Quote of the Day: Some really intellectual stuff:

From "Does Anything Eat Wasps?", questions and answers from "The Last Word" column of "New Scientist" Magazine.

"Because cats always land on their feet, and toast always lands buttered side down, you can construct a perpetual motion machine by simply strapping a slice of buttered toast to a cat's back. When the cat is dropped it will remain suspended and revolve indefinitely due to the opposing forces."

Discuss.

London

I'm sitting on Beans and Andrew's couch, watching the boys rock out on Guitar Hero. We're between events:

Visiting family- A+!

The Natural History Museum- Always excellent. It's the half term holiday, so the line was looooong, but the new Darwin Centre was amazing. We all got cards which we could 'scan' in the different areas we were really interested in, and later when we go online we can go more in-depth into those areas. Interactive! Behind-the-scenes! We loved it. Had a good chat with one of the assistants there, and she said that it seems to appeal most to older kids who are already into natural science. I can understand that. Most little ones probably won't be so keen on looking at racks of bugs and decoding DNA, but I did see many very small kids (including my tiny cousins) who looked like they were having a good time. Lots of buttons to press, and visually appealing. Good explanations of the classification system. We will go back as soon as we can, and do it all again. You really need more than one day to really take in the whole Natural History Museum, and we've been several times and still need to go back. It's free of charge, though the Museum Shop is full of great buys so do take some money and stock up on gifts and stationery. There are several restaurants, a little expensive but good. We tend to take a picnic and hang out on the grass outside while we stuff our faces and recoup.

Picnics- We have these down to a fine art. If you're spending any time in London with kids, they will need regular feeding, and with the average cheese sandwich clocking in at a meelion pounds, a picnic is essential. We make sandwiches, and pack a bag with crisps, nuts, cookies, juice packs, chocolate and fruit. We buy coffee, tea or ice cream because you KNOW it isn't an outing if we don't buy something, and ice cream is a great bribe. And coffee warms your fingers.

Fantastic Mr. Fox- We loved it! Someone left the cinema in a huff halfway through the movie, and we did see some cross faces afterwards, which I can understand. The movie was very different from the book, story-line wise, but I thought the main characters were correct. Except for Mrs. Fox who I found much improved. Mr. and Mrs. Fox have one son, and a cousin who comes to stay. They all do a groovy dance together from time to time. Boggis and Bunce and Bean are HORRIBLE! We all loved it, adults and kids. We saw it in Brixton, and got a 'family deal' which I thought was very nice of the cashier... there were nine of us!

I bought a great pair of boots at Clarks. Yay!!! And, they were on sale. Double Yay!

Margo's Birthday Party And Christmas Day Practice Run was a total success. Margo had a great time, despite her complaints last week that we were making a fuss out of nothing, why would anyone want to celebrate a ninety-third birthday party? (We told her it was just an excuse to have a family party, so suck it up) She beamed all day, and we all ate very well with 27 different puddings. It was an eat fest.

Still to come: Cousins to visit on the other side of the family, a wedding, and the kids really want to go to Hamley's, the bestest toy store ever. It's great to have comfy places to stay and good big breakfasts, and extra nice to have lots of time and no pressure. You need the occasional 'off' day when visiting a big city, or it can be overwhelming and exhausting.

We'll be home next week, so I'll be back online properly then. Hope everyone's okay, internetties! See you soon!

Quote Of The Day

"Some people feel the rain.

Others just get wet."

Bob Dylan

Will it rain? is the question on everyone's minds tonight. The half-term school holiday is next week. THE WHOLE OF NEXT WEEK!

What are our plans, you ask? Well, there's a wedding, a birthday party, "Fantastic Mr. Fox", "Billy Elliot", hikes through the countryside of "Howard's End" and some museums going on, with hordes of cousins, uncles, aunts, sisters, great-grandmothers and in-laws.

It may rain. Enjoy it, half-termers!

I Think That When You're 93 It's About Time To Swallow Your Pride And WEAR. YOUR. HEARING. AID!

