Lifestyle
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So I’m Not Actually Silent on Sunday….
I’m not so good at being silent on Sunday. (Or any other day, really, but I digress….) Some days I post a photo, but really, I want to tell the WHOLE story. This is the post-script to today’s “Silent Sunday” post. Weekends are for exploring. Quite possibly my favorite place in all of this lovely town is the Warren. I walk our mad spaniel there several days a week, exhausting us both throwing sticks into the river for her to fetch. And mostly return. (Some get eaten. Bad dog.) It has an ethereal quality, particularly on days that are a bit overcast. Sunny days are stunning, but there seems to…
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River Cruising: On to Avignon, Pont-du-Gard and Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Tuesday morning of our river cruise holiday on the River Royale found us in Avignon – from our stateroom, we could see the walls of the old city. This morning, our goal was to visit the Palace du Popes. The cobblestones in the streets were lovely (and a bit treacherous for my poor foot, and I was tempted to find a walking stick like Marty’s. Yes, it turns into a stool. No, I’m not 60. I will apologize now as you will soon discover my love of windows and archways. I really could have played with these and edited them but I’m too lazy I’m liking the images without filters.…
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Anchors Away!
My bags are packed, the dog is at the kennel, the house sitter has the keys, and I’m ready for some sunshine. Tomorrow we head off to the (hopefully) sunny south of France for a different sort of holiday: a river cruise. I am sure some fantastic online French lessons (click here for more information) will come in handy on this trip. Admittedly, this will be nothing like the Disney Cruise we did last year – to the point where I’ve explained that to the kids that it’s not so much a cruise as a hotel that floats – there is no pool, no fireworks off the bow, and no…
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The Summer To Do List
Wednesday was officially the first day of summer (peers out the window), at least according to my calendar. While I’ve sorted out most of our summer holiday plans, which officially starts July 18, I hadn’t actually compiled the to-do list I’ve been working on with the kidlings. This summer may be the start of our last year here in the UK – the beauty of the open-ended assignment – so I don’t want to take a single minute for granted…. Play at Cusop playing field Play at the “wooden” playing field Have a picnic Go for a hike Fly a kite Go for a boat ride on Brecon canal Have…
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On Clumsiness And Being Careful What You Wish For…
The universe has a way of warning you to be careful what you wish for. My clumsiness is something to behold. When the former and the latter meet, it’s not pretty. This is my story. Earlier this week, I was mad blogging about the Hay Festival, books, authors and the rain. I could only wish for enough free time to read all the books I have lined up on my coffee table and Kindle app. Today, the sun is shining, and while I should be sitting at the How The Light Gets In Festival just up the road from me, listening to live music or at the Hay Festival with…
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A View of Hay
My brain is reeling with so much going on here in town, so I thought I’d post a few pictures of Hay dressed up for the Festival and Jubilee, as well as a few random shots of the Festival itself, taken quickly between the kidlings tired whinges. THIS way! It was a busy day on the Festival site. Plenty of things to explore. The High Street is crowded and all decked out. There is always something going on in the Memorial car park. Thankfully, the less than sunny weather hasn’t kept visitors away! I really do love life in Hay! (Except, perhaps, for the tourists walking IN the street. Back…
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Leave your Diet At the Door.
I will confess – I am a long time WeightWatchers member. I had some success with it after the birth of my second child. And again when we moved to the UK and I discovered NEW comfort foods like sausage rolls and lemon madeira cake as I settled in. But always….something happens – a holiday, followed by one of the kids falling ill, and I fall off the wagon. It’s a great program so long as you track. But when you stop….*sighs* Look, I’m generally a healthy eater. I maintained a healthy weight right up until the birth of my kids. I know what is good for me, how I…
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No Separation Anxiety Here
One of our local pubs has had this sign posted outside their front patio. I think it is brilliant. I’d say it is a marketing #win.
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If Only Someone Had Told Me
Yesterday was the second time in not so many weeks that my daughter threw up on me/the wall/the carpeting. Coincidentally, I also recently was told “I’m not really into kids, so I can’t even imagine dealing with them when they are throwing up.” And it struck me…. There are many things they (doctors, nurses, books) prepare you for (in having kids), but there is so much more that they don’t… …Like how eagerly you will find yourself diving to catch vomit before it hits your rug/sofa/dog. I mean – when else in your LIFE would you do this? (However, once it occurs, pretty much EVERY mom will tell you her…
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About the Time Pea Got Carsick….and a Giveaway
Well, I’m sure that got your attention. My daughter is a fantastic car-traveller – or, at least she was until we moved to the UK. In the US, she could handle a 14 hour car ride without any sign of illness, but where we live in Wales, much of the roads are hilly or windy – or both. This does not bode well for “she who now gets carsick going to Saturday morning ballet”. Yes, I became the mom who didn’t venture further than the school car park without a change of clothes, a pack of wipes, a roll of paper towels, and a..um…bucket in the back seat. And a…
