The Undomestic Goddess

Hot bottoms and bubbles

2009-03-17T21:15:00.003+01:00

The weekend away was great! We ended up in a 5 star hotel in Austria! The first night we had an 8 course meal - I have never had an eight course meal before. By course six I was stuffed and could barely manage more than a bite of the two desserts! I learnt from that and on the second night paced myself for the seven course meal!!! Couldn't miss dessert two nights running could I???

We went skiing in a resort that crosses the German/Austrian border. I knew whenever we were close to the border as my mobile phone provider would send me a SMS telling me I had changed providers!! The first day the snow was fabulous but we couldn't see much. Sunday the weather was sunny but the snow was a little crispy! What was fun about the resort though were the chair lifts. One of our friends with us (who was French and a very good skier) was amazed! First there were the little travellators - as you went through the gate you went on one which took you to the right place at supposedly the right time for the chair lift to pick you up. It has to be said though that one such travellator brought you very close to falling off the edge if you were a little too enthusiastic going through the gate! Next were the bubbles - many of the lifts had lids that kept the wind off - bliss! But best of all were the heated seats - nice warm bottom by the time you got to the top! Must try to encourage the local ski stations to invest in them!!

So that was our weekend in a nutshell! he children had a ball at granny's! Now all I need to do is work on granny for those 10 days in Boston we want to plan.......

Gadgets I didn't know I couldn't live without!!

2009-02-17T20:37:00.002+01:00

There aren't that many gadgets that I really really need but I got one recently (not by design but it just came with the car!!) that I can really see the benefit of! What is it - the bluetooth. When J said it was in the new car I was not really impressed - being that I don't really use my mobile phone that much (another gadget I could almost live without - except that it is a means of the children's school getting in touch with me in an emergency!!)! However, it is really useful. Before I leave work I can call and chat to J or friends, and I can actually take any calls (before I would obviously leave them!!) Probably not essential but I am getting very used to it - and not in a good way!!

What gadgets would you not like to give up!!?

Weekend away!

2009-02-11T09:27:00.002+01:00

O is 7 1/2 years old. In all that time J and I have never been away for the weekend alone! Heck - since F was born there has only been 2 nights when both have been away at the same time - and both times it was not so we could go away but for other far more practical reasons!!

But next month all that is to change! We have had the opportunity to go to Munich for the weekend. Well actually, a long weekend! MIL is having the children - though O is going to sleep at a friend's one night (for practical reasons known as swimmming and handball!!!) I am so looking forward to it. Friday will be a day in Munich before we head to the mountains for a weekend of skiing!

And lets not talk about a possible week in Boston in June!!!!!

Whoops!

2009-02-10T17:55:00.002+01:00

So the children are on school holidays this week (and next - don't get me started on French school holidays!!!) And O is on a day theatre camp in the next town up! It finishes at 4.30pm. The town is a minimum of 30 minutes from work - if all the lights are green and I don't get behind a lorry.

It is 4.15pm. I am still at work. The penny drops - the children are not at school. O's camp finishes in 15 minutes. I rush out. Thankfully the traffic fairies are on my side! I am "only" 15 minutes late!

The worse thing - it was not just O but his friend I was picking up. Thankfully the camp director was very undestanding - she knows me well!

So for tomorrow - note to self - the children are NOT at school!!!!

Holiday plans

2009-02-04T20:45:00.003+01:00

Or lack of that should be!

We can't make our mind up in the first place if we should actually go on holiday this summer. Last summer we went to Munich and then on to the German Alps and had a good time. It was tiring though - he children were boisterous to say the least and bickered every night as hey were sharing a room. For the New Year we went skiing in the French Alps. We stayed this time in a hotel which we liked a lot. However I don't think our budget will stretch to a hotel this time, especially for two weeks. Added to that J is hopeless at sitting down to discuss it!!

I think if we do go it will be in France - and probably the beach because we haven't had a beach holiday in a long time! If it is the beach - then I much prefer the Atlantic coast. I don't know why but the Med coast has never really done it for me! I know the children would love a beach holiday.

Off on a tangent but I managed to see how many airmiles J has on his AF card today - he never gets statements so we had no idea really! Anyway, here is enough for a return flight with Europe - now where could I go!!!!!

Flying high!

2009-02-02T20:03:00.002+01:00

I was working out of a different office this morning which necessitated me taking a completely different route than normal!

This being Toulouse and the very fact I was skirting the airport I shouldn't have been surprised by what I saw but somehow I was. It was the A380 - something I see daily as it lands at the airport (my office is at one end of the runway!!) but this one was parked and at such an angle that at first I could just see the nose and wings - and that made me really appreciate its size and marvel at the fact that this beast flies!

Two minutes later I passed another icon of the aviation world - Concorde. I have seen this one many times - but even so I am always amazed at how small it is and how it has never been rivalled as far as speed goes! It is just a shame that I will never fly on it!

What a week!

2009-02-01T21:34:00.002+01:00

As I can hear the wind blowing outside again, it reminded me to wite about the last week!

Last weekend, the south west had a big storm - power was lost to many many households, ours included. It eventually came back on 60h later. In the meantime, school was cancelled (they didn't have power either!!) thankfully a dear friend took the children as my ILs didn't have any power either. We ended up sleeping at our friends (though the power did come back late Monday evening)

Tuesday was thankfully normal until I picked the children up from school to find out that the schol was closed on Thursday due to the strike - this was the first time it has happened as generally private schools don't strike. My MIL agreed to have the children so I took them up on Wednesday afternoon. Thursday I got call from my MIL - F was throwing up! Poor love had a gastro. By Friday she was still throwing up - and was very lethargic so my MIL called me at work and we agreed to get her to the doctors! So I left work early and we saw the doctor - thankfully since then she has got better and is much better today!

So last week O had two days and F only one day at school! Hopefully next week they will be there for all 4 days as the week after that it is yet again the school holidays - again!!

Whoops!

2009-02-01T21:23:00.002+01:00

I am really not very good at this blog lark am I? It is now nearly a year since I last posted! And when looking at my blog I was amazed to see that in fact I started the blog in 2005. Where does the time go!

So what has happened here in the last 12months?

I have started working 4/5th at the company I was at - I don't work Wednesdays! I don't do so much teaching, mainly admin. My boss is very flexible which helps me a lot!

J has a new job too - that means we basically don't see him during he week. Hard on him and us.

The children are doing very well. O is doing very well at school (he saves his bad behavoir for home). He loves reading - the french version of the Famous Five being his current favourite. F is just getting over a gastro (poor love). She isn't convinced about school but seems to be doing well - is starting to have good letter recognition and can write her letters!

OK - that will do for a start!!

The first report

2008-02-05T21:11:00.000+01:00

F got her first school report this past weekend! We totally didn't expect it! She is doing just fine - this last term she has really settled in and integrated! It helps that now she totally understands French and is also speaking it! There were a few areas she could improve on - such as her listening to ALL the instructions but overall we were really pleased!

F is still a little clingy at times in the morning - but she now does voluntarily go in (before I literally had to hand her over - she wouldn't be crying but she wasn't going to let go of my hand). Whn I pick her up early for her speech therapy she is always happily playing the the playground so I do know that she is OK - doesn't stop me worrying though. In a lot of ways she is a lot stronger character than O (who has never been clingy) bu she does seem to lack some confic=dence away from the family. I guess I put it down to ger speech still being not 100% so at times she struggles to be understood. She isn't going to school tomorow morning (half day tomorrow) as she has speech therapy and then the doctors at 10.30am - she is coughing again and her eye is gunky.

Typical!

