...Where did I leave off? Senior moments are coming on faster and faster and I just read that walking every day is supposed to help grow a certain part of the brain that helps with memory...I already walk at least 3 miles a day up and down hills, how much more do I need to walk in order to preserve my memories, I mean memory???
Yesterday I not only walked the daily 3 miles, but I also pulled a shopping wagon up the hills full to the brim with food. I had 2 kilos of lamb, 2 kilos of gammon, assorted vegetables, crackers, and fruits. How much memory stick do I get for that effort?
This week has been half term so Zelda went to Sunshine club on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. She has been home the other days as my In-Laws arrived on Wednesday night and will stay until Monday. They are getting more bang for the buck now that their other son has moved here too with his kids and wife. Last night we ate at Molly and Phils. Molly made a beautiful chicken stew. I had 3 helpings! The cousins all played together and then we settled onto the couch to watch Toy Story 2. It was a very nice casual and intimate gathering. We will be repeating it again tonight, but with a gammon joint and boiled veggies.
Yesterday was a truly gorgeous Spring day. It was warm and sunny with just a light breeze, ok wind, but it was still nice and springy! The birds were all out singing in the yard. Zelda played with her grandparents and cousins card games. I enjoyed the scene.
I was again filled with joy by the spring air and the birds in the garden. I hung out with Zelda most of the morning and afternoon. We played games and snuggled and then ate a nice lunch together.
At 3pm we walked to her best friends house and we all went in the car to the Broom Hill Farms, an organic farm that has a butcher, cafe and large playing field with hay stacks, castle, tractors and adventure trail. The area is in the middle of the country side and is as green as green can get with lots of farmy shades in between. We saw huge pigs and baby pigs, sheep, lamb, goats, chickens and geese.
It was starting to get colder and we adults were starting to freeze up, but not the girls, they wanted to keep running around and moving hay from one area to another, run up and down the huge farm field and giggle and hold hands. It was a perfect sight to be part of. Perfect freedom of body and spirit!
Friday, 25 February 2011
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Tuesday
6am wake up call to the BBC radio classical station followed by news of an on going political uprising situation, this time in Lybia, while drinking my coffee. 6:50 and I went into the shower. Afterwards, I dressed in the same clothes I had been wearing since Sunday and went downstairs to make lunches for both my husband and daughter. It eerily felt like Ground Hog Day!
We all left the house together and skipped into town with the grey cloud mist settling on my glasses. The air was warmish and I once again enjoyed the aspect of the Cathedral provided to me this morning in the grey haze.
Zelda happily went to sunshine club and I set off to run the errands in town. I struck out. I could not find the requested red underpants Zelda had asked for, nor could I find suitable knee socks in her size. She has decided to bare her legs like one of her friends from school in the cold of Winter. Perhaps this was a good thing that I wound up empty handed.
A stop into Tesco to buy some food and then the quick paced walk up the hill down the hill, up the hill and home.
10:30 and I was home. I made a cup of coffee and ate the left over cherry pie. Much needed reinforcements for the house cleaning a head. The in-laws are coming tomorrow and I needed to clean all the mould that has been squatting in the shower. I cleaned three bathrooms, one kitchen including an oven, made up the guest room, which included getting into a tackle with a 2 tog king sized quilt and quilt cover. I have saved the vacuuming for tomorrow.
The phone rang at 2:30 and I ran down two flights to get it. It was my best friend in New York calling and we talked for over an hour. It was wonderful to hear her voice and she and her husband will be visiting in the summer. We had not spoken in almost 5 months. Time has passed so quickly since moving here in September. When you are happy, you stop counting the minutes.
I picked Zelda up and we had a slow and painful walk home. All that cleaning and I pulled out my neck. Once home I made her dinner and she watched her programs while I tried to read the New Yorker. Then it was time for her to have a bath and we played rainbow ponies meet the mermaid whale!
While walking over the bridge today, I saw the same view I always see and felt the same feelings I always feel, relief, happiness, and lightness of being. It still felt perfect.
We all left the house together and skipped into town with the grey cloud mist settling on my glasses. The air was warmish and I once again enjoyed the aspect of the Cathedral provided to me this morning in the grey haze.
Zelda happily went to sunshine club and I set off to run the errands in town. I struck out. I could not find the requested red underpants Zelda had asked for, nor could I find suitable knee socks in her size. She has decided to bare her legs like one of her friends from school in the cold of Winter. Perhaps this was a good thing that I wound up empty handed.
A stop into Tesco to buy some food and then the quick paced walk up the hill down the hill, up the hill and home.
