It's still cold

I took the boys out for a walk today. It was -9C when we left - with the windchill it was more like -18C. They were dressed in their snow suits in the pram with cashmere hats and blankets, snuggled under the apron with the rain cover on to stop the wind.

I carried the thermometer in the pram so I could come home if it reached 0 degreees C inside the pram. I also have a thermometer on the outside which reached 0 very quickly and then malfunctioned when it should have gone lower.

They went down to 9C inside the pram and we had a lovely walk looking for socks for the boys. I found one pair at gap and then went to Maddison Ave to another shop I'd been recommended. They did have the type of sock I wanted but were charging US$18.00 per pair, so funnily enough I decided they could stay in the shop for some other fool... I'm off to go internet shopping instead.

My chin had an ice cream headache this time but in my nice long coat (thanks Mum) and knee boots I was very toastie everywhere else!

It's cold now!

Today it finally turned 'New York' cold and I just happened to only have my light coat... I must have caused the cold snap because of that!

I came out of the subway this evening and the wind was one of the more lazy ones I've met - it went right through me and everything else in it's path instead of going around. There were flurries of snow and a cold cold wind... oh I already mentioned that. I had an icecream headache in my face and hands. Brr

Tomorrow is supposed to get even colder... Yay!! I've been dying to try out mum's new long, down coat that she kindly left here for me! I wore it a couple of times earlier and got way too hot in it so put it back in the cupboard. It will certainly be out again tomorrow.

Just checked the temp outside and it is -9C but feels like -18C due to wind chill factor etc. Eat your heart out Lucy you're only -7C at the moment!

New York

I made it to NY on Monday after a long and tedious journey - all thanks to the always efficient Washington DC (Dulles) airport.

Last I flew through Dulles in 1994 I had the worst time and as a result barely made it to my international flight. This time was not much better - different story though - we were grounded while waiting for a pilot to turn up and fly our plane. We then sat on the tarmac for over an hour while we awaited a take off slot.

I got to NY 1.5 hours late and instead of a nice relaxing evening with Jane, it was home and off to bed very quickly.

I met up with mum on Tuesday and so it all began...

I have 2 lovely little boys here to fill all my time - and more! I am so tired I can hardly think let alone blog. I just spent last night at Jane's and we had a chilled night in. I slept til 11 this morning and still feel I could sleep til 11 again tomorrow!

Hopefully the energy levels increase soon so I can be more enthusiastic here...

A-shopping I did go...

I went shopping today and came home with an item that I did not expect to come home with.

I mostly don't regret the impulsive purchase, in fact very little of me regrets it at all, the only wee problem is that this lovely new thing is quite big and I (and my mum - gulp - she has no idea!!) live in a very small bedsit with barely enough room for us let alone the lovely new thing too.

I bought something I have had my eye on for years and vowed I would get before I returned home to NZ. I had thought I would get the full version of it and not the 'play' version of it. But it was the toy one that presented itself to me today with a sign on it (I think only I could see it though) saying 'Buy me Jenn - you know you want to'.

Daisy and Tom is closing - can you believe it?? I can't. It's the best toy shop I have ever had the pleasure of shopping in. It has always had just slightly different things that other places don't have. It also has the most incredible range of children's clothing upstairs. Slightly out of my price range - except for today. It also has it's own Merry-go-round that runs a few times every day for the children to ride on free of charge. Upstairs in the clothing section it has an automated puppet show.

They sometimes stocked the full size Silver Cross coach built pram that I dreamed of taking home with me one day. But what they always did stock was the children's one. I often looked up on the top shelf where it sat on display and thought how nice it would be to have one for myself.

Today my wish came true and I have a Silver Cross doll's pram all to myself. I am just not that sure how my mother will react when she arrives home to find it parked in our small room. I do think she will be a little more underdstanding when she sees that it is in fact a twin doll's pram.

I have 2 weeks in which to break it to her gently...

Where did it go...?

I could have sworn it was 2007 last time I looked.

Suddenly it appears it is 2008 and I am left wondering where 2007 went. Over the hill and far away it seems.

It's been a busy year and one with ups and one with downs - but more ups then downs. Overall a rating of about 7.5/10. Not bad at all. 2008 will hopefully continue as it has started (all 1 hour 14 minutes of it...) with more very enjoyable work, some (lots) more lovely NZ wine and of course the important factor - heaps of travel.

Happy New Year and may all your dreams be realised.

xxx

Santa came to see me last night

I had a visit from Santa at 2am this morning. I think I was supposed to be asleep, but as it was only an hour after finishing feeding the baby I was still mucking around.

He thought he was sneaking in, but I saw him all the same.


This morning I had to wake the baby up as she was still sleeping much too soundly at 7am - and I could hear squeals of delight (from 3 older children) coming from the parents bedroom. I took the baby and my stocking downstairs to find a pile of gifts, paper and people that barely left space for the baby and me!! We had to mountain climb our way in to the bedroom...

Thank you Santa for my presents, I was especially pleased to get the clementine - it reminded me of my childhood Christmas stockings!

Dark, damp and deeply different...

...from the Caribbean, but I'm so pleased to be back in London!!

I've been back in London 5 full days now and quite happy to be here. Our flights back were relatively uneventful. The small plane was once again a hit with the boys. It was quite exciting being able to see the pilot and of course the view was much better. The big plane was easy with lie flat seats, except perhaps that it took 3.5 hours to serve dinner hence lights out didn't happen until half way through the flight! The poor wee boys were unable to sleep until it went quiet and dark. We had 2 very tired and grumpy little being upon arrival at Gatwick at 6am.

Mum left for New York on Friday so I missed her by two days. I won't see her now until I go there myself in January.

I've been back at work for 2 days and so far so good. Six weeks here then off to NY.