2008-01-31T15:06:00.000+01:00

Why is it that the parcel that you are waiting for comes in the one morning you are out - it could have come yesterday (arrived at the depot yesterday morning - the joy of tracking!!) or this afternoon but no - it came this morning! I can't contact the transport company until tomorrow - hopefully they can deliver on Monday! And what is it I hear you ask - a new coffee machine. Our old one died a death at the weekend so I am having to make coffee using a cafetiere! I can't abide instant coffee. Anyway - we have ordered one that has a milk container so that it will make a latte without the need for me to hold the pipe into the milk! The container clips on and then can clip off and into the fridge! I can't wait! J is more interested in hearing whether his new zapper for the gate has arrived!! I think he has had to climb over the wall one or two times too many!

So my first day in my new job!

2008-01-29T20:45:00.000+01:00

It went really well - it was tiring in that most of the day was spent listening to and speaking French - which I can do but am out of practice with! I was actually surprised in that I do have a desk and my very own laptop - though it does have a AZERTY keyboard rather than a QWERTY one! I am still trying to find the @ !!!

I really enjoyed it - lots to learn in respect of the actual software I will have to use but I was able to contribute lots of contructive ideas about how we can progress that hadn't been thought of before.

I will still be teaching for the time being - will have to see how that panes out! All in all a good day!

It has been a while!

2008-01-28T20:41:00.000+01:00

I know, I know - bad me! I kept on meaning to post and then would get distracted!

So it is catch up time!

Christmas was fun - both kids really enjoyed their gifts - we got it spot on! They are now back at school! At last F seems to be happy about going! Though last week she was sick (coughing and a throat infection) which mean she missed several days. It was a bit tricky getting her back into the routine!

O continues to blow me away. He is now reading brilliantly! I am so proud of him! His end of term report was outstanding! It seems that he is well liked (especially by the girls), he works hard and is ahead of where he should be! He still has his moments - his current "behavoir" is complaining that "it isn't fair" - as in F got more cake etc etc. Our recation to this has now to be to actally give F whatever O complains (wrongly) that she has more of - and it is a tactic that is working!!!

Workwise - I am starting a "new" job tomorrow! Still with the same company but I am moving into the admin side of the business - which is what I used to do before children! I am looking forward to it - it is a move upwards! It will mean working eventually three full days - and very little actual teaching! Plus my written French will need to improve quickly! It is a good challenge though!

i will try to update more regularly - if only for my own self as no-one else seems to read it!!

It's a wrap!

2007-12-11T14:57:00.000+01:00

I am sure I am not alone in that I am the sole wrapper in the household. Admittedly J would help (and he does wrap my presents!) but (a) he isn't very good at it, (b) he doesn't like doing it and (c) he is rarely here when the children aren't (and due to O's habit of suddenly getting up for no reason when not expected it is hard to do it at night!) So today's objective was to rap the rest of the gifts - and with a little bit of organisation I had it all done in 2 hours! Yay me!

And my handy tip for wrapping - wrap each child's gifts in the different paper (this year green snowflakes for O and Dora for F) which means no labels are required!

Getting ready for Christmas!

2007-12-02T14:31:00.000+01:00

The tree is up. The children decorated it on Friday. Our tradition is that we put the lights on, after that it is down to them. We don't mess with what they have done! This leads to a tree that while not perfect is certainly spectular because they have done it themselves. O has wonderful memories of being allowed to do the tree all on his own last year so I feel that it is a tradition well wroth keeping!

The fabric advent calendar is up - with two chocolate eggs in each pocket! O gets that it is just a once a day activity - F does not!!

The playmobil advent calander is all set up (25minutes my foot - it took me a good hour to unpack, make all the boxes, make the playmobile, put them in the right box and then put the boxes on the cardboard backing!) and the children have agreed to take it turns to open a box!

Other than that, I still haven't made my cards (oh dear!) but most of the shopping has been done! It certainly won't be long before Christmas is upon us!

Soup update!

2007-12-02T14:28:00.000+01:00

Well so far this week we have had:
Carrot and coriander soup
Tomato and pasta soup
Curried parsnip soup
Dutch pea soup

As our scales are useless he hasn't weighed himself yet so no idea if it is actually working! He is trying to calorie count but I still see him nicking the odd biscuit!! He is out running at the moment - he has decided to try to do next year's marathon! Run J run!

Soups and Cake!

2007-11-24T15:04:00.000+01:00

J is on a diet. He went to see the doctor this week as he needed a new prescription for his asthma drugs. She commented that he could do with losing some weight. He isn't fat per se but he probably could do with losing a bit. He will never be a skinny minny - he hasn't got the frame for it! So he is calorie counting and trying to cut out all the sugary treats. I am doing my bit by making soups each night - we both like soups (shame I can't tempt the children - have tried on many occasions to no avail!), they are easy to make and fairly good on the calorie front (especially if I don't add cream!!). Tonight it is going to be a veggie and bean broth - no recipe just a bit of chuck in and see!

However I am also at the moment baking a spiced pear cake - I just felt like baking and am tired of always doing chocolate cakes - plus I had just bought a load of pears. It is in the oven as I speak and it smells lovely! J will just have to resist! Or hope that the children eat it quickly!!

Reading

2007-11-22T21:23:00.000+01:00

I have already mentioned that O's reading has come on so quickly - and daily I am staggered by how much he has progressed. Over the weekend he actually read a book (albeit it a very short one!) and tonight he went through his homework so quickly - it seems to becoming more and more instinctive! I am so proud of him - he works so hard at school. He was so chuffed tonight as he got a reply to his letter to father cristmas. It was just a pre-printed standard thingy but he was happy!

I have just ordered him an elf costume - last year he got a Santa costume which I wrapped in brown paper, addressed and put it in our mail box. When he found it he was so amazed. i figure this could be his last year believing so I am gong all out to make it special! I have also ordered F an angel costume so she isn't left out. I just home they arrive in time - we have sent them to a colleague of J's who lives in the UK and he will bring them over (he is here every week!)

I also went out and bought crackers today - Trauffault the garden centre sells them. Christmas isn't Christmas without them!

Puzzles

2007-11-12T20:54:00.000+01:00

O is a demon jigsaw puzzler - has been since he was about 18m old. He seems to have an eye for the right shape. F, on the other hand, had never seemed bothered. She was always more interested in throwing the jigsaw pieces all over the play. Until last week that is! For her birthday she got three Dora puzzles. Have I ever said how obsessed she is by Dora. The really funny thing is though that she is not that bothered about watching her! Anyway - to get back to the point - suddenly she is doing these 20 piece puzzles on her own with ease! Me thinks I need to try to find one that is a bit more challenging while she is enjoying doing them!

Completely off subject too I have to say how blown away we were by F's work book from school - in a short 2 months she is coming on in leaps and bounds. Not bad for a little girl who went into petite section with very little French!

Letter to father Christmas

2007-11-10T14:49:00.000+01:00

Christmas has to be O's favourite time of the year - he just loves all aspects of it - from the reason why there is Christmas to the decorations to the gift giving and receiving and best of all - to Father Christmas.

J and I figure this may be the last year he actually believes in F.C. Last night he decided that he really did have to write his letter to father christmas. The list thankfully was not that long! He is actually not very materialistic and would be happy with whatever he received! I addressed the envelope to:

Pere Noel
Le Pole Nord

and we took it to the post office this morning! I had no idea of what the system is here (you would have thought I would know after 10 years!) The guy behind the desk took it from O and just stanped it - no money was exchanged! Hopefully a reply will be forthcoming - O would just be so excited!

Back to my roots!

2007-10-31T14:33:00.000+01:00

Well my baking roots that is! I have hardly done any baking recently - with the return to work taking up much of my time I just haven't felt like it much! However this weekend I have no choice - I have to bake! First off on Saturday will be my Fridge Brownies - we are off to a Bonfire party and apparently the brownies have been requested by lots of people!

