A Slow and sweet start to the day, having guest stay over is a great way to force yourself to relax.
I was first up and out of bed, no surprise there...coffee was calling and lots of it. I showered and then set Zelda up with toast, banana and warm milk in front of her favorite programs on CBeebies. I then went back up stairs to relax a bit longer in bed.
We all went out into town around noon. We took our friend to see the Cathedral and then took a long walk along the river. An hour later we wound up at one of our favorite pubs. We had worked up quite an appetite and dug into meat pies, fish cakes, bangers and chips with gravy. Washed it down with a glass of red and then we were set to go back home. The time flew and before we knew it it was almost 5pm!
Zelda took a bath, ate a banana and had some milk and then we all snuggled up on the couch to watch The Gruffalo. Her daddy snuggled her to sleep while my friend and I some how polished off an entire bottle of rose Cava by ourselves! The second bottle was consumed once my hubby came down and we ate leftover baked ham, cheese and crackers and fruit. We talked way into the night and then dragged ourselves off to bed.
Another perfect day finished!
Thursday, 30 December 2010
Wednesday, 29 December 2010
Monday and Tuesday
Due to the Holiday season, I will be writing multiple days at once. My holiday is packed full with activity and I am enjoying the social scene!
Monday morning I awoke to a brand new carpet of snow on the ground. We were all anxious, as one of our oldest friends was arriving to stay for a few days that evening. |Like Sunday, we repeated the spend quality time with Zelda and the days went very smoothly. We laid out some ground rules about not listening and speaking rudely and she has taken them on board quite well, providing we do the same!
I spent about two hours preparing food for Tuesdays Brunch. I made a baked honey mustard spiced ham, two smoked salmon strata, a winter salad of baby spinach and rocket, with raisins, apples, grapes and goat cheese, bacon wrapped apricots,prunes and feta and a dish of crudites with a horseradish dipping sauce. The pink champagne was chilling in the garage and the house was ready for a party!
Zelda went to bed around 9pm and then we watched a film until Jessica arrived. We stayed up late talking and catching up. 1am rolled around and we rolled into our beds.
Tuesday was a great day. The guests started to arrive at noon. We were 8 adults and 2 children. Around 3pm one group left and another group stayed so we became an intimate group of 5. We sat around laughing, talking and eating for the next 4 hours! The Americans were " in the house". Three American women and two British men! It was strange for me to hear the American accent so strongly and so often. Also, it was refreshing to be around the American ease of chit chat and the feeling that one can fit in with out trouble. This is something I missed living in France for so long. Conversation just flowed and rambled.
By 7:30 everyone had left, except for Jessica who is staying until the 31st. We all played a board game with Zelda based on the book Going On A Bear Hunt. Zelda won! The it was up to bed to be read to by Auntie Jessie and put to sweet slumbers by me.
Two arms curled around my neck. Her hot breath lulled me to sleep. I reluctantly unwrapped her from me and went downstairs. I snuggled up adult style on the couch and enjoyed the rest of the evening. So far so good!
Monday morning I awoke to a brand new carpet of snow on the ground. We were all anxious, as one of our oldest friends was arriving to stay for a few days that evening. |Like Sunday, we repeated the spend quality time with Zelda and the days went very smoothly. We laid out some ground rules about not listening and speaking rudely and she has taken them on board quite well, providing we do the same!
I spent about two hours preparing food for Tuesdays Brunch. I made a baked honey mustard spiced ham, two smoked salmon strata, a winter salad of baby spinach and rocket, with raisins, apples, grapes and goat cheese, bacon wrapped apricots,prunes and feta and a dish of crudites with a horseradish dipping sauce. The pink champagne was chilling in the garage and the house was ready for a party!
Zelda went to bed around 9pm and then we watched a film until Jessica arrived. We stayed up late talking and catching up. 1am rolled around and we rolled into our beds.
Tuesday was a great day. The guests started to arrive at noon. We were 8 adults and 2 children. Around 3pm one group left and another group stayed so we became an intimate group of 5. We sat around laughing, talking and eating for the next 4 hours! The Americans were " in the house". Three American women and two British men! It was strange for me to hear the American accent so strongly and so often. Also, it was refreshing to be around the American ease of chit chat and the feeling that one can fit in with out trouble. This is something I missed living in France for so long. Conversation just flowed and rambled.
