On the train: London - Day 1

At the end of May there was a second Bank Holiday weekend. We made plans and set off for London-town right after school on Friday afternoon. The train trip took about 1.5 hours from Birmingham and besides having to find the right platform, was an exceptionally easy and relaxing trip. We packed ourselves a light dinner, some books, sat back and took in the English countryside.

We stayed at a simple and central hotel, close to a train station. Super easy to get up and out in the morning and start exploring! On Saturday we headed to Picadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square. The weather came and went during the day but the morning was gorgeous. It was a lovely quiet morning and we strolled from the Circus down to the Square. The fountains, the buildings... so lovely in the sunshine and a wonderful way to start our trip.

Next up was the London Zoo. The girls quite enjoyed it, so did we, and it was amazing seeing gorillas there. It is a lovely lovely place, though personally, it's not a patch on the Auckland Zoo that we frequented once a week for almost two years.

We headed off to Westminster Abbey next. Exiting the tube after arriving at the Westminster station, and walking into the street, you are met with Big Ben.  A was speechless, she couldn't believe she was seeing it - for real!  After a lovely lunch, we skipped the super long line to get into the Abbey with pre-booked online tickets - phew! No photo's allowed inside the Abbey, but to say it is breathtaking is an understatement.  It is almost painful in it's beauty and history.  Everywhere you look inside is amazing and rich with history and detail.  So much detail.  Mind-blowing to think of all the time, people, hours, and history in there.  Stunning, just, stunning.

The girls know all about Coronations now thanks to Frozen, so got a kick out of seeing the strangely ancient looking chair that is used for the occasion.  And then the chapel... amazing architecture and centuries old wall murals...  Wow.

A short stroll afterwards got us at the London Eye.  And we were going up!  The two older girls and I were so excited... The other two in our party... not so keen on heights but came along for the ride :)  L is mainly just going through a phase so it didn't take her long to start peering out the windows.  Although a little grey at the time, it was still spectacular.  Views and sights for ages.  We had a great time spotting and identifying different landmarks.  H who had been hanging out to go since first spotting a "wheel" in Liverpool, was thrilled to bits about this experience.

Such a great first day in London. London!!
L xx

Twenty-five/52

H: Happy Birthday precious girl! You loved your pressies and we all had an absolutely fantastic day at Legoland. So. Much. Fun. It was a surprise for all of you and your reactions were the best. A lovely day for our lovely girl. One of your gifts was an orange football - "my wish has come true!" you exclaimed. Cannot believe you are 6! You got another certificate at school during the week for great work in maths. We love you to bits xx

L: You are too funny. Using your badge as your camera here - click click click! We were so impressed with how brave you were on some of the rides and you were dead keen to be part of every thing. And we were so delighted with how kind and generous you were with the birthday girl. Definitely growing up and maturing in so many ways. You are a bit of a joker and will make things up or tell wild stories just to get a kick out of the response. They are rather funny. We let you all make a wish by trowing a penny into the water. To the amuzement of everyone around you yelled out your wish: "I wish I was a Mermaid!"

A: The next wiggly tooth came out. Three teeth all in a row, in three weeks. That grin, that face... heart melt. So expressive and so happy. Your face and your nature over the weekend was priceless - so sweet, gentle, kind, and loving every single moment. I love how you love and care for others. This morning you appeared with H, holding her hand and holding her close as you informed me she wasn't feeling well. She was ok of course but your lovely nature immediately wanted to look after her - I have many such memories of you. After seeing some dear close friends who were visiting briefly, you were really upset about missing them when we finally had to go home. We so love your gentle soul.

L xx

Twenty-four/52

A:  We love watching you talk with the gap in your mouth.  The tongue and that big hole are hilarious.  We are still astounded by how much food you pack away.  You easily eat more than Mum and Dad combined!  But in the last 4-5 months we have noticed just how much you've grown too.  The food is definitely filling up those hollow legs, as slightly big/well fitting clothes in January, now look like they belong to your little sisters when you wear it!

H:  The last few days has seen the appearance of your Brummie accent.  It is highly amusing hearing it.  One moment you sound like your kiwi self, the next moment you sound like your new Birmingham self.   We are very conscious of not making a fuss over it, given the various accent-related ordeals Mummy had when first arriving in NZ.  But it is very hard not to smile when the sentences vary in sound and intonations as much as they are.

L:  This week has been dominated by nursery rhymes for you.  Eventually I cottoned on to the one that you were singing almost all week.  Sing a song of sixpence.  You know the long version and can recite it by yourself.  Just gorgeous to watch, especially when "pecked off her nose" on our noses, is swiftly followed up with imaginary "plaster, plaster, plaster"!  Then this morning you started on Tickety Tickety Tock... Such cuteness :)

L xx

Completed: Pacific Crest Quilt

Stone the crows.  A post about sewing?!   Though this was actually sewn, quilted, completed and given in January...  Yeah, long time ago now but things have been a bit busy ;p

Anyhoos.  Toward the end of last year I was lucky enough to win a copy of Beyond Neutral from Deb.  She raved about the patterns, and has indeed made every. single. one. of the quilts in this book.  It's not hard to see why.

