While going through some old files today I came across a note which, for years, was stuck to the fridge door in our old house. I think I posted The House Rules one day when coming home from work, tired, and finding the kitchen a mess, with several teenagers lounging in the TV room oblivious to … [Read more...]
London: Miro at Tate Modern
Tate Modern has been my favourite London art gallery for a long time, so when we moved up here one of the first things I did was to become a member. At £52 per year it didn't seem such a huge cost especially as Daughter had just started to study History of Art. Perfect excuse....except it's taken me … [Read more...]
Happy Mother’s Day (in the UK)!
While a surprise breakfast is being prepared for me and I'm enjoying a glass of champagne laced with orange juice, I thought I'd post my (random) thoughts on motherhood.Now I've written that, it hardly seems a topic that could be covered in a blog post. But here goes.In the Sunday Times today, … [Read more...]
It seems I miss swiss chard…
Last night at a party, quite by surprise, we bumped into the couple who used to live in our flat. I'd met the lady once before, on our second visit to view the place, when she was visibly stressed by having strangers in her home. He baby was crying and all she wanted to do was to get rid of us and … [Read more...]
Home thoughts – and not
Whether it's because of the EastEnders (UK soap) storyline at the moment, which centres around a cot death and a baby swap (two together could only happen on TV, right?) or then Daughter’s really, really growing up fast (she’s only twenty, you see - a mere baby), but we’ve been talking a lot about … [Read more...]
After Christmas
Though I always really look forward to Christmas, after it I'm almost glad - no, relieved - that it's over and done with for another year. I cannot wait to get back to normal, to start new projects. This year I'm planning something special for this blog too, but more about that when the details are … [Read more...]
Isn’t e-mail weird?
I left the office early today and decided to answer all the emails that I'd had since yesterday. It got me thinking how things have changed since I moved to the UK some 25 years ago.When I talk to the (grown-up) children about how it was here then , I often end the tale with, … [Read more...]
Snowy (Honest Guv) Helsinki last week
When I arrived in Helsinki last Thursday afternoon, this was the view from my window into the garden, and the frozen sea beyond. The following morning it snowed, but in the afternoon the sun came out and there were people skiing on the ice. During the week we even spotted two fishermen drilling a … [Read more...]
Finnish guilt
I had a wonderful time in Helsinki last weekend. (You may have noticed...?) Although my family now live elsewhere, this city was home to me during my teenage years. I also went to university here, so this is a very special place for me. The main purpose of this trip was to see Daughter who's working … [Read more...]
It’s a packing nightmare
I'm off to Helsinki for a long weekend. But what to pack?It's always the same problem. I want to travel ligth but also want to have a choice of what to wear. Which brings the sub-problem of having to take several pairs of matching items of footwear, bags, scarves, or gloves. Which all increase the … [Read more...]