A Sensible Post

That's my intention anyway... I can tell everyone's getting a little antsy here with my hurried non-posts of late, all "What KIND of nut?" and "What IS an Oyster Card" and "Hair clips?" and "Been at the nog?"

I have had a way more awesome and fun-filled and loving time here than I expected. This year, I decided to send Chas and Sam away to Trinidad on Christmas Day... not a real happy thought... but it has worked out perfectly. First, we decided to have a BIG party on Solstice Day, and invite Margo's side of the family to a proper sit-down Solstice Lunch. Which, it turns out, is the same as Christmas lunch but with a huge SUN hanging over the table and many round and beautiful pies and things decorated with rays of pastry and whatnot. TOTALLY embracing the English Pagan side of the family, though come to think of it we probably never had one. Never mind, we do NOW. We had crackers with musical instruments, and yes, tiny toys like skittles. And hair clips, which I have given to small girls with hair.

(Chas had a horrible flu the week before Party Day, which crashed some of our plans and shopping... we never did get a Christmas Tree, so Charlotte and Venus brought a tiny baby tree which we festooned with decorations...)

And of course, with the aftermath of the party came many neighbours, great new friends and loved ones bearing bottles of grog, and they helped us eat up the leftovers. It was so good, we danced and ate and just blissed out.

Christmas Eve we went to Charlotte and Venus, who conveniently live not too far from Gatwick Airport. Max and Venus hardly slept, but they were snoozing when Chas and Sam and I crept out on Christmas Morning. We had our Christmas breakfast at a Costa Coffee Shop in the airport, and I kissed my two VERY happy and excited big boys goodbye, and handed them over to an airline 'Auntie'. I headed back to Charlotte's house for a vegan feast and more cousins. Max was very happy. We spent the next few days recuperating, went to see 'Voyage of the Dawn Treader' (A-Plus!) and hooked up with my sister and her hubby, did some light shopping and came home. All week, we were pretty lucky with the weather in all our travels!

The year is ending now. Sean and the big boys are coming home soon. More happiness!

Looking back, I realise that I have had an amazing year. In September 2009 I moved into a new place in a new country with the kids, not really knowing if it would all work out, whether it was a good decision, and with worries and wonderings that I could not write about here. I thought that the kids might be miserable. I thought that it might be 'good for us' or 'the right thing' but that it might also be hard and lonely. I was scared, and missed my friends. At the start of 2010 I still had some of those fears, AND we had been thrown a few additional worries.

But 2010 has been my year. I made my decisions, stuck to my guns, and the whole world has bent to make it good. Like many years, good and bad, you can't really see it all when you're in it. I am so grateful.

Things I've Found in Pockets...

• Train Tickets
• Toffees
• Chocs
• Wrappers of Toffees and Chocs
• More Chocs
• Crunchy Hankies
• Money (not much!)
• Toenail Trimmer
• Oyster Card (whew!)
• A Tiny Deer
• 2 Red Hair Clips With Flowers
• Wine Cork
• Purple Butterfly Hair Clip
• Very Tiny Skittle Set
• Lists
• Assorted Gloves
• Not-So-Crunchy Hankies (reusable!)
• 1 Nut
• String

What Goes HA HAHA HAHAHAAAA .... *clunk*

Someone laughing their head off!

That is all.

Solstice!

Did anyone see the lunar eclipse? It was too misty here, sigh! We had our Solstice Party and it was awesome. Happiness and food on the floor and only one broken wine glass (English people are more careful with the stemware than Trinis?)

Today is cleanup and recovery day. Friends and family are helping to eat the leftovers and watching films (currently, 'Ponyo') So I leave you with a photo of O Sprawling Metropolis of Bethlehem:

Which Max, Venus and I made with the crèche figures and a mega collage and glitter etc. Is it not STUNNINGLY AMAZING? It's a keeper.

Also, our enormous Solstice Sun, (made by Charlotte and I) which, when we hung it up, caused Bournemouth to start defrosting.

Happy Christmas all!

.

Let it SNOW, let it SNOW, let it SNOW!

We are in TOTAL Christmas mode here! We had hordes of cousins and friends here eating, drinking and making merry on Friday night with crepes and strawberries an whipped cream for brekkies (and sausages, and eggs, and blueberries, and gallons of tea and coffee...) Our overnight guests braved the SNOW and left for Surrey this afternoon.