By 7:30 everyone had left, except for Jessica who is staying until the 31st. We all played a board game with Zelda based on the book Going On A Bear Hunt. Zelda won! The it was up to bed to be read to by Auntie Jessie and put to sweet slumbers by me.
Two arms curled around my neck. Her hot breath lulled me to sleep. I reluctantly unwrapped her from me and went downstairs. I snuggled up adult style on the couch and enjoyed the rest of the evening. So far so good!
Sunday, 26 December 2010
The Weekend
No routines, no regular activities; this weekend was not a usual weekend, it was Christmas. My first English Christmas. I have been in England and celebrated Christmas with my husbands family many many times, but that is different. Several times it was on a canal boat and once in Scotland, celebrated at two different homes. This time it was in our home, with other peoples things. Given that, we managed to make the house feel like it was ours, and fill it with our love, decorations made by Zelda and wonderful aromas created by my cooking.
It is a ritual to decorate the tree on the Eve of Christmas after children have all gone to bed. This year my husband did it in record time. Usually, the tree is finished to perfection by 1am, maybe later. This time it was finished by 10:30 pm and we had time to relax, enjoy a sherry and a cuddle on the couch. We admired the tree and then went to bed, exhausted.
Zelda was a sleep early and fell a sleep on her own to show "Santa" that she could! Now all she needs to do is show us.
Unbelievably we were able to sleep late on Saturday morning. Zelda did not come into our room until after 8am. In her hands was her stocking, bursting to the seams, and a huge smile spread across her face. She proceeded to show us everything in the sock one by one. She then ate a chocolate coin and devoured one medium sized raspberry flavoured sugar mouse! If you believe you are what you eat, then this was true for Zelda Christmas day!
The tree was surrounded by presents for all. It took us all day to open them slowly. Everyone was happy.
The lunch was stress free to prepare, and we enjoyed it slowly. Zelda ate a bit, rather like a mouse and then scurried off to run around the house squeaking.
A walk into the snowy woods and to a close by field followed where we tried out Zeldas new pocket kite. Zelda wound up like a moue in a net, all tangled up in the strings, but it was a lot of fun and we burned off the big meal.
9pm and Zelda was a sleep . A quick meeting about never giving sugar candies or chocolates again in the stocking and off we went upstairs to sleep.
Today was relaxing. We decided not to cook anything elaborate, but to hang out in the house and play with Zelda. No sweets were consumed and the behavior was entirely different. The day was different too because of it. This is a huge lesson learned, for us all.
We played snap, tiddly winks and race cars. We watched a ballet video and the movie Aladdin. Afterwards we played magic carpets. We had a lovely tea of crumpets, celery, carrots, radish and cucumber and then Christmas cake with brandy butter. We listened to the Snowman and then danced all together to the music. This was the perfect ending. A close knit ending. an ending to make you feel the beginning.
It is a ritual to decorate the tree on the Eve of Christmas after children have all gone to bed. This year my husband did it in record time. Usually, the tree is finished to perfection by 1am, maybe later. This time it was finished by 10:30 pm and we had time to relax, enjoy a sherry and a cuddle on the couch. We admired the tree and then went to bed, exhausted.
Zelda was a sleep early and fell a sleep on her own to show "Santa" that she could! Now all she needs to do is show us.
Unbelievably we were able to sleep late on Saturday morning. Zelda did not come into our room until after 8am. In her hands was her stocking, bursting to the seams, and a huge smile spread across her face. She proceeded to show us everything in the sock one by one. She then ate a chocolate coin and devoured one medium sized raspberry flavoured sugar mouse! If you believe you are what you eat, then this was true for Zelda Christmas day!
The tree was surrounded by presents for all. It took us all day to open them slowly. Everyone was happy.
The lunch was stress free to prepare, and we enjoyed it slowly. Zelda ate a bit, rather like a mouse and then scurried off to run around the house squeaking.
A walk into the snowy woods and to a close by field followed where we tried out Zeldas new pocket kite. Zelda wound up like a moue in a net, all tangled up in the strings, but it was a lot of fun and we burned off the big meal.
9pm and Zelda was a sleep . A quick meeting about never giving sugar candies or chocolates again in the stocking and off we went upstairs to sleep.
