Another week over, I just don't know where the time goes. I had the final appointment to correct the gaps in my teeth today and I am pleased to say I now have a I full smile courtesy of her majesty's government......I am so relieved, I can't believe how my confidence was affected by the gap, now I feel like I can really laugh again without feeling self conscious.
Spent a couple of hours Christmas shopping for Phillip after the dentist, I am finding his gifts the hardest this year, Megs and Nic are finished, but somehow I just can't find the perfect gift for my perfect boy and it is stressing me out big time.....only 20 days to go and I am not finished.
Also met with the head mistress of the children's school with regards to Megan , and finally we have resolution, she is moderately dyslexic (yes FINALLY a diagnosis, those of you who have known me a long time know how long I have been fighting for this)....what does that mean, well the dyslexia is more severe then we first thought and the fact that she has done so well is testimony to her attitude and hard work, so I am very very proud of her, she is not however severe enough to be statemented which is also a good thing as it means she won't go on the "special needs" register.
She does however qualify for a "reader" to be with her through all future exams and she will be allowed extra time to complete the tests and assessments etc. All in all a good outcome and I think Megs will really fly from this point forward....it was also so lovely to chat with someone who really understands where I am coming from, the head mistress has a son with dyslexia and he has just obtained 7 GCSE's so there is hope and she is convinced that with the right support Megs is finally going to be able to reach her full potential. Viva la England!!!!!
Off to sing Christmas Carols at the station tonight to raise funds for the school, should be quite a laugh.....as I said to Linda today, quite a novelty to be able to stand on a station platform at night on my own with 12 children and a camera round my neck shaking money buckets and singing and.....wait for it.....not have to be worried about being robbed.
Children off to a party on Saturday afternoon and then hopefully up to London on Sunday for the day, so a happy weekend planned which is great.
Friday, 5 December 2008
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Wednesday 3rd December 2008
Oh my word, as I sit typing this entry my hands are shivering and my nose is running.....and I am not convinced that I will ever be warm again.
As I mentioned in a previous post, tonight was Lindfield Village Night and we were roped into helping the Scaynes Hill Beavers and Cubs with their hamburger stand.....it sounded like a good idea at the time of the offer, but tonight it was freezing - and I don't mean that in a South African 1o degrees rainy kind of freezing....I mean the temperature was literally -1 degrees and I was out cooking burger patties while my children ran ecstatically round the streets and my littlest dressed in a vest and two baby grows huddled under 4 blankets in his pram - if you had even suggested it a year ago I would have laughed at you.
Despite the temperature and the fact that we had to de-ice the car in order to get home it was a lovely evening and very festive, I am beginning to understand the meaning of a village community and it was such fun to be out with friendly faces enjoying a new and novel experience.
As I mentioned in a previous post, tonight was Lindfield Village Night and we were roped into helping the Scaynes Hill Beavers and Cubs with their hamburger stand.....it sounded like a good idea at the time of the offer, but tonight it was freezing - and I don't mean that in a South African 1o degrees rainy kind of freezing....I mean the temperature was literally -1 degrees and I was out cooking burger patties while my children ran ecstatically round the streets and my littlest dressed in a vest and two baby grows huddled under 4 blankets in his pram - if you had even suggested it a year ago I would have laughed at you.
Despite the temperature and the fact that we had to de-ice the car in order to get home it was a lovely evening and very festive, I am beginning to understand the meaning of a village community and it was such fun to be out with friendly faces enjoying a new and novel experience.
The greatest challenge of all.....
If there is one thing that I have personally discovered over the last 6 months and through talking to many immigrants all over the world, the greatest challenge of this experience seems to be remaining positive.....when we fall prey to negativity we sink....everything becomes harder, the weather, the lack of support, the whole boat begins to rock as it where and this way disaster lies.
Remaining positive is in itself a 24 hour job, it is not easy when faced with bills you don't understand or are battling to pay, roads you have never seen before, language that is meaningless, faces with no names and the other mired of experiences thrown our way daily....I have fallen to the negativity, as have many I know, but we have to find the strength to crawl back out and once again embrace the wonders we are also surrounded by if we are to make this work, and by this I don't mean simply survive, I mean work with all the happiness and joy that that includes.
