Monday 31 January 2011

Monday

5:30am and Zelda came in to wake us for a snuggle. She went by way of daddy this time so I could pretend to sleep and not be disturbed, but all to soon the BBC today program came on and it was really time to get up. Coffees, a shower and down stairs I zipped to make lunch for my husband, and breakfast for all three of us. I was in serve mode.

Meanwhile, Zelda was not getting ready and I was getting increasingly stressed. I had decided not to go into work today as Zelda was sick all weekend and I felt instinctively, as you do, that I would have to be home for her early arrival from school. I was not wrong.

1:00 and the call came. Zelda had a high fever and complaining of a headache. It took 20 minutes to get to her and in that time she had a nose bleed and got sick. There she was, sitting on a chair in the office looking really pale and sad. Luckily we got a lift home from the Lolly Pop Man who also drives a taxi!

2pm, and as we entered the house, she was sick again. I reached for a tea towel with one arm and stretched the other to a cabinet where I pulled out a plastic bowl. Here I was doing a juggling act while leading Zelda to the bathroom. I couldn't help but to feel sick myself by this time.

2:30 and Zelda is ensconced on the couch with a Tinkerbell blanket, watching CBeeBies and eating bananas, toast, apples, grapes and drinking mint tea. Most children want to sleep and cuddle when ill, mine wants to be served. Where did I go wrong????

6pm and the grazing finally stopped. It was upstairs for brushing teeth and bedtime routine.

6:30 and we were both snuggled up in bed reading books. I kept saying it was late and she needed rest, but my energizer sick bunny would not hear it. Read me more, tell me stories is all that kept coming out of her mouth when it was time to turn the lights out. I told a story, I tickled/scratched her back...she was just not tired.

7pm, I gave in. I left her with some books to read by herself and put herself to sleep. This is what she wanted instead of the alternative which was me snuggling her with the lights out. At 5 she is so head strong and there are no alternatives but to let her get on with it.

Time check-7:17, I am wondering if she has fallen a sleep yet. I am feeling quite queasy myself. I think I will go and read some books in bed too and put myself to sleep. Perhaps she is on to something! Perfect.

Sunday 30 January 2011

The Weekend

Turning 18 was easy as pie this year. Since it was the second time around, it carried none of the fear of adulthood that comes with turning 18 the first time. Maybe next year I will try sweet 16 again.

Friday morning was full of chores and then into town to pick up Zelda from her after school club. I had 20 minutes to get my self ready for  going out for my birthday. The doorbell rang and it was the babysitter, I was still in my tights and tank and no closer to figuring out what to wear.  I had wanted to wear a dusty pink tulle skirt, but it was clinging to me in strange ways and I opted out.  The door bell rang again and it was our friend with his daughter L. L was spending the night with Zelda while we all went out. I still wasn't ready!! I quickly finished up and left the house with both girls screaming and being chased by the baby sitter.

First stop, the Ole Victorian Pub. We were a group of  about 10 at the pub and it was lovely and lively. I met new people, who are involved in the Museum world. I was given lovely hand made cards, a cook book and a can of cream of chicken soup and flowers!

At 8:30 we went across the road to a great little Tapas bar for dinner. The time flew by so fast and before I knew my friends were having to leave to get back home. I hate it when the party ends.

A brisk walk home and we were a sleep in bed by midnight.

Saturday morning was difficult. I drank only 4 glasses of red wine, two of which were small, but as my husband said, everyone had that much and I am much smaller. I felt like shit! I have decided that I will be going on an alcohol free hiatus  for some time. I also did a few stupid things on Friday night and am glad I have met such nice people who can be my friend anyway!

In the afternoon my husbands sister Anna came for one night on her way to their brothers place to help them pack for their move down to Durham next week. It was great to see Anna as it had been over 2 years since we were last together. Again, I got some super presents, a Tajine, a cook book, 2 beautiful scarves and a book.

Zelda started getting ill and by mid afternoon she had a fever.

At 2am Zelda woke up and I spent the rest of the night keeping her company in bed until I felt ill. 4:30 am and I returned to my bed to finally get some sleep.

Today was very slow. We did not go to Ballet as Zelda was still unwell and we hung around playing with stuffed toys, barbies, and watching the Sound of Music.

I am still not feeling that well and fear I am getting what ever it is that Zelda has.

Time check-7pm, Zelda downstairs in bed with her daddy having snuggles and story. Me, tired, but happy.

Thursday 27 January 2011

Thursday

Warm and snugly under the blanket. I slept like a brick last night and woke up at 6:30am with out any problems. Zelda joined us at around 6:45 and I read her a story. She had placed a book under my pillow for me to read to her when we were awake.

Morning rituals as normal with the added addition of binoculars worn by Zelda all the way to school. She saw pink birds, black birds and larger than life buildings. Before we knew it we were at school and saying good by.

Coffee at the university with the hubby and then off to get my hair perked up a bit. Toni and Guy are expensive. Must find a cheaper hairdresser in Newcastle. I must say though it looks very good!

After school cafe club at the church. Zelda played games with her friends while I chatted with my friends.

We got a ride home which was excellent and had more time to snuggle and eat dinner before getting into the bath, which is where Zelda is now. Sounds of mermaid barbie versus rainbow ponies are in the background. Now  all I need is to convince her to let me wash her hair!

6:14 and I am off to battle the mermaid, the pony and Zelda!

xx

Wednesday 26 January 2011

Wednesday

A year passed and a new one began.
For me, I became one year older.
Not so for the young man I saw this morning at 9:30 am.
I spent the day working with young full of life children.
I am alive,
He, is not.
This Birthday Present, will be one that lasts
until it disappears.
I will enjoy it,
respect it,
honor it,
fill it,
love it.