Old Lady With Stick: "Well, good morning!"

Old Lady With Chic Silk Scarf: "Good Morning!"

OLWS: "There's a taxi."

OLWCSS: "Oh! Are you waiting for a taxi too?"

OLWS: "Yes, isn't it?"

OLWCSS: "Well I'm sure mine will be along soon."

OLWS: "A little nippy though."

Granddaughter: "That's your taxi, Margo."

OLWCSS: "He'll only be a few minutes I'm sure"

G: "Let's go and ask him, shall we?"

OLWCSS: "Really?"

OLWS: "I can't imagine who he's waiting for."

OLWCSS: "Oh, you're waiting for someone?"

OLWS: "Well, maybe it will clear up."

G: "Oh, LOOK! There's the number you called, on the side of the taxi! This must be YOUR TAXI!"

OLWS: "Are you expecting a taxi? There's on there..."

OLWCSS: "Well, maybe we should ask him."

G: "GOOD IDEA!"

OLWCSS: "Because this person doesn't seem to be in a hurry."

OLWS: "Yes, I think it might."

OLWCSS: "Oh, is it? Well, we can wait..."

G (steering OLWCSS by shoulders): "Okay, then! Let's go!"

OLWCSS: "Hello"

Taxi Driver: "Mrs. E?"

OLWCSS: "Well that's all right then. To the hairdresser's in W. And we can give you a lift Nan."

G: "Well, it's out of your way, isn't it? I'll be all right walking, thanks."

OLWCSS: "So that's A. Road."

G: "THE WALK WILL DO ME GOOD!!"

T.D: Very savvy, bundles OLWCSS into car, waves me goodbye theatrically, and starts talking loudly to OLWCSS, "HAVING A HAIRCUT TODAY ARE WE?"

Granddaughter beats hasty retreat. Laughing merrily all the way home and grateful for the wisdom of Bournemouth Taxi Drivers.

Inside-Out Umbrella Weather

The rain comes UP, under hems and into the backs of your shoes. Your legs get colder and damper and the wind turns your umbrella inside out with a snap! Turn the spinning umbrella the oooother way around, to get it right side out again... but SNAP it's inside out once more as the wind changes it's mind and wheels about you, trying to unwind your scarf and get behind your defences. Put umbrella away, pouring umbrella rivers into your handbag and up your sleeve, simultaneously. Put hood up. Wind blows it down. Wasn't that wind coming from the other way a minute ago? Tie hood on with wet scarf. Grin maniacally at wind. I am warm, Wind. You can't get into my anorak! And soon, I will be at home with a cup of tea and dry fuzzy socks, watching you zip the last few leaves from the tree in the garden and tap, tap your raindrops on the windowpanes.

An Interview With Margo Eden, 93

Sam is doing a project at school about World War 2. As part of his project, he decided to interview my grandmother, who lives just a few blocks away from us here. Sam had some questions written down, but the interview went beyond his original expectations and he spent hours yesterday copying Margo's experiences onto his project paper. I'm going to write down here what I've got scribbled on the scrap of paper in front of me, the notes from the interview, as I don't want to change anything!

We made a pot of tea, and Margo put aside her tapestry and sliced some cake. Still baking cakes, full of fruit! (and still refuses to be called "Granny"!) I sat poised with my pen and paper, and Sam began:

How old were you during WW2?

... 34? How old WAS I?...

Did you cook? What kind of food?

Yes. We had everything we needed, but because of rationing we had less. If you baked a cake, you used half the ingredients. You had cake, just smaller pieces.

What difficulties did you have?

Rationing was fierce, petrol rationing... No cars, you just parked up until the war was over... Fewer buses and trains.

Were you ever hungry?

No, not if you were sensible. Some people would eat everything they had quickly, and then they were hungry, but if you were careful there was enough.