Sunday it is F's birthday party - there are five of her little shool friends plus two other friends who are coming. on the baking menu is a chocolate fudge cake (decorated with smarties - what else!), my mars bar cake (not sure if that really counts as baking) and some cookies (not yet decided what type!) Monday is her actual birthday - I am ever hopeful that my MIL who is looking after the two children on monday as we are both working will make one! Then on Tuesday I need to make a big enough cake for 27 children for her school party on Wednesday when they go back to school! I have booked a massage (a birthday present from J) on Wednesday morning - I might need it!

Lice, that's nice

2007-10-26T21:21:00.000+02:00

Now don't start itching!

F has had her first dose - I had washed her hair and noticed an insect in there. I called J who looked at it, got his insect book and decided it was a nasty louse. We checked and couldn't find any more, but still washed all our hairs in the lice shampoo, changed all the beds, put all the towels through the wash and every night since I have been nit combing their hair - so far nothing found - fingers crossed!

My sister swears by tea tree oil as a means of keeping them away - so I have been dabbing it on their necks each morning. I just hope that all the other parents at school treat their children over the toussaint break so that we don't have to go through all the palaver again!

A Rant

2007-10-21T14:11:00.001+02:00

Those of you who know me know that I don't publically rant very often (J will say otherwise!!) But yesterday I was so annoyed that when poor J walked in the door after having been out all afternoon doing his stint at scouts I almost bit his poor head off. What was it that caused this unusual (really) burst? it was our neighbours. Actually when I say neighbours thay are actually market gardeners who have greenhouses on the land adjoining our house. First I have to say that local byelaws make it illegal to have a bonfire - unfortunately it seems that many of the local market gardeners (there are a lot round here owing to the good soil quality)totally ignore this ban. yesterday morning I did several loads of washing to clear the backlog. I hung it out to dry to take advantage of tis good weather. They lit a blinking bonfire - the wind took the billows of smoke right in the direction of my washing. It stank. I have had to wash it all again today and because the bonfire is STILL going dry it all in the dryer.

ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!

PS I hate doing the washing - which is why this has bugged me so much!

I forgot to say...

2007-10-21T14:07:00.000+02:00

It is October- mid October (yes I know that you know that!!) On Wednesday we went into the pool - the outside pool! Granted, it has an "abri" ( a dome like cover) but we even pushed that back and swam in it for a good hour. O was thrilled. I admit it was a little cold at the start but we soon warmed up!

The weather has been amazing this month - while it is cold at night during the day we are getting t-shirt weather! Bliss!

He can read!

2007-10-13T13:41:00.000+02:00

Children in France start learning to read in CP - which they start in the September of the year they are six! O has really been picking up the sounds they have been doing (which has been hard for me as of course they are completely different that those in English!) and yesterday he had to do some reading for his homeowrk - and he read a whole sentence! It really is incredible to see him sounding out the words!

Well done my little man!

What a nice surprise!

2007-10-12T15:57:00.000+02:00

It has been an incredibly busy week.J has been away virtually all week, my timetable for teaching was 6 h each day I worked, on my one day off (well child free day off!) I went skating with O's class and then in the afternoon I had to go to an induction meeting at work and then on Wednesday the children didn't have school. Add into that a blocked nose for F which meant she didn't sleep that well (she sucks her fingers so she can't breathe through her nose!) and you can imagine that I feel worn out!

So it was such a lovely surprise to come out of my class this morning to be told that my afternoon class has been cancelled - though I still get paid! Bliss - a quiet afternoon at home!

Almost payday!

2007-09-29T13:51:00.000+02:00

After six years with no payday, next week should see an small increase in our bank account THANKS TO ME!!! Woohoo!! It isn't much but it makes me feel happy to have contributed to the household finances. Work is going well - I think! I have five regular classes each week (12h of teaching) plus if there are any intensives then I may get additional hours too. While it doesn't sound much, with preparation time it is enough! The main thing is that I am enjoying it - even this week when I have been sick!

Talking of being sick, J took F back to the doctors today. despite the antibiotics her cough wasn't sounding any better - if anything it sounded worse. We were right to go - it has gone onto her chest. She has stronger antibiotics plus she is back on he becotide/ventoline route. On a plus note, she has a little friend in her class - Bertille (a girl - just in case you are wondering!!) I think finally she is enjoying school!

O had his first swim class today - he was, as usual, apprehensive beforehand but came out saying it was fantastic! I just hope that this is the push he needs to get him swimming properly and confidently. With a pool at home he should already be but J and i find it impossible to teach him and he gets lazy on us - though with others he will do so much more!

Happy weekend!

It is the little things!

2007-09-25T10:52:00.000+02:00

This morning I don't feel wonderful. I saw the doctor last night and I have bronchitus. Thankfully I am not working again until Thursday so I can put my feet up today and just relax!

After dropping the children off at school I went to the pharmacy to pick up my antibiotics and on the way back home, while waiting at the roundabout, a bus carrying O went past! He saw me and his grin was a sight to behold! Made my day! And why was he on a bus? His class has 8 weekly ice skating classes and today is the first class. He was so excited today!

Not to be left out, F also has a trip today - to a vineyard (start them young!!)to pick grapes!

The rentree bug

2007-09-22T17:00:00.000+02:00

Usually it is the children who come down with a bug at the start of term - this time it is me! They have been coughing a little but nothing that bad that they have been complaining. Me, on the other hand, seems to have caught the flu. I should say that I am the ox in this family. All around me can be sick and I will be fine. This time my defences must be low as whatever I have has knocked me for six. I have just about managed to work bu today after a rough night (where I even decamped to the very uncomfortable spare bed)I have taken not one but TWO naps! Once this morning after encouraging O to watch TV (F was at gym with J) and then once F went for her nap (the boys have gone to an adventure park for the afternoon - we had tickets for it that needed to be used this weekend) I had another two hour nap - unheard of for me. I still feel completely wiped out and have resorted to letting F watch Dora!

Here's hoping that whatever is in my system is out of it soon. I hate feeling sick (and I am so not a good patient!) And fingers crossed that the children (or even worse J!!) don't get it!

Into the groove

2007-09-17T21:43:00.000+02:00

It is hard this work thing! Well not so much just the work but the juggling that goes on all around. I know I am not saying anything new and I am in a lucky position to live in a place that has a good pre-school care system and a husband who does a lot. Even so, I am tired!

F was up last night - not something that happens often but she needed a cuddle. Then this morning was the usual running around to get two children and one Mum out of the house to school. F at least did not start crying until we actually went INTO the garderie at school which is an improvement on last week! Then I rush down to near the Cite d'espace for the first lesson of the day. How I love seeing the rocket - silly really but it always signifies to me a world far outside of anything I can imagine! Then after that a dash into the office to get ready for the next group. It was so close this afternoon too but opening the windows isn't really an option as the office is near to the end of the runway! After that lesson i dashed home, got drenched getting the washing in and then out again o a meeting at school where I learnt a bit more about O will be doing this year. Poor lad is going to have to endure English lessons - though they did assure me they put him in the best group. I think the teacher will have to be creative to keep him involved as otherwise it is going to be so very very boring for him. he is also starting ice skating next week which he is so excited about! F had a better day - so we are slowly getting there with her!

Came home, had dinner and then the children had a quick bath. O then had homework - his writing has come on so much! He writes all joined up so easily!

Now thankfully they are fast asleep and I am relaxing for the first time! It is fun though - and not so far until pay day!!!

Back to school - and work!

2007-09-06T14:28:00.000+02:00

What a week!

First event was "la rentree" on Tuesday. Both children started at a new school - it is the local private Catholic school. We chose this school rather than the public one mainly because both children were on the same site and they understood the Montessori method - O was in a Montessori maternelle.