Today was relaxing. We decided not to cook anything elaborate, but to hang out in the house and play with Zelda. No sweets were consumed and the behavior was entirely different. The day was different too because of it. This is a huge lesson learned, for us all.
We played snap, tiddly winks and race cars. We watched a ballet video and the movie Aladdin. Afterwards we played magic carpets. We had a lovely tea of crumpets, celery, carrots, radish and cucumber and then Christmas cake with brandy butter. We listened to the Snowman and then danced all together to the music. This was the perfect ending. A close knit ending. an ending to make you feel the beginning.
Thursday, 23 December 2010
Thursday
Oh what a day
snowy skies and sunny ways
walked into town to buy beef and ham
and then we saw a pantomime
of Cinderella and English dish
sorry I meant a prince
Oh what a day
dinner at a restaurant
Italian food and crackers popped
celebrations of family
moving near for jobs are here
Oh what a day
walks along the snowy banks
views of a cathedral in orange haze
rolling balls of icy snow
across the lawn as we go
Oh what a day
secret passages behind the road
up the steps and through the snow
double gravestones partners dead
all together we eat the bread
Oh what a day
child readying for her bed
I am besotted there is no dread
the beauty fills me like a vase
I love my world and all its ways
snowy skies and sunny ways
walked into town to buy beef and ham
and then we saw a pantomime
of Cinderella and English dish
sorry I meant a prince
Oh what a day
dinner at a restaurant
Italian food and crackers popped
celebrations of family
moving near for jobs are here
Oh what a day
walks along the snowy banks
views of a cathedral in orange haze
rolling balls of icy snow
across the lawn as we go
Oh what a day
secret passages behind the road
up the steps and through the snow
double gravestones partners dead
all together we eat the bread
Oh what a day
child readying for her bed
I am besotted there is no dread
the beauty fills me like a vase
I love my world and all its ways
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
Wednesday
late start to the morning...7am ..Zelda creeped in and snuggled under the blanket with us both. After she ate a banana and a half in our bed and emotional watching of the first man on the moon landing, I was ready to go shower and eat breakfast. I went down stairs, pulled the curtains back and the yard was covered with about 2 inches of fresh white fluffy snow. I raced upstairs and played the "guess what" game. I was psyched, and I couldn't wait to go out in it.
With breakfast over, I put on my wellies, my hat and coat and ventured out to town to buy last minute needed food items, including two very nice St. Emillion Grand Vin De Bordeaux for our Christmas lunch at half price!!...It is now hailing as I write this...just thought I would mention it!.....The wine will go excellent with the Scottish Fore Rib I am roasting.
I tried not to think about the fact that I had not yet heard back from the recruiter about my interview yesterday and it was now nearing 2pm. The phone rang and it was not good news. I couldn't help feel sad and disappointed. Whether I wanted the job or not, I wanted to be the one to decide, not them. In one way it is good, I was not prepared to start working on January 4th. Now I can hit the SALES!!! Perfect timing.
At 3:00pm a school friend of Zeldas came over to play. she came with both her parents. The girls played in the back yard making snowballs, snow men and running around. We watched them have fun and drank wine, tea and got to know a second set of parents whom we like and are becoming friends with. It is incredible, that only after several month we are making friendships through our child. Everyone told me this is what happens when you have children, it's wonderful, great, etc..I never got to experience it though living in France. I was robbed. Now I feel as though I have hit the jack pot.
My brother in law arrived at 8:30pm. He is going on an interview tomorrow morning. If he gets this job he and his family will move to Durham. It will be wonderful to have family so close by. Plus they have two boys who Zelda adores and visa versa. Thirdly, his wife is American ,I adore her and it will be like having a sister/friend living right next door. The arrangement would really make everything perfect!
Time check; 10:44pm. I am tired but happy. As I have said in the past, it is impossible to feel bad when there is so much good; the people, the beauty, opportunity, and potential. Hubby is downstairs with his brother, me, I am going to sleep. Love you all.
With breakfast over, I put on my wellies, my hat and coat and ventured out to town to buy last minute needed food items, including two very nice St. Emillion Grand Vin De Bordeaux for our Christmas lunch at half price!!...It is now hailing as I write this...just thought I would mention it!.....The wine will go excellent with the Scottish Fore Rib I am roasting.
