Playing Dress-Up

When we left Trinidad, we gave away A LOT of STUFF! Thousands of books. Ornaments. Kitchen things. Electronics. Furniture. Appliances.

And the dress-up bin.

Which is the ONLY thing we've thought "Oh no, if only we had kept our..." Which is strange. I handed it over with a sense of relief, that heap of masks, feathers, beads, capes, stripes, wigs, ties, hats. I reasoned that the boys had grown out of most of the costumes: frog costumes, Darth Vader, waistcoats, too small now. And now, we're rebuilding our dress-up stash, slowly but surely. Max has needed to be several characters in school plays, so I've been sewing. When we go to ruined castles they HAVE to spend their allowance on wooden swords and helmets. If I see a length of gold braid looking for a good home, in it goes. Bits of fabric? Always good. The kids, including everyone in the neighbourhood and the older kids, can often be seen swordfighting in full armour, or draped in Death Black.

So now, a year on, we've got dress up clothes again. So much so that a friend called this week and said "Help! Need Roman Gladiator Costume by Tomorrow!" and we had everything her son needed,including a fetching piece of red and gold fabric, perfect for gladiatorial draping AND some chain mail, I kid you not. This friend has lived here for ever, and we've been here one year, but we've got the comprehensive dress-up selection.

My kids would rather be wearing a metallic wig, or a lot of fake blood with half a sword in their chest. While they wash the dishes.

I thought it was something you'd grow out of, but I guess not.

What did I expect, with parents like theirs?

Anti-Nudist Weather

I love clothes. I take back anything I ever said against clothes. I especially love thermal underwear, fuzzy socks, scarves, gloves, sweaters with all kinds of necks which I used to find uncomfortable. The boys, too, are seriously not naked in any way. We are reformed nudists.

Suddenly, doing laundry becomes an exercise in gratitude... THIS is my soft undershirty thing, which I will wash at a low temp. THIS is Max's lined fleecy trousers. Scarves, I love you. All of these many socks? I love you too. How could I ever have thought otherwise?

Good grief woman, put some clothes on before you get cold!

Quote of the Day, Big Brothers are Evil

At bedtime:

Chas: Night night everyone! And don't worry Max, we'll be right here if you're scared or anything.

Max: Scared? Oh puh-leease.

Sam: Don't be silly Chas, Max isn't scared of a movie! I mean, all those bits with the snake, he KNOWS they are animated.

Chas: True, true, he knows there isn't, like, an evil snake under his bed or anything. We could always leave a light on, Max, if you're worried about the snatchers though.

Sam: Can snatchers apparate? Like, into houses?

Chas: Definitely. Actually, Nagini can apparate too. That's how she got to Bathilda's house and ate her up.

Sam: Riiight. Hey, a lot of people died horrible deaths, when you think about it.

Max: (thinks about it...)

Guess who's sleeping in my bed?

Productivity 'R' Us!!!

It's been a Getting Things Done kinda few days here... filing away heaps of paper, unpacking (still), getting Margo (who is now 94) off some mailing lists... Margo gets lots of upsetting, heartrending letters from charities saying "Dear Mrs. E, at this time of year, it is more important than ever to protect our poor donkeys/children/blind people/cancer sufferers/etc from freezing to death/going bald/starving so here is a form for you to fill in. Will you give £10 or £20? Simply tick box and send cheque.

These are accompanied with distressing photos of children in various stages of distress, or dying donkeys, or whatever. And there are dozens of them. Sometimes they send a 'Thank You' sheet of stickers or something, ALWAYS with another form to tick and fill because they always need money.

The letters make Margo sad, and she cannot remember that she sent them money just last week so she sends more. Last week I skimmed through her mail and hid over a dozen begging letters in my handbag over the course of the week.

People, if it was one or two, it would be fine, but Margo has obviously got on a charity jackpot mailing list and it's crazy. So I've spent the last few days emailing charities individually, registering Margo on a mail blocking system, and generally making a fuss everywhere. Hopefully this will slow the torrent of charity mail, to a manageable trickle.

In other news, It's getting colder and we're getting excited about Christmas! I've even been shopping, and am hiding things in the tops of cupboards to my heart's content. Max still believes in Santa (or, he wants to, which is just as important) so I get to have another year of Santa fun! We'll have lots of cousins around this year who are younger, and Chas and Sam are really good at keeping the magic alive. We're having a BIG solstice party and I'm trying to figure out how to seat sixteen plus... AND, will we have a REAL Christmas tree this year? I'm thinking about it! Any suggestions? How long do they last?

We're really doing our celebrating on the Solstice: Chas and Sam are flying to Trinidad on Christmas Day. They are feeling incredibly grown-up about this! Max and I are staying. This caused many tears, as Max was going to go, but I was staying, and Max said he didn't think I should be all alone on Christmas Day so he would stay and help me take care of Margo, since he did get a Trini holiday in January this year. A sweet act, and a very difficult decision for him. The fact that Santa would not be giving presents to anyone who got a plane ticket helped with the decision of course. I can't tell you what Max is getting for Christmas, because Chasbo and Samwise are DYING TO KNOW! (Hi, guys!) But it's SO cool, and I can't wait to try it out!

So on that jolly note, I'll go make a sustaining stew, such as would sustain some boys when they come in from school and football and whatnot. How are your Christmas plans coming along? Are you celebrating Thanksgiving?

Dear Fans...

Dear fans, if you're Christmas shopping online please remember that if you order through Amazon dot com from this site, they pay me. (A pittance, but it adds up!) There's a search bar over there on the right, and of course regular book reviews at 'Our Favourite Books'.

Thanks!

Have a happy weekend!

Books of the Moment: Talking about feeling sad

'Harry and Hopper' by Margaret Wild, will make you go "Aaawwww..." When Harry's beloved dog dies suddenly, he's just not ready to say goodbye. Very sweet, Max and I read this one over and over. A good book for when you're feeling sad.

Dr. Seuss' 'My Many Coloured Days' is another good book for thinking about all your feelings...

So is Michael Rosen's Sad Book. Even though things happen and we feel like we'll never be happy again... happiness comes!

It's important for kids to know that it's okay to feel sad, homesick, angry, miss someone who has died, or just feel moody. We can't be happy all the time!

Non- Cuddly Pets, and Books With Funny

Chas has bought a new, larger terrarium for Schrödinger the rapidly growing snake... and he's bought a friend for Schrödinger too. On a rainy day like today I pine for a cat on my lap, but we are sticking with pets who don't want to go out for a walk.

The new snake is a feisty little amelanistic corn snake, cream and pink and red. Chas is in love. We're waiting for a good inspired name, so if you have any ideas do tell!

Apart from reptile store forays, we're keeping warm, playing games and reading books.

Two Christmases ago I bought 'Pentago' because it was compact, easy to learn and travel-able. This game rocks! It takes moments to learn, so everyone who visits gets a tutorial and we've had mega neighbourhood tournaments. It's a five-in-a-row game with a twist: with each move, you place a marble and turn a tile. Max is a fiendish strategist and enjoys baffling guests. And I've noticed that many kids end up just playing alone, making marble patterns.

'The Three Fishing Brothers Gruff', based very loosely on the billy-goat story. Great illustrations and cut-out pages! This is an environmentally aware tale with a happy ending- but not for the greedy fishermen!



'Mr Gum' is REALLY bad. He doesn't like chocolate and does his best to make everyone miserable. He's even got awful friends. This chapter book is so funny, it had Max in stitches. Great book for newly confident readers with a weird sense of humour.

The 'Horrible Science' series is truly Horrible. Science with the gloopy bits left in! Books like 'Disgusting Digestion', 'Dangerous Diseases and Microscopic Monsters' and 'The Terrible Truth About Time' introduce kids (and grownups) to chemicals and concepts in a wonderfully slimy way. Funny cartoons, great information.

