Glow

well, glow sticks + warm bath + 8 year old + lights out = lots of fun!
seriously, try it out, the water glows with a luminescence that you dont expect, and just looks otherwordly.
top tip for 2013!

9 years

how can 9 years have gone by? why is the pain still so deep and heavy? my tears so easily flowing?
i lost my past, my present and my future - or at least a part of it on the day i lost my baby son.
the impact of losing a child is so ginormous, that sometimes i dont feel i will ever be healed; it affects every part of who i am, who i will be - i am not the person i was, that person died along with her child.
and yet my sadness doesnt affect my present, my future; it makes some things shine with greater strength, makes rainbows and sunlight more beautiful, makes me appreciate small things more.
and of course my present, my future is made so much more amazing because of my daughter, my beautiful child; my hope.
i will always have 3 children, but it is my present, my future to only raise one of them. i hope i make her proud, i hope she shines brightly in her own present and future. she makes it all worthwhile and brings hope and joy back into my past, present, future.

weekend away

 In Bruges with my best friend - no need to think, plan, arrange - just friendly conversation and decisions about which road to walk down or where to eat! a blankness of mind that isnt achievable at home with school and work and meal planning etc! we even managed to see a pop concert in Das Markt which was fun, and the best flemish beef stew and frites anywhere ever at De Vlaamsche Pot.

 Every building was stunning, really stunning. Every path we walked was full of opulent buidings and gilded patterns.

And our hotel - this is the view into the breakfast room, beautifully classic, calming music and so clean and quiet - it all made for  a relaxing and lovely weekend away. over breakfast we realised we had been friends for 20 years - which in itself is amazing. I hope another 20 years can be filled with more good memories! (and more after that!)

rock climbing

So brave and so determined. She didnt reach the top but she gained in height each time she did it, and for my not so physically adventurous daughter this is a real challenge. I am very proud of her.

What a great idea for a chiuldren's party - all of the kids had a cracking time, a sense of achievement and they were so amazingly polite - lots of queueing, waiting for turns etc and not a single complaint or attempt to push in. This generation may turn out to be pretty amazing.

books

The Peach Keeper - Sarah Addison Allen

I really enjoyed this; it's a read it all in one go type of story which keeps you interested and is beautifully written, but not too deep.

A Game Of Thrones - George R R Martin

Am still reading this mammoth tome, and am enjoying getting to know the characters and the fictional setting. This is the first in a large series so am thrilled that I can be enjoying these characters for months to come. I am tending to pick up and put down; reading chapters at a time as each chapter is from a different persons perspective, but it is a good read so far.

tasty

 It was the best most lemon lemony cake I have ever made, adding sour cream made such a difference- ithe whole family demanded this one again!

I have been on a few different crafty courses recently; through groupon and facebook recommendations, and I have had that lovely feeling of achievement when you learn something new and pride when you can say 'I made that!' this time round was a form of knotting which was actually easy to do, and created funky bracelets - shaballah style. My friend and I spent a couple of hours enjoying ourselves rummaging in bead shops, being human adults and not just mums - which added to the sense of independence! I hope we get the opportunity again soon.

February reading

The story of beautiful girl - Rachel Simon
a lovely read that had me in tears - but definitely a story that you need to keep reading to find out what will happen. I enjoyed this one.

Before I go to sleep - SJ Watson
a creepy book, makes you look over your shoulder! didnt enjoy the rather obvious ending, but the build up was interesting and gripping.

Pigeon English - Stephen Kelman
A difficult book to read, but a refreshing change as written from a boy's perspective. abrupt sad ending which left me wanting more.