Today is known as "Black Friday" here. Imagine the Boxing Day sales but before Christmas! Anything and everything you could possibly want will probably be on sale today. Christmas shopping at knock down prices!
Not everyone, but lots of people probably got up in the middle of the night to queue for bargains as the shops were opening their doors at 3am, 4am and 5am. Today will apparently be a good indicator as to whether or not the US economy is strengthening.
The bargains are also there to be had on-line.....Ian is currently updating his wardrobe in a virtual Macy's!
Friday 26 November 2010
Thanksgiving Day 2010
So. Imagine having a full dress rehearsal for a British Christmas minus Father Christmas but with all the stress....that is the way I'd describe Thanksgiving Eve. Traffic at a standstill, supermarkets rammed, turkeys flying out of freezers, stroppy shoppers and everyone dreading the arrival of the 'problem' relative.
Ellie learnt even more about Thanksgiving at school this year and we even received a class video of their rendition of TheTurkey Trot....actually the Hokey Cokey cleverley disguised. I'm only sorry I can't share it but have to respect privacy rights. After their song each student was asked what it is that they're thankful for...lots of different answers...Ellie said she was thankful for her toys and the new ones she 'hopes' to get! Ha! She'd better be good then! When we watched the video I asked if there was anything else she was thankful for.....her answer "Sausages", then she remembered something, rummaged in her school bag and presented me with this....
Ellie, I didn't just give them to you, I had to make them too....from scratch! We no longer have a Greggs around the corner!
As for me I was pretty thankful when the Thankgiving fairy disguised as my neighbour presented me with this.....
A homemade PECAN PIE, this, by the way is the ONLY dessert that I can NEVER refuse!
Today was strange for us, we obviously new there was something seasonal going on and could feel the anticipation of everyone we know here, but the traditions of this holiday are slightly removed from us, we've all seen movies with Thanksgiving references and TV shows with Thanksgiving specials blahdy blah but this holiday to Americans is even bigger for them as Christmas is for us.
So I did the usual clearing up and washing, the kids played and did art, Luke made an almighty mess in the playroom and they both watched Mary Poppins. Ian strung up the outside Christmas lights (a little early for us but he's going travelling and won't be back until near on Christmas Eve) we both ate a Mince Pie each...because we felt we should do something festive!
This evening we were invited to Bruce & Sandy's for a Thanksgiving dinner to remember. We spent time with and enjoyed the company of good friends and were treated to the finest Prime Rib Roast you have ever tasted....and maybe just another little slice of homemade Pecan Pie.
Ellie learnt even more about Thanksgiving at school this year and we even received a class video of their rendition of TheTurkey Trot....actually the Hokey Cokey cleverley disguised. I'm only sorry I can't share it but have to respect privacy rights. After their song each student was asked what it is that they're thankful for...lots of different answers...Ellie said she was thankful for her toys and the new ones she 'hopes' to get! Ha! She'd better be good then! When we watched the video I asked if there was anything else she was thankful for.....her answer "Sausages", then she remembered something, rummaged in her school bag and presented me with this....
Ellie, I didn't just give them to you, I had to make them too....from scratch! We no longer have a Greggs around the corner!
As for me I was pretty thankful when the Thankgiving fairy disguised as my neighbour presented me with this.....
A homemade PECAN PIE, this, by the way is the ONLY dessert that I can NEVER refuse!
Today was strange for us, we obviously new there was something seasonal going on and could feel the anticipation of everyone we know here, but the traditions of this holiday are slightly removed from us, we've all seen movies with Thanksgiving references and TV shows with Thanksgiving specials blahdy blah but this holiday to Americans is even bigger for them as Christmas is for us.
So I did the usual clearing up and washing, the kids played and did art, Luke made an almighty mess in the playroom and they both watched Mary Poppins. Ian strung up the outside Christmas lights (a little early for us but he's going travelling and won't be back until near on Christmas Eve) we both ate a Mince Pie each...because we felt we should do something festive!
This evening we were invited to Bruce & Sandy's for a Thanksgiving dinner to remember. We spent time with and enjoyed the company of good friends and were treated to the finest Prime Rib Roast you have ever tasted....and maybe just another little slice of homemade Pecan Pie.
Thursday 25 November 2010
There's A Moose Loose Aboot This Hoose
Some people personalise their holiday homes with little touches here and there.
And some people just don't know when to stop....
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NB The song is of Scottish origins and the Moose is actually a Mouse, but hey it fits!
Wednesday 24 November 2010
Lots of Stirring and Many Wishes
Christmas pudding making time around this neck of the woods, I struggled to find some ingredients but hopefully managed to improvise. Only on the big day will we be able to tell. Everyone had their stir and everyone made their wishes.
Sunday 14 November 2010
Red, Gold and Green...and Steam
Autumn is my favourite season and October was a busy month.
We had our first real live visitors to stay with us here in North Carolina! At last the spare room got a good airing and a makeover, well a scrub and a hoover anyway. We're really very sorry our visitors didn't quite manage to get a hot shower, yep, really sorry about that, we've fixed that little problem now!
They came via New York where they did their best to boost the American economy as they shopped for England, they then came here, shopped some more, they ate, drank and were very merry, they were patient in carpool line and great with spellings!
As a thank you for travelling all this way and to reward their good behaviour we took them to visit the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina at peak Fall colour time. None of us were dissapointed. With a distinctive chill in the air we ooohed and aaahed at the lovely leaf displays like it was the 5th November. We visited the Tweetsie railroad, Blowing Rock and Grandfather Mountain, the highest peak in NC where we saw some bears. We were really intrigued by the Woolly Worm Festival and races In Banner Elk but while fighting the traffic we took a slight detour into a winery...ooops now how did that happen Julie?!
Thank you for coming to visit Ray & Julie, it was a pleasure to have you here and we were sorry to see you go!
We had our first real live visitors to stay with us here in North Carolina! At last the spare room got a good airing and a makeover, well a scrub and a hoover anyway. We're really very sorry our visitors didn't quite manage to get a hot shower, yep, really sorry about that, we've fixed that little problem now!
They came via New York where they did their best to boost the American economy as they shopped for England, they then came here, shopped some more, they ate, drank and were very merry, they were patient in carpool line and great with spellings!
As a thank you for travelling all this way and to reward their good behaviour we took them to visit the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina at peak Fall colour time. None of us were dissapointed. With a distinctive chill in the air we ooohed and aaahed at the lovely leaf displays like it was the 5th November. We visited the Tweetsie railroad, Blowing Rock and Grandfather Mountain, the highest peak in NC where we saw some bears. We were really intrigued by the Woolly Worm Festival and races In Banner Elk but while fighting the traffic we took a slight detour into a winery...ooops now how did that happen Julie?!
Thank you for coming to visit Ray & Julie, it was a pleasure to have you here and we were sorry to see you go!
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Thursday 11 November 2010
Caught Between a Rock and the Middle of the Pond
Something not so strange is happening to us. And, I mean ALL of us. Inevitable really.
Now this is no big deal, just an observation and par for the course, but in varying degrees the four of us are all speaking more and more Americano.
Kids are kids and they talka the talk and walka the walk to fit in. I did exactly the same thing moving around the UK when I was a child; from Yorkshire to Durham to Scotland to Surrey to Warwickshire. A childhood journey that was probably only the map size of North Carolina but had more regional accents than the melting pot of NYC. In fact I set myself goals each time we moved. 'In two weeks I will fit in', and invariably I did. The only spanner's in the works were my parents who would invariably remind me in front of my peers to 'talk properly'. Grrrr. So I do get it!
So, here we are. For me it's not about fitting in anymore but more about being understood and...just making life a little easier and easing the frustration. For example when, in a restaurant, you are met with blank stares when you ask for a glass of water several times you give in and it becomes "a glaass of warrter", when you tell the landlord the garage, it becomes "the garragge". It's all in the vowels and rrr's you see. No wonder then that Luke needs some speech therapy. But then here lies another problem, names for things vary alot too...for example, the speech therapist showed him a picture of a hoover and expected the answer to be 'vacuum'.
Then there is the North side of the Pond, the North being "OMG I LOVE YOUR ACCENT, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?" Great for conversation starters...for a while...but now, after 15 months, 15 times a day...it's wearing a little thin. Honestly, I find myself just wanting to blend in or just shut the h* up - a difficult concept with two children with primed inter galactic selective hearing when out in public. Somedays I apparently sound English. Somedays I'm Australian and other days I'm between the devil and the Ukraine. Yep, if you're in the habit of saying you're from the UK just answer either England, Scotland, Ireland or Wales if you're asked where you're from because the UK, for some Americans is apparently the Ukraine.
Today:
I asked for tom'A'to in my sandwich, it was subconscious right up until the word spluttered out of my mouth but probably I'm now conditioning, because it was just easier, would attract less attention and there would be no doubt. Ellie announced that she needs to go back to England soon because she "can hear" she's getting an American accent and she's not 'surrre' she wants one! She's not wrong, she can roll those rrrrr's like a local and Pledge Allegiance like the best of them. I'm trying really really hard not to make an issue with pronunciation like my parents did....but it's not easy. And although Luke spends 95% of his time with us he can yell 'Momeeeee' and be heard a mile away and shout 'Awesome' whenever he achieves a result.
In the South of the pond, to the right of the rock is a little school of fish. At age 6 it's all about the 3 R's and spelling....Ahem 'color'? I think not!
Now this is no big deal, just an observation and par for the course, but in varying degrees the four of us are all speaking more and more Americano.
Kids are kids and they talka the talk and walka the walk to fit in. I did exactly the same thing moving around the UK when I was a child; from Yorkshire to Durham to Scotland to Surrey to Warwickshire. A childhood journey that was probably only the map size of North Carolina but had more regional accents than the melting pot of NYC. In fact I set myself goals each time we moved. 'In two weeks I will fit in', and invariably I did. The only spanner's in the works were my parents who would invariably remind me in front of my peers to 'talk properly'. Grrrr. So I do get it!
So, here we are. For me it's not about fitting in anymore but more about being understood and...just making life a little easier and easing the frustration. For example when, in a restaurant, you are met with blank stares when you ask for a glass of water several times you give in and it becomes "a glaass of warrter", when you tell the landlord the garage, it becomes "the garragge". It's all in the vowels and rrr's you see. No wonder then that Luke needs some speech therapy. But then here lies another problem, names for things vary alot too...for example, the speech therapist showed him a picture of a hoover and expected the answer to be 'vacuum'.