As I'd been thinking about a quilt to make as a birthday gift for my sister-in-law, then the book arrived and I fell in love with Pacific Crest (among others).  I had a colour scheme in mind so ordered a couple of extra fabrics to get started.

Some of these I've had for a few years.  The background fabric was specifically bought for this quilt because of the colour and design and recipient.  I love it.  When it arrived I was thrilled with the extra selections.  Those little mice!  So cute!

The pattern was simple and it produced a lovely large quilt.  The small vintage sheet stash was delved in to for the backing.  And to add some extra interest all the little leftover bits where sewn together.

Off it went to Leeanne for quilting.  We decided to keep it simple in the end, so as to compliment the modern strong design of the pattern, with varying horizontal lines.

Grey binding to frame it and it was ready.  I really love this quilt - the colours and the design make me sigh contentedly.

Always nice to gift something that you love.
L xx

Four Months in May

May marked our fourth month in England.  And it absolutely flew by - it really feels like a distant memory by now!

The month was kicked off by a bank holiday weekend in Wales and Liverpool for us.  It finished with another bank holiday weekend, this time in London.   We had a great time in both instances - such wonderful experiences and very different.  Also hard to believe it's real!

On the school front the girls had lots on.  Kindy photo's and lots of learning for L, who still loved/s her full days there, her teacher, friends and dinner-lunch.   H and L have continued enjoying school and getting involved.  Both attended Film Club after school one day, which involved a movie, popcorn and treats in the school hall with their mates.  A performed in their year production of Alice in Wonderland to the joy of us all.   Mid term break was during the last week of May which was very timely for 3 little girls.

I managed to meet up with a couple of new people over coffee (arranged by our husbands at work!) and discovered some lovely local parks.  There has been communication with lovelies in NZ and also some Skyping.

Crafting continued during May in the form of an ongoing crochet project.  200 blocks in 2 months.  A few more to go :)

Work for D was full on but good, and he had a work trip to Italy for a few days.  Day to day things were taking on the busy-ness of domestic life with a young family.  Life and living.

L xx

Twenty-three/52

H: You had your first Football Coaching session during the week and had been counting down the sleeps. When we came to collect you afterwards, I was amuzed to see boy after boy coming out of the building and then there you were. The only girl. Not that anyone cares, least of all you. You were so thrilled, got to be captain and had such a great time. When we asked you about it and then if you liked it... your response was "No Mummy, I didn't like it, (exasperated sigh). I LOVED it." Well that settled that then!

A: You are such a sight at the moment. First there was the one tooth out from the week before. Then you and H played "sleep dancing" which resulted in two heads colliding... of which you alone show the signs... in the form of a huge black eye... And then barely less than a week after the last one, the next tooth popped out. Cripes you look like a bit of a wreck! But you are loving your colourful eye, and with the third tooth wiggly now, you are loving the tooth fairy big time. You are motoring through the Rainbow Magic books... the library knows who we are and what we are there to collect every other day. Also you and your sisters have taken to using the word "Fantail" when you talk about liking or not liking (being a fan or not) things. "I'm not really a fantail of such and such". Brings a smile every time.

L: You and the ever present butterfly dress. We are loving our walks to collect your sisters from school in the afternoons. You talk about all sorts of things, non-stop. The screaming though... You have an ear-piercing scream that can shatter glass I'm sure. And it's reappeared lately... much to the amusement of some of the Kindy teachers from the stories they tell me. Hopefully it will be short lived! The other day you got things out of the fridge and stated that the fridge "cooled your brain up". You love our time in the mornings, setting the table for breakfast and getting everything ready while your sisters are still asleep. Love it.

L xx

Twenty-two/52

A: This week you lost your first top tooth. After weeks of being terribly loose, we gave it a wee nudge in the right direction. You were ecstatic! Your first tooth out in England! Will the fairy know what to do and where to go? Will she bring NZ$'s or British £'s? Lucky the fairy had a few pennies and didn't forget this time! Tooth loosing tally for you is 3.

H: You are all about football at the moment. You've been running around outside with me and also Dad on the weekend, practicing your ball skills. Now we know you've got a spot in the after school football coaching sessions, we set off and got you some trainers and shin pads - you are so excited about getting kitted out. And you've been counting down the sleeps until school starts back up and then...football!  I cannot wait to see you in action.

L: You are still counting down sleeps until your next birthday... which is over 10 months away... It's been a huge week of resting for you. Life is intense and full on when you are a firecracker of a 4-year old and know your mind as you do.

L xx