10:30 and I was home. I made a cup of coffee and ate the left over cherry pie. Much needed reinforcements for the house cleaning a head. The in-laws are coming tomorrow and I needed to clean all the mould that has been squatting in the shower. I cleaned three bathrooms, one kitchen including an oven, made up the guest room, which included getting into a tackle with a 2 tog king sized quilt and quilt cover. I have saved the vacuuming for tomorrow.
The phone rang at 2:30 and I ran down two flights to get it. It was my best friend in New York calling and we talked for over an hour. It was wonderful to hear her voice and she and her husband will be visiting in the summer. We had not spoken in almost 5 months. Time has passed so quickly since moving here in September. When you are happy, you stop counting the minutes.
I picked Zelda up and we had a slow and painful walk home. All that cleaning and I pulled out my neck. Once home I made her dinner and she watched her programs while I tried to read the New Yorker. Then it was time for her to have a bath and we played rainbow ponies meet the mermaid whale!
While walking over the bridge today, I saw the same view I always see and felt the same feelings I always feel, relief, happiness, and lightness of being. It still felt perfect.
Monday
"I love you daddy, I love you mommy, I love all of you and I love myself" These words were spoken by my soon to be 5 year old daughter. For some it takes a life time to realize and put into practice what she has already come to feel. For others, it never comes. To know that she loves herself made my day perfect.
Nothing more be said.
Nothing more be said.
Sunday, 20 February 2011
The Weekend
over indulgence and too much fun leads to hibernation and slightly ill feeling, but other wise it has been a great weekend!
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
Wednesday
I woke to rain.
I left the house in mist.
I arrived at the train station and the sun was shining.
I walked to the BALTIC and the river air smelt of sea.
I drank a delicious espresso while gazing out at the Millennium Bridge.
I worked on day three of the Pin Hole Project with a great group of students.
I felt really appreciated by the artist leading the workshop.
I was given the opportunity to explain and demonstrate to the students how to develop their film!
I developed many "black" photos. Perhaps there is beauty in over exposures?
I picked up Zelda and we had a lovely walk home in the moon shine.
I made dinner and snacks and more snacks for Zelda to eat.
We had a meeting with the builder.
I did not put Zelda to bed, but her daddy did.
I have not made dinner yet, perhaps a delivery of Curry is in order?
I had a great day and feel inspired by the weather, the people, the activities, my family and myself.
Perfect.
I left the house in mist.
I arrived at the train station and the sun was shining.
I walked to the BALTIC and the river air smelt of sea.
I drank a delicious espresso while gazing out at the Millennium Bridge.
I worked on day three of the Pin Hole Project with a great group of students.
I felt really appreciated by the artist leading the workshop.
I was given the opportunity to explain and demonstrate to the students how to develop their film!
I developed many "black" photos. Perhaps there is beauty in over exposures?
I picked up Zelda and we had a lovely walk home in the moon shine.
I made dinner and snacks and more snacks for Zelda to eat.
We had a meeting with the builder.
I did not put Zelda to bed, but her daddy did.
I have not made dinner yet, perhaps a delivery of Curry is in order?
I had a great day and feel inspired by the weather, the people, the activities, my family and myself.
Perfect.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
The weekend and then some
...time flies when you are having fun, and I have been having some.
A wine and cheese party given by one of the parents from Zeldas school kicked off the weekend on Friday night. I went by myself, but was certainly not lonely. The hosts were a very lovely couple who owned a most magnificent Victorian row house with high ceilings, roaring fireplaces, enormous rooms you could get lost in a lovely garden. One forgot that we were in the center of the city!
All the guests were parents and there must have been at least 75 people! The table was set with 20 different types of cheeses and wines of every color. I wore my favorite Cop Copine Dress, it stood out and I received lots of compliments. I talked all night long to all kinds of people. Before I knew, it was almost midnight and I was one of maybe 5 people left. I finally took a cab home and crawled into bed around 1am!
Saturday was Zelda and I day. I took her to the kids club cinema at the Gala theater. We saw Gnomeo and Juliet. A funny animation based on Romeo and Juliet, but with garden gnomes. After we went for a drink and then walked home. Once home we played games the rest of the afternoon. For dinner Zelda and I made the best bolognaise sauce together. We enjoyed it as a family.
Sunday was spent with extended family. We had tea at my brother in laws house. Zelda played with her two cousins and the adults congregated in the kitchen and talked. It felt really lovely. We went home around 6pm and put Zelda to sleep. It was the end to a perfect weekend.
Monday I began my work at the Baltic in Newcastle. I learned how to make a pin hole camera and develop film. The students we worked with were very nice. It is a great change to working with infants. I am really enjoying working with older students. My accent, which they seem to detect quite quickly and easily seems to make them at ease with me, giving them something to talk to me about.