Then there is the North side of the Pond, the North being "OMG I LOVE YOUR ACCENT, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?" Great for conversation starters...for a while...but now, after 15 months, 15 times a day...it's wearing a little thin. Honestly, I find myself just wanting to blend in or just shut the h* up - a difficult concept with two children with primed inter galactic selective hearing when out in public. Somedays I apparently sound English. Somedays I'm Australian and other days I'm between the devil and the Ukraine. Yep, if you're in the habit of saying you're from the UK just answer either England, Scotland, Ireland or Wales if you're asked where you're from because the UK, for some Americans is apparently the Ukraine.
Today:
I asked for tom'A'to in my sandwich, it was subconscious right up until the word spluttered out of my mouth but probably I'm now conditioning, because it was just easier, would attract less attention and there would be no doubt. Ellie announced that she needs to go back to England soon because she "can hear" she's getting an American accent and she's not 'surrre' she wants one! She's not wrong, she can roll those rrrrr's like a local and Pledge Allegiance like the best of them. I'm trying really really hard not to make an issue with pronunciation like my parents did....but it's not easy. And although Luke spends 95% of his time with us he can yell 'Momeeeee' and be heard a mile away and shout 'Awesome' whenever he achieves a result.
In the South of the pond, to the right of the rock is a little school of fish. At age 6 it's all about the 3 R's and spelling....Ahem 'color'? I think not!
Sunday 3 October 2010
Home Leave is a Beautiful Thing
It really is. You realise that life back home carries on without you but it's still just as easy to slip back in exactly where you left off. It also renews your strength to continue your life back in your host country. It's good therapy!
I count our August trip back 'home' as our first official Home Leave. Last year didn't count for me because although our visit home was planned as such, it actually turned out to be a transitional stopover as we bid our unexpected farewell to India and packed our belongings into another container and slowly made our way to the US. There was still much to be sorted out before we arrived here and there were many uncertainties hanging in the air.
So this year, almost to the date of our 1st anniversary we boarded that plane and then packed as much and as many people that we could into 2 short weeks. We had a blast. We were here, there and everywhere. We enjoyed the cooler weather, we shopped, had haircuts and laughed at the fact that the Americans staying in the cottage next door to us were far better prepared for the English weather than we were! We visited 'old' places and haunts! We ate real bacon in real bread, Giant Yorkshire puddings with lashings of gravy and of course Ellie's appetite for sausage rolls had to be satisfied.
Thanks to everyone we had the pleasure of spending time with and sorry to those we didn't....I think a longer trip is necessary next year.
I count our August trip back 'home' as our first official Home Leave. Last year didn't count for me because although our visit home was planned as such, it actually turned out to be a transitional stopover as we bid our unexpected farewell to India and packed our belongings into another container and slowly made our way to the US. There was still much to be sorted out before we arrived here and there were many uncertainties hanging in the air.
So this year, almost to the date of our 1st anniversary we boarded that plane and then packed as much and as many people that we could into 2 short weeks. We had a blast. We were here, there and everywhere. We enjoyed the cooler weather, we shopped, had haircuts and laughed at the fact that the Americans staying in the cottage next door to us were far better prepared for the English weather than we were! We visited 'old' places and haunts! We ate real bacon in real bread, Giant Yorkshire puddings with lashings of gravy and of course Ellie's appetite for sausage rolls had to be satisfied.
Thanks to everyone we had the pleasure of spending time with and sorry to those we didn't....I think a longer trip is necessary next year.
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Saturday 2 October 2010
25th September - Now We Are Six
When I was one,I had just begun.
When I was two,
I was nearly new.
When I was three,
I was hardly me.
When I was four,
I was not much more.
When I was five,
I was just alive.
But now I am six,
I'm as clever as clever
So I think I will be six
now and forever.
Author A.A. Milne
25th September - Happy Birthday Ellie!
Thursday 2 September 2010
Hurricane Earl Comes A Knocking
To those who have asked, we are not in any danger. We live 2 hours from the coast and it is highly unlikely that we will feel anything of Earl ~ fingers crossed ~ apart from some winds and another 100+F heatwave for a couple of days. I just hope that the impact on the beautiful North Carolina coast is not too destructive.
Friday 27 August 2010
Three For the Price of One
I used to like cooking in a slow cooker/Crock Pot. Actually I still do but it's just not so straightforward anymore.
When we were both working back in Blighty I'd roughly chop and throw all the ingredients in the pot in the morning and come home to a great meal in the evening. When the kids came along and I was consumed with milk and pureeing my slow cooker was a great friend. It worked beautifully in India and made the lamb (read goat in all probablility) nice and tender (!)
My UK slow cooker would not work here due to the difference in US/UK voltage - exactly half.
We bought a new US one....and then the fun began.
The first tried and religiously tested recipe that should take 6-8 hours to cook was nuked in 3. Thankfully I was around to save it. I was confused. I was sure I hadn't dome anything differently.
The second tried and tested recipe went the same way ~ that time we weren't so lucky and it was a take-away for dinner.
The third, new and never before attempted recipe...followed to the letter...was an 'almost' disaster. Cooked and ready way before it's recommended 4 hours and honestly there is nothing worse than soggy mushy rice. I thought I had a slow cooker with an identity crisis. It wanted to be a microwave.
I decided to call Crock Pot and seek their advice....Their response...Must be faulty we'll send you a new one exactly the same as the one you have. Oh OK thanks...shall I send this one back? No just keep the lid and pot because you never know when you might need spares. OK, thanks very much.
The new one arrived in a matter of days. It wasn't the same. It looked like it belonged in an M&S 80's Country kitchen. I called Crock Pot again....I think you've sent me the wrong one, it doesn't really matter but, well it's the point, like for like you said. No problem, we'll send you another. Well thank you, how do I send this one back? No, no, no just keep it, you never know when you might need two and you can use the lid and the pot as spares. But I already have spares. It'll cost you $50 to ship it back. Oh OK I'll keep it then.....
...And in the meantime I tested it out. The same first exact same recipe was again done and cooked in half the time?
Once a faulty slow cooker, but twice?
The third slow cooker in my US collection duly arrived, it is the right colour but like it's sisters it also thinks it's a microwave. I have no idea why. Nobody else in the house or the landlord cares. All I know is that I need to half the cooking time and be here to keep an eye on things, which kind of negates the beauty of 'Crock potting' or Micropotting as I'm inclined to call it.
Great customer service from Crockpot though.
When we were both working back in Blighty I'd roughly chop and throw all the ingredients in the pot in the morning and come home to a great meal in the evening. When the kids came along and I was consumed with milk and pureeing my slow cooker was a great friend. It worked beautifully in India and made the lamb (read goat in all probablility) nice and tender (!)
My UK slow cooker would not work here due to the difference in US/UK voltage - exactly half.
We bought a new US one....and then the fun began.
The first tried and religiously tested recipe that should take 6-8 hours to cook was nuked in 3. Thankfully I was around to save it. I was confused. I was sure I hadn't dome anything differently.
The second tried and tested recipe went the same way ~ that time we weren't so lucky and it was a take-away for dinner.
The third, new and never before attempted recipe...followed to the letter...was an 'almost' disaster. Cooked and ready way before it's recommended 4 hours and honestly there is nothing worse than soggy mushy rice. I thought I had a slow cooker with an identity crisis. It wanted to be a microwave.
I decided to call Crock Pot and seek their advice....Their response...Must be faulty we'll send you a new one exactly the same as the one you have. Oh OK thanks...shall I send this one back? No just keep the lid and pot because you never know when you might need spares. OK, thanks very much.
The new one arrived in a matter of days. It wasn't the same. It looked like it belonged in an M&S 80's Country kitchen. I called Crock Pot again....I think you've sent me the wrong one, it doesn't really matter but, well it's the point, like for like you said. No problem, we'll send you another. Well thank you, how do I send this one back? No, no, no just keep it, you never know when you might need two and you can use the lid and the pot as spares. But I already have spares. It'll cost you $50 to ship it back. Oh OK I'll keep it then.....
...And in the meantime I tested it out. The same first exact same recipe was again done and cooked in half the time?
Once a faulty slow cooker, but twice?
The third slow cooker in my US collection duly arrived, it is the right colour but like it's sisters it also thinks it's a microwave. I have no idea why. Nobody else in the house or the landlord cares. All I know is that I need to half the cooking time and be here to keep an eye on things, which kind of negates the beauty of 'Crock potting' or Micropotting as I'm inclined to call it.
Great customer service from Crockpot though.
Cross Cultural Phrases...or lack of!
When living abroad you inevitably find yourself having to explain certain words or phrases you may use each and every day but have never ever even been heard of by the indigenous population.
In America the most common and widely known confusion surrounds the English meanings of 'pants' and 'fanny' ~ Either side of The Pond we both have our own meanings and when discussed it always raises a snigger.
Then there is the fringe/bangs thing......I personally cannot see why you would call a hair fringe a 'bangs' there is no logical explanation. A 'fringe' is like a border and frames your face which makes perfect sense to me, a 'bangs' does neither. Or does it? Where does this phrase come from?
A friend recently asked me how long we were going on holiday for. To which I replied a 'fortnight'. She looked blank and quickly I had to decipher the phrase that we English never even probably think about and frequently use. Errrr 14 nights.
So imagine this scenario. An attractive, talented American lady Vice President visits an English factory. A very enthusiatic manager introduces her to the entire workforce and begins his welcome speech. He then utters this very typical English phrase....
"Well that's enough from me, let me hand over so you can hear it 'Straight from the horse's mouth'.
~ That will be a Deathly Silence then ~
(I think that phrase is pretty universal!)
In America the most common and widely known confusion surrounds the English meanings of 'pants' and 'fanny' ~ Either side of The Pond we both have our own meanings and when discussed it always raises a snigger.
Then there is the fringe/bangs thing......I personally cannot see why you would call a hair fringe a 'bangs' there is no logical explanation. A 'fringe' is like a border and frames your face which makes perfect sense to me, a 'bangs' does neither. Or does it? Where does this phrase come from?
