The art of bouncing babies

Either parents have over-developed biceps or there is a specialist art to carrying round small people. I spent most of yesterday carrying babies and toddlers and my arms are knackered.

Boots out

Well the sad time has come to pack away the sandals (although I will be sneaking them out if I can) and dust off the boots. Yes, today I had to find a pair of SOCKS and put the boots on or risk getting trench foot (although it might be a nice counterpoint to my ‘trench mouth’ which is still rumbling on).

Luckily I had a weekend of domestic bliss which involved throwing away lots of clothes which have had it and socks without partners so I was quite well prepared. No, I didn’t throw them away, I took them to be shredded, recycled and turned into whatever orphan socks get turned into.

The pear tree which I have lovingly tended through drought and disaster this summer is having a bumper crop - it’s really quite exciting. Had to do a bit of remedial surgery earlier in the week because the fruit had got too heavy and snapped off a branch but we’ve now rigged up some sort of rope like support so hopefully all will be well.

Such domestic bliss, I must get out more!

Slovenly ways

I am not someone who could normally be accused of sloveliness, okay by Friday evening there are normally a few watermarks on the basin and a strange gathering of purple London dust has normally congregated in the corner of the hallway behind the plant but apart from that I am a clean and tidy person.

So why does my house look like a teenager with poor personal hygiene has moved in? It’s quite depressing and I only have myself to blame. Bank holiday weekend I went away (became a godmother - all very grown up and exciting but has obviously gone to my head and I am now rejecting responsibility), then I got food poisoning (I suspect the parents of my goddaughter are trying to bump me off), then I went to New York so not a duster has been wielded, nor a drop of bleach used.

I should set to it, go home tonight and crack open the Harpic. Actually though I’m going out for dinner tonight…and tomorrow…so hopefully after a few glasses of wine and without the reality of daylight, I won’t notice.

Back from the Big Apple

I love New York. It’s so much fun.

My Mum really enjoyed it too and was very impressed that everywhere was so clean (believe me she makes my obsession with bleach look like a passing whim) and that the people were so friendly. New Yorkers used to have a reputation for being very rude but believe me compared to Londoners, they are the most genial and polite bunch.

Highlights of the trip included:

1. Buying a very expensive and exquisitely beautiful pair of Manolo Blahnik boots
2. Having a delicious meal at Chanterelle
3. Getting into an unfeasibly small pair of jeans which only cost $44 (okay they’re a bit long - but the teeny tiny size of them means that frankly I don’t care and wish I could wear the label on the outside!!)

Lowlights included:

1. Ridiculous, stupid queues at the Empire State Building followed by jostling to look at the skyline thanks to an over-abundance of stupid people
2. Getting rather wet thanks to Tropical Storm Ernesto (made worse by lack of appropriate footwear)
3. Not being able to buy a truly gorgeous pair of shoes because my feet are ridiculously small (I must remember my boots though - they are a thing of great beauty)

All in all a very successful trip and it lifted my mood so that - on occasions - I felt quite normal.