O was so excited - he is so keen to learn to read and write properly. He literally ran into school! Poor lad though was at the back of the class due to the children going in alphabetically - and we are at the end of the alphabet! Apparently O was struggling to understand (I think he panicked a little as his French is superb) but the teacher had the forethought to move him forward and since then he has been great!

F didn't cry either - on the first day but did yesterday and today! It is a big transition for her - full days every day and all in French! She did come home on day one with "I need a caca"!! I think once we leave she is fine!

Today was my big day too - back to work. I think it went well (well they haven't complained yet!) - I did let it slip I was my first day back at work so they may be giving me a sympathy vote!! J got the children to school OK - but we do need to work out how to use the garderie - it won't be every day and certainly should never be both morning and afternoon but we do need to get it sorted!

It is nice to be back at work - and feeling that I am contributing to the household finances! Not that J has ever been bothered by the fact that he was the sole contributor to the coffers but it did bother me! Roll on the first pay day!

Back to work

2007-09-01T15:04:00.000+02:00

I have been a SAHM for six years now - virtually since O was born. For me there was no other choice - particularly as in Germany (where O was born)childcare was non-existant! F starts full time school next week and I knew that once that happened I would want to return to work. I just didn't expect it to happen quite so quickly!

Through a series of coincidences I have found myself gainfully employed as a English language trainer (which is what I did before the children were born (well since moving abroad that is!!). I will only be working three days a week which is just what I wanted. I will always have Wednesdays off (half day at school here) and one other day which will change. I DO still need to talk money with them (J thinks I should have already - I hate that bit though!!) but an ex-colleague of mine who works there said they paid more than where we both worked before - so hopefully it will be within my expectations!

I am nervous - it is a big step and to be honest it probably would have been better had it happened a month later so I could settle the children in school but it is a great opportunity to get back to work doing something I enjoy with a company that seems to be very flexible.

Wish me luck!

Clearing out

2007-08-29T22:25:00.000+02:00

J is on the third week of his holidays and we haven't been away. But we have been making good use of the time to have a good clear out - neither of us like clutter. J's pet peeve is when his garage (note I say "his" - it is very much his part of the house - just like the kitchen is mine!) is in a mess. We are very lucky to have a double garage with lots of extra room but with two cars that we always park in there each night, the sit on mower, six bikes, several lots of shelving and all the old baby paraphalnilia something had to give!

By chance we discovered a shop that buys your unwanted errrr treasures! So we managed to offload the bulky old baby stuff (highchair, travel cot, rucksack, etc) and actually get money from it! Not that much but as we would have been happy enough to give it away if we actually knew anyone who was pregnant and didn't already have all the gear we were quite happy! We were planning to go out and have lunch with the proceeds as O is at daycamp and F is at my ILs for the day - but I seem to have got a stomach virus (or I have eaten something dodgy) and so didn't feel up to it (I do now after a good clearout!!!)

Party Bags

2007-08-26T22:33:00.000+02:00

I HATE party bags! I really really hate them. However I also love my son far more and party bags were an essential party of his birthday celebrations today! Me being me though decided that I could not possibly give them in those horrible plastic bags that are the only option here (and believe me I have searched for an alternative!) So I made them - sixteen green paper bags with a very furry handle. It took me about 4 hours and a lot of swearing! Then the next dilemma - what to put in them. I hate the high E numbered sweets that seem to be compulsory and all those little bits of plastic junk and instead ended up with some chocolate and a playdoh dome (on special offer!)

Were they appreciated - oh yes! Would they still have been equally appreciated if they had been plastic bags full of E numbers and junk - sadly probably!

Chickpeas!

2007-08-22T23:12:00.000+02:00

This has to be one of both my children's favourite foods - it is just such a shame that they both don't like them "cooked" the same way - indeed both refuse to eat the other "form"! O is a felafal boy - just loves them stuffed in a pitta with ketchup! F, on the other hand, will have the pitta but with "houhou" - or houmous to the rest of us! I have tried to get them both to accept that they are just the same but they look different but so far I am having no luck!

I see a joint cookery lesson coming up but knowing my two even that won't encourage them to eat the other!!

Preening!

2007-08-17T22:04:00.000+02:00

O doesn't really care what he wears - as long as it is comfy then he is set. The only time he probably does care is when he is off to a party and then he absolutely MUST wear one of his shirts.

F, on the other hand, is a completely different kettle of fish! I don't know if it is a girl thing or just her but she has set ideas already at the age of two and three quarters of what looks good - and what doesn't! Of course, that doesn't always meet with Mummy's view of fashion! Today we went shopping and she insisted on picking out her own choice of clothes for going back to school - this included a bikini! Ever since she discovered one in her drawer last week she has been insistent on wearing it all the time (we, on the other hand, insist that she can only wear it when we are going in the pool - this has led to her wanting to go in the pool a lot more!) The funniest thing though is that each times she puts it on (and now she is so happy that she has a choice!!) she runs to the mirror and stands preening - it is so cute to see! Having said that, I dread to think what she will be like when she becomes a teenager!

Back ...

2007-08-13T14:35:00.000+02:00

wow - that was a bit of a break wasn't it! But as I read more blogs I figured that I ought to be better at keeping it up - and actually reading it back was very interesting (well for me anyway!)

So little has changed except that O is now 6 and F is almost three! I am still a SAHM but I am hoping that once F starts school full time in September I will be able to find some part time work. I have a few fingers ina few pies so we will see if anything comes from any of them!

This post is just a "well I am back" one - I hope that somehow people do start to read it (I guess that one I get more regular about it I should start linking to it on my many online forums that I participate in!)

Thanks for reading and do check in again!!!

O's new speech therapist

2006-02-01T21:02:00.000+01:00

O's speech therapist left last week on maternity leave so today was his first appointment with Ann-Sophie. It was her first appointment in the job too - poor love. She had a child whose name she had never seen before and to boot he was of British origin! Anyway - it must have gone OK as O gave her a kiss at the end of it!

I am not yet sure what I think of her - I don't stay for the appointments as the dual language makes it hard on O (he always speaks english with me). Time will tell!

She can...

2006-02-01T20:58:00.000+01:00

walk I am sure but Little Miss finds it much quicker to crawl. F has taken upto 5 steps on her own and behind her pushchair or holding onto her cow or one hand she will happily walk. But she doesn't want to do so regularly. I admit it is driving me mad. O walked in two days at the age of ten months - whereas F has been like this for over 3months. I am eager mainly because when we go pick O up from school I end up carrying F for over 30minutes - and she is getting heavier and heavier!

One day soon........................................

Beans beans beans

2006-01-31T13:13:00.000+01:00

I am terrible at buying in dried beans and never using them (too much pfaff to soak them overnight) but I saw a bean and pasta soup recipe that looked tasty so last night I put some aduki beans into soak and the soup is now cooking on the hob. I have to keep remembering to go stir it. I just hope O eats it. I have sold him to it as a pasta stew rather than a soup - not sure if that will work when he actually sees it!

Wow - that was quick!

2006-01-31T13:09:00.000+01:00

January that is. It only seems like two minutes since it was Christmas day!

The last few days we have had snow (well it has actually melted now). O was delighted - he was dressed and out as soon as he realised that there was that white stuff outisde. He built a great snowman! The snow lasted over 2 days - which is unheard of for here. On the rare occasions we do get it it is gone by midday. It was good it was the weekend as that meant that O got the most out of it!

The snow pretty much dominated the weekend - we just went out to the local shops on Saturday and walked to the Sunday market the day after. Though O did go to a birthday party. J took him so that he could nip into the office for a while! He is working way too hard at the minute - but he is enjoying himself which is great!

Down!