Tuesday 25 January 2011

Tuesday

...is it morning? This seems to be our new alarm system, delivered by Zelda at very early hours of the morning. Today it was 6:17am. The radio alarm did not go off, so luckily the Zelda alarm did or we would have over slept.

The sky was full of pink and white cotton candy floss, wrapped around ancient buildings, and woven between the winter trees. We walked and ran through our landscape to Zeldas school. I was once again, amazed by my environment, and astonished that after five months living here, I am still caught off guard by the beauty of the place. It makes feel alive. I physically get high off it. I can feel the adrenaline going through my body and experience the changes in myself over the period of time that I am out walking. I am considering jogging again. The combination of exercise and landscape are a perfect pair.

Zelda and I played in the park before she went into the school yard. I played with her on her school exercise course. She held my hand and then just a finger as she hopped from one log to the next until she did it all on her own. I left her happily playing with her friends and set off to run my errands.

The afternoon was routine and we played in the park again after school. Zelda has lots of lovely friends and she really enjoys running around. I love watching her interact. She is becoming more and more gutsy as the days go by.

Once home we snuggled on the couch, she ate her supper and we did the night time routine. I read her stories, told her stories in the dark, sang to her and tickled her back. Sleep finally took her away and away I went.

Time check a soup simmering downstairs for our dinner. A lovely daughter  a sleep and dreaming in her bed. A wonderful husband hard at work and a perfect day comes to an end.

Monday 24 January 2011

Monday

I was not angry, my feet led me in a trance like state as I climbed up her loft ladder and dropped into her single bed. Startled awake by a face peering at me at 2:30 am by a wide awake Zelda led to my not getting back to my bed until around 4:30 am. I am not sure when she fell back to sleep. She was reading books and I could hear her talking to herself for what seemed like a long time. When I went to make her bed later in the morning I found stacks of books under the covers. She is almost 5. What will she be like when she is 8?

Despite the no sleep, we managed to follow our routine flawlessly. We made it to school on time and had a pleasant walk/run there together.

No coffee at the university as it was Monday. I ran my errands and got home earlier. I walked into the house and heard the familiar beeping sound of the answer machine. I played it. It was from the realtor. I refused to run and call back, instead I took my time and unpacked the groceries and went to the bathroom, then I called.

The owner upped our offer by 5K. I asked for him to meet us half way.

2:30 rolled around and it was time to go to get Zelda. We played in the park and had a lovely walk back home. Again, the familiar beeping greeted me as I entered the house. I gulped and played the message. I was to call back. I called back. Offer accepted!!!!!

Unlike in France, buying a house in the UK is much trickier. Apparently you can get what is called Gazumped by another offer. Also, there are things called forward chains, and that means that if the seller does not have a house secured yet to stay in, you have to wait until his deal goes through. If it doesn't then you have to wait to settle, or worse, sometimes you don't get the house in the end and have to start your search all over again. Apparently, there is no chain, and the seller can move into the house he is buying asap.

I am so excited.  Our first house. Three floors of rooms to clean, but heh,who cares, they will all be mine!

I am excited to change the house to make our imprint on it. This link will give you an idea of how I want to open up the kitchen area to the dining area which flows into the living area as the owner already opened up the two rooms.
http://www.housetohome.co.uk/generic/printgallery/id/1441

Picture 1

This is the winter/summer deck

Picture 1
This is the bath- toilet in separate room

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Garden, but only the grassy part. To the side is another decked area and path leading to the forest.

Picture 1

small bedroom, we will turn it into a studio for doing art etc...

Picture 1
Front bedroom-will become office/spare bedroom/music room
Picture 1
Back facing bedroom-Zeldas room- Has beautiful forest and country side vista

Picture 1
Lounge with fireplace
Picture 1
Dining area connected to lounge. Wall on left will be opened up to create open plan living/dining cooking area with access to outside deck.
Picture 1
Current kitchen but to be changed! :)

We will also carry out a loft conversion with a en suite bathroom for ourselves.

Time  check-7:46-Zelda fast a sleep, and hopefully staying that way. Hubby on way home. Me, happy as a lark and can't wait to live amongst the forest animals, have BBQ's, and watch Zelda grow up in our new home!

Sunday 23 January 2011

The Weekend

Why are weekends not the same as holidays and if holidays fall on weekends is it still just a weekend or a holiday weekend? Friday does not count as part of the weekend as it is a school day, yet school holidays fall on weekdays which are also school days when one is not on holiday. My daughter wants more holidays, or perhaps just longer weekends, don't we all!

Friday was a great day which ended in an even more perfect night. The day itself went along as usual with morning routines, school drop off, coffee with the husband, house work and job searches.

The afternoon brought with it a very nice plumber who could not help us with the leak in the house, but he was very friendly and did not mind that I called him out to the house to find that what I had described to him was described incorrectly, thus the problem was one he could not deal with. The groceries were then delivered by en even friendlier guy, and I did not know whether it would be appropriate to  meow after he called me  "pet" on his departure.

Friday is Zeldas late night at school. On my way to pick her up I ran into two friends within the span of 4 minutes. While getting Zelda ready to depart, one of her friends was also leaving so they waited for us to get ready and we shared the walk. On the way down the street another friend yelled to me from across the road and we had an air wave encounter. When I got home, I felt really high spirited. After less than 5 months, I am able to walk around and feel as though I have a real life here. One with relationships, activities, inspiration and hope. I am part of a community, a neighborhood and a city.

Putting Zelda to bed was a loving and moving experience. She wanted to go to sleep on her own, but not before giving me big hugs and kisses and saying I love you mommy I heart you, goodnight. I hope her willingness to fall asleep on her own continues, and it couldn't be more perfect a way to put your child to bed than to have those words spoken.

Saturday we woke up early as we were headed to the house we wanted to buy. We met the builder there and spent a good hour walking around the house and making plans. Zelda loved the house, her room and the fact that there are a family of barn owls living in the backyard trees. Even more impressive was the playground that we could walk to straight out from our wooden gate in the back and through a short cut through the fields. No roads involved.

