wagwaan?

Déjà jeudi...*

*Thursday already

Ah, this is the life! I've been sleeping well and getting up at around 8.30/9am, and feeling all the better for it, too.  Yesterday I took the girls to one of the nearby British cemeteries, which we all found very moving. Of course, DD and I have been there before, but it was just as sad this time around. There was a bunch of graves in one corner that were all paras, 18 to 20 years old, killed on D-Day itself. Such a waste of life. Why mankind hasn't learned from past mistakes I cannot understand. The British gravestones have sayings on them, such as "at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them" which is part of a well-known poem; or "gone but not forgotten". The most movings ones were signed with the name of the wife and the children. Even very young men had babies back home. Just tragic. It made me think of Katy's James, out there in Afghanistan, and my friend Lou's man Chris, also stationed in Afghanistan. I hope they come home safe and sound.
On a happier note, we also spent some time on the beach, reading and generally enjoying the weather. I took the deckchair and parasol with me, and was quite comfy!  The great thing about Mummy's beach is that it's practically private. The roads that lead to it are private so not many people actually come and use it. There is another beach further up that has bathing huts and lifeguards, so that is where people tend to go. I have 18 years worth of photos of DD on the beach on her birthday (it's in August), and there is never anyone else in the photos LOL. We are totally spoilt. When I see pictures of the South of France, or Brighton or somewhere like that, the place is usually a heaving mass of bodies. Yuk!
Today, however, the weather was rather overcast and muggy. Mummy's driver never came to take her to speech therapy, so I was comandeered into taking her and while she was there I popped into the nearby HyperChampion to pick up some goodies for lunch. DD had been begging for "nems", which are Vietnamese spring rolls, so I got some of those and when we got home I cooked them, got some lettuce and mint out, and we were able to eat them the traditional way, wrapped in a lettuce leaf with a sprig of mint and dipped in the nuoc mam. Yummm !Shame you never find them in Chinese restaurants in the UK. We had this with home-made coleslaw made of red and white cabbage, and carrot.  I also did a very naughty thing and bought some raspberry and strawberry tarts, which we had for pudding. Not the most balanced meal, but this is a holiday, ok?!
After lunch we had to go to Caen because I had an errand to run. It was of course boiling hot in town, and we were thankful for air-conditioned shops! On the way back I totally went the wrong way and followed a sign for the péréphérique, which is fine but the road took me miles out of town and right round the south portion of the ring road before finally getting to the turning off at the CHU (the local University hospital). Oh well, I'd never seen that side of Caen and we've been coming for over 25 years, so it was quite fun! Plus, it gave us plenty of time to sing along to the CDs that DD put together for our trip LOL.
Tonight we had dinner at the refurbished restaurant by the beach. Not the fancy one that S told us about but the ordinary café one. DD had a galette de sarrazin for her main course: another thing she's been missing about France, as she used to spend time in Brittany at her dad's and it's a local delicacy there. We totally pigged out and it cost us just over a tenner a head with drinks. Not bad.
Tomorrow we should be going to the American cemetery and possibly to the outdoor swimming pool in the next town. I think the weather is going to hold until Sunday, so we're making the most of it.  Hope you are not sweltering too much in the summer heatwave wherever you are.
OOh, by the way, today I wore a pair of black jeans and a flowery blouse courtesy of big sis. Do I feel great or what?? Haven't worn jeans in years, and these are very comfy. Thank you S!!

I'm on holiday!

It's here at last - my summer holiday!  I'm writing this from my mum's funky new Dell laptop, while DD and her friend watch Dante's Peak on TV. We got up early yesterday and made our way to London to catch our train down to Dover from where we got the P&O ferry to Calais. Thank goodness the crossing was as smooth as a millpond, as I'm not that keen of waves!  We picked up our car from the Avis desk and started off down the coast to my mum's. Unfortunately I had forgotten about the toll on French motorway (doh!) but we managed to afford it with a bit of help. I also didn't realise we had to cross the Seine where it flows into the sea: there are two bridges one after the other and they are so weird - they are both very high so going up it feels like you are going on a rollercoaster... and I HATE rollercoasters!  DD took pictures but we didn't bring the cable so you'll have to trust me on this until get home and can upload them. Brrrr! I didn't like it at all.  The motorway is fantastic, although it goes inland a fair bit, which makes it feel like you're going totally the wrong way.  To cut a long story short we got to my mum's around 8pm and it was so lovely to get there at last. Had a big hug with my momma... and also with my older sister S who has been a total inspiration to me. She looks amazing!  She's lost something like 28kgs and is now a size 12. Wow!  I can't wait to get to MY target and do a before and after photo comparison. And, total bonus for me, she has left lots of clothes that are too big for her now, and which are perfect for me so while I'm losing weight I now have a new wardrobe he he!  See, after losing 16kgs I'm at the size she was at before she started...  It was so great to fit into some trousers she left, which are 3 sizes smaller than my old ones. Boy, was I in denial about how big I'd got.
So, here we are in Normandy. Just after we got here last night the weather turned and we had rather a storm - lucky for us it wasn't during the crossing.  This morning started out grey but it was a lovely afternoon and we went for a bit of a drive and to the shops in the next town. After dinner it turned out to be a beautiful evening. The girls went and sat on the beach and took sunset pictures. We have a lot of sightseeing planned this week - the whole coast is like a D-Day museum, and we shall see some British cemeteries, the American cemetery that features in Saving Private Ryan, and up to Arromanches to see the floating Mulberry harbour.  We also have to do lots of walking to walk off the various helpings of baguette and cheese, and French patisseries that we've got a bit of a hankering for!
So, nite nite all. Hope to update a bit later in the week.