This however seems to be easier said then done and I think the negative mindset has been the downfall of many an otherwise successful immigration. Do I have all the answers, absolutely not, like with having children there is no handbook to the perfect immigration or life for that matter, but I think the same principle applies where ever you are, start small, find the one happy moment in every day, and if one doesn't exist create it by turning on a happy song (mine is Punk Rocker), if you act happy long enough your mind begins to believe you....dwelling creates more negativity.
In the principle of The Secret, what we put out into the universe is what we receive, so for today I plan to hang onto those happy moments - my baby's smile, a hug from the children, Simon's kiss at the end of the day, hearing my mom's voice on the phone and sharing a skype with the bratz, these are the moments that create the bliss which in turn feeds the positivity and it is this way that I will survive today and make it a diamond.
Remaining positive is in itself a 24 hour job, it is not easy when faced with bills you don't understand or are battling to pay, roads you have never seen before, language that is meaningless, faces with no names and the other mired of experiences thrown our way daily....I have fallen to the negativity, as have many I know, but we have to find the strength to crawl back out and once again embrace the wonders we are also surrounded by if we are to make this work, and by this I don't mean simply survive, I mean work with all the happiness and joy that that includes.
This however seems to be easier said then done and I think the negative mindset has been the downfall of many an otherwise successful immigration. Do I have all the answers, absolutely not, like with having children there is no handbook to the perfect immigration or life for that matter, but I think the same principle applies where ever you are, start small, find the one happy moment in every day, and if one doesn't exist create it by turning on a happy song (mine is Punk Rocker), if you act happy long enough your mind begins to believe you....dwelling creates more negativity.
In the principle of The Secret, what we put out into the universe is what we receive, so for today I plan to hang onto those happy moments - my baby's smile, a hug from the children, Simon's kiss at the end of the day, hearing my mom's voice on the phone and sharing a skype with the bratz, these are the moments that create the bliss which in turn feeds the positivity and it is this way that I will survive today and make it a diamond.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Tuesday 2nd December 2008
Today I learned two new things about the English....(1) They adapt to the cold INCREDIBLY well and ....(2) they are very very fit. These two revelations came to me during another wonderful shopping trip to Brighton with my friend Josie.
The morning started off in a rushed stressful manner....picture it.....children off to school......outside to de-ice car with warm water......back inside to make an important phone call.....oh hell running late, supposed to have collected Josie by 9.30, now 9.25.....phone Josie to tell her I am running late.....rush outside with Nick in car seat to see that aforementioned warm water has refrozen to the windscreen.......aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....back inside for another bucket of warm water......right off....oh hell, no petrol...............arrive at Josie's at 9.45 (and those of you who know me well know how I LOATH being late).....Josie brings Oscar to the car, and wait for it, the back door is FROZEN shut......so looking a little sheepish I ask my new friend if she would mind climbing into my car through the BOOT, all the while assuring her that the door will be defrosted by the time we get to Brighton!!!!!!
Well I am thrilled to announce that by the time we did get to Brighton the door had defrosted and I had de-stressed somewhat and the hair was once again lying flat and we proceeded to enjoy a leisurely long downhill stroll to the lanes where we intended doing some Christmas shopping....again no photos, still trying the local look with no camera (it is KILLING me lol).
This is where my first discovery - the English adapt to the cold INCREDIBLY well - comes from. Just before leaving the house I noticed our thermometer read 3.2 degrees (and thank heavens I did as it meant Nic and I dressed appropriately in thermal underwear, lots of layers and my new best friend, my cream coat) anyhoo, it was while wandering the lanes with my nose streaming and my hands literally frozen to the handle of Nicholas's pram that I noticed that everyone around me was as casual as I would have been strolling down Durban beachfront on a mid December afternoon...they really don't seem to feel the cold anymore, and it gives me hope, maybe by the end of winter my blood will have thinned or thickened (whichever is applicable) enough to allow me to look oh so nonchalant in weather just marginally above freezing point....all that said however, I am enjoying the icy crispness, not mad about it when it rains, but when the sky is bright blue as it was this morning it is very invigorating.