The strangest part about the house is that after I had looked at it on my own, I could not find my favorite hat. I was sure I had seen it in the house in the hall, but when I looked for it, it was no where to be found. I looked for a few days and gave up. When we all went to see the house on Saturday, I walked into the hall and there on the radiator mantle was my hat! I guess I did see it in my hall after all?? If that's not saying something, then the next fact is. I knew there was a French woman who lived across the road, but in fact it is a French family with two twin girls only a couple years older than Zelda and it is not across the road, but next door! The have lived in America as well for many years. In all the houses in all of Durham, we have found the one French family right next door to the one we fell in love with. Zelda can now continue her language learning like a bilingual child.

An offer was made, and now we are waiting til next week to see if he will accept it. It depends on what he has to pay for the property he is buying. Fingers, toes, arms and legs crossed!

Today was a lovely Sunday filled with our usual Sunday habits; snuggling and lounging in bed as a threesome, big breakfast in the living room, ballet, dinner all together and games and books and bath.  I have three home decorating magazines to peruse for ideas while relaxing on the couch with a glass of wine.

Everything has been just the way I like it. Perfect.

Thursday 20 January 2011

Thursday ( and wednesday)

If you do not seek you will not find. If you sit around and let the grass grow under your feet, soon you will be covered in lawn clippings. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the septic tank. It is green where I stand right now and growing greener.

I feel special. I feel as though I have something inside to offer the outside world that no one else has. This in fact may not be true, but that does not matter to me. What matters is that I feel it. Because I feel it, I can act and do things that I would not if I did not feel this way. Yesterday I took a stab in the dark. It worked.

The woman who is the head of Access and Learning for the Durham Museums and I are meeting next Friday. I never met her. She never met me. I did not even have her name. All I knew was that she was a mom at Zeldas school. I played detective and researched who it could be. Checking names against the school list directory against museum web page info. Making phone calls to the museum and dropping hints about children to check if I had the right person. I did. I wrote her an email. She immediately wrote me back. Voila, opportunities at its best. Couldn't be more perfect.

Today, we went to see the house again. My husband and I felt the same way. We loved it. We can see ourselves living there til we grow old, and when we do, right around the corner is a hospice, so we would not have to go far! We can see raising Zelda there. She can grow up in this house. She will have a loving environment. Woods in the backyard, barn owls and deer. Quiet and calm. A real neighborhood with a playground and fields around the corner. It is idyllic. We will make an offer on Saturday and hope it is accepted.

The weather has been glorious. Cool and sunny. The light, orange and yellow and pink. I walk into town in the morning and see Turners all around me. I am floored. The light in the Med is beautiful too, but it holds only feelings of burning and fire, whilst the the northern light is moody, introspective and thought provoking.

These past two days have been very good days and I am pleased. One might say they have been perfect.

Tuesday 18 January 2011

Tuesday

I like to move it move it..repeat

6am wake up by the BBC followed by several gulps of coffee and then a  jump in the shower. I was informed it was going to to be a warm and sunny 9 degrees today...so I put on a new jeans smock style dress, leggings and boots and was ready to go on my go sees.

The zebra got Zelda dressed and I made lunch for my husband and a breakfast to go of bagels and banana to take to the park for Zelda and I. We all walked into town together and reached the park around 8:30am. The hard frost ruined my picnic plans, but we ate standing up and then decided to go to the school yard as soon as we could.

Zelda played with her friends while I had another real estate conversation with some of the moms. It seems everyone is looking to buy and sell right now. I found out that one of the moms grew up on the street that I was going to see a house on today. There are three other families at the school who live on this street currently. I was saving my excitement for the visit.

Does size matter? I made a list of the requirements versus the sacrifices for buying a house. Size used to matter, but I think location and quiet and outside space now matter more. I saw two homes. One big and one not as big. The big one was big, needed work and although it had a nice garden, and bordered some wooded golf course area, you could still hear the road. For that special serenade the price was very high. Across the road, in the same development, but further in and facing a wood, with river below it was the second house. It was smaller. It had a gorgeous backyard, decked terrace with wooden roof, wonderful vista from windows and it was quiet. It also has the potential for a loft addition, giving us a master bedroom en suite, making the house larger and spacious and lovely. For this smallness the price was also small. I Think I have been converted. It's not size that matters but what you do with it!

The rest of the afternoon has been devoted to planning.Where I will knock out a wall and make an open plan kitchen living dining area that leads to the terrace. The new loft with bath and then dreaming of us outside listening to animals, oh did I mention there are deer in the backyard wood?

I walked back from the visits and then into town to do some food shopping. Came home and did chores.

Two thirty arrived and I went back into town to get zelda. We went to the park for a half hour and then walked back with a friend and her mom part of the way. As we were walking and talking she asked me what it was that I do. I told her and she then told me her good friend is the head of Learning for Durham Museums. She is one of the moms at the school. She continued to say how they always look for volunteers and then assign them projects that fit what they want to do, followed by  her saying she will give me an introduction and her email to get in touch. The best part is that it is right next to Durham Cathedral! That could not be more perfect.

A bumpy evening ensued with Zelda and I arguing. We made up and I am not the worst mother in the world anymore. I am the best. Whew! I read her stories and snuggled her. I left her still awake so she could put her self to sleep. She is changing and growing up little by little, but it seems big. This is where size does matter.

Time check-7:53pm. Think I will sit in front of the fire and read a book, enjoy the silence and wait for the hubby to come home.

Monday 17 January 2011

Monday

Shake up and shake out, a new routine has arrived and I like it ,like it, yes I do!

6am BBC wake up program to I have no idea what as my ears were barely open before I realized it was 6:26am and time to get the coffee into the blood stream. The new term began today and my husband had to leave the house at 8am for his class at 9am. A half hour is like a day gone away when you  shake up the morning routine in our home. I was on call and jumped into the shower by 6:35. I dressed. The puppet in my closet helped Zelda get dressed and then we went downstairs to make lunch for the daddy and our breakfast.

Since the routine was different, so was breakfast. I made us a bagel with butter and a smidgen of cinnamon and sugar on top. An old comfort food favorite of mine and Zelda enjoyed too. The time now read 745 and we were all done with breakfast and onto brushing teeth and getting our boots on to leave the house for 8am. The carrot at the end of the stick was that we would walk together and then be early enough to go to the park beside the school and play for a while before having to actually go to the school. It worked like a charm.

Zelda felt special. I felt special. We had the park to ourselves and enjoyed it as the morning went to bed and the day awoke with sunshine and warm air. The walk down into town at 8am was glorious. The sky was still a bit dusky, there were a few students on their way to classes, less cars and lots of animal sounds to enjoy.

I truly am a morning person. Give me an early sunrise to get up and out to and I am happy as a lark. I just find it so calming and equalizing to start the day when the day really does start. To awake when everything else awakes. To be in sync with the streets, the sidewalks, the birds, the dew, the sun and the moon as it is in this case. Zelda must have also been feeling it too as she pulled me down the hill and we ran into town in almost 10 minutes.

The husband went to work, we played for about 20 minutes until we saw all her friends going into the school yard. It felt great to be early. ( This evening there was a note in her bag saying that chronic lateness by some students needs to stop as it is disruptive-so good timing!) I stood outside in the school yard yakking away with one of the mothers, who also just moved here, from Ireland. A perfect end to the mornings new routine.

A trip to the Tesco to do the weekly shop and then to Monsoon to do the final sale for myself. Two dresses and one pair of leggings all for a total of 24pounds! Do the math...Eight pounds an item. Lipstick cost more than that. I walked home up the hill and down the hill and up the hill pulling my two wheelie trolley full of groceries and goodies. Work out complete.

I feel it in my bones that I will be working soon at a gallery or museum and need to look appropriately funky once again. To lay the Nice attire to rest, may it rest in pieces at the bottom of a garbage bag and not on me any longer. My hunting and gathering should be gaining some momentum this week and perhaps I will have bagged a job and a house. Now that would be too perfect!

Picked Zelda up from school as normal and we went to play in the park for a half hour and then walked home. We snuggled, she ate and got ready for bed. After I read to her and put the lights out, it seemed to take forever for her to fall a sleep. 7:30 and I was now getting antsy. I told her that she was a big girl and could read now and could also go to sleep on her own if she wanted to. I called upon the night time fairy to tell her so and that if she could do it, the fairy would visit her with a small present the next day. Bribery does have its place, and it's in the home.

Time check-8:02- I am happy. I am the night fairy. I have just received a chat message from the hubby who has now arrived home and is waiting down stairs. Off I go to greet him with Prosecco in hand. Pretty perfect.

Sunday 16 January 2011

The Weekend

I believe in spooky things. I believe that coincidences are exactly not that, but mean something much more. Related events can for tell the future and we should pay attention.


Saturday was all about securing a place to live for my husbands brother and his family who are moving up to Durham at the beginning of February. I am happy to say that we/they were successful. They have  found a great town house in the best area of Durham lying right next to a big green field. it is quiet, beautiful, ten minutes by foot to town, near all the right schools and just a stones throw away from a house we found that we wanted to buy.

Saturday late afternoon, my husband, Zelda and I went to visit the house while his brother and his wife went to the realtor to sign the lease. As we were hanging out on the large green I walked passed a woman with her dog and 2 boys and said hello. We started talking, as you do here in Durham, unlike in France, and all of a sudden she said to me  I met you before, you were looking for Geoffrey Avenue. After a few moments it all became clear. About 1 month ago when I was walking in the snow trying to find my way to the house I mentioned for the first time, I stopped and asked a person on the street for directions. they did not know. I waited a few minutes and then saw a woman and asked her. She very nicely directed me. She almost even walked me there. This woman now standing in front of me, on this green, was that woman! All I could think of was this had to mean something. We are meant to find a home here in this quarter. We are meant to be living here. Although on Sunday when we went to visit the house for the third time, we sadly both agreed that the noise at the back would be too loud and we must keep looking. This lovely woman gave us a heads up on another house and so we will go to see it. I am not ready to discount this experience as just mere coincidence.

The weekend was full of wonderful encounters with friendly helpful people. Who needs friends when everyone is nice and engaging. I am only kidding, you do need friends, but while your waiting to make them, it is a pleasant existence all the same. It is hard to feel lonely or isolated, sad or depressed. A smile, a helping hand, a conversation are all available immediately and when you need them. It makes me feel alive, worthy, and confident. Bad weather will never get me down while there are such nice people around.

Time check- 9:10, Zelda fast a sleep. Hubby and family downstairs in front of fire. Me, happy, confident and full of spice. Perfect!

Friday 14 January 2011

Friday

An absolutely amazing day.
Opportunities are coming my way and I am going for them.
The stars were out and the moon shone bright.
My spirits were high and its all about life.

Thursday 13 January 2011

Thursday

 Warm sunshine, hats off, coats left on the chair, mittens discarded, broom in hand sweeping away wet leaves and pine needles in the garden. Long slow walks breathing in sweet spring air, opportunities and possibilities playing hide and seek, sweet kisses, hand held running and hugs. Today was perfect.

Wednesday 12 January 2011

Wednesday

6am morning call as usual...coffee via the coffee maid as usual, Zelda snuggle in bed with books as usual, breakfast together downstairs as usual, and then it stops there.

today was an exceptionally perfect day. we walked to school and ran into our friends on the way, so Zelda had a great time playing peek a boo the adults as we walked, making the trip fast and enjoyable. We wound up arriving 10 minutes early!!  I went to the university with my husband, but after a coffee I went with him to his office, out of the ordinary and helped him with some things we needed to do. It was nice and warm and loving and I liked being in his domain.