A friend recently asked me how long we were going on holiday for. To which I replied a 'fortnight'. She looked blank and quickly I had to decipher the phrase that we English never even probably think about and frequently use. Errrr 14 nights.
So imagine this scenario. An attractive, talented American lady Vice President visits an English factory. A very enthusiatic manager introduces her to the entire workforce and begins his welcome speech. He then utters this very typical English phrase....
"Well that's enough from me, let me hand over so you can hear it 'Straight from the horse's mouth'.
~ That will be a Deathly Silence then ~
(I think that phrase is pretty universal!)
Wednesday 4 August 2010
One Whole Year
I woke up this morning and looked at the clock which also shows the date. It was at that moment I realised that we have been in North Carolina for one whole year.
In some respects it's been a long year but in others the time has flown past so much so that this anniversary snuck right up on me.
I haven't been a very good blogger this year but this has more to do with a lack of time than material so once again I will make a note to self to try harder.
Not by way of a celebration but more of a coincidence we are preparing to fly home. This time tomorrow we will be enroute to RDU International Airport to board the return flight of the one that brought us here with all our, was it 9, suitcases? Only 3 allowed this time if I'm lucky! We will spend the next 2 weeks seeing family and friends, feeling the chill and probably getting soggy feet. Oh the joys of home!
In some respects it's been a long year but in others the time has flown past so much so that this anniversary snuck right up on me.
I haven't been a very good blogger this year but this has more to do with a lack of time than material so once again I will make a note to self to try harder.
Not by way of a celebration but more of a coincidence we are preparing to fly home. This time tomorrow we will be enroute to RDU International Airport to board the return flight of the one that brought us here with all our, was it 9, suitcases? Only 3 allowed this time if I'm lucky! We will spend the next 2 weeks seeing family and friends, feeling the chill and probably getting soggy feet. Oh the joys of home!
Thursday 24 June 2010
Yea Mon
Greetings from Jamaica!
Just over a week ago we landed in the Carribean for a well deserved holiday.
All did not begin smoothly though. Our original destination was the Holiday Inn Montego Bay and let's just say that this place looked a whole lot lot better on its website than in the flesh. Oh dear. There were many issues and disappointments that Ian and I shared about the place but the main thing was cleanliness. We're not OCD by any stretch of the imagination but I was sure our supply of Imodium was not going to last long if we stayed around.
After our first night in a tinsy room, the kids sharing a small sofa bed (the mattress had to be changed) that Luke fell out of twice and one dose of Imodium later Ian was on the phone doing his stuff. By late morning we were out of there, in a taxi and heading to our new destination for just a few $$ more. The thing is, this holiday will be our only one as a complete family this year and when you've worked tremendously hard and moved trans globe you really do want your holiday to live up to it's expectation and be a well deserved relaxing break.
So now it is! Here we are http://www.bahiaprincipe.com one week already down and one more to go, it's lovely and no-one has needed a single dose of Imodium.
Now, onto more pressing matters...where to go beach or pool? Yea Mon!
Just over a week ago we landed in the Carribean for a well deserved holiday.
All did not begin smoothly though. Our original destination was the Holiday Inn Montego Bay and let's just say that this place looked a whole lot lot better on its website than in the flesh. Oh dear. There were many issues and disappointments that Ian and I shared about the place but the main thing was cleanliness. We're not OCD by any stretch of the imagination but I was sure our supply of Imodium was not going to last long if we stayed around.
After our first night in a tinsy room, the kids sharing a small sofa bed (the mattress had to be changed) that Luke fell out of twice and one dose of Imodium later Ian was on the phone doing his stuff. By late morning we were out of there, in a taxi and heading to our new destination for just a few $$ more. The thing is, this holiday will be our only one as a complete family this year and when you've worked tremendously hard and moved trans globe you really do want your holiday to live up to it's expectation and be a well deserved relaxing break.
So now it is! Here we are http://www.bahiaprincipe.com one week already down and one more to go, it's lovely and no-one has needed a single dose of Imodium.
Now, onto more pressing matters...where to go beach or pool? Yea Mon!
Saturday 5 June 2010
Happy Belated Birthday Luke
Last weekend we celebrated Little Luke's 3rd Birthday. How did THAT happen? How time flies!
Loves his John Deere!
...and his scooter from Ellie
I can't quite get my head around the fact that he's almost out of toddlerdom and on his way to being a BIG boy. Daddy was travelling on his actual birthday so we postponed his big day until last Sunday and we celebrated with some friends with a little garden party and BBQ. It was a hot HOT day and after all the fun and frolics all of the little people went home very tired, as I'm sure did most of the bigger people.
Waiting for the magician who had more than enough tricks up his sleeves.
including a white rabbit, rat and for the finale a monkey.
Hmmm, I'm not too sure Dad!
Loves his John Deere!
...and his scooter from Ellie 
Waiting for the magician who had more than enough tricks up his sleeves.
including a white rabbit, rat and for the finale a monkey.
Hmmm, I'm not too sure Dad!Monday 31 May 2010
Prima Ballerina
Ellie and her Ballet classmates performed their end of term recital at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium on 22nd May. Befitting every very professional performance photographs and videos were not permitted to be taken in the auditorium, so these photos are post performance.
It was a nail biting day of nerves for Ellie who was convinced she'd get stage fright, which of course she didn't. For me, my main concern was getting her up, dressed and made-up. Made Up? Yes I had a problem with this until it was explained that she'd look like a blank face on stage without it which I really should have known given my previous line of business but you forget these details, and delivered to the Auditorium by 8.30am, hair in a neat bun...which I had only learnt how do do a few days before and worried whether I'd be able to replicate it and was doubtful it would actually stay in. In the end...some mega hair gel, ultra hairspray, a 100 Kirby grips and some Maybe It's Maybelline all worked and combined together to polish her off. Success...almost. Just DON'T MOVE ELLIE. Thankfully another Ballet Mum, knowing I was on my own with both kidlets offered to drive her there which enabled me to get Luke up, breakfast and dress him after she left without spanners and tantrums being thrown. The plan then was to mosey casually on down with Luke and a friend for the performance...I say that...but halfway into the 30 minute drive the said friend who is coming with me says "Do you think I should have got a bouquet of flowers to give to her after the performance?"
Arrrgghh! Brakes on, burning rubber and a rather nifty U turn and we're bombing it back to the house to collect the pretty little Gerbera posy that I had left sitting in water, just out of little eyes sight...so it would be a surprise. Back on the road, I put my foot gently down and we make it there...on time...a little hot and bothered but we were thankfully there. And the performance? Oh yes, it was excellent as is everything that Triangle Academy of Dance does and all those little girls did so exceedingly well, there really wasn't a dry eye in the house! The only exception was a very non-plussed Luke!
Bottoms Up!
Springtime Visit to DC
In April we took a 5 hour road trip North to pay Washington DC a visit, and well worth the visit it was too. What a beautiful and interesting city. So totally different to any other I have visited in the States.
We arrived on the Thursday before Easter and spent the rest of the day and much of Friday morning orientating ourselves and working out where and what we were going to go and see - easy peasy right? Not quite. From here on in our visit was hampered by security alerts which meant NO ENTRY into the Capitol Building, Library of Congress or the Supreme Court despite two attempts, a heatwave, half the nation deciding to flock to the capital to see the stunning Japanese Cherry Blossoms, the sheer volume of queues to visit the National Museums and even the time it took to get a decent meal. When I say that in terms of the sheer number of people in Washington DC that weekend The Mall resembled Marina Beach on a Sunday, and the Museums Sathyam Multiplex any night of the week, some of you will catch my drift. Overcrowded and unsafe. Especially with little ones, one of whom is anti-handholding and anti-pushchair/stroller!
By Saturday evening hot, tired and all with aching feet we decided to call it quits and go home to de-stress and have a quiet Easter Sunday. Hopefully we will return again at a less busy time of year to see all that we missed. And miss things we did because the mayhem was such that the sightseeing buses were jampacked and even if the four of us could have got on one, the traffic was seriously gridlocked! Another time...fingers crossed.
Here are some pics of our trip.
We arrived on the Thursday before Easter and spent the rest of the day and much of Friday morning orientating ourselves and working out where and what we were going to go and see - easy peasy right? Not quite. From here on in our visit was hampered by security alerts which meant NO ENTRY into the Capitol Building, Library of Congress or the Supreme Court despite two attempts, a heatwave, half the nation deciding to flock to the capital to see the stunning Japanese Cherry Blossoms, the sheer volume of queues to visit the National Museums and even the time it took to get a decent meal. When I say that in terms of the sheer number of people in Washington DC that weekend The Mall resembled Marina Beach on a Sunday, and the Museums Sathyam Multiplex any night of the week, some of you will catch my drift. Overcrowded and unsafe. Especially with little ones, one of whom is anti-handholding and anti-pushchair/stroller!
By Saturday evening hot, tired and all with aching feet we decided to call it quits and go home to de-stress and have a quiet Easter Sunday. Hopefully we will return again at a less busy time of year to see all that we missed. And miss things we did because the mayhem was such that the sightseeing buses were jampacked and even if the four of us could have got on one, the traffic was seriously gridlocked! Another time...fingers crossed.
Here are some pics of our trip.
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Friday 21 May 2010
Some Things That Bug Me
As an expat from anywhere, wherever you are living in the world there are always going to be a handful of small and sometimes large things about your host country that irritate the hell out of you. So whilst trying not to sound like an irate 'Points of View' viewer, here are some of my pet hates about North Carolina. They irritate me because they are, to me, either downright stupidly pointless or downright dangerously dangerous.
• 'Why oh Why?' (!) do all public lavatory cubicles whether they be in shops, parks, restaurants, museums, cinemas have doors that end 1 foot above the floor and have doors that have a half inch gap all the way around them? They have a lock but what's the point when anyone queuing outside can 'hello' see you in there! So can all the kids (including mine) who think it's funny to peer through the gaps and under the doors. I'll bet someone will say it's so that kids can't get locked in...the great H&S phenomenon, but did you know that kids can escape? Oh yes they can and do, on several occasions Luke has found it highly amusing to duck and run from a cubicle when it is not very practical for me to pursue him. These loos really are the norm everywhere and I will let you know if I ever find a more private and secure one!