2006-01-23T21:42:00.000+01:00

I don't know why - I just feel deflated tonight. I was sick (literally) over the weekend so maybe that has taken more out of me than I thought??? I don't know. I feel really unmotivated generally. I know I need to work out - do some exercise. Just not sure how. I can't join a gym as they don't have creches, and doing anything is the evening just doesn't appeal (especially as I don't like driving in the dark).

I guess once summer comes, and we have the pool it will be easier to exercise and hopefully I can start toning that spare tyre round my middle! I could go walking with F in her stroller but it just doesn't appeal.

I know I know - excuses escuses!

Done it again...

2006-01-23T21:38:00.000+01:00

Not posted that it! Perhaps as I feel that I do so little that my life is pretty boring! Whereas it isn't really! I NEED to make more effort!

New job!

2006-01-02T22:07:00.000+01:00

No - not me (don't be silly!!) but J! He still works for the same company but has today officilaly started in his roel as Quality and Risk Manager on a new project! He is so very excited by the job and what it all entails. he is going to be busy with that and doing his last course for his MBA - roll on April when it will have all finished!

Christmas!

2006-01-02T21:55:00.000+01:00

We managed to get the children in bed at a reasonable hour and my parents went about 9pm. J and I waited until about 11pm until we put the gifts out - I was worried about O coming out as he was so excited and I didn't want to spoil the Christmas dream for him.

In the morning he woke up at 7.10am. All we could hear was him say "Wow, Mummy daddy, Father Christmas has come!" In our family we do the gifts one at a time - and what was cute was that F soon worked out that the pink gifts were for her. While theer seemed to be a lot of gifts there actually was a reasonable number and I feel we didn't go OTT. The star gifts included a cheap plastic pretend camera for O, a box of wooden blocks for F which we have all played with, a new camera for me and J's cordless headphones. My parents were thrilled with the DVD player we got for them.

Dinner was an onion tart - not very traditional but as we don't do meat it was perfect! We all ate way too much! O loved the crackers but I don't think f was too impressed!

My parents went home the next day and we all just vegged out and played with the toys.

Tuesday we went to IKEA - and as often happens saw someone there we hadn't seen for 6 years! Good to exchange numbers!

Wednesday our old neighbours came round. O had a paddy because they hadn't wrapped his present. I had words with him about being grateful and he soon came round.

Friday we went to my parents to set the DVD played up for them. Mum made us proper British fish, chips and mushy peas - wonderful!

New Year's Eve was a bit of a non-event as usual!

Sunday we had more friends round for lunch - that was as nice as it always is with them!

And that brings us to today - last day of the holidays before O goes back to school tomorrow!

Update

2006-01-02T21:50:00.000+01:00

As promised not one minute ago!

O finished school on the 16th - seemed really early but I guess that is what you get for Christmas being on the weekend. His school had a party which was fun - way too much food as usual though all my brownies went!!!

On the Sunday O, F and I went up to my parents while J studied for an assignment for his MBA. As usual it was lovely to see them. O stayed with them (heck as soon as lunch was over he kept asking when F and I were going to leave!) and only returned on Wednesday. It was nice to have some time with just F and not have to have our day dictated to by the school run! Friday O and I went to his best friend's 5th birthday party. It was bitterly cold but didn't stop them playing outside! O loves parties!

Christmas Eve we went to a local forest. it was a glorious day - blue skies and warmish. We collected pinecones which poor old me had to then lug around. Then again J was carried F in the Bjorn!! In the late afternoon my parents came over for Christmas. Will start a new post for Christmas!

I must make more effort!

2006-01-02T21:49:00.000+01:00

I really do suck at keeping this updated - hopeless! I think about writing in it a lot but never seem to actually get to do it. So I guess I need a big update post going!

St Lucia

2005-12-12T22:55:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow O's school is celebrating St Lucia - a Swedish holiday as one of his teacher's is half Swedish. This is what one website had to say about the holiday:

Throughout Sweden the feast day of Lucia, or Lucy, is celebrated as a festival of lights. In the early hours of the morning of December 13 a young woman, dressed in a white gown, and wearing a red sash and a crown of lingonberry twigs and blazing candles, would go from one farm to the next carrying a torch to light her way, bringing baked goods, stopping to visit at each house and returning home by break of day. Every village had its own Lucia. The custom is thought to have begun in some of the richer farming districts of Sweden and still persists although the crowns are now electric lights.
In Norway and Sweden it is still a custom on December 13 for a girl in a white dress (representing the Saint), to bring a tray of saffron buns and steaming coffee to wake the family. She is called the Lussibrud (Lucy bride) and her pastry (saffron buns) is Lussekattor (recipe and photo). Today many families have a Lucia-Queen in their own home, often the youngest daughter, who wakes the rest of the family with song.
Lucia symbolizes light and growth for human and beast as she emerges out of the darkness. She is said to have been beheaded by the sword during the persecutions of Diocletian at Catania in Sicily. Her body was later brought to Constantinople and finally to Venice, where she is now resting in the church of Santa Lucia. Because her name means "light" she very early became the great patron saint for the "light of the body"--the eyes. Many of the ancient light and fire customs of the Yuletide became associated with her day. Thus we find "Lucy candles" lighted in the homes and "Lucy fires" burned in the outdoors. Before the Reformation Saint Lucy's Day was one of unusual celebration and festivity because, for the people of Sweden and Norway, she was the great "light saint" who turned the tides of their long winter and brought the light of the day to renewed victory.
Before the calendar reform, her original feast day (the day of her martyrdom) happened to fall on the shortest day of the year. The winter solstice was December 13 by the Julian calendar rather than December 21, which it became with the change to the Gregorian calendar in the 1300s, linking it with the far older Yule and Winter festivals of pre-Christian times. Lucy's lore survived the Reformation and calendar reform, which brought the solstice to December 23.
Another Scandianavian custom was for children, on the eve of December 13, to write the word "Lussi" on doors, fences, and walls. In ancient times the purpose of this practice was to announce to the demons of winter that their reign was broken on Saint Lucy's Day, that the sun would return again and the days become longer. "Lucy fires" used to be burned in many parts of northern Europe on December 13. Into the bonfires people would throw incense, and while the flames rose, trumpets and flutes were playing to celebrate the changing of the suns's course.

I have made O a point hat with gold stars and a gold starred wand. He will also wear one of my white t-shirts. It is a shame because the parents don't get to see what they do - and O being O won't tell us much!!!

An update

2005-12-12T22:45:00.000+01:00

Of sorts!

It has been busy (well as busy as life ever gets for me as a SAHM!) I am gearing up for Christmas - presents are all bought! Now they just need wrapping - which will be a job in itself! I have no idea about Christmas dinner - we don't eat meat so I need to decide if we will have fish or a veggie option. Thinking about doing an onion tart! Different!

The children are great! O and I went to see "Chicken Little" at the cinema. O was a little scared in places (didn't like the aliens) but he wanted to stay and was happy to sit on my lap and cuddle up to me! He loved the Mummy time - bit of a Mummy's boy!

F is also doing well. Still not walking but she can climb anything! She is now standing hands free but not for too long! I don't worry about it - she will do it when she is good and ready! She is such a happy little camper - always smiling and giggling!

I am doing pretty well too. Get a bit overwhelmed at times but overall feeling fairly good.

It has been too long!

2005-12-12T22:43:00.000+01:00

I always keep meaning to update but don't! I know I should - what is the point in having a blog if I never write in it (not that i think anybody actually reads it - my life is much too dull!)

It has been a while!

2005-12-02T12:58:00.000+01:00

Bad me!! I come online every day but as not a lot happens I don't think to post!

