Expat Mums Blog

Ramblings...

If you've read my blog for a while, you know about my ongoing love of bikes in Europe, specifically in The Netherlands. I saw this sad little bicycle in London along the Thames a couple of weekends ago. Poor thing. I have photos of happier bikes here and here.

We went to a nearby garden for tea on Saturday. Or rather I should say Roxi and I had tea while Mr. DJ and Trudy mucked around in the cold but sunny afternoon.

Roxi and I had a cozy time inside the cafe's wall-of-windows. It was a great view from where we sat, but we especially admired all of the sturdy folks who were sunning on the terrace in their winter coats. Brr!

Where were you on inauguration day?

Where were you when President Barack Hussein Obama was inaugurated?

I was four when Neil Armstrong first set his human foot on the moon. That July day in California was also my youngest brother's baptism and my parents had invited several people over to celebrate. My dad put the television outside because of the heat and every chair we owned was around it, full of relatives and friends marveling over the thought of capturing the moon.

I was snuggled on my dad's brother's lap when Armstrong's broken voice articulated those famous words, "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

"You'll remember this day," my uncle whispered in my ear," and he gave me a squeeze.

The stages of cultural adaptation

I read a post on culture shock over at Almost American and had an "Aha!" moment. Several of them actually.

As I looked over the stages of emotional well being while being abroad for an extended period ... pre-departure ups and downs, the honeymoon, acute homesickness, and finally adaptation, I was shaking my head like Bill Gates at a meeting.

Yes, we always have loads of emotional ups and downs right before a big move. Some days I would cry because we were leaving family and friends, and others I would be so excited that I would have a smile permanently planted on my face.

This is not to mention everything related to the logistical part of the move -- giving notice, renting the house, packing, booking flights, etc. I remember having a working "to do" list with about 150 items on it (really).

This takes the cake -- a strange British birthday tradition

Now that Christmas is over, birthday party season has started again.

On the first day back at school my three got several invites between them. I don't remember going to so many parties when I was five. Maybe they weren't as memorable back when bell bottoms were all the rage. They were always at home (occasionally we went to see a movie). I remember having a few friends over, we played games like pin the tail on the donkey and musical chairs and opened presents. The highlight was eating birthday cake and ice cream.

These days my girls talk about their party months before it happens. We usually end up inviting the whole class and a few extras, especially when they were younger. They eat lots of sweets, get an obscene amount of presents and then have a break down the size of Mt. Everest.

The Stonor walk

When I was dating future Scottish hubby, he took me on this walk.

I was in the UK on a quick weekend stop over between Boston and San Francisco.

I'm sure we must have slept late, then gone out for the papers to read with our frothed coffees and buttered toast. I had already half moved in and purchased a Krupp's cappuccino maker, and future hubby was just starting to realize how important the black drug was to me.

That was more than 10 years ago, and I remember taking a photo of the manor home of Lord and Lady Camoys, and later, when I was back in my office in Marin Country, I shared it with my colleagues.

Post Christmas analysis

Well, it's over. Again.

Phew!

Here are my Christmas 2008 highs and lows:

Top Ten Highs:

1. My six year old's glee on Christmas Eve when our friends arrived for a drink. It signified for her the start of the actual festivities.

2. Our Christmas goose. I love goose and there is nothing better for Christmas dinner. Nothing.

3. Making homemade mince pies a la Nigella. It took me three days to actually complete the mission but I did it. Yippee!