• Why oh why? Can't my toddler wear inflatable armbands in the swimming pool? Apparently it's because they may puncture. In a swimming pool? What? Both of them at the same time? C'mon? So do you think that as a not quite perfect, but a reasonably responsible parent I won't be able to see that a puncture may have occurred from 1 foot away from my child at the very most. Because even with or without a float device that's the distance he's going from me until he can swim at least 5 lengths! It's not like an armband puncture could be so spectacular as to propel a child into space or under water in the blink of an eye, could it? He must wear foam ones apparently, which he will not, because they are not the ones that he is used to, and, because he is a toddler and not a terrorist he will not negotiate. So, he just has to sit on the side crying until he complies....compliancy, let me tell you is not going to happen Dear Diligent Jobsworth Lifeguard and Mr/Ms H&S. Watch him, hear him and I dare you not to feel an incy wincy ounce of compassion. Surely parents have a better idea of the capabilities of their children than a 16 year old lifeguard.. Just saying.
• Why oh why? During Family Swim Time does the lifeguard at the pool have to blow a whistle and tell everyone to get out of the pool every 20 minutes? So imagine, everyone gets out, stands on the side, the pool is empty and everyone is left shivering in suspended animation while the lifeguard sits aloof nonchalantly looking at their watch, eventually they blow their whistle again and everyone can then apparently get back in the pool and resume enjoying themselves again...until the next whistle, when the seemingly pointless process resumes over again. I've asked the question a couple of times but no-one can give me a reasonable or coherent answer.
• Why oh why? Have all car manufacturers seemingly decided that 95% of cars on the roads of North Carolina do not require indicators? You need good ESP to anticipate most people driving around you here.
• Why oh why? Did the State of North Carolina only deem it necessary to make it illegal to text message whilst driving last December? And yet you can still talk and make calls on your phone whilst driving...and the majority do, and text, I see them all the 'blinking' time, I counted 6/10 talking on phones turning left out of a junction yesterday while I sat at the opposite red light....and as a consequence many people have needless and avoidable accidents which screw up everyone else's journeys and school runs. They also cause accidents that are fatal, but this fact doesn't seem to have sunk in yet despite compelling everyday evidence. I've also seen a man reading a book placed on a custom made steering wheel book holder whilst driving and countless people who have superdogs and even supercats that can drive cars. Another dimension to American pet obsession. Perhaps the pets are just helping out with the driving whilst their owners are making calls and sending text messages.
• Tipping. Oh dear, I may need to restrain myself on this one...but when exactly did it become COMPULSORY rather than DISCRETIONARY to tip everyone and anyone who may have accidentally or intentionally crossed your path in a 'service capacity' at the flat rate of 20%? In England, well OK, just going on the last time I was there, you 'tip' only if you receive good service in restaurants, salons and taxis, 10% is average, 15-20% for outstanding above and beyond and if your experience was none of the above you give nothing. Nada. Nobody dare prompt you, it's up to you...you decide, to the service provider a tip is a bonus not an expectation. So why is it acceptable for the girl who gave me a pedicure to say "I'll add $5 onto your card for service shall I?" No, you won't I replied, add $2.50 and find something you like about it. Or, at the hairdressers when while paying your bill you're asked if you'd like the 20% tip calculated for you and given a little brown envelope because really they would prefer cash, add it to the card only if you have to. Actually this could become a bigger rant, I have many examples, so I may take time to think about it more before sharing more experiences.
• Why oh why? Do waiting staff in some restaurants think it's OK to constantly like, every couple of minutes, interrupt your conversation to ask if everything is OK? Why do they also think it's acceptable to remove someones empty finished plates when there are people at the table still eating their meal. Yes OK, I'm normally the one still talking and still not finished but I've spent alot of time trying to have a conversation with my husband who I don't get to see all that much, almost putting my fork in my mouth before having to stop, nod, smile and reassure the waiter/waitress that we're absolutely fine and if there is anything at all we find we are missing or, that we could possibly think of or need to finish our meal in peace, WE WILL ASK, really and truly we will. Forgive me if I'm wrong but I thought that a knife and fork placed together on a plate was the best indicator that someone was finished with their meal and they were ready for their plate to be taken away. Grrrr.
Like I said, just some things.
• 'Why oh Why?' (!) do all public lavatory cubicles whether they be in shops, parks, restaurants, museums, cinemas have doors that end 1 foot above the floor and have doors that have a half inch gap all the way around them? They have a lock but what's the point when anyone queuing outside can 'hello' see you in there! So can all the kids (including mine) who think it's funny to peer through the gaps and under the doors. I'll bet someone will say it's so that kids can't get locked in...the great H&S phenomenon, but did you know that kids can escape? Oh yes they can and do, on several occasions Luke has found it highly amusing to duck and run from a cubicle when it is not very practical for me to pursue him. These loos really are the norm everywhere and I will let you know if I ever find a more private and secure one!
• Why oh why? Can't my toddler wear inflatable armbands in the swimming pool? Apparently it's because they may puncture. In a swimming pool? What? Both of them at the same time? C'mon? So do you think that as a not quite perfect, but a reasonably responsible parent I won't be able to see that a puncture may have occurred from 1 foot away from my child at the very most. Because even with or without a float device that's the distance he's going from me until he can swim at least 5 lengths! It's not like an armband puncture could be so spectacular as to propel a child into space or under water in the blink of an eye, could it? He must wear foam ones apparently, which he will not, because they are not the ones that he is used to, and, because he is a toddler and not a terrorist he will not negotiate. So, he just has to sit on the side crying until he complies....compliancy, let me tell you is not going to happen Dear Diligent Jobsworth Lifeguard and Mr/Ms H&S. Watch him, hear him and I dare you not to feel an incy wincy ounce of compassion. Surely parents have a better idea of the capabilities of their children than a 16 year old lifeguard.. Just saying.
• Why oh why? During Family Swim Time does the lifeguard at the pool have to blow a whistle and tell everyone to get out of the pool every 20 minutes? So imagine, everyone gets out, stands on the side, the pool is empty and everyone is left shivering in suspended animation while the lifeguard sits aloof nonchalantly looking at their watch, eventually they blow their whistle again and everyone can then apparently get back in the pool and resume enjoying themselves again...until the next whistle, when the seemingly pointless process resumes over again. I've asked the question a couple of times but no-one can give me a reasonable or coherent answer.
• Why oh why? Have all car manufacturers seemingly decided that 95% of cars on the roads of North Carolina do not require indicators? You need good ESP to anticipate most people driving around you here.
• Why oh why? Did the State of North Carolina only deem it necessary to make it illegal to text message whilst driving last December? And yet you can still talk and make calls on your phone whilst driving...and the majority do, and text, I see them all the 'blinking' time, I counted 6/10 talking on phones turning left out of a junction yesterday while I sat at the opposite red light....and as a consequence many people have needless and avoidable accidents which screw up everyone else's journeys and school runs. They also cause accidents that are fatal, but this fact doesn't seem to have sunk in yet despite compelling everyday evidence. I've also seen a man reading a book placed on a custom made steering wheel book holder whilst driving and countless people who have superdogs and even supercats that can drive cars. Another dimension to American pet obsession. Perhaps the pets are just helping out with the driving whilst their owners are making calls and sending text messages.
• Tipping. Oh dear, I may need to restrain myself on this one...but when exactly did it become COMPULSORY rather than DISCRETIONARY to tip everyone and anyone who may have accidentally or intentionally crossed your path in a 'service capacity' at the flat rate of 20%? In England, well OK, just going on the last time I was there, you 'tip' only if you receive good service in restaurants, salons and taxis, 10% is average, 15-20% for outstanding above and beyond and if your experience was none of the above you give nothing. Nada. Nobody dare prompt you, it's up to you...you decide, to the service provider a tip is a bonus not an expectation. So why is it acceptable for the girl who gave me a pedicure to say "I'll add $5 onto your card for service shall I?" No, you won't I replied, add $2.50 and find something you like about it. Or, at the hairdressers when while paying your bill you're asked if you'd like the 20% tip calculated for you and given a little brown envelope because really they would prefer cash, add it to the card only if you have to. Actually this could become a bigger rant, I have many examples, so I may take time to think about it more before sharing more experiences.
• Why oh why? Do waiting staff in some restaurants think it's OK to constantly like, every couple of minutes, interrupt your conversation to ask if everything is OK? Why do they also think it's acceptable to remove someones empty finished plates when there are people at the table still eating their meal. Yes OK, I'm normally the one still talking and still not finished but I've spent alot of time trying to have a conversation with my husband who I don't get to see all that much, almost putting my fork in my mouth before having to stop, nod, smile and reassure the waiter/waitress that we're absolutely fine and if there is anything at all we find we are missing or, that we could possibly think of or need to finish our meal in peace, WE WILL ASK, really and truly we will. Forgive me if I'm wrong but I thought that a knife and fork placed together on a plate was the best indicator that someone was finished with their meal and they were ready for their plate to be taken away. Grrrr.
Like I said, just some things.
Friday 16 April 2010
Naughty Mummy
Today after yet another tiresome episode, one of Many, Many, MANY with me doing the 'telling off' and 'reigning in' after yet another sibling argument and potentially dangerous stuation my little 'Best Boy', as he likes to be called and, might I add call himself (thank goodness I have one of each), the boy of few words looked at me straight in the eyes with cheeky contempt in his narrowed eyes and told me I was a "Naughty Mummy".
After this insult he looked away, looked back at me again and then added..."You're fired".
He did. He actually said that. Ellie giggled, it's a phrase she's coined from somewhere and used alot this week. But what surprised me was that he used it in the right context (kind of).
So there we are...I'm redundant. I hadn't expected it to happen so soon, I thought I had at least another 15-16 years in this job maybe eventually moving gracefully into more of an advisory consultancy type of role whilst still maintaining some kind of respect in my field of expertise. Obviously not. I'm on the scrapheap.
Hey ho - onwards and upwards. Do sacked parents get any kind of redundancy package? I only ask because Hawaii looks quite nice this time of year.
Oh yeah and you can still fly that way around the world.
After this insult he looked away, looked back at me again and then added..."You're fired".
He did. He actually said that. Ellie giggled, it's a phrase she's coined from somewhere and used alot this week. But what surprised me was that he used it in the right context (kind of).
