Puppet Show

I made a couple of New Year's Resolutions this year. One was to take more photos. I really need to start carrying around a decent camera. I forget, and so most of my photos are from my phone. Ah well.

So, these photos won't do justice to the event. Just so you know.

Last weekend we had friends down, and we had a grand time. Their 4-year-old daughter is a delight, and was very sweet with Foxy. We went to the Brighton museum where I have not been in years, and Nearest & Dearest and said 4-year-old put on a little Punch & Judy for us:



I know I must not wish away time, but I am looking forward to the golden era: 4-10 years old.

Not so Happy New Year

We have very good friends who live is Beer-Sheva (Israel). They were featured here.

The "Mum" was my first PhD student when I was so green I had no business having a PhD student. We muddled our way through, and her thesis was fantastic. We have become friends as well as colleagues, and she was one of a small band of people responsible for Foxy's successful gestation. Yes, I actually forced her to inject my arse with progesterone during a conference. What a trooper.

Anyway, she reads this blog but does not comment because she does not think her English is good enough. You will see that she is mistaken. She has agreed that I can blog about her recent experiences...it really brings it home to read a first-hand account from someone I know & love:

We haven't started so well this new year. I am not sure if you are aware of what's happening here in Israel right now. Since last Tuesday, the Hamas has expended their activity and has started sending rockets from Gaza to Beer-Sheva too. On Tuesday night at 21.00 for the first time, we had an the alarm in Omer (where we live), and *husband* and I had to pick up *our daughters* from their beds and run with them to the shelter. Luckily we have a shelter in the home (which is being used as a storeroom). The next morning we had one rocket who fall in Beer-Sheva 10 min from our home. This time there was no alarm before it felt (the rocket fall on a nursery in Beer-Sheva, which was luckily empty). At 9.00 another alarm, we ran again with the girls to the shelter. This morning we got the message that all schools and nurseries will be closed. At that time we didn't really understand how severe was the situation. We took the girls with us to the Uni (which apparently was still opened). After few more rockets falling in Beer-Sheva (one on a school), we went back home. At night after putting the girls in bed, *husband* and I watched the TV. Suddenly, at 22.00, we heard a huge explosion. In fact, the entire house moved... This was the first time that I really worried. The bomb came with no alarm to warn. This time, the rocket fall in OMER (!!). I started packing and decided with *husband* that I'll take the girls the next morning to my parents' house in the centre of Israel. At midnight we had another bomb... This was the first time in my life that I was so afraid that I had stomach-aches. I was afraid mainly knowing that the alarm system is not reliable. I lied in bed, gave a kiss to *husband* and told him "Happy new year". It was midnight of the 31st!!

Well, the next morning we left for few days. *Older daughter* was SO tense and afraid that I had to convince her on the way to have a chocolate. Can you believe that!!
On Sunday we came back. The alarm system was taken care and seem to be more reliable. It is relatively quiet now. We had one rocket yesterday. Nothing yet today...

At these times it is easier being younger and less cognitive developed. Interesting... When *younger daughter* tells me "mummy, I am afraid", *older daughter* tells her" you don't have to be afraid. mummy and daddy are taking care of us, and if the alarm is on, we go to the shelter". What we say, is what she accept. It is easy for her. *Older daughter*, at the other hand, understands better the danger. She is worried. I think that slowly, slowly she manages to feel that overall, having a shelter at home, and having us around her all the time, she is safe. I hope so...

I have been myself in this situation for some time. As I do my clinical work in a city called "Ashkelon", which has been bombed for few months. But, it is completely different when you have you children experienced it. This is the most painful for me.

I hope this war will finish in peace negotiations. Both sides suffer a lot. As you can see, our family has entered this group now...

Festivities

We have had a great holiday. Here are some highlights.

First, Christmas Day was fab. Credit crunch? What credit crunch?

The boys were indeed spoilt:



And my knitted gifts went down a treat:



Lucky Foxy also received this handknit from Grandma:


Unfortunately we didn't take any pics of the meal, but trust me, it was oh so good. No poultry in sight! Yay for cow.

Next, boxing day. The traditional walk along the seafront.




On to Oxford for a certain small boy's birthday. Wholesome family fun. We made pizzas...


before a Pokemon birthday cake...

Foxy loves the chaos & merriment of his cousins' house. They are a family of 6. I find it a bit much sometimes, but Nearest & Dearest & Foxy were plotting family expansion, I'm sure of it...



