Hey ho, hey ho, its off to China we go!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gah, dumbest idea ever to pick November as post everyday month! Right up there with making Thanksgiving only 4 weeks before Christmas, seriously whose big idea was that?  Don't the Canadians celebrate it in October?  Much more sensible, but then then the Canadians can always be relied upon to be sensible . . . and nice, very, very nice!

Really, really will try to do some actual posts before the month is out but today is another photo day.  Three little turkeys I am so very thankful to have in my life, love ya big time babies!

Birthday Boy!

Happy Birthday sweet boy! 

 

A Little Tip for all you Celebs reading this.

Like so many of you Posy has a lot of trouble with the paparazzi. Of course she wants to give her public what they want but too often the paps cross the line and the intrusion just become too much.  There have been several ugly high speed pursuits whilst on her tricycle and in the end she has had to take steps to allow her some anonymity when out on the town partying.  Being a girl of style she always ensures the bucket is color co-ordinated with her outfit.

Lullaby

Love, love this gentle song Bao Bei by Taiwanese artist Deserts Xuan, perfect lullaby.

Renaissance Man..

Gotta love a man who can change a diaper, Future Mrs (or Mr) Beau you can thank me later.

p.s Is Renaissance Man actually what I mean?  He has done letters, colors and numbers at preschool, in addition to his fire fighting and Teletubbie diapering skills, that's pretty Renaissance right?

1-2-3

Knickers!

The joy of new big boy knickers, I love when he squeals "big!" and I do understand his concern about the size since he has the teeny tiniest of tushies but they did shrink in the wash so all was well.

 

Name that tune!

I'm just waiting for the call from Carnegie Hall.  We only have the two tunes so far but I think it will be more than enough to carry a concert.  I might be able to get you a deal on the tickets.

  I like the bit where she explains there is a repeat sign "so I have to repeat it" can't argue with that.  I'm not sure about the unusual sitting position, could get tricky when she has to start using the pedals.

Future photographer!

I love this photo of Beau but I'm not sure who the photographer was.  Either its a self portrait or Posy took it, neither of them can keep their hands of my camera!

Please, please, please let me get what I want.

Its that time of the year when the Christmas adverts are hitting the screens back home. So its time for me to blog the one from John Lewis although back when I was a Partner, many, many years ago, they prided themselves on not doing any advertising, buy hey we all have to move with the times.

And now I can't get that song out of my head! For a moment I couldn't place it and then it came flooding back, The Smiths! Having been subjected to them being played night and day by my baby brother how could I forget!  Naturally I prefer the original.

Wall Street Tent City

It would appear the Wall Street Tent City has made it out here to the back of beyond.  They are unclear about their demands and I'm pretty sure the little one is about to crack. 

 

Little Miss Messy!

So apparently I was a little over ambitious in promising full details of our day at CASPY "to follow" today.  I was going to say I ran out of time because the weekends are so busy but the truth is I just watched Bridesmaids when I could have been blogging.  I presume I'm the last female in America to see Bridesmaids and I would have appreciated it if one of you ladies had warned me that it would make me cry as well as laugh.  I liked it though!

Since I let you down badly with the missing CASPY post I'm pulling out a video of that naughty Posy!

 

Live on stage!

They gave them access to microphones.  Real actual microphones. Enough said.  Well actually lots more to be said but too cream crackered (that's very tired for my American friends) so just a photo and full story of a fabulous day with the wonderful, wonderful people at CASPY to follow. 

Remembrance Day.

 Lest we forget.

It didn't work!

As any Prince Charming will attest, its not always easy to wake a Sleeping Beauty.

And then the Wicked Witch had a go! Honest I'd been doing this for ages with no reaction, get the camera out and suddenly . . ..

 

What a meanie I am.

For lack of a 4s!

Its not my fault, there just aren't enough hours in the day to get this posting thing done. Its especially hard because I still can't download any new photos which we all know are my stand by option.

I'm thinking if I had an iphone 4S I'd be a much better blogger, perhaps we could have a quick whip round for me?  No?