So there we are...I'm redundant. I hadn't expected it to happen so soon, I thought I had at least another 15-16 years in this job maybe eventually moving gracefully into more of an advisory consultancy type of role whilst still maintaining some kind of respect in my field of expertise. Obviously not. I'm on the scrapheap.
Hey ho - onwards and upwards. Do sacked parents get any kind of redundancy package? I only ask because Hawaii looks quite nice this time of year.
Oh yeah and you can still fly that way around the world.
Wednesday 7 April 2010
Tuesday 6 April 2010
Yellow Clouds
Here we are in April, not so long ago we were knee.... well OK, ankle deep in snow and shivering through icy blasts of freezing cold weather. The first day of Spring arrived and we enjoyed some pleasant 75F days and blue blue skies which always help to lift the spirits.
Cut to now, this very week. It seems that Spring lasted, oooh about 5 minutes and just like that....summer did indeed start in April. My car thermometer has been edging higher and higher and this afternoon read 95F. Before Spring Break holiday Ellie was going to school in thick woolly tights and jumpers, yesterday she returned after her holiday in a short sleeved blouse and ankle socks.
The cycle of nature seems to be as equally confused as we all are. Within a couple of days bare leafed trees sprouted thick leaves and blossoms as if by magic. And then there are the zillions of pine trees that grow in North Carolina, which, have to spread their pollen right? But really is so much of it really necessary?!
Everywhere you go, everything you see is cloaked in this sticky yellow dust and just a gentle gust of wind in the vicinity of a pine tree produces clouds and clouds of the stuff. We are yellow. The sky is yellow. The roads are yellow. The cars are yellow. Our clothes are yellow....especially after a morning sliding down slides at the park! There is not a single hope of keeping this stuff at bay. Heaven help the poor people with tree pollen allergies. Apparently this is the worst it's been for years. Apparently it lasts for 2-3 weeks. Apparently we need some rain to dampen things down.
Cut to now, this very week. It seems that Spring lasted, oooh about 5 minutes and just like that....summer did indeed start in April. My car thermometer has been edging higher and higher and this afternoon read 95F. Before Spring Break holiday Ellie was going to school in thick woolly tights and jumpers, yesterday she returned after her holiday in a short sleeved blouse and ankle socks.
The cycle of nature seems to be as equally confused as we all are. Within a couple of days bare leafed trees sprouted thick leaves and blossoms as if by magic. And then there are the zillions of pine trees that grow in North Carolina, which, have to spread their pollen right? But really is so much of it really necessary?!
Everywhere you go, everything you see is cloaked in this sticky yellow dust and just a gentle gust of wind in the vicinity of a pine tree produces clouds and clouds of the stuff. We are yellow. The sky is yellow. The roads are yellow. The cars are yellow. Our clothes are yellow....especially after a morning sliding down slides at the park! There is not a single hope of keeping this stuff at bay. Heaven help the poor people with tree pollen allergies. Apparently this is the worst it's been for years. Apparently it lasts for 2-3 weeks. Apparently we need some rain to dampen things down.
Rain is now forecast for Thursday night, hopefully it will wash away some of this mellow yellow!
And the most topical question being asked around these parts? When will be the best time to wash the car?! Me? Well, I washed mine on Monday to remove all the zillions of insect bodies we managed to accumulate on the windscreen driving back from Washington DC....one of the guys commented, "Y'all new around here...see you Wednesday and we'll wash off the pollen." I had thought that business was unusually quiet at Bunky's Car Wash for a Monday morning!
Tuesday 23 March 2010
A Guide to The South
The South
\the 'sau'th\, noun
The place where...
Tea is sweet and accents are sweeter.
Summer starts in April.
Macaroni & Cheese is a vegetable.
Front porches are wide and words are long.
Pecan pie is a staple.
Y'all is the only proper noun.
Chicken is fried and biscuits come with gravy.
Everything is Darlin'.
Someone's heart is always being blessed.
Taken from a wall plaque I recently bought...
Sweet iced tea is drunk alot. Looking forward to an early summer!
Mac 'n' cheese is everywhere and everyone seems to like it, especially Luke...just wish it WAS actually a vegetable!
For someone like me, who LOVES pecan pie, it's a little slice of heaven!
Y'all doing well? Come on Y'all...ad infinitum!
Haven't done fried chicken...yet, but you can actually buy deep fryers specifically for whole chickens and turkeys!
Biscuits are actually similar to scones and are a Southern breakfast staple. Instead of strawberries, jam and cream Cornish style, they do indeed serve it with some pale and uninspiring gravy kind of substance, I'm just not brave enough!
Everything, everyone and especially you is a 'Darlin' (love that!)
In everyday conversation your heart is well and truly and constantly being blessed.
Chickens & Eggs
Oh my, I have just had my first birds and bees conversation with Ellie.
Ellie: Mummy, how do chicks grow inside eggs?
Me: Well the mother hen sits on her eggs to keep them warm and the chicks grow until they are ready to hatch.
Ellie: But how do they get inside the egg in the first place? I mean HOW? Why are their no chicks inside my boiled eggs?
Me: Errr, well, err umm....they just do.
Ellie: And what does their daddy do while all this is going on? Does he sit on the eggs? Or does he just leave it all to the mother hen?
Me: Errr yes, I'd say so. Oooh look at that fire engine.
Nope, I was not prepared and didn't see that one coming.
Ellie: Mummy, how do chicks grow inside eggs?
Me: Well the mother hen sits on her eggs to keep them warm and the chicks grow until they are ready to hatch.
Ellie: But how do they get inside the egg in the first place? I mean HOW? Why are their no chicks inside my boiled eggs?
Me: Errr, well, err umm....they just do.
Ellie: And what does their daddy do while all this is going on? Does he sit on the eggs? Or does he just leave it all to the mother hen?
Me: Errr yes, I'd say so. Oooh look at that fire engine.
Nope, I was not prepared and didn't see that one coming.
One hour or so later...an update
Ellie: Life begins with a kiss! Mummy life begins with a kiss right?
Me: It does?
Ellie: Yes Mummy! You met Daddy, you kissed him and then I grew in your tummy. Isn't that right?
Me: Well, yes, kind of. Now! Where's your homework folder?
Monday 8 March 2010
Disney Bound
On Saturday morning we packed up the car and embarked on a journey that took us 10 hours to Kissimmee in Florida aka Disneyland. Finally...a 'Road Trip' to justify my mileage!
Our route from North Carolina took us South through South Carolina, through Georgia and into Florida, we hung a right somewhere close to Daytona Beach and wound our way to our destination. So why did we decide to 10hr drive it rather than 1hr fly it? I don't really know. Because we could? Partly because we didn't have to totally minimise our packing? Because people here just do...drive...such long distances? I also thought (much misguided by a 10 year previous Californian road trip) that the geography and sights would change and afford us to see more of the 'Country'. Not so. On the East Coast I can report that everything on the Interstate looks every bit the same from start to finish, apart from a couple of river deltas in Georgia.
So we're here. In the land of Disney. The sun is shining. The kids are chomping at the bit. Let's see if Walt can work a little bit of his magic on this old sceptic?
Our route from North Carolina took us South through South Carolina, through Georgia and into Florida, we hung a right somewhere close to Daytona Beach and wound our way to our destination. So why did we decide to 10hr drive it rather than 1hr fly it? I don't really know. Because we could? Partly because we didn't have to totally minimise our packing? Because people here just do...drive...such long distances? I also thought (much misguided by a 10 year previous Californian road trip) that the geography and sights would change and afford us to see more of the 'Country'. Not so. On the East Coast I can report that everything on the Interstate looks every bit the same from start to finish, apart from a couple of river deltas in Georgia.
So we're here. In the land of Disney. The sun is shining. The kids are chomping at the bit. Let's see if Walt can work a little bit of his magic on this old sceptic?
Thursday 4 March 2010
What's In The Name?
As in the name of this Blog?
Several people have queried and asked this question of late, and so, just to clear up any misunderstanding...
We, as a family were moving to India. I decided to write a blog. I had to think of a name. I had been to India before. I knew it was going to be tough. I thought we'd be living in some precarious situations and I wasn't wrong. Dire Straits came to mind, which transposed into In-dia Straits.
Cut to the present day. World economics played their part and not long after we settled down we were uprooted to the USA, and because I was seriously lacking in any creativity or humour at that stage in our head spinning worldwide flit, In-dia Straits became In-dia States, ie Where we'd been and where we've now come to.
It isn't and nor did I ever intend it to be a derogatory name, simply INDIA to the STATES. Hope that answers questions, dots i's, crosses t's and...wraps it up!
Several people have queried and asked this question of late, and so, just to clear up any misunderstanding...
We, as a family were moving to India. I decided to write a blog. I had to think of a name. I had been to India before. I knew it was going to be tough. I thought we'd be living in some precarious situations and I wasn't wrong. Dire Straits came to mind, which transposed into In-dia Straits.
Cut to the present day. World economics played their part and not long after we settled down we were uprooted to the USA, and because I was seriously lacking in any creativity or humour at that stage in our head spinning worldwide flit, In-dia Straits became In-dia States, ie Where we'd been and where we've now come to.
It isn't and nor did I ever intend it to be a derogatory name, simply INDIA to the STATES. Hope that answers questions, dots i's, crosses t's and...wraps it up!
Wednesday 3 March 2010
Mmm Mmm We Have Some Cadbury's
Oh yes we do!!
There was great excitement when we opened the mailbox yesterday because inside was a parcel sent all the way from Kent in little Olde England which contained two selection boxes. Oh the joy! The school run home was the quietest and most peaceful drive ever as the kids tucked into a chocolate bar each. All the while 'umming' and 'ahhhing'. In the end I couldn't take it anymore, a quick glance at the remnants left on the passenger seat and I spied two 'Flakes'...
Plan A:
"Ellie? Can I eat this one? No, No, NO! was her reply, I love those"....funny that, because to my knowledge she's never ever had the pleasure of a Cadbury's Flake but she sure does know a good thing when she sees it.
Plan B
"Luke....? Oh never mind!"
I ate it.
My logic and reasoning for stealing this most divine piece of chocolate from my 2.5 year old...
There was great excitement when we opened the mailbox yesterday because inside was a parcel sent all the way from Kent in little Olde England which contained two selection boxes. Oh the joy! The school run home was the quietest and most peaceful drive ever as the kids tucked into a chocolate bar each. All the while 'umming' and 'ahhhing'. In the end I couldn't take it anymore, a quick glance at the remnants left on the passenger seat and I spied two 'Flakes'...