In the evening, I made a valentines day salad...(beets, rocket, radish, dried cranberries, clementines, goat cheese) dressed with a red chili dressing, smoked salmon bruschetta on Irish soada bread with capers and venison burgers. A bottle of Chianti to wash it all down.
Today, I had my second day at the Baltic. the group we worked with were year 10s and they were gifted and talented! I did not really notice that about them, but they were very nice, polite and thoughtful. The workshop went very well.
I picked Zelda up from Sunshine club and ran into our babysitter, who walked back home with us.
Right now Zelda is singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to Ian playing the guitar. An absolutely perfect way to end the day!
A wine and cheese party given by one of the parents from Zeldas school kicked off the weekend on Friday night. I went by myself, but was certainly not lonely. The hosts were a very lovely couple who owned a most magnificent Victorian row house with high ceilings, roaring fireplaces, enormous rooms you could get lost in a lovely garden. One forgot that we were in the center of the city!
All the guests were parents and there must have been at least 75 people! The table was set with 20 different types of cheeses and wines of every color. I wore my favorite Cop Copine Dress, it stood out and I received lots of compliments. I talked all night long to all kinds of people. Before I knew, it was almost midnight and I was one of maybe 5 people left. I finally took a cab home and crawled into bed around 1am!
Saturday was Zelda and I day. I took her to the kids club cinema at the Gala theater. We saw Gnomeo and Juliet. A funny animation based on Romeo and Juliet, but with garden gnomes. After we went for a drink and then walked home. Once home we played games the rest of the afternoon. For dinner Zelda and I made the best bolognaise sauce together. We enjoyed it as a family.
Sunday was spent with extended family. We had tea at my brother in laws house. Zelda played with her two cousins and the adults congregated in the kitchen and talked. It felt really lovely. We went home around 6pm and put Zelda to sleep. It was the end to a perfect weekend.
Monday I began my work at the Baltic in Newcastle. I learned how to make a pin hole camera and develop film. The students we worked with were very nice. It is a great change to working with infants. I am really enjoying working with older students. My accent, which they seem to detect quite quickly and easily seems to make them at ease with me, giving them something to talk to me about.
In the evening, I made a valentines day salad...(beets, rocket, radish, dried cranberries, clementines, goat cheese) dressed with a red chili dressing, smoked salmon bruschetta on Irish soada bread with capers and venison burgers. A bottle of Chianti to wash it all down.
Today, I had my second day at the Baltic. the group we worked with were year 10s and they were gifted and talented! I did not really notice that about them, but they were very nice, polite and thoughtful. The workshop went very well.
I picked Zelda up from Sunshine club and ran into our babysitter, who walked back home with us.
Right now Zelda is singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to Ian playing the guitar. An absolutely perfect way to end the day!
Friday, 11 February 2011
Thursday
One minute she is a tiger, the next minute a cat, a kitten, a dragon, monster and of course princess cum sleeping beauty.I never tire of morning snuggles from my metamorphosing daughter.....this particular morning she bared her sharp teeth and gnashed at us behind giggles and smiles, I guess she was a happy mommy and daddy eating monster.
We all ate breakfast and then Zelda walked to school with her daddy as I was looking after my 12 year old nephew for a few hours while his parents went to fight for a place in the best comprehensive school in Durham. H helped me make red lentil and ham soup and then he read his book. I paid bills and organized the filing that needed to be done.
At 2:30 I went into town to pick up Zelda and then we went to the after school coffee club at the church. After ingesting massive amounts of chocolate and playing and reading we walked home. I got he dinner ready and she ate ( not much, due to chocolate !) while watching her favorite programs. We snuggled and then got ready for bed and books and snuggles again in her bed.
Our snuggle sessions at bedtime have been fantastic lately. There has been no resistance to falling asleep or turning off the lights. She willingly closes her eyes and curls up next to me and with in 5 minutes is breathing sweetly. I feel immensly connected to her. I have been feeling sad though, as I can feel that as she gets older this kind of thing will happen less and less. I recently realized that I can no longer carry her and pick her up like a small child anymore. Our hugs are no longer forever lasting as I can not hold her for more than a minute at a time. I now know what people mean by it doesn't last long so enjoy it while it does. Soon I will be too big to sleep next to her. I guess I will have to buy her a double bed!
After Zelda fell a sleep I curled up on the couch in front of the fire and watched bad TV while waiting for my husband to come homeas he was working late. .I felt like a good mother and wife. I felt good inside, I felt satisfied. I felt like every thing was perfect..
We all ate breakfast and then Zelda walked to school with her daddy as I was looking after my 12 year old nephew for a few hours while his parents went to fight for a place in the best comprehensive school in Durham. H helped me make red lentil and ham soup and then he read his book. I paid bills and organized the filing that needed to be done.
