Fantastic animal interaction

http://www.slothster.com/2352-Cat-On-Boat-Plays-With-Dolphins.html

This is wonderful.  I dream of one day swimming with dolphins - somewhere, sometime.

Where's my head at?

Í'm all over the place lately - it comes of being sick for months on end I think.  I'm just not on top of my game.  Another couple of visits to the doctor, then a visit to emergency, then a heavy course of antibiotics to kill bad bugs.  Seriously one lot of them are horse pills.  Coupled with the odd day of extreme fatigue, I just know I exude vagueness at times.

So last Tuesday I had to remember to pick up my younger daughter from the airport, returning from a school holiday trip to Sydney.  I raced home from work, via the grocery shop for food supplies.  Raced in the house, donned the apron, started cooking tea, dished up tea, gulped down tea, grabbed keys and handbag and drove to airport.  Parked the car, raced in, my phone rang.  My daughter had landed early and was at the baggage carousel.  We raced towards each other, smiling in greeting.  Happy to have her home safe and sound and eager to hear the details of her trip...

"Hello darling, I'm so sorry I'm a bit late..." to be interupted by ...

"Mum, you do know you're wearing an apron? Don't you?!!!"

Me..."What?" A very blank yet confused look on my face.

I looked down (I didn't want to but I did) and shrieked... if I hadn't already drawn attention to myself, the shriek certainly did! Yes I most definitely WAS wearing an apron.  There was no denying it... the calico one with red gingham trim and Susie embroidered across the front.  I ripped it off and stuffed it in my bag as if that would erase the whole event - the walk from the car park to the terminal and to the baggage carousel. Then we both fell about laughing, continuing to draw attention to ourselves (see how I dragged her in?).

Bridge just shaking her head and laughing and saying "Oh mum!"

As one of my sisters said - I should have just owned it.  We have been known as a family to go to airports dressed up - particularly at Christmas time.  It just seems so appropriate to don elf costumes at that time of year!!

All in the family...

Liberty love is being passed on!

These were our first purchase when we were in London last year.  The girls and I flew in on a Saturday afternoon, made our way to our hotel.  Found food and then crashed for a big long sleep.  Next morning we were up bright and early ready to EXPLORE! 

I decided being a Sunday to take them to Camden - in particular - the markets.  I forgot one minor detail...that they don't open until lunch time! So we arrived to deserted streets and dead quiet!  Barely a soul in sight.  Quite surreal for the girls who had just flown into one of the biggest cities in the world!  The perfectly still waters of the lock, with only a ripple from a passing duck were hardly the bustling beginnings they were expecting!

Slowly we wandered and watched as the street came to life.  One of the first shops to open was a shoe shop so in we tramped.  And joy-oh-joy they sold Liberty Nikes!  Eek.  3 pairs were purchased in record time. The girls opted for high-tops and I opted for the norm!  The girls wear theirs a lot for hip hop dancing!  And they borrow mine! They are well worn for sure.

Here's some more views...I would have liked the girls to model them, but getting us together, with camera and time is proving very tricky these days. (Ths is a post I was going to write when we got back last October!)

And then this pair have been in Miss G's wardrobe for several years.  Lucky her shoe size hasn't changed - we are talking about the child that wore the same brown lace-up school shoes for 5 years of high school!  (The hem on her dress uniform never had to be altered either).

Two loves - shoes and Liberty in one product.  What more could a girl want!

One of these days, I'm going to share/record my Liberty stash with you too.  And all my plans for it...although Liberty fabrics bring me so much pure pleasure from just being.  I'm not sure I need to do anything with them ever - just owning little pieces of heaven is enough.



My week in movies and a good book

Last night my daughter, a friend and I headed to the last film of the season at the outdoor Somerville theatre.  All I knew was that is was Russian.  It opened with the longest single shot of any movie I've ever seen - so long that we wondered if the film had stalled!  That set the tone.  I loathed all the characters, although I felt midly sympathetic towards the lead, but the mostly they were revolting and sad.  The theme of parental love/obligation is interesting. Overall it was dark and sad with good music. Much like a Russian opera!

I've seen several movies of late: The Hunger Games - not bad.  Went with a bunch of teenagers to a cinema filled with teenagers unable to quietly watch a movie.  Lots of people hissing "Be quiet, "Shut up" and humphing at said noisemakers in the back row!  Funny.  I found the books fascinating with a modern, reworked 1984 theme. Quite scary if you think about where society is heading though, so much violence.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (for the elderly and beautiful).  Loved it.  Not quite as funny as I expected - a bit more real I suppose with its themes, but set against the craziness of modern India. I was happy to be watching a film packed with English actors I adore.

And then Moneyball on dvd.  A good 'ol American baseball flick.  I should have been eating pumpkin pie and drinking budweiser as I watched, but I didn't want to be distracted from Brad Pitt!  Good eye candy as the saying goes.

I also read The Dovekeepers  by Alice Hoffman. A great read about the seige of Masada in Israel by the Romans, told from the perspective of 4 Jewish women.  Now I've started  The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. The story of Ernest Hemingway's first wife. 

I feel as though I've journeyed around the world without the jet lag! 

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

March has been lost in a blaze of busy-ness.  Work, a visit by Mum for 2 weeks, lots of sorting and tidying at home, running children to different events.  I am their taxi.  Whilst I look forward to being freer in the next year or so, I cherish this time when I'm still hands on as a mum in many ways.  Our time together in the car is when we often chat about "stuff" and giggle together.  Soon they'll be driving themselves and this stage will be over and a new one begun and I'll be less busy with my girls. 

The pictures are of my eldest dressed as Dorothy for a Wizard of Oz themed child's birthday party.  I'm still getting the glitter out of the car - the shoes rained glitter!  Georgia teaches singing and musical theatre for the Centre of Rhythm Dance Studios, where both my girls learn dancing.  She is at uni studying acting and screen arts.  She is so much fun to hang out with and it's never dull having a singer/dancer/actor in the house!