Instead here is another old video of LoopyLu.  We maintain that ability to use a drinking fountain is no indicator of IQ

I never said it would be interesting.

The kids were home from school today (not playing hooky, there was no school) and so we hitched a ride with S who was visiting a customer near a big shopping mall.  The Ice Palace (posh version of Santa's grotto) was being given the last finishing touches in preparation for Santa's arrival on Thursday and the whole place was dripping in decorative baubles and festive window displays, I loved it!  I know lots of people hate seeing Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving but I love, love, it, makes me all skippy!

Somehow we survived the whole day without a single meltdown from anyone (myself included) which was a bit of a record, although I think the bribe promise of a visit to the Disney Store might have helped along with my secret stash of lollypops for when spirits started to sag. 

I was really only intending to browse but I was chuffed to find Christmas outfits for the Littles, not only on sale but 20% off sale price, oh how I love the world of US retail, they really go to town with the markdowns, sales and coupons, I have to admit it can be a little thrilling.

And now I'm beat, I'd forgotten how exhausting a whole day of mall walking can be, so I'm off to bed with apologies for the lack of any real point to this post, but it is a post and hey that's all I ever promised, content was never guaranteed!

 

 

 

 

Naughty Noddies!

Ahhh this takes me back, I'd forgotten just how naughty those Noddies can be. Also the plastic table for a nap was her choice, we didn't make her sleep on it, honest!

 

Trick of the camera

Our Posy

Our Posy with a giant!

Guy Fawkes Fail :(

"Remember, remember the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot!"

I hope everyone back home had a fabulous Bonfire Night, we sadly had a total fail because, even though I had saved some July 4th fireworks especially for Guy Fawkes I then completely forgot until after the babies were in bed.  On the up side I could tell them tomorrow is Guy Fawkes and they'll be none the wiser!

In the meantime, especially for my beloved friend So Past Caring/Cumo who apparently isn't overly fond of the Halloween Trick or Treating here is a video clip that will enlighten her to one of the great American Parenting delights of pretending you've eaten all the Little Darlings candy, wickedly amusing! 

Beautiful.

A friend posted this on FB and I just had to share it here too, really beautiful.

 

Naughtiest Girl in the School

It would appear that The Naughtiest Girl in the School is none other than my daughter!  Poor Lulu, as bedtime drew closer she started to complain of a tummy ache but when it became clear that I was positive her tummy would be just fine by the morning she burst into tears and said that she didn't want to go to school tomorrow because she was in trouble for being so naughty.  What? My angel naughty?  At school?? Surely not!

After some gentle coaxing she confessed, through snot and tears, the terribleness of her behavior.  From what I could make out the class had been told that they had to "find their own space" to do their writing assignment but Lulu and Sweet A* were sitting too close together and so tomorrow they have to do indoor recess and "practice" (she wasn't terribly clear on what they would be practising).  Oh how her tears tugged at my heart, whilst Lulu is frequently a monster at home she has never, never, never been anything but a goody two shoes at school.  "I'm so embarrassed" she told me, "I thought we would just get a Stop Sign like everyone else, not a punishment, I don't understand why we didn't get a Stop Sign" followed by further sobbing and wiping of tear smudged glasses.

I did my best to reassure her that it will be fine and everyone makes mistakes blah, blah but this only led to questioning of what naughty things had I done at school and did I have to do indoor recess?  I will mention that I have an exemplary educational career, with scarcely a demerit to my name (shut it Curtise, just shut it) but for the sake of comforting my daughter I confessed to all manner of misdemeanors which in reality I am absolutely innocent of.  Lulu did perk up quite a lot upon hearing of my misspent youth but then questioned me as to whether "if you had to do indoor recess but you didn't go to school that day, did you have to do it the next day instead or not at all?"  more tears sprang forth when I explained that there was no escaping the indoor recess, well not unless you were to completely drop out of school at the tender age of 6 - but I wisely didn't mention that option to her.

It was quite ironic that the punishment was indoor recess because Lulu has been hating outdoor recess this term and wishing for rain every day so she could stay inside.  When I gently pointed this out to her I was told "walking round the track is much better than having to do indoor recess "practise" (there we go again with the practise!  Practise what exactly?)