Seasonal

The trees are getting their clothes off, and it's been pretty much raining and blowing non-stop. I'm learning to deal with it. Chas and Sam have waterproof kit, and I have stuck reflective stickers over every square inch of their bike helmets and coats (which were pretty fluorescent anyway) In fact, can I just recommend these? Two years of heavy wear by boys, including bike crashes, falling out of trees, and sliding repeatedly head first down the stairs (on purpose); and Chas and Sam's LLBean coats are still completely in one piece, waterproof, reflective and cool-looking.They wash well, but I swear they repel dirt too.

Anyway, after an initial few days of curling up on the sofa in a fleecy blanket and rainbow stripey fuzzy socks, I have got a grip and realised that Winter means Christmas!!!!!!! You may think it's early but I've started unpacking decorations. Last Christmas we were here and all our stuff was still en route, so we're having a ball discovering things. A few bits and pieces are missing. Hopefully they will turn up.

Of course, with the season comes colds: I had the sniffles, then Chas got a cough, and tonight I've rubbed Vicks on Max's feet and put the fuzziest socks on him. (His Aunt Jubiska said, "No harm, can come to his nose if his toes are warm"*) Before I go to sleep I'll go get him and tuck him into my bed, so I'll know if he's feverish. He shouldn't be, as Chas and I were just head-coldy and not really SICK. But it's a snuggle opportunity that I would hate to miss! I hope he feels better tomorrow, as two of his buddies are coming to play.

I have been drinking lots of awesome hot drinks: Chai tea, Hong Wing coffee from Trinidad and Brasso Seco coffee, Cocoa tea, regular tea, Ovaltine and so on. I have suddenly realised that my sugar intake is not good. I'm not sure if I'm willing to sacrifice yummy winter comfort for a healthy waistline though. Hmmm. It's a quandary. I'll think about it, while I snuggle up read my book.



*How well do YOU know your obscure poetry?

Turtle Salughter: WARNING, GRUESOME. Please Help to End Suffering

This clip is pretty horrible, and includes blood, pain and suffering. DO NOT watch it if you are sensitive. You may fast forward past the gore. Please go to The Petition Site and sign to help us end the commercial sale of wild meat. Please, share this with your friends.

Trini Eco Warriors are working hard, putting themselves in risky situations and NOT enjoying making these films. Show your suppourt!

Join Trini Eco Warriors on Facebook for news and updates.

Get a Grip, it's Only Rain...

And cold, and early nights, and more rain...

This is the time of year when I want to just curl up on the sofa and stay there till March. Yesterday, I pretty much did that. But not till March, obviously.

The EFFORT it took, to get dressed in twenty-seven layers and get out there yesterday... Margo felt it too, and we put off our grocery shopping till today. Today is sunnier, but still cold. Three degrees. Bleh.

So I just need to get a grip, get dressed, and get out. Right?

The Awesome Waterproof Backpack of Awesome

I just bought the boys Overboard Backpacks.

Chas is skipping about, fully packed for any contingency.

We have been on an adventure down rainforest gorges with a waterproof bag which leaked, and we've hiked in the rain too, and Chas spent five days in the forest on a research trip when it rained non-stop, so we know ALLLLL about getting wet and having wet food and wet clothes and wet first aid kit and wet hammock and wet everything.

Chas and Sam ride their bikes to school now, and English weather is drizzly, so sometimes their school stuff gets damp. The two of them are heading back to their rainforest for Christmas (Chas needs the rainforest like the rest of us need air), so I finally bought them both AWESOME waterproof backpacks.

Waterproof bags are generally bulky, very heavy and hideous. But THESE babies, they are so cool! Light and attractive, Chas reports that even fully packed, his backpack is very comfortable with padding in all the right places. Mesh pockets on sides for water, gloves and keys. Reflective bits in the right places. Hip strap. Available in several colours! The bright yellow is very visible in the dark and drizzly Dorset mornings.

