Fab, Feisty and Sixty (ish)

X is for Xochimilco During our time living in Mexico in the late 1960's and then later during holiday visits in 1970's, we made some wonderful excursions. Our Sundays were traditionally spent at the zoo, a museum, an afternoon in Sanborns, the cinema or if we were really lucky my parents and sometimes 'grandmother' Mamacita (little-mother) would take us to Xochimilco. These are the famous floating gardens. These floating platforms/boats were decorated back in those day with fresh flowers. Then in 1980s they were decorated with paper flowers. These days unfortunately they are just painted boats. There were floating kitchens selling tacos, enchiladas, quesadilos. Others selling flowers, native goods of magnificent silver jewellery. Other plied drinks, cacaquates and puppets and pinatas. We would go for a 'punt on the canals, then sometimes we would be allowed to go riding. Then it was on a clearing amongst the trees, with gnarly roots and trunks every which way. It i...

A Heads up to you all! Now put away your broomsticks, sorry I meant to say brooms away, if you know where they are! MAD MANIC MAMAS After recent posts here and elsewhere in blogland, some bemoaning teenagers and in some cases declaring distinct pleasure of mothering these terrorists, albeit momentary (do l feel a cheap joke coming on here, yes but I will refrain!) TEENAGERS, teens, tweenies, that is what this post is about, so settle down now. I have cogitated, plotted and taken the bull by the proverbials. Horns not bollocks! And I am really pleased to be able to tell you all, that I have, with the help of Fhina - A woman of no importance (hardly not my dear!) well we have produced a fledgling blog for the purpose and pleasure of mothers, fathers indeed any carer or protector of the little buggers. Or in my case a 6ft and 1/4 inch 14 year old and his hardassed, full throttled, full on, gobby 17yr old sister by day and Vampire Princess by night. A place to rant or rave, a santuary t...

It was only yesterday you would run to me when you were upset or hurting. It was only yesterday you held me tight. Rib crackingly tight. For no other reason than that you felt like it. Only yesterday would you share every discovery. Every happiness. Every fear. Every dream. Good or Bad. Every new step. Each fall. Was it only yesterday you kissed me goodnight for the last time. Telling me gently, but firmly. It wasn't necessary any longer. My heart missed a beat. It isn't? Where is that written? Show me. I wish to silently protest. I'm not ready. Not yet. I think it was only yesterday when I listened furtively for your each sleeping breath. One to follow after another. So then I too, could breathe. It was only yesterday you tied your shoes. You buttoned your shirt. You zipped up your coat. First times. By yourself. Beaming with pride. You. Me. This week you have been on work experience . You've been surprised by the joy and the satisfaction you felt. A class of six year ...

Under a Dogwood tree The last few days have been cool but sunny so I have been spending my lunch break in the shade under this glorious tree which is in full bloom it is situated in the corner of the front gardens of Tullie House a Jacobean town house which is now the heart of a Museum & Art Gallery where I work (most of these images enlarge if clicked) my garden seat the beautiful blush upon the blooms the view before me as I sit underneath its fringe of blossoms t aken with my phone on panaoramic mode a Jacobean window Under a dogwood tree (Japanese Dogwood/ Japanese Strawberry tree Botanical name Cornus kousa Origin-Japan Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I have recently joined British Mummy Bloggers, But I am slightly troubled. Because, yet again, I am too old for the club. Okay! I get it. I do understand. Mummy's like to chat and get together with other Mummy's and we get to go to toddlers/swimming/teddy bears picnic together etc .... but what happens when the kids get older and they don't require constant supervison, even if I think they do. Where does that leave me, leave us? I have the mummy of young ones' tshirt, painted mug and teacloth, signed old uniform sweatshirts from each childs junior 'graduations'. The fire guard has long gone, the soft cover pads are off the sharp corners, security socket covers removed. The bed guards have been dumped; toys sorted and assorted clothing boot fair-ed long time past. The coffee table has reappeared in the middle of the living room. Much to Larry's dismay(would he admit it) the freezer no longer contains fish fingers and alpha bites. My kids are trying to get...

Due to recent bad behaviours. Rather like a teenager. My laptop has not been responding to my instructions. Or my questions. Nor my demands. And there has been much bad language, I confess !?+?* I have had to give my laptop some overdue TLC, medicine and some down time to recuperate. She is stuck in recovery just now. Receiving well intentioned therapy (Microsoft updates which have taken 5 hours so far- I do hope I get to bed some time before the early hours) I started this yesterday lunch time, after I purchased a mega 60zillion GIG external hard drive to back up the little darling. She went into shock. Then I stripped her naked. Then inserted the recovery disk. All went well until I tried to reinstall my music files and there wasn't enough space left. It was then I realised I had installed vista premium instead of basic (bloody vista!) So now having wiped her again this morning...the updates are taking forever. This is all l have the energy, inclination and interest to post. Unti...

I had to share this with you as you have all been on this journey with me This morning just as I was leaving for work the postman rang the doorbell he wanted a signature for this... Yippee... it's official. I am now British AND French! My journey has been written through these posts A sense of belonging A life in patchwork Visit Mama Geek and Cecily , creators of Photo Story Friday.

I will never complain about my less than pert boobs again!

Stolen from House of lime…but this won’t be half as witty! FOOD-OLOGY What is your salad dressing of choice? eh bien seulement francais tu sais! What is your favourite sit-down restaurant? Indian Takeout you can’t take me anywhere, I eat too much and then get loud on one glass of wine. I’m a cheap date. What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of it ? typically fantastial for a woman of a certain age, a bit of variety please, Hugh Jackman with side portion of Gerard Butler What are your pizza toppings of choice? you think I’ll have room or time? What do you like to put on your toast? Butter and blackcurrant jam either mine or BonneMamans TECHNOLOGY How many televisions are in your house? One very big one What colour cell phone do you have? Purple What does the first text message in your in box say and who sent it? Out of context they all sound positively porno! Who was the last person to call you? Editorial dept Vogue magazine (don’t get too excit...

I was catching up with housework, promising myself a few hours with a book. Or with the bath tub. Perhaps a dvd . I had arranged to meet my girl friend later for a quick coffee & catch up. Note to self. Fetch phone from under my pillow and text her to confirm. Then the doorbell rang and she was on the doorstep. One hour early. We just scooped up the morning and set it aside. Without guilt. But slightly unhinged. Talking over lunch. We discussed the usual domestics issues and tissues. Our mood swings and frustrations. We spoke of our journeys with the OU and how for now, the study platform doesn't suit. But we still thirst. I found my scattered thoughts take on structure. And form.Words erupted from my throat. I had apparently made a decision. It hung in the air between us. I want what? My harboured aspirations had been released from their tethered reigns. For a time I have shored up feelings of loss. Reluctantly harnessing the grey hairs of doubt. Looking over the edge of the...

Feminism – What a crock! It has all gone badly wrong. Yes it has given us more choices. Opened more doors. Bridged the pay and opportunity gap. But let’s face it, I juggle more than my mother or grandmother ever did. I have more balls (in appropriately so ) up in the air, I just try and do everything and I do them all badly. N o real sense of achievement. Satisfaction not guaranteed. Equality - My belief is that we are not equal to men. We are different. I have never grasped why a woman would wish to be equal to a man. We can only be equal in intelligence. In every other way we are different. They are stronger, more emotionally resilient and stable in the main. They have no biological and hormonal ‘happenings’ to deal with. Which is why historically men –and this is all just my opinion - have been politically and socially more powerful and in positions of power and authority. Even in these modern times, they are still the master of the political and business workplace. I believe thes...