friday
Had a nice day yesterday. Tobes and I had a late breakfast at Cafe Rouge then went to my first appointment with the midwife (more on that in the Baby Blog). After the appointment we went into Bromley and walked around the shops, had a late lunch at McDonalds and came home. I was exhausted, but it doesn't take much to exhaust me these days.
When we got home Tobes seemed pretty tired too and rested on the couch while I called Kellie. When I got off the phone an hour later I felt energised from all the talking and laughing so hard I almost wet myself. I decided to go upstairs and strip the beds. Tobes loves 'helping' me which means he likes to lie on the bed while I make the sheets billow over him.
We stripped both beds and put on fresh clean lavender-scented sheets. I crawled into our big bed and Tobes came in and jumped in too. I was just saying, 'Isn't it nice to have fresh sheets on the bed' when Tobes looked at me with a face that struck fear into my heart. I jumped up to grab the little bin we keep in the bedroom, but it was too late. Tobes threw up all over the bed. It was like the Exorcist.
He's been sick like that a couple of times before and both of those times we had to rent an industrial sized cleaner to get rid of the smell. This time it was all contained amongst the clean sheets and duvet. I made sure Tobes was OK, got him in the bathroom and cleaned him up a bit before starting to run a bath for him. Then I hustled back into the bedroom and started to strip the bed for the second time in fifteen minutes. Three thoughts were running through my mind:
1. I hope Tobes is OK. Was it something he ate or is it a virus?
2. Christ, we've got a viewing tomorrow and the house is going to smell of sick.
3. How on earth will I deal with this stuff when I have another baby needing me at the same time?!
It was as if the Gods had heard my plea because at that very moment J walked in the door. I explained the situation and then gave him the choice 'Baby or bed'. He went with baby so while he bathed Toby I dragged all the bedding and dirty clothes downstairs and started the cleanup process.
Casualties: the duvet had to go. Thankfully, it was an older one anyway and it was so covered in vomit that there was no point in trying to keep it. It wouldn't have fit into my washing machine and I just couldn't abuse the lady who sometimes does laundry for us in that way. It was pretty foul.
We also lost a towel in the same state and a decorative pillow I keep on the bed. Even if I had thrown it in the washing machine I would've been picking bits out of the beading for ages. It wasn't that special.
So, poor Tobes had a bath and then crashed out in bed. We had a broken night. He was very thirsty, of course, and kept waking up for sips of water. Afterwards I would lay awake for half an hour with a towel at the ready to make sure he could keep it down. Thankfully, he did. He ran a little fever so I think it's probably a virus. He was back at school this week and I would guess he picked it up there. Oh joy.
When we got home Tobes seemed pretty tired too and rested on the couch while I called Kellie. When I got off the phone an hour later I felt energised from all the talking and laughing so hard I almost wet myself. I decided to go upstairs and strip the beds. Tobes loves 'helping' me which means he likes to lie on the bed while I make the sheets billow over him.
We stripped both beds and put on fresh clean lavender-scented sheets. I crawled into our big bed and Tobes came in and jumped in too. I was just saying, 'Isn't it nice to have fresh sheets on the bed' when Tobes looked at me with a face that struck fear into my heart. I jumped up to grab the little bin we keep in the bedroom, but it was too late. Tobes threw up all over the bed. It was like the Exorcist.
He's been sick like that a couple of times before and both of those times we had to rent an industrial sized cleaner to get rid of the smell. This time it was all contained amongst the clean sheets and duvet. I made sure Tobes was OK, got him in the bathroom and cleaned him up a bit before starting to run a bath for him. Then I hustled back into the bedroom and started to strip the bed for the second time in fifteen minutes. Three thoughts were running through my mind:
1. I hope Tobes is OK. Was it something he ate or is it a virus?
2. Christ, we've got a viewing tomorrow and the house is going to smell of sick.
3. How on earth will I deal with this stuff when I have another baby needing me at the same time?!
It was as if the Gods had heard my plea because at that very moment J walked in the door. I explained the situation and then gave him the choice 'Baby or bed'. He went with baby so while he bathed Toby I dragged all the bedding and dirty clothes downstairs and started the cleanup process.
Casualties: the duvet had to go. Thankfully, it was an older one anyway and it was so covered in vomit that there was no point in trying to keep it. It wouldn't have fit into my washing machine and I just couldn't abuse the lady who sometimes does laundry for us in that way. It was pretty foul.
We also lost a towel in the same state and a decorative pillow I keep on the bed. Even if I had thrown it in the washing machine I would've been picking bits out of the beading for ages. It wasn't that special.
So, poor Tobes had a bath and then crashed out in bed. We had a broken night. He was very thirsty, of course, and kept waking up for sips of water. Afterwards I would lay awake for half an hour with a towel at the ready to make sure he could keep it down. Thankfully, he did. He ran a little fever so I think it's probably a virus. He was back at school this week and I would guess he picked it up there. Oh joy.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Just thought of another one...
Our grocery order just arrived (see, it's not all Victorian) and as I was unpacking everything I thought of this one:
31. You buy 500g boxes of cereal because the bigger boxes don't fit into your kitchen cupboard. Same reason you buy cans of Coke. The litre bottles don't fit in the fridge.
31. You buy 500g boxes of cereal because the bigger boxes don't fit into your kitchen cupboard. Same reason you buy cans of Coke. The litre bottles don't fit in the fridge.
Love this!
I totally stole this from Elizabeth's blog and had to republish here. Really made me laugh and I suddenly realised that I've been living on this little island for almost 12 years! I've made some edits and added my own comments, highlighting the points that are particularly true for me. Enjoy!
You know you've been in England too long when...
1. You don't even bother looking out of the window when you get up in the morning to check what the day is like. You know it is overcast.
2. You believe that Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are all good nights for drinking. Sunday day is also entirely reasonable.
3. You can't remember what 'customer service' means.
4. After a big night out you find yourself looking for a Curry house and not a 24 hour Taco Bell.
5. You start to accept queuing as a way of life.
6. More than three hours sunlight on summer days seems excessive. [In the summer, sunrise is around 4.30am and sunset isn't until around 9.30pm in high summer. I loved this before having Tobes but now it drives me crazy. So hard to convince him it really is bedtime when the sun is still shining.]
7. You always call soccer 'football' ... and you have a team ... and it's not Manchester United.
8. You don't think twice about buying a packaged sandwich. [English food always gets a bad rap but the sandwiches are great!]
9. A sunny lunchtime means searching for a patch of grass and stripping off practically down to your underwear.
10. You expect men to actually cut, comb and style their hair (using hair products) and to wear decent clothes. Jeans and a T-shirt are no longer socially acceptable. [I do love that J is a bit of a metrosexual. He's even started using Clarins! The Men's Line, of course.]
11. You think 40 quid for a haircut is quite reasonable. [We could probably have a holiday home for what I spend on my hair... and it's not even that nice!]
12. You start every conversation with Hiya or Alright.
13. You only just realise you have lost your sunglasses-you left them in Greece 2 summers ago. [I only buy sunglasses in Texas and when I get back to England I usually wear them until I forget that I have them. Just don't have that blazing sun problem in England very often. And, after living in Tokyo, I've developed a slight prejudice against sunglasses because in Japan only the yakuza gangsters wear them. But that's a whole other list.]
14. You start thinking English cuisine isn't all that bad after all, I mean, it's hard to beat a full English breakfast.
15. You are on to your 6th umbrella and your second overcoat. [Just counted the umbrellas in the hall... we have nine.]
16. You buy a disposable baby BBQ from Argos.
17. You realise your sunscreen is the stuff you originally brought from home with you. [Or the stuff we bought years ago for our last sunny vacation.]
18. A day at the beach means wearing the warmest clothes you own while standing on golf ball-size pebbles and the thought of swimming doesn't even enter your head. [And what about wind-breaks!! The first time I saw one I thought J was going to build us a tent.]