What kind of shelter did you have? (Sam was trying to get a specific answer, "Anderson" or "Morris", but the mention of a bomb shelter set Margo reminiscing)

None. We lived 12 miles from Liverpool, in Ormskirk. We weren't at much risk, though the planes dropped their leftover bombs after they'd been to Liverpool, on their way home. My mother sheltered under the stairs. We had two children from Liverpool, evacuees, for a while. I wonder what became of them? Their parents took them back, before too long.

What kind of shelter?

At work in Liverpool we had a shelter, of course. I worked the Comptometer. You had to use two hands. To get to work we went by bus. One morning as we were driving through Liverpool, we saw two old people come out of their door, and carefully lock it behind them. The door and a few walls were all left standing of their home. They must have sheltered under the stairs, I suppose. They had nothing left. Everyone on the bus was weeping to see those people locking their door.

They were lucky to be alive, I suppose, but is that lucky? To lose everything?

One day we arrived at work to find the building had been bombed. Everything gone. My savings Certificates! They were in my desk drawer! Four fire watchers were killed.

Jack was in the Merchant Navy. One day when he was on shore leave, his ship went down with all hands. All of his friends. He didn't speak for three days. When my grandsons were born, I thought that if there was ever a war.... Why are there wars?

Shubh Divali, Peace and Light and Long Hikes On The Cliffs...

Today is Divali, and everyone is eating amazing vegetarian curry, visiting each other, eating some more, lighting deyas, and I AM MISSING IT SO MUCH!!!

However, today the sun shone out of a crisp blue sky, and we went hiking along the cliffs to a cafe, had a picnic and hot coffee and cocoa, and walked back along the beach for MILES. It was so lovely that I almost didn't mind missing Divali. We lit a candle in the window, and hopefully Laxmi still visit us tonight, and bring good fortune and good things.

Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.

Shhhh, It's A Library! Book Reviews

We've joined the library! We all went off, bundled up against the growing October Cold, the boys and Sean on their bikes, though they sensibly parked outside and didn't ride upon the bookshelves. Chas DID borrow a book on BMX bikes, full of technical stuff, since our latest thing apparently is BIKES! Bikes for independence, bikes for speed and stunts.

But we are not here for bike talk. We're here to talk about books, dear readers. A review of last night's bedtime stories:

The Boy with Two Shadows (Picture Lions), about a boy who takes great care of his shadow and ends up having to babysit the naughty shadow of a witch!

"When The Library Lights Go Out", Megan McDonald and Katherine Tillotson. Library puppets have an after-hours adventure! This was a great first story for us, new as we are to the library.

"Sir Gawain And The Green Knight", the classic story retold by Michael Morpurgo. Beautiful watercolour illustrations by Michael Foreman. We love many of Morpurgo's books, they are usually well written, boy-friendly and adventurous. So far, the Green Knight does not disappoint. Did I mention the illustrations? Lovely borders, too. I am such a sucker for good illustration. Looking forward to a chapter a night of this one.

I borrowed books on being a working mum in the UK, acing interviews and other such boring stuff. The boys borrowed over twenty books, and I'll let you know how they go as we read them.

The library was cozy, and the librarian said that it's one of the smaller branches. Our cards permit us to use any library in the area, and there are twelve, so once we've read our way through our little neighbourhood library we can move on to the larger ones. Chas can pop in on his way home from school. Free internet, homework groups, audio books, and it hasn't cost us a thing. Yay library!

(shhhhh!)

Coincidence?? I THINK NOT!

Yes, folks, I'm quoting "The Incredibles" there, an awesome show...

So we've had some coincidences, recently, as well as historically, and today I read Debbie's post concerning answered prayers, and TA-DAAA! An idea for a post! And I even have peace and quiet today to write, for a change, luckily.... OR IS IT LUCK?? I will let you, dear reader, decide.