This week we have had a friend's 14 year old son stay with us as he is doing work experience at the company J works for. So before he came I did an enormous bake - chocolate chip muffins, ginger cookies and maple syrup cookies so that there was enough for him to munch on. Fortunately he eats a good meal at the office so he hasn't eaten us out of house and home as yet!

F and I went to her first ever playgroup this morning. She loved it - especially the little mini trampoline they had in there. the downside is is that it is on the otherside of the city - so a good 30min drive. So whether we go again depends on F's wake up time! We had to rush home (she fell asleep in the car) and then I gave her an early lunch and then she went back to bed. She has fallen asleep again thankfully - or else she would be so grumpy!

O is so very excited - the advent calendars have arrived! This year he seems to understand the concept much much better! And it is doing wonders for his number recognition!! He also get's to open F's (she only has one because I bought one and my mum bought one!!) but he does hers in the evening whereas he opens his in the morning!

So now it is December better get working on Christmas!!

The weekend rolls round again

2005-11-25T12:10:00.000+01:00

It seems to have flown by this week. I guess hardly seeing J has helped in that respect! Even O complained last night that I was doing the bath again (usually it is J) so J decided to go pick O up from school today. This is great as it means I can take F out and not have to watch the clock all the time. Still undecided where to go - need to go to the grocery store at the very least. I have made a list which does help enormously for me to actually get what I need!

It is miserable here today. It seems to have snowed in a lot of places in Europe but not so here. That is a shame as O would love to make a "bon homme de neige" as he calls snowmen!!! I do miss the snow - when we lived in Munich we had so much of it. Loved it!

Bbbrrrrrrrrrrr

2005-11-24T12:01:00.000+01:00

Winter certainly is here! The weather people reckon it will be a very cold winter. I don't have a problem with that as such! It is those grey wet winters that I hate! Today it is grey - after having been sunny for the last few days! Oh well - the washing WILL get dry somehow!

Got a roasted tomato sauce cooking in the oven - actually isn't a sauce yet until I whizz it but you know what I mean! Since discovering this way of making a tomato sauce I have to admit to rarely buying tinned tomatoes anymore! It is so easy and so devine! I am hoping that F cooperates and eats it tonight. She is starting to be picky! I shouldn't complain but I will admit it is the ONE thing that does get me wound up. I worry about her not eating. Was the same with O. Don't gewt me wrong - i would never force her to have something she doesn't like but I do get frustrated - especially when it is something she previously liked! I try the experimenting meals at lunch time! Today we are having spinach and pumpkin curry with a popadom. See how she goes with that!!!

What to talk about

2005-11-22T10:59:00.000+01:00

This blogging business can be hard! By my very nature I am not a woffler on paper. I find it hard to write lots and lots! It used to be a joke in my lawyering days that my boss and I could write the same letter, have the same details in it but mine would be half a page and his would be four! I am not the same orally - well perhaps I am a little. I am not one for great long stories (and hence not one for telling jokes!!). Perhaps therefore my blog will never have a cult following! not that i really mind - I do this for me. Not for anyone else. Isn't that how it is meant to be!

It's the weekend...

2005-11-18T12:36:00.000+01:00

Well almost!

I have absolutely no idea what we are going to do! The weather report is good - cold but blue skies. Perfect Winter weather! I would think that the search for pine cones will continue so that we can make some Christmas decorations. I would also like to go to one particular shop to get some things I need to make the Christmas cards. I really need to get those done as most of them are to be sent abroad and that always takes time! I think if I can get a snowflake cutter I will do a white snowflake on a silver background on either a red or green card. Simple but hopefully it will look nice!

Got J his main Christmas gift online last night - a set of remote headphones. He used his dads when we were there and really liked them! He knows I have got them - no secrets there! Then again I know what he is getting me too! Better that way as we both get what we really really would like! For me it is a Sony bridge digital camera - I love taking photos but our current digital is playing up! The flash takes ages to load.

I have banned O today from asking about Father Christmas - so instead we had 101 questions about Thomas the Tank Engine - not sure which one is worse!!! It is cute though - and he loves it so that is the main thing!

And so the week continues

2005-11-17T21:41:00.000+01:00

It can be quite difficult to write a blog when you don't actually do much!

F's ear infection has improved - and last night she slept through! Long may that continue! She has just started refusing "baby" food (well my homemade baby stews) and wants whatever her big brother has. Dinner was so funny. When we got to dessert she had a yoghurt. But as soon as she saw that O had a fairy cake we had made yesterday she wanted that. So J gave her a tiny piece but she didn't finish it as O moved onto his compote! She wanted the tube it was in so when he had finished O gave it to her and started on HIS yoghurt - which F then wanted. We shouldn't encourage her but it was so cute to see her personality shine through all this!

She really is such a happy little camper. At O's school today she had about 6 adults fawning over her as she played to the audience! A show-off on my hands. Perhaps - but a very cute one at that!!!

Sooo........

2005-11-14T15:23:00.000+01:00

Unfortunately I was right - F does have an ear infection - her second. O has never had one so I am not so good at looking for the signs. She has had the first lots of medicines and hopefully will start to feel (and sleep) better soon.

Off to the doctors

2005-11-14T11:36:00.000+01:00

F had a hrrendous night last night - up crying for probably half of it. She has a cold and we know she has teeth coming in. After she woke up for the first time we gave her a paracetamol suppo but that didn't seem to help much. So in the next hour we are off to the doctors - I noticed one of her ears looked gunky. She is sleeping now - though there has been the odd groan - poor little mite.

So we did some painting!

2005-11-13T10:32:00.000+01:00

To explain - our house is only 5 years old - and we have lived in it for 2 of those years. While we have pianted all the bedrooms and the mezzanine we haven't tackled anything else - mainly because the living room is double height and therefore a bit daunting.

We decided to paint just one wall - just to give the room some colour. So we picked a moka chocolate brown. It sounds disgusting but it looks devine - it has really made such a difference to the room - a lot more warmth and atmosphere.

I now need to get some motivation to do the kitchen - which is fiddly because of having to do above all the cupboards! Soon - soon!

Autumn is definitely here

2005-11-13T10:29:00.000+01:00

After a warm october and beginning of November autumn has appeared. The last day or so it has been grey and damp. I can live with the grey (heck having living in Manchester for the first 25years of my life I am used to that!) but the damp I hate.

Last winter was so very dry - and I liked that. Here's hoping this one will be the same!

Christmas questions

2005-11-10T10:42:00.000+01:00

O has started the non-stop Christmas questions. It is all my fault as I have said to it many times when he has asked when Christmas is that it is after F's birthday - which has just passed. So now on EVERY drive to school I get asked:

Where does Father Christmas live? (but now he knows the answer to this thanks to Bob the Builder!!! - but he still asks me to try to catch me out)

How does he know where I live?

How does he get in the house?

Where do the reindeers land?

How do the reindeers know where to come?

How does he know where the Christmas tree is?

How does he get all the presents in his sleigh?

How does he manage to get to everyone's house?

I am sure there are more but he is just so fascinated by the whole thing - which is so lovely to see.

Tonight he wants to write his letter to father Christmas - might have to give his some guidance as the bulk of his presents have already been bought!

Contrary!

2005-11-10T10:35:00.000+01:00

My girl that is - what have I got to look forward to in the future !

This morning I gave F her now standard breakfast - weetabix with milk. She had about 5 spoonfuls and then closed her mouth and turned her head away and refused any more. So I get her out of the highchair and put her on the floor. I go get my breakfast (the same weetabix with the same milk) and sit down on the sofa. F spots me and speed crawls over, pulls herself up and opens her mouth. I give her a tiny bit and she opens her mouth again..... and again... and again. The little monkey ate about half a weetabix - the very same that not 5 minutes before she had refused

I can see some fun and games in the future (though I have to admit that I am known in my family for being EXACTLY the same)

Another week starts!

