UBS parade

Hi there

I just love weekends, they are always jam packed and fun. We rush around during the week and because the kids have such a short time at home it's so nice to chill on the weekend. I read all the papers and make down all the events happening in and around Westport for us to explore. Sometimes the dates are not to accurate. Dragged the family last weekend to the supposed Lego expo. We got it right this weekend.

Friday night it was a celebration of the kids success at school. They have done so well in such a short space of time. I asked them if they had done MacDonald's well or a fancy pizza well. Off course Victoria only dreams about MacDonald's because of the horrible toy and french fries. Kara saved the day and gave us a long story on how well they did at school, and how we all needed pizza. Clever girl, you know how to look after your parents. At £40.00 for the cheapest bottle wine it was beers all around. I am really battling with how expensive things are here. Leon told me to take a chill pill and relax.

In Harpenden I had the choice of joining a baby sitting group where you take turns to baby sit for neighbours. Its free and works on point system. Never been my idea of fun but at $20.00per hour for a baby sitter I am thinking I might join the club or form my own one. Anything private is very expensive. Sorry moaning again. i have digested the pill Leon!

So Saturday was the correct day for the Lego expo . Victoria is really into Lego and nagging, bribing big time for Lego. I was given Lego from a friend I met when we first arrived in the UK and was staying in Kensington. The kids never played with it so it was shipped off to the charity shop. Also the picking up of the tiny nasty pieces drove me mad. Now the kids are old enough where you can bark orders for them to clean up, Lego has now come back to our household. It's like those awful plastic balls the kids like to play with. They never pick up the things, so you spend your evening looking under furniture for plastic balls. So got three containers of bits and bobs of Lego and we all jumped in playing Lego. It was great fun and really nice to see the kids imagination work.

The big event for the weekend was the UBS parade. They had huge big inflatables and marching bands parading through Stamford. It was great fun. We hit Dunkin Doughnuts, which America lives on. Where ever you go Americans are drinking coffees. Even doing the shopping they carry coffee containers around. lots of people in the parade chewing gum??? I sound like a real old lady now. Cadets in tip top uniforms chewing gum?????

We are cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving. Melissa please won't you cook it for me? I feel scared the thought of this huge bird in my oven. Must be positive, the turkey will be nice and edible???????? Still can't get my head around pumpkin pie which is a big tradition. Leon bought pumpkin ice-cream. Had a few mouthful but Leon is on his own for his midnight feasts. NASTY stuff!

Great weekend. Off to swim tomorrow. I was told the other day am I doing well in my swimming and by the end of the year I will be almost OK. I still moan and groan about the pain and why we have to do this nasty stuff exercise. I can honestly tell its been a life saver for me. It keeps me on the straight and narrow emotionally and I get to talk to people. OK not to much talking but an odd Hello. Still makes me laugh people think I am English. So I sound like all my posh friends in Harpenden do I????? Got the passport ladies.

I like Thanksgiving. It's a good holiday. It really is a celebration of Thanks. I also like it because no gifts are exchanged. So I will for sure be celebrating all the very special in my life.

Lots of love




Lego fun. Victoria kept reminding me not to pack the pieces away. Leon was very good at building Lego houses!




The UBS parade



Always good to find some steps to have a bit to eat and drink. On this occasion it was Dunkin Doughnuts. Lorna I did think of you lots.

Chocolate face Victoria. I took Victoria out for a bit of mommy time last week and we got parked in. We did 4x4 over the pavement to get out. Well the laughter was huge from Victoria and myself actually. I have done a lot worse in a 4x4 so a pavement was easy. All in the name of good fun and been naught with your kids every now and again.

Jam Doughnut Girl. The other day Kara was sitting quietly in the back of the car been a lovely little lady and out popped a gem. Some weird lady was messing about in my lane and Kara popped up with "stop sitting there like a plate of old pudding, get a move on". Thanks to one of Kara's teachers who helped her along with the saying. A true classic. as you would have guessed she never got that one from Leon or myself