At 2:30 I went into town to pick up Zelda and then we went to the after school coffee club at the church. After ingesting massive amounts of chocolate and playing and reading we walked home. I got he dinner ready and she ate ( not much, due to chocolate !) while watching her favorite programs. We snuggled and then got ready for bed and books and snuggles again in her bed.
Our snuggle sessions at bedtime have been fantastic lately. There has been no resistance to falling asleep or turning off the lights. She willingly closes her eyes and curls up next to me and with in 5 minutes is breathing sweetly. I feel immensly connected to her. I have been feeling sad though, as I can feel that as she gets older this kind of thing will happen less and less. I recently realized that I can no longer carry her and pick her up like a small child anymore. Our hugs are no longer forever lasting as I can not hold her for more than a minute at a time. I now know what people mean by it doesn't last long so enjoy it while it does. Soon I will be too big to sleep next to her. I guess I will have to buy her a double bed!
After Zelda fell a sleep I curled up on the couch in front of the fire and watched bad TV while waiting for my husband to come homeas he was working late. .I felt like a good mother and wife. I felt good inside, I felt satisfied. I felt like every thing was perfect..
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Wednesday
Glorious is all I can say.
The morning was sunny and warm.
The walk to school with Zelda was fantastic and fun.
We stopped on the bridge over the river and looked at the sun light shining on the river and making the cathedral glow.
We had a great meeting with the mortgage broker and just got our product before they pulled it!
Had a lovely lunch with a friend for her birthday.
Played in the park with Zelda after school and took in the sight of hundreds of snow drop flowers popping up all over the grass.
Walked the long way home through the old streets.
Went to the PTA meeting and became elected as the chair!
Met my husband afterwards for dinner at the pub.
Came home and snuggled into bed.
All in all, a perfect day!
The morning was sunny and warm.
The walk to school with Zelda was fantastic and fun.
We stopped on the bridge over the river and looked at the sun light shining on the river and making the cathedral glow.
We had a great meeting with the mortgage broker and just got our product before they pulled it!
Had a lovely lunch with a friend for her birthday.
Played in the park with Zelda after school and took in the sight of hundreds of snow drop flowers popping up all over the grass.
Walked the long way home through the old streets.
Went to the PTA meeting and became elected as the chair!
Met my husband afterwards for dinner at the pub.
Came home and snuggled into bed.
All in all, a perfect day!
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Tuesday
buds, glossy buds,
red buds, brown buds, dull buds,
small buds, cone shaped buds, waxy buds,
green buds and shiny buds
two daisy's
I picked one
and left one to grow
hibernation my daughter exclaims is
over
red buds, brown buds, dull buds,
small buds, cone shaped buds, waxy buds,
green buds and shiny buds
two daisy's
I picked one
and left one to grow
hibernation my daughter exclaims is
over
Monday, 7 February 2011
Monday
Mother nature must have been very tired today. She was happy and sunny one minute then angry and windy the next. She seemed to cry over nothing then wipe away her tears as fast as they had arrived.
My day, not unlike mother natures, started at 3:30 am to the beckoning cries of Zelda thus I too was very tired. I have a flight or fight mechanism that kicks in when I hear her call for me during my sleep. I jump out of bed so fast I almost don't realize what I am doing. Once the realization hits me, it's too late, I am already in her room climbing up the ladder to her and getting into bed beside her. I have hit the land of no return.
4:30 am I was able to escape and go back to my bed, leaving her with some books to peruse at her early morning leisure. I did not fall back a sleep. She did. The alarm went off at 6am as usual, she got out of bed at 7:30! When I looked in on her she was fast a sleep with her cheek on top of her Miss Naughty book....hmmmmm life immitating art???
8:15 am Zelda and I left the house and made our way to school through the howling wind and spitting rain. We held hands the entire way and walked quietly, taking in the sound of the trees, some singing, some talking and others snoring. The river was wide from the rain and was full of strong currents. I imagined monsters living beneath the murky waters.
After I dropped Zelda off, I dropped my 10 kilos of borrowed cook books off at the library. By this time the sun was out and my walk up the hills were very pleasant...until I came to the dreaded wind magnet bridge. I quickly ran over it as not to get blown off and over the rail onto the busy road below.
I made Gruffalo birthday invitations for Zeldas party, cleaned the cat litter, unloaded the dishwasher, vacuumed the house, made the beds, sorted the recycling and then did some work for the project I will be working on in March.
2:30 came very quickly and I once again battled the winds and walked into town to get Zelda. We took the bus home. I fed her early and put her to bed by 7pm.