My sister and her husband were on their way today, with the TIRAMISU, and they had to turn back after 5 hours of ice and jacknifing trucks and not being able to see where the road is. DISASTER! and who is going to eat this roast beast? It will have to be frozen till THE party on Tuesday. What is the best way to freeze a roast beef, internetties? Can this be done without ruination and wailing?

Charlotte and Venus are coming tomorrow. They are vegetarian, which does not help at all with the roast beast situation. But they are favourite cousins extraordinaire!

Yesterday, I went to buy our Real Tree. With smelly smells and piney needles. They were sold out. So I said "Never mind, when Ailis and Dan get here we'll get one." and they aren't making it! Charlotte said "Well, we have a teeny weeny plastic tree, we'll bring it just in case" and we've decided not to have a crisis over a Christmas tree, so what will happen? Stay tuned!

Yesterday a taxi driver asked me, "So why Bournemouth?" and I said "Because it never snows in Bournemouth..." he said it's obviously our fault, all this snow. January was the only snow in 17 years... this month it's the worst snow in 20.

But it sure is pretty!

All Better, Thanks!

Chas had the flu, but he's feeling better. Today he's going to eat, and nap. He looks thin. I've been cooling his fevered brow with lavender-scented washcloths and all that nursey stuff. He's well enough to read over my shoulder and give me advice.

My computer was broken, but now it's better too. I have to reinstall stuff, but I'll probably do it in January the way things are going! The to-do list is LONG! And staying home all week has not helped!

We're in total permanent party mode here, from tomorrow till who knows when. I STILL don't have a Christmas Tree, but today I'll leave Chas all alone (he says 'nooooo!') Oh yes, my pretty, LEAVE him all alone and go get one. And some, you know, FOOD. ('Bacon! All I can think about is bacon!')

Okay! Bacon it is!

What's still on your Christmas list? Can you STOP shopping now? Do you feel you've overdone it? Are you feeling Christmassy? Have you remembered the environment, in your shopping?

Old Lady News and Joke of the Day

It is finally SUNNY! YAY!

Joke of the Day: 

Once, there was a family who decided that it was finally time to put their dear old Gran in a home. They shopped around and found somewhere that seemed very nice, and moved Gran in. The first day, all seemed well. Gran was looked after, fed delicious and nourishing meals, and put in a chair by a sunny window to have a nap.

After a while, Gran leeeaned over a little to the left. Fearing that she was falling out of her chair, an attendant went and propped her up again. A few minutes later, she leeeaned over to the right. Convinced that the dozing Gran would fall over, another attendant gently propped her up again.

Later that day, the family came to visit. "Hello Gran! How was your first day? Are you being treated well?"

"It's very nice here," said Gran. "The food is tasty, and the nurses are very kind. But," (she lowers her voice to a whisper) "They won't let you fart!"


Disclaimer: Margo is NOT going into a home in the foreseeable future, and I have NEVER known her to fart. Or even SAY fart. But oh, this joke made me laugh! (I won't be telling it to Margo!) 

And in Pockets News...

• One small pink glove (We love you, owner of pink glove!)
• One wet sock
• FIFTEEN POUNDS! Belonging to Chas. Rats! 
• Train tickets
• Receipt for Macdonalds supper, eaten on the train home. Children very happy at second ever Macdonalds meal
• Small change
• A leaf
• Sand, as usual
• DS game
• I asked Chas and he says "Handses, Precious!" 
• Camera
• Keyring, but then he lost it
• Expired Network Rail Card

Snow in a Beach Resort Town

The most snow (any snow, really) in 20 years... the citizens of Charminster don't generally have toboggans hanging around. What they DO have is boogey boards, skim boards, inflatable whales, inner tubes... all of which make pretty awesome things for sliding down hills on, as it turns out!

Other more deadly sliders: 'For Sale' signs, triangular street signs, baking pans (our sled of choice), plastic bags and bits of wood.

No school tomorrow, either! We're thinking of heading North, a day earlier than planned. Impromptu long weekends rule!

SNOW DAY!

We were up at the crack of dawn, as you can imagine! No school today, Bournemouth hasn't seen this much snow in many, many years.

Going for a walk later to the park. Fun!