What Has Happened to the Week!!??

I've not been writing this week. I'm not exactly sure what I've been up to this week. I only know it has been completely mad and busy and we are (thankfully) headed off to London tonight and embarking on our two week holiday early in the morning. We will be making several stops along the east coast of the USA. You know what that means...look for us at a Cracker Barrel near you at 4 o'clock in the morning.

Not sure if I'll be able to (or bothered to) blog while on holiday, so I will most likely be back to blogging about all sorts of exciting nonsense again in March!

Happy Valentine's Day to all...that is, if you believe in Valentine's Day. I'm a fan of any holiday that gives me an excuse to eat a selection box of chocolate. Cheers!

My Papa, James N. Blackburn

James Norville Blackburn

November 2, 1914 -- February 5, 2009

My Dad called me here yesterday evening as I was changing the linens on Sophie's bed. The moment I heard his voice, I just knew what he was going to say: my grandfather, Papa, died yesterday morning of heart failure. He had been doing poorly, suffering from confusion and disorientation and had limited mobility for a few years, but I still wasn't expecting that call. I really thought he might go on forever. He was 94 years old.

He was a big man in every sense of the word. You always knew where he stood, and he didn't try to hide it if he was unhappy. Being his only granddaughter, however, I got to see a side of him that most others did not. I spent a great deal of time with him when I was growing up, and can honestly say that I always felt adored by him. I don't think he ever raised his voice at me, and that is really saying something, not only because he could be a big-voiced person, but because I also probably deserved a good scolding every now and again.

He loved golf. He loved keeping an absolutely pristine lawn and garden. He loved his dogs. And he, without a doubt, loved me. This is not to say he didn't love the rest of his family. He surely did, but I always felt special, like he would have done anything for me. What a gift to give a little girl.

So, Papa, thank you for playing checkers and coloring with me, for reading me the funny papers, and for shaving any time I thought your whiskers were too scratchy. Thank you for taking me out on the riding mower with you and letting me drive. Thank you for letting me name the dog "Lady." Thank you for taking me to school early in the morning any time I called you. Most of all thank you for loving me unconditionally...some might even call it spoiling me rotten. Thank you for giving me the best of you.

The photograph at the top of the page was taken the last time I saw Papa, in August of 2008. He kept telling me that he had a granddaughter named Meredith. I think in his mind I was an eternal little girl, so the woman sitting beside him couldn't possibly have been his Meredith. He did, however, have a ball with my two little girls, and six year old Emma, seemed to have an especially fine time with him. She read him books, cuddled up on his lap and didn't mind in the least having to shout in his ear so that he could hear her. :) Looking back at the pictures from that visit with him makes me happy. I am glad my girls got to spend an afternoon enjoying my Papa.

Flat Stanley Is Invading My Privacy!!

Flat Stanley came home from school with Emma yesterday. Apparently he is a real boy who has been flattened by a notice board, but don't worry, he remains perfectly healthy apart from his flatness. Typically school children stick him in an envelope and post him off to relatives where he has adventures and then is posted back with a report on what he's been up to. (Creepy much?) Emma's teacher, however, decided that Stanley should visit each child in the class for a couple of days. He writes in his diary about all of the adventures he has in our homes. (Everybody pretend to be normal!!) Back at school, the teacher reads all of the details aloud to the class. So....here is what Emma wrote in Stanley's diary while hew was with us.
Wed. 4 February
I went to Emma Carson's home today. She jumped on the trampoline with me. It was nearly time for dinner. I played with Emma on her Pet Pals game. She made bead necklaces with me.

For dinner we had Quorn nuggets, potatoes, baked beans, peas and carrots.

Mummy gave us a treat after dinner--tea and Chelsea buns!! A fun day it was today.

Then it was time for bed. We read Inkheart, and Emma's mummy sang us a song. Bedtime was fun. ZZZZzzzzzzz....good night.

Thursday 5 February (no school today!!)

Today we made homes for some of Emma's toys. I played in the snow with Emma and Sophia. We made a snow man. It is like a fun snow land in the garden. Emma and me love snow. I wore a hat in the snow.

Emma said I could come to her cool secret home. She put some pets in it. I liked it. And it had furniture.