After lots of hugs and mopping up of the copious tears I seemed to have patched her up pretty good only for Daddy to appear and ask what the matter was which set her off again with "don't tell him, please don't tell him, please, I'm too embarrassed" sob, sob! I know, heartbreaking!

Simon was on Putting the Terrors to Bed Duty and as teeth were brushed, PJ's put on and favorite blankies positioned just so I could hear her interrogation of him crackling over the baby monitor "but did you get the Stop Sign first? Why did you do naughty things?  Did it feel good while you were doing it?  Then why did you do it?  Couldn't you stop yourself?  Did you feel embarrassed? Did you get Indoor Recess with PRACTISE? But, but, did you get the Stop Sign???"

Yes, Mrs B why didn't they get the Stop Sign!!!**

*I call her Sweet A because she is the sweetest, gentlest of children and I was greatly relieved to hear that Sweet A was Lulu's partner in crime, there could be no more unlikely delinquent than Sweet A.

**I know I sound like one of "those" mothers but seriously people why didn't they get the Stop Sign!!!

Am I the only one fool enough to attempt this?

Its all coming back to me now, why this posting every day in November isn't the greatest of ideas and its only day two!  I find it very telling that Carrie & Cumo (see previous comments), who BOTH have blogs of their own, are so encouraging of me taking up the challenge whilst both wisely side stepping it themselves.

To make matters worse I'm hitting a technical challenge already, I was intending (as always) to rely heavily on photo posts to get me through but my poor hard drive is chockablock with old stuff and won't let me load even one more photo. I wanted to share Loops and B's book choices from todays school book fair - very telling they are too ;) but it will have to wait until I've managed to get my resident Techie beloved husband to clear some space for me.

So instead I will leave you with a photo of Posy once again fainting at the awesomeness of the incredible lunch prepared for her by moi.  Sorry have to dash, Padma is on the phone wanting to discuss my co-hosting Top Chef with her.

I would include the recipe for this tasty lunch but I fear it would be way to technical for all but the Cordon Bleu trained amongst you, plus the specialist incredients (plastic ham, plastic cheese, goldfish crackers and yogurt in a pot) can be so hard to source.

 

Its that time of the year again!

I've been pondering whether to attempt the NomPomBloggy  thing again this November so this is me officially me keeping the option open. 

Its always much harder to do than I think it will be but each year that I've done it I've been so glad I did because when I look at the old posts I can really remember all sorts of mindless detail that I would have forgotten otherwise and that's rather nice.

I've also been pondering moving to a new blog, this was always intended to just be a travel to China blog (hence the name) but I never got going on anything new and so in usual slacker fashion I just continued here.  Its been a strange year for me, "left behind" is the way I've felt for a long time now, not necessarily in a horrible way (although I have had my "woe is me" moments about it) but in a "everyone else is moving on and I'm still here" kind of way.  More on that another time but for now this is my November number one post, with a possible twenty-nine more to come, should the maddness descend upon me again!

This is Posy doing an impression of how I'll look (although not so cute) at around day fifteen, should I actually get that far.

Dare . . .

What we girls have always known but now us girls with power and a voice and education and options have to help the ones who have none of these.

Via my friend Jo

 

Togetherness.

I wouldn't mind except I did pay for two seats!

 

Some days . . .

. . . . . . its all I can do not to eat him alive!  

 

Turtle Luuurve!

Making friends wherever she goes!

 

My Favorite Trio

 

 

Work that hat!

   

 

Congratulations William and Catherine!!!

My princess!

The Bishop of London's Sermon

29th April 2011

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” So said St Catherine of Siena whose festival day it is today. Marriage is intended to be a way in which man and woman help each other to become what God meant each one to be, their deepest and truest selves.

Many are full of fear for the future of the prospects of our world but the message of the celebrations in this country and far beyond its shores is the right one – this is a joyful day! It is good that people in every continent are able to share in these celebrations because this is, as every wedding day should be, a day of hope.  

In a sense every wedding is a royal wedding with the bride and the groom as king and queen of creation, making a new life together so that life can flow through them into the future.

