Hey Croissant!

Well, I hope everyone had a good easter- we were in Nottingham, visiting Helen and Shub, Maya and Jamie, but mostly just Helen as Shub's dad died unexpectedly and he had to go to India- we are glad we got to see him, though and hopefully our visit didn't take too much of a toll on Helen!!
Actually the kids played really well together, so we didn't have to do much parenting, which was really refreshing! They basically took care of themselves!!

We also had a tram ride to downtown where everyone but me had a ride in the bigwheel (see above. Maniacs- don't they realise the dangers!!?)

Then we had a visit to the Robin Hood exhibition in the museum, but the kids enjoyed the seaside playroom the most.

My favourite bit....? Thinking of doing laundry all the time, which is my most hated chore- this went some way to ease the pain. It was really funny though, because Mae didn't like it at all! We scarred her for life. Poor thing. Here's a bonus photo of her sucking lemons. With all the pictures detailing her suffering in life, you won't be surprised that I would love to take the camera to the doctors tomorrow for her booster shots. Alas, I am a slightly better mother than that, John Reid!!

PS- the reason for the title is that we stopped in Stafford on the way home and ate at Bella Italia. The service was very slow and we told Mae to call 'garcon!'- so she turned around and loudly shouted 'hey Croissant!'

Please help

Please everyone, start sending letters to your MP's as well as the president of the olympic commitee, Jaques Rogge to about the crackdown in Tibet.
Even if you are not interested in Tibet, or the Olympic Games, this is a human rights issue. I know everyone who reads this blog and that you all would stand up for that.

Mae and I went to Samye Ling yesterday and one of the Tibetan women there was telling me she has no contact with her family. She doesn't know if they are dead or alive, and may never know, due to the lack of information. Please help these people.

Ow ow Fuckety ow

The funniest line in Juno, which we went to see last night. Hilarious! Go see it!!

That line was while Juno was in labour. Everyone was surprised that I didn't swear when giving (or trying to give) birth. I only said damn it, just at the end.

Today is Women's Day- a big smooch to all my girlfriends!!

Rachel, why couldn't I find a picture of you?? Happy Women's Day!!!

Here we go a-spurning

There's something funny going on in Dumfries and Galloway.

Mae and I found these roses yesterday, thrown (in despair? Let's get poetic) under a hedge by the riverside. 8 perfect roses, all closed yesterday, now flourishing in a loving environment.

what the heck?

Mae also found some roses cast aside in a cave at the beach a few months ago.

Either there is a serial rose giver or there's a lot of dramatic people around here. I'd say the latter.

And look at what I made! Inspired by Sharon, these anti-spag bol (that's spaghetti bolonaise to you, mom) covers for the chairs. Not bad.

Lack of Judgement, Part Two

Well, actually, it was part one.

I went to an Amnesty meeting last November and stupidly agreed to be the 'China person'- what I thought would be to collect and disseminate information. Not realising that I am the lead on action for the Olympics.

Any ideas what action we should be taking in Dumfries? There are only a handful of us. I am meant to come up with ideas. As most of you know, I am not an ideas person. This is going to be difficult. At least they will be humane....

Lack of Judgement

I told Geoff I wanted to blog this story, and although I promised not to take the proverbial, he came up with the title.

Owing to the fact that when, walking home, wearing his nice MarksandSpencerwithcashmere jacket, he decided to take a short cut over muddy grass on a steep hill.

That's just about all I can say without incriminating myself. By blogging this I have promised to take said article to the dry cleaners. If they asked me what happened, all I will say is 'Lack of judgement'

Happy Birthday Jiun May

This isn't a picture of her- although I have seen her dressed like this once or twice!!!

And thanks all for your thoughts about my grandfather.

Ode to my Pop

well, it's actually a Robert Burns poem, but my grandfather died today and I think this poem sums up it all:

An honest man here lies at rest
As e'er God with his image blest;
The friend of man, the friend of truth,
The friend of age, and guide of youth:
Few hearts like his, with virtue warm'd,
Few heads with knowledge so informed:
If there's another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this.

There must be another pink pony up there somewhere, I hope he has his mints with him....

I wonder if can I do it?

I got this diary which, if you can't read the type, is called Books They Tried to Ban.

Out of 53 titles, (well, the weeks of the year aren't all exactly Monday to Friday) I have read 11. Do you think I can read the rest this year? Hmmm- most look slightly interesting, but it's not made up of current banned books, so we have softies like Peyton Place, and Animal Farm.

Unfortunately The Da Vinci Code has been banned in some countries. Really don't want to read that one. And American Psycho has no appeal either. But I will give it my best shot.