Wonderful day!

I've been a bit AWOL because this week was SO busy - preparing to go on holiday always is.  Anyway, yesterday I went off to Manchester for my niece's wedding. I didn't realise it was only 2 hours from our station on the fast Virgin train. We should go up there more often!  By the way, time for a quick aside: people love to bash Virgin and other train operators, but I was most impressed. I was in a "quiet zone" where mobiles are banned and people are asked to keep the noise down; the seats are comfy and spacious, plenty of leg room; the train was clean and the staff were lovely. I'll definitely be using them again.
So, the wedding: I got to the Town Hall in perfect time, to meet up with two of my sisters and their hubbies. We were all ushered upstairs to a beautiful spacious room, where a friend of the happy couple was playing the piano while we waited. I greeted my sister in law,
who has been so poorly this past year, and then we all sat down. When the wedding party arrived we were all asked to stand, and in walked the bridesmaids, one by one, followed by my oh so proud brother and my niece. The service was lovely and I was perfectly placed to snap some pics - I couldn't help myself. Of course, I cried. Gemma looked so beautiful and happy, and the groom looked so proud too.Katy, my goddaughter and Gemma's sister, read out a most moving poem she'd written specially for the occasion, setting off my tears again.  And then another friend sang a song for them (Oasis, who I despise, but the girl did it beautifully).

After the ceremony we all filed outside to wait for the happy couple to come out so we could throw confetti etc.  We had to laugh, because there was a group of Japanese tourists out there, taking pictures and lapping it all up. Some of them apparently even asked to have their photo taken with the bride and groom! 

On to the reception, which was wonderful. While we were waiting upstairs, having a welcome coooooold drink (boy was it hot!), Gemma and Steven had some wedding pics taken by the canal. When they walked back towards the venue, a famous (apparently) American basketball star who was out on the terrace started clapping, and the whole crowd followed suit until everyone was applauding and cheering. It was brilliant!

We all sat down to dinner and then it was time for the speeches. My brother's was short and very sweet; the groom had us in tears with his tender words for his new wife; and the best man was so funny and endearing. I am so glad I was able to be there, even though I was sad it hadn't been possible for Wayne or Claire to come too. Unfortunately, I had to leave on the 8.45pm train back to London, but I had a wonderful, wonderful day, and I know they'll have a long and happy life together. The rest of my pictures can be found here.

Right, now I've got to go out and cut the grass before we leave as we're off to stay with Mummy on Monday. Can't wait!

The 1930s Marital Scale

Oh how I laughed tonight when reading the sweet Brocante Home Chronicles.  She had a link to a test you can take to see how much of a good 1930s wife you are. One of the statements was "Reacts with pleasure and delight to marital congress". LOL or what!!?!   I will remain discreet on whether I ticked that box or not...  The conclusion?  Turns out I'm a bit of a slattern, not that I had any doubts about that. I know my strengths, and being neat and tidy and a good homemaker is not really in my genes, sadly!

41 As a 1930s wife, I am Poor Take the test!

Home again, home again, jiggety jig

I'm home from Paris. Up 5.15am this morning. Met the others 7.30am. Train left 8.30am. Got to Paris around 11.45am. Straight to fancypants Hotel Meurice. Had champers reception on the grand "Belle Etoile" suite roof terrace with perfect views of Paris in perfect sunshine. Were told Beyonce took JayZ there for his birthday (3 nights). Downstairs for lunch. Off to Hotel Plaza Athenee. Saw rooms. Stood on balcony where SJP stood in front of Eiffel Tower in last Sex in the City. Had tour of wine cellar (O.M.G.!).   Had tea (my first macaron ever, a raspberry one and now I'm spoilt for all others). Then back in car to Gare du Nord for Eurostar at 5.45. Home at around 8.30pm. Lovely lovely day. And who forgot to take her camera? Yes, that would be me. Doh!