* My dear friend Kelly has a most wonderful green blanket at her house, and whenever we spend the night there we covet it. It's SO warm, so fuzzy and soft. When we came to England, I told the boys that they could have any blanket they wanted, and after a few days of trying out different types at Pat's house and Ailis' house, they knew: Sam, a duvet. Max, a stripey colourful fleece. Chas sighed and said "I know it's not possible, but you know Aunty Kelly's blanket?" We had been looking around department stores, and there was NOTHING like that anywhere. "Chas, honey, we may need to ask aunty Kelly and try to order it from the States". Sam and Max got theirs, and Chas used whatever was available.

Then, Ailis took me to a discount "overstock" store, and there, on top of a heap of random throws and covers, was THE BLANKET. Just one.

* One day, I was driving from the boys' school drop, frantically thinking of HOW to get the work done, orders filled, money banked, in time to pay school fees, the house is a mess and will have to stay that way, I really need help.... Many working mothers have had times like these when everything is TOO MUCH and you NEED HELP. I had been searching for a housekeeper/babysitter with increasing desperation as work and bills piled up and things at home got more grungy. Suddenly, I saw a dog that had been hit by a car. It was alive. It was awful. Bones sticking out and blood everywhere.

Readers, I drove on, cursing and shaking my fist at the sky. "Haven't I got enough on my plate? I need help, not more stress!!" Fifteen seconds later, I turned back. I spent the rest of the "working day" driving back and forth, cursing uncharitably, until I had convinced an animal shelter to come out, and at great expense, put the poor suffering dog to sleep and take it away. Finally I sat in the drain on the side of the road, exhausted, wiped the dog blood from my hands and said "NOW what?"

At that very moment, a person came out of a house nearby. They had seen the goings-on, and wanted to commiserate. They introduced themselves, and said "You from de Ceramics Factory up de Road? Allyuh need any workers? I do housekeeping, but I can learn anyting."

And dear readers, Suzanne came to work for me. She was wonderful. She stayed until Max was at school full-time, and made life good.

* One morning, I had planned to meet a good friend (Hi Diana!) who had just had a baby. (MWAH, Jakey!) I popped into the grocery and bought some banana bread, and yogurts, and fruit, thinking that halfway through the morning a mama needs a snack. While at the grocery, I saw a large pack of washcloths. They just caught my eye, you know how sometimes your eye says LOOK! WASHCLOTHS! YOU MUST BUY THEM!! I shrugged and thought "Maybe Di could use these?"

Then Diana called and said that she had to take the baby to the doctor, she was concerned about something. "Hmmm", I thought, "What to do with all these goodies?"

I decided to visit my grandmother, who could always use a visit and some goodies. As I arrived there, I met my aunt Judy charging out the door. "NAN! Hi! I haven't slept in two days. Tricia is recovering, but Sheilagh and I have been up all night with the twins and we haven't even had breakfast... I am just going to buy us something to eat, and head back there now."

I reached into the car, and pulled out the bags of banana bread, yogurt and fruit. "Here, Judes, take this. Anything else I can do to help? What do you need?"

"Oh! Thank you! Thank you! Well...." she consults her list... (can you see what's coming here, readers?) "We really only need some washcloths, Tricia doesn't have nearly enough and those babies are pukey."

Oh yes, discerning thinkers, could there be something going on here that we cannot fathom? I have had so many curious coincidences that now, when things seem to be going wrong, I can truly step back and say "Hmmmm, I wonder what's going to happen next?" and even if I see no REASON for the mishap, keep-back or bad day, I feel that somewhere, somehow, it is certainly for the best. Hundreds, thousands of moments, some tiny, some huge but too personal to write here. It can take time and practice to live in the moment, to notice the washcloths, to ask for what you need, to stop fighting the flow, but it's what we have to do.

I really believe this. And this is what is called Faith, I think. Knowing that somewhere, someone or something is organizing things in such a way that if YOU do what you are supposed to (and this is usually what makes YOU happy), and listen carefully for instruction, all will be well. The instructions may be as clear as "Look there's a creature in pain there", or as vague as a feeling. Today, think about this. Listen well. Become part of the team. Get great benefits.

The Weekend In Brief...

...And in bullets, because we've been having too much fun around here to think about writing.