Plan A:
"Ellie? Can I eat this one? No, No, NO! was her reply, I love those"....funny that, because to my knowledge she's never ever had the pleasure of a Cadbury's Flake but she sure does know a good thing when she sees it.
Plan B
"Luke....? Oh never mind!"
I ate it.
My logic and reasoning for stealing this most divine piece of chocolate from my 2.5 year old...
- He'll never know it's gone.
- He would never in a million years have appreciated it as much as me!
- Hormones need Cadbury's chocolate or it just gets messy.
- He would have made such an almighty mess....the Finger of Fudge was 'just enough to give my kid a treat' and a much better option.
- There is still more in the selection boxes for them both to get their sticky little hands on and because Nanan also kindly sent some treat size bits and bobs back with Ian, we're now good for Cadbury's for a few months....unless anyone feels inclined to send Whole Nut or Twirls?!!
Guilt free and chocolate filled I bid you all a very Good Night!
Thank you Em and Nanan
7516 Miles
To this very day and hour that is exactly how many miles I have driven since taking delivery of my car, give or take a few days, 4 months ago in October.
To put this into some sort of perspective when I was a SAHM in England my average annual mileage topped a whopping 4000 miles, that included dashes here there and everywhere countrywide to visit friends and relatives and the odd holiday or two. The reason it was so low; because I could and did walk everywhere that I possibly could in my hometown, there were many days, even weeks when my car never left the driveway.
Now (and this is frightening) of all those 7516 motored miles none of them include any wild and wonderful road trips, oh no, they are completely made up from school runs, grocery shopping runs and all the driving around in circles that I find myself doing. Almost. All. Of. The. Time.
Even if you wanted to walk anywhere here you can't, it's just not set up for that. People only walk for excercise and dress accordingly so there is no doubt as to what is it they are doing. A few weeks ago we were sat at some traffic lights and Ellie piped up,
"Oh wow, there's something you don't see everyday!"
While I was laughing at the tone of her observation I realised that she was actually pointing to a family who were WALKING and actually risking life and limb CROSSING THE ROAD! I have to say, that she was completely right...that is not something that you see here everyday...comprendez?
So the upshot of all this driving is? Well let me just ask... "Does my bum look big in this car?"
To put this into some sort of perspective when I was a SAHM in England my average annual mileage topped a whopping 4000 miles, that included dashes here there and everywhere countrywide to visit friends and relatives and the odd holiday or two. The reason it was so low; because I could and did walk everywhere that I possibly could in my hometown, there were many days, even weeks when my car never left the driveway.
Now (and this is frightening) of all those 7516 motored miles none of them include any wild and wonderful road trips, oh no, they are completely made up from school runs, grocery shopping runs and all the driving around in circles that I find myself doing. Almost. All. Of. The. Time.
Even if you wanted to walk anywhere here you can't, it's just not set up for that. People only walk for excercise and dress accordingly so there is no doubt as to what is it they are doing. A few weeks ago we were sat at some traffic lights and Ellie piped up,
"Oh wow, there's something you don't see everyday!"
While I was laughing at the tone of her observation I realised that she was actually pointing to a family who were WALKING and actually risking life and limb CROSSING THE ROAD! I have to say, that she was completely right...that is not something that you see here everyday...comprendez?
So the upshot of all this driving is? Well let me just ask... "Does my bum look big in this car?"
Monday 8 February 2010
Words of Wisdom From Ellie (aged 5 and a half)
About a week ago:
"Wouldn't it be good if everyone was already really clever and knew everything they needed to know about everything because then people wouldn't have to to go to school".
Yesterday:
"Mummy wouldn't it be good if life was just like pre-school"
Anyone else get the feeling her enthusiasm for school is on the wain?!
Today about language:
"Americans call shopping centres 'The Mall', I thought that was somewhere the Queen goes, why do they say that?"
"Listen to this...Yoghurt. I say yoghurt. Why do Americans say Yoh-gurt"?
"Garage, that's what we call it...do you know that Americans call it the 'Garrraaage'?
And I thought we'd finally got over the whole Tomato Tomahto thing!
"Wouldn't it be good if everyone was already really clever and knew everything they needed to know about everything because then people wouldn't have to to go to school".
Yesterday:
"Mummy wouldn't it be good if life was just like pre-school"
Anyone else get the feeling her enthusiasm for school is on the wain?!
Today about language:
"Americans call shopping centres 'The Mall', I thought that was somewhere the Queen goes, why do they say that?"
"Listen to this...Yoghurt. I say yoghurt. Why do Americans say Yoh-gurt"?
"Garage, that's what we call it...do you know that Americans call it the 'Garrraaage'?
And I thought we'd finally got over the whole Tomato Tomahto thing!
A Snow/Sick/Rain Bound Update
Oh dear, things did get tough!
Ellie's bad case of strep throat morphed into Luke with a gooey ear infection and burst ear drum and a fridge brimming full of psychadelic pink anti-biotics.
After 7 days of solitary confinement made up of 2 days snow, 3 days illness and 2 days of 'almost over illness' but torrential stairrod rain so we ain't going anywhere: The sun came out...and so did we!
Yesterday was bliss on legs, brunch with a friend, followed by a trip to Marbles Kids Museum with said friend and her daughter (a classmate of Ellie's). The kids played and played to the point of exhaustion which is always a good thing! In the evening while the kids were tucked up safely in bed the rest of this Nation's population was watching something called, errrrr 'The Superbowl', something to do with baking perhaps? (just kidding!) which freed up enough 'cable' to enable me to finally be able to access the 'Movies on Demand' channel. Something that has been out of my grasp all week.
It would seem that most of the time Time Warner Cable can't keep up with demand for Movies on Demand (did that make sense?) which apparently leaves alot of unhappy customers including me. So out of my list of '10 films to watch before Ian gets home' I finally got to see Julie and Julia (GREAT) and Love Happens (not so great).
Today (Monday) came and we are thankfully back to health, school and some sort of normality. *sigh*
Ellie's bad case of strep throat morphed into Luke with a gooey ear infection and burst ear drum and a fridge brimming full of psychadelic pink anti-biotics.
After 7 days of solitary confinement made up of 2 days snow, 3 days illness and 2 days of 'almost over illness' but torrential stairrod rain so we ain't going anywhere: The sun came out...and so did we!
Yesterday was bliss on legs, brunch with a friend, followed by a trip to Marbles Kids Museum with said friend and her daughter (a classmate of Ellie's). The kids played and played to the point of exhaustion which is always a good thing! In the evening while the kids were tucked up safely in bed the rest of this Nation's population was watching something called, errrrr 'The Superbowl', something to do with baking perhaps? (just kidding!) which freed up enough 'cable' to enable me to finally be able to access the 'Movies on Demand' channel. Something that has been out of my grasp all week.
It would seem that most of the time Time Warner Cable can't keep up with demand for Movies on Demand (did that make sense?) which apparently leaves alot of unhappy customers including me. So out of my list of '10 films to watch before Ian gets home' I finally got to see Julie and Julia (GREAT) and Love Happens (not so great).
Today (Monday) came and we are thankfully back to health, school and some sort of normality. *sigh*
Thursday 4 February 2010
Is D.A.D.D.Y Away?
Monday: So what exactly could happen? Well, within 18 hours of Ian leaving for his latest 3 week trip and whilst enjoying our first enforced (Grrr) family snow day confined at home with a little ice and now just 1" of snow blocking us in at every doorway... I'm the very first casualty of the day as I manage pretty early on -oh about 8am - to cut my finger - on a pathetic box. It had a razor sharp plastic covering OK? How sharp do they have to make boxes these days anyway? The tiny cut bled for an hour much to my amusement, but to the distress of Ellie meanwhile nothing even appeared on Luke's radar. Then while I'm still bleeding Ellie cuts her toe, even she doesn't know how...."It just appeared Mummy." Yeah, yeah like mother, like daughter I just know many of you are saying that!, but she was just as brave as I always am (ha ha!) probably more so. Chip off the old block. Second trip to the plaster cupboard.
Then guess what? Like mother, like son. Oh yes, because next up is Luke with a cut foot, we're not sure how it happened but we did find an open safety pin with an Indian flag on it (some of you will appreciate the irony!) on the playroom floor that neither me nor Ellie have ever ever seen before. This was Luke's first ever ever brush with blood and yes, let me just say that I think blood will be a very tough thing for him to deal with in the future. Oh the drama! Didn't we all just know about it! Another trip to the plaster cupboard was necessary and now, three days later I have only just managed to prise his socks off - I think he thought his foot would follow!
Tuesday: Every school is the area is still closed bar Ellie's which is opening on a 2 hour delay. This week she is 'Student of the Week', and we made a big snowbound poster with her favourite photographs of herself, family and friends that is to be displayed on the wall, she gets to be lunch monitor and choose a helper which she had given a great deal of thought to. We all get up get ready and all is hunkydory. Without warning she spins into a total meltdown, we butt heads big time, she tantrums and I lose my patience and send her back to her room, she screams blue murder and I tear my hair out while Luke just wants "more pancake pease."
The school run is not much better. Ellie normally happy and singing is miserable and sullen and just not herself. Because of 'the poster' I opt out of Car Pool and take Ellie in myself which gives me an opportunity to have a word with her teacher...."Not herself today, no temperature, can't put my finger on it, call me if she worsens". Then she asks in a hushed whisper...."Is D.A.D.D.Y away at the moment?" Well actually, yes he is. "I'll let you know if there's any change" she winks.
An hour an a half later I get a call...Ellie is still complaining she doesn't feel well, she doesn't have a temperature but she looks pale and hurts, "I'll be there in 15 minutes" I say. I get there and she does indeed look terrible. We get in the car and drive off. Within 2 minutes she's fast asleep. We get home she sleeps some more, she wakes, she's hot, she's cold, her temperature is now all of a sudden very high, her glands are swollen, she won't eat, she won't drink in fact the only thing she does want to do is go to bed, that's definitely not my girl - It was a long Calpol fuelled night.