Time check-7:32, Zelda still a sleep, the hubby has been home 15 minutes and I am now going to enjoy some quiet time with him. We have a scrabble game to finish, and hopefully I will win with my killer 10 point letter....Z for Zelda, just perfect!
My day, not unlike mother natures, started at 3:30 am to the beckoning cries of Zelda thus I too was very tired. I have a flight or fight mechanism that kicks in when I hear her call for me during my sleep. I jump out of bed so fast I almost don't realize what I am doing. Once the realization hits me, it's too late, I am already in her room climbing up the ladder to her and getting into bed beside her. I have hit the land of no return.
4:30 am I was able to escape and go back to my bed, leaving her with some books to peruse at her early morning leisure. I did not fall back a sleep. She did. The alarm went off at 6am as usual, she got out of bed at 7:30! When I looked in on her she was fast a sleep with her cheek on top of her Miss Naughty book....hmmmmm life immitating art???
8:15 am Zelda and I left the house and made our way to school through the howling wind and spitting rain. We held hands the entire way and walked quietly, taking in the sound of the trees, some singing, some talking and others snoring. The river was wide from the rain and was full of strong currents. I imagined monsters living beneath the murky waters.
After I dropped Zelda off, I dropped my 10 kilos of borrowed cook books off at the library. By this time the sun was out and my walk up the hills were very pleasant...until I came to the dreaded wind magnet bridge. I quickly ran over it as not to get blown off and over the rail onto the busy road below.
I made Gruffalo birthday invitations for Zeldas party, cleaned the cat litter, unloaded the dishwasher, vacuumed the house, made the beds, sorted the recycling and then did some work for the project I will be working on in March.
2:30 came very quickly and I once again battled the winds and walked into town to get Zelda. We took the bus home. I fed her early and put her to bed by 7pm.
Time check-7:32, Zelda still a sleep, the hubby has been home 15 minutes and I am now going to enjoy some quiet time with him. We have a scrabble game to finish, and hopefully I will win with my killer 10 point letter....Z for Zelda, just perfect!
Sunday, 6 February 2011
The Weekend
Hooray for fate, for superstition, for leprechauns and rainbows with pots of gold at the end. Hooray hooray hooray.....
Friday morning was not a normal routine morning except for waking up at the same 6am to the same BBC radio station. I showered and then selected some very smart, but still stamped with my own mark, out fit. It had been a long time since I have seem myself dressed in an adult manner. I was lovin my reflection and was hoping the outside world would dig my projection. I had an appointment with the Learning and Access head for the Durham Museums, Durham University.
I ate a quick breakfast and then we were off to walk Zelda to school. It was a grey misty morning and free facials were on offer. As we headed down the hill, off in the distance I noticed a strange orange light on the trees. The objects on the horizon were crystal clear as in a close up photograph, yet these objects were quite far away. I saw the train pass by, people on the bridge, the orange trees and then bang smack in the middle was a rainbow. Immediately I was struck with the notion of luck. Today was going to be my lucky day. Today was going to be lucky for everyone who saw this rainbow. I had two extra bounces in my step all the rest of the way, and day.
Later on, the day turned into a 60 MPH winds day. I made it to my RDV at the Oriental Museum 30 minutes early. I walked around and looked at the collection. The space was inspiring and I could imagine myself working there.
1pm and S came out to greet me. She was extremely friendly and I immediately felt comfortable. I was introduced to the other member of her team and they explained what they did and then asked me if I would like to work with them! I of course said YES!! This is not a paid position, but a volunteer position. As I mentioned in earlier posts, this is the only way to get a paying job in the cultural sector. Now I am positioned well for a museum job at the university. I start March 8th. Thank you rainbow.
Friday evening we all went out for dinner with the cousins, aunts and uncles to the pub. Zelda had a wonderful time hanging out with the two boys. It gave me glimmers of what it would have been like to have had other children. .....more time to ourselves!
The night ended late and Zelda fell asleep in the car on the way home. We popped her into bed and after a night cap with Ians sister we all went to sleep.
Saturday was an early rise day as Zelda had a whirl wind social calendar. 10am birthday party until noon. A 5:30 engagement for an evening fundraising party with her friend Alba and her family. We were to be on hand in case my brother in law and sister in law needed us and then we had to pick Zelda up at Town Hall for 930pm. We left the party with Zelda around 11pm and Zelda fell a sleep in the car and we popped her into bed, with her party dress on this time. Classic perfect scene...Breakfast at Tiffanies here she comes!
Today we all slept late...until 830am. I made my routine run for croissant, pain au chocolate and baguette for our Sunday breakfast. We took Zelda to ballet class. I busied myself with decorating magazines while the hubby worked and Zelda watched Snow White.