*The sun shone on Saturday! We went over to Boscombe, the neighbouring town, and checked out The New Artificial Surf Reef there. There were no waves, so we didn't really get to see the reef in action, but that didn't stop the boys from buying summer wetsuits (Clearance! On Sale!) and renting a board. The board was a really dreadful foam thing, but Chas still ripped the ripples, as you can see!

* Max managed to get Sam to pull him out kneeling on the board, and he surfed all the way in, standing up, and DID NOT GET WET above the knees. The second wave, he fell into the freezing sea and that was it for him. He ran onto the sand and demanded warm hot-dogs and never went back in.

*There's a surf cam on the pier, so you can check the surf and weather online before leaving home...

* There's also a BMX bike park nearby. It's on the way to Chas' school, and he rides to school, so he's been dying to check it out PROPERLY. This morning, Chas and Sam had an early large breakfast (no sleeping in for me, alas) and took off to be first on the ramps. They had such a blast, only came home when they were hungry, and then dragged their Dad back there this afternoon. They are stiff, sore and exhausted, and plan on meeting there tomorrow after school.

* It's a good thing they are often hungry, or I may never see them again. The bike park is about halfway to the surf reef, both easy riding distance.

* Learn to love English Rain: Take up Gardening!! Yes, I finally understand that serene look on the faces of English Gardeners. While the rest of the nation is muttering about the rain, Gardeners are thinking how good it is for their bulbs' root structures, and how nice it will all look in the spring. I have been poring over Gardening Magazines, and have planted wallflowers, tulips and crocuses. Next: Daffodils, if I can get some! I have no idea whether they will actually grow, as I had my kids AND the neighbours' kids, that's six all together, "helping" with the planting, and we all got a certain amount of dirt in our hair. You are supposed to plant everything a specific depth below the earth, apparently, but no measuring happened. Today, when no-one was looking, I went and heaped some more dirt on my bulbs so that they will sleep warm and cozy until March. Sleep well my little bulbies!

* My uncle Pat called to say that he may pop in this week, and I asked him if he could please bring me some worms, as his worms are so wonderful, and he said that he certainly could. Only a fellow gardener would appreciate this request. I only hope they don't escape in his car on the M25.

* Some previous tenants left a compost bin behind, and it's a Thing Of Beauty and a Joy Forever.

* The worms are going to love it!

* Whenever it rains, I think "YAY! My bulbs will be so happy!" But I say nothing, for fear of offending my surfers.

* Chas was born here, and one serious national newspaper headline that week cried, "Wettest Drought In History!" I kid you not. I kept the newspaper article, of course, and I find that it defines Chas. He has a particular English sense of humour, and WOULD be born during the Wettest Drought Ever. My boys, they defy the status quo. The sun will probably shine all through October, just for them.

Immigrant Songs

"I clench cold fists in my Marks & Spencer jacket

and secretly test my accent once again:

St. James's Park, St. James's Park, St. James's Park."

-from "Immigrant" by Fleur Adcock

************************

"You know how it feels, to tell your friends and family back home you're a postman?"

-A Friend

************************

"What am I, what am I, what am I?"

-from "The Bunyip Of Berkeley's Creek" by Jenny Wagner

************************

Yesterday I called an employment agency to get their new address, as their office just moved this week. The chick on the phone said, "We aren't hiring AT ALL for the next two weeks or so though." and I never did get that address out of her. Funny enough, when Sean and I were walking in town, we saw the sign and decided to pop in. We were greeted as professionals and given excellent advice and personal email addresses and phone numbers. Please, email our CVs to these people, and phone them as soon as possible. They need us.

Why the discrepancy?

I'm an old hand at this: Never ever call. Go in. I learned this years ago, job hunting in the UK and the US. On the phone, jobs were suddenly "No longer available". As a walk-in to the same office, a miracle! Yes, the advertised job is certainly available, and free to YOU!