I did the food shopping with my little new trolley and took it home. I prepared a meatloaf for dinner for the evening and then searched for jobs. One of the realtor's called and told me she had another new house coming up on the street I want to live on. I am very excited and can not wait to hear the details. Good things do come to those who wait, and do research!

At 2:30 I left to go into town to pick up Zelda. The temperature was warm and the air was moist. I was getting a free facial, yahoo! On my way I ran into an acquaintance and we went to pick up our kids together. We then went to the park together and she wound up giving us a ride home and having tea with me while her daughter played with Zelda. It is so wonderful to have these impromptu experiences. It makes life exciting and vibrant and full of surprise.

My brother in law and his wife showed up tonight and I am so happy to have them here. They will be moving here in a few weeks and are staying with us while they look for a property and check out the schools. I can already feel how lovely it is going to be to have family who are friends living by our sides. Zelda is so happy to have her aunt and uncle here and the quality of all our lives will be so enriched. I hope we can do the same for them.

I have always admired the way of life when people shared their lives with immediate family members. The support that one can have and give to each other is great and makes life full. The learning and sharing that can come from it is unlimited and very valuable. It is the way life was meant to be lived. It is perfect.

Tuesday 11 January 2011

Tuesday

6am BBC radio Today program wake up call to Arizona shooting, Pound and Euro in favor of Euro not pound, cold but clear weather forecast, flash flooding in Brisbane and Spy Cruise at 9pm tomorrow night!.

Due to so much liquid consumed last night, ( tea and lem sip-not wine!)  I did not sleep well, thus this morning I was a bit on the cranky side. I must have gotten up to pee 10 times and was amazed that there was still more to come at 6am. Glad my body is working well.

Stayed home and cleaned the house from top to bottom. Zelda went to school with her daddy again.  I do love the feel of a clean house and today the sun came out right after I finished and shone brightly and warmed everything up inside.

2pm was our first parent teacher conference with Zeldas teacher Mrs. Stanley. We arrived an hour too early and went in 30 minutes late. WE stayed for 20 minutes and found out that Zelda is doing very well. She has adapted well and is now gaining confidence in the scholastic areas and not just in bossing other kids around. We were pleased with the report.

The sales are on full force at 70% off all items now. On my way into town for the meeting I stopped at Monsoon. I scored a gorgeous purple flowy dress with beading and purple angora cardigan to go on top for Zedla. For myself I found a gorgeous pink net and satin skirt and matching pink t-shirt with net flowers and beading. I will wear this for my birthday and give the dress and sweater to Zelda for hers. All four pieces for less than the cost of the original price on the dress alone. Yippee.

Once home things were not so honky dory with me and Zelda. It is so frustrating trying to get a child to listen. It never fails that the adult becomes just as much a child in the situation and arguments are the only results. It would be great if I could find the secret to maintaining my composure, thus not losing my power and lowering myself to a childs level. Once I find  this secret, I could probably run for president and win!, or at least get on Oprah.

Zelda is now in bed with her daddy. I gave her a bubble bath and he read to her and is snuggling her at this moment. I went in to say goodnight and looked her in the eye and said I love you Zelda. She then reached out her hand to mine and said she loved me me too. We looked into each other and we were both sorry. Perhaps love and understanding is the answer to power struggles. If it were, the world would be perfect, and not just my day.

Monday

Today I took care of myself. I went to the Dr's. at 9:30 am hoping to be given some antibiotics. Here in the Uk Dr's are very anti antibiotics! I was told to come back in a week if I did not get better, otherwise just take paracetamol and ibuprofen. In France, I would have been given 10 prescriptions and told to take a week off work. Since I was not seriously ill, I went home and took the pills and drank lots of hot tea. I did absolutely nothing but lie on the couch under a blanket until it was time to pick up Zelda.

I did home work with Zelda and then we ate dinner and watched the movie The Gruffalo. It was difficult for me to read as I had a sore throat so this was the compromise. Off to bed she went and then I made a dinner of smoked haddock with capers and lemon zest baked in the oven and served it with fresh peas, carrots and chunks of potato. I laid the fish on top and called it an open face fish pie. It was yummy.

although I was not feeling well, the day was still perfect as I was able to relax and get myself better.

Sunday 9 January 2011

Sunday

A beautiful morning with fluffy pink clouds, sunshine and crisp but not freezing cold air. We all slept late and then took our breakfast in the loft room with sunshine streaming in through the skylights. We ate croissant and scones...marrying the English with the French. I am sure I committed a crime somewhere with this meal.

Zelda got ready for ballet while her daddy cleared off the nights snowfall off the car. I popped some Ibuprofen for the on coming cold and off we went. After her class, Zelda was in a great mood. Full of laughter and high spirits. I on the other hand was fading fast and my ear was aching along with my throat. All I wanted to do was get home and crawl under a blanket with the fire going and that is what I did.

Three hours later, several Narnia DVDs had been consumed. We ate a fireside bowl of pasta with ham and peas and then it was bath time for Zelda. She spent about an hour in the bath with her daddy and came out squeaky clean and very wrinkled. I was summoned to witness the amazing transformation of her hands. Zelda was intrigued and pointed out every little wrinkle and flat bit. It doesn't take much to keep kids occupied or entertained. If only I knew sooner, I could have arranged for her to be wrinkled more often.

By 7:50 Zelda was fast a sleep and I was still on the couch under a blanket. It has been a lovely warm family day. Quality time spent together, making the fact that I felt like crap not too noticeable. I love Sundays. I love the weekends here. Always something to do or see if we want to, or just a nice place to relax and chill.