So...now you are up to date on all of Stanley's adventures.

Wish Come True

Hooray! We got our snow! Strike up the band; there is no work today. It's a play day; hooray!! Except, wait! There WAS school today!! Seriously?? What compassionate parent could send her children to school when the ground is covered in snow and as fresh snow continues to fall? Not this one.

In fact we all skived off today, even George. As a friend of mine (and fellow skiver) said, today making snowmen seemed much more important than school. I am so glad we all played hooky today. Now, it's 2 pm and the snow is already melting quickly.

Sophie was a huge fan of the snow this morning. She and George had a fierce snowball fight in the back garden and she seemed to equally enjoy hitting and being hit. It seemed as though Sophie's attitude about snow had greatly improved since our last bout with it 2 years ago. After the snowball frenzy, we all went down to the park to build a giant snowman. I didn't capture any very good snowman photos since about 10 minutes into it, Sophie decided she had had ENOUGH, and that is when the screaming commenced. I am talking about the kind of screaming that makes one's ears want to bleed. We should feel guilty, but George and I had to laugh. Snow was falling silently and beautifully, and our little angel was howling (louder than you can imagine), "I'M SOOO COOOLD!!! I WANNA GO HOOOOME!!" I agreed, of course, to take Sophie home. She screamed the whole way. (My next door neighbors later asked if she was okay.) When we actually got to the door, Sophie let out three or four more enraged roars before entering the house. (Note to self: Do not book a skiing holiday anytime soon.) So, our Sophie continues to be a girl of extremes. When Little Miss Sunshine gets uncomfortable, she can occasionally, but quickly become Little Miss Rage Against the Machine. It is what it is. After stripping off her wet clothes, donning my furry socks and wrapping up in three blankets, her rage slowly subsided. An hour later, she was out in the back garden in bare legs! That's our girl...and one of the reasons why life here is never dull.

Happy Snowy School Skipping to all!

It's a Groundhog Day Miracle!!

It's snowing in Wales!!! Flurries mainly, but that still counts when one hasn't seen a flake of snow in two years. I am hoping that it will really kick in tonight and that we will open the curtains in the morning to reveal glittery, white fabulousness as far as the eye can see. One day of snow is all I require. Every channel on the BBC is broadcasting how this is the biggest snowstorm the UK has seen in 18 years. Is it so much to ask that a little of it come down to South Wales?? You know there will be pictures if I get my wish.

It also goes without saying that I am as good a weather forecaster as Phil the groundhog...either that or I am just "at one" with the winter rodents. As I predicted yesterday, Phil indeed saw his shadow! Bring on the trumpets...and the snow while you're at it.

Photos From Weekend

I uploaded these photos in the proper order, but somehow they have gotten all "outta whack". The only thing I don't like about this blog is that I can't copy and paste photos. Oh well... Here are some pics from our weekend.

(Above) Emma and her best buddy Lili at a birthday party at Jazzy Jungle in Llandaff

Then there was a really bad earthquake in our office!! (That explains why my desk is such a mess....a 'hot mess' even.)

Sophie and Emma went to a Carnival workshop on Saturday in Radyr. With the help of the ever-so-talented Jane Morris, Sophie and I made this floral head garland out of recycled shop carrier bags. (Yes, Sophie might just be Britain's Next Top Model-- heaven help us!)

Sophie and Emma at Zahra's birthday party. Emma slept in those pink spongy curlers last night, which explains her unusually springy hairdo. (What a good mommy I am to bring apples along with us to offset all of the sugar served at the party!)

Emma and Lili cracked me up at the party. They enjoy each other so much, and there is never a quiet moment between the two of them.

There is not too much else going on here. This past week has been completely uneventful. George is trying to sabotage by efforts to go (mostly) vegetarian by making the World's Best Ever Beer-Marinated Beef Burgers. Everyone in town is buzzing about the fact that we may have some snow in Cardiff this week (which almost guarantees that it won't happen). I would love some snow. If we get any, rest assured, pictures will be posted. We haven't seen snow in 2 years!!

Hope you all have a wonderful week. Tomorrow we'll be checking in with what the Groundhog says this year. He hasn't seen a shadow in the last few years, but this year may be different. 2009 is full of surprises.