2005-11-07T11:40:00.000+01:00

Time really does seem to whizz by - is that a sign that I am getting old!

I have spent the morning cooking (pumpkin stew for F and homemade cheese macaroni for the rest of us) and am just waiting for the oven to heat up enough to put in some maple syrup cookies.

The weekend was fun. I am not sure that f was very impressed with her birthday party - didn't like the fireworks at ALL and even spat out the chocolate cake I made (how dare she!!!) The rest of us enjoyed it - O was mesmorized by the fireworks and listened well to our instructions not to go too close.

Yesterday we went to our old neighbours for cake and coffee. F was much more impressed and wolfed down a mini pumpkin muffin! O loved the fairy cakes I had made - the little ornaments on the top went down a storm with all the chiildren.

I am currently pondering whether to make my cards for Christmas this year - i did last year and this year I would like to try something a little more adventurous - may be F and I can go to the craft store this afternoon for a look!

A year ago today...

2005-11-05T11:42:00.000+01:00

my little star was born. Here is the story of her birth:

After my third night of disturbed sleep I still woke up without an inkling that F would be born later on.

That soon changed – about half an hour after waking up I started feeling twinges – nothing painful just regular small contractions. I took O to school and when I got back phoned J to tell him to keep his mobile with him.

By 9.45am the contractions were coming every 7 minutes and lasting about a minute. I was easily able to breathe through them but as it was unchartered territory for me I rang the hospital. They told me to come in and get checked out – for peace of mind if nothing else. I rang J and asked him to come home. He arrived 20 minutes later, changed and we left – leaving his parents in charge of picking up O later in the day.

The contractions were getting nearer together and shortly after arriving in hospital I was checked and told that baby would be here that day – already three cm. I was taken to the delivery room where I met the two midwives who would take care of me the whole time – Martine and Nadia. The latter was a 4th year student but I soon felt at ease with her and felt confident about letting her be the primary midwife under the supervision of Martine.

As is normal in France I was hooked up – no walking about here! The contractions were now at every 4 minutes lasting a minute. When I was checked an hour later I had moved to 4-5cm dilated. J was brilliant at helping me breathe through the contractions by telling me to blow out the candles on birthday cakes which he described!

Another hour – and it was getting painful! Contractions every two minutes lasting a minute. It was now about 2pm. When checked I was 9cm – nearly there. But there was a big but. Baby’s head was still not engaged and was turned the wrong way which would make it difficult for her to move into the birth canal. This was deja vu as exactly the same thing had happened with O necessitating a C-section. The difference was that they felt that her signs were good after taking a blood sample from her head and that we had time on our side. But as a c-section was becoming a distinct possibility and the very minimum would be the use of spatulas to turn her I agreed to an epidural. I was tired and the midwives were talking about a 2 hour transition time.

The two hours passed – she was still high but getting reachable. The OB was called – he agreed that I should be prepped to go to the operating room to try to get her out vaginally using spatulas with an end view of the c-section!

So with about 10 people in the theatre the doctor started on turning her – fortunately she did very quickly and less than 5 pushes later, and nearly 4 hours after reaching 10cm dilation, F was born. The wonderful thing was that owing to a bright metal plate holding a light on the ceiling I could see all the “action” – so I actually saw her coming out! Seconds later she was placed on my chest – I couldn’t believe that she was at last here. She weighed a healthy 3.93kg, was 51.5 cm tall with a head circumference of 36.5cm. Her apgars were 10 and 10!!

After all my fears over the birth it was a wonderful experience – and while I wanted to avoid an epidural I was proud of myself for getting to full dilation on my own (well with J’s help)!

Feeling quite emotional

2005-11-04T13:18:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow is F's first birthday. It didn't really hit me until last night. I was driving to ToysRUs to buy some fireworks for her party and I passed the hospital where she was born. I started to feel really weepy. I never felt like this with O - perhaps because I knew with O that we would probably (hopefully?) have a second child. Now though I know we are done. This will be my last experience of a first birthday. I also can't believe that a year has passed since she was born. Where does the time go.

I know how very lucky we are to have two such wonderful children. Both are a delight (though i could do without the temper tantrums!!). O is so very caring towards his sister. And F is just a bundle of joy - happy with a laugh that can't fail to cheer you up. I love how she snuggles into me when she is tired, how she turns to search me out and then gives me such a big and happy grin, how she squeals with delight when Daddy comes home, and how she and O interact - long may THAT continue!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr

2005-11-03T12:16:00.000+01:00

We came back to find that the heating was broken. At least it is in the 70s during the day but the temperature drops like a stone in the evening. The repair man came out yesterday and is coming today to fit a new part. I hope it works as it isn't very warm in the house. I really should go and put a jumper on!

Bad bad me

2005-11-03T12:03:00.000+01:00

Ok - not the best start to a blog is it! But I do have a very good excuse which I should have perhaps transmittee BEFORE hand! As it was half term holidays here we went away to my in-laws in Wales for 10 days. We had a wonderful (if wet) time though as always it is so very lovely to be home.

So what did we do while away!

I met up with some cyberfriends in Bristol. It was lovely to see some of them again and to meet one who I hadn't met before. F came with me (as I am still breastfeeding her) and was a little star as always! We all chatted away - at lunch the poor waitressing staff couldn't get a word in edgeways!

I did a load of retail therapy. There were somethings I wanted to get for Christmas - crackers, christmas pudding and an advent calendar for O and then i just like looking at different shops. After my disaster at finding tops here to fit me I did manage to fins NINE in the UK. Poor J had to watch while I tried on about 20 tops in different shops! I also managed to get o some long sleeved tops and F some gorgeous clothes. We went with two bags and came home with four!!

We also had F's first first birthday party. It was lovely - fairly low key with three little boys plus my two. We had a halloween chcolate egg hunt in the garden for the four boys which was a big hit. The highlight for the boys though was climbing the apple tree - typical!

So now we are back and I need really to prepare for F's other birthday party - which I am not hosting but I am helping with (does that make sense?). She was born on November 5th which is Guy Fawkes day in the UK - so it is traditional to have a bonfire and fireworks. We are holding it elsewhere as we can't have a bonfire here. It should be a lot of fun!

Ok, so I said...

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that I love cooking and that is true. But somedays I can just not find that much inspiration. Especially on Wednesdays when O doesn't have school so I am busy doing things with him. Plus if I ask him what he would like his tastes are very simple - egg on toast, pasta with a tomato and cream sauce - easy stuff. So we had the latter today - and he wolfed it down. Actually it was hardly surprising he wolfed it down as lunch was a bit of an all round disaster. Even I couldn't eat it so we ended up having yoghurt and apples instead! It is very rare that that happens (honestly) but it just goes to show I can't be perfect all the time (yeah right!)

One reason I love living here...

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is the planes. We live about 10km as the crow flies from the airport and more importantly Airbus (they share the runway). The biggest event this year was the first take off of the new superjumbo - the A280. As usual for these big eveents we were on holiday (but watched avidly on the TV - sad but true). Then by sheer chance we were on the other side of the factory the following week, saw a crowd of people and stopped - just in time to see it take off for its second flight. Amazing. And so very quiet. We have seen it come over the house too. Indeed we get lots of test flights over the house.

From the kitchen window we can see in the distance the planes taking off or coming into land. Cool! We are far awayenough that we get all the joy without all the noise!!

Another exciting day!

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It will be a wonder if anyone actually ever gets engrossed in this blog as my life is so run of the mill. I do the same things day in day out. I guess that goes for a lot of SAHM. On school days I have to take and pick up O so that takes two hours out of the day. Then trying to get two naps in for F in the 6 and a half hours that are left can be a challenge! I am looking forward to when she goes down to one midday nap - will make life a little easier! I shouldn't complain though as she is such a good sleeper/napper! Unlike her big brother was at the same age! It is a wonder we ever had a second child!