After a very successful morning shopping we decided to head back to the car so that we had time to stop by the garden center in Ditchling for me to have a look at the Christmas decorations, but before I go into that.....remember the stroll downhill into the lanes......well this is discovery number two - the English are very very fit - I am talking a solid 2km walk straight up hill, no breaks, just up up up, well to say I was puffing is the understatement of the century, of course I blamed it on the thin cold air and not enough oxygen and Nicholas's heavy pram, but I know the truth, I am simply not walking fit, not in the way the English are, there were people of over 60 passing me left and right and Josie had to keep stopping to let me catch up (she says with a blush on her cheeks).....so I am now committed to getting fit and am going to try and up my 1 hour walk a week to at least 2 or 3 1 hour walks and I have to stop avoiding the hills (lol).
But enough of Brighton and on to the Garden Centre at Ditchling....it was the most AMAZING place I have ever ever ever been into in my life....I am talking life size polar bears made out of lights and every kind of Father Christmas imaginable, the decorations are put into colour ways and I have never seen anything like it, there must have been 30 different snow globes to choose from.....I literally stood there with my mouth hanging open and have decided to take Megs back for a couple of hours on Saturday so that we can have a proper look around ....that is another thing about the English, they certainly know how to do Christmas!
Finally home to Josie's for a quick cup of tea and then on to fetch the children from school and home to a chilly evening in. Tomorrow night is Lindfield night in the village where they close off the High street for a night market and I am helping at the Beaver/Cubs table, weather forecast is 1 degree.
The morning started off in a rushed stressful manner....picture it.....children off to school......outside to de-ice car with warm water......back inside to make an important phone call.....oh hell running late, supposed to have collected Josie by 9.30, now 9.25.....phone Josie to tell her I am running late.....rush outside with Nick in car seat to see that aforementioned warm water has refrozen to the windscreen.......aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....back inside for another bucket of warm water......right off....oh hell, no petrol...............arrive at Josie's at 9.45 (and those of you who know me well know how I LOATH being late).....Josie brings Oscar to the car, and wait for it, the back door is FROZEN shut......so looking a little sheepish I ask my new friend if she would mind climbing into my car through the BOOT, all the while assuring her that the door will be defrosted by the time we get to Brighton!!!!!!
Well I am thrilled to announce that by the time we did get to Brighton the door had defrosted and I had de-stressed somewhat and the hair was once again lying flat and we proceeded to enjoy a leisurely long downhill stroll to the lanes where we intended doing some Christmas shopping....again no photos, still trying the local look with no camera (it is KILLING me lol).
This is where my first discovery - the English adapt to the cold INCREDIBLY well - comes from. Just before leaving the house I noticed our thermometer read 3.2 degrees (and thank heavens I did as it meant Nic and I dressed appropriately in thermal underwear, lots of layers and my new best friend, my cream coat) anyhoo, it was while wandering the lanes with my nose streaming and my hands literally frozen to the handle of Nicholas's pram that I noticed that everyone around me was as casual as I would have been strolling down Durban beachfront on a mid December afternoon...they really don't seem to feel the cold anymore, and it gives me hope, maybe by the end of winter my blood will have thinned or thickened (whichever is applicable) enough to allow me to look oh so nonchalant in weather just marginally above freezing point....all that said however, I am enjoying the icy crispness, not mad about it when it rains, but when the sky is bright blue as it was this morning it is very invigorating.
After a very successful morning shopping we decided to head back to the car so that we had time to stop by the garden center in Ditchling for me to have a look at the Christmas decorations, but before I go into that.....remember the stroll downhill into the lanes......well this is discovery number two - the English are very very fit - I am talking a solid 2km walk straight up hill, no breaks, just up up up, well to say I was puffing is the understatement of the century, of course I blamed it on the thin cold air and not enough oxygen and Nicholas's heavy pram, but I know the truth, I am simply not walking fit, not in the way the English are, there were people of over 60 passing me left and right and Josie had to keep stopping to let me catch up (she says with a blush on her cheeks).....so I am now committed to getting fit and am going to try and up my 1 hour walk a week to at least 2 or 3 1 hour walks and I have to stop avoiding the hills (lol).
But enough of Brighton and on to the Garden Centre at Ditchling....it was the most AMAZING place I have ever ever ever been into in my life....I am talking life size polar bears made out of lights and every kind of Father Christmas imaginable, the decorations are put into colour ways and I have never seen anything like it, there must have been 30 different snow globes to choose from.....I literally stood there with my mouth hanging open and have decided to take Megs back for a couple of hours on Saturday so that we can have a proper look around ....that is another thing about the English, they certainly know how to do Christmas!
Finally home to Josie's for a quick cup of tea and then on to fetch the children from school and home to a chilly evening in. Tomorrow night is Lindfield night in the village where they close off the High street for a night market and I am helping at the Beaver/Cubs table, weather forecast is 1 degree.
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Sunday 30th November 2008
Life in Lindfield is certainly very different in the winter and weekends spent out and about exploring and enjoying our new country have come to an abrupt halt....most of the large attractions are closed for maintenance through the winter and as it is just so cold it seems like a very good idea.
The Orion Theater in Burgess Hill has been standing as long as anyone in the area can remember and it takes Simon and I back to the days of the movie houses in Grahamstown. We do have a modern cinema complex in Crawley (about 25 mins drive) but we actually quite enjoy this quaint little theatre complete with ushers and a projectionist....real olde worlde.
Megs and Phil are back to school tomorrow having finally recovered from their illnesses and I am looking forward to getting on top of the house again as I must confess my domestic goddess
This weekend was another quiet one at home although we did take the children out to the old "bug house" (movie theater) in Burgess Hill to watch High School Musical 3....we must be one of the last families on the planet to have seen the movie, but it was worth it, the kids loved it and there was more than one part which had us all laughing out loud - not surprised it has been rated as the best of the three.
The Orion Theater in Burgess Hill has been standing as long as anyone in the area can remember and it takes Simon and I back to the days of the movie houses in Grahamstown. We do have a modern cinema complex in Crawley (about 25 mins drive) but we actually quite enjoy this quaint little theatre complete with ushers and a projectionist....real olde worlde.
Megs and Phil are back to school tomorrow having finally recovered from their illnesses and I am looking forward to getting on top of the house again as I must confess my domestic goddess status has slipped a bit while they have been home.....just too difficult to clean and iron with 3 children underfoot - well that is my excuse anyway and I am sticking to it.
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Thursday 27th November 2008
Both children are still at home, but definitely on the mend as I can't hear myself think as I type this post, they have a great game of Lego going on upstairs....this strict mommy won't allow them downstairs as being sick is about being in bed so upstairs it is - and a definite plus is that it helps contain the infection from Nicholas.
As we have been in the country 6 months now and the long winter evenings are upon us (it is dark now from 4.30pm - 7.00am) Simon and I decided that last night was time for another "family meeting" during which each member gets to chat about their feelings about the move and giving us an opportunity to try and change the things that are perhaps making us miserable and capitalise on the things that are making us happy.
These "meetings" are always interesting and I am sometimes amazed by the things that come out of them....it turns out that Megs is loving the outings and the extra family time that we are experiencing here and enjoying the fact that I am not always so busy and we have time for walks and shopping together etc, she also likes the fact that her dad is more relaxed and seems to be happy. She however hates the pebble beaches and is longing for some waves so we have promised her a trip further south as soon as the weather warms for a long weekend somewhere in either Devon or Cornwell.
Phillip (and this surprised me) likes the fact that he can wait for me in the car when I go into a shop and not feel scared and that I let him start walking home with his sister when we have been to the village - I really thought that I had protected my children from the "fear" in South Africa and it is certainly nothing that we have ever openly discussed in front of them as they still have so many loved ones there that we don't want them to worry, but as they say "from the mouths of babes". He in turn dislikes the way the children here swear and disrespect their parents, again a surprise, and although this one isn't as easy to solve as his sisters I am looking out for South African social groups at the moment to expose him to children that are raised in the same way as he is and we discussed the fact that he doesn't have to hang with kids he doesn't like just to have friends....coz at the end of the day they aren't real friends anyway.
Si is loving the outings and solid family time as well but is really battling with the crowds everywhere and finds the health and safety a bit OTT, so we are going to do more wood walks then city highlights and try and find some kind of balance....we are also looking at getting him a motorbike so that he has some freedom from the trains and can ride to work when he needs a break. Health and Safety.....well there simply isn't a way round that and he is right they are totally OTT.
For me, well the pages of this blog are filled with my hopes, thoughts, likes and dislikes, nothing new there. A very worthwhile exercise and one that we have agreed to repeat every 6 months until England is home and South Africa just somewhere all the people we love live.
As we have been in the country 6 months now and the long winter evenings are upon us (it is dark now from 4.30pm - 7.00am) Simon and I decided that last night was time for another "family meeting" during which each member gets to chat about their feelings about the move and giving us an opportunity to try and change the things that are perhaps making us miserable and capitalise on the things that are making us happy.
These "meetings" are always interesting and I am sometimes amazed by the things that come out of them....it turns out that Megs is loving the outings and the extra family time that we are experiencing here and enjoying the fact that I am not always so busy and we have time for walks and shopping together etc, she also likes the fact that her dad is more relaxed and seems to be happy. She however hates the pebble beaches and is longing for some waves so we have promised her a trip further south as soon as the weather warms for a long weekend somewhere in either Devon or Cornwell.
Phillip (and this surprised me) likes the fact that he can wait for me in the car when I go into a shop and not feel scared and that I let him start walking home with his sister when we have been to the village - I really thought that I had protected my children from the "fear" in South Africa and it is certainly nothing that we have ever openly discussed in front of them as they still have so many loved ones there that we don't want them to worry, but as they say "from the mouths of babes". He in turn dislikes the way the children here swear and disrespect their parents, again a surprise, and although this one isn't as easy to solve as his sisters I am looking out for South African social groups at the moment to expose him to children that are raised in the same way as he is and we discussed the fact that he doesn't have to hang with kids he doesn't like just to have friends....coz at the end of the day they aren't real friends anyway.
Si is loving the outings and solid family time as well but is really battling with the crowds everywhere and finds the health and safety a bit OTT, so we are going to do more wood walks then city highlights and try and find some kind of balance....we are also looking at getting him a motorbike so that he has some freedom from the trains and can ride to work when he needs a break. Health and Safety.....well there simply isn't a way round that and he is right they are totally OTT.
For me, well the pages of this blog are filled with my hopes, thoughts, likes and dislikes, nothing new there. A very worthwhile exercise and one that we have agreed to repeat every 6 months until England is home and South Africa just somewhere all the people we love live.
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Wednesday 26th November 2008
What a roller coaster ride the last couple of days have been, filled with giddy heights and sickening drops and all the adrenalin I can handle for the next six months.
Having decided to look for properties as our current rent is £1000 per mont, on Monday I confirmed with the agents that I wanted to view a property in Danehill and at the same time discovered a gem of a house in Scaynes Hill, just walking distance from the children's school and comprising 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and a huge lounge and garden. I set up appointments for both on Tuesday as I had Megs home sick with me on Monday.
Well on Tuesday I had both Megan and Phillip home sick, so with both children asleep in the back of Auntie Madge (aka the bus) I headed out once again to Danehill only to discover, as I had arrived, that the agent had being trying to reach me to cancel the appointment as the owner had let the house privately.......aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh......huge frustration, annoyance and disappointment, but at least we still had the Scaynes Hill property to look at.
The children and I instantly fell in love with the property at Scaynes Hill and it seemed as though it was destined to be ours. Despite a few decorating quirks it was perfect and I spent time showing it to both the Bratz and my mom and talking about it as if it was a done deal......enter reality......once Si got home from work we sat and really discussed the implications of the move as, although the house cost exactly the same per month as our current one, we needed to consider getting Si a motorbike to get to and from the station as cycling was no longer an option due to distance, hence more fuel expenses....there was also the hefty 1500 pound deposit to consider and the 500 pound administration fee, not to mention the 1000 pound rent in advance - so after working the numbers in just about every way possible, we decided this morning to let the property go and stick it out where we are for the next 6 months and reassess in May next year when we have officially been resident a full year.
On top of all this I have just got Megan back to school this morning and have been up all night dealing with Phil with temperatures of 38.5+ degrees - turns out the poor little man has an upper respiratory tract infection and is feeling absolutely dreadful....so antibiotics for him as well I am afraid and we are all just hoping and praying that the antibodies in my breast milk will be enough to keep Nic well as, at this stage, I don't think I can take many more sleepless nights with sick children.
One thing is for certain as I celebrate the 6 month mark of our time here, we most definitely can't call it boring!
Having decided to look for properties as our current rent is £1000 per mont, on Monday I confirmed with the agents that I wanted to view a property in Danehill and at the same time discovered a gem of a house in Scaynes Hill, just walking distance from the children's school and comprising 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and a huge lounge and garden. I set up appointments for both on Tuesday as I had Megs home sick with me on Monday.
Well on Tuesday I had both Megan and Phillip home sick, so with both children asleep in the back of Auntie Madge (aka the bus) I headed out once again to Danehill only to discover, as I had arrived, that the agent had being trying to reach me to cancel the appointment as the owner had let the house privately.......aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh......huge frustration, annoyance and disappointment, but at least we still had the Scaynes Hill property to look at.
The children and I instantly fell in love with the property at Scaynes Hill and it seemed as though it was destined to be ours. Despite a few decorating quirks it was perfect and I spent time showing it to both the Bratz and my mom and talking about it as if it was a done deal......enter reality......once Si got home from work we sat and really discussed the implications of the move as, although the house cost exactly the same per month as our current one, we needed to consider getting Si a motorbike to get to and from the station as cycling was no longer an option due to distance, hence more fuel expenses....there was also the hefty 1500 pound deposit to consider and the 500 pound administration fee, not to mention the 1000 pound rent in advance - so after working the numbers in just about every way possible, we decided this morning to let the property go and stick it out where we are for the next 6 months and reassess in May next year when we have officially been resident a full year.
On top of all this I have just got Megan back to school this morning and have been up all night dealing with Phil with temperatures of 38.5+ degrees - turns out the poor little man has an upper respiratory tract infection and is feeling absolutely dreadful....so antibiotics for him as well I am afraid and we are all just hoping and praying that the antibodies in my breast milk will be enough to keep Nic well as, at this stage, I don't think I can take many more sleepless nights with sick children.
One thing is for certain as I celebrate the 6 month mark of our time here, we most definitely can't call it boring!
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Sunday 23rd November 2008
IT IS SNOWING....IT IS SNOWING and not just tiny little none settling flakes, great big fluffy white flakes which land on the floor and settle in your mouth and coat everything that they touch.
I woke up this morning to an ill Megan (sore throat, headache, coughing.....first of the flu I guess) and while I was running her a hot bath to ease her aches and pains I noticed the first of the snowflakes outside the window.....well needless to say it didn't take us long to get all bundled up and head outside to "play". Fortunately Nic was still asleep so all four of us were able to get out there and experience the first snow fall of the winter.
After a lovely time outside (and many sidewards looks from the English neighbours) we were back in for Bacon, Eggs and Hot chocolate and after a lovely warm bath the older children are now ensconced on the sleeper couch in the conservatory watching dvds.....too too cold to do anything else and I think the remainder of this Sunday is going to be spend inside in the lovely central heating.
Friday, 21 November 2008
Friday 21st November 2008
A quiet but pleasant week in which Nic and I have shopped and walked and slept and bonded and it has left me feeling happily comfortable in my life.....I really do count myself as one of the lucky ones and as I sit and ponder the week gone by I realise that life really is what you make it - I could sit here and bemoan the stillness of my existence and mourn for my once hectic and at times frenetic life, a life that I so loved or I can accept the change gracefully and embrace the silence that I once so craved....I have chosen acceptance and with it has come a peace that I don't think I have ever really experienced before, a peace from which I am able to put my husband and children first, not just in theory, but in actual practise.