On the phone, my listeners hear "Hi, I'm an immigrant. Hear my West Indian accent?" But when I walk in, they see "Ah. Expat." My accent is suddenly interesting and funny, a "lovely lilt". My upbringing suddenly exotic, In A Good Way. Years ago, at ICL, I had to make calls at times to warehouses all over the country and because of my position at the time, I was respected on the phone. I had a great fan in Wales, who would always take my calls with a sigh: "Och, ah can tell you're a dark beauty!"

I never corrected him, of course, I just laughed. I can laugh. I'm one of the beautiful white people. But I cannot, I will never, be able to judge a person by their accent or colour; and I am always surprised when I am judged in that way.

*********************

"No need for greed or hunger,

A brotherhood of man.

Imagine all the people,

Sharing all the world."

-John Lennon, "Imagine"

The Weather Report

Chas stood in the doorway this morning for a moment before setting out on his bike. Hesitated a moment. Looked over his shoulder at me an gave me a look that brought back many memories: A look that said, "Are you serious? Shouldn't we get a day off for this?"

Then, a bright smile and "Later!"

"Take your time sweets, slippery road. Love you."

He's got brand-new mud flaps installed, and he's bundled up in a weatherproof hoodie. Helmet perched on top. We'll put a flashy light on the back of his bike, this week, because contrary to our hopes and dreams, the sunny weather that followed us to England has left us.

I'm thinking of giving him hot hard-boiled eggs to keep in his pockets... his fingers are going to get really cold riding in this rain! He loves hard-boiled eggs, and I know that boy can put down a second breakfast anytime. Plus, the farting later on would be marvellous. In a stifling classroom of thirty-odd adolescent boys, yeah!

Kitchen Thinking

I like the view from my kitchen window, even today, when it's cold and grey and windy outside. Some of the trees are already looking less leafy. It makes me want another cup of tea. Hmmmm.

Our little garden, shared with the Downstairs Neighbours, needs sprucing up. There's a compost "bin", with some stuff in it already, so we've started keeping our peelings and eggshells and teabags, and I'm going to start gardening. Of course, this is not the tropics, so I have NO CLUE what to do but I'm going to look online and ask questions and learn something new! I'm not a lover of gardening, but all of my gardening before has been "hacking back the rainforest while being attacked by fire ants" and I suspect that gently digging a flowerbed for placing bulbs underground, and then waiting till spring for things to happen, might be more my speed. Anyway, the kids, upstairs and downstairs, will love it..

Yesterday, Sam made a pineapple upside-down cake, recipe courtesy of Wacky Mommy! It was sooooo good! In fact, there's some left, which would go really well with my tea.... We will make the chocolate volcano one soon, Wacky Mommy, and Sam will keep you posted! I know I love baking when the weather's chilly (watch out, waistline!) so we have some gastronomic weekends ahead.

Sean is here, pottering around, repairing bikes, cooking good food. It's so good to have a man around.

The kids hardly get any homework, compared with the hours and hours they used to get. We have "homework time" from Monday to Thursday after supper. Half an hour to an hour of homework, and revision. I like not having homework on the weekend, it makes so much sense!

Stepping in a puddle, in the bathroom, in your ONE PAIR of fuzzy socks, is horrible. I definitely need more fuzzy socks. My children need to not flood the place when they bathe. Non-fuzzy socks can be cute and all, but they are not snuggly.

As you can see, "Moving In" has become "Normal Everyday Life". Soon I will join the Great Employment Search Of 2009, and things will become even more normal.

Without the commute.

But colder.

Internet Safety Part 3

Finally, before we say goodbye to this very interesting topic (see the two posts below, latecomers): Numerous surveys and studies have shown that parents tend to vastly underestimate the amount of time their own children spend on the computer and in front of the TV, and how much violence they are exposed to onscreen.

If you think your child spends "hardly any time online" and "doesn't watch much TV", look again. Be honest with yourself, and as so many readers have advised, keep the lines of communication open. Both ways!

Thanks for being so involved here, guys. Let's keep this going in comments as long as new information and ideas turn up. And now, back to your regular scheduled programming!