Time check-9:31. Waiting up until 10pm when I can take some more pills and then hit the bed. I don't really believe in God, but I will send a thank you to who ever is out there in this universe for giving me such a perfect day.

Saturday 8 January 2011

Saturday

Thought I would be like Joyce and type my own language to express my own real feelings that could not be derivative anything else.

sixy wokeup en dreadedthe day lite cus baby upallnight.
looky at houses too small and one verynearly great but too much.
library book reading and hangin outy with kiddie.
ye hout to friends to eaty and drinkie alll evey.
lovey and warmy and fely goodie.
homey now and sleepy baby and soon tobe me.
dutchy and engly and americie and feely all togehre.
perfectie.

Friday 7 January 2011

Friday

It snowed sheep. As I rode the train home from Newcastle this afternoon it started to snow. The ground turned frosty white, the air blew white crystals by me and out in the distance sheep fell from the sky. They were whirling around in the field in the distance and it made me smile.

Now it is raining. I am wondering what will happen to my sheep.  It is dark and the drops are falling lightly onto my sky light window above my head.

Soon I will go and pick up Zelda. I will tell her about the sheep and see what she thinks.

Other than that, it has been a wonderfully  ordinary routine perfect day.

Thursday 6 January 2011

Thursday

6am wake up to the BBC Today program was difficult to rise to this morning as I only went to sleep at 4am. I was on nightmare patrol last night and it was scary! I'd like to say I remember what the news of the day was, but I can't. I'll make some up. Barbara Striesand coming to Newcastle to play at the Sage, Employment up by 20% in the art sector, American in Durham wins Euro- Millions lottery! Otherwise today was a pretty straight forward regular perfect day, with one exception, I received a phone call from a close friend in Nice and we chatted for about half an hour and it was great to catch up and know that nothing has been lost by moving, thus it has been an exceptionally perfect day.

Morning routines accomplished and arrival at school 10 minutes early-super!
Coffee at university taken-yummy!
Learning materials bought at Waterstones for Zelda to practice reading-great!
Walk up the hill down the hill and up the hill home accomplished without any fatigue-yippee
House vacuumed and laundry finished-whew
House hunting and job hunting-check!
Museum research on conferences started-excellent!
Pick up of one daughter from school achieved-stupendous!
Pick up of one husband/father from work place-amazing!
Family walk about home-nice!
Dinner served and eaten by entire family all at once-good!
Daughter washed, read to and snuggled to sleep by mommy-wonderful!

Blog completed-Perfect!

Wednesday 5 January 2011

Wednesday

6am wake up  via the BBC Radio Today program. Liberal Pakistani leader murdered by body guard, NHS troubles, and a 3 points on the Richter Scale earthquake just about an hour and half away from me! It's all pretty shaky stuff.

Looked out the window to see what the day would bring....no snow, a little sun and crisp clean air. Drank my coffee and jumped into the shower. Did my usual things to get ready and went down stairs to make one portable lunch and breakfast for three. The troops were not arriving quickly enough for me so I went back up stairs and found Zelda buried under the covers in our bed while my hubby was still showering. I tried to get her dressed, but she refused to wear the new clothes that just yesterday she couldn't wait to wear.  I went back downstairs and started to eat, I was not in the mood for a fight.

Eventually all three of us were at the table, but it was in shifts. We got out the door and made it to school only a few minutes late.

Coffee at the university followed and then I was off into town to run my errands and buy some groceries. Marks and Spencers were having a sale on  fresh fish and I bought fresh cod, smoked haddock and smoked trout. I want to eat more fish and less meat. Friends of ours eat mostly fish and rice and they spend a lot less money on groceries than I do. I am trying this out to see if  I too can feed my family on around 40 pounds a week. So far so good. Tonight we are going to have scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and cream cheese on whole wheat toast with a side salad.

I did a bit more job hunting today and museum research. I am certain that I am on the right track and wish only to pursue a career in the Museum/Gallery education field. Everything I have read indicates that the best route is to volunteer and then get hired. I am now searching for a second volunteer opportunity. With two simultaneously I will increase my chances of finding a position in a time when economic cuts are rampant.

I finished off all the laundry and cleaned Zeldas room.

As usual I left the house at 2:30 to go back into town to pick up Zelda. We walked home and then did our usual snuggle. I let Zelda eat in the living room in front of the fire. Afterwards we did her homework together! Then I gave her an olive oil bath to combat her itchy dry skin. I hopped into bed and started reading stories. After the second book "The Daddy" arrived home so he took over. I then snuggled her to sleep.

I've never seen a real angel, but tonight the position Zelda fell a sleep in was just like one. Face to side lying on top of flat clasped hands. Eyes softly closed and with only a whisper of air escaping. She looked perfectly happy, and so was I. Touching an angel is rare.

Time check-8:20 pm. Headache is on its way out and I am on my way down to the kitchen to make a warming winter dinner to eat in front of the fire with my love and listen to some classical music. Perfect!

Tuesday 4 January 2011

Tuesday

Holidays are over and Zelda is back at school, hubby is back at work, and I am back to hunting and gathering.

It is amazing how one can really miss the boring ins and outs of the daily  routine. I missed my 6am wake-up date with the BBC radio presenter. Our I-pod speaker/radio was in the living room over the holidays. There really wasn't any need for an alarm when you are not due anywhere. This morning I awoke to a beloved British accent talking about everything going on in the news. I did not really listen to or read about the news over the holidays. Seems like the world just came to a halt and now it is resuming again, for me.

I missed having my coffee made by the coffee maid. Every morning we woke up late, and one of  us went down stairs to make the cups of coffee. Why, I do not know, but I guess when you are on holiday, and have no where to go, the need for instantaneous intravenous coffee goes away. It was the best cup of coffee I had in 10 days!

I missed putting the laundry in by 7am so I can hang it out by 11am and it can be dry by late evening ready for the next morning. While on holiday, laundry just seems to pile up and then you have no underwear.