I am starting off with Wild Swans, then onto Stick Out Your Tongue by Ma Jian which looks interesting. My bookshelf is Tibet heavy at the moment. I am ashamed that I didn't ask Mae's school to celebrate Tibetan New Year instead of Chinese New Year- that is my mission for 2009 (Sharon put it on your calendar- it's January 27th)

But it's a reading time of year, huh?

We don't all get lovely snow, you are right, Bethanne.

And, please note my new web banner- cool, huh? I am officially a technophile, even tho' I can barely spell the word. This will lead onto my next blog, which will be asking everyone who reads this blog (all three of you) for your help with my Amnesty work (what have I gotten myself into....!!)

Disturbed

Two definitions of the above word:

1. What happens to Jennifer's sleep when Mae wakes up with a nightmare, and compounded by Rumpole's less than human understanding that it is not time to get up.

2. The fact that Mae described a dream about losing a loveheart on the computer when she was making me a valentine as a nightmare. And screaming and crying about it.

Read the above definitions then tell me who is the MOST disturbed.

Excitement

Nothing has been going on so far this year, and I mean nothing. Well- until this!!!

I bought Mae some new socks the other day, got them home and guess what! They fit both of us! Will that save us money, so you think, or will I just be buying all the cutest kids socks I can find...?

But when I went to download that photo, I realised I hadn't blogged our weekend with the Reids back in January- the highlights being when Mae was left for the afternoon watching Claire (well, do you really think she's getting an allowance?)

And yet another vehicular themed museum to add to the list. So will she be a nanny or a mechanic? Hmmm....

Pop

Wish I was there to see you, Pop.

My Little Pony....er, Buddhist

Mae has been asking lately what happens to us when we die. Being not the most Christian of parents, I am giving Mae a more Buddhist, and therefore (in my mind, hopeful) idea of reincarnation.

So yesterday, out of the blue she said about our neighbour Noel, who died about a year ago, ' What happened to that guy who lived with June? I bet he came back as a pink pony!!!'

She must have thought a lot about Noel, pink ponies are her favourite and her best!

Ode the Bethanne

Thanks for inspiring me to change my blog,
I might need to work on it; my head's in a fog.

Serving Suggestion, part deux

The reason for that title? Well, I meant to tell you this humourous, slightly ascerbic anecdote about buying butter at Marks and Spencer's this week. I get this butter home and while I am cooking (scallops, no less), I look at the packaging, which has a photo of a buttered roll on it, with serving suggestion written in small letters.
Which is helpful, because I often go into grocery shops and look at the butter and think of buying, but have no idea of how to use it.
Thanks, M&S.

Serving Suggestion

Not much has been happening here in lazy town since Christmas. A bit of beachcombing, doorknob gazing and wining and dining friends.

And, arguing with Librarians, who, in my experience are musty old bats. So they said I had two books out, one of which I don't remember even taking out, and the other I distinctly remember returning. They have done this before, somehow not noted them as returned; most times after I return them I take new ones out, so have caught them in the act. I think they practice black book magic, and would even go so far as to say they are quite bureaucratic. So I went in twice to tell them these books had been brought back, and that pre and post Christmas the house was TOTALLY cleaned (they don't need to know my style of cleaning), and that I don't keep books, I bring them to charity shops when they are finished so I have VERY FEW books in my house. They won't listen. They said they would renew a couple more times and if I don't find the books I have to pay for them. The cheek. The book-hiding freaks. I am very appalled. How VERY dare they.

Then I found them.

Who am I going to rope into returning them on my sorry-ass behalf? I blame Andrew, who frenetically cleaned up the night I took Mom (see photos. another point against me, not publishing any photos of mom over the holiday. See? She was here!) to the airport, so as not to invoke my wrath. Or do I have to bite the bullet and do it myself?

3:19 a.m.

That's when I got up to change Mae's sheets last night. Not quite finished with the expletives, Sharon!!

3 Years, 8 Months and 19 Days

And we have no more nappies, day or night! Expletives aside, I am quite happy about it.

Believe everything you see:

Yes, the new year started with a bang. The boys want a re-match. Should I be magnanimous or hold firmly onto the title of Scrabble Champ?

Images of Christmas

Pre-Christmas (how many Santas are there, mom?)


Plus a bit of frosty weather for effect:




Gingerbread houses made:



Christmas Eve, ready for Santa:


Christmas Morn, ready for the big day (everyone included):


And Post-opening:

Christmas night, with the winning gift, once again thanks to Papa from the girl racer: