Cycling in the Park

Nice sunny day on this Sunday 11th April, the hottest of the year so far. We took a trip into the park to try out the bike and let Jason have a runaround in preparation for his refereeing course in the summer.

It was good being on the bike when it was flat but any kind of hill was tough and hopefully that will improve but meanwhile I am REALLY unfit on the bike. I took some video footage (with intermittent success!) and a wee photo of a bold squirrel. I don't like the "Bambifying" of squirrels; they're not meant to be friendly with humans.

Cat trees

This is the new cat tree that Jason's mum and Billy got their cats the other day. Okay, it's big, but it really suits them. It only arrived that morning and already Clyde had been snoozing on the top den and as you can see, Bonnie was enjoying being up high too. Jason and I have decided that when our little munchkins outgrow their barrel, we'll get them some sort of cat furniture like this. Maybe in a year or so. Right now, the munchkins still love their scratching hidey-hole.

Me, J, Lorenzo and The Ugly Duckling

Jason and I decided to take Lorenzo out for the day to Hamleys for a wander and a "wishlist", to Waterstone's to buy a Lego magazine, KFC for some inevitable chips and chocolate milkshake and then onto SYT for The Ugly Duckling, a wonderful little Easter show that involved interaction from the kids but told the timeless classic while it did so. Special praise is due to the cast, as some of them played multiple parts with quite major costume changes. It was a really special wee show, quite intimate, and Lorenzo loved it. He was front and centre. We met De, Rog and baby Gabe afterwards and then we set off up the road. A lovely day out was had by all.

The Kitties love flowers

Miho is always trying to eat flowers and plants, she nibbles at them all. I have to shoo her away from them all the time. But the day that they came back from the vets, I let them both have a nibble at the roses and daffs. Anything other than nibbling at their stitches......

This is the Captain of Your Ship

Sylvia was wearing a lovely red, white and blue combo at Granny would be Proud last Sunday and when she found this sailor's cap, she was suddenly the Captain of the Ship!

Jason does sushi

I have tried and tried and I WANT to like sushi, but I just can't. It tastes like the sea. And it's spongey and chewy. Och, it's just not rhubarb crumble and custard and anything that doesn't taste like rhubarb and custard just doesn't cut it. I couldn't ever eat the fish version anyway so I don't even like the woosy cucumber and rice in seaweed versions. I think I've now officially given up trying to like it. Boo. I want to like it too. It's one of those sexy foods like a seafood platter (something else I can't contemplate).

Gabriel Elgin

Baby Gabriel. He's adorable. Jason and I got to hold him today but these photos were taken the other night at feeding time and bathtime. It takes both mum and dad to bathe him so it was good to be able to take some pictures while they worked.

Beautiful dress

This is just my favourite dress in the whole world. The girls who were selling this at Granny always have beautiful stuff and I had my eye on this dress in February. I missed March's and my fingers were crossed that they still had it in April. Yas, they did! I went and tried it on but there was something missing with it. I think it was the colour choice, I can't wear that soft pinky-cream colour. I just LOVE the style though, so I think I'm going to make it in cold colours, turquoise or burgundy. I don't know yet, maybe pewter. Hmmm, the possibilities. I got Sylvia to take a hundred pictures of me in it and we even measured the more complex parts of it. It's at times like these that I can't wait to get into the new studio!!!!

Civilisation

Keeping with the theme of watching documentaries while I sew, I decided to treat myself to this little gem. It hasn't arrived yet, but I'll post a review when it does. I'm hoping it does for history what David Attenborough did for nature...

Fascinator or Headband?

Having short hair for the first time, I thought it might be nice to wear some hair jewellery and found this lovely little website on ebay that did hearbands with feathers and beads. For about a fiver and they are handmade. So I ordered this little brown one and the first thing Jason said was, "Oh, you're wearing facinators now, are you?" I was quite shocked, having an inner hatred for those silly little fake hats that everyone wears to a wedding now. So, readers, I'm conducting a poll - fascinator or headband. I'll be gutted if the majority goes for fascinator......

On a secondary note, I should explain what's going on in these photos. Benki is also known as Velcro Cat. He jumps onto your lower half and crawls up you until he reaches your shoulders. He does it with anyone, stranger, friend, it matters not to him. So while I was taking my photos tonight in the bedroom he did his usual. Miho always sits half in awe, half puzzled at her big brother.

JamesandHilarydoRoute66

James and Hilary jetted into Chicago last Saturday to pick up their winnebago and hit the road, Jack. Route 66 to be precise. They're travelling from Chicago to the West Coast and then up Big Sur to San Fransisco. Then they fly home. 3 weeks in all. They were very excited. They came for dinner last Friday, the night before they set off and they were all giddy. I can't wait to see them when they get home.

Kia Picanto

So here is a library picture of my new wee motor! It's the best. A Kia Picanto, officially the cheapest new car on the market but I couldn't care less. I love it to bits. It's wonderful switching on a car and knowing that everything about it WORKS. It's the bees knees.

King of the Jungle, Cluedo and a bucket of forfeit juice

Up at Michelle & Gregor's for some drinkie-drinks. Some Cluedo, King of the Jungle and Charades. Lovely stuff. Very rowdy and a 2am finish which turned into a 4am bed because it all happened the night the clocks went forward!

All-inclusive in Antalya gets the Japanarama treatment

I decided to do a blog for Antalya. I had such fun doing the Japan one that I would like to continue it for Turkey. If you haven't done it before, I would recommend it. It's a great way to keep a photo album. And totally free! So what if your mum is the only person who ever reads it. http://www.allinclusiveinantalya.blogspot.com/

Sylvia & Nicola get their new premises (AT LAST)

So we finally got the keys, HOORAY! .....Just in time for me to go to Turkey, doh! We'll decorate and personalise it when I get back. It's such an exciting time, we really can't wait. It's been so long since Sylvia & I got to sew together and we really enjoy it. It's going to be a GREAT summer. I'll post up more photos when it looks cosier. Watch. This. Space.

Are you supposed to be up there?

They both get up to all sorts of mischief but Miho can reach the top of the bookcase. Poor Benki is not quite there yet. Although he is trying his best to get to the top of the wardrobe....

"The" Operation

The operation. Our vets are so lovely. They arranged for the kitties to go in early in the morning before dropping Jason off at work, have their operation done mid-morning, come round from their anaesthetic around lunchtime and then we were allowed to pick them up at half 3. Super. We thought that they would have to wear wee cones (and truth be told I was kind of looking forward to that) but the vet only advised using the cone if they were being really naughty. [Aside: We tried putting one on Miho and she went NUTS. Not happy. She ran around the room banging into things. I'd rather she bit the stitches!] That first evening was quite stressful, they just kept licking and biting their wounds and it was really difficult trying to distract them with toys and snacks. Benki's eyes were all over the place, he was really out of his mind. When we all woke up the next day, they were back to normal. A visit to see the nurse a few days later confirmed that. She was very happy with their progress and didn't want to see them again. Excellent. The stitches are dissolvable so should fall out in the next few days. I didn't get any photos of Benki's wee scar (without it seeming sordid, I mean it's in a really private place!) so you'll just have to go awwwww at my wee girl's shaved side. It's starting to grow in already but it will be a few weeks yet, I think. The good news is that they are both absolutely fine and as I type this are running around the house at 100mph chasing each other.

One post in March - are you kidding me?

Like I don't have anything to blog about!