This evening was all about bath, snuggle and bed.
Time check- 7:52, Zelda is a sleep, my husband is working and I am feeling incredibly lucky. Call it rainbows, luck or witchcraft, i call it perfect!
Friday morning was not a normal routine morning except for waking up at the same 6am to the same BBC radio station. I showered and then selected some very smart, but still stamped with my own mark, out fit. It had been a long time since I have seem myself dressed in an adult manner. I was lovin my reflection and was hoping the outside world would dig my projection. I had an appointment with the Learning and Access head for the Durham Museums, Durham University.
I ate a quick breakfast and then we were off to walk Zelda to school. It was a grey misty morning and free facials were on offer. As we headed down the hill, off in the distance I noticed a strange orange light on the trees. The objects on the horizon were crystal clear as in a close up photograph, yet these objects were quite far away. I saw the train pass by, people on the bridge, the orange trees and then bang smack in the middle was a rainbow. Immediately I was struck with the notion of luck. Today was going to be my lucky day. Today was going to be lucky for everyone who saw this rainbow. I had two extra bounces in my step all the rest of the way, and day.
Later on, the day turned into a 60 MPH winds day. I made it to my RDV at the Oriental Museum 30 minutes early. I walked around and looked at the collection. The space was inspiring and I could imagine myself working there.
1pm and S came out to greet me. She was extremely friendly and I immediately felt comfortable. I was introduced to the other member of her team and they explained what they did and then asked me if I would like to work with them! I of course said YES!! This is not a paid position, but a volunteer position. As I mentioned in earlier posts, this is the only way to get a paying job in the cultural sector. Now I am positioned well for a museum job at the university. I start March 8th. Thank you rainbow.
Friday evening we all went out for dinner with the cousins, aunts and uncles to the pub. Zelda had a wonderful time hanging out with the two boys. It gave me glimmers of what it would have been like to have had other children. .....more time to ourselves!
The night ended late and Zelda fell asleep in the car on the way home. We popped her into bed and after a night cap with Ians sister we all went to sleep.
Saturday was an early rise day as Zelda had a whirl wind social calendar. 10am birthday party until noon. A 5:30 engagement for an evening fundraising party with her friend Alba and her family. We were to be on hand in case my brother in law and sister in law needed us and then we had to pick Zelda up at Town Hall for 930pm. We left the party with Zelda around 11pm and Zelda fell a sleep in the car and we popped her into bed, with her party dress on this time. Classic perfect scene...Breakfast at Tiffanies here she comes!
Today we all slept late...until 830am. I made my routine run for croissant, pain au chocolate and baguette for our Sunday breakfast. We took Zelda to ballet class. I busied myself with decorating magazines while the hubby worked and Zelda watched Snow White.
This evening was all about bath, snuggle and bed.
Time check- 7:52, Zelda is a sleep, my husband is working and I am feeling incredibly lucky. Call it rainbows, luck or witchcraft, i call it perfect!
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Thursday
Disappointments and explanations. Two very difficult words to understand, be it an adult or child. They are strong words. When pronounced they carry weight in their consonants and vowels. As a noun or an adjective they are heavy. In time though, they gain lightness and more meaning for those who have had or felt them.
Today was one of those kinds of days, not for me, but for my almost 5 year old daughter. As her mother, I feel what she feels because I have an innate desire to protect her, to incubate her from those kinds of experiences, yet to the contrary as well, as a mother I must let her have them in order to learn and grow, to feel, judge, understand and ultimately to be able to carry out her own explanations and disappointments.
Trying to explain why one person chooses to be friends with someone and not another was a real challenge. Why can't we be friends with every body? smacked me in the face with her hurt eyes and lack of understanding tears. Her good friend had been invited to another childs house for a play date, and she was excluded. This child is not a good friend of Zeldas, but they are friendly, although Zelda said she does not always play nice with her. This too she could not understand.
I tried many explanations, but the dissapointment did not subside. Finally I decided to put it in terms of something that I knew she really liked, and understood, dessert! I compared icecream, cookies, cake and lemmon pie. The latter being something she has never really tried, but still does not want to eat it. This I said was like being friends with people. Some days you want icecream, some days cookies, some days both together and sometimes none of the above. She felt better after this explanation.
More disapointments followed through out the evening and culminated in a screaming fit of sadness. When she was finished, and I again made some more explanations , she was back to her self again.
Right now it is raging with wind and rain. It sounds like the roof is going to blow off. I know it will not. I know tomorrow will be a nice day, with perhaps sunshine, and if not tomorrow soon there after. I hope that Zelda is learning to feel and know these things too.