Just popping in to update

Quick, quick! I must go to bed very shortly, as I have to be up at about 5am for the day trip to "Pareee" GULP. I can't wait :)  It'll be a flying visit, but in style - a style to which I'm going to become accustomed, methinks.
So, just for Chrissie: no this isn't a photo shoot. I'd tell you about that in an INSTANT!  This is something "intermediate" that will help with the cash flow but I can't say more just yet. 
Work has been crazy busy, so I haven't been able to pop on here during the daytime. Plus, I was so late getting out today that the OH and I gave up on going to the fancy hotel do at the Mandarin. Shame!  Next week is Board Meeting week, and even more cram packed with meetings than usual, so I'll be desperate by the Friday, which is my niece's wedding!  I can't believe it! It seems like yesterday I was looking after her and her sister, and struggling to do their hair in the fancy styles their mum used to do LOL. Anyway, I'm off now. Nite nite all.

Aargh! Late again

Another late night for me. I always mean to have an early night, but it never happens.  I got home late from work because it was a crazy busy day. On the way home I got a call from an old, old friend from Paris who happens to be in London this week. She is the mum of DD's first "best friend" at pre-school, back when DD was aged 3! We really clicked back then and have been in touch ever since. Anyway, she got me on my mobile when I was walking back from the station, so we agreed to talk later. DD had prepared dinner and I cooked it so we could eat while watching Holby City, and by then it was about 9pm so I called S back and we had a good old chin-wag. The upshot of the call is that we shall go out for a drink or something on Monday night, which is fine by me as I have a busy week planned.
Tomorrow I have an invitation to the opening of the Terrace at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge. Thursday I'm off to Paris for the day - travelling business class and having lunch at the Plaza Athenee and dessert/coffee at the Meurice. DD says it's "so hard" being me LOL.  On Friday I have to go back to the dentist for a filling, my first in years. Saturday I have a house warming party to go to in London. Sunday will be a day of rest!
Apart from that, there is something else, something HUGE, that is brewing (no, not my other project that I have had to shelve due to the worsening economy) and I won't talk about it yet so I don't jinx it, but I think you'll be suitably impressed! Plus, it would mean the end of my money worries, so just send me lots of positive vibes and remember me in your prayers, and all that. Thanks in advance :)  

What fun we had!

I'm just popping on here really quickly to say what a great time I had at the Debden weekend. The girls are a bunch of loons and there are always shrieks of laughter and lots of fun.  Lyzzy and I had planned to share a room but there was a leak through our ceiling, just over an electricity junction box, so we had to decamp and got split up. Nevertheless, I had a whale of a time, and the scales were unfortunately not kind to me tonight at Slimming World. I won't say what I gained, but I'm back on the wagon and hoping to get back on track soon. Unfortunately, the day trip to Paris (including Business class champagne breakfast and expensive meals at the Plaza Athenee and Meurice) will be another obstacle in my quest for slenderness. That and the party we're invited to on Saturday night. Followed by a wedding and a week in France.... July seems destined to be a watershed in my weight loss plan! No matter, I am not losing sight of the ultimate goal, whenever I reach it.  DD is only 1lb off her 1 stone loss, so she's dead keen to get there by next Monday! 
Must rush - I have laundry in the tumble drier and I must get some ironing done before I go to bed. A woman's work is never done....

Just a quickie

I won't have time to post tomorrow, and tomorrow evening I'm off to a scrapbooking weekend retreat with the gals from my forum. It's going to be great fun, a repeat of last year's great event!  Anyway, I spent the evening resizing the pictures from the anniversary do, and I think they aren't bad, considering... We'll see what Lyzzy thinks. Tomorrow, while I'm at work, DD needs to put them on a disc for me to take with me.
I can't quite think straight now, as it's waaaaay past my bedtime. I need to iron a blouse for tomorrow and pack my stuff for the weekend - talk about leaving everything till the last minute. I used to be so organised, I can't think what's happened to me LOL.  So, toodle pip and I hope you all have a great weekend too.

Boring!

Not much variety in our lives these days, so once again I'm going to say "where does the time go?" (smile). Sunday was taken up with Lyzzy's 25th anniversary do (a fantastic affair, very well organised and with fab food, unfortunately for me!); Monday night was weigh in and both DD and I had gains - aargh!  Well, I was expecting it because I had had many temptations during the week plus the glorious food mentioned above, and DD was half expecting it because she'd had a pizza lunch on her last day at college with her mates. We're back on track and have no intentions of stopping the "healthy eating programme" because we know it's for our own good. 

Yesterday I got home from work and flopped down in front of Casualty, and after that I went and uploaded Sunday's phots and started resizing them. They aren't bad, but it's not brilliant taking pictures indoors when it's raining out, so I don't think they are my best work. As long as Lyzzy likes one or two, I'll be happy!

So, that's all from a dismal, wet London...