William and Catherine, you have chosen to be married in the sight of a generous God who so loved the world that he gave himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ.

And in the Spirit of this generous God, husband and wife are to give themselves to each another.

A spiritual life grows as love finds its centre beyond ourselves. Faithful and committed relationships offer a door into the mystery of spiritual life in which we discover this; the more we give of self, the richer we become in soul; the more we go beyond ourselves in love, the more we become our true selves and our spiritual beauty is more fully revealed. In marriage we are seeking to bring one another into fuller life.

It is of course very hard to wean ourselves away from self-centredness. And people can dream of doing such a thing but the hope should be fulfilled it is necessary a solemn decision that, whatever the difficulties, we are committed to the way of generous love.

You have both made your decision today – “I will” – and by making this new relationship, you have aligned yourselves with what we believe is the way in which life is spiritually evolving, and which will lead to a creative future for the human race.

We stand looking forward to a century which is full of promise and full of peril. Human beings are confronting the question of how to use wisely a power that has been given to us through the discoveries of the last century. We shall not be converted to the promise of the future by more knowledge, but rather by an increase of loving wisdom and reverence, for life, for the earth and for one another.

Marriage should transform, as husband and wife make one another their work of art. It is possible to transform as long as we do not harbour ambitions to reform our partner. There must be no coercion if the Spirit is to flow; each must give the other space and freedom. Chaucer, the London poet, sums it up in a pithy phrase:

“Whan maistrie [mastery] comth, the God of Love anon,

Beteth his wynges, and farewell, he is gon.”

As the reality of God has faded from so many lives in the West, there has been a corresponding inflation of expectations that personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life. This is to load our partner with too great a burden. We are all incomplete: we all need the love which is secure, rather than oppressive, we need mutual forgiveness, to thrive.

As we move towards our partner in love, following the example of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is quickened within us and can increasingly fill our lives with light. This leads to a family life which offers the best conditions in which the next generation can practise and exchange those gifts which can overcome fear and division and incubate the coming world of the Spirit, whose fruits are love and joy and peace.

I pray that all of us present and the many millions watching this ceremony and sharing in your joy today, will do everything in our power to support and uphold you in your new life. And I pray that God will bless you in the way of life that you have chosen, that way which is expressed in the prayer that you have composed together in preparation for this day:

God our Father, we thank you for our families; for the love that we share and for the joy of our marriage.

In the busyness of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy.

Strengthened by our union help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

My heart

and I couldn't live without her.

For a long, long time I didn't think she was ever going to let me in to her heart, but when she finally did the sweetness was almost more than I could take and now she IS my heart.  Love you so my sweet, sweet Posy, you are brave and fierce and fragile and beautiful and you shine so bright.  My cheeky, cheeky little darling, I'll never stop being grateful you came into our lives.  Your big sister was right all along when she called you "Sparkles" because that is what you do, you sparkle, spilling over with laughter and love.  Thank you Posy, thank you for being exactly who you are.

Day 30 - hallelujah!

It might have only been photos and video but I did it!! I posted everyday for the whole of November (except the night of no Internet connection) it was rash, it was lacking all planning, it should have been doomed from the start but, against unbelievable odds* and and incredible challenges**, I completed the whole 30 days, thank you, thank you, thank you very much, please it was nothing, no seriously did you see the posts it really was nothing!

If only I could find a way to channel my new found posting powers to do something worthwhile, bring about world peace, end poverty, reverse global climate warming, finish the laundry.

But for now I must rest

 

*I'd put $50 on for me to fail by day 3

**My incurable procrastination and usual inability to complete more than one step tasks

 

He is pushing the TROLLEY!

how many times does he have to tell you people, he is pushing the trolley geez open your ears people! oh and he's stealing valuable rocks too.

Technical difficulties.

I didn't really miss posting, I just couldn't get an Internet connection.  Admittedly I didn't have anything to post but that's not the point ;)

Day 27 - the end is in sight!

Yeah, its a photo post again, you got a problem with that?

 

Operation - Swapping of the Bedrooms.