Time check, 8:52. Zelda fast a sleep on the couch downstairs with the fire going and the lights out. She was trying to stay awake to see her cousins, but there is tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow. They are now living here. Chinese chicken soup and noodles wait in the kitchen to celebrate the start of a new Year. It's all perfect!
Today was one of those kinds of days, not for me, but for my almost 5 year old daughter. As her mother, I feel what she feels because I have an innate desire to protect her, to incubate her from those kinds of experiences, yet to the contrary as well, as a mother I must let her have them in order to learn and grow, to feel, judge, understand and ultimately to be able to carry out her own explanations and disappointments.
Trying to explain why one person chooses to be friends with someone and not another was a real challenge. Why can't we be friends with every body? smacked me in the face with her hurt eyes and lack of understanding tears. Her good friend had been invited to another childs house for a play date, and she was excluded. This child is not a good friend of Zeldas, but they are friendly, although Zelda said she does not always play nice with her. This too she could not understand.
I tried many explanations, but the dissapointment did not subside. Finally I decided to put it in terms of something that I knew she really liked, and understood, dessert! I compared icecream, cookies, cake and lemmon pie. The latter being something she has never really tried, but still does not want to eat it. This I said was like being friends with people. Some days you want icecream, some days cookies, some days both together and sometimes none of the above. She felt better after this explanation.
More disapointments followed through out the evening and culminated in a screaming fit of sadness. When she was finished, and I again made some more explanations , she was back to her self again.
Right now it is raging with wind and rain. It sounds like the roof is going to blow off. I know it will not. I know tomorrow will be a nice day, with perhaps sunshine, and if not tomorrow soon there after. I hope that Zelda is learning to feel and know these things too.
Time check, 8:52. Zelda fast a sleep on the couch downstairs with the fire going and the lights out. She was trying to stay awake to see her cousins, but there is tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow. They are now living here. Chinese chicken soup and noodles wait in the kitchen to celebrate the start of a new Year. It's all perfect!
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Wednesday
6am wake up to beautiful classical music on BBC radio...I much prefer it to the Today Show.
Coffee arrived bedside by 615.
6:30 and Zelda was bedside too.
No fever.
1am in the morning she woke me up and she had fever. She had to pee. She reminded me of the little cardboard boat that the doctor gave us so she could collect a urine sample. Ok, 1am is as good a time as any! Some how we managed not to wet the entire floor or ourselves.
We arrived at school on time. It was Zeldas first assembly and she had a line. Trucks move slow. What a screen test. The performance was based on the Aesop Fable The Tortoise and the Hair, never give up even if things are difficult. It was a good message. I guess so was the song about God giving us life, love and baby Jesus! Zelda seems to enjoy it.
I ran the errands in town and went home to make a pot of Hot and Sour Chinese Chicken Soup. It came out stupendous, if I do say so myself. I hope it is not too hot for the rest of the family.
By the time |Zelda and I got home from school, she was running a fever as hot as the soup. I pumped her with paracetamol and settled her on the couch under a blanket. I really hope that she is not getting a kidney infection. The results will be back in a couple of days!
The family, Ians brother, his wife, their 2 kids and Ians sister all arrive tonight around 10pm. The big move has begun. The soup ought to spice up things a bit after 8 hours on the road. A new adventure for the start of the Chinese New Year. I bought long noodles to go in the soup, a traditional food for the New Year. It symbolizes a long and healthy and prosperous year . May the luck be with them.
Time check- 7:21, Zelda in bed having a snuggle with her daddy, me feeling calm, hopeful and excited to start this perfect new Chinese Year.
Coffee arrived bedside by 615.
6:30 and Zelda was bedside too.
No fever.
1am in the morning she woke me up and she had fever. She had to pee. She reminded me of the little cardboard boat that the doctor gave us so she could collect a urine sample. Ok, 1am is as good a time as any! Some how we managed not to wet the entire floor or ourselves.
We arrived at school on time. It was Zeldas first assembly and she had a line. Trucks move slow. What a screen test. The performance was based on the Aesop Fable The Tortoise and the Hair, never give up even if things are difficult. It was a good message. I guess so was the song about God giving us life, love and baby Jesus! Zelda seems to enjoy it.
I ran the errands in town and went home to make a pot of Hot and Sour Chinese Chicken Soup. It came out stupendous, if I do say so myself. I hope it is not too hot for the rest of the family.
By the time |Zelda and I got home from school, she was running a fever as hot as the soup. I pumped her with paracetamol and settled her on the couch under a blanket. I really hope that she is not getting a kidney infection. The results will be back in a couple of days!