Our final event was New Year's Eve with our favourite ladies. It does seem that Nearest & Dearest spent most of the holiday cooking:

Leggy lollie made us all cocktails...

which resulted in a rather slow New Year's Day...

and our guests left at 3 in the afternoon in their PJs:


It was all just so great. I loved having a family Christmas.


Back to work tomorrow.

Great Weekend

Well, I had been looking forward to my weekend for quite some time, and I was not disappointed. I love well-taught craft classes, and this was one. It was held in the basement of loop, a most beautiful shop in lovely Islington. I forgot to take pictures of the actual shop, but I'm guessing that the owner won't mind that I've snagged these photos from the website:


Teach was an amazing Norwegian knitter. She used to work for Rowan, and brought with her a SUITCASE full of truly amazing knitwear. Hopefully you'll be able to make out the perfectly fitting vintage jacket she was wearing:

All 7 of us had a super time:




Some of us will be meeting up on Ravelry, where my name is purlhussy.

I then met up with me family in Canterbury where we stayed with friends. Yummy fish pie, and I was forgiven for leaving the chocs I had bought in the taxi (grrrr). This morning Foxy was a super good boy. Awake at 6:30, but back in his travel cot at 8:30, and he slept until 11. He's a good boy to his mums. Before leaving we did get to the Christmas market, which was exactly as I had remembered. Foxy enjoyed some squirty cream off the top of my hot chocolate:


Life is GOOD!

Good Times

I had a great evening out with the girls last night -- we went to see Sex and the City. Loved the show, loved the movie. I watched it and dreamed of having a sexy svelte body, inspired wardrobe, & personal assistant. Of course I was eating toffee popcorn and M&M's at the time.

I love my Wednesdays. We start with Little Dippers, and then today I am going to see a friend in London. Train journeys with Foxy are fun! I'm looking forward to meeting T's third(!) baby boy. Most of all I am looking forward to talking detail with a like-minded mother. When your parenting strategy is at the extreme end of the continuum, it's a treat to talk to someone who may be even further along that spectrum. As Foxy is becoming mobile, I look forward to hearing suggestions for containment. Yep, the next plank in my 50's parenting style is going to be a large caged area. I hate the look of stair gates.

Gym Motivation

I am struggling this morning. We had an unexpectedly late & boozy evening last night. We invited our les neighbours from over the road for a drink. They left 3 hours and 3 bottles later. We realized we were in trouble when it emerged that one of them does not work on Fridays, and the other is self-employed. Oh, and they don't have a 6:30 alarm clock :). Anyway, it was worth it, and we're hoping that 1) we get invited back, and 2) the baby monitor works from across the street. (That isn't neglect is it?)

This morning I have a gym induction at 9:30. I was planning on just taking classes at "our club" (QM - this is what you call a posh gym), and did my first on Tuesday evening. It turns out it matters that I have not been doing my Kegels. I am going to stick to the low impact stair master for a while. Having a baby is great for keeping to a schedule. I would be sorely tempted to blow off this morning's induction, except that Foxy is booked into the creche. Gotta go. I'm sure I will feel better for it.

BTW, don't seem to be attending WW anymore, still fat and frumpy. We have a holiday in Sept in the south of France with Slade Les. Our motivation for fitness is now coming in the form of wanting to show off in front of our friends.

Shorts and Boys!

Lucky little Foxy. Yesterday was his first day in shorts, and we spent the day in the park with two BOYS, which doesn't happen very often. These lovely boys now live in Australia, and we miss them. They also brought a great camera:

Connections

I have just returned home from a weekend at Mums. I went because Sian was going to Canterbury to celebrate a friend's birthday, and I am not a huge fan of my own company. Mum was supposed to come here, but she was under the weather, so we trecked over. The highlight of the weekend for me was eating burgers while watching Britain's Got Talent. It was the lack of talent that was so entertaining. Our favourite moment was Simon Cowell saying "just drag him off," about a man who was failing to houdini himself out of a mail bag. Priceless.

Anyway, during my visit Mum requested that I get Homestead Mom's blog link back up, which I have done. I like that just about everyone who reads my blog also reads hers. On my visit before last, we had a dinner party and ended up discussing the Homestead. They were surprised that I don't know Homestead Mom personally. I love the internet, what a kick!