I'm sure its all going to fit back together in the end, right?  Yeah course it will, won't it?

Sisters

The love is strong

 

Beautiful

Here is "Your song" from Ellie Goulding, it was driving me nuts only hearing that little snippet from the John Lewis Christmas Advert.  I hadn't heard of her before seeing the Advert but judging from all the song videos on you tube it looks like she has had quite a bit of success back home.  Its always lovely to find new music (new to me) and already I have some favorites from her, just love her voice and the way she keeps her accent when she sings.

Sunflower Seeds.

A few weeks ago I had caught a 10 second news piece about the Sunflower Seeds at the Tate, the report was about how they were having problems with people trying to eat the "Seeds" and so were no longer allowing visitors to walk on them.  I thought it looked like a fascinating installation and had intended to google for more info but then, as is the way these days, I was side tracked and forgot all about it. 

Then the other day some photos of the Sunflower Seeds showed up in the FB feed of Mr Y (our guide in Taiwan) intrigued all over again I went searching and found out that the reason people were no longer being allowed to walk on the "Seeds" wasn't because of people eating them but because of the dust that was being created.  This from the Tate's website "Although porcelain is very robust, we have been advised that the interaction of visitors with the sculpture can cause dust which could be damaging to health following repeated inhalation over a long period of time. In consequence, Tate, in consultation with the artist, has decided not to allow members of the public to walk across the sculpture."

Wanting to know more about the sculpture and its artist Ai Weiwei I saw this video, also on the Tate website, see it below.  When you have 15 mins to spare I highly recommend watching it, I found it so interesting, I did not know of the significance of sunflowers in Mao Zedong's propaganda posters.  The video left me wishing I could make a visit to the Tate and wanting to see more of Ai Weiwei's work, wanting to visit the city of Jingdezhen, where the seeds were made, and wanting so much to put my hands in those huge containers of "Seeds" and let them flow through my fingers.  I would love some of those Sunflower Seeds for myself, seriously watch and you'll want some too, and all our orders would mean more employment for these wonderful and very skilled artisans in Jingdezhen.  I think I'd better suggest it to Ai Weiwei.

Rented wheels.

We had a car rental a couple of weeks ago and to the children's delight it was a minivan.  When Beau discovered the DVD screen it literally blew his little mind, blew it!

Some days . .

are harder than others.

Sweeties galore.

Still working their way through the Halloween loot candy!

 

Wonder Chickens

One for all my chook loving friends.  Chickens gone wild dancing to Wonder Girls "Tell me"

One foot in front of the other.

Its a bit like watching that last soul limping towards the finish line of the marathon, I should have trained, I should have prepared, I should really know when to quit but its "only" another 12 days I could still finish this thing.  I could still bounce back, . . . . . its possible, not likely, but possible. 

In the mean time behold sweetest trick or treaters!

 

Fading fast!

I've made it to day 17, admittedly by posting photos instead of words, but I'm fading fast! 

This is another of the beautiful photos that the very talented Rachel of My Sugarshots Photography captured for us. 

Rock star!

Here's my baby girl in her rock star glasses :)

Pearly whites!

Oh sure she's smiling now with those shiny gnashers but believe me each and every single one, okay not the two she arrived with, but the appearance of every other toothy peg has been agony, AGONY for ALL of us.   Four more of the little perishers are threatening to make their break through soon - I'm bracing for the onslaught.

 

A new favorite

I love This John Lewis advert sooooo much and Ellie Goulding's version of "Young song" is just beautiful.  I dare you to watch without getting a little bit verklempt.

p.s I hadn't really thought about it at the time but apparently some people were outraged by the dog being outside in the snow.  I had just thought how sweet when the little boy had a stocking for his dog but now I do feel bad for the pooch (its not real Deborah, its not real).  However, it has provoked some very amusing comments on You Tube I especially chuckled at the one from Bluesteel750

It doesn't take much.

We have to make our own entertainment these days, luckily we're easily amused.

p.s Best not tell Simon I posted this one, for some reason he's never been one to flaunt his spectacular singing voice or come to that, his naked, and spectacularly manly, chest which he is hiding behind Posy ;)