The family, Ians brother, his wife, their 2 kids and Ians sister all arrive tonight around 10pm. The big move has begun. The soup ought to spice up things a bit after 8 hours on the road. A new adventure for the start of the Chinese New Year. I bought long noodles to go in the soup, a traditional food for the New Year. It symbolizes a long and healthy and prosperous year . May the luck be with them.
Time check- 7:21, Zelda in bed having a snuggle with her daddy, me feeling calm, hopeful and excited to start this perfect new Chinese Year.
Tuesday
I kept Zelda home today from school. She came into our bedroom at 7am, which was nice for all concerned. Once I told her she was staying home she immediately got dressed! Well, she put on tights and socks and slippers and a bathrobe, but kept on her nightgown. She was ready to go downstairs and become a couch potato. I was with her.
We watched three different videos, CBeeBies and did some art and crafts. I was determined to make staying at home as boring and uninteresting as possible. Every hour I left the room to go and do some work upstairs. She did not seem to mind. She was one happy potato.
I catered to her every food whim, which, once presented to her, she tasted, and then abandoned it. I was now eating for two!
At 2:30 Zelda put a sweater on top of her nightgown and we went to the doctors. It was a gorgeous warm afternoon with lots of sunshine. The doctor checked her out and then leaned back in his chair and said so what do you make of it? hey, did I go to med school, are you paying me? I looked quizzically at him and said she has a cough. He agreed. I did not need a brain scientist to tell me this, but I did want the doctor to be the doctor, and not me. This is the 2nd time at this practice I have been asked this. I explained how she had had pneumonia a year ago and it developed from a cough like this. He looked at me like I had 4 eyes and said it was just bad luck. Ok fine. He saw nothing out of the normal.
Next up, I told him about how she does not like to pee and holds it for days on end...ok not days, but hours and hours. I explained how she had a history of kidney infection and that this worried me. I asked him could he please tell her that it was not healthy. Did he?? No, he said leave her alone, she is bright she will pee when she needs to!
I left the doctors office feeling like a complete neurotic mother stereotype. Luckily it was warm and sunny out still when we left so I quickly forgot how neurotic I am and enjoyed the stroll back home.
We played in the garden for half an hour with the ball, badminton and the watering cans.
1 hour later, Zelda had a high fever again and plopped herself on the couch under a blanket for the rest of the night. I plopped next to her. We were two ploppers.
6pm rolled around and I got her ready for bed. 7pm and she was tucked in tight with her books putting herself to sleep...until daddy came home. He snuggled her and then off she went to dream land.
We ate dinner, looked at mortgages and watched the final episode of the season of Silent Witness. It is not nearly as good as Morse, but I am hooked.
10:30pm and it was nice being home with Zelda tending to her every whim. Now I will tend to mine and go to sleep. x
We watched three different videos, CBeeBies and did some art and crafts. I was determined to make staying at home as boring and uninteresting as possible. Every hour I left the room to go and do some work upstairs. She did not seem to mind. She was one happy potato.
I catered to her every food whim, which, once presented to her, she tasted, and then abandoned it. I was now eating for two!
At 2:30 Zelda put a sweater on top of her nightgown and we went to the doctors. It was a gorgeous warm afternoon with lots of sunshine. The doctor checked her out and then leaned back in his chair and said so what do you make of it? hey, did I go to med school, are you paying me? I looked quizzically at him and said she has a cough. He agreed. I did not need a brain scientist to tell me this, but I did want the doctor to be the doctor, and not me. This is the 2nd time at this practice I have been asked this. I explained how she had had pneumonia a year ago and it developed from a cough like this. He looked at me like I had 4 eyes and said it was just bad luck. Ok fine. He saw nothing out of the normal.
Next up, I told him about how she does not like to pee and holds it for days on end...ok not days, but hours and hours. I explained how she had a history of kidney infection and that this worried me. I asked him could he please tell her that it was not healthy. Did he?? No, he said leave her alone, she is bright she will pee when she needs to!
I left the doctors office feeling like a complete neurotic mother stereotype. Luckily it was warm and sunny out still when we left so I quickly forgot how neurotic I am and enjoyed the stroll back home.
We played in the garden for half an hour with the ball, badminton and the watering cans.
1 hour later, Zelda had a high fever again and plopped herself on the couch under a blanket for the rest of the night. I plopped next to her. We were two ploppers.
6pm rolled around and I got her ready for bed. 7pm and she was tucked in tight with her books putting herself to sleep...until daddy came home. He snuggled her and then off she went to dream land.
We ate dinner, looked at mortgages and watched the final episode of the season of Silent Witness. It is not nearly as good as Morse, but I am hooked.
10:30pm and it was nice being home with Zelda tending to her every whim. Now I will tend to mine and go to sleep. x
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