I tried not to think about the fact that I had not yet heard back from the recruiter about my interview yesterday and it was now nearing 2pm. The phone rang and it was not good news. I couldn't help feel sad and disappointed. Whether I wanted the job or not, I wanted to be the one to decide, not them. In one way it is good, I was not prepared to start working on January 4th. Now I can hit the SALES!!! Perfect timing.
At 3:00pm a school friend of Zeldas came over to play. she came with both her parents. The girls played in the back yard making snowballs, snow men and running around. We watched them have fun and drank wine, tea and got to know a second set of parents whom we like and are becoming friends with. It is incredible, that only after several month we are making friendships through our child. Everyone told me this is what happens when you have children, it's wonderful, great, etc..I never got to experience it though living in France. I was robbed. Now I feel as though I have hit the jack pot.
My brother in law arrived at 8:30pm. He is going on an interview tomorrow morning. If he gets this job he and his family will move to Durham. It will be wonderful to have family so close by. Plus they have two boys who Zelda adores and visa versa. Thirdly, his wife is American ,I adore her and it will be like having a sister/friend living right next door. The arrangement would really make everything perfect!
Time check; 10:44pm. I am tired but happy. As I have said in the past, it is impossible to feel bad when there is so much good; the people, the beauty, opportunity, and potential. Hubby is downstairs with his brother, me, I am going to sleep. Love you all.
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Monday and Tuesday
Yesterday was a mother daughter day.
Zelda spent the entire day in her pj's, and the only time I could get her out ofthem, was when I said I would take a bath with her.
We played build a castle, marry off the princess and made barbie cup cakes.
I ate lasagna with her while she pretended to be a rabbit and eat only the salad.
Some more play and then up to the bath. We pretended to be Egyptian princesses and added extra virgin olive oil to the bath water to soothe our dry itchy skin.
Back into the pajama and up into bed to read stories. Her daddy came home before lights out and she was over the moon. He snuggled her off to dream land and then he came out all relaxed and full of love. I on the the other hand was ironing my suit and shirt for Tuesdays interview.
A night cap and then off to bed.zzzzzzzzzzzzz
Today was father daughter day.
I woke at 6:30 am and dressed in my 17 year old black suit. I wore a funky Puciesque blouse underneath and pink chiffon scarf around my neck. I put on my high power brown sued VARDA pumps and was ready to go.
Zelda told me I looked beautiful, that my suit was lovely and that she loved me heart heart heart. I realized I already had the best job in the world. Nothing could be as perfect as that.
The interview was long and I was one of seven people selected from the original fifteen to go onto the final part; a one to one interview. The interview was forty five minutes and went very well. If they offer me the job, brilliant, if not I am fine with it. I just wanted to have the experience of getting back into the working force.
Time check..4:13 pm and Zelda and her daddy are out somewhere tree shopping. I am tired and have a great deal to think about and be grateful for. I love my family, my home , my life. A cup of ginger tea and a chocolate hob nob sit beside me. Everything is perfect!
Zelda spent the entire day in her pj's, and the only time I could get her out ofthem, was when I said I would take a bath with her.
We played build a castle, marry off the princess and made barbie cup cakes.
I ate lasagna with her while she pretended to be a rabbit and eat only the salad.
Some more play and then up to the bath. We pretended to be Egyptian princesses and added extra virgin olive oil to the bath water to soothe our dry itchy skin.
Back into the pajama and up into bed to read stories. Her daddy came home before lights out and she was over the moon. He snuggled her off to dream land and then he came out all relaxed and full of love. I on the the other hand was ironing my suit and shirt for Tuesdays interview.
A night cap and then off to bed.zzzzzzzzzzzzz
Today was father daughter day.
I woke at 6:30 am and dressed in my 17 year old black suit. I wore a funky Puciesque blouse underneath and pink chiffon scarf around my neck. I put on my high power brown sued VARDA pumps and was ready to go.
Zelda told me I looked beautiful, that my suit was lovely and that she loved me heart heart heart. I realized I already had the best job in the world. Nothing could be as perfect as that.
The interview was long and I was one of seven people selected from the original fifteen to go onto the final part; a one to one interview. The interview was forty five minutes and went very well. If they offer me the job, brilliant, if not I am fine with it. I just wanted to have the experience of getting back into the working force.