The boys are leaving in oh, over a month. But the bags arrived today and Chas is READY. He is SO! EXCITED! He wants the world to know that the Overboard Waterproof Backpack will easily fit:

• One Hennessy Hammock (see below) 
• One carefully rolled up blanket
• One heap of technology (in zipper inner pocket)
• A Book (Terry Pratchett, 'Reaper Man')
• One pack of cards
• Clothes for a week (i.e. a couple of underpants and some dry socks. apparently no-one cares how researchers smell) (Yes, socks and sandals. I know.)
• Chocolate (lots)
• Coffee
• 5 or 6 cans of vienna sausages (he's assuming. we don't have any now but he figures they would fit down the sides. vienna sausages are gourmet research fare, and you can cook them in their can) (when Chas came out of the forest after his research trip, he ate two family-size meat feast pizzas and went to sleep for 20 hours. they really did live for 5 days on vienna sausages, chocolate and coffee, and the odd bit of foraged vegetation.)
• Fire Steel (and a normal lighter) 
• Utensils and even an enamel plate, which is optional (?) but nice to have. 
• camping towel
• knife
• toilet paper
• There are leaves which you can rub on you to keep bugs away, but YOU may want to take bug repellent.

And there is still room for more!! (Edited, 2011: On a school day, heavy textbooks, pencil cases and large files fit perfectly and the waterproof material is tough enough that they do not tear through, even after 6 months hard labour.)

Chas has filled the bag with air and sat on it to see if it leaked, which made me yell at him (It didn't leak). He did NOT immerse it in the bath, because I didn't let him, but the Amazon reviews of the bag said that buyers had immersed it and everything stayed dry. You can bet your bottom dollar that Chas will throw his bag into a river the first chance he gets. (Edited, 2011: he did. It floats, even fully packed, and everything stayed bone dry inside. Months later, both Chas and Sam's bags are still in perfect condition despite regular hike, bike and school abuse.)

We bought the 20-litre size, which is perfect for us. There is a larger 25-litre size one. In the blurb it says "Laptop Bag", and I say "NOT". There is no padding for a laptop, so if you're looking for something to protect your laptop get a padded sleeve for it.

The boys have gone to bed. Chas' backpack is within arms' reach. Where he can pat it from time to time, and dream of a hammock in the rainforest.

............................................................

Other Camping Products, Sheppard-tested.


The Hennessy Hammock is perfect for warm-weather forest camping. A million times more comfortable that a tent, it's up out of the wet (the rainforest floor is often waterlogged) and seals out bugs. If you're spending any time camping in the rainforest, it's a must.

We're on our second Waterproof Olympus in our family, and they are tough, boy-proof, sea-proof, camping proof and take great photos. Nearly all of the photos ever shown on this blog were taken with this very camera. Very recommended. A++

And without Tevas, we'd be dooooomed. They are even cool with socks.

Want to visit our rainforest? Get accommodation and truly great tours with our dear friends Carl and Kelly at www.brassosecoparia.com

"Blog" is not a real pretty-sounding word...

Is it? "BLOG". Definitely a word that evolved in writing, not speaking.

There are some really beautiful colours outside, trees dressed in red, purple, gold, rust and yellow. Great colours for Divali, which is tomorrow. Shubh Divali! We feel homesick at this time of year. The boys revolted last night and said that tomorrow evening we have to go down town and see if anyone is firing Bamboo Cannons for Divali. You never know, they might!

Tomorrow is also Guy Fawkes' night, so there will definitely be fireworks. We'll have a great time, one way or another!

Urgent! Hugs Needed!

It's November, and the weather's all grey and drizzly. Sean's gone back to work, leaving us all a little unbalanced here. The older boys were crabby last night, Max was sad and got into my bed... which I totally encouraged because BODY HEAT! We will be fine, we just need to feel sad for a moment, and then we can throw ourselves into our busy lives again.

"We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth"
—Virginia Satir, family therapist

They say ('They', the know-it-alls) that hugs are important. They make us feel good, help kids to focus. People who hug are healthier. Hugging releases oxytocin, the 'bonding hormone', and promotes heart health. Hugging reduces stress. Hugs are warming. They are FREE! And, they feel great. If you are married to a great hugger, consider yourself very lucky!

So hug someone today! Hug your kids before they go to school, and when they come back. Hug your spouse. Hug your friends. Who are you going to hug today?