I missed eating breakfast all together in the morning in the cold kitchen. While on holiday, we laid around in bed and ate late and Zelda ate toast and watched her program downstairs. We were doing our own separate things;adults and child. I like it when we are all together and talking and sharing. It makes for a nicer morning and nicer day. I don't forget to take my joint medicine either when we eat together. Today I had no shoulder pain again.

I missed our early morning walk into town to take Zelda to school. I missed the way the scenery looks as I walk down the hill, turn into the wooded drive and then go over the bridge that  carries us across the river. The morning light on the Cathedral that greets me every morning is back in my life. The stimulus in the air that gets us all running and jumping and talking and laughing as we wind our way to where we are going when we have somewhere to go.

I missed seeing people on the street that we know or recognize. I missed saying good morning and smiling and getting positive words and reactions back. It is truly amazing how just those two words can make one feel great, positive, friendly and happy. For me it is the perfect mood enhancer to start my day. I was high on good morning this morning!

I missed my morning espresso machiato at the university with my husband. While on holiday, we never really got the chance to have a full 30 minutes alone with each other without any interruptions or distractions. It is just us and our coffees. Stolen time every day.

I missed my little errands that constitute my job. Picking up this, gathering that, finding what nots and then carrying it all back.

I missed job  and house hunting. While I was on holiday, I took a break from these two important life goals.

I missed my ritual walk back into town, down the hill and up the hill to pick up Zelda. I missed our one to one time walking along the river holding hands. The games we play to make the walk quicker, warmer and fun. We saw a beautiful swan on our way home and followed her for as long as we could.

I missed the time Zelda and I have once we are home. I missed her lying on my lap keeping us warm in front of the fire. I missed making her dinner and eating together. Tonight she invented a new dish...the Potatowich. I made baked potato and we filled them with grated cheese and chopped ham. Zelda then proceeded to put the two halves together to make a "sandwich". Perfect genius!

I missed being able to write in my blog at the same time every night. The holidays were not good for my writing form. I am glad to be back .

Routine check-ups, routine dye jobs, routine procedures, hate them, but give me my routine any day.

Monday 3 January 2011

Monday

What is happening to me? Plans to rise and shine early and get out of the house by 10 am foiled again by sleeping until 8am, taking a coffee in bed, allowing myself to read in bed and then take a shower! Results...out of the house by noon. I can rationalize it though, it is the last day to do it as Zelda returns to school tomorrow, so it is back to the 6am ROUTINE.

Back to Newcastle again today. Even though we left the house close to noon, we still got to Newcastle by 12:30. We took a quick left out of the train station and walked 5 minutes to the Life museum. This is a large dome shaped museum that is dedicated to living, as the name says. It has hands on activities for the kids and live experiments and a planetarium. It sounds grand, but it is not a huge place, but it is big enough to spend a few hours entertaining one selves. Zelda loved it and we had a hard time pulling her out.

Once again, I must put on my contrary hat and compare Nice to where I am living now. In Nice if I wanted to dine out, I had a choice between French, Italian or French, but disguised as some other ethnic brand. In addition I had to deal with tourist prices and service. In Newcastle I have 1000's of places to chose from and every cuisine under the sun, prepared by authentic people of the regions. Tonight we dined at a small family owned Persian restaurant. The food was very good and the desserts were very special. I ate rosewater sorbet with ice noodles and lemon, glazed figs with pistachio cream and honey and saffron ice cream. The bill was not to much and Zelda really enjoyed it as well. We will definitely go back.

We arrived home around 6:30 and it was bath time for Zelda. Afterwards I read to her and snuggled her to sleep. I was not successful with the sleeping part and her daddy had to go in and put her to sleep. Lately she will not go to sleep with me. she wants me there to snuggle, and kiss and hug, which I like, but she must go to bed also.  I must look into changing my perfume, perhaps it is too exciting!

Time check, 8:15 pm. I assume Zelda is a sleep. We have all eaten dinner, so nothing to do but get ready for bed and settle in with a book until it is time for me to go to bed. It has been a great day, once again and I can not wait until tomorrow!

Sunday 2 January 2011

Sunday

The house is finally practically almost empty of all food, so a quick trip this morning to the market for bagels, smoked salmon and cream cheese was in order, but not until I had finished my large cup of coffee and had a nice hot shower, followed by hot towel dry off.

I was alone on my walk down the block to the market. Not a single person on the street and very few cars. The 10 minutes it took to run this errand helped clear out the cobwebs and gave me an injection of energy.

Once home, I set up the breakfast table and waited for my small flock to come down to eat. By this time is was around 10:30am and I was feeling a bit anxious as we planned to go into Newcastle to a museum today. The museum closes at 4pm and I wanted to have enough time to see and do lots of cultural things. We ate up, made our final choices and left the house to catch the number 20 bus down into town. We walked up the hill to the train station and caught the next train out.

 There are trains to and from Durham to Newcastle almost every 10 minutes. You never have to wait long and the journey only takes 12 minutes. I love it! Culture and excitement of the big city when I want it. Unlike Nice, I have the choice of over 100 galleries and museums to go to. These places are usually free and always have children programs in association with the exhibitions. Families can drop in to the Learning and development area and make all kinds of things with their kids, again free of charge. The people who work there are helpful, engaging, kind, active and never rude, to you or your kids. Again, unlike in Nice!

Today we went to the Seven Stories Childrens'  Museum. It was located in an old Victorian seven story warehouse on the edge of the city center. It is in an area called Byker, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byker, a housing estate that was rebuilt in the early 60's with the residents specifications for community living. It is like a large artist colony of sorts. It has its own farms, garden and cafe as well as many ,many artist studios and galleries. Seven Stories is one of them.