Time check..4:13 pm and Zelda and her daddy are out somewhere tree shopping. I am tired and have a great deal to think about and be grateful for. I love my family, my home , my life. A cup of ginger tea and a chocolate hob nob sit beside me. Everything is perfect!
Monday, 20 December 2010
The Weekend
The family that plays together stays together....if that is true, then we shall be together forever!
Saturday morning herald in with Barbies on a tray. We were all given one and then had to act out fairy tales dictated by Zelda. Afterwards, Zelda went downstairs to watch Mon Petite Pony. This is a video all in French, so we did not mind her watching it for quite a long time. She practiced her language skills while we got to have some us time. Showers and breakfast followed.
Dur8ing the afternoon we went to TK Max to see if I could find something to wear to my interview on Tuesday. No luck. I am going to look a bit dated, a bit Alley Mcbeal meets bank teller! Following the clothes hunt, it was off to the BIG Tesco to finish our holiday shopping. It was a quick two hours, but we got what we needed with out stress and Zelda had fun going down the isles and retrieving the items and putting them in the basket.
Next up was to look for a tree. We came out empty handed. It will wait until Tuesday when Zelda has a day with her daddy and I am on my interview.
By the time we got home, it was dark and cold. we were all tired and ready to eat a pub style meal prepared by me! Chips, bangers, breaded shrimps and peas. We were all asleep by 9:30pm.
Sunday morning was a repeat of the Barbie show. I went into town to look for clothes again and Zelda and her daddy wrote Christmas cards. When I got back we ate lunch and then got dressed up to go to our neighbors for a Christmas party. Everyone in our close was invited.
At 3:30 we headed into town to go to the Cathedral to see the lighting of the tree and the blessing of the crib. Zelda was wearing a long purple shimmery dress with beading and she sailed around the place like she owned it! There is presently an American vicar visiting the cathedral. He is from Chicago. He noticed Zelda and said, "perfect, how beautiful". Does he know about my blog?!
We went to the Gala Theater cafe afterwards for a drink. It was lovely to watch all the families coming in and celebrating the season. There was no pretense like in France. Just real people of all shapes, sizes and economic circumstances.
Six o'clock and it was time to walk home. The evening air was chilly but embracing. The moon was nearly full and illuminated everything in its path, including us three. It was perfect.
Saturday morning herald in with Barbies on a tray. We were all given one and then had to act out fairy tales dictated by Zelda. Afterwards, Zelda went downstairs to watch Mon Petite Pony. This is a video all in French, so we did not mind her watching it for quite a long time. She practiced her language skills while we got to have some us time. Showers and breakfast followed.
Dur8ing the afternoon we went to TK Max to see if I could find something to wear to my interview on Tuesday. No luck. I am going to look a bit dated, a bit Alley Mcbeal meets bank teller! Following the clothes hunt, it was off to the BIG Tesco to finish our holiday shopping. It was a quick two hours, but we got what we needed with out stress and Zelda had fun going down the isles and retrieving the items and putting them in the basket.
Next up was to look for a tree. We came out empty handed. It will wait until Tuesday when Zelda has a day with her daddy and I am on my interview.
By the time we got home, it was dark and cold. we were all tired and ready to eat a pub style meal prepared by me! Chips, bangers, breaded shrimps and peas. We were all asleep by 9:30pm.
Sunday morning was a repeat of the Barbie show. I went into town to look for clothes again and Zelda and her daddy wrote Christmas cards. When I got back we ate lunch and then got dressed up to go to our neighbors for a Christmas party. Everyone in our close was invited.
At 3:30 we headed into town to go to the Cathedral to see the lighting of the tree and the blessing of the crib. Zelda was wearing a long purple shimmery dress with beading and she sailed around the place like she owned it! There is presently an American vicar visiting the cathedral. He is from Chicago. He noticed Zelda and said, "perfect, how beautiful". Does he know about my blog?!
We went to the Gala Theater cafe afterwards for a drink. It was lovely to watch all the families coming in and celebrating the season. There was no pretense like in France. Just real people of all shapes, sizes and economic circumstances.
Six o'clock and it was time to walk home. The evening air was chilly but embracing. The moon was nearly full and illuminated everything in its path, including us three. It was perfect.
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