I have actually been quite productive this morning - two lots of laundry, a grocery shop, making a sweet potato and bean stew for F and a roasted tomato one for the rest of us! F is of course napping (I never come on the computer when she isn't - she is way too much into things!!). It is miserable and grey - I think we will stay in this afternoon (well until we have to pick O up!). I think F gets fed up of being in the car so much. The joys of being the second child!

Another day, another week

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The weekend always goes so quickly - then again if I am honest so does the week. Indeed I am still having problems believing that my little girl will soon be one - where did that year go to!

At school this morning I saw one of my friend's little baby boy who is just nine days old. I can't believe that F was ever that small but she was. He was lovely - with a headful of hair. Heck he probably has more hair that F does even now!! It was so lovely to see the baby - and I didn't have any envy pangs! I know our family is complete. F's pregnancy was hard and I really don't want to go through that again. Plus I am not getting any younger!!

So plans for today. Not much really! I have done two loads of laundry but the mist that was here this morning has just lifted to show grey skies! Might have to use the dryer! I have some veggies (parsnips, pumpkin and courgettes) roasting in the oven for F's lunch. After she has eaten I think we might drive over to Toysrus - a bit of a hike but I need some presents and it might be good to see what they have in stock! Dinner is easy tonight - reheated lasagne from yesterday for J and me and I will make a slamon lasagne for O that will aslo do as his lunch at school tomorrow!

The weekend is almost over!

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And today has been a really good day!

I spent the morning making two lasagnes and a chocolate gateau for lunch. Our friends arrived early (so by that alone you would know they were not French - who are reknown for always being late!!). They have two girls aged 5 and 7. They bought a Dora doll for O - it was one of theirs that they had grown out of. O was thrilled - as was F who was very partial to it.

Lunch was good - the cake was a big success. the three older children went into the garden to play and we effectively didn't see them again till 5.30pm! What bliss. Milestone for F today - she waved bye bye - too cute!

The weather has been glorious too - t-shirt warmth! I hope it lasts! That is one thing I love about being here - the weather is so much better! And us Brits are so obsessed about that subject - we can talk about it for hours (well perhaps not hours!)

Ahhhhhh the weekend

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I have had a bit of a cob on me today - not sure why! Poor J has taken the brunt of it. I have days like that.

This evening I went grocery shopping - all on my own. What a luxury! Who would had though pre-children that even wandering round the supermarket in peace would be such a treat!

I got all the things I need for lunch tomorrow - we are having friends over. I am doing two lasagnes - a roasted veg one and a spinach and ricotta cheese with pine nuts one. The first one is an old favourite - the other one is a new recipe. I will make a chocolate fudge cake as dessert!

I am tired so I guess I ought to think about sleep!!!

An unexpected trip to the dentist

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So here I was, happily sitting at the computer surfing away, baby asleep again, J picking O up from school, a toffee in my mouth. I swallowed and realised all was not well. My back molar was broken.

Now I HATE the dentist and have been putting off going for the longest time. Now I had no choice. Unfortunately they could see me almost immediately. So I got F up and we went off to the office (after cleaning my teeth of course).

She thinks I lost the crown. I don't think there was a crown there but as we don't have any records - first time to this dentist, I will have to go with her opinion! So we have scheduled an appointment for a few weeks time to fix it.

Now that is something to really look forward to!

How very embarassing!

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Oh my - almost had a disaster in a clothes shop today!

I should perhaps first explain that I am not the typical shape for French clothes. Although I am perfectly proportioned (in my eyes!) in that I am 5ft7 (170cm) and 143lbs (65kg) I do have a broad back and owing to breastfeeding my boobs are larger than they would be! I aslo have terrible problems understanding the French sizing! Well this shop sized tops as T1 to T4. I took a size T3 to try on of a top I liked. I got it on OK but could I get it off again? I was almost at the point of going to ask for some help when I managed to remove it - without ripping it!

Needless to say I made a sharp exit!

Almost the weekend...

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Though I guess some would say it is always the weekend for me!

It is a cold and miserable day - such a change from last week when it was warm and sunny. I hope we don't end up with am autumn/winter like we did two years ago when it seemed to persistently rain.

As a result of the greyness I don't actually feel motivated to do much (but then again what is new with that!!). I did clean the ceiling in the bathroom this morning. It is strange - our house was really well built except for the fact that the bathroom lacks ventilation. So as J insists on shutting the door (and hence keeping all the hot damp air in there) mould forms on the ceiling above the shower which means I have to bleach it every now and again. Not really a big problem though except for today as I must have spilt some bleach on my top! Looking on the bright side at least it wasn't one of my favourite ones! Other than doing that (oh and one load of laundry - a necessary evil) my undomesticated goddess title is pretty apt today!

Once F is up from her nap and fed we need to go shopping. My MIL told me yesterday that my SIL and her family are going to hers for Christmas - and as were are visiting them next week it would be a good idea to get as many Christmas presents as possible to avoid having to post them (perhaps my blog should be called The Undomesticated Cheapskate Goddess!). I know what to get my two nephews but for my SIL and her hubbie - no idea! Hoping that something jumps out and hits me! No use depending on J for inspiration - heck I have to give him a list for me or I stand no chance!

So that is me for the minute - quite amazing what I can write about absolutely nothing!!

So my first day as a blogger!

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And another usual day in our household - O at school, F at home, and J at work! I did take F to the doctor's today as she still has a rash on her bum. So she was given more cream to hopefully help. The doctor thinks it is related to teething - she is just about to have one cut through (her fifth). She has been quite grumpy all day which is not like her at all.

O was in a strange mood when I picked him up from school. Quite whiny which he usually isn't. He has been having problems getting to sleep so it could be tiredness.

For dinner we had spagetti with roasted tomato sauce followed by warm double chocolate chip mini muffins (after O had first had some fruit!!) The sauce was a new way of doing it and it was good! The muffins were Ok - I have made better! A bit too dense and cakey for my liking!

Well almost bedtime here - J is doing last month's accounts to see how much we were in budget (or not as the case may be!!)

I guess I should introduce myself!

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Hello!

I am not even sure anyone will read this but it is perhaps a nice idea for me to get some thoughts on paper - a record of my life and that of my family!

So details - I am Mel, 37 years old and married to J. We have two children - a boy O who is four and a bit and a little girl F who is almost one. We are British (well we all have a British passport!) but we live in Toulouse in the south west of France. We have been here this time round since February 2003 and are settled here. I can't see us ever moving back to the UK - though never say never!

J works in the aeronautical industry (as most expats here seem to do in one way or another!!) and I am a SAHM. One day I would like to get back to work - what as is a different question and one I should explore in more depth another day! I used to be a lawyer but haven't done that since we left the UK back in the summer of 1996.

What do I like doing? J would probably say as little as possible and that is probably not far from the truth - not that I am lazy per se but I lack the motivation to do much - except baking and cooking in general!! I do love to read - trashy novels being the choice at the moment but I do occasionally read something that is far more intertesting and mind stretching! Though what doesn't immediately spring to mind! Travelling is another of my loves - probably part of the reason we have lived abroad for so long!

Of course my biggest love is my family! J and I have been married for 10 years - how time flies. We have our moments but in general we are very contented with the life we share. O is a sweetheart. He is such a kind and loving little boy. Currently we are having a few issues with being a bad sport but he is getting there! F is the most gorgeous contented little girl ever (not that I am at all biased). Her smile lights up a room. Now she is mobile you can really see her cheeky little personality shine through!

Ok - that will do for starters! Hopefully I will update this as much as I can - and hopefully it won't be too tedious for people to read - then again even if it is - tant pis