19. You actually say, "Sorted" or "its all gone a bit pear shaped". [Have to add 'pissed' (as in drunk), 'over the moon' and my personal favourite - 'bloody hell'.]
20. Wearing a suit in a pub is relatively normal attire. [Of course, it's where you go for a drink during your lunch break and for one for the road immediately after work.]
21. You have given up complaining about the Victorian-like banking services offered in the UK.
22. You have given up explaining why you are half an hour late to work as no-one notices or even cares. In fact - you may even join the one hour gossip session around the coffee machine before booting up your computer. [This doesn't really apply anymore but I used to love easing into my day by spending a good hour discussing what happened on Big Brother/Eastenders/Cold Feet the night before.]
23. Coming to work with a hangover is entirely accepted and indeed expected at least once a week.
My own additions:
24. You actually start to watch and enjoy an English soap.
25. Someone uses Cockney Rhyming Slang and you understand what they're saying.
26. Baked beans at breakfast is perfectly normal and, in fact, quite delicious.
27. Yoghurt is a nice snack any time of day and can be a casual dessert after dinner.
28. You have to have some blood tests and are unfazed by the need to drive to another hospital for the test and wait two weeks for the results.
29. Your children use words like 'whilst' and 'perhaps' and it seems perfectly normal.
30. You can name at least six different types of tea.
You know you've been in England too long when...
1. You don't even bother looking out of the window when you get up in the morning to check what the day is like. You know it is overcast.
2. You believe that Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are all good nights for drinking. Sunday day is also entirely reasonable.
3. You can't remember what 'customer service' means.
4. After a big night out you find yourself looking for a Curry house and not a 24 hour Taco Bell.
5. You start to accept queuing as a way of life.
6. More than three hours sunlight on summer days seems excessive. [In the summer, sunrise is around 4.30am and sunset isn't until around 9.30pm in high summer. I loved this before having Tobes but now it drives me crazy. So hard to convince him it really is bedtime when the sun is still shining.]
7. You always call soccer 'football' ... and you have a team ... and it's not Manchester United.
8. You don't think twice about buying a packaged sandwich. [English food always gets a bad rap but the sandwiches are great!]
9. A sunny lunchtime means searching for a patch of grass and stripping off practically down to your underwear.
10. You expect men to actually cut, comb and style their hair (using hair products) and to wear decent clothes. Jeans and a T-shirt are no longer socially acceptable. [I do love that J is a bit of a metrosexual. He's even started using Clarins! The Men's Line, of course.]
11. You think 40 quid for a haircut is quite reasonable. [We could probably have a holiday home for what I spend on my hair... and it's not even that nice!]
12. You start every conversation with Hiya or Alright.
13. You only just realise you have lost your sunglasses-you left them in Greece 2 summers ago. [I only buy sunglasses in Texas and when I get back to England I usually wear them until I forget that I have them. Just don't have that blazing sun problem in England very often. And, after living in Tokyo, I've developed a slight prejudice against sunglasses because in Japan only the yakuza gangsters wear them. But that's a whole other list.]
14. You start thinking English cuisine isn't all that bad after all, I mean, it's hard to beat a full English breakfast.
15. You are on to your 6th umbrella and your second overcoat. [Just counted the umbrellas in the hall... we have nine.]
16. You buy a disposable baby BBQ from Argos.
17. You realise your sunscreen is the stuff you originally brought from home with you. [Or the stuff we bought years ago for our last sunny vacation.]
18. A day at the beach means wearing the warmest clothes you own while standing on golf ball-size pebbles and the thought of swimming doesn't even enter your head. [And what about wind-breaks!! The first time I saw one I thought J was going to build us a tent.]
19. You actually say, "Sorted" or "its all gone a bit pear shaped". [Have to add 'pissed' (as in drunk), 'over the moon' and my personal favourite - 'bloody hell'.]
20. Wearing a suit in a pub is relatively normal attire. [Of course, it's where you go for a drink during your lunch break and for one for the road immediately after work.]
21. You have given up complaining about the Victorian-like banking services offered in the UK.
22. You have given up explaining why you are half an hour late to work as no-one notices or even cares. In fact - you may even join the one hour gossip session around the coffee machine before booting up your computer. [This doesn't really apply anymore but I used to love easing into my day by spending a good hour discussing what happened on Big Brother/Eastenders/Cold Feet the night before.]
23. Coming to work with a hangover is entirely accepted and indeed expected at least once a week.
My own additions:
24. You actually start to watch and enjoy an English soap.
25. Someone uses Cockney Rhyming Slang and you understand what they're saying.
26. Baked beans at breakfast is perfectly normal and, in fact, quite delicious.
27. Yoghurt is a nice snack any time of day and can be a casual dessert after dinner.
28. You have to have some blood tests and are unfazed by the need to drive to another hospital for the test and wait two weeks for the results.
29. Your children use words like 'whilst' and 'perhaps' and it seems perfectly normal.
30. You can name at least six different types of tea.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Wouldn't you know it
J and I came back from the States both feeling that we probably wouldn't sell our house this year. It felt as if the moment had passed. Well, the people who saw the place in such a mess on Sunday have actually made an offer! It's less than our asking price but J thinks we can get them to raise their offer. They're coming back on Saturday for another viewing and we'll talk to them then. They do have a flat to sell but they're in Chiswick so the agents are confident that it will sell quickly. Good lord, we were just settling back into this house and now it looks like we'll be moving after all.
I've been online this morning and the places I've seen in Blackheath are pretty exciting. I really hope this all goes through and we can move by September so we have time to rest before the baby arrives. I must get Toby down for a preschool too so that will be a project for the next couple of weeks. Today we're housebound as I'm waiting for a guy to come and give me a quote for replacing the window locks. The last key snapped months ago and as the weather starts to warm up we'll need to be able to open the windows.
I've been online this morning and the places I've seen in Blackheath are pretty exciting. I really hope this all goes through and we can move by September so we have time to rest before the baby arrives. I must get Toby down for a preschool too so that will be a project for the next couple of weeks. Today we're housebound as I'm waiting for a guy to come and give me a quote for replacing the window locks. The last key snapped months ago and as the weather starts to warm up we'll need to be able to open the windows.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Lazy weekend
Had a lovely, lazy weekend. J and Tobes went out Saturday morning for their weekly breakfast and bonding session. I slept late then we all went to Cafe Rouge for lunch and afterwards I went to the grocery store. I've been feeling very homey so I decided to do a roast lunch and bought all kinds of delicious things to eat.
I caught up on chores like the laundry. It's hard to do when we have viewings because I always need to hang it up to dry in the sitting room. Our little washer/dryer just can't cope with the amount of laundry we have. J worked on sitting up our new computer which meant cleaning out the office desk and shelves to make room for everything. By the end of the day the living room was covered with clothes and paperwork.
On Sunday I got up with Tobes and J slept late. When J got up I fell asleep on the couch while the guys trimmed the front hedge and started power washing the patio. I woke up around 2.00 and started working on a late lunch. We ate and I just put the dirty dishes on the counter and re-ran the dishwasher from the night before. It had been overloaded and hadn't done a very good job.
I was still in my PJs, hadn't brushed my teeth or my hair when there was a knock at the door around 3.30. It was a lady, holding the estate agent's spec for house and asking if she could come in for a viewing!! She was very nice and apologetic, saying they lived on the other side of London and didn't get over here for viewings very often. Well, what could I do. I explained that the house was a mess but she was welcome to take a look. She'd already seen me in my jammies so it couldn't get much worse than that.
She then said that she would just get her husband... and by the way, could her sister come too? In the end, we had the lady, her husband, sister and nephew looking around our messy house. While they looked downstairs I ran upstairs to clear away Toby's potty, J's dirty clothes on the floor and throw the beds together. We still had suitcases and golf clubs all over the place from our trip but it was the best I could do.
The people were actually really nice and I think they might come back for a second viewing. Next time we'll be more prepared and they can see the house at its best. J did a great job on the garden on Sunday and I'm planning to hit the garden centre this week and buy some flowers for a flower box and to add some colour to the back yard.
We're pretty relaxed about whether or not we sell the house this year. We want to get it finished and organised both for viewings and for ourselves. I'm planning Toby's birthday party here at the end of July and we'd like for the house to look nice for that. With this in mind, I'll be putting away clothes and sorting paperwork all afternoon.
I caught up on chores like the laundry. It's hard to do when we have viewings because I always need to hang it up to dry in the sitting room. Our little washer/dryer just can't cope with the amount of laundry we have. J worked on sitting up our new computer which meant cleaning out the office desk and shelves to make room for everything. By the end of the day the living room was covered with clothes and paperwork.
On Sunday I got up with Tobes and J slept late. When J got up I fell asleep on the couch while the guys trimmed the front hedge and started power washing the patio. I woke up around 2.00 and started working on a late lunch. We ate and I just put the dirty dishes on the counter and re-ran the dishwasher from the night before. It had been overloaded and hadn't done a very good job.
I was still in my PJs, hadn't brushed my teeth or my hair when there was a knock at the door around 3.30. It was a lady, holding the estate agent's spec for house and asking if she could come in for a viewing!! She was very nice and apologetic, saying they lived on the other side of London and didn't get over here for viewings very often. Well, what could I do. I explained that the house was a mess but she was welcome to take a look. She'd already seen me in my jammies so it couldn't get much worse than that.
She then said that she would just get her husband... and by the way, could her sister come too? In the end, we had the lady, her husband, sister and nephew looking around our messy house. While they looked downstairs I ran upstairs to clear away Toby's potty, J's dirty clothes on the floor and throw the beds together. We still had suitcases and golf clubs all over the place from our trip but it was the best I could do.
The people were actually really nice and I think they might come back for a second viewing. Next time we'll be more prepared and they can see the house at its best. J did a great job on the garden on Sunday and I'm planning to hit the garden centre this week and buy some flowers for a flower box and to add some colour to the back yard.
We're pretty relaxed about whether or not we sell the house this year. We want to get it finished and organised both for viewings and for ourselves. I'm planning Toby's birthday party here at the end of July and we'd like for the house to look nice for that. With this in mind, I'll be putting away clothes and sorting paperwork all afternoon.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
You'll never guess...
... what Tobes and I did today. Went down to Bromley Police Station and made a statement about that attempted car theft we saw back in April. One of the guys left some fingerprints and DNA in the car and he already had a record so it's all going to court. I'm not relishing the thought of testifying but my statement is important because I'm the only witness who saw them actually hammering into the steering column. I definitely want to do my duty but it does give me the heebie jeebies to think of some convicted felon knowing my name. Our surname is so unusual it would be easy enough to find me.
I did ask if the guy had a violent history and was reassured that he's just a career thief. So I might get my car stolen but I probably won't end up dead. Whew!
I have to say that I was very impressed that they're using DNA evidence for something like an attempted car theft. I've always heard that the English police hate an unsolved crime and I guess they really mean business no matter how 'small' the crime might seem. Very reassuring to know.
So, if I suddenly disappear I'll just be in witness protection. I'm going to ask to trade places with Cameron Diaz as long as I get her figure in the bargain.
I did ask if the guy had a violent history and was reassured that he's just a career thief. So I might get my car stolen but I probably won't end up dead. Whew!
I have to say that I was very impressed that they're using DNA evidence for something like an attempted car theft. I've always heard that the English police hate an unsolved crime and I guess they really mean business no matter how 'small' the crime might seem. Very reassuring to know.
So, if I suddenly disappear I'll just be in witness protection. I'm going to ask to trade places with Cameron Diaz as long as I get her figure in the bargain.
Sunday, May 29, 2005
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