For the first time in our lives we have only eaten take away twice in the last 6 months, and not only because of the price, but because I am happy to stand and cook for my family and enjoy the quality time around the dining room table as we share the meal at the end of the day. I am able to support my children in their day to day issues and have time to stop and actually listen to the "exciting" story about the spider they found on a bench at break which some of the kids thought was poisonous and than Megs was brave enough to pick it up and get rid of it so that it didn't scare the other children (all narrated in Phils best breathless voice with his eyes flashing)...these are precious moments that will never come again, and in my past existence they are moments I would have only listened to with one ear and half my brain as we rushed from one place to the next and the rest of my mind was occupied with what still had to be done in a day.
So today as I reflect, I count myself blessed and although I say again as I have said hundred's of times before, I miss my family and friends every day, I am so grateful for this new path and as I lift my beaming new born son from his bed and kiss his chubby cheek and know that I have no more to do today then look after him and keep our family....I realise that perhaps for the first time ever all is totally right with my world.
For the first time in our lives we have only eaten take away twice in the last 6 months, and not only because of the price, but because I am happy to stand and cook for my family and enjoy the quality time around the dining room table as we share the meal at the end of the day. I am able to support my children in their day to day issues and have time to stop and actually listen to the "exciting" story about the spider they found on a bench at break which some of the kids thought was poisonous and than Megs was brave enough to pick it up and get rid of it so that it didn't scare the other children (all narrated in Phils best breathless voice with his eyes flashing)...these are precious moments that will never come again, and in my past existence they are moments I would have only listened to with one ear and half my brain as we rushed from one place to the next and the rest of my mind was occupied with what still had to be done in a day.
So today as I reflect, I count myself blessed and although I say again as I have said hundred's of times before, I miss my family and friends every day, I am so grateful for this new path and as I lift my beaming new born son from his bed and kiss his chubby cheek and know that I have no more to do today then look after him and keep our family....I realise that perhaps for the first time ever all is totally right with my world.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Tuesday 17th November 2008
What a lovely lovely day! Last week, during one of our NCT walks, my friend Jess suggested a trip into Brighton to show me the shops and perhaps finally allow me to buy Nicholas some much needed "big boy" clothes, as I keep being asked if he is in his pajamas. The English don't do this whole babygrow till they are 6 months old thing and there are even jeans available in newborn size.
Well today was the day, and after vacillating back and forth as to whether or not I should actually go...budgets being what they are with me not working.....Si persuaded me that a day out with the girls would do me good, and even if I couldn't spend shed loads of money I could still enjoy myself and do a bit of window shopping.....and I am so glad that I went.
Brighton was absolutely stunning without the huge weekend crowds and it was wonderful to be out shopping again in a big shopping center, to have coffee in a real coffee shop and enjoy some laughter and girlie chat - I did manage to shop for Nicholas (thanks to the sales) and have come home armed with two pairs of jeans and tops for him and a real boys hat as well as all his Christmas presents, so all in all a very successful day.
Lunch was in a lovely Italian restaurant in the lanes and it was the first affordable meal I have found to eat in England.....certainly helps to be with the locals as they know where to find the best places at affordable prices.
Well today was the day, and after vacillating back and forth as to whether or not I should actually go...budgets being what they are with me not working.....Si persuaded me that a day out with the girls would do me good, and even if I couldn't spend shed loads of money I could still enjoy myself and do a bit of window shopping.....and I am so glad that I went.
Brighton was absolutely stunning without the huge weekend crowds and it was wonderful to be out shopping again in a big shopping center, to have coffee in a real coffee shop and enjoy some laughter and girlie chat - I did manage to shop for Nicholas (thanks to the sales) and have come home armed with two pairs of jeans and tops for him and a real boys hat as well as all his Christmas presents, so all in all a very successful day.
Lunch was in a lovely Italian restaurant in the lanes and it was the first affordable meal I have found to eat in England.....certainly helps to be with the locals as they know where to find the best places at affordable prices.
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