The gallery lies on a canal and is surrounded by a small animal farm and vegetable garden. Once inside, you are greeted by books, books and more books! Plus friendly staff. The lobby alone makes you feel exhilarated and excited to explore the other 6 floors. It is meant for children, but adults feel at home as well. Each floor is dedicated to something different. The "attic"  is for watching and listening to story tellers, trying on costumes from many of the popular children books and acting out stories. The " basement" is the art studio. Today Zelda made a crown from Narnia and a puppet from Cinderella. There are two other floors which house exhibitions related to books and authors, one floor with a cafe and a floor that explains the idea behind collections of books and how it all works. The entrance level houses the large book shop. The exhibitions change and there are activities all year long for children. I just loved this museum and would love to work there.

It could have been Brooklyn. Downstairs in the art studio the most popular sound was the American accent! Not just any accent, but New Yorker-Jewish. Yes, truly amazing, but while I was sitting on my own with Zelda a woman leaned over and said in a way only a Jewish NYer could, well in this case, as it turned out, from Connecticut,  Can I ask you something, I am curious, do I detect an American accent? Immediately it was like we were old lost buddies. She spilled the beans that she was Jewish, so did I and next thing you know I am being invited to the reformed temple in Newcastle. The rabbi of which is from California and a woman.   We exchanged numbers and I now have yet another new potential friend.

 This could not have happened in France and most definitely not in Nice. I feel at home. It's just perfect.

Saturday 1 January 2011

Saturday

my nose and ears seemed to be working this morning..I could smell coffee brewing and hear noises rising up from the decks below, but my eyes were not ready to look.

The clock read 9:14. No sounds coming from Zelda, I felt relieved that she was still asleep. By the time everyone left last night it was close to two in the morning. Zelda crashed on the couch in a matter of seconds, so no wonder she was not stirring.

The coffee arrived, with orange juice and a smiley husband. It was the first morning of the first day of the New Year. I was happy, content, hopeful, motivated, warm and all the other adjectives that describe positive feelings. I was also, quite a few negative things, lazy, tired and hungover.

I knew the house was a mess on every floor, that meant three layers to clean up. When I took a quick look around, I tried not to panic...there were costumes, shoes, dolls, clothes, lego, toys and popcorn strewn all over the place, and that was just the adults mess! The garden was littered with fire work fall out and the kitchen had seen better days. We managed to clean up quite quickly in the end. I looked much worse than it actually was. We just sang a spoonful of sugar and snapped our fingers!

I managed to get out of bed and shower and make us all the perfect New Years Day breakfast; pancakes, sausage and fried eggs! This was followed by doing a puzzle and playing Cinderella with Zelda. Next up on my agenda for this day was sitting in front of the TV watching Mary Poppins and preparing Spag Bol for dinner.

All missions accomplished and I am ready for bed duty, my own that is. Zelda is asleep and the hubby is with her.

There are no New Years resolutions for today, tomorrow or ever. The year may have changed, but I will always be the same, forever changing, growing and seeing the wonderful side of life.

Friday

.

Jessica left today to return to London and then back home to Rome. It was great seeing her and she made the start of a New Year fabulous.

We all got out of bed late and lazed around until 11am. Then it was a rush to get Zelda dressed and off to her last birthday party of the year. We dropped Jess off at the train on the way. It was the best birthday party so far. Here in England, or at least in Durham, it is very popular to have a childrens party at your local Leisure Center. A bouncy castle is included in the deal, and so it makes for a very fun event for the kids. Bouncy castle aside, the place is usually very grim, cold and dingy. The gymnasium is converted into a party space with a few tables and is poorly lit with halogen lighting. I was not really looking forward to yet another party like this, but I was pleasantly surprised. When we arrived, the gym was full of children and parents. The birthday girls mom directed us to hot coffee and cupcakes! This scored high with me. The kids were entertained by Mr Windbags and afterwards they sat down to a nutritious meal that included a fresh fruit for a dessert. Usually a large assortment of junk food is served, chalk up another point for this party. There was no birthday cake to be eaten, but rather a plastic model of a cake with candles to be blown out, point number three. Finally, the goody bags that were given as we left contained only one sweet. The bag was full of fun things to play with rather than eat. Point four. No hyper child to deal with into the late evening.

Shortly after we arrived  we were greeted by N and M, parents whom we recently met at a Halloween party. We spent the majority of the party speaking with them. It turns out that they have become friendly with another set of parents that we also have recently become friendly with. We discussed our "no plans" for New Years and they told us that they too were not doing much, just going to a tapas place with their three small kids at 5pm for dinner. One of their children is a good friend of Zelda. N asked us if we wanted to join them and  told us that the other set of friends we both know will also be eating there. We accepted and headed home to rest before the evening.

I was on cloud 9.  I always knew this was how things were supposed to be, and not the other way around like in  France. People here are so open and generous. I guess it also helps to be liked by the natives!

We arrived at 5 on the dot. N and M and kids showed up a few minutes later. We ordered some Sangria and the kids started to run around and have fun. At 5:30 the other set of friends arrived. They did not know we were going to be there and it looked as if they also had no idea they were going to be sitting with all of us. They thought they were eating dinner by themselves with their daughter, who is also a friend of Zelda. SURPRISE, an impromptu party was born. The food and service were terrific. We all talked, laughed and relaxed while our kids entertained themselves and intermittently came to our sides for cuddles.

We had to give the tables up at 8pm, so we all headed back to our house. The five girls watched movies, ate popcorn, healthy snacks of fruits and veggies and we settled in downstairs with wine. Before we knew it, midnight was upon us. I found some fireworks in the garage of the house we are renting and M set them up. I opened a bottle of cava and we were ready! All six of us watched the fireworks go off, toasted to 2011 and gazed up at the amazingly clear sky full of bright stars. At that moment, I felt as though I was one of those bright stars and that the clarity of the sky was really my life as it is to become. 2011 was already perfect.