Wednesday: Luke's day for pre-school and I am ever so thankful that they decide against following 'Wake County Inclement Weather Guidelines' and actually open. More for Ellie because when she's around, Luke just wants to play and play with her and she just didn't want to that day, she just wanted to lie on the sofa and have a Duvet Day. I was torn about what to do with her and it's right at moments like these that it dawns on you just how far away from home we are, all the resources we know, our family, our friends, our friendly GP that you can call to discuss things and the cherry on top is a big fat 5 hour time difference that complicates things further. It also dawns on you that you're very much still a novice parent whose partner in crime and sounding board is far away and you're not quite sure what to do next.
Enter Lesley - A British mum of two teenagers, she came over for an impromptu coffee, she took a look at Ellie for me, asked her a couple of questions and told me to make an appointment with the Pediatrician, had she not come over at the short notice she did, I may have left things to see what happened (yes, that very British habit of not wanting to waste a doctors time!) but by 3pm we were down there, examined, throat swabbed, result: A nasty case of Strep Throat, first dose of antibiotics at 4pm, an almost new child by 6pm.
Note to self (and other expat Mums) - trust your instincts, accept help, we're all in the same boat. You're not a neurotic nuisance, reassurance is good and some people are more experienced in areas than others and can add perspective to a situation...for the best.
Thursday night: All is peaceful, just 2 and a half weeks and D.A.D.D.Y will be home!
Then guess what? Like mother, like son. Oh yes, because next up is Luke with a cut foot, we're not sure how it happened but we did find an open safety pin with an Indian flag on it (some of you will appreciate the irony!) on the playroom floor that neither me nor Ellie have ever ever seen before. This was Luke's first ever ever brush with blood and yes, let me just say that I think blood will be a very tough thing for him to deal with in the future. Oh the drama! Didn't we all just know about it! Another trip to the plaster cupboard was necessary and now, three days later I have only just managed to prise his socks off - I think he thought his foot would follow!
Tuesday: Every school is the area is still closed bar Ellie's which is opening on a 2 hour delay. This week she is 'Student of the Week', and we made a big snowbound poster with her favourite photographs of herself, family and friends that is to be displayed on the wall, she gets to be lunch monitor and choose a helper which she had given a great deal of thought to. We all get up get ready and all is hunkydory. Without warning she spins into a total meltdown, we butt heads big time, she tantrums and I lose my patience and send her back to her room, she screams blue murder and I tear my hair out while Luke just wants "more pancake pease."
The school run is not much better. Ellie normally happy and singing is miserable and sullen and just not herself. Because of 'the poster' I opt out of Car Pool and take Ellie in myself which gives me an opportunity to have a word with her teacher...."Not herself today, no temperature, can't put my finger on it, call me if she worsens". Then she asks in a hushed whisper...."Is D.A.D.D.Y away at the moment?" Well actually, yes he is. "I'll let you know if there's any change" she winks.
An hour an a half later I get a call...Ellie is still complaining she doesn't feel well, she doesn't have a temperature but she looks pale and hurts, "I'll be there in 15 minutes" I say. I get there and she does indeed look terrible. We get in the car and drive off. Within 2 minutes she's fast asleep. We get home she sleeps some more, she wakes, she's hot, she's cold, her temperature is now all of a sudden very high, her glands are swollen, she won't eat, she won't drink in fact the only thing she does want to do is go to bed, that's definitely not my girl - It was a long Calpol fuelled night.
Wednesday: Luke's day for pre-school and I am ever so thankful that they decide against following 'Wake County Inclement Weather Guidelines' and actually open. More for Ellie because when she's around, Luke just wants to play and play with her and she just didn't want to that day, she just wanted to lie on the sofa and have a Duvet Day. I was torn about what to do with her and it's right at moments like these that it dawns on you just how far away from home we are, all the resources we know, our family, our friends, our friendly GP that you can call to discuss things and the cherry on top is a big fat 5 hour time difference that complicates things further. It also dawns on you that you're very much still a novice parent whose partner in crime and sounding board is far away and you're not quite sure what to do next.
Enter Lesley - A British mum of two teenagers, she came over for an impromptu coffee, she took a look at Ellie for me, asked her a couple of questions and told me to make an appointment with the Pediatrician, had she not come over at the short notice she did, I may have left things to see what happened (yes, that very British habit of not wanting to waste a doctors time!) but by 3pm we were down there, examined, throat swabbed, result: A nasty case of Strep Throat, first dose of antibiotics at 4pm, an almost new child by 6pm.
Note to self (and other expat Mums) - trust your instincts, accept help, we're all in the same boat. You're not a neurotic nuisance, reassurance is good and some people are more experienced in areas than others and can add perspective to a situation...for the best.
Thursday night: All is peaceful, just 2 and a half weeks and D.A.D.D.Y will be home!
Friday 29 January 2010
Old Wives Weather Tales
They're everywhere, wherever you live in the world there are always Old wives tales for one thing or another.
In India there were so many superstitions about the weather, one was that you shouldn't get wet in the first rainfall after the dry season or you'll get sick. Imagine the looks we got when it finally rained and me and the kids danced in it and got soaked while all the locals sheltered and watched us, some with amusement but most with fear written all over their faces.
In England, the weather Full Stop is just one big Old Wives Tale and so are the weather forecasters!
One of North Carolina's weather tales is that if there is a winter rain storm with thunder and lightening it will snow in 10 days time.
It happened sometime in December and so many people told me there would be a snow on the way - only it didn't happen. Then, a few weeks ago there wasn't even a thunder storm but snow was forecast - it didn't happen either.
12 days ago there was a thunderstorm and according to every tv and radio station there is definately a significant snowstorm heading our way. We are all so excited! It should move in here later this evening, we will be waiting with baited breath.
Just before Christmas Toys R Us had a load of sledges and I suggested to Ian that we buy one - just in case. He practically laughed at me, so sure was he that it hardly ever ever snows in North Carolina, and it hasn't yet this winter but it sure as sure looks very likely at this moment in time. So do you think I can find a sledge anywhere? Of course I can't...I've tried everywhere I could think of and I wasn't the only one searching in vain. Pat on the back for me though as I think that I may just have solved this little problem, I called our landlord, all three of his children are at college and !Yes! he has one in the attic we can borrow - whoopee! Now we just need to find a hill, with not many trees - that could prove difficult.
One more thing....when did a sledge translate to or become a 'Sled'? I've never heard of a sled but I've had lots of fun on a sledge!
In India there were so many superstitions about the weather, one was that you shouldn't get wet in the first rainfall after the dry season or you'll get sick. Imagine the looks we got when it finally rained and me and the kids danced in it and got soaked while all the locals sheltered and watched us, some with amusement but most with fear written all over their faces.
In England, the weather Full Stop is just one big Old Wives Tale and so are the weather forecasters!
One of North Carolina's weather tales is that if there is a winter rain storm with thunder and lightening it will snow in 10 days time.
It happened sometime in December and so many people told me there would be a snow on the way - only it didn't happen. Then, a few weeks ago there wasn't even a thunder storm but snow was forecast - it didn't happen either.
12 days ago there was a thunderstorm and according to every tv and radio station there is definately a significant snowstorm heading our way. We are all so excited! It should move in here later this evening, we will be waiting with baited breath.
Just before Christmas Toys R Us had a load of sledges and I suggested to Ian that we buy one - just in case. He practically laughed at me, so sure was he that it hardly ever ever snows in North Carolina, and it hasn't yet this winter but it sure as sure looks very likely at this moment in time. So do you think I can find a sledge anywhere? Of course I can't...I've tried everywhere I could think of and I wasn't the only one searching in vain. Pat on the back for me though as I think that I may just have solved this little problem, I called our landlord, all three of his children are at college and !Yes! he has one in the attic we can borrow - whoopee! Now we just need to find a hill, with not many trees - that could prove difficult.
One more thing....when did a sledge translate to or become a 'Sled'? I've never heard of a sled but I've had lots of fun on a sledge!
Tuesday 26 January 2010
Allergy Aware
When Ellie was one, as per UK health guidelines she tried honey for the first time. It can't have interested her much because when I turned my back for a few seconds she swiped a piece of my peanut butter on toast, took a bite, swallowed it and when I turned back to her she had a neat row of hives from her cheek to her chest.
I immediately called the doctor who ran through all the checks with me, how big are the hives? how fast did they appear? Is her throat swelling? Is she breathing normally? Do you have any Piriton? Can you give her a spoonful right now? I did. I watched and he waited on the other end of the phone. Thankfully there were no other danger signs and his advice was to avoid peanut butter until she was at least 4 before re-introducing it to her because it wasn't standard NHS practice to allergy test a baby (!I know!).
Over the next few years we diligently avoided her having peanuts and peanut butter and she became acutely aware that peanuts were something she had to avoid - just in case. One day an accident happened, a knife that had been used to spread some peanut butter was washed, wiped and used to cut a piece of cheese. As soon as that piece of cheese touched her lips, they swelled and began to itch. I grabbed the cheese, grabbed the bottle of Piriton and we played the waiting game....phew, panic over as the symptoms subsided. We decided we would have to get her allergy tested.
We arrived in the US and the kids pediatrician agreed with us that an allergy test was necessary and then we waited and waited for our medical insurance details and information to come through. What constituted a 6 month delay I'll never know but finally a couple of weeks ago everything arrived and it was straight to the Allergist's office for both Ellie and Luke.
Day 1 and Ellie was tested first with skin scratch tests on her back for a reaction to peanuts, pecans, walnuts and one other, I forget which. Within seconds her back was a maze of hives around the peanut area and she was itching terribly and she had to wait like that for 15 minutes while I fanned her back and tried to distract her from all the discomfort. Affirmative: Ellie is allergic to peanuts but not to any other nuts. The doctor then ran through the allergy drill with me and wrote a prescription for two Epi-pens and trained me on how to use them. He doesn't feel her allergy is severe enough to be life threatening but better to be safe than sorry.
Day 2, Luke's turn. After the previous day I was dreading going through the same with a toddler but he was as good as gold and thankfully is not allergic to peanuts.
Having discussed the family history of allergies, asthma, eczema the doctor has advised that Ellie now be tested for bee/insect stings. Luke only if Ellie's is positive. It's a good time of year to get it out of the way but this test involves *blood* and *needles* and after having gone through a 10 week immunisation programme to go to India you can imagine Ellie's reaction level to needles now - it verges on hysterical. I have decided to mentally prepare myself before we go but cannot decide whether to mentally prepare her or just go with the element of surprise.
