Phoning the police

I just got a text from the babies mother warning of reporters potentially banging on the door so I went down to talk to the nanny and on the way I spotted Miss 4.5yrs on the phone in her parents bedroom.

I wondered who she could be talking to as I'm sure she doesn't know any numbers... I asked her who she was talking to and she said 'the police'. OK, so she doesn't know any other numbers except the police - so it now appears.

So I took the phone from her and said 'hello?'
And the voice at the end says 'hello'.
I say 'Is this really the police?'
She says 'yes'
I said 'oh'
I said 'I'm so sorry, we're going to have to have a serious chat'
She says 'yes, she asked me to put Master 3.5yrs in jail'
I said 'oh...'

Once off the phone, Miss 4.5yrs tells me that Master 3.5yrs was being mean and chasing her so she wanted him in jail. We had a little chat about wasting police time and hopefully that will be the end of it all.

But, in the middle of all this is the reporters...
Why? Because my clients are connected to the lad who just won the British Apprentice TV show this week. His mothers house is currently surrounded and we're just lucky to have the occasional door bell.

Oh the excitement...

The hill from hell

I've been on a mission to get into shape and I was going to hire an exercycle because I'm in this job (in one place) for 12 weeks. I thought it would be a good chance to get some regular exercise as this is the one thing I find difficult in my job. Some days I don't even manage to get outdoors let alone take a good walk.

But, I discovered the need for a device to exercise on may not be necessary after I arrived here and discovered the hill I have to walk up to get to the house... I thought to myself I could save a few pennies and get fit!

So instead, as often as possible - still not every day but certainly most - I put the boys into their pram and go for a walk. It does not need to be a long walk as right on my doorstep is the hill from hell. It's short but steep and boy do I know when I've walked it!

I go down and do any shopping or chores that need doing then take a deep breath and walk up the hill, I then turn around and walk down again. Then another bracing breath and up again. So far it's only twice, but I think I may be ready for another run this week. I have to say it must look quite 'interesting' watching me. While people huff and puff up the hill, I overtake them pushing a huge double pram with 2 babies on board. I then turn at the top and do it all over again! I do huff and puff myself, but I'm lucky in that at the top of the hill I can hide in my front yard and do my breath catching in private!

The other day, I went on a small marathon walk with the babies and walked a few miles (who knows how many!??). To get home I walked through Primrose Hill which is a lovely park set on a hill, as you may have guessed. Before I got there I thought I would head home via the 'home' hill thinking I wouldn't have had enough of a work out by then. How wrong could I be! Primrose Hill lives up to it's name and the hill I walked up was much longer but as steep in places as the 'home' hill. I was in a major sweat by time I got to the top but the view over London was wonderful.

I went home the easy way instead.

My dear friend Chris

I got news on Tuesday night that I honestly didn't expect and it's taking some getting used to. My dear friend Chris who has been battling cancer all of the 5 years I've known him, passed away a month ago.

I went to work for Pam and Chris back in 2002 when Chris was first diagnosed. I was hired to take care of their wee boy, Isaac for 3 months, he was 5 months at the start. I stayed with them for 5 months in the end and only left to go home to celebrate J & L's 21st birthdays. When I got back I moved back into their tiny flat and we all lived there for a total of 3 years.

Mum and I eventually decided to get our own place and we moved in October 2005. I had spent 3 years playing scrabble and watching bad tv with Chris most evenings (when I wasn't working), drinking too much wine and listening to Chris's fantastic selection of music, being driven to complete distraction by Chris's desire to cleanse every germ off the face of the planet, playing more scrabble, talking about Chris's illness and his fear of leaving Isaac and Pam alone, BBQ's in the back garden, walks in the park and row boats in the Hollow Ponds with Isaac - I have extremely happy memories of that time in London.

When Chris took ill again last year his doctor recommended he go home as soon as possible if he wanted to go at all. Home being Canada. Within about 8 weeks, the house was sold and all belongings packed up and shipped out. It was a sad day when mum and I saw them off at the airport. I wondered if I'd ever see Chris again, but deep down I really thought I would. I never thought I'd be getting this news before making a trip over there to see them all settled in their new life.

I have missed Chris, Pam and Isaac so much since they all went to Canada, but it's hard to imagine that I will never get to see Chris again. It doesn't yet feel real and I'm not sure it will until I land on Canadian turf and he's not there to meet me.

I know Chris is in a better place and he never has to suffer again. I wish I could be with Pam and Isaac, but until such time as I can visit, my thoughts and love are with them.

Feijoas and jaffas

My mother truly knows the way to my heart... or is that my stomach?

She went home for a month and upon her arrival back here, presented me with 6 feijoas and a box of jaffas. I was a very happy little chicken! I am eating the feijoas one by one and thoroughly enjoying each one.

"The Feijoa (Feijoa sellowiana, synonym Acca sellowiana), also known as Pineapple Guava or Guavasteen, is an ever green shrub or small tree, 1-7 m in height, originating from the highlands of southern Brazil, parts of Columbia, Uruguay and northern Argentina..."
"...The fruits have a juicy sweet seed pulp, and slightly gritty flesh nearer the skin. The flavour is aromatic and sweet..." (Wikipedia)


Jaffas are an orange candy coated sweet with chocolate in the middle. Also rather delicious and unfortunately I was less able to ration these and they are now all gone!

Next time I head for home I really need to plan it for the feijoa season.

Babies and lawn mowers

As one may well imagine, the above ought not be mixed...

I am now into day 2, almost starting day 3 of sharing the life of 2 lovely little boys. The babies are feeding every 3 hours so I set my alarm and try desperately to get up on time. They get fed, nappy's changed and then resettled and we all go back to sleep to start it all again in a couple of hours. I awoke this morning quite obviously feeling a little worse for wear.

I was dreaming of mowing the lawn. Or so I thought. In fact I was really looking out my bedroom window watching the father of the twins mow his lawn with a remote control lawn mower. Yes you did read that correctly - he was wandering along behind the mower with a remote control which was attached by a cord to the mower. His lawn isn't even big - although in London standards it's huge. But he was out there in his suit trousers and shirt which I found even more amusing.

So if you're looking for the gift for that someone who has everything... I bet they don't have one of these.

Oh My Goodness!

It's only 2 more sleeps until I start the job that could shape my career. I really hope I'm being overly dramatic here...

I am about to start a 12 week contract with the owner of the agency I get most of my work from. I am of course very flattered to have been hand picked from all the staff on her books. I am also aware that if this goes well, it could mean good things and not so if it goes bad...

I have 2 little boys 5lb 10 and 4lb 12 so both wee fellows. Both apparently eating well and feeding 3 hourly already. Long may that last!

As there are only 2 more sleeps and tomorrows sleep will be a later one due to a planned outing, I really ought to stop procrastinating and get to bed as it's already after 1am. But there are too many things to think about... what to take with me - 2 shampoos or 1... important stuff like that!!??

Also going to bed requires making my bed and because that is something that takes a moments effort, it can wait. But then the advantage of making my bed is that it will be with freshly washed linen... hmmm now that sounds more inviting.

And of course my pillow awaits... OK making my bed now!

I owe, I owe, it's off to work I go....

I went back to work yesterday although tonight it feels more like last week, I'm so tired. I managed to score an 'emergency' job to fill in the next few days until my prebooked contract starts - which ought to be Monday.

It feels good to be back at it. I'm lucky to enjoy my work.

But upon saying that, roll on October when I have taken no bookings and may just have to have a wee adventure somewhere exciting!