I immediately called the doctor who ran through all the checks with me, how big are the hives? how fast did they appear? Is her throat swelling? Is she breathing normally? Do you have any Piriton? Can you give her a spoonful right now? I did. I watched and he waited on the other end of the phone. Thankfully there were no other danger signs and his advice was to avoid peanut butter until she was at least 4 before re-introducing it to her because it wasn't standard NHS practice to allergy test a baby (!I know!).
Over the next few years we diligently avoided her having peanuts and peanut butter and she became acutely aware that peanuts were something she had to avoid - just in case. One day an accident happened, a knife that had been used to spread some peanut butter was washed, wiped and used to cut a piece of cheese. As soon as that piece of cheese touched her lips, they swelled and began to itch. I grabbed the cheese, grabbed the bottle of Piriton and we played the waiting game....phew, panic over as the symptoms subsided. We decided we would have to get her allergy tested.
We arrived in the US and the kids pediatrician agreed with us that an allergy test was necessary and then we waited and waited for our medical insurance details and information to come through. What constituted a 6 month delay I'll never know but finally a couple of weeks ago everything arrived and it was straight to the Allergist's office for both Ellie and Luke.
Day 1 and Ellie was tested first with skin scratch tests on her back for a reaction to peanuts, pecans, walnuts and one other, I forget which. Within seconds her back was a maze of hives around the peanut area and she was itching terribly and she had to wait like that for 15 minutes while I fanned her back and tried to distract her from all the discomfort. Affirmative: Ellie is allergic to peanuts but not to any other nuts. The doctor then ran through the allergy drill with me and wrote a prescription for two Epi-pens and trained me on how to use them. He doesn't feel her allergy is severe enough to be life threatening but better to be safe than sorry.
Day 2, Luke's turn. After the previous day I was dreading going through the same with a toddler but he was as good as gold and thankfully is not allergic to peanuts.
Having discussed the family history of allergies, asthma, eczema the doctor has advised that Ellie now be tested for bee/insect stings. Luke only if Ellie's is positive. It's a good time of year to get it out of the way but this test involves *blood* and *needles* and after having gone through a 10 week immunisation programme to go to India you can imagine Ellie's reaction level to needles now - it verges on hysterical. I have decided to mentally prepare myself before we go but cannot decide whether to mentally prepare her or just go with the element of surprise.
Monday 25 January 2010
We Are Not Alone
When we moved into our house last September we moved into a new 'sub-division'. Three houses had been completed and were on the market. Three were almost finished and one was half finished. There are also several plots on which building work is yet to start but the developer of the whole site has gone to the wall and so three of the almost completed houses had been taken over by 'The Bank'.
For four months we were here alone with the deer, squirrels and many strange comings and goings during the darker hours. Alot of them were more than likely local high schoolers looking for somewhere to 'hang out'. We had the case of the 'Big Black Pick-Up' that would regularly cruise slowly past our house before dashing off to the other end of the sub-division and then cruise back again - obviously up to no good. We also had the strange case of 'Is There or Isn't There a Body in the Woods?' which came about because we spotted another pick-up in the driveway of the semi-finished house next door and it looked like the driver was unloading something into the woods at 1am in the morning. More than likely stealing materials but when I told a friend about what had happened she immediately jumped to the aforementioned conclusion which set my pulse racing and imagination working overtime. We can laugh about it now!
One of the houses had alot of pipes stolen and another had all the appliances removed one night although I'm not sure whether that was before or when we were here. So you can see that for a couple of months I was on tenterhooks. Then I decided that it really wasn't my problem and if the bank/developer/whoever wasn't prepared to be security conscious then I wasn't going to give myself anxiety or high blood pressure and I relocated my bum to a different sofa so as not to be distracted by any headlights coming and going.
In time, either I just got used to not noticing things or the suspicious traffic declined as 'the bank' completed the three almost finished houses and lights got switched on.
Then one week before Christmas a removals van pulled up and a family moved into one of the first houses in the sub-division. One week later and another removals van and another family move into another house and I can honestly say that I have never been so thankful to have neighbours!
I still haven't met the first family properly but the second family have a son the same age as Ellie and twins of 18 months. Me and the kids all enjoyed a great play date and getting to know you afternoon with them. It seems that some other strange comings and goings will now cease....especially as the mother of the new family, while checking her mailbox esrly last week happened last week to 'catch' a couple enjoying each other in a car on their lunch break. 'It was 3oF that day', she laughed (below freezing in new money) 'And I don't think they'll be coming back this way any day soon'. You tell em! This is a family neighbourhood now you know.
For four months we were here alone with the deer, squirrels and many strange comings and goings during the darker hours. Alot of them were more than likely local high schoolers looking for somewhere to 'hang out'. We had the case of the 'Big Black Pick-Up' that would regularly cruise slowly past our house before dashing off to the other end of the sub-division and then cruise back again - obviously up to no good. We also had the strange case of 'Is There or Isn't There a Body in the Woods?' which came about because we spotted another pick-up in the driveway of the semi-finished house next door and it looked like the driver was unloading something into the woods at 1am in the morning. More than likely stealing materials but when I told a friend about what had happened she immediately jumped to the aforementioned conclusion which set my pulse racing and imagination working overtime. We can laugh about it now!
One of the houses had alot of pipes stolen and another had all the appliances removed one night although I'm not sure whether that was before or when we were here. So you can see that for a couple of months I was on tenterhooks. Then I decided that it really wasn't my problem and if the bank/developer/whoever wasn't prepared to be security conscious then I wasn't going to give myself anxiety or high blood pressure and I relocated my bum to a different sofa so as not to be distracted by any headlights coming and going.
In time, either I just got used to not noticing things or the suspicious traffic declined as 'the bank' completed the three almost finished houses and lights got switched on.
Then one week before Christmas a removals van pulled up and a family moved into one of the first houses in the sub-division. One week later and another removals van and another family move into another house and I can honestly say that I have never been so thankful to have neighbours!
I still haven't met the first family properly but the second family have a son the same age as Ellie and twins of 18 months. Me and the kids all enjoyed a great play date and getting to know you afternoon with them. It seems that some other strange comings and goings will now cease....especially as the mother of the new family, while checking her mailbox esrly last week happened last week to 'catch' a couple enjoying each other in a car on their lunch break. 'It was 3oF that day', she laughed (below freezing in new money) 'And I don't think they'll be coming back this way any day soon'. You tell em! This is a family neighbourhood now you know.
So Far Behind
I am behind on blog posts.
Behind on emails.
Behind on phonecalls.
Behind, behind, behind and trying to catch up!
So if you haven't heard from me in a while, that's why and I promise that eventually you will.
Behind on emails.
Behind on phonecalls.
Behind, behind, behind and trying to catch up!
So if you haven't heard from me in a while, that's why and I promise that eventually you will.
Tuesday 19 January 2010
Natural Talents...?
According to Ellie, everyone has a 'Natural Talent'. I probed further....
Her talent is for sport, exercising and reading...apparently.
Mine is listening (not much choice) and cooking (not much choice there either, but thanks for the vote of appreciation)
Daddy's is working and fixing things (he also doesn't get much choice)
Luke's natural talent is to laugh, make noise and mess (*None* of us would disagree on that score!)
Her talent is for sport, exercising and reading...apparently.
Mine is listening (not much choice) and cooking (not much choice there either, but thanks for the vote of appreciation)
Daddy's is working and fixing things (he also doesn't get much choice)
Luke's natural talent is to laugh, make noise and mess (*None* of us would disagree on that score!)
Saturday 16 January 2010
Friday 15 January 2010
Back to Life? Back to Reality?
Thank you for the prompts, sorry for the lack of postings.
Oh dearie dearie me.
Where have the last 15 days gone? What on earth have I been doing? The short answer is.... I really don't have a clue.
Christmas and the New Year already seem like light years away although there are still a good many people STILL with Christmas Trees and giant holly wreaths twinkling in their windows and on their porches. C'mon North Carolina people - get them down or else it'll be Thanksgiving and decorating time again before you can say 'Bless your/mine/his/her/whoever's heart,' and you know it.
January 4th came and (shhhh! I'm going to say this quietly) thankfully the kids returned to school and Ian went back to work. We had a great 'holiday' time but I had almost nearly chewed every fingernail and ripped out every hair with the lack of routine, the mess and all the washing that was constantly being created. Yes, I'll admit, on January 4th I woke up in a lighter mood and breathed a deep sigh of relief and had a spring in my accelerator foot on the way to school, during which the following conversation took place with Ellie....
Me: Isn't it good to be going back to school...did you have a good Christmas holiday?
Ellie: It was great, I had the best time but it was too short.
Me: Really? Was it?
Ellie: It was only 2 weeks Mum!
Me: Was it? Really? It felt like 4.
...And honestly it really, really did!
But I'm over all that now. Now that a sense of normality and routine has returned and settled over us all, but would just like to say how much I missed family and friends this year.
Happy Belated New Year!
Oh dearie dearie me.
Where have the last 15 days gone? What on earth have I been doing? The short answer is.... I really don't have a clue.
Christmas and the New Year already seem like light years away although there are still a good many people STILL with Christmas Trees and giant holly wreaths twinkling in their windows and on their porches. C'mon North Carolina people - get them down or else it'll be Thanksgiving and decorating time again before you can say 'Bless your/mine/his/her/whoever's heart,' and you know it.
January 4th came and (shhhh! I'm going to say this quietly) thankfully the kids returned to school and Ian went back to work. We had a great 'holiday' time but I had almost nearly chewed every fingernail and ripped out every hair with the lack of routine, the mess and all the washing that was constantly being created. Yes, I'll admit, on January 4th I woke up in a lighter mood and breathed a deep sigh of relief and had a spring in my accelerator foot on the way to school, during which the following conversation took place with Ellie....
Me: Isn't it good to be going back to school...did you have a good Christmas holiday?
Ellie: It was great, I had the best time but it was too short.
Me: Really? Was it?
Ellie: It was only 2 weeks Mum!
Me: Was it? Really? It felt like 4.
...And honestly it really, really did!
But I'm over all that now. Now that a sense of normality and routine has returned and settled over us all, but would just like to say how much I missed